Enjoy a glimpse of history through old images of Pontypridd, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Known by the locals as Ponty, Pontypridd is the county town for Rhondda Cynon Taf, even though its population is slightly smaller than nearby Aberdare. Luckily scenes of local daily life were photographed and filmed many times over the past century, so we can see how the Welsh town changed over time.
Old Photos of Pontypridd
An hour and eighteen minutes of old photographs of the town through different decades. Numerous people and places appear.
Old Pontypridd Pics – on YouTube
War Memorial 1948
This British Pathé film was made in 1948, three years after the end of World War II.
It heavily features the hilltop memorial to the men of the 5th Battalion – The Welch Regiment who were killed or missing in the First World War and the Second World War.
The memorial is close to the Hertogenbosch Stone, but in a different location to the Ynysangharad War Memorial and the Falklands War Memorial, which are both located in the Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.
Down below in the town, you can see the giant gas storage tanks which used to feature in every urban landscape.
Pontypridd Wales. (1948) – British Pathé on YouTube
Gwyn Thomas in 1960s
In the 1960s, Gwyn Thomas visited Pontypridd. As with all his other short films about life in South Wales, the writer and broadcaster brought into the narrative his own experience of growing up in the area in the 1920s.
The footage shows hundreds of local people of all ages going about their daily lives.
Gwyn Thomas Visits Pontypridd – on YouTube
Pontypridd in the 1960s
Part 1
Fascinating colour footage of the town in the 1960s. Many different streets were captured on this home cine film, along with buildings in the process of replacement.
PONTYPRIDD IN 1960S – on YouTube
Part 2
More colour footage of the town in the 1960s, including from a drive in the car.
Pontypridd in the 60’s part 2 – on YouTube
Pontypridd in 1990
With much of the footage taken from a high vantage point, you can see a lot of the town as it was in 1990.
“Video filmed in and around Pontypridd in about 1990 before the relief road was constructed. Includes how the Broadway once was. Also includes overlooking the town from the common and also overlooking Hawthorn, Rhydyfelin and Treforest.”
Patrick Downes on YouTube
Tour of Pontypridd circa 1990 – on YouTube
Pontypridd in 2007
In December 2007 RhysGriff92 uploaded what he described as “just a random vid bout my home town”.
Photographs of key locations include location titles, which is useful for family historians and other people who may not know the town well.
Pontypridd – RhysGriff92 on YouTube
Snow 2010
After years of mild winters, the depth and longevity of the snows of 2010 surprised everyone across the UK. John Wake’s compilation from December 18th 2010, beautifully fits together photographs, film and nice music.
THE PONTYPRIDD SNOW – WINTER 2010.. CARIAD in Welsh. – on YouTube
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