High resolution photographs of the Rhondda Valleys Today

Rhondda Valleys Information and History

The Rhondda Valleys Today.

The Rhondda today bears little relation to the busy place it once was, with all the hustle and bustle of the mining days. There is much unemployment, and the work locally pays small wages. Many travel to work to e.g. Cardiff, where better wages are on offer. Many more of our youngsters have left the Valleys to seek work elsewhere, some never to return.

Lots of the little village and town shops run by the same families for generations have now disappeared, and more and more Rhondda folk are having to travel to the larger stores on the perimeter of the Valleys.

In the Rhondda Fawr, from Porth to Tylorstown, a new bypass road has been under construction since 2005. Maybe this will make it a little easier for the residents to travel outside the immediate area to find worthwhile employment. The new road is on the land previously occupied by the railways - closed to passengers since the 1960's.

Below we chart the progress of the new road, as many of the recognisable buildings and bridges are demolished to make way for the road. One of the major movements of recognisable landmarks was that of the War Memorial and Cenotaph in Porth. This was dismantled and reassembled close by. The re-dedication and opening ceremony took place on Sunday the 6th May 2007 - photos here.

Leo's Car Park in Porth

Wattstown Embankment

View north in Ynyshir

View from Weston Terrace in Ynyshir

View from temporary crossing in Church Terrace, Ynyshir

Top end of Ynyshir Road looking north

Top end of Ynyshir Road looking south

New road going through Cymmer yard

The start of the Rheola Bridge

Standard Terrace in Ynyshir

Porth Square from Cymmer Hill - drilling pile foundations

Pontygwaith Bridge

New road layout facing south - Rhondda Heritage Park in the distance

There is an excellent new website with high resolution old photos of the United Kingdom (including the Rhondda Valleys) at www.oldukphotos.com
If you have any old family photos or pictures of the towns and villages please scan them in at least 1280 pixels width and email them here.

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