The heritage of Rhondda Cynon Taf is both unique and diverse ranging from evidence
of our prehistoric forebears to the industrial changes of the 18th, 19th
and 20th centuries.
There is evidence to demonstrate human inhabitation in Rhondda Cynon Taf stretching
back for over 10,000 years, from the hunter-gatherer generations of the Mesolithic
Period, and the semi-nomadic tribes of the Bronze and Iron Ages who established
their communities on mountain tops above the densely wooded Valleys.
Throughout succeeding centuries the area remained relatively peaceful and small
rural communities flourished. From the Middle Ages, forestry and the rearing
of cattle and sheep were principal occupations in the region, whilst crops were
grown in areas that had been cleared of the dense woodland.
The landscape of our Valleys changed little until discovery of natural resources
within the area encouraged early industrial activity. The beginnings of the
iron industry were evident as early as the 16th century and later iron
became the first major industry of the area followed by tin plate and china works
in the south of the region.
The decline of the area's iron industry from the 1840's coincided with the rapid
and relentless development of coal mining, as hungry entrepreneurs rapidly sank
pits across the Valleys. Rhondda Cynon Taf was at the heart of the world's
first industrial nation and, as a result, the landscape quickly changed out of all
recognition, leaving a tangible legacy of structures and changes to the natural
landscape, as hillsides were quarried away and new artificial ones created from
waste products. Industrial activity was also responsible for bringing the
area's additional infrastructure required to support such heavy industry, including
canals, viaducts, railways and roads.
The Industrial Revolution also had a major impact on the settlement and movement
of people into, within and out of the area. As the population soared from
around 5,712 in 1801 to in excess of 235,000 in 1901, new villages and communities
grew to house the workforces that drove the industries forward, creating the rows
upon rows of terrace housing that are characteristic of the Valleys.
Since the decline of mining over the past 20 years our landscape has begun changing
again, and local regeneration projects continue to play a key role in the shaping
of our areas. Human nature dictates that we will continue to impact upon and
evolve our surrounding areas, and therefore local communities will be central to
shaping the future history of Rhondda Cynon Taf ensuring that it remains dynamic
cultural centre within the wider context of Wales.