Historic Buildings
Pontyclun has a number of interesting and historic buildings across all of our villages. We have nearly 30 listed buildings in our community, most of which are of Grade 2 significance
Information about the main ones are detailed below. To see the additional information that we have click on the name of the building
- Chapel House Miskin
In the village of Miskin, just over the railway bridge on Hensol Road, stands this rare surviving mid-19th century chapel that retains its original character. Built around 1860 and opened in October of that year, the chapel was originally known as Ebenezer and served the Presbyterian denomination in the area then called New Mill. Unlike the more common gabled-front chapels built in towns and villages… Read more: Chapel House Miskin - Chimney stack of old Lead mine at Cefn-parc Farm
This grade 2 listed building is in a field to north west of Cefn-parc farm, on the ridge overlooking the A4119 and Llantrisant. Local children have over the years referred to this as “The Witches tower” Probably built in the 18th Century it is a rare example of a surviving building associated with lead mining in the vale of Glamorgan The chimney is made of… Read more: Chimney stack of old Lead mine at Cefn-parc Farm - Miskin Manor
The origins of Miskin Manor can be traced back to at least the early medieval period, when its lands were held by Nest, daughter of the Prince of Glamorgan, in the late 11th century. Records from the mid-16th century make mention of “Miskin gate,” suggesting a house of some stature occupied the site at that time. By 1610, the manor had passed into the hands… Read more: Miskin Manor - Miskin Mill and Scout Village
Nestled along the banks of the River Ely, just outside the village of Miskin, this water-driven corn mill has been an enduring presence since about the 17th Centrury, its wooden wheels turned by the ceaseless current. Records reveal that in 1841, one David Davies toiled as the miller, aided by a young lad of 14 summers named Evan Williams. When the Bassett Family dispersed the… Read more: Miskin Mill and Scout Village - Mwyndy House
Mwyndy House lies just off the A4119 roughly opposite Corner Park garage. It was probably built in the first quarter of the C19 and was first shown on the 1841 Tithe map, at which time it was a farmhouse. It is a late Georgian two-storey house comprising of a three-bay central range (the original house) with two higher bays on the left side and a… Read more: Mwyndy House - Pantaquesta House
Pantaquest House lies just off Hensol Road on the way out of Miskin, a few hundred meters after you pass under the M4 Pantaquesta House was built by Colonel H Watson c.1891. During the 1920s it was owned by Stuart Martin who is said to have altered the service range, and he may have been responsible for adding the Art-Nouveau veranda to the garden front.… Read more: Pantaquesta House - Pontyclun Community Centre & Cafe 50
Built by Taff Ely Borough Council in 1994 after a great deal of pressure by Pontyclun Community and Borough Councillors, on land purchased by public donations in memory of Doctor Gordon Jones. It replaced the original centre which was built in the 1930’s by the unemployed of the area. Originally it was a Community Centre in one part and a Day centre for the elderly… Read more: Pontyclun Community Centre & Cafe 50 - Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club
Pontyclun Institute and Athletic Club comprises of a main building with bowling green and car parking behind. It can be found on Castan Road in Pontyclun. The institute was built by Godfrey Clark in 1910 to help enrich the social and cultural lives of the residents of Pontyclun. Godfrey Clark was the son of George Clerk the Ironmaster who built Talygarn House. He was an… Read more: Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club - Pontyclun Masonic Hall
The Masonic Hall in Pontyclun is near to the War Memorial. The Mason’s have held meetings in Pontyclun since 1920 – The Warrant of Constitution was on the 13th July 1920 and it was consecrated on the 12th November 1920. This Masonic hall was built around 1934 For more information about the history of the community of Pontyclun please visit our online museum - St Anne’s Church, Talygarn
St Ann’s church lies on the south side of Brynsadler. It was built in 1887 to designs of George Thomas Clark of Talygarn House, well-known antiquary and the manager of the Dowlais Ironworks, in memory of his wife Ann Price Clark (d.1885) (details on memorial tablet). Designed in a generally Perpendicular style with Decorated east window, it consists of three-bay nave with porch, lower and… Read more: St Anne’s Church, Talygarn - St David’s church Miskin
The current St. David’s Church in Miskin, dedicated to the patron saint of Wales, was built in 1907. It replaced an earlier corrugated iron church that had been constructed in 1878. The church stands in the centre of the village, not far from the War Memorial. Funding for the church’s construction came from public donations and fundraising events, notably a Grand Fete held at Miskin… Read more: St David’s church Miskin - St David’s church, Groesfaen
Saint David’s Church, Groesfaen was consecrated in AD 1892 by the Bishop of Llandaff, and is the “daughter church” of St. Catwg’s in Pentyrch. There is an hypothesis that the Church was built by the local gentry to rival the church built by Judge Gwylym Rhys-Williams in Miskin. The Dunnes of Croffta and the Martens from Henstaff Court were the benefactors. The church is built… Read more: St David’s church, Groesfaen - St Paul’s Church, Pontyclun
St Paul’s church was built in 1895 at a cost of £1600. Built by Mr John Morgan of Pontyclun from plans drawn up by ecclesiastical architect E M Bruce esq. The funds were raised by public donations with G T Clarke of Talygarn donating about £400 of the total. This is over £65k in today’s money The church, initially known as St Paul’s church at… Read more: St Paul’s Church, Pontyclun - Talygarn House
Talygarn lies in the rolling hills to the south of Pontyclun. It is an estate whose fortunes have ebbed and flowed over the centuries. Its origins can be traced to the twilight years of Welsh independence in the 14th century when it was held as a native lordship rather than falling under Norman control after the conquest. While the early manor house has long since… Read more: Talygarn House - The Barn – old public house
The original farmhouse here, called Mwyndy Bach dates back to 1570. It was probably a long Welsh house with cowsheds attached covered in thatch. Later the walls were raised to make first floor bedrooms with a stone tiled roof. In 1988 the agricultural barn was converted to a country pub and restaurant. To the rear sits a detached cottage built in the late 1600s for… Read more: The Barn – old public house - The Ivor Arms
The Ivor Arms was built in about 1855 by William Morgan of Caergwanaf farm in Miskin (also known as Billy Caergwanaf) The initial house warming was on 12 July 1855 It is belived that the name comes from either the name of the ground landlord at the time of building (Ivor Bertie Guest) or from the fact that the local Ivorites met at the pub.… Read more: The Ivor Arms - War Memorials
Pontyclun War Memorial Expertly crafted from Portland Stone, the Celtic ring cross memorial cuts an elegant silhouette with its intricately tapered shaft rising from a substantial pedestal and tiered base. The stonework is truly a marvel, with the cross and shaft adorned in delicate interlace patterns. This poignant landmark was brought to life by the renowned W. Clarke firm of Llandaff. Archival records offer a… Read more: War Memorials
More information
Cadw (the Welsh Governments’s historic environment service maintains a list of all listed properties and hold details ind information for them all. You can view and download information from Cadw records here.
In addition Coflein which is the online catalogue of archaeology, buildings, industrial and maritime heritage in Wales has more information and images and maps. You can go to the Coflein homepage here where you can browse for information
If you just wish to look specifically for buildings, the Coflein list for each part of our community can be found at the links below
Buildings in Pontyclun (care this search also includes some buildings with a Pontyclun postal address but not actually in Pontyclun)
Buildings in Miskin (care this search list includes buildings all places in Wales called Miskin and not just the one in Pontyclun)
We have also produced a short guide to historic Welsh house names which you can find here