Trehafod
Trehafod is a village and community in the Rhondda Valley, between Porth and Pontypridd in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, with a population of 698 in the 2011 census..
Administratively, Trehafod is split between the electoral division of Cymmer to the west and Rhondda to the east. A former coalmining community, the village is now the site of the Rhondda Heritage Park, a tourist attraction commemorating the Rhondda Valley's coalmining culture and local history.
Spelling variants found in the past are Trehavod and Trefhafod.
History
The 1847 tithe map of the area shows a number of farms on the area that was to become Trehafod; these were named Hafod Uchaf, Hafod Ganol, and Hafod Fawr. It was from these farms that Trehafod was to take its name."Hafod" is a Welsh word literally meaning "summer dwelling", and refers to an upland farm after a noun used as an adjective equivalent in attributive position ).
Tre was used in the eighteen-hundreds in industrial areas for a street or streets of workers’ housing.
Trehafod railway station lies on the Rhondda Line which follows the River Rhondda. The railway line and river border the village on either side.
Trehafod is now most famous for the Rhondda Heritage Park, formerly known as the Lewis Merthyr Colliery, which at the peak time for coal mining production was one of the most productive collieries in the South Wales Coalfield.
Trehafod also boasts Barry Sidings Countryside Park, which is known colloquially as "the lakes" in reference to the park's two ponds. Barry Sidings is a popular destination for local families and dog walkers; its features include nature paths, a small waterfall, ducks, carp, frogs, and a café. Largely situated in Trehafod, the park feeds into Pontypridd and is frequented by walkers heading there.