Radyr walks leaflet · 2019-07-30 · feeder. Until the iron bridge was built, the iron was brought...
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Radyr & Morganstown Association Village Walks 1. INDUSTRIAL RADYR This Walk starts at Radyr Station taking you through the heartland of Radyr’s Industrial history over the river along the tramway, the feeder and the canal passed Radyr Weir, the Melingriffith water wheel, the Norman motte and bailey and the first station in the Parish, Pentyrch Halt; before it ends at Pughs Garden Village and the Ty Nant Inn. The walk is approximately four miles and should Take around 1 1 /2 hours at a leisurely pace. Walk 1: Industrial Radyr 1. Standing at the entrance to Radyr station you see the new development, The Chantry, built on Radyr Yard. The Taff Vale Railway was opened in the 1840’s to carry iron from the works around Merthyr to Cardiff Docks. It quickly became used to carry coal to the docks. Cardiff docks became incapable of accommodating the volume of coal and Radyr Yard was built where wagons could wait until a space became available at the docks. At its height it was the largest marshalling yard west of Swindon. In an attempt to alleviate the congestion a new port was built at Penarth with a direct link from Radyr Yard, now the City Line. In 1840 there was no village of Radyr and the present station was built in 1867. With the building of the station many “docksmen” built houses in the area as it was convenient to reach the docks by train, the origin of modern Radyr. Go under the tunnel beneath the railway. The first railway was single track and you can see in the brickwork of the tunnel the various extensions to the line. Cross the river bridge and head north along the river. 2. From the late 1700’s a tramway connected the ironworks at Gwaelod y Garth to Melingriffith. The tramway followed the river and a restored section of the tramway can be seen about 1 /2 a mile along the path on your right. At first it was horse drawn but later a small locomotive was used. 3. You next come to Radyr Weir built in the 1780’s to divert water into the feeder which took water to the Melingriffith works. The weir is built on the site of a medieval fish trap. A salmon race has been added to the weir to allow the salmon, which are returning to the cleaned up Taff in increasing numbers, to get upstream. Just beyond the weir you can see the newly restored workings which controlled the flow of water into the feeder. Until the iron bridge was built, the iron was brought to a landing stage at Gelynis Farm and them floated down to Melingriffith along the river and the feeder in shallow bottomed boats called “tubs”. 4. Turn right and follow the north bank of the feeder. After about 1 /2 a mile you come to two hides, part of the Forest Farm nature reserve, where a wide selection of wildlife can be seen including herons and kingfishers. Follow the feeder on your right and the canal on your left. When you get to the entrance to the canal follow the river for about 1 /2 a mile until you get to the Melingriffith water wheel. 5. Melingriffith was a medieval corn mill that was converted into an ironworks in the 1700’s and became a major tin plate works closing in the 1950’s. The wheel, all that is left of the works, used to pump water from the canal into the tin plate works. It has recently (2010) been restored. Retrace your footsteps to the entrance to the canal. Follow the canal for a little over one mile. This is the only section of the Glamorganshire Canal still holding water. It was built in the 1780’s to carry iron from the Merthyr area to Cardiff. Because of the terrain it was never very successful above “Navigation” - modern Abercynon. When you get to the end of this section of the canal head west and rejoin the footpath along the river. 6. Head north along the path, under the motorway bridge, until you come to the Iron Bridge. This bridge was built to allow the uninterrupted movement of iron from Gwaelod y Garth to Melingriffith. 7. Your path crosses the farmyard at Gelynis, but before you do this notice the tramway leading off to your right. Gelynis Farm is the second oldest building in the parish and was built in the 1570’s for Hugh Lambert, a Sussex iron master brought to Radyr by the Mathew family, the Tudor Lords of the Manor of Radyr. It was Lambert who developed the first iron works and the foundry at Gwaelod y Garth. Cross the Taff Vale Railway and follow the track ahead. When you get to the stream - Nant y Garth - follow the stream along the side of the Mound playing field. This will take you passed the Motte and Bailey, part of the first Norman frontier dating to the 1090’s. It is the best preserved in the area and once guarded the entrance to the Taff valley. 8. As you walk along the stream notice the large house on the railway line. This was the first station in the parish called Pentyrch Halt (Morganstown was still developing and had not been given its present name). Your walk will end at Pugh’s Garden Village where refreshments and food can be obtained. Across the road is the Ty Nant Inn, dating to at least the early 1700’s where food and drinks are served all day. Melingriffith Water wheel
Transcript of Radyr walks leaflet · 2019-07-30 · feeder. Until the iron bridge was built, the iron was brought...
Radyr & Morganstown Association
Village Walks
1. INDUSTRIAL RADYR
This Walk starts at Radyr Station taking youthrough the heartland of Radyr’s Industrialhistory over the river along the tramway, thefeeder and the canal passed Radyr Weir, theMelingriffith water wheel, the Norman motte andbailey and the first station in the Parish,Pentyrch Halt; before it ends at Pughs GardenVillage and the Ty Nant Inn. The walk isapproximately four miles and should Takearound 11/2 hours at a leisurely pace.
Walk 1: Industrial Radyr1. Standing at the entrance to Radyr station you see thenew development, The Chantry, built on Radyr Yard.The Taff Vale Railway was opened in the 1840’s to carryiron from the works around Merthyr to Cardiff Docks. Itquickly became used to carry coal to the docks. Cardiffdocks became incapable of accommodating the volumeof coal and Radyr Yard was built where wagons couldwait until a space became available at the docks. At itsheight it was the largest marshalling yard west ofSwindon. In an attempt to alleviate the congestion anew port was built at Penarth with a direct link fromRadyr Yard, now the City Line. In 1840 there was novillage of Radyr and the present station was built in1867. With the building of the station many“docksmen” built houses in the area as it wasconvenient to reach the docks by train, the origin ofmodern Radyr.
Go under the tunnel beneath the railway. The firstrailway was single track and you can see in thebrickwork of the tunnel the various extensions to theline. Cross the river bridge and head north along theriver.
2. From the late 1700’s a tramway connected theironworks at Gwaelod y Garth to Melingriffith. Thetramway followed the river and a restored section of thetramway can be seen about 1/2 a mile along the path onyour right. At first it was horse drawn but later a smalllocomotive was used.
3. You next come to Radyr Weir built in the 1780’s todivert water into the feeder which took water to theMelingriffith works. The weir is built on the site of amedieval fish trap. A salmon race has been added to theweir to allow the salmon, which are returning to thecleaned up Taff in increasing numbers, to get upstream.Just beyond the weir you can see the newly restoredworkings which controlled the flow of water into thefeeder. Until the iron bridge was built, the iron wasbrought to a landing stage at Gelynis Farm and themfloated down to Melingriffith along the river and thefeeder in shallow bottomed boats called “tubs”.
4. Turn right and follow the north bank of the feeder.After about 1/2 a mile you come to two hides, part of theForest Farm nature reserve, where a wide selection ofwildlife can be seen including herons and kingfishers.
Follow the feeder on your right and the canal on yourleft. When you get to the entrance to the canal followthe river for about 1/2 a mile until you get to theMelingriffith water wheel.
5. Melingriffith was a medieval corn mill that wasconverted into an ironworks in the 1700’s and became amajor tin plate works closing in the 1950’s. The wheel,all that is left of the works, used to pump water from thecanal into the tin plate works. It has recently (2010)been restored. Retrace your footsteps to the entrance tothe canal. Follow the canal for a little over one mile.This is the only section of the Glamorganshire Canalstill holding water. It was built in the 1780’s to carryiron from the Merthyr area to Cardiff. Because of theterrain it was never very successful above “Navigation”- modern Abercynon. When you get to the end of thissection of the canal head west and rejoin the footpathalong the river.
6. Head north along the path, under the motorwaybridge, until you come to the Iron Bridge. This bridgewas built to allow the uninterrupted movement of ironfrom Gwaelod y Garth to Melingriffith.
7. Your path crosses the farmyard at Gelynis, but beforeyou do this notice the tramway leading off to your right.Gelynis Farm is the second oldest building in the parishand was built in the 1570’s for Hugh Lambert, a Sussexiron master brought to Radyr by the Mathew family, theTudor Lords of the Manor of Radyr. It was Lambert whodeveloped the first iron works and the foundry atGwaelod y Garth. Cross the Taff Vale Railway and followthe track ahead. When you get to the stream - Nant yGarth - follow the stream along the side of the Moundplaying field. This will take you passed the Motte andBailey, part of the first Norman frontier dating to the1090’s. It is the best preserved in the area and onceguarded the entrance to the Taff valley.
8. As you walk along the stream notice the large houseon the railway line. This was the first station in theparish called Pentyrch Halt (Morganstown was stilldeveloping and had not been given its present name).
Your walk will end at Pugh’s Garden Village whererefreshments and food can be obtained. Across the roadis the Ty Nant Inn, dating to at least the early 1700’swhere food and drinks are served all day.
Melingriffith Water wheel
4. Heron at the hide
3. Radyr Weir
2. Steam train on tramway
1. Radyr Yard
8. Pentyrch Halt
7. Iron Bridge
6. Gelynis Farm
5. Melingriffith WheelDrawing by Jean Hooker: Photos History Group and Imaging 2000
Published by the Radyr and Morganstown Associationwww.radyr.org.uk/rmassociation
Walk 1: Industrial Radyr
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