Welcome to the Tongwynlais Historical Society

Formed in early 2020, our main aim is to raise funds to create a historical trail for visitors winding through the village from the Ironbridge to Castell Coch.

Along the way we also hope to uncover local history, archeology, photographs and stories from residents past and present.

Please get in touch in you wish to contribute, volunteer, help with fundraising or maybe join THS.

Contributor Story - Val Bowden

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FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY – Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Tolloween – A short play by Owen Thomas

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The Tollhouse Project

The remains of the Tollhouse are on the original course of the Pentyrch-Melingriffith tramroad.   The site  is currently being excavated by volunteers from the Tongwynlais Historical Society and Cardiff Council Park Rangers.  It will be the first stop on the historic trail planned for the village of Tongwynlais.

It sat at a V-junction of two tramroads and is thought to be used to control the turnout to the branch leading to the Tongwynlais canal.  The Melingriffith Works accounts from 1853 indicate a salary made to a Mary Howells. Her role was to collect tolls at the ‘Tramroad and Tramroad Bridge’. She is listed in Tongwynlais on the 1851 census as a 63 year old widowed ‘Gate keeper’. She shared her home with her 10 year old niece and a servant.

No longer of any use and possibly unsafe, the Tollhouse was demolished in the 1950s.  Our aim is to rebuild some of the lower wall and clear the area of vegetation in order to resurrect the footprint of the original structure.  We would like to ensure the Tollhouse’s longevity for the community, please let us know your ideas for how it can be used.

 

 

“I feared the new motorway out of Cardiff might have swallowed up the little village, but to my delight I came upon a sign pointing to Tongwynlais as the motorway swept on.  I drove down into the village, and there was the church, and the little houses, seemingly untouched by time.”

Battle of Britain hero Grp Capt Dennis ‘Hurricane’ David from his autobiography about returning to his father’s village home after 40 years.

 

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