Ystrad

Ystrad (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈəstrad]), also known as Ystrad Rhondda or Ystrad-Rhondda, is a village, community and electoral ward situated in the Rhondda Fawr valley, within the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough of Wales. As of the 2021 census, the population stood at 5,075. The village lies in the historic county of Glamorgan and forms part of the South Wales Valleys, a region shaped by intensive industrial development during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is served by Ystrad Rhondda railway station on the Rhondda Line and is connected by road and bus services to nearby towns and Cardiff.

Historically part of the extensive parish of Ystradyfodwg, Ystrad remained a rural and agricultural area until the mid-19th century, when the discovery and exploitation of coal brought rapid industrial growth. The sinking of Bodringallt Colliery in 1864 marked a turning point in the village's development, and the associated brickworks became one of the largest in the region. Although the colliery closed in 1959, Ystrad retains many features of its industrial past, including characteristic South Wales Valleys terraced housing and post-industrial landscapes that have since been regenerated.

Ystrad is known for its strong community identity and rich cultural heritage. The village is home to Ystrad Rhondda RFC, which plays in the Welsh Rugby Union WRU Admiral Premiership and to the Rhondda Sports Centre, which provides leisure and recreational services for the wider area. Ystrad also occupies a prominent place in the religious history of the Rhondda Valley, being the location of Nebo Chapel, the first Baptist chapel in the district, established in 1786.