Pontyates

Pontyates Template:Langx
Population	1,449
OS grid reference	[[[:Template:Ordnance Survey url]] SN470085]
Community	Llanelli Rural Llangyndeyrn
Principal area	Carmarthenshire
Preserved county	Dyfed
Country
Crown dependency
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Llanelli
Postcode district	SA15
Dialling code	01269
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Llanelli
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Llanelli Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

Pontyates (Template:Langx) is a village straddling two communities, situated in the Gwendraeth Valley half way between Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. The population in 2011 was 1,449.

General information

The village of Pontyates (in Welsh, Pont-iets) was originally known as Tregwiail.

The village offers a number of amenities, including a Miners' Welfare Hall, which hosts a popular local produce market and many regular community activities, as well as a library. There are two bilingual primary schools, a recently refurbished playground, a GP surgery and places of worship. Pontyates also has its own Fire & Rescue station.

Local businesses include a supermarket, petrol station, garage, convenience store, launderette, a fish & chip shop, Chinese and Tandoori restaurants, a public house, a café, a taxi firm, hairdressers and a pharmacy.

The village is situated on the banks of the Gwendraeth Fawr river, on largely hilly terrain. It sits along the B4309 that runs between the towns of Carmarthen and Llanelli, which are both just under 10 miles from the village. Pontyates is primarily Welsh-speaking. The village is set in a wooded, rural area and boasts impressive views of the surrounding countryside from its hillsides.

The village is mainly linear, built upon the two sides of the valley. The Carmarthen and Llanelli sides are known locally as 'pentre hyn' (this village) and 'pentre draw' (that village), depending on where the speaker stands. The flat land adjacent to the river in the middle of Pontyates is referred to as 'Y Sarn'.

Statistics

(According to National Statistics Online)

• Average Age - 42
• Average Commute - 12.8 (miles)
• Gender Ratio - 1.06 (female/male)
• Population in Good Health - 58.3%
• Students - 3%

History

Pontyates was formerly a mining village, with several anthracite collieries operating from the 17th century onwards. The industry was at its peak during the 19th century and mining activity ceased in the late 1920s.

The mines included the Caepontbren, Plasbach and Gwendraeth collieries.

Coal was originally transported to ports via Thomas Kymer's canal, which was constructed between in 1768 and extended to Pontyates in 1824.

From 1866, transportation by canal was replaced by a railway and from 1909, Pontyates had its own railway station, run by the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway company. Pontyates was one of the stations that lay between Llanelli and the coal mine at Cwmmawr. The fact that the line was built along the old canal route meant that it was prone to flooding. The station at Pontyates was eventually closed in 1953. Despite it being no longer in use, the railway line still runs across the road today and can be walked across as part of the mining heritage trail.

Origin of name

According to the BBC Wales programme 'What's in a name'. 'Pontyates' is said to have been named after an English family, Yates. 'Pont' translates as 'bridge' in English and the Welsh word 'Y' means 'of'. This would mean the literal translation of Pontyates is Bridge-of-Yates. However, due to the name's similarity to the local word 'iet' meaning 'gate' the village is more commonly referred to as 'Pont-iets'. A testament to this is the fact that both names appear on the welcome sign when entering the village. Another more realistic understanding of the origin of the village's name which locals believe is that 'iet' which means gate in Welsh was used as the village is the gateway to the Gwendreath Valley/Cwm Gwendraeth from the coast.

Sport

The village is home to Pontyates Rugby Football Club, which was founded in 1966. The senior team plays in Division Four West B of the Welsh Rugby Union Men's National League. The club is an important part of the local community and also has a thriving junior section.

Notable people

• Mandy Rice-Davies - notable for her role in the Profumo affair.
• June Brown - famous for her role as Dot Cotton in BBC's EastEnders, was evacuated to Pontyates during the Second World War and mentioned the village in one episode of the soap opera.
• Reverend Professor Cyril Glyndwr Williams - a leading academic and an authority on world religions.