Dewi Sant Health Park receives Blue Plaque

Earlier this week (16 January), Dewi Sant Health Park in Pontypridd received a Blue Plaque to commemorate the Health Park’s location on the former site of Pontypridd Union Workhouse.  

A blue plaque marks a building of historical significance and in this case is a memorial to all of those people who worked and lived on the site during its time as a workhouse.

Madam Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wendy Treeby unveiled the plaque in the hospital, along with Rhodri Powell MBE, former Directorate Manager of Pathology for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in between 1989-2001 who also made the original request for the plaque.

Rhodri said: "This week marks the 160-year anniversary of the deal being signed for the workhouse. It is great timing to unveil this plaque, it shows how much history this site holds.”

Madame Mayor, Rhodri Powell MBE, members of RCT council and Dewi Sant Health Park colleagues, came together for the unveiling of the plaque. As the plaque was unveiled, Madame Mayor, Rhodri and Darren Macey, said a few words about the development of the workhouse and its history.

Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Councillor Wendy Treeby, said: “This Blue Plaque at Dewi Sant Health Park will serve as a reminder for future generations that this hospital’s foundations were built on those of an extremely important predecessor Pontypridd Union Workhouse.

“It will commemorate and highlight a period of our history before any social services were available to the residents of this area, possibly a time of greater austerity and hardship than we currently face.

“The Union Workhouse was as vital then in its role of caring for the sick and the vulnerable as its modern counterpart is today."

19/01/2023