Upper Boat
| Upper Boat Welsh: Glan-Bad | |
| Glamorgan | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST108872 |
| Location: | 51°34’39"N, 3°17’14"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Pontypridd |
| Postcode: | CF37 |
| Dialling code: | 01443 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Pontypridd |
Upper Boat is a village on the southernmost outskirts of the town of Pontypridd, Glamorgan. From 2006 to 2012 it was known in media circles for being home to the BBC's Upper Boat Studios, where the hit revised version of Doctor Who, as well as spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, were produced.
The name
There are two possibilities for the derivation of the village's name: The first is from the Glamorganshire Canal which ran between Cardiff and Abercynon. Due to the steep valley the canal which ran from Abercynon, through Pontypridd and on to Upper Boat was very narrow. However, from Upper Boat the valley widened out and a wider canal was constructed. Cargoes were swapped over at Upper Boat, hence Upper Boat could derive from the point at which the wider barges could not pass.
Alternatively, the name could pre-date the canal and refer to a sequence of ferry boats across the river Taff. There were four boats further down the river - one at Gabalfa one at Taffs Well and one at Willowford but the 'upper' of the ferry boats was at a location near to where the modern Upper Boat pub now stands.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Boat Upper Boat) |
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Upper Boat and surrounding area
- Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Service - local history pages
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