Penrhys council housing estate and cemetery on hilltop above Rhondda Valleys in dramatic evening light Valleys South Wales UK
Penrhys council housing estate and cemetery on hillside above Rhondda Valleys in dramatic evening light Rhondda Cynon Taf Valleys South Wales UK Penrhys' history goes back to medieval times - it was the site of a monastery, and the shrine and well still attract Roman Catholic pilgrims. The Penrhys council housing estate was founded in 1966, and at the time was the largest of its kind in Wales, with over 900 houses in all. Heating costs were linked to rent, with heat distributed from a central boiler. However, as prices rose in the early 1970s many employed residents opted to leave as this was proving uneconomical for them; those on state welfare weren't affected, as their costs were covered by their benefits . Over time the estate was populated with more and more residents reliant on benefits, and the estate came to be seen as undesirable, a dumping ground for people on low incomes. The estate was refurbished during the 1980s but tenants couldn't be found to fill many properties because of its poor reputation. Many of those left empty were vandalised, which only exacerbated this. Eventually many properties had to be demolished. By 2011 only around one third - roughly 300 - of the homes on the estate remain. Consequently local shops and businesses have been forced to close, further undermining the community.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Penrhys Rhondda Cynon Taf South Wales UK
Photo credit: © David Angel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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