Aberdare Park is a well-preserved Victorian public park which is registered Grade II* on the CADW-ICOMOS Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.
It was laid out on part of Hirwaun common on the instigation of R.H. Rhys, chair of the local board of health. In 1863, he informed the board that the 'Pleasure Grounds' of nearly fifty acres (20ha) would soon be given to the overseers of the parish so that a pleasant place for the inhabitants of Aberdare could be constructed.
The park opened on July 27, 1869 and in 1870, the local board of health borrowed £5,000 to wall, drain and plant the park. Since its opening, it has been maintained first by the Board of Health (1866-94), then by the Aberdare Urban District Council (1895-1974), and presently by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council.
The landscaping and planting of the park was carried out by William Barron (1805-1891) a nurseryman who laid out many public parks in England from 1860 onwards. It was during the period 1860-1870 that the main phase of construction of the park was carried out, with such features as fish ponds, a circular walk and the building of the boundary wall.
Between 1870 and 1900, the planting phase took place. Barron, having done this before, was rather skilled at transplanting mature trees; his expertise is also what gives us the range of tree & shrubs species present in this park.
Between 1901 and 1949, the remainder of the park features such as buildings and furnishings were put in place.
In 1950, the first Aberdare Park Bike meeting took place and attracted a crowd of around 15,000 spectators. On the 18th July 1955, Aberdare Park saw the first ever live television coverage of motorcycling racing anywhere in the country. View further details of the History of the Aberdare Park Motorcycle Races.
In 1956, Aberdare Park hosted the 3rd National Eisteddfod. A Gorsedd circle located above the playground commemorates this event.
In 2016, many local residents greeted the Tour of Britain in Aberdare Park for its Stage 5.
Friends of Aberdare Park published in 2018 a book on the history of Aberdare Park which is now on sale from the café. Find out more about this and other exciting projects the Friends of Aberdare Park are working on.