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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{
| country = Wales
| welsh_name =
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Rhondda (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Rhondda]]
| map_type =
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| official_name =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.672653|-3.483313|display=inline,title}}
| population = 3,160
| population_ref = (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126235&c=maerdy&d=16&e=62&g=6494874&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1447684722110&enc=1|title=Community population 2011|
| lieutenancy_wales =
| constituency_westminster
| post_town =
| postcode_district =
| postcode_area
| dial_code =
| os_grid_reference =
}}
'''Maerdy''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|m|ɑːr|d|i}}, {{lang-cy|Y Maerdy}}) is a village and [[Community (Wales)|community]] (and [[electoral ward]]) in the [[county borough]] of [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]], and within the historic county boundaries of [[Glamorgan]], Wales, lying at the head of the [[Rhondda]] Fach Valley.
== History ==
"Maerdy" is a [[Welsh language|Welsh]] word meaning "house of the
The area grew from a farming community to town around the [[coal mining]] industry and the development of [[Mardy Colliery]] in the late 19th century, but its last pit (Mardy Main) shut in 1990. Maerdy was not originally an area of industrial confrontation, with the Cambrian mines of [[Pentre]] showing far more [[socialist]] ideals. This view would change by the mid to late 20th century when Maerdy became synonymous with working class [[syndicalism]] and solidarity. In the mid-twentieth century Maerdy was associated with the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] and radical miners' leaders such as [[Arthur Horner (politician)|Arthur Horner]] and was known as ''[[Little Moscow]]''. By the time of the [[UK miners' strike (1984–1985)|Miners' strike]] in the 1980s, Maerdy was the location of one of the last working mines in the south Wales valleys, and the pictures of the returning miners once the strike was resolved was one of the defining moments of late 20th century Welsh history.
Maerdy has a number of memorials erected to remember events of significance and notable people.
There is also a memorial in place to remember victims of the colliery disaster, placed in Maerdy Park, and is a coal Dram filled with coal from Maerdy Colliery. Also located in Maerdy park is a memorial dedicated to the memory of fallen World War I and World War II Soldiers.
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A newer, updated War memorial has been erected adjacent to the Colliery memorial with the names of all the soldiers who died in both World War I and World War II.
In 2017, a memorial, known locally as the ‘Maerdy Gateway’ was created at the foot of the mountain road leading to neighbouring [[Aberdare]]. It consists of a pitwheel and a statue of a miner holding a child, wrapped in a traditional Welsh shawl, in memoriam and recognition of the area's booming coal industry.
==Governance==
The Maerdy [[electoral ward]] is coterminous with the community and elects one county councillor to [[Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council]]. Since 1995 representation has flipped between the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] and [[Plaid Cymru]].<ref name=electionresults>[http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rhondda-Cyon-Taff-1995-2012.pdf Rhondda Cyon Taff County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012], The Election Centre. Retrieved 26 October 2018.</ref>
However, a 2018 review of electoral arrangements by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales would see Maerdy ward merged with neighbouring [[Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf|Ferndale]]. The proposals would take effect from the 2022 council elections.<ref>{{cite news|author=Anthony Lewis |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/number-electoral-council-wards-rhondda-15086710 |title=The number of electoral council wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf could be cut for 2022 election |work=Wales Online |date=30 August 2018 |access-date=26 October 2018 }}</ref>
==Transport==
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A group of interested residents takes part in the Maerdy Archive Group which is affiliated with the [[Community archives wales|Community Archives Wales]] scheme to teach local residents how to upload articles of their community's history. The group has a large collection of photographs and ephemera about the development and expansion of the Maerdy area.
In 2002 the village was designated as a Communities First Area and a Partnership formed.
==External links==▼
*[http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2795809 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Maerdy and surrounding area]▼
==References==
{{reflist}}
▲==External links==
▲*[
{{Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
{{Rhondda Valley}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Villages in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[Category:Rhondda Valley]]
[[Category:Communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[Category:Wards of Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
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