We live in UK’s ‘most depressing’ estate – but it’s not that bad

It was once an important Christian pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared. 

But now, on a hillside overlooking the stunning Rhondda Valley in Wales, 1,100ft above sea level, sits a neglected council estate: Penrhys.

Homes built in the late 1960s as part of a ‘modern council housing development’ have been left to rot and are black-stained. 

In its heyday, 951 two and three-storey terraced homes were at the centre of a thriving community. 

A lonely shop, Woody’s newsagents, and a concrete basketball court is all that remains of any form of amenities.

The pub and doctor’s surgery have all been closed down, and restaurants and takeaways where a Just Eat sign still hangs are boarded up in what has been branded as one of Britain’s most depressing place to live.  

Two-thirds of the homes deemed uninhabitable have been bulldozed in the troubled estate since the 1990s.

Today, the foundations are still visible in the hillside, and steps that once led to people’s front doors now lead to nothing but rubble and an empty space. 

On a hillside overlooking the stunning Rhondda Valley in Wales, 1,100ft above sea level, sits a neglected council estate: Penrhys

Homes built in the late 1960s as part of a ‘modern council housing development’ have been left to rot and are black-stained

A lonely shop, Woody’s newsagents, and a concrete basketball court is all that remains of any form of amenities

Green waste bins with the motto ‘strong heritage, strong future’ sit toppled on pavements, surrounded by empty paint tins, discarded energy drinks and nitrous oxide canisters. 

One empty home is infested with blue bottle flies, which crawl all over the grimy windows, and chilly winds blast locals. 

Former shoplifter and heroin addict Cullain Mais described it as a ‘real eye-opener’ when he took his cameras inside the dilapidated estate for his successful podcast The Central Club.  

‘I feel like i’m in a warzone here. Just rubble. Literally, you feel like you are in the West Bank,’ he said as he stood among the remains of one demolished home. 

But despite its ramshackled appearance, people who live in the neighbourhood are fiercely protective of their community who say ‘it’s an amazing place to live’. 

Resident Michelle, who did not give her surname, has lived in Penrhys for 11 years and vowed to stay living there ‘until I’m moved off’.

She told The Central Club: ‘It’s such a tight-knit community, it’s brilliant up here.’ 

However, not everyone was as complimentary about the place. One bald-headed tattooed man had returned to live in the area six years ago having moved out in the 1990s. 

Two-thirds of the homes deemed uninhabitable have been bulldozed in the troubled estate since the 1990s

A general view of houses at Penrhys housing estate in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf — October, 2018

Today, the foundations are still visible in the hillside, and steps that once led to people’s front doors now lead to nothing but rubble and an empty space

An aerial Google Maps view of Penrhys shows large areas of green open space where homes once used to stand

He said the difference between the two eras was clear: ‘In the ’80s it was full of people and everybody was happy. Now it’s a f***ing s***hole. 

‘But there are some good people up here. It’s a ghost town now.’ 

Jan Griffiths, 72, told The Sun in February that they did have a problem with people setting cars on fire and guns but those days have since gone. 

A resident since the 1970s, she said: ‘It might be a bit run down, but there are lots of run-down places. Anybody who wants to criticise should come and visit and see what a welcome they get – we welcome anybody.’ 

Others though spoke of having leaky homes, and their rubbish bags that are only collected every four weeks are being torn open by cats and foxes. 

For 18 months, locals had to battle against a plague of giant rats that roamed the estate.

A series of horror photographs showed the enormous rodents in gardens, food waste bins and rats caught in traps. 

On Reddit, former inhabitants and other commenters have come out in defence of the village. 

Former shoplifter and heroin addict Cullain Mais described it as a ‘real eye-opener’ when he recently took his cameras inside the dilapidated estate for his successful podcast The Central Club

One empty home is infested with blue bottle flies, which crawl all over the grimy windows

The council estate, which was developed in 1966, overlooks both valleys of the Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach — October, 2018

An abandoned home sits on the hillside of the Penrhys estate where locals have in the past had to contend with a plague of rats 

‘As an English person who lived there for a few years South Wales has a unique feel,’ one person wrote. 

‘Largely impoverished valley towns built to sustain previous population growth bang in the midst of dramatic rural landscapes. 

‘These places may “look” somewhat depressing to a lot of people in the UK but you will struggle to find friendlier, more welcoming and homely places in the country. I can think of and know of far far far more depressing places to live.’

Others think the area would be desirable with ‘a nice trash pick up and some tree and plants’. 

‘Architecture is nice and the natural area is pretty, lots of open space,’ they said. 

Former Plaid AM for Rhondda, Leanne Wood, said in 2017 that the village had been ‘neglected by the powers that be’. 

She told Wales Online: ‘It is a community that has been left behind. I see Penrhys as one of the victims of austerity.

‘It is a place with so many good people with good attitudes and ideas, but with little support from statutory services.’

The Penrhys community centre which was officially opened by George Thomas, Secretary of State for Wales, in 1970. It has since been torn down

In its heyday, 951 two and three-storey terraced homes were at the centre of a thriving community

A view of part of the Penrhys housing estate with Tonypandy in the distance — March, 1986

Views from the top of the Penrhys Community Centre in December 1971

United Reform minister Patricia Parrish looks at some of the graffiti on the walls at her chapel on the Penrhys Estate — March, 1986

The garages on the Penrhys estate all had steel doors placed on them by around 1995

People who live on the estate are proud of the close-knit community that the village prides itself on (Pictured: a view of Penrhys in August 1987)

Housing association Trivallis has some grand plans for Penrhys and hope building 1,000 new homes, a school and a community centre will breathe some much needed new life into the estate.   

Duncan Forbes, chief executive at Trivallis, told The Sun: ‘Penrhys is far from forgotten — when you take time to get to know people there you can see that it’s a strong, caring community where people look out for each other. Local volunteers have worked with us and other partners to support people and make a positive difference.

‘We’re proud to work with residents to build a better future and excited for what we’ll achieve together.’

Mr Mais agreed that the area needed some work, but commended those who lived in the village. 

‘If i was giving this a rating I’d have to give Penrhys five out of ten and the five is just because of the community and the people here,’ he said. 

‘Maybe I’ll give it a six for the view. The view is stunning.’