The boiler house lies on the high saddle ridge of Penrhys on the slopes of Mynydd Ty'n-tyle. It overlooks the valleys of Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach and comes under the remit of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. The building dates back to the construction of the Penrhys Estate in the late 1960s. The area has a very rich history. Until the late 16th century, Penrhys was an important site for Christian pilgrims. It was also previously the site of a monastery and manor house/farm and a smallpox hospital was built there
The estate was developed in 1966 as a new modern council housing development. When it was officially opened in 1968, it consisted of 951 houses and numerous community facilities (shops, nightclub, leisure centre, schools etc.). At the time it was the largest public-sector housing venture in Wales. There are now approximately 300 houses standing with 250 in occupation. The majority of community facilities have now closed.
One of the innovative features of Penrhys estate was the district heating system. Under an agreement with the National Coal Board, water was heated in a central coal fired boiler and a network of insulated pipes served each house with space heating and hot water. The cost of heating was included in the rent.
The system was designed and built during a period of low energy costs, but proved very expensive following the Oil Crisis of 1973 which increased the cost of energy. There also appear to have been issues relating to robustness of the system?s infrastructure and maintenance programme as well as use of the system. Ultimately, as heating cost increases had to be absorbed into the rent the estate became uneconomic for many residents. This resulted in many leaving the estate to move to other housing where they could have more control over their heating costs. This outflow appears to have led to the estates decline during the 1970s and 1980s.
The system was designed and built during a period of low energy costs, but proved very expensive following the Oil Crisis of 1973 which increased the cost of energy. There also appear to have been issues relating to robustness of the system?s infrastructure and maintenance programme as well as use of the system. Ultimately, as heating cost increases had to be absorbed into the rent the estate became uneconomic for many residents. This resulted in many leaving the estate to move to other housing where they could have more control over their heating costs. This outflow appears to have led to the estates decline during the 1970s and 1980s.
Eventually the district heating scheme was shut down and the estate switched to mains gas with gas boilers installed in each dwelling. The boiler house then lay empty until a computer training company moved in and used it as a training establishment. When the company?s operations ceased the building was largely disused, except for a short period when it served as a venue for the local youth club. The building has not been used for the last 12 years and has become increasingly derelict. There is no evidence/information available on prior refurbishment work.
