The Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society are pleased to announce the lecture programme for 2018. One or two lectures need to be confirmed, but will be announced in due course.
DATE
SPEAKER
LECTURE
5 February
Brian Davies
The Welsh Paintings of Julius Ibbetson
5 March
Rev David Lee
The Disestablishment of the Church in Wales
9 April
Stephen Brewer
1936 – A Year in History
14 May
Gregg Buick
To be announced
4 June
Keith Lewis-Jones
“Green” Transport in Aberdare and Merthyr
3 September
Gethin Matthews
Commemorating the First World War in South Wales Communities
1 October
Ben Price
To be announced
5 November
Clive Thomas
Merthyr Tydfil: A Decade of Change – 1968-1978
3 December
Daryl Leeworthy
The Rise and Fall of Council Housing in Twentieth-Century Merthyr
When Rev Sir Thomas Cullum (8th Baronet Cullum) visited Merthyr Tydfil in 1811, one of the sights he was most taken with was the mighty Aeolus Waterwheel at the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, and he even called it ‘the wonder of the place’. Some contemporary accounts actually refer to it as ‘the Eighth Wonder of the World‘. I wonder how many people in Merthyr have actually heard of it nowadays?
‘Cyfarthfa Works and Waterwheel’ by William Pamplin. The Aeolus Waterwheel can clearly be seen at the centre of the illustration. Photo courtesy of Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
When Richard Crawshay became sole owner of the Cyfarthfa Works in 1791, he began making plans to extend the works and come up with innovative ways to increase iron production. In 1792, he made the engineer Watkin George a partner in the firm, and the latter began making significant progress in maximising the potential of the works.
His major contribution was the construction between 1793 and 1797 of a huge overshot waterwheel to provide the air for the four blast furnaces.
According to volume 5 of Rees’s Manufacturing Industry (1819-20):
“…..the water-wheel is 50 feet in diameter and six feet wide: it is chiefly made of cast iron, and has 156 buckets. The axle is a hollow tube, and is strengthened by twenty-four pieces of timber applied around it. On each end of the axis is a cog-wheel of twenty-three feet diameter, which turns a pinion. On the axis of these are two cranks, and fly-wheel twenty-two feet diameter, and twelve tons weight; each of the cranks gives motion to a lever, like that of a large steam-engine, and works the piston of a blowing cylinder or air-pump 52½ inches in diameter, and five feet stroke, which blows air into the furnace, both when the piston goes up and down. The work on the other side being the same, it actuates in the whole four of these double cylinders; the wheel makes about two and a half turns per minute, and each cylinder makes ten strokes.”
At the time, it was the largest waterwheel of its kind in the world and was named Aeolus after a character in Greek Mythology. Aeolus, as mentioned in the Odyssey and the Aeneid,was the keeper of the winds and king of the island of Aeolia, one of the abrupt rocky Lipara islands close to Sicily. Later classical writers regarded him as a god.
The wheel was operated by water fed from streams across the river and transported by a massive iron and wood double aqueduct mounted on stone piers between 60 and 70 feet high. This was the famous Gwynne Aqueduct. Sir Charles Manby (later Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers) visited Merthyr and commented that the aqueduct:
“…..maintained an apparent lightness of the whole that contrasted with the massy [sic] boundary of the river, has not only a singular, but also a very interesting and pleasing appearance.”
The Aeolus Waterwheel continued to power the blast furnaces until the 1820’s when it was replaced by a steam powered engine, and was subsequently demolished.
I am looking for any information on a Rev F. Harry Condie (Dowlais). I don’t know what Church or Chapel he preached in, but he was also a “Boxing Preacher.”
Pontsarn Station was, at one time, one of the busiest stations on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway line, as Pontsarn was always the venue of choice for Church and Chapel Sunday School Outings.
In the first photograph taken in the early 1900’s we see a quite busy station with its own station-master.
The second photograph taken in October 2017 shows that nothing remains of the old station other than the platform. It is now a scenic stopping off point on the Taff Trail.
Many thanks to Jason Meaker who suggested this post.
ARIANWEN. The wife of Iorwerth Hirflawdd of Powys, and the mother of Caenawg Mawr.
TANGLWST. The wife of Cyngen, and mother of Brochwael Ysgythrog, Maig and Ieuau. She was believed to have lived at Ynysygored where the nearby name of Hafod Tanglwst still survives.
MECHELL. The wife of Gynyr of Gaer Gawch.
NEFYN. The wife of Cynfarch Oer and mother of Urien Rheged. She was the founder of the church of Nefyn in Lleyn, Caernarfonshire.
GWAWR. The wife of Elidr Lydanwyn and mother of Llywarch Hen.
GWRGON. The wife of Cadrod Calchfynydd.
ELERI. The wife of Ceredig ab Cunedda and mother of Sandde, the father of St David.
LLEIAN. The wife of Gafran ab Dyfnal Hen, and mother of Aeddan Fradawg. She fled with her son after his defeat at the Battle of Arderydd to the Isle of Man. She is believed to have founded Capel Llanlleian in Carmarthen.
NEFYDD. The wife of Tudwal Berr. She is said to have been a saint at Llech Gelyddon.
RHEINGAR. Said to have been a saint at Llech, Maelienydd (Radnorshire).
GOLEUDDYDD. Founded a church in the lost community of Llanysgin in Gwent.
GWENDDYDD. The wife of Cadell Deyrnllwg and mother of St Cyngen. She was buried at Towyn, Merionethshire.
TYDIAN. A saint who lived at Capel Ogwr (Ogmore Chapel) which formerly existed in the Parish of St Bride’s Major.
ELUNED. Also known as Elevetha, Almedha or Aled. She was dedicated to religion, and refused the hand of a young prince who wished to marry her. She was murdered near Brecon on a hill called Penginger, where a church was later built and dedicated to her.
St Eluned
CEINDRYCH. Lived at Llandewyn, Merionethshire.
GWEN. The wife of Llyr Merini and mother of Caradawg Freigfras. She founded the church at Talgarth, where she was murdered by the Saxons.
One of the earliest posts on this blog was about St Tydfil. In that post it was stated that Brychan Brycheiniog, Tydfil’s father, had 24 sons and 25 daughters. As is usual with of this period of history, accounts vary, but local historian Carl Llewellyn has provided a list of Brychan’s children based on the best sources available. We start with Brychan’s sons:
CYNOG. A saint of the Fifth Century, he was the reputed son of Brychan by Banadlwedd, the daughter of Banadle of Banadla Powis. Soon after his birth he was put in the care of a holy man named Gastayn. He was murdered by pagans on a mountain called the Van in Breconshire, where a church in memory of his martyrdom was erected over his grave and called Merthyr Cynog.
CLEDWYN. He embraced a military life and distinguished himself by expelling the Scottish Picts who had taken possession of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Cledwyn succeeded his father governing Breconshire.
DINGAD. He founded the churches of Llandingad in Carmerthenshire and Monmouthshire (where he is buried).
ARTHEN. There was once a church dedicated to him in Gwaenllwg, Monmouthshire which was demolished by the Saxons. The hill near Llandovery called Cefnarthen is named after him. He is buried in the Isle of Man.
CYFLEFYR. He is recognised as a son of Brychan, but some sources say he is actually the son of Dingad, and therefore Brychan’s grandson. He was murdered by the Saxons at a place called Merthyr Cyfefyr.
RHAIN. He became a soldier and took over the eastern part of his father’s lands. He was murdered by the Saxons and was buried at Llanfaelog Fach near Brecon.
DYFNAN. He founded the church at Llanddyfnan in Anglesey and was buried there.
GERWYN. He settled in Cornwall and was killed in the Isle of Gerwyn.
CADOG. Some sources say he was actually the grandson of Brychan. He was the founder of several churches and died in 490AD in France.
MATHAIRN. He was buried in Ceredigion.
PASGEN. Son of Brychan by Peresgri of Spain. Lived and died in Spain.
NEFAI. As above
PABIALI. As above
LLECHAU. He founded the church of Llanlechau in Ewyas in Herefordshire.
CYNBRYD. He founded the church of Llandulas near Abergele. He was murdered by the Saxons at Blwch Cynbryd.
CYNFRAN. He was the founder of the church of Llysfraen in Caernarfonshire.
HYCHAN. He founded the church of Llancychan in Clwyd.
DYFRIG. (Also known as Dubricious) He founded a college at Henllan on the River Wye. He was consecrated in 470AD, and became Archbishop of Caerleon in 490. He founded a college at Caerleon, and in 519 he crowned King Arthur. Upon retirement he moved to a monastery in Bardsey where he died in 522. In 1120, his body was moved from Bardsey and re-buried at Llandaff Cathedral.
CYNIN. He founded the church of Llangynin near St Clears, Carmarthenshire.
DOGFAN. He was murdered by the Saxons at Merthyr Dogfan in Pembrokeshire, and achurch was erected in his memory. He is also the patron saint of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant in Denbighshire.
RHAWIN. He settled in the Isle of Man where there was a church dedicated to him. He later returned to Wales and was murdered with his brother Rhun at Pontyrhun, Troedyrhiw by the group of Saxons who went on to murder Brychan and Tydfil.
