110 years ago today…..
Month: May 2020
Destructive Fire at Merthyr
The article transcribed below appeared in the Western Mail 150 years ago today (4 May 1870).
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MERTHYR
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
On Monday night a fire of great magnitude took place at Merthyr, destroying a large amount of property. It occurred on the premise, of Mr. Evan Meredith, draper, Waterloo House, in the High Street. The assistants were in the act of closing the shop, when the window next the Globe Tavern was seen to be on fire, the stuff in it, which was of a very inflammable nature, having, it is supposed, come in contact with the gas. The whole shop and the showrooms in an instant were in a blaze, and it was as much as the assistants, Mr. Meredith, his wife and children could do to escape from the burning house without injury.
The police, under the command of Mr. Superintendent Thomas, were on the spot without any delay with the fire apparatus and escape, but, as usual in these cases, the never-failing hitch took place. No water could be procured, and the turncock was nowhere to be found. A delay of the most vital importance now occurred, but the keys were at last secured. Two hydrants (one by the Court Arms, and the other by Messrs. White’s) were opened, but one would not work for a while. After a short period, the water began to run, but too late to save the house.
One hose was taken under the charge of Police-sergeant Dance through the Globe Tavern to its roof, from whence he played upon the back part of the burning building. The Superintendent worked the other upon the front part. Seeing after a time that all efforts would be fruitless to save either the house or the stock, the police devoted their energies to the work of saving the adjoining houses, (Mr. A. Gunn’s, confectioner, and the Globe Tavern) which were in imminent danger, the inmates having begun to remove their property. This they at length succeeded in doing, but not until considerable damage was done by fire and water to both houses.
About ten o’clock the roof fell in with a tremendous crash, and the fire was stayed for a moment only to return the next with still greater fury. Shortly after this the gas company turned off the gas leaving the streets and houses in pitch darkness, so that torches had to be used. This was done at the request of the police, the fire being continually fed by the escaping gas, the pipes having melted with the heat. By one o clock the fire had been got under, but the hose were plied with unflagging zeal until the early morning, at even which time the ruins were still smouldering.
The stock in the shop consisted mostly of the usual drapery goods, but just the kind of materials to make the best fuel for a fire. The total amount of damage done is as yet unknown, but it is no doubt very great. Of the building itself nothing is left but the principal walls. Mr. Meredith was insured in the Royal and Imperial Fire Insurance Offices.
The fire was seen from all parts of the district, and was compared to the light of a blast-furnace. An immense crowd collected, who, to their credit be it said, behaved in a most orderly manner. Too great praise cannot be given to Mr. Superintendent Thomas, Police-sergeants Dance, Thomas, Jennings, and the police for the quickness of their actions and the greatness of their exertions, the delay at the outset not falling on their shoulders. Volunteers came forward to assist in the work, and also deserve commendation. Among those most active were Mr. H. W. Lewis, engineer of Plymouth, with the hose; Mr. D. T. Richards, ironworks; Mr. Biddle, smith; Mr. Evan Davies, cabinet-maker; Mr. W. Brown, Court Arms; and Mr. Absalom Williams, miner, in rescuing furniture and giving other material assistance.
Great sympathy is felt by all parties in the town with Mr. Meredith in the great loss he has sustained. The escape of the four children was almost miraculous. They were sleeping in a bedroom close to the shop at the outbreak of the fire, and were rescued by Mr. Meredith and one of his assistants with very great difficulty. If they had been a minute or so later the children’s lives would have been sacrificed. Mrs. Meredith, at the writing of this report, is lying dangerously ill and great fears are entertained for her recovery. Mr. Meredith was rather severely burnt in trying to put the fire out.
Four of the assistants (two young ladies and two young men) and three servants are rendered well-nigh destitute by the calamity, all their clothes having been burnt, and having no home to go to. A subscription list has been opened, and already a handsome sum has been collected, the rector (Rev John Griffith, Mr. T. J. Evans of the Brecon Bank, and Mr. W. Harris, merchant, having headed the list with £10 each, and Messrs. Phillips and Evans with £5. Subscriptions may be received by Mr. W. Harris, merchant, and Mr. D. Phillips, of the firm of Phillips and Evans. It is to be hoped that the public will not be backward in responding to this worthy appeal.
It is not often that such a dire calamity as this comes upon this town, and the effect has been very great upon all classes of society. Thousands of people visited the scene of the fire yesterday, and on all sides were heard nothing but heartfelt expressions of sympathy with Mr. Meredith in his great affliction.
Merthyr’s Lost Landmarks: Garthnewydd
by Laura Bray
One of Merthyr’s forgotten houses is Garthnewydd, situated on the crossroads of Brecon Rd, Abermorlais Terrace and Bethesda St, opposite the Catholic Church and, for those of us old enough to remember it, The Glamorgan Arms. It was demolished in the 1970’s, when the area was redeveloped.
There is scant history now about this dwelling. We know it was a well established landmark by 1891, as it was offered for sale by auction as the former residence of Mr Frank James, and was billed as a “dwelling house, with billiard room, two-stall stable and coach house”. In the same auction (7th July 1891), the two adjoining properties of 47 and 48 Bethesda Street, were also under the hammer.
I haven’t been able to find out who bought the house, but one occupant after this date was the Mayor, Mr C Biddle, and another was Dr Llewellyn Jones. After Dr Jones’ death in the late 1920s/early 1930s, the house came into the possession of our old friends, the Berry brothers – specifically William and Gomer – who gave £400 to complete the purchase of Garthnewydd, which was then gifted to the town for the use of unemployed workers. The Berry brothers also provided money to adapt the building, which became known as the Garthnewydd Unemployed Social Club, – at one point it had a membership of 400 men and boys, each paying 1d/week towards its upkeep.
Garthnewydd became a thriving community centre, offering activities to its members such as physical training; educational opportunities for example art, drama, shorthand and book-keeping classes; talks were given weekly and there were areas for wireless enthusiasts, for carpentry, boot repairing, chemistry and for the Ladies Sewing Circle. There was a games room (everything from billiards to dominos), a library which issued in excess of 150 books a week, and a soccer team, which played in the Merthyr and District League. During the Second World War, Garthnewydd was even a centre for Y.M.C.A. work amongst the armed forces.
Following the War it became the home of the Merthyr branch of the Y.W.C.A., opening in 1946, it continued to house the Y.W.C.A. until 1958.
Over time, Garthnewydd became a centre for more political activity, first pacifism and then Welsh Nationalism, through which both the Triskel Press and “Poetry Wales” were conceived and inaugurated. But gradually the usage of the building declined, and the fabric of it deteriorated, until the final organisations vacated it in the 1970s.
