Month: June 2023

Calling all historians

Hello everyone.

Yet again, it is time for my bi-annual appeal to all budding historians out there – please send in your articles.

As you know I am always looking for fresh ideas for this blog, so if anyone feels they would like to contribute a piece – no matter how short, any submissions will be gratefully received.

There have been some articles on the blog this year written by ‘new’ authors (to this blog), and have been about fascinating and vastly different subjects – subjects that I would probably have never written about – that’s what keeps this blog fresh, so why don’t you have a go at writing something? Also, it is getting more difficult to come up with interesting articles to keep the blog going, so anything you could contribute will make a difference

Everyone is welcome to contribute – whether you are an established historian or someone with a passion for local history who has never written something before.

Please send me your articles – HELP KEEP THIS BLOG GOING. Without your input the blog could run out of steam.

Thank you

Death of Mr Fothergill

The article below is transcribed from the Evening Express 120 years ago today….

DEATH OF MR FOTHERGILL

Deceased a Former M.P. for Merthyr.

Mr. Richard Fothergill, formerly M.P. for Merthyr Tydfil, died at Sion House, Tenby, early this morning after an illness extending over a month.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

The redoubtable family of the Fothergills were early identified with Westmoreland and the “North Countrie.” They were products of the North—the bleak nursery of strong men. The philosopher of the buckle and lamp has endeavoured to trace analogies between the magnetic and the mental. That we pass over; but certainly from the North came many of the pioneers of we iron and coal world, though not, be it added, without a blending of native genius.

The Fothergills first appeared in this country at Lydbrook, in the Forest of Dean, at Tredegar, and next in the Aberdare district, where the family was represented by Rowland Fothergill, who followed in the track of the Scales, and is creditably supposed to have thriven in the same ratio as that family declines. One of the Scales, who had a tendency to be pungent with his pen in after years, described Rowland Fothergill as the squire of Hensol, who “looked as though he never could stoop with his scythe to mow.”

Mr. Rowland Fothergill was a personage of note in Aberdare in 1819. He was the uncle of Richard Fothergill, and when that worthy was in his erratic youth he came and grew up by the side of the stalwart old man, trained into the mysteries of iron-making, and, when in all the strength of his manhood he careered about the valley, well mounted, scorning high- ways and dashing about the mountains, few finer types of humanity could be a cavalier amongst the Puritans, one upon whom men looked with pleasure for his man hood and frankness, and upon whom the eyes of women fell with pleasing interest.

As time past changes crept in. Mr. Rowland Fothergill drifted away from forges and furnaces to the arcadian attractions of Hensol, and when he died in the fulness of years Richard, the nephew, reigned in his stead. He was now the owner of Abernant and Llwydcoed. Ironworks, collieries, and landed estates were his. Not only had he thousands of men at his command, but a splendid array of able men as managers, agents, etc., whose descendants we see to-day—all that is left of them—in honourable positions at the Docks or elsewhere; men who since won rank in the industrial world, and held it by unswerving integrity.

When Mr. Richard Fothergill had gained a position greater than that held by his uncle, there yet opened out a longer vista of distinction We find him aspiring to annex the ironworks of Mr. Anthony Hill, the last of the famous Plymouth Iron Company, who died in 1862. His death cleared the way to the ambitious ironmaster, suggesting greater and more successful rivalry to the Crawshays and Guests by his becoming as potent in the Merthyr Valley as in that of Aberdare. In connection with others, notably Mr. Hankey, a London banker, the Plymouth Ironworks and Collieries passed into his hands, and with remarkable industry he overlooked the workings of each ironworks and colliery.

In the zenith of his career as ironmaster he met with a sad family bereavement, and for a time he was overwhelmed, trying to find in religious consolation the anodyne. In time he rallied, and it was not very long before a vacancy in the representation of Merthyr Tydfil aroused in him the ambition to become to the iron and coal district what Sir John Guest had been. Keen student of man, it was not long before he gained his end, and, amid the cheers of hurraying men, the acclamations of “Fothergill age,” and the blaze of the magenta light won from the coal, he made his way to St. Stephen’s.

Friends and enemies gave him the credit of having been an active member of Parliament. He did not sit down, resting upon his laurels, but fought for all he was worth in advocacy of the virtues of the coal of Wales. Of course, many said that in doing so he also benefited himself. Be that as it may, he unquestionably did a good deal in the interest of steam coal, and was the means first of getting good Admiralty orders and, secondly, of making the beat steam coal of Wales more widely known.

While all intent upon coal, iron, Parliament, the commercial crash came which involved him in disaster, and the star which had arisen so brightly fell. It was a terrible calamnity to him and to the district. Many a man wished that Mr. G. Clark’s intention of carrying on Plymouth Works after the death of Mr. Anthony Hill had been accomplished, and deplored the acquisition by Mr. Fothergill. Fortunately, time and the merits of the famous Welsh coal brought about eventually some modification, though to this day old furnaces long disused at Plymouth and the wreck of Abernant and Llwydcoed are evidences of the greatest disaster to the iron industry Wales ever sustained. From that time and Mr. Fothergill’s retirement from Parliament his connection with his old district has been slight. Perhaps one of the best reminders of Mr. Richard Fothergill will be his successes at Abernant House. Here, with remarkable taste, he made the unsightly tips attractive, clothing eyesores with leaflage and foliage.

 – Evening Express – 24 June 1903

Memories of Old Merthyr

We continue our serialisation of the memories of Merthyr in the 1830’s by an un-named correspondent to the Merthyr Express, courtesy of Michael Donovan.

A family of the name of Steel were at Plymouth. Old Mr Steel was the chief and trusted agent. One of his sons died, the other was in America for many years. Alfred Meyler Hughes, who was at Dowlais, married a Miss Steel, but as far as known, the family have died out.

The Joseph family were there: the oldest that can be recalled was Mr Morgan Joseph. He had three sons and two daughters. The sons were Mr David Joseph, who became one of the trustees under Mr Hill’s will; Mr Thos. Joseph, one of the most enterprising of colliery proprietors (although he did not amass a fortune); Mr Morgan Joseph, who was an agent or resident part proprietor with the Ocean Colliery, and is yet alive, I believe, at Bath. One of the daughters married a Mr T Davies, who was furnace manager at Plymouth; the other married Mr Samuel Thomas, then of Pontstorehouse, but later of Ysguborwen, the father of Mr David Alfred Thomas, the senior member of the borough (right).

The Bevan family were the forge carpenters, or if the term is preferred, the engineers, as was also a Davis family, the daughter of whom, Angharad Gwent, is, I hear, yet with us. All there were prior to Mr W T Lewis’ time.

A Mr John Bevan, not the same family as previously mentioned, was in charge of the horses. This Mr Bevan’s brother was archdeacon of Carmarthen. Mr William Thomas – the grandfather of Mr W Thomas of Oakfield, and brother of the Mr E Thomas alluded to – was the chief book-keeper, left for a while but returned, and after some few years passed away.

Before leaving Plymouth, I should say Mr A Hill was extremely fond of Chemistry, Dr Wollaston was his beau ideal, but chemistry was not then advanced as now. What with some few experiments, and very careful observation in practice, Mr Hill did certainly produce first a bar iron, and afterwards a rail, which stood amongst the highest of their kind. He used certain materials not usually resorted to, but nothing would induce him to patent after the experience of the cinder one.

To be continued at a later date.

Pant Cemetery

by J Ann Lewis

Pant cemetery opened in 1849 owing to the Cholera outbreak that had claimed so many lives, and the shortage of space at St John’s Church burial ground and other burial grounds in the area. The Dowlais Works had been unable to give any of their land as it contained minerals, so the prominent landowner, the Hon. Robert Clive, gave two acres of land near the Kissing-Gate opposite the Pant Cad Ifor Inn on the following conditions:

  • That the ground was consecrated
  • A fence was made around it
  • A chapel was built for prayers

The Dowlais Company organised the last two conditions and the Rev Jenkins officiated at the consecration ceremony.

One of the first burials at Pant Cemetery was on 6 August 1849, of a four-year-old boy who had probably died of cholera. During this epidemic, 1,432 victims died. Two more cholera outbreaks followed on 1854 and 1866.

In October 1858, the newly formed Dowlais Burial Board borrowed £1,200 for a new burial ground, and ensured that a new site, given by Lady Windsor, was opened in 1860. There were, in effect, two cemeteries at Pant which were situated next to each other. The Established Church’s cemetery which had opened in 1849 and the Dowlais Board’s in 1860. They later became one single cemetery.

The cemetery has been extended several times, once in 1903 when £1,950 was borrowed for the purpose. The land adjoining Pant Cemetery was acquired from Lord Windsor  and Messrs Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd, for the sum of £100 an acre, and £312 was paid to Messrs Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd for providing an arable field instead of the one taken over by the council. The topsoil was taken from the building site at Caeracca Villas and was used for making up the graves.

Pant Cemetery in the early 1900s with Mr Bunn who worked at the cemetery for 57 years, seven as a grave-digger and fifty as sexton. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Also in 1903, a storm caused considerable damage when some large poplar trees in the cemetery blew down. The fallen trees were used to make decent seats for visitors, and the remaining logs were used for firewood for the road roller.

In the part of the cemetery opened in 1860, there were about 130 trees growing to a height of 35 – 40 ft. Add to these the 224 trees in the area opened in 1874, as can be seen, the trees were taking up a lot of space. One of the trees covered an area of 90feet in circumference, whilst others covered people’s headstones with the roots striking into adjoining graves. In 1907, about 25 trees were cut down, made into blocks of about 24 inches and sold to the public for 6d each.

In the area added to the cemetery in 1882, a belt of trees 60 yards long and 10 yards wide ran along the boundary wall. These trees were no trouble however, and were planted for the purpose of secluding the adjoining Brynonen House.

1862 saw the completion of the chapel at Pant Cemetery. It soon became too small for the increased number of worshippers, so the larger Christ Church was built nearby. It continued to be used for special occasions until the 1950s when it was demolished.  A new church was built which was used by the Roman Catholic Church for a while, but the building is now used as a storeroom.

Pant Cemetery Gates showing the old chapel. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

In 1906, 400 tons of stone were quarried at Pant Cemetery to make further space for graves. Also a complaint was made to Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd about the danger of blasting at the nearby Bryniau Quarry during a burial service; fortunately no-one was injured. Later, in 1947, two people who died in Pengarnddu during the terrible snow-storms were brought by sledge down past Caeracca Farm to be buried.

Over the years the cemetery has been an accepted place for walks, and on sunny days it is interesting to read the many different verses and messages on the gravestones. One such verse reads: “Chewing gum, chewing gum made of wax sent me to the grave at last”.

The Dark Side of Convict Life – part 7

by Barrie Jones

Chapter V recounts Henry’s completion of his prison sentence at Dartmoor Prison, approximately three months short of his three-year sentence, and his first experience of London.

The Dark Side of Convict Life (Being the Account of the Career of Harry Williams, a Merthyr Man). Merthyr Express, 26th February 1910, page 11.

Chapter V

The liberation of a convict is looked forward to far more than that of a local prisoner. In the first place, the governor has no power to release him until the preliminaries are gone into, as all his papers, records and so on are sent up to the Home Secretary three full months before his release; and then, and not until then, will he be allowed to grow his hair, or, what is called, “going into orders.” Then he has to be photographed, and all the minute marks on his body are taken, and also his fingerprints, with head measurements. He is also measured for his clothes and boots, and finally he is called up by the governor concerning his future prospects. The Government allows so much for each convict’ skit, which consists of one suit of clothes, one pair of boots or shoes, two pairs of woollen socks, two handkerchiefs; two collars, two over-shirts, one hat, and a penny comb; but they are not worth much. Convicts, as a rule, do not wear these prison made clothes very long; they get rid of them as soon as possible, as nearly everyone knows the prison cut, particularly the flannels. I have known a convict to be liberated in those clothes, and only a week later, brought back to “serve his ticket” for a breach of the rules, and wearing quite a different suit altogether.

My journey from Dartmoor to Pentonville was a rather pleasant one, and a great deal happier I felt coming from than going to. I had still seven days yet to serve at Pentonville, and that short period seemed to me as long as the whole sentence; indeed, I must confess that the night previous to my discharge was to me rather a restless one, for I lay awake reckoning each stroke of the prison clock. A convict does not think much of his sentence while serving it, but when he is within his last three month’s time drags. The lag says: “It is the longest part of my lagging.” It is then he begins to feel the punishment of along sentence. I can well remember a convict at Dartmoor asking me how long I was doing, and when told it was three years, he replied: “That is only a sleep.” Naturally it was only a sleep to him, for he wore upon his arm the letter L, which told that he was serving a life sentence. I have nothing to say about Pentonville Prison, as I was not long enough there to experience anything approaching person treatment; it being the first time I had ever been in a London prison, or London itself. I wish to let my readers know what I went to London for, and that was, to join a Prisoner’ Aid Society. It was not that I had no home to go to, for I had as good a home as any man, but I did not wish to go back home, as I had too many friends who were always ready to treat me with another “lagging,” if I gave them the least chance. Between nine and ten o’clock on the morning of my discharge I was given an old temporary suit of clothes at the prison, and I was taken in a cab to the well-known Saint Giles’ Christian Mission, where I was supplied with a new suit of common black diagonal, and a pair of boots, as I refused clothes made at Dartmoor. Those clothes were paid for by the Government to the Society, the former allowing two pounds two and sixpence for a convicts’ rig-out, and I was entitled to a balance of over a sovereign, as the clothes and boots could be obtained at any clothiers for a little over a sovereign.

I had an interview with the founder of this establishment, and asked him to give me the promised assistance, but he said: “You haven’t sufficient money to start with,” and he could do nothing for me. This is a Prisoners’ Aid Society, and he had a few loafers there who had the cockney impudence (and that Is impudence seldom heard in Wales) to ask me to stand them a drink. I was having none of it, and as Welshmen are looked upon by that class of people as “mugs,” I up and asked them if they thought they had a shark. I told them that I was a Welshman, but nearly all Welshmen could speak English, too, so in the end I was advised to go home, as London was not the place for me. I replied: “No, you are right; I think I had better go home.” Thus, I left Paddington on the 19th of July 1898, for Merthyr, where I was received with open arms by my mother and sisters.

To be continued…..

Merthyr’s Lost Landmarks: Quaker’s Yard Truant School

by Carolyn Jacob

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

The Quaker’s Yard “truant school” or South Wales and Monmouthshire Training School was built in 1893 and took in boys from all over South Wales and Monmouthshire. There are printed records of the rules and regulations of the school dated 1896; the timetable of the truant school is introduced and the system of punishment detailed. For a first offence of truancy, the pupil will be detained at truant school for three months.

School attendance and its enforcement were a problem after attending school became compulsory in the 1870s. The school was intended to solve the problem of boys roaming the streets. Parents of children sent here had to pay a weekly amount for the maintenance of the child but often argued that the child was beyond their control.  To send children to a residential school where they would probably be retained till they were nearly 16 years of age, appeared to be a very drastic and expensive remedy for mere non-attendance.  However, these were similar to a borstal and contained ‘problem’ children or the children of ‘problem families’.

At first the Truant Schools were not pleasant places.  They smacked of the prison rather than of the school and the daily regime was quite tough. These schools were never used for girls.  Gradually the school became less strict, leading to the adoption of more enlightened methods. When it ceased to be a school, the building was used as an old people’s home but the building was demolished in the late 1990s.

After the school building was knocked down houses built were built on the site.

The records of the Quaker’s Yard Truant School are now held in the Glamorgan Archives in Cardiff, but they can only be consulted if the entry is 100 years old because the information in the book is regarded as being of a confidential nature.

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive