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.
The Basin Tramroad continued between the turnpike road and the Morlais Brook, until it came close to Gellyfaelog, and then curved round to the right, the road taking a turn just beyond. There were several public houses on the way; one, the Talbot, was not far from Penydarren, and three chapels can be recalled.
The Talbot Inn, Penydarren. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive
The Morlais Brook was kept to its course by masonry, sometimes in the form of a semi-circular culvert, at other places by a wall. A rope maker by the name of Verge followed his business here, his walk being between the brook and the tramroad. About where the road now turns, for years there stood an ash tree, but it became dispoiled to a stump or trunk eventually; it was always understood to be a boundary of some property, the detail of which if ever known has now slipped into the land of forgetfulness. This road, however, is to me a new one, and was made after all the works traffic was conveyed by the railroad.
For some distance along here the continuity of the dwellings on the right side was broken. There were others further on, in one of which Thomas Gwythiwr, the roll turner of Dowlais lived, and a person by the name of Shaw, whose father kept a school in the Glebeland, Merthyr, stayed with him. Shaw was an artist, and painted likenesses in oil, as well as any scenes, real and fanciful that may have taken his fancy. Whilst writing this, it occurs to me that it is likely some of his work yet exists in the locality; indeed, I firmly believe, one place could be mentioned, but do not like to say so without permission. If anyone will enquire of me through you it could be mentioned without fear of offence.
At the end of the block of dwellings in one of which Gwythiwr lived, the tramroad and turnpike were not above forty feet apart, and level with each other. A pedestrian could, and generally did, come on to the tramroad to shorten the way, but all other traffic would go a little further on and then turn. This bridge is Gellifaelog, and the brook is the Morlais. There was was at one time a tramroad on the left side of the brook running around to the Ivor Works.
An extract of the 1851 Ordnance Survey Map showing the Gellifaelog Bridge
Crossing the bridge I fancy a turnpike gate can be remembered, but a public house, the Bridge End, can well be remembered. It was kept by one of the name of Evans. His daughter was married to Will Williams, who with others went to Russia on a rail matter; that may be again alluded to. There was a cheque presented at the Brecon Old Bank and paid, which turned out an imposition, and it was reputed to have been done by her in man’s clothing, but another was thought to have been the instigator. Whether the identity was correct or not, there was the on dit.
Chapter VII recounts Henry’s second long term imprisonment in Portland Prison, Dorset. He was tried at the Glamorgan Assizes, Swansea on the 14th November 1898 for the “Great Jewellery Robbery” at Treharris, again with David Davies. They had burgled the premises of John Edwards, Jeweller, Perrot Street, Treharris, stealing watches, chains, rings, and various other articles valued at two-hundred and fifty pounds. Superintendent Thornley commented to Justice Day that both prisoners were habitual thieves and burglars, and both had just been liberated on “ticket-of-leave.”
The Dark Side of Convict Life (Being the Account of the Career of Harry Williams, a Merthyr Man). Merthyr Express, 5th March 1910, page 11.
Chapter VII
I suppose many of my readers can well remember the great miners’ strike in 1898, when men, women, and little children were carried to their graves dying every day of starvation; a crime committed in those days was certainly excusable. It was for taking part in a jewellery robbery that I was tried and sentenced to penal servitude for nine years. I was afterwards transferred to Exeter Prison to serve six months’ probation. I made no attempt to escape this time, as I was too carefully watched, for the authorities had not forgotten the last event. I had no trouble there this time, but my troubles were to come. After serving my probation I was transferred to Portland Convict Prison, this being a first-class labour station, and it was here that I composed the “Convict’s Reflections,” which I will give for the benefit of my readers of the “Merthyr Express”:
The Convict’s Reflections
One eve as I sat in my cell, sad and lonely
The prison all quiet, and the warders away
I thought of the parents I had left far behind me
And prayed that again I might see them some day,
When all of a sudden, outside my cell window,
I heard a bird chirping – it seemed full of glee.
So just pay attention, old friends, while I mention
What that little bird told through the bars unto me.
It brought to my mind the bright home of my childhood.
It spoke of the grief and the many sad tears.
That my own darling sister had shed in the wild wood.
When she heard I was sentenced to nine long years.
It said that at night-time when that fair one was sleeping
She would dream of the time when her brother was free,
And even in her slumbers o’er me she would be weeping
The bird whispered this through the bars unto me.
It spoke of two honest, hardworking brothers
It is here, hardened nature, succumbed and tears flowed.
I had seen them, their children, like all jealous lovers,
Remove from the taint of their own flesh and blood.
Oh, sin, thou alluring, and fair faced deceiver,
When, when, shall frail man thy unmasked features see?
When your mates from the tomb hesitate to receive you
The bird whispered this through the bars unto me.
It told me of one who had died broken-hearted
When she heard of the sentence they passed on her lad
Oh, how she did weep on the day that we parted
When I think of my mother it makes my heart sad
How little she thought, on the day that she bore me
That the pride of her breast a poor convict would be
For she prayed that the angels above would watch o’er me
The bird whispered this through the bars unto me.
It spoke of my father, whose days were fast closing,
That the battle of life he himself had to brave,
And it said that he longed to be calmly reposing
By the side of his love in the peace of the grave.
Oh, how well I remember the way he would caress me
And tell me fine tales as I sat on his knee.
But no more in this world shall those fond parents bless me
The bird whispered this through the bars unto me.
And lastly it told me of one I loved dearly
It cost me a pang when from her I’d to part
For it said that she oft-times wished she was near me;
Though a convict, I had still the first place in her heart.
The little bird chirped a good-night, and departed,
But told me to hope for bright days yet to see
And often I think when I’m feeling down-hearted
What that little bird told through the bars unto me.
Do you have memories of going to the cinema when you were younger?
Picture Palace, Troedyrhiw. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive
Merthyr and the surrounding area had almost a dozen cinemas in years gone by, and Dr Steven Gerrard of the Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University (and a Pentrebach boy) is working on a project to collect people’s memories of them.
To achieve this, Steve will be holding a drop in session at Canolfan Soar between 10.00 and 12.00 on Monday 20 November for people to come along and share their memories.
If you would like to take part, please come along and have a chat about your memories – you will be guaranteed a very warm welcome.
To recap – Canolfan Soar – 20 November – 10.00 to 12.00. Please come along and share your memories.
Gene Lynn at the Castle Cinema organ. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive
During the first half of the Twentieth Century, the manager’s job was very different to what it is today. In this era managers were generally given the title of Secretary-Manager and were responsible for signing players and the day-to-day running of the club. Much of the training and ‘tactics’ were generally left to the Trainer who would sometimes consult senior players. Team selection was normally left to the committee or board of directors.
What follows is a series of biographies of those individuals who ‘managed’ Merthyr Town, a job when the club was a member of the Football League in the 1920s, which was widely regarded as being one of the toughest in British football due to the massive financial problems facing the club as unemployment mounted year on year in the Borough.
THE EARLY ‘MANAGERS’
DAVID THOMAS MANTLE
David Thomas Mantle was the first Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town. He was appointed in June 1908 and was assisted as Trainer by Sam Collins, a local insurance superintendent and trained masseur. Mantle arrived at Penydarren Park with a good pedigree having won the South Wales Cup with Ton Pentre the previous season. However, Mantle’s stay at Penydarren Park was to be a short one as he left in October 1908 to return to Ton Pentre. In 1912 he was banned from football for life having being found guilty by the Football Association of Wales of making illegal payments to players.
Following Mantle’s departure, Sam Collins continued as Trainer and the secretarial duties were taken over by Mr. W.H. Parry a local solicitor. Parry was himself replaced as Secretary for the 1909-10 season by Mr. W.T. Jones, a former Secretary of Merthyr R.F.C. and a member of the committee of Merthyr Athletic Club – the body that controlled Penydarren Park at that time.
ALBERT FISHER
Albert Fisher joined Merthyr Town in 1909 after a lengthy playing career in the Football and Southern Leagues. He was appointed Secretary-Manager in 1910 and the following season led the club to the Glamorgan League championship.
Season 1911-12 saw Fisher’s Merthyr Town team capture the South Wales Cup and pip Portsmouth on goal average to finish champions of the Second Division of the Southern League. Fisher left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1913 to become Notts County’s first Secretary-Manager and he marked his first season in charge by winning the Second Division Championship.
The 1922-23 season saw Fisher’s Nott’s County side reach the F.A. Cup semi-final where they were defeated by Huddersfield Town. In May 1922 Fisher took Nott’s County to Barcelona to play in tournament to mark the opening of Barca’s Les Corts stadium. Nott’s County’s notorious offside tactics didn’t endear themselves to the home crowd as they beat Barcelona by 4 goals to 2. For the second match against their hosts, County dropped their controversial playing style yet still secured a 1-1 draw.
The Notts County team in Barcelona – Fisher is on the far left
Season 1924-25 saw County return to the First Division as Second Division champions. Albert Fisher remained with Nott’s County until the summer of 1927. He never managed again and died in 1937.
DAVID M. BUCHANAN
Former Leyton manager David M. Buchanan joined Merthyr Town in August 1913. However, his first season in charge saw Merthyr Town relegated from the Southern League First Division. The following year Buchanan fared slightly better. He took the team to Highbury for an F.A. Cup tie against Arsenal and narrowly missed out on promotion.
In later years he served as Charlton Athletic’s Assistant-Manager and Trainer (1925-28) and managed Thames F.C. (1928-31). In a bizarre twist of fate Buchanan was succeeded as Charlton manager by Merthyr Town manager Albert Lindon whilst Thames FC was the team who replaced the Martyrs in the Football League.
HARRY HADLEY
England international Harry Hadley enjoyed a long and distinguished playing career with, amongst others, Aston Villa and W.B.A. before being appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in May 1919. He was in charge for the first Football League fixture against Crystal Palace and led the club to an eighth-place finish at the end of the 1920-21 season. Hadley resigned in October 1921 following a difference of policy with the board of directors.
In April 1922 Hadley was named as manager of Chesterfield where he remained until August 1922 before taking up a staff appointment with Manchester United.
In November 1927 Hadley was appointed as manager of Aberdare. This was a very difficult appointment as the club was officially known as Aberdare and Aberaman.
Following the demise of Aberdare in the summer of 1928 Hadley worked as an agent for several Football League clubs.
In late September 1930 Hadley became Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town for the second time, a post he held until the demise of the club in the summer of 1934.
JAMES McPHERSON
James McPherson joined Merthyr Town as Trainer in the summer of 1921. His background was in athletics having previously been Trainer to the Norwegian Olympic team.
Following the resignation of Harry Hadley, McPherson was given the sole responsibility of looking after the players. A mid-table finish at the end of the 1921-22 season led to the Board appointing McPherson as Manager in April 1922.However, after a challenging 1922-23 season McPherson left Merthyr Town at the end of the campaign
THOMAS DANIEL JONES
A pioneer of the association football code in South Wales, Jones, a native of Aberdare, was a former Welsh International and had served as a Secretary of Aberdare F.C. and a FAW Vice-President.
A solicitor by profession Jones was appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in July 1923. Despite finishing in a creditable 13th position in the Third Division South, Jones tendered his resignation at the end of the 1923-24 season.
ALBERT LINDON
Albert Lindon was very much ‘Mr. Merthyr Town’ He joined Merthyr Town in the summer of 1920 after spells at Birmingham, Aston Villa, Barnsley and Coventry City. A giant goalkeeper, he made a record 250 Football League appearances for Merthyr Town, scoring 1 goal.
Lindon was appointed Player-Manager in August 1924 for the princely sum of £1 a week on top of his playing contract!
He remained in charge at Penydarren Park until January 1928 when he was appointed Manager of Charlton Athletic. One of the last things Lindon had to do before leaving the town was to get married by special licence.
Lindon served Charlton in a number of capacities until March 1934. He subsequently joined Arsenal where he eventually ended up as chief scout before returning to Penydarren Park in May 1947 to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC. Lindon remained at Penydarren Park until December 1949 by which time the team had won the Southern League Championship, the Welsh Cup and the Southern League Cup.
He then joined Cardiff City as a scout eventually becoming assistant manager before returning to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC in the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons. He then became a scout for Swindon Town and then Newport County. During his managerial career Lindon reckoned to have discovered around 30 future international players.
THOMAS McKENNA
Tom McKenna began season 1927-28 as Charlton Athletic’s first choice goalkeeper. However, he lost his place following Albert Lindon’s arrival at The Valley and in the summer of 1928, McKenna joined Merthyr Town.
In November 1928 the Board surprisingly offered McKenna the manager’s job. At just 26 he was the youngest manager in the entire Football League. However, McKenna lasted just six months in the hot seat and he left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1929 to join Southend United.
SAM GIBBON
A local grocer Sam Gibbon headed a syndicate that took control of the Club in the summer of 1928 after the old company had gone into liquidation.
Despite enduring a tough 1928-29 season where he was forced to sell his own son to Fulham in order to try and make ends meet, Gibbon, who was the main financial backer, decided to carry on.
However, financial circumstances meant that he was unable to afford the cost of a manager. As a result, Gibbon was forced to supervise the training sessions himself.
The 1929-30 season proved to be disastrous for Merthyr Town. The club finished the campaign rooted to the foot of the table with just 21 points from their 42 matches. Consequently, it came as little surprise when the Club failed to secure re-election to the Football League.
In the light of these circumstances Sam Gibbon severed his connections with the Club. Sam Gibbon’s association with Merthyr Town cost him well over £2,500 (around £200,000 today) – a figure which would have been much higher but for the sale of players.
The Merthyr Tydfil and District Historical Society is pleased to announce the publication of Volume 33 of the Merthyr Historian.
Contents:
A Local History Appreciated (‘The Story of Merthyr Tydfil …’ 1932) by Huw Williams
Merthyr Tydfil & District Historical Society: helping the historians of the future (The Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative Awards) by Clive Thomas
The history of Garthnewydd House by Lucy Richardson
Creating Merthyr Tydfil Educational Settlement (1930-1949): a view from behind the scenes by Christine Trevett
“Eisteddfod Merthyr Tydfil a’r Cylch”1958-1962 by John Fletcher
Japanese naval commander at Merthyr 1902 (transcription) by T. Fred Holley & John D. Holley
Mary Emmeline Horsfall, the lady of Gwernllwyn House: art, philanthropy and the workless in Dowlais by Christine Trevett
A Merthyr man’s wartime service in His Majesty’s Royal Navy by Brian, Peter & Barrie Jones
The dark side of convict life: an account of the career of Harry Williams (b. 1876), a Merthyr man by Barrie Jones
The White Horse, Twynyrodyn in the 19thcentury by Richard Clements
The first Aeronaut (balloonist) in Merthyr, 1847 (transcription)
Evacuees in the Borough’s Wards: ‘Merthyr welcomes evacuees…’ (transcription, 1940) by Stephen Brewer
Putting Merthyr Tydfil on the map by Clive Thomas
‘Honouring a Dowlais Musician. Complimentary Concert …’ John Evans (Eos Myrddin) 1841-1905. A transcribed report from the Merthyr Times 1893 of ‘A Grand Performance’ by T. Fred Holley & John D. Holley
Gurnos Farm and the Cyfarthfa Estate by Alison Thomas Davies
Treharris pit-head baths and The Lancet 1908 (transcription)
The Lavernock tragedy 1888 and its Aberfan memorial by Stephen Brewer
The ‘earthly Eden’ which was dry and rustic Trelewis (newspaper items and editor’s commentary)
Chess in Merthyr by Martyn Griffiths
Lewys Glyn Cynon, Merthyr Vale poet by T. Fred Holley & John D. Holley
Calling local historians: banking and boxers by Stephen Brewer & Christine Trevett
This 324 page book is available to buy from the Merthyr Tydfil & District Historical Society for £13.
If you would like a copy, contact me at merthyr.history@gmail.com and all orders will be forwarded to the Society.
Albert Fisher joined Merthyr Town in 1909 after a lengthy playing career in the Football and Southern Leagues. He was appointed Secretary-Manager in 1910 and the following season led the club to the Glamorgan League championship.
Former Leyton manager David M. Buchanan joined Merthyr Town in August 1913. However, his first season in charge saw Merthyr Town relegated from the Southern League First Division. The following year Buchanan fared slightly better. He took the team to Highbury for an F.A. Cup tie against Arsenal and narrowly missed out on promotion.
England international Harry Hadley enjoyed a long and distinguished playing career with, amongst others, Aston Villa and W.B.A. before being appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in May 1919. He was in charge for the first Football League fixture against Crystal Palace and led the club to an eighth-place finish at the end of the 1920-21 season. Hadley resigned in October 1921 following a difference of policy with the board of directors.
Albert Lindon was very much ‘Mr. Merthyr Town’ He joined Merthyr Town in the summer of 1920 after spells at Birmingham, Aston Villa, Barnsley and Coventry City. A giant goalkeeper, he made a record 250 Football League appearances for Merthyr Town, scoring 1 goal.
A local grocer Sam Gibbon headed a syndicate that took control of the Club in the summer of 1928 after the old company had gone into liquidation.
