Month: September 2024

Merthyr Tydfil & District Historical Society History Day

The Merthyr Tydfil & District Historical Society is pleased to announce its 2024 History Day, which will revolve around the Second World War.

Everyone is welcome, but pre-booking is essential.

If you would like to come along, please contact stevebrewer68@hotmail.co.uk.

The First Merthyr Town AFC

by Phil Sweet

Most Merthyr football fans would know that a club bearing the name of Merthyr Town AFC was formed in the spring of 1908 and would go on to play in the Football League in the 1920s before failing to secure re-election in 1930 and ultimately folding four years later due to the impact of mass unemployment in the Borough.

However, my recent research has revealed that the Merthyr Town AFC which was formed in 1908 was not the first football team in the town to bear that name. Indeed, the first, and ultimately short-lived, club to bear that name was founded in 1903 and during the 1903-04 season would play in the Second Division of the South Wales League.

However, the rugby orientated Merthyr Express showed little interest in association football at that time and very few references to the club exist in its pages. What follows is an account of the short history of the first club to bear the name Merthyr Town AFC which I have managed to glean from a variety of local newspapers and the minute book of the South Wales Football Association.

Although still very much a rugby town in the early years of the 20th century association football was beginning to gain a foothold in the area. In the south of the Borough Treharris were widely regarded as being one of the pioneers of the game in South Wales while the neighbouring village of Merthyr Vale also boasted a football team. In addition, in the north of the town several teams over the years had emerged bearing the name ‘Dowlais’.

The central area of the town was very much a soccer vacuum until the decision was taken to form ‘Merthyr Town’ in 1903. However, no records survive as to where or why the club was founded. Indeed, the only information we do have is that the club’s first secretary was Mr. R. A. Davies of 126, High Street and that he was succeeded during the season by Mr. J. O. Morgan of 80, Thomas Street while the team played its home matches at Gwynne’s Field Cefn Coed.

The new club was accepted into the Second Division of the South Wales League. This division was initially comprised of 13 clubs and offered the prospect of attractive local derbies against the likes of Treharris Reserves, Merthyr Vale, Rhymney and Pontlottyn.

Things began quite promisingly for the new venture. In their opening match they secured a creditable 2-2 against Treharris Reserves and their next home match two weeks later saw them secure their first victory when visitors Cwmaman were defeated by 2 goals to nil. However, these two games would prove to be the high point of the season as the following fixtures resulted in a number of heavy defeats, a sequence which included a 6-0 hammering at Merthyr Vale in early November.

The club also entered the South Wales FA Junior Cup. However, their presence in the competition would be a fleeting one as they went down to Ynysybwl by a goal to nil in the opening round of the competition. Over the Festive Period the club hosted Brecon in a friendly fixture. However, the late arrival of the Brecon team meant that the final portion of the game was played in semi-darkness as the spoils were shared in 1-1 draw.

The transient nature of football at this time was aptly illustrated by the fortunes of the respective clubs in the South Wales League Second Division. During the course of the campaign Blaina, Tredegar and Nantymoel all dropped out of the league and in early March 1904 Merthyr Town followed in their footsteps. Not surprisingly no record exists as to why this decision but the fact remained – the first Merthyr Town AFC were no more.

PLAYING RECORD

SOUTH WALES LEAGUE DIVISION II

TEAM HOME AWAY
ABERGAVENNY W1-0 D1-1
BLAINA W2-1 XXXX
CWMAMAN W2-0 D1-1
HAFOD XXXX XXXX
MARDY W3-2 L0-1
MERTHYR VALE L1-2 L0-6
PONTLOTTYN XXXX L0-1
RHYMNEY W2-0 XXXX
TON PENTRE XXXX L1-3
TREHARRIS RESERVES D2-2 L2-5

RESULTS AGAINST TEAMS WHO DROPPED OUT OF THE SOUTH WALES LEAUE DIVISION II

TEAM HOME AWAY
TREDEGAR XXXX L0-1
NANTYMOEL XXXX L0-3

SOUTH WALES JUNIOR CUP

RD1 YNYSYBWL 1 MERTHYR TOWN 0

FRIENDLY FIXTURES

PORTH SECONDS 2 MERTHYR TOWN 1
MERTHYR TOWN 1 MERTHYR DISTRICT 2
YNYSYBWL 2 MERTHYR TOWN 1
MERTHYR TOWN 1 BRECON 1

SOUTH WALES LEAGUE DIVISION II

TEAM P W L D F A PTS
HAFOD 13 10  1 2 46 15 22
TON PENTRE 10  7  1 2 28 11 16
PONTLOTTYN  9  7  1 1 26  9 15
MERTHYR VALE  8  6  1 1 30  7 13
ABERGAVENNY 10  3  5 2 24 19  8
MERTHYR TOWN 11  3  6 2 14 30  8
RHYMNEY  9  2  5 2 15 20  6
TREHARRIS RESERVES  7  2  4 1 15 21  5
MARDY  9  2  7 0 10 27  4
CWMAMAN 12  0 11 1  7 55  1

AS AT FEBRUARY 27TH 1904

William Thomas Lewis, Lord Merthyr

The following article is transcribed from the Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement. It is out of copyright and is now in the public domain.

William Thomas Lewis, first Baron Merthyr, of Senghenydd (1837–1914), engineer and coal-owner, the eldest son of Thomas William Lewis, engineer, of Abercanaid House, Merthyr Tydfil, by his wife, Mary Anne, daughter of John Watkin, was born at Merthyr Tydfil 5 August 1837. He received his early training under his father, and in 1855 became assistant engineer to William Southern Clark, mining agent for the Marquess of Bute’s estate in South Wales—in Cardiff and its neighbourhood.

He succeeded Clark in 1864 at an important period in the history of the coal industry and, as consulting engineer, was connected with various colliery and railway schemes in South Wales. In 1881 Lewis was given entire control of the Marquess of Bute’s Welsh estates, and, by reducing the costs of working at the Cardiff docks (constructed by the Bute family), he made possible the expansion necessary for the rapidly increasing trade in steam coal. By 1887 he had constructed the Roath dock and by 1907 the Queen Alexandra dock. He also introduced new appliances, including the Lewis-Hunter crane, of which he was part inventor. When the Bute Dock Company was formed in 1887, he became managing director, and some years later helped to secure direct access to the South Wales coal-field by opening up the Cardiff Railway. Undoubtedly, the growth of Cardiff and the prosperity of the coal-field are bound up with Lewis’s career.

Lewis’s work for the Bute estates, however, represents but one phase of his activities. His marriage in 1864 to Anne (died 1902), daughter of William Rees, colliery-owner, of Lletyshenkin, Aberdare, brought him into close contact with the steam-coal trade, of which his wife’s family were pioneers. His main colliery interests ultimately lay in the lower Rhondda valley and in the Senghenydd district. He possessed a remarkable knowledge of the South Wales coal-field and of coal-working in general, and was appointed to serve on the royal commissions on the action of coal dust in mines, on mining royalties, on coal supplies, and on accidents in mines (1878–1886). For his valuable services on the last-named commission he was knighted in 1885. From coal Lewis was drawn into iron-working, and he helped to revive the industry by applying the new Bessemer process for the production of steel. In 1908 he was elected president of the Iron and Steel Institute.

Probably some of Lewis’s greatest work was done in the cause of industrial peace. Little effort had been made to organize the coal industry until after the strike of 1871, when he succeeded in persuading coal-owners and iron-masters of South Wales to form the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal-Owners’ Association. During the great strike of 1873 he counselled arbitration and urged the adoption of a sliding scale as the basis of the new wage agreement. The acceptance of this principle in 1875 brought peace and stability to the industry for many years; and, as chairman for eighteen years of the sliding-scale committee, Lewis was largely responsible for the efficient working of the scheme. The principle led to a distinct improvement in the relations between capital and labour, and later came to be adopted in other coal-fields.

Lewis had won for himself a high reputation as an industrial expert and as a conciliator. In 1881 he was president of the Mining Association of Great Britain, and he served on the royal commissions on labour (1891–1894), on trades’ disputes (1903–1906), and on shipping combinations (1906–1907). He was successful in effecting a settlement of the Taff Vale Railway strike in 1900, and his proposal for the institution of permanent boards of arbitration became the basis of settlement of the general railway strike of 1907.

Lewis, who had been created a baronet in 1896 and had received the K.C.V.O. in 1907, was raised to the peerage in 1911 as Baron Merthyr, of Senghenydd, Glamorganshire. In 1912 he received the G.C.V.O. He took a keen interest in education and in the social welfare of the coal-field, and was a generous supporter of hospitals and other institutions. He had played a prominent part in the founding, in 1881, of the Monmouthshire and South Wales permanent provident fund for the relief of colliery workers in case of sickness or accident—a scheme which anticipated by many years some of the advantages of old age pensions, compensation for accident, and insurance against sickness or unemployment.

Lord Merthyr died at Newbury 27 August 1914. He had two sons and six daughters, and he was succeeded as second baron by his elder son, Herbert Clark Lewis (born 1866).

The statue of W T Lewis that now stands in front of what remains of St Tydfil’s Hospital. It used to stand in front of the General Hospital.

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.

After Mawdesley left Dowlais, Mr Dodd came to the Ivor Works. He had previously been at engineering works in or near Glasgow, and it was then intended to make superior things. He brought some foremen with him from Scotland: one Mr Wm. Kemp stayed on, but the foreman fitter did not, and after his term of engagement was up Mr Dodd himself returned.

Lady Charlotte Guest. Photo courtesy of Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

If able I should like to describe what can even now be very vividly remembered. It is a party of gentlemen and a lady: the lady was Lady Charlotte, the others Sir John, Mr E J Hutchins (his nephew), one whose name is forgotten now, and Mr Edward Divett. They were walking across the yard, and went into Dowlais House altogether. Mr Divett was the M.P. for Exeter. Mr Hutchins afterwards became member for Lymington. I almost think Kitson, the private secretary, was also of the party.

Why was such a thing impressed upon me? I will tell you. I had on a suit of fustian, and up to a short time previously had only consorted with broad cloth. I felt my position. I was a workman. David Davies was the foreman pattern maker; John Lewis, the foreman fitter; and John Price the foreman smith. Guess my surprise upon one occasion by being asked to give the equation of a curve of the second order by the owner of a brawny arm named David Jones. It was given him.

We youngsters were in the habit of giving each other mathematical questions. Alas, I think all are gone. H V Trump, who died a few years ago at Rhymney, was one; Wm. Llewellyn (who went to America) another; and Josiah Richards (a cousin), not of the same name, the brother of Windsor, a third. There was one workman in the fitting shop named Thomas Wheatley, the best handicraftsman ever met with. He was also the highest wageman, but his pay did not appear correct on the ticket. To avoid it being known he used to go to the office at stated times for the difference.

Dickenson, who became the chief Government inspector of mines was an underground surveyor. He married one of Mr Thomas Evans’ daughters. Thomas Evans’ son, Thomas, also became an inspector of mines. Shortly after his appointment an action was brought against the Dowlais Company for non-compliance with the Act of Parliament, and many experts were enraged. This “battle of the gauges” will be found pretty fully stated in  the book of colliery law, written by the late John Coke Fowler., who was the stipendiary magistrate before whom it was brought.

Edward Williams began his career in iron making in Dowlais, and he was there with Menelaus, and some others can be remembered, but they must pass at the moment.

To be continued at a later date……

The Dark Side of Convict Life – part 19

by Barrie Jones

Chapter XVI. Henry recounts his medical examination and his transfer to Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight. At this time Parkhurst catered for the infirm and ‘weak minded’ convicts, consequently the prison regime was not as hard as in other penal institutions.

The Dark Side of Convict Life (Being the Account of the Career of Harry Williams, a Merthyr Man). Merthyr Express, 7th May 1910, page 9.

Chapter XVI

At a quarter past five on Tuesday the 12th of July 1904 Portland Prison bell rang out its chimes, the last chimes that I was to hear in that dreadful place. I was fast asleep in the strong cell in the hospital when the night nurse came and knocked at my door. “Are you awake, Williams,” says he. “Well, I’m not quite dead yet,” says I. “Why, your worth a hundred dead ones yet,” he replied. “Anyway,” says he. “Get ready, for you leave here at half-past six.” So up I jumped, put on my shoes, and was ready almost before he had said the last word.

My heart throbbed loudly as the bell itself, when I heard I was to be transferred to the Isle of Wight. They gave me my breakfast, which consisted of one pint of hot milk, half pound of white bread, and one ounce of butter, which I did not forget to eat, for I had forgotten all about the stomach pump. Shortly after breakfast in came the medical officer. “Well, Williams, my lad,” says he, in a kind, fatherly way, “how do you feel this morning?” “Well, just about the same as usual, sir,” says I. “Have you eaten your breakfast?” says he. “Yes, sir.” I replied. He then proceeded to examine me in order to see whether I was fit to travel. That done, he gave me a bit of his advice, saying, “Your heart is perfectly sound, Williams, and it is my opinion that if you will look after yourself when you get to Parkhurst you will very soon be better, but do not get excited, and keep perfectly calm.” I then said, “I suppose, sir, you are sending me to my last camping place.” “Oh, dear, no,” says he. “You must not think of dying yet. Your organs are all perfectly sound, and I do not see why you should not keep them sound.” “But I have a very weak stomach, sir.” says I. “Well, that may be.” Says he, “but people with delicate stomachs live to a great age sometimes. And I am sending you to the Isle of Wight because the climate is milder. Oh, you will be all right.”

With that he left me. He had not left me five minutes when in came the Chief Warder with a pair of handcuffs and a chain, which he proceeded to place upon my wrists. Having done so he led me up to the front gate, where I slipped into cab, and was driven to Portland railway station, where I got into a train for Southampton. The journey was rather a pleasant one, although I kept thinking it was my last, but I was afterwards told I was not transferred to the Isle of Wight on the grounds of any organic disease, but sent there as a weak-minded convict, and when there I should not be subjected to the prison rules but placed under medical observation. I should be allowed to converse with my fellow convicts and receive hospital diet, and be employed on light labour in the open air. Of course, this information I received in confidence on the condition I would not breath it even to my ten ounce loaf for the hospital nurse who accompanied the Chief Warder in charge of me was a very good man to me during the time I was in Portland. I owe my life to him, for if it had not been for the kindness which he placed at my disposal I should be on the hill in Portland convict cemetery, instead of transferred to the Isle of Wight. Therefore, I do not wish to place in print even his initials, but I should very much like to place him on the roll of heroes of everyday life.

After a few hours’ travel by rail I reached Southampton. I stepped out of the train into a cab, which was to take me to the pier-head, a couple of miles away. Arriving on the landing stage I was led on board ship, the Princess Beatrice, which took me across the water to the Isle of Wight, landing at a place called Cowes. I got off the ship into a cab, which was waiting to take me to Parkhurst Prison, a distance of six miles. After a pleasant little journey, passing the late Queen’s Island home, Osborne House, I at last arrived at the Prison gates, and was taken to the separate cells, searched, and then placed in a cell. My heart nearly fell from my side to my feet, and my brain swam around like the sea I had crossed when I found myself in prison again after such a beautiful sniff of sweet liberty. I was not in my cell long before the door was flung open, in came the doctor, attended by the hospital nurse, for he wore a red-cross upon his arm. “Well, my lad,” says the doctor, “Williams is your name, is it not?” “Yes, sir,” says I. “How do you feel after your journey?” “Downhearted,” I replied. “Oh,” says he, “do not make yourself ill. You must cheer up. You will be alright. I will take care of you,” says he, in his kind way. He then examined me, as is the usual custom, and ordered the nurse to take me into the hospital, and when there, I must confess, the doctor treated me with every possible custom, and he continued to do so all through my time, but I had some more trouble to go through even there, for although the doctors treat a man kindly they do not know that their orders are violated. In my next chapter I will give the account of my life in Parkhurst Prison.

To be continued……