Below is a fantastic lithograph of Merthyr in approximately 1850. It is a view roughly from present-day Thomastown looking over the town. Some of the important landmarks have been labelled. It is remarkable how much the town has changed in the 170 years since this picture was drawn.
| 1. St Tydfil’s Church 2. Twynyrodyn Unitarian Chapel 3. Tramroadside North 4. Old Market Hall |
5. Ynysfach Ironworks 6. Adulam Chapel 7. St David’s Church |
This scene would have met the eyes of Mr Rice Lewis as he looked from the large front windows of the villa he built in the pleasant area above the town-an area that became known as Thomastown. It was Merthyr’s first villa (1851).Rice- Lewis, born in Carmarthenshire, established a prosperous drapery business (London House) in Merthyr and became a pillar of ‘the shopocracy’ in the busiest High Street in South Wales. He named his new home Courtland House (known as The Rectory after 1921) He bought prime land in Adulam Fields from Dr William Thomas of the Court, the squire after whom the area later became known. Dr Thomas lived in the Court House. A house (castle actually) with a view over the lucrative Cyfarthfa Ironworks was what William Crawshay had built for himself; a view of the Ynysfach ironworks was good enough for a leading shopkeeper. Springfield House, which became the home of Charles Wilkins, the Merthyr historian, was built soon afterwards. It was followed by Brynteg House (later called Sandbrook House) and the house. now known as Park Lodge. Each was well-built and situated in its own grounds. The history of Courtland House can be read in Volume 26 of The Merthyr Historian.
Mary Owen