Tag: Weekly Mail

Water, water everywhere….

The summer of 1899 was one of the hottest on records in Britain, indeed, it was recorded that it was the fourth hottest summer recorded since 1659. As a result of the weather, the whole of the country was suffering from a drought. Merthyr was no exception, however in August of that year, a number of burst water mains in the town exacerbated the situation.

These problems were reported in several newspapers 120 years ago today (26 August 1899):-

Cardiff Times – 26 August 1899
Weekly Mail – 26 August 1899

…..and on a lighter note:-

Evening Express – 26 August 1899

Exhuming the Dead

The disturbing article transcribed below appeared in The Weekly Mail 115 years ago today, on 25 April 1903:

MERTHYR CHURCHYARD.
PROPOSED REMOVAL OF 2,000 BODIES.

At the annual meeting of the Merthyr Urban District Council on Wednesday, the rector and Dr. W. W. Jones, churchwardens, attended as a deputation to ask that the council should withdraw that portion of the Bill they are promoting in Parliament which proposes to take in part of the parish churchyard for the widening of the lower part of High Street.

The Rector pointed out that it would be abhorrent to many families to have the remains of buried relatives disturbed, and indicated an alternative scheme whereby the widening could be effected by the removal of certain houses on the other side of the road.

Dr. Jones mentioned the startling fact that the scheme of the council in its present form would necessitate the removal of over 2,000 bodies. After some discussion upon the retirement of the deputation it was determined to adhere to the Bill.

Shop Floor Collapse

Below is a transcription of an article that appeared in the Weekly Mail 110 years ago today (4 April 1908):

SHOP-FLOOR COLLAPSE

OYSTER-BAR MISHAP AT MERTHYR

There, was an alarming occurrence at an oyster saloon in Glebeland Street, Merthyr, yesterday, the stone flooring of the shop giving way and several persons having narrow escapes from being killed.

Mrs. Flower, the occupier, was out at the time, and a servant-maid, named Flye, was standing behind the counter talking to her brother, and there were three other lads also in the shop. The boys were precipitated into the cellar below, but Flye saved himself from falling by clinging to the counter, which remained intact.

One of the lads, who lives in Paynters Terrace, Bethesda Street, was rather badly hurt, and was taken home in a cab, but, beyond shock, the others escaped injury.

On the surface of it this is a simple article, but it is also an fascinating study of social history. For instance – who knew that there was an oyster bar in Glebeland Street? Indeed, who knew that there was an oyster bar in Merthyr at all? Also, there are some interesting facts there for family historians and genealogists.

I think that so much can be learned from looking at old newspapers – sometimes you can learn far more from papers than from reading a serious history book.