From the Merthyr Express 80 years ago today…..
New Pit-Head Canteen
Accident on the Brecon & Merthyr Railway
The following article is transcribed from the Western Mail dated 24 August 1874.
ACCIDENT ON THE BRECON AND MERTHYR RAILWAY
A STOKER KILLED AND A PASSENGER INJURED
On Saturday evening another accident occurred on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, when the last evening train was wending its way from Brecon to Newport. At a quarter past six o’clock, just as the passenger train had approached Pant station at the point of junction which leads to the Dowlais branch, the engine, from some defect in the points or otherwise, left the rails, and, after an abrupt deviation towards the Dowlais branch, came to a standstill.
The stoker, on perceiving something wrong, either jumped off, or was violently thrown from the footplate of the engine. He was instantaneously killed. His name is John Price, of 26, Dolphin-street, Newport. The engine dragged after it one carriage, which appears to have become separated from the other portion of the train at the time of the accident, and in this carriage was a woman, named Elizabeth Jefferies, wife of a bailer at Ebbw Vale, whose leg was broken. The rear portion of the train passed for a short way along the main line. It contained a great many passengers, none of whom sustained injury. The injured woman was conveyed to the Bruce Hotel, Dowlais, where she received every treatment from Dr. Griffiths, of Dowlais. An inquest will be held on the deceased as soon, as practicable.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
MERTHYR, SUNDAY
This line seems fated to become notorious in the annals of accidents. The inquest has not yet been held over the remains of the victims of the last, when another occurs, and this time to a passenger train.
On Saturday evening the “4.30 passenger” from Brecon to Newport was arriving at the Pant Station, a little way from Dowlais, and where the main line to Newport forms a junction with the branch to Dowlais, when the locomotive suddenly left the metals, and a scene of wreck and disaster at once occurred. Though only 500 yards or so from the station, the pace of the train was rapid. I am not aware whether the carriages are furnished with continuous breaks, but I believe this is the case, and thus up to the closest vicinity of the station the pace is rapid. The locomotive kept exceedingly close to the metals, but it must be noted for future examination on the Pant side.
Some of the carriages were upset, and two of the passengers at least severely injured. One of them at the moment of the accident opened the carriage and jumped out and broke her leg. She was a very stout woman, and this case may be serious. One of the carriages was completely overturned, and the passengers thrown in a heap, but no bones were broken. The stoker, a young married man, named Price, aged 26, was thrown under the wheels of the locomotive and instantly killed. This was the only death, but the injuries received were numerous, though all but two managed to go on with the train.
The scene of the accident has been thronged, but only a heap of matchwood, the remains of one of the carriages, showed where the calamity took place.
It seems a difficult matter to account for the accident. Had the points been at “half,” precisely the same thing would have occurred, but in this case the points are worked from the signal box, and were locked at the time. It will be seen by the official inspector’s report that the first trace of leaving the metals is at the points, and the first blow on one of the fish-plates. Could the flange of the wheel have struck this at a critical place, the facing points just before or on a curve are extremely dangerous, and should be altered.
This is the first accident that has occurred in the locality, which is one of great archaeological interest. The place is called Pantcoed Ivor, and is so named from the redoubtable worthy who scaled Cardiff Castle and sorely grieved the doughty earls of Glamorgan in days of yore. Nearby is a hollow where he is traditionally supposed to have fought his last battle, and on the other side a place called Rhyd-y-bedd, which is associated with his burial. Here, then, by ancient wells, and amidst the moss and the ivy of the past, comes another railway disaster, and its scenic accompaniments, which, too often, alas, mar one of the noblest handmaids of civilization. Where Ivor Bach marched in battle array the locomotive sweeps, and trains of commerce and pleasure are rapidly brushing aside a locality which is only again brought into notice by this railway catastrophe.
Western Mail – 24 August 1874
St Tydfil in Llandaff – and Saundersfoot
Did you know that today is St Tydfil’s Day?
To mark the occasion, here is short article by Rev Caroline Owen.
Coal magnate Sir William Thomas Lewis, (1837 – 1914), first Baron Merthyr, was born in Merthyr Tydfil. He married Ann Rees, grand-daughter of Lucy Thomas (‘mother of the Welsh coal trade’). They lived at Mardy House in Aberdare and in 1899 bought Hean Castle in Saundersfoot. Lady Lewis died at Hean Castle in 1902, and a window was dedicated to her in St Issel’s Church near their estate in Saundersfoot.
In 1921 their son the Honourable Trevor Gwyn Eliot Lewis, died and a window depicting St Tydfil and St Elvan was dedicated to him in St Issel’s.
The baron also commissioned stained glass windows in churches in Merthyr, Aberdare and in Llandaff Cathedral had one dedicated to St Teilo, St Tydfil and St Elfan.
Hen-Dy-Cwrdd Anniversary
Death of the Blind Magistrate
From the Cambrian 125 years ago today…..
Merthyr’s Chapels: Bethlehem Chapel, Pontsticill
Bethlehem Welsh Independent Chapel, Pontsticill
In 1826 several people who were followers of the Independent movement in Pontsticill started holding meetings in a local house, and they called on Rev T B Evans of Ynysgau Chapel to lead their meetings.
Within two years the small congregation had grown sufficiently for them to consider building their own chapel. With the support of Rev Evans, on 10 October 1898 they leased a plot of land from a local landowner – Philip Watkins, and built a small chapel which was opened for worship on 4 February 1829.
The first minister of Bethlehem was William David, a lay preacher at Ynysgau Chapel who was subsequently ordained and inducted as the minister of Bethlehem in 1830.
Sometime during 1913, the congregation at the chapel learned that the part of the Taf Fechan Valley on which the chapel was built was due to be flooded in order to build the new reservoir. The trustees decided to build a new chapel in the centre of Pontsticill. The Merthyr Tydfil Corporation gave the trustees a piece of land on which to build the new chapel and also £1,500 in payment for the old chapel. The new chapel was built in 1924.
By the late 1960’s the congregation had severely dwindled, so in 1968, the trustees reluctantly decided to close the chapel. The building was subsequently sold and converted to a private house.
The ruins of the old chapel still remain beneath the Taf Fechan reservoir, and can sometimes be seen at times when the water level of the reservoir is very low.
Llancaiach Fawr
I have received the message below from my friends in the Gelligaer Historical Society – a society with strong links to Merthyr and the Merthyr Tydfil & District Historical Society. Although not in the Merthyr Borough, Llancaiach Fawr is close enough to us to us for it to be our concern…..what’s happening in our neighbouring borough could very well happen here if we aren’t very careful. Please take the time to read this, and follow the link below to sign the petition, and read on to find out about the consultation.
You may have heard that Caerphilly County Borough Council is proposing to mothball Llancaiach Fawr from 31st December 2024. The Manor House itself dates from Tudor times and, with Caerphilly Castle, is the only remaining publicly-owned, pre-industrial, secular building within the Council area. With the adjoining buildings it is a major tourist attraction and also the ‘home’ of Gelligaer Historical Society and several other local societies as well as being a major resource for schools.
We are very concerned that in this case, ‘mothballing’ may be an euphemism for closure. However, even temporary closure will inevitably result in repercussions, a very few examples being that the property will still require Council expenditure, that there may be deterioration to buildings and to the parking and outside green spaces, that there will be major disruption, possibly even the disbanding of, local societies such as ours – Gelligaer Historical Society, and that school children will be deprived of a connection with local heritage and culture.
I ask that you read the email below which I received from the general manager of Llancaiach, and, if possible, and if you are concerned about the proposals, follow the link to complete the consultation form.
Good afternoon,
Following this morning’s announcement from Caerphilly Borough Council regarding the proposal to mothball Llancaiach Fawr Manor from December 2024, we’ve been asked to circulate the email below to all community groups who use Llancaiach Fawr on a regular basis to make sure that you are kept up to date and to ask for you and group members to complete the public consultation form below if you would like to be part of the decision making process.
Dear Colleagues,
Please find below an important update:
Leader warns of difficult decisions ahead
Caerphilly County Borough Council, like many other local authorities across Wales, is facing a huge financial challenge over the next few years and difficult decisions will need to be made in order to balance the budget.
The council must deliver savings in the region of £45million over the next two financial years and this is on top of the £20million of permanent savings that have already been identified.
Cllr Sean Morgan, Leader of Council said, “We can’t continue to run our services in the way we always have. We need to explore all options and consider ways of doing things differently.”
“I want to be honest with the community, because it is clear that the scale of savings means we need to make some very difficult decisions over the coming months.”
The council will consult on a number of key proposals that, if agreed, will help deliver significant savings:
Blackwood Miners Institute – The council is proposing to withdraw its subsidy, which could see the venue ‘mothballed’ at the end of December 2024. The authority would then explore options for the facility to be run in a different way in the future. The council currently provides a subsidy of £347,000 per year to run Blackwood Miners Institute.
Llancaiach Fawr Manor House – The council is proposing to ‘mothball’ the venue at the end of December 2024 and will explore options for the facility to be run in a different way in the future. The council currently provides a subsidy of £485,000 a year to run the venue.
“We have a duty to protect the public purse, so we will be looking at a range of savings options, particularly services that are subject to high subsidy, are non-statutory or can be delivered in a different way.”
“I want to ensure that residents have a voice in this process, so there will be opportunities to get involved and have your say as we consider these options. It is vitally important that you engage in this process to help shape the way we deliver our services in future,” added Cllr Morgan.
The consultation will run from 30th July – 10th September 2024 for a period of 6 weeks. You can view the consultation documentation, view the online survey and find out where the drop in sessions are for each of the consultations here:
https://conversation.caerphilly.gov.uk/blackwood-miners-institute-and-llancaiach-fawr
For help completing the survey or to request alternative formats, please contact the team: publicengagement@caerphilly.gov.uk or 01443 864380.
Kind regards,
Hayley Lancaster
Rheolwr Ymgyslltu | Engagement Manager
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili | Caerphilly County Borough Council
01443 864380
*lancah@caerphilly.gov.uk lancah@caerffili.gov.uk
Commercial Break
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.
Here is fairly good evidence as to the time the Ivor Works were built. Why they were so may be difficult to determine, but the lease of the old works was drawing to an end, and the new, being on freehold land, was proof that the works might be carried on if terms for renewal could not be come to.
There 14 blast furnaces at the old works with six blast engines for supplying them. The las of these, the No. 6, was on the yard at the top of the furnaces, as there was no room with the others on the lower yard. There was also the son, Ivor, to whom the translation of the Mabinogion had been dedicated, whose name could be used and possibly perpetuated thereby. Canford Manor was purchased about this time, but did anyone then think Ivor Bertie Guest would become Lord Wimborne?
The Ivor furnaces were amongst the first in South Wales that were erected so as to require the materials to be lifted to their top. This now used, but the recent ones are all built cupola fashion, that is (with the upper part at least) circular, but Ivor furnaces were truncated pyramid fashion.
Mr Thomas Wales, who afterwards became the Government Inspector of Mines, was the coal agent. He was succeeded by George Heppel, who afterwards went to Plymouth. Mr George Martin was also taken as the mine agent. His term of service was a long one. Some few years ago I was in Llangammarch Wells for a few hours, and having finished the purpose of my visit, turned into the churchyard, when to my surprise the resting-place of one who was known to me in 1838 was seen. Mr Samuel Truran was in charge of the blast engines and Mr Dan Williams the engineer of the forge etc.
There was an exodus of Dowlais men to Cwmavon. Frederick Evans; David Harris, forge carpenter; Lamphier, who has been mentioned, and others; but Dowlais has supplied other works also, Rhymney to wit, for Mr Josiah Richards was one, and by an accident, in fact a fall in the engine house, was killed. John P Roe went with him as draughtsman, and succeeded to his position after Mr Richards’ death.
It may not be generally known that William Thompson of Penydarren, was then a part proprietor of Rhymney Works, and being a Governor of the Blue Coat School in London, was the cause of Mr E Windsor Richards being educated there.
Maynard Colchester Harrison was the forge clerk, and Sydney Howard went first to Cardiff and then to London in the same service. Mr Lewis Lewis, who in later years retired to Treodyrhiw, was looking after the stables etc., and there was lodging with him John C Wolrige, who afterwards went to Plymouth, and Edward Jones (called Liverpool Jones), who became manager at Hemmetts at Bridgwater, and afterwards manager of the Patent Shaft and Axle Works, Wednesbury.
There were many others. One was Mr Wm. Jenkins, manager of Consett subsequently (his father was the storekeeper in the works and clerk in the church), and one Goodall, brother to the artist of that name. For a time after he came he used to dream so much – cross-adding the colliers’ pay was no joke – that he was doing it in his sleep.
There had been one at Dowlais I never remember, It was he who put up what was then the foremost mill of the time. His name was William Gardner, and the big mill was put up by him, but from all I ever learnt, he it was who brought the false rider into good use. Simple as this is, it was exceedingly advantageous. To explain it, allow my saying it is placing of very cheap and simple casting to break and so save expensive damage to other parts.
To be continued at a later date…..
The Dark Side of Convict Life – part 18
by Barrie Jones
Chapter XV (continued). Henry recounts being duped by a ‘friendly’ warder and how his stomach ailment led to his transfer to Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight.
The Dark Side of Convict Life (Being the Account of the Career of Harry Williams, a Merthyr Man). Merthyr Express, 30th April 1910, page 11.
Chapter XV (continued)
Time went on, and I was doing a splendid trade with my toothpicks, when one day there came an individual to Portland as an assistant warder, and stuck on his breast were two medals which told that he had been engaged in the late row in South Africa. This man took me into his confidence, and one day asked me where I came from, and other questions which he knew, and I knew, was strictly against the rules. He told me that he hailed from Brecon, and our conversation drifted right into Merthyr Tydfil and from there right to Abercanaid over the mountain into Aberdare, until he mentioned all the villages and towns he knew all through the Rhondda Valley. Our conversation was then cut off, for the chief warder happened to come in at the time, and He left with the remark, “All right, Williams, I will see you again,” but I wish I had never seen him at all. A few days after, just before Christmas, 1903, this man happened to be on duty in my ward, He came up to me, and, says he, “Williams, I have heard you are very clever in carving articles out of bone. Just make me one so I can send it as a memento to my parents in Brecon.” “Certainly,” says I. Well, I made a pretty little article, taking great pains over it, and I wrapped it up in a piece of paper, together with a note, asking him to oblige me in return with half an ounce of twist tobacco.
On the following Monday morning, I put my name down for the doctor, not for physic, but in order to see the officer, as I knew perfectly well that he would be in charge of the doctor’s men. So just for a bit of swank, I asked the doctor if he would allow me to have my ears syringed, so that I could be taken to the infirmary. On the way I passed him the article and note. All went well until the parade, when I was marched right from the infirmary to the separate cells. “Hullo,” says I, to the officer in charge, “what am I brought here for?” “You are under report,” says the officer. “And what for?” says I. “For attempting to traffic with an officer,” says he. I have known some tricks played by officers and convicts, but never in all my experience have I known anything to come up to this. The following day I was brought before the Governor, and I was awarded ten days bread and water and forfeited ten weeks of my ticket of leave. It soon floated about the assistant warder had tried his hand for promotion, and he was hooted by convicts, and even some of the good officers threw him many a look of contempt. Thus his life in the convict service became a misery to him, and finally he was dismissed for trafficking, being caught “bang to rights,” as the “lags” call it.
Meanwhile I was undergoing my punishment but getting a bit daunted and my stomach getting a bit weak, I went beyond my food, for what I did eat did me no good whatever. One day the medical officer came to see me, and says he, “Why do you not eat your food, Williams?” “It is no use,” says I, “for I may as well snuff it now as any other time.” So, thinking me rather weak in my intellect, he ordered me to be taken to hospital, and to give him his due, he ordered me the best of diets, but no use, for my stomach was too weak to take it, and in reality, I knew that I was going off my head. One day the doctor again came to see me, and said, “look here, Williams, if you do not eat your food, I shall have to make use of the stomach pump.” “Pump away,” I replied, and sure enough pump away they did, for they placed me in the straight jacket, and strapped me to a chair, place a gag between my lips, and in this way they kept me alive with milk an brandy from the first of January to the 12th of July, 1904, when I was transferred to Parkhurst Convict Prison, Isle of Wight, as a weak-minded convict.
In my next chapter I will relate my experience at Parkhurst.
To be continued……