In the start of what I hope to be a new series, I have made a list of five things….places, occasions, feelings etc. in Merthyr that I remember from my childhood (I have mentioned several other memories such as hot chocolate in Ferrari’s Café in Dowlais – undoubtedly the best memory elsewhere).
The strange multicoloured polygonal playing frame in the precinct. Whatever happened to that?
St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre in the 1970s. The climbing frame is towards the top centre.
Queuing as far as Burtons to go and see the first Star Wars film at the Scala (Temperance Hall)…..I was only 8 at the time, and I made my aunty take me to see it six times – I don’t think she ever forgave me.
In connection to the above, collecting the plastic Star Wars figures. I remember buying them from a shop in the High Street called ‘Cards and Gifts’ (or something like that) – if I remember correctly one of the few places you could get them, and then being totally bereft when the building burnt down. My cousin and I would play for hours with the figures, re-arranging all of my parents’ house plants into various jungle ‘scenes’.
Spending hours playing on the old coal-tips in Abercanaid (by this time grass-covered), and being traumatised when the powers that be took them away (not to mention my grandfather’s garden – a fact he bemoaned until his dying day), to build the extension to the Hoover Factory, and new road into Abercanaid.
Being told never to use the subway under the road in Caedraw…..but being daring, and doing it anyway with the other local children, and being scared to death.
Caedraw in the 1970s. The subway can be seen at the bottom of the picture at the end of the bridge.
Now it’s your turn. What do you remember from your childhood?
Let’s try to make this a successful feature – send me an e-mail at merthyr.history@gmail.com and share your five Merthyr-related childhood memories.
The article transcribed below appeared in the Merthyr Express 80 years ago today (8 June 1940).
Merthyr Welcomes Evacuees
Sixteen Hundred Arrivals
“You will get a square DEAL here, FOLK-stone”. This clever slogan on a banner at the main entrance to Merthyr Railway Station greeted 1,600 children evacuated from Deal and Folkestone when they arrived at Merthyr on Sunday.
Several thousand people lined High Street and Church Street to welcome the evacuees, who were accompanied by their teachers.
The children were met by Merthyr’s Mayor (Mr. J.W Watkin J.P.) and the Mayoress. Others present at the station were the Deputy Mayor (Mr. A.J. Brobyn), Ald. Wm Powell, Ald. Sam Jennings, Ald. David Jones J.P., Ald. John Williams, Ald. T. Edmund Rees, Councillors Andrew Wilson J.P., J. E. Jones J.P., B. J. Williams (chairman, education committee), Lewis Jones, F. J. Bateson J.P., T. J. Evans, John Harris, Mrs. Mary Thomas J.P., F. A. Phillips J.P., David Parry J.P, and D O’Driscoll; the Town Clerk (Mr. Edward Roberts) and Mrs. Roberts, Canon J. Richards Pugh (Rector of Merthyr), the Rev. Emlyn Davies (president, Merthyr Free Church Council), Mr W. T Owen M.A. (director of education), Dr. T. H. Stephens (medical officer of health), the chief constable (Mr. T A Goodwin), the Rev J. T. Rogers, the Rev H. Davies, Mrs Margaret Gardner M.B.E., Mr A. P. Thomas J.P., Mr T. E. Lewis (station-master), Mr J. Crossland (borough treasurer), Mr. G. A. Cook (public assistance officer), Dr. King (H.M. inspector of schools), Mr. T Longville Bowen (editor, Merthyr Express), Mr. David J. Owen (chief billeting officer), Mr. Israel Price, Mr. T. S. Evans (deputy food controller), Major T. R. Evans (A.R.P. officer) and others.
After the playing of “Hen Wlad fy Nhadau” by the Salvation Army Band at the Station approach, the children – many of the younger ones carrying dolls and toys, and all with their gas masks – were led by the Mayor and officials to the Miners’ Hall.
In extending a welcome on behalf of the townspeople, the Mayor expressed the hope that the children would be happy and well cared for at their new homes.
Coun. B. J. Williams and Mr. David Owen were in charge of the dispersal of the children from the Miners’ Hall.
After being allocated to the various wards, the children were taken to the St. David’s Hall, where they were medically examined by 14 local doctors. When the examinations were completed, buses were waiting to take the evacuees to the dispersal centres in the various wards. At these dispersal centres they were provided with a meal, and later they were conveyed to their new homes.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Merthyr’s schools were closed while arrangements were being completed for the education of the evacuees, who are drawn from secondary, technical, elementary and infants’ schools. Throughout the borough the evacuees could be seen fraternising with the local children and “exploring” their new surroundings.
The slogan already referred to was thought out by Mr William Morgan, of Twynyrodyn, one of the ward billeting officers.
Troedyrhiw
Bridge Street, Troedyrhiw, was decorated with flags and bunting to greet Pentrebachthe children from Deal when they arrived at 9.30 pm, and crowds of people lined the streets to welcome them. The children, numbering 96, and varying in ages from four to fourteen, marched to the Welfare Hall, where they were provided with a meal.
The Rev. J. C. Bowen, during the proceedings, introduced the Rev. T Rees (vicar), who spoke to the children and said they were now among people who were kindly disposed to them, and were united to make them happy. On behalf of the people of Troedyrhiw, and also of the churches and chapels, he extended to them a warm welcome. Great credit is due to the chief billeting officer, Mr. D Rowlands, and his staff of assistant billeting officers for the smooth working of the arrangements for billeting the children. There was evidence of fine teamwork, which included the chairman, Coun. B. M. Davies; Mr. M.Morgans, secretary; and Mr. G. Bryn Jones J.P., treasurer. Valuable services were also rendered by the police and special constables, under the direction of Sergt. Pugh; also by the ambulance division (Capt. David Jones); the Auxiliary Fire Service, with Mr. Harry Lucas, officer in-charge; and the committee of the Welfare and Boys’ Club (chairman, Mr J. J. Palmer); and Mr Fred Bristowe (Boys’ Club secretary).
The members of the committees were busy on Monday writing letters to the parents of each evacuee child.
Evacuees arriving in Merthyr
Abercanaid
Although the contingent of the evacuee children, numbering 65, for the Abercanaid and Pentrebach area, from Deal, arrived at a late hour on Sunday, the villagers crowded the streets to give them a welcome to the area. The chief billeting officer (Mr. D. W. Davies) had the arrangements so admirably planned, that within an hour of their arrival the children were in their new homes. The billeting and welfare committee were all out to attend to the provision of a meal at the Abercanaid schools, and parents of the children have been informed of their safe arrival, and with the assurance that they will be well cared for during their stay. Splendid services were rendered by the special constables, under the direction of P.C.’s Caleb Evans and R. Davies.
Merthyr Vale
Children evacuated from Deal arrived at the Gordon-Lennox Hall, Merthyr Vale, close on 9 p.m. Outside the hall hundreds of local residents gave them a rousing welcome. About 210 children, with their teachers and a few adults, were handed over to a competent staff of workers, drawn chiefly from the teaching profession, and the difficult task of placing the children in their new homes began. All the clergy and ministers of the village, together with local members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the local police (with Inspector Young in charge) worked as one, and many of the children brought letters of introduction from their clergy to those of their new home. Praise must be accorded the women helpers who served the children with a meal. All worked together, and tribute must be paid to Mr. W. J. Williams, headmaster of Pantglas Boys’ School, and Mr. A James, headmaster of Merthyr Vale Boys’ School, through whose energy the children were all placed in good homes.
Many thanks to Tracy Barnard for transcribing this article.
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.
We must, however, return to the Canton Tea Shop opposite Castle Street, and keep up that side of the road. There were but few shops on that side, the majority being cottages. There was no opening through to the tram road, but courts of some kind existed. The large chapel (Pontmorlais Chapel) was building or about being finished, and next above was a coal yard of the Dowlais Company, chiefly for the supply of coal to their own workmen. Mr John Roberts had charge there, I should say, perhaps, that the coal was brought down by the old tramroad, and there was a short branch into the yard from it.
Some ten or a dozen cottages intervened between the cottage of the coal yard and the one that projected towards the road. This had a few poplar trees around it, and was years after, I cannot say how long previously, occupied by Mr Morgan, a stone and monumental mason, now in business on Brecon Road.
On the upper side of this was an opening to the tramroad, which was not above 80 or 100 feet from the High Street, and then a painter and glazier’s shop kept by Mr Lewis, who afterwards removed a short distance into the Brecon Road, and the shop became that of a saddler (Powell by name). Adjoining this was the Morlais Castle Inn, of which Mr & Mrs Gay were the host and hostess. Mr E. R. Gay, the dentist, of High Street, is the youngest, and it is thought, the only survivor of the family, which consisted of three boys and two girls.
A narrow shop intervened and the turnpike gate was reached. Only a few yards beyond a cast iron bridge spanned the Morlais Brook. On the left a person named Miles lived. His son, Dr Miles, increased its size and subsequently practised there.
One road now leads off to Dowlais, and the other towards Brecon Road, or as it was generally called, the Grawen, but immediately in front is a wall 10 or 12 feet high there, but as the road on either side ascends is tapered down on both sides. The old Tramroad from the Dowlais and Penydarren Works to their wharves on the Canal side near Pontstorehouse ran over this embankment, and a cottage nestling in the trees there was occupied by Mr Rees Jones. No other residence of this kind existed on the Penydarren Park except the house itself and its three lodges. At one time there were some steps leading up to the Park near the turning and junction of roads, one going to the Grawen and the other going to Pontstorehouse, but that gap was built up, and the only public entrance then became that close to the Lodge in Brecon Road by the pond.
The article transcribed below appeared in the Western Mail 150 years ago today (4 May 1870).
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MERTHYR
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
On Monday night a fire of great magnitude took place at Merthyr, destroying a large amount of property. It occurred on the premise, of Mr. Evan Meredith, draper, Waterloo House, in the High Street. The assistants were in the act of closing the shop, when the window next the Globe Tavern was seen to be on fire, the stuff in it, which was of a very inflammable nature, having, it is supposed, come in contact with the gas. The whole shop and the showrooms in an instant were in a blaze, and it was as much as the assistants, Mr. Meredith, his wife and children could do to escape from the burning house without injury.
The police, under the command of Mr. Superintendent Thomas, were on the spot without any delay with the fire apparatus and escape, but, as usual in these cases, the never-failing hitch took place. No water could be procured, and the turncock was nowhere to be found. A delay of the most vital importance now occurred, but the keys were at last secured. Two hydrants (one by the Court Arms, and the other by Messrs. White’s) were opened, but one would not work for a while. After a short period, the water began to run, but too late to save the house.
One hose was taken under the charge of Police-sergeant Dance through the Globe Tavern to its roof, from whence he played upon the back part of the burning building. The Superintendent worked the other upon the front part. Seeing after a time that all efforts would be fruitless to save either the house or the stock, the police devoted their energies to the work of saving the adjoining houses, (Mr. A. Gunn’s, confectioner, and the Globe Tavern) which were in imminent danger, the inmates having begun to remove their property. This they at length succeeded in doing, but not until considerable damage was done by fire and water to both houses.
About ten o’clock the roof fell in with a tremendous crash, and the fire was stayed for a moment only to return the next with still greater fury. Shortly after this the gas company turned off the gas leaving the streets and houses in pitch darkness, so that torches had to be used. This was done at the request of the police, the fire being continually fed by the escaping gas, the pipes having melted with the heat. By one o clock the fire had been got under, but the hose were plied with unflagging zeal until the early morning, at even which time the ruins were still smouldering.
The stock in the shop consisted mostly of the usual drapery goods, but just the kind of materials to make the best fuel for a fire. The total amount of damage done is as yet unknown, but it is no doubt very great. Of the building itself nothing is left but the principal walls. Mr. Meredith was insured in the Royal and Imperial Fire Insurance Offices.
The fire was seen from all parts of the district, and was compared to the light of a blast-furnace. An immense crowd collected, who, to their credit be it said, behaved in a most orderly manner. Too great praise cannot be given to Mr. Superintendent Thomas, Police-sergeants Dance, Thomas, Jennings, and the police for the quickness of their actions and the greatness of their exertions, the delay at the outset not falling on their shoulders. Volunteers came forward to assist in the work, and also deserve commendation. Among those most active were Mr. H. W. Lewis, engineer of Plymouth, with the hose; Mr. D. T. Richards, ironworks; Mr. Biddle, smith; Mr. Evan Davies, cabinet-maker; Mr. W. Brown, Court Arms; and Mr. Absalom Williams, miner, in rescuing furniture and giving other material assistance.
Great sympathy is felt by all parties in the town with Mr. Meredith in the great loss he has sustained. The escape of the four children was almost miraculous. They were sleeping in a bedroom close to the shop at the outbreak of the fire, and were rescued by Mr. Meredith and one of his assistants with very great difficulty. If they had been a minute or so later the children’s lives would have been sacrificed. Mrs. Meredith, at the writing of this report, is lying dangerously ill and great fears are entertained for her recovery. Mr. Meredith was rather severely burnt in trying to put the fire out.
Four of the assistants (two young ladies and two young men) and three servants are rendered well-nigh destitute by the calamity, all their clothes having been burnt, and having no home to go to. A subscription list has been opened, and already a handsome sum has been collected, the rector (Rev John Griffith, Mr. T. J. Evans of the Brecon Bank, and Mr. W. Harris, merchant, having headed the list with £10 each, and Messrs. Phillips and Evans with £5. Subscriptions may be received by Mr. W. Harris, merchant, and Mr. D. Phillips, of the firm of Phillips and Evans. It is to be hoped that the public will not be backward in responding to this worthy appeal.
It is not often that such a dire calamity as this comes upon this town, and the effect has been very great upon all classes of society. Thousands of people visited the scene of the fire yesterday, and on all sides were heard nothing but heartfelt expressions of sympathy with Mr. Meredith in his great affliction.
By the late 1920’s, with the burgeoning popularity of ‘moving pictures’, Merthyr already had a number of purposely built cinemas: the Electric and the Palace in town, the Cosy in Penydarren, the Victoria in Dowlais and the Picture Palace in Troedyrhiw. Everything changed in 1927, however, when ‘The Jazz Singer’ was released. This was the first ‘talking picture’, and cinema was revolutionised.
Unfortunately, none of the cinemas in Merthyr had the technical apparatus to show ‘talkies’, so it was decided that a new purpose built cinema was to be erected. Merthyr Cinemas Ltd, a company which had been set up in 1916 by Henry Seymour Berry to oversee the growing number of cinemas in the town, undertook the planning for the enterprise, and the new cinema was built on the site of the old Castle Hotel. It was designed by the architect O.P. Bevan with the building work carried out by a local contractor – Mr George Warlow using stone supplied by Vaynor Quarries. The overall cost of the building was £300,000.
The Castle Cinema was opened on 11 February 1929 by the mayor, Alderman David Parry at a grand ceremony. The following description of the building appeared in the Merthyr Express on 16 February 1929:
“The Castle Cinema is capable of seating 1,700 people, and ranks among the most commodious and luxuriously fitted film theatres in the Provinces. The main entrance is on Castle Street, so that patrons are spared the discomfort of congested traffic conditions in High Street. The foyer, approached through three pairs of double doors is of an irregular shape, spacious and is beautifully decorated. Leading from the marble foyer are staircases to the mezzanine floor and the gallery, and double doors opening to the ground floor, where there is an excellent fall towards the stage and screen. The walls are beautifully decorated by murals paintings of singular beauty and charm. Large landscape panels, designed by Mr. J. Jones, a local artist, for the decorators (Messrs. W.R. Lewis and son, Merthyr) show stately castles and medieval settings, and across the ceiling is colour washed a brilliant sky illuminated from two light ray domes. An electrically controlled passenger lift carries patrons to the balcony, and gallery floors. The hall is built of fire resisting materials, and the various inlets are supplemented by numerous emergency exits. The Cinema is adapted also for concerts, and a dance or tea-room is provided on the Mezzanine floor, from where runs a small circle, with seats for fifty persons.
One of the famous Christie unit organs has been installed. It combines the musical features of the finest Cathedral pipe-organ, with the manifold voices of a symphony orchestra. no fewer than one hundred miles of electric wire is used in the construction of the mechanism, while 20,000 contacts , all of sterling silver and soldered joints, are contained in the console and action machines, and there are a thousand pipes. The three manual console is provided with 150 stop keys and a remarkable simulation of the human voice is produced by means of the vox human. The organist is Mr Gwilym Jones L.R.A.M., will also direct the Castle Cinema orchestra, which will be under the leadership of Mr Ronald Jones, from the London Symphony Orchestra.”
In 1932, the cinema was bought by Associated British Cinemas and renamed the ABC Castle Super Cinema. In 1954, the organ, which had been falling into disrepair for many years was removed, and in 1972 the cinema was bought by the Star Group who decided to alter the cinema – converting the stalls into a bingo hall, and converting the balcony into two small ‘studios’.
From 1977 the cinema passed into the ownership of several independent operators, and in 1998, the bingo hall closed and a new 300 seat cinema was opened in its place the following year. The cinema closed in 2003 and soon fell into such a state of disrepair, that despite several failed ventures (a skating rink and a pub), the building was demolished in 2011.
The blog article of the 27th November 2019 (http://www.merthyr-history.com/?p=3016) on the aerial view of Court Street in 1965 brought back memories of my school days in St Mary’s Catholic School and my recollection of Court Street during that time. I attended the school in the four ‘school years’ from September 1956 to July 1960, so I recall features of the street that had already disappeared by 1965.
Living in Twynyrodyn my usual route to school was down Twyn Hill so the first landmark on the street I would pass by was the Glove and Shears situated on the left hand side and corner of where the Tramroad crossed the Twynyrodyn Road.
Opposite on the right hand side of the road the last house of Twynyrodyn Road was a corner shop. I can’t recall ever going into the shop but I did spend many a time looking in the shop window. There on display were a variety of items in what must have been ‘dummy’ packets; dusty boxes of popular products of their day, even chocolate bars presumably made of wood or cardboard wrapped in foil etc. The shop’s display never seemed to change so the shelves and their goods were liberally sprinkled with dead flies and wasps.
Further down the street on the right hand side between Gospel Hall formally Twynyrodyn Unitarian Chapel and the railway bridge were a row of properties, some of which were shops. The one shop I remember in detail was an electrical goods shop with a large window displaying a variety of modern electrical appliances. Just inside the doorway of the shop were stacked lead acid batteries, the battery acid was held in thick glass containers with carrying handles. The batteries were used to power radios in those properties where there was no mains electricity supply. You could hire the battery and once the ‘charge’ had expired you returned the battery to the shop to be recharged and collected a newly charged battery in exchange.
After passing under the railway bridge by means of an archway on the right hand side of the road, you then passed by Jerusalem Chapel on the corner of Gillar Street. In Gillar Street on the left hand side there was a small row of houses that backed onto our school yard. The houses had no back gardens, just small courts that were separated from our playground by a low thick stone wall capped with flag stones. Inevitably many a football or tennis ball landed in one of the courts much to the annoyance of their occupiers.
The school building was probably built in late 1870 or early 1871 for both infants and primary age children with a capacity for approximately 460 pupils. On the 30th April 1870 the Aberdare Times reported that “the splendid schools now in the course of erection on the Maerdy Estate are proof of the success that has attended the Rev. Gentleman’s administrations”, (Father Martin Bruton). The ‘schools’ were built on the site of Maerdy House a large building with a sizable garden at its rear, which was now the school yard.
In October 1869 the Local Board of Health gave approval for new school rooms and additions to the house which may explain why the first floor was accessed by an exterior staircase only. The first floor may have been an addition or enlargement above the existing house’s structure. At the rear of the building there were unusual features such as a small arched recess built into the building that seemed to have no function other than as den for us to climb into during playtime.
The School’s boundary wall on the northern side of the school yard separated the school from Conway’s Dairies. This was formally the site of the Boot Inn, 22 High Street, Conway’s had acquired the premises in 1910 and its offices and plant were accessed from the High Street.
Conway’s Dairies. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive
From our yard could be seen towering above the high stone wall the cylindrical metal chimneys of the Dairy’s pasteurisation and bottling plants. The Dairy’s coal fired steam production must have taken its toll on the metal chimneys, as they were extremely rusty. When we turned up for school one morning we were greeted by the sight of one of the chimneys lying in our school yard. The chimney must have rusted through near its base and because of either the weight of metal or high wind it had collapsed during the night. At this time household milk was delivered by horse and cart and the Dairy kept the horses and carts in stables built in the arches of the railway bridge. The stables were accessed from the road leading off Court Street opposite the entrance to Gillar Street. Conway’s Dairies moved its main production to a new plant at the Willows on the other side of the River Taff in 1960/61, but retained use of its High Street plant for many years after but on a much reduced scale.
A Conway’s Dairies milk cart outside the old Boot Inn in the early part of the 20th Century. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive
As well as the Dairies’ chimneys, the other prominent features on the skyline were the clock tower of St Tydfil’s Church and the four storey high Angel Hotel. The parish clock was a useful timepiece for us boys when playing in the streets and alleys near the school during the lunch hour. Punishment for lateness for afternoon lessons could be a canning on the hand. In 1957 the Angel hotel was demolished and during playtimes we had a grandstand view of its progress. The walls of the hotel were very thick with over 400 windows that were deeply recessed with bench seats and the workmen could be seen walking along the top of the wall knocking away the brickwork at their feet with sledge hammers. A working practice that would making any health and safety officer wince, and of course it was not surprising that two men fell from the third storey when part of the wall they were standing on collapsed. Sadly one died and the other was seriously injured.
Opposite the school was a row of terraced houses, formally Maerdy Row, in the front window of one of the houses I can recall seeing a display of boxing trophies, cups belts etc. I don’t know whether they were for professional or amateur boxing or how long they were on display. The occupier of the house must have had some pride in the achievement to display them in their front window. The properties in and around Court Street were near their full life and in February 1960 number 2 Court Street and numbers 22 and 23 Gillar Street were issued with demolition orders. In the following month the County Borough Council approved a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for Court Street. The street was demolished together with the properties between the railway line and the High Street known as the Ball Court. The aerial photograph shows that Jones Bros Garage occupied the site in 1965.
At the end of Court Street as it joins the High Street on the left hand corner and behind the Star Inn was a slaughter house. We boys could climb the waste ground at the side of the building to look down through a window to watch the slaughter men working below. The smell and sounds of the slaughter house is something I will never forget.
By 1960 plans were in place to relocate St Mary’s to an alternative site in Caedraw and today the school in Caedraw is scheduled for closure with a new school planned for the Bishop Hedley School site in Penydarren.
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.
Memories crush upon me so rapidly with respect to the High Street, that one, at least, of those there in 1834 have slipped. It is the Printing, Bookselling and Stationery Establishment of Mr H W White. It was situated opposite to the the residence of Mr W James, just above the Globe Inn, on the same side. After his removal across the road to the corner, since occupied by Messrs Farrant and Frost, the business in those premises was in drapery. When first remembered by me it was the only one in town of note.
An advertisement from 1840 for H W White
Mr White’s brother, Isaac, was the assistant in the shop, but there was a staff of persons in the printing and book-binding branches, two of whom are well recollected, one, Mr Rees Lewis, who afterwards opened on his own account in the shop adjoining the Bush Hotel, which business is now being carried on by his son; the other Benjamin Davies, who went to Australia and became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria.
The shop was not large, but fully fitted. Noticing a bar of wrought iron about 2 ¼ diameter recently fixed, and asking the reason, I received a reply there was so much stock in the room above he was fearful of the joists giving way and causing very considerable damage. Thinking of Mr H W White recalls that he married one of the Misses Williams, of Mill Street, and as the others all married from there lest it may slip, I may state that one married Mr Thomas Joseph, another the Rev T Davies (minister of High Street Chapel then, but subsequently principal of Haverfordwest College), and the other Rev Enoch Williams (father of the present recorder of Cardiff).
We now return to John Street, and keeping on the first shop on the corner was kept by a David Davies – it was a draper shop on one side and grocery on the other. Its scrupulous cleanliness is yet impressed upon me. A son of Mr & Mrs Davies was a doctor at Mountain Ash for many years, and the first medical officer of health of the local board of that town. It cannot be stated positively whether Mr Edward Morgan’s residence came next or a few more doors above, but a watch and clock business was carried on by William Williams exactly opposite the entrance to Glebeland Street. He had a small square turret, say four feet square or so, projecting above the roof, an observatory from which the necessary observations were taken, to keep all his works in order it was said.
There was another house then used as a residence, and then the premises of the Brecon Old Bank, of which Mr David Evans was managing partner. These premises have been altered and enlarged.
A photograph of the High Street taken in the 1800’s. The original Brecon Bank can be seen to the right of St David’s Church. Photo courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm
Immediately abutting on these bank premises is the road leading to Thomastown. It was then nothing like as wide as it is now, and being, perhaps, the only one now living who can evidence what brought about the change, I will tell the tale.
The road was then only used as a thoroughfare to Professional Row and the Tramroad. After the building of St David’s Church and Schools it became expedient to enclose them. I was asked to make necessary drawings and superintend the carrying of it out. Subscriptions for this were not enough to carry the railings all around, so it was determined to build a wall on the southern side, but even a wall required money, and Dr Thomas, of the Court, after whom the district is named, was approached, and upon the promise of the wall being set back far enough to make a good opening contributed £90 towards its building, but it must not be understood that this took the road up as far as the Tramroad, for it covered only as far as the church property near.
Then came a garden appertaining to the end house of the row, and for this small additional distance I then heard £200 had been paid. There is no deed of conveyance with respect to the land given up by the church. It was all well-known to the committee, and that most excellent man – Rev James Colquhoun Campbell, then rector. Time has now given an irreproachable title for it was done over half a century ago.
Ninety years ago, on Monday 23 December 1929, Crosswoods food shop first opened its doors. It was the collaboration of David William Wood and William Joseph Cross, experienced in the grocery trade.
David William Wood was born in Montgomeryshire in 1885, and was educated at Corris Elementary School and Machynlleth County School. In 1902, aged 17, Wood entered the grocery and provision trade. He was employed at the time by the largest retailers in the North of England, an by 1909 he became manager of one of the largest branches. For a short time before the First World War he was in the employment of Messrs’ William Harris, Merthyr and then during the he served four and a half years with the Forces, and was twice mentioned in despatches, for meritorious service, gaining promotion to the rank of sergeant-major. After the war he returned to Merthyr Tydfil and continued to work for Messrs’ William Harris, and lived with his wife Elizabeth at Meliden, 5, Garth Villas, Near the General Hospital and attended Pontmorlais Chapel.
William Joseph Cross (known as Joe), was born 19 April 1900, His parents were John Cross and Ruth Rawlings, he was brought up at Cross Farm, Kingsland in Herefordshire. In 1913 when he was only 13 years old, he was sent to Merthyr Tydfil to work for C.M & R Gunson’s, at 68, High Street, a family Grocery, wine & spirit business. On 5 March 1918, he joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman on the ship Victory. When he was demobbed on 6 February 1919, Cross returned to Merthyr Tydfil and resumed his employment with Gunson’s. On 27 August 1923 he married Ruby E Seaman and they lived at 7 Hampton Street, and they had one son Ernest George Woods, who was born 1926.
Having worked for the Gunson family most of his life (except for the period of his conscription), after Joe Cross had a disagreement with the family, so decided to investigate the possibility of opening a Grocery business of his own. Having worked in the local grocery industry he came in contact with David William Wood, then manager of one of Messrs William Harris shops, both men had similar business experiences in the grocery and provision trade.
Although Wood was older than Cross, their business backgrounds were similar, so they made the decision to go into partnership. Mr Wood and Mr Cross’s joint ambition was to serve the people of Merthyr Tydfil under the best possible hygienic conditions, a promise that was kept all through their working lives. After purchasing and renovating a premises at 67 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, and making provisions for food stocks, a name had not yet been decided upon, an amalgamation of the two surnames Wood and Cross was suggested, after careful thought the name “Crosswoods” was decided upon.
Crosswoods in Merthyr High Street. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive
It was a terrific gamble due to the depression in the Merthyr Tydfil Borough, but Crosswords opened its doors on 23 December 1929, and it was through Mr Wood and Mr Cross’s courage, initiative and enterprise the business survived the difficulties of the time.
After the first shop was firmly established a second “Crosswoods” was opened in Aberdare at 25 Seymour Street in early 1930’s. Here again the progress in business was rapid, and proved conclusively that “Crosswoods” was appreciated by the public who could afford the best in foods. Mr Cross took charge of the establishment and moved to Aberdare, and lived at 5 Cledwyn Gardens. In spite of the depression Messrs “Crosswoods” had in a small space of twelve months built up a wonderfully successful high-class business: the secret of their success lying in that they only sold the best of everything; that they studied the art of display; the cleanliness of their establishments and the unfailing courtesy meted to the thousands that patronised their shops. They always excelled themselves in preparation for all seasons with everything required for provisions, groceries, confectionary and delicacies all being of superb quality.
In October 1938, to relieve pressure at Merthyr Tydfil’s “Crosswoods” a third shop was opened at Aberfan. But after experiencing the business of Christmas of 1937 when pressure of business reached its peak, the firm were compelled to either consider expansion in both Merthyr and Aberdare shops or to deliberately curtail the size of their shops. The directors decided on the first course and Aberdare had its refurbished “Crosswoods” in September 1938, it was described as a shop worthy of the goods sold there. The Merthyr branch acquired 66,High Street and after renovations the shop opened its doors on Friday 25 November 1938. At the time “Crosswoods” was reputed as one of the finest food shops in Wales.
In a statement at the time, David W. Woods said:
“We have taken this step for more than one reason. Firstly, we feel we owe it to those who have put up with so much inconvenience at our old shops, particularly during the busy periods. Secondly, we are optimistic of Merthyr’s and future, and we know from experience that when they are prosperous only the best will satisfy Merthyr People. Thirdly, there is among all classes a rapidly developing pure foods consciousness and sensitiveness to the importance of Hygiene in our food stores.”
Another innovation Crosswoods introduced in 1938, was a department specially designed for those on special diets and foods for the sick and convalescents. This department had two special features. Nothing would be on sale that did not bear that fullest recommendations of the medical profession, the department would be under the charge of a trained nurse who has specialised in dietetics.
Having had three shops already Merthyr, Aberdare, and Aberfan “Crosswoods” expanded to four shops when a branch was opened in Tredegar after the Second World War.
Crosswoods Staff Dinner in 1940. W J. Cross and D.W Woods are sitting at the head of the table
Crosswoods had been conscious for a very long time about opening of a modern and up-to-date bakery, so, in March 1954, Crosswoods opened their very own bakery behind their shop at 25 Seymour Street, Aberdare. This venture meant they could expand their own products. The occasion was marked by the Mayor of Merthyr officially opening the new bakery. Following the opening ceremony a luncheon was held at the Boot Hotel, Aberdare.
In the early 1950’s Mr Oswald May joined Crosswords, he became General Manager, and later a director of the company. Mr May continued as a company director until his death in 1971. Mr May’s son John Philip May known as Philip, became the company secretary and later in 1959 a director of company.
Philip and Oswald May
Most of the Crosswoods stores eventually closed due to competition from large supermarkets and, by the late 1970s, closed leaving Merthyr’s Crosswoods the only one to survive.
After over forty years at Nos 66 and 67 High Street, Crosswoods moved to Newmarket Walk, Merthyr Tydfil but it only remained there a short period before moving to Victoria Street where it remains today.
Lisa Jones a former Saturday girl, was just 16 and still at school when she joined Crosswoods in 1989. Lisa subsequently bought the business from Philip May in 2003. Since then, Crosswoods has gone from strength to strength, currently employing over 13 members of staff
Crosswoods recently moved to a larger premises three doors away with the aim of introducing new services such as a hot food counter. Since Crosswood’s beginning, customer care and courtesy have been paramount and food quality is of the highest standard – this is still maintained to this day.
