A New Cemetery

The article transcribed below appeared in the Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian 160 years ago today (7 May 1859).

Our new necropolis has this week been formally opened for the burial af the dead. It consists of about 21 acres of ground, and is situated about, two miles from Merthyr, beyond Cefn Coed y Cymmer and between the Brecon road and the River Taff. It was purchased at a cost of about £2000; and from £2000 to £3000 more have been laid out in walling it in, in the erection of chapels for the use of Churchmen and Dissenters, and in laying out the ground and making roads, walks, lodges, gateways etc.

The ground has been divided into three portions – one for the use of the Established Church, one for Dissenters, and one for Roman Catholics; and these several portions have now been formally dedicated to their respective uses. It was expected that the Church portion would have been consecrated on the 29th instant; but this was postponed to Tuesday last. In the meantime the Roman Catholics had taken possession of their ground, and had opened it for burial according to the uses of their church.

Much discussion has been for some time going on among the dissenting part of the population as to the mode of dealing with theirs. Having been violently opposed to the ceremonial of consecration practised by Churchmen, and having habitually denounced all consecrations of burial grounds as useless forms, if not something worse, they were placed in an awkward dilemma. If they abstained from any formal proceedings they would give the Established Church an opportunity to outshine them in the public eye; and if they had a formal service they turned their backs on their own professions, nullified all their own arguments, and would after all give a deliberate and imposing sanction to that consecrational usage which they had so often denounced. These various arguments were used over and over again in most of the dissenting chapels and Sunday schools. Where the spirit of nonconformity prevailed it was resolved to abstain from any demonstration, and to adhere to the fixed principles of their forefathers; but in the meantime a new spirit has found its way into dissenting chapels, and they incline to follow the example of the Established Church, while violently and even bitterly denouncing their example.

The object of the latter class was to produce a demonstration of the numerical superiority of the nonconformist part of the population; but in this respect it was a comparative failure; for several congregations discountenanced the movement, and others only half approved of it, so that they only put forth half their strength. The first intention was that all the children of the dissenting Sunday schools should take part in the demonstration but, owing to a prevalent disapprobation of the object thereof, and to a feeling that the motives in which it originated were uncharitable and unchristian, only a few schools turned out on the occasion, and of those some were divided and only displayed half their real numbers. Among those which joined in the demonstration were the Sunday schools in connection with Zoar Chapel, High Street Chapel, Adulam Chapel, a part of the Welsh Wesleyan School, and that of the Wesleyan Reformers.

Viewed in itself, and apart from the spirit which dictated it, the demonstration had several points of interest. The day was fine; the children, led by their ministers walked in procession, and, as they wended their way towards Cefn, they sang hymns appropriate to the occasion, making the streets vocal with their silvery tones, and populous with pleased hearers and spectators. Having arrived on the ground, religious services were celebrated in the chapel dedicated to the use of Dissenters; and addresses were delivered by several ministers and laymen. One of the speakers even went the length of asserting the propriety of consecration, and the superiority of the Nonconformist form of it. “Today,” said he, “we consecrate this ground with prayer; tomorrow it will be consecrated by ceremonies.” As if Churchmen could not pray as well as Dissenters.

Passing by this exhibition of bigotry, which we are happy to find met with the disapprobation of many Dissenters, we pursue our narrative. On the following day, the ground set apart for the use of Churchmen was consecrated by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Llandaff, in accordance with the rites of the Established Church. The Burial Board paid his Lordship the compliment of attending in their corporate capacity; and a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen – Churchmen and Dissenters   – attended on the occasion.

The new burial ground having been formally opened on these several occasion, and in its several parts, will now speedily become the last resting-place of many of the inhabitants of this locality.

A Celebration of Adelina Patti

Emanuela Barazia-Joll (wife of Merthyr-born opera star Phillip Joll) and her students of “The-Joy-of-Singing-Studio” are happy to announce the next Concert in honour of opera star Adelina Patti (Madrid 10 Feb 1843 – Craig y Nos 27 September 1919).
All ready for Adelina, is my new motto! We’ll celebrate this cosmopolitan citizen of the world and Belcantista sublime who was born in Madrid from Italian parents and grew up in USA, but felt in love with Wales. She left this world a hundreds years ago but lives forever, and we’ll sing under her star and the ones of fellow musicians who lived during her period. Emanuela, as mezzosoprano-Falcon, will portray a personal picture of Patti, with anecdotes and curious aspects of her life, and with my fellow singers we will sing a large variety of songs composed or inspired by the Victorian era in which Adelina Patti lived. We are happy to announce the participation of the lovely harpist Arween and to invite all of you to participate and sing something with us, to have some prosecco for the very special Traviata toast at the end!

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.

To return to the coach journey, the Bridgewater Arms was then kept by Mr George Roach, who afterwards move to the Castle at Merthyr,and after the change of horses they came to Quakers’ Yard. Here a slight halt was made, it might have been put down to kindness towards the animals, but the hostelry also supplied refreshments for the inner man. Whatever may be the reason, a long and steep hill had then to be ascended. After passing Pantannas the ascent modified, and on arriving at Nantddu turnpike, the pace could be again increased.

The Nantddu Turnpike (or Tollbooth) in Edwardsville. Courtesy of the Alan George Archive

A run of about two miles after this brought us to a pleasant cottage on  the right hand side, owned and occupied by a Mr Stephens, and the Mount Pleasant Public House, kept by John Griffiths, who afterwards moved to the Star opposite the Old Church in High Street, was close by on the other side of the road.

The drive through the woods up to Troedyrhiw was a pleasant one. The road just before entering Troedyrhiw has been altered a little for the making of the Taff Vale Railway, and after passing Troedyrhiw for about 1½ miles the road was subsequently diverted by Mr Anthony Hill. After crossing the line of the railroad forming the connection at present between the Taff Vale Railway and the South Duffryn Coal Pits, it kept to the east of the present road, passing close in front of Duffryn Cottage, the east end of Taibach and Pentrebach Rows, through what was part of the Forge Yard, then past Pentrebach House (where I believe Mr Probert now resides), and came out at a little above Plymouth Lodge.

A drawing of the Plymouth Lodge in the 1820’s. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

From here there has not been any deviation of route, but until the Britannia Public House on the right-hand side, there was not a single cottage on either side. There was a bridge over the road for the conveying of mine rubbish between the Dowlais Branch Bridge and the Britannia similar to one passed under at Pencaebach. About a hundred yards on towards the High Street, and on the other side of the road stood the Bell, and adjoining the Bell was the Plymouth Tollgate. On the opposite side of the road, but just before coming to the Bell there was an open space to the town road that was used as place where coal was delivered; which with some others will be alluded to to exemplify the arrangements at the time.

After coming through the Plymouth gate there were cottages on both sides until the Plymouth watercourse came so close to the road as to prevent their being built on the left hand. Where the Taff Station was at the opening of the railway and for years afterwards, there was nothing but rubbish tips, but they were not high, and the road with a ford through the river went from Plymouth Street across by Rhydycar. Perhaps this was the very Rhyd (a ford), but the place called Rhydycar was on the side of the canal bank, a house and mine pit with a winding engine. It was doubtless a parish road for Mr Bruce, the grandfather of the present Lord Aberdare, when Stipendiary of Merthyr, passed that way home to his residence in Mountain Ash.

A section of the remarkable 1836 map of Merthyr by John Wood showing the Plymouth Street area as mentioned in this article.

 

To be continued at a later date….

Grand Easter Sale

The committee of the Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society have announced a massive Spring Sale on back-issues of the Merthyr Historian books. They are being offered for sale at £3.00 each or two for £5.00.

If anyone would like to purchase any of the these books, please contact me via the e-mail address shown to the right and I will pass on your orders to the Merthyr Historical Society.

Details of the issues available are as follows:-

VOLUME 15 (2003) 

1. Dr. Joseph Gross by Glanmor Williams
2. Attraction and Dispersal by John Wilkins
3. Mrs. Mary Ann Edmunds by Mary Patricia Jones
4. Bacon v Homfray by Eric Alexander
5. Cheshunt College, Hertfordshire by Barrie Jones
6. Striking Features: Robert Thompson Crawshay’s Large-Scale Portraits by Jane Fletcher
7. Margaret Stewart Taylor. A Notable Woman of Merthyr Tydfil by Carolyn Jacob
8. Iron Working in the Cynon Valley by Douglas Williams
9. Owain Glyn Dwr – After Six Hundred Years by Glanmor Williams
10. Merthyr Amateur Theatricals, 1860’s by H. W. Southey
11. Shon Llywelyn of Cwm Capel by Lyndon Harris
12. Hoover Transport, 1948-98 by Gwyn Harris M.M.
13. David Jones (1760-1842), Merthyr Clockmaker, Revisited by W. Linnard, D. Roy Sears & Chris Roberts
14. The English Bible by J. W. Bowen
15. He Came, He Saw, He Conquered Merthyr Commerce – Thomas Nibloe’s Story by T. F. Holley
16. Colour Supplement – Merthyr Buildings

 VOLUME 16 (2003) 

1. Joseph Parry’s Place in the Pantheon of Welsh Musicians by John Hywel
2. Joseph Parry – Musician and Christian by Dulais Rees
3. Joseph Parry’s Congregation by Brynley Roberts
4. The Family of Dr. Joseph Parry by Carl Llewellyn and Mansel Richards
5. Joseph Parry and the Family Historian by Carolyn Jacob
6. Joseph Parry, Mus. Doc., From Pit Boy to Professor by Thomas Hughes
7. Dr. Joseph Parry, Subject of an Essay in 1922 by David Morgans
8; 9 & 10. Obituaries of Dr. Parry
11. Jack Jones, C.B.E., Author and Playwright by Carl Llewellyn
12. Off to Philadelphia, 1865 by T. F. Holley
13. A Vanished Community by Wendy Bellany
14. Book Review. Wales, Clocks & Clockmakers by W. Linnard
15. Horses Down the Years, 1983 by Gladys Morgan
16. Dr. Daniel George Lewis, 1847-1902 by T. F. Holley
17. James Keir Hardie, M.P., on Robert Burns, 1903
18. Jubilee and Early History of the Merthyr Express, 1914
19. Book Review. The Journal of David Gibson, 1814-43 by Innes Macleod
20. Colour Supplement

 VOLUME 17 (2004) 

1. Pleasures & Pastimes in the 18th & 19th Century, Merthyr Tydfil by Geoffrey Evans
2. Celtic Connections: Early Quoiting in Merthyr Tydfil by Innes MacLeod
3. The Will of the Revd. William Price Lewis, 1839 by T. F. Holley
4. The Dic Penderyn Society and the Popular Memory of Richard Lewis by Viv Pugh
5. The Welsh Religious Revival, 1904-5 by Robert Pope
6. Reporting Revival by Neville Granville
7. A French View of Merthyr Tydfil and the Evan Roberts Revival by William Linnard
8. Songs of Praises: Hymns and Tunes of the Welsh Revival, 1904-5 by Noel Gibbard
9. Revival, Cwm Rhondda, 1905 by William Linnard
10. Diwygiad 1904-5. A Select Reading List by Brynley Roberts
11. Rosina Davies, 1863-1949. A Welsh Evangelist by Eira M Smith
12. Evan Roberts, the Welsh Revivalist by J. Ann Lewis
13. Evan Roberts at Heolgerrig, Merthyr, January 1905 – Transcribed
14. Sir Thomas Marchant Williams & the Revival – Transcribed
15. Potpourri, a Medley by The Editor
16. What Wales Needs – Religiously, 1907 by Evan Roberts
17. Joseph Williams, Printer. TYST A’R DYDD. 1903 by T. F. Holley
18. Dr. Thomas Rees (1825-1908), of Cefncoedycymer by John Mallon
19. Everest & Charles Bruce (1866-1939): The Welsh Connection by Huw Rees
20. The Lusitania Catastrophe and the Welsh Male Voice Choir by Carl Llewellyn
21. Merthyr Amateur Theatricals, 1860’s. Part Two by H. W. Southey
22. Books, Old and New. Short Reviews by The Editor
23. Night Mrs. Evans by Ken J. Mumford
24. Some Early History of Park Baptist Church, The Walk, Merthyr – Transcribed
25. Letter re: Wool Factory, Merthyr Tydfil

VOLUME 21 (2009)

1. Recollections of the Waite Family in the Merthyr Express by Carolyn Jacob
2. Merthyr’s Victorian Middle Class by Joe England
3. 1750’s Field Map of Gellideg Hamlet by Greg Buick
4. John Coke Fowler, 1815-1899, Merthyr Tydfil Stipendiary Magistrate, 1853-1872 by T. F. Holley
5. Dic Penderyn and the Socialist Tradition of 1831 by Viv Pugh
6. Svedenstiema’s Tour of Great Britain, 1802-03 – Transcribed
7. Farming in Merthyr Tydfil by Barrie Jones
8. Tom ‘Tiesen’s’ Life on the Buses of Merthyr Tydfil by Lisa Marie Powell
9. Characters Associated with Dowlais Silver Band by T. F. Holley
10. Evacuee Recollections by Bob Hyatt
11. Recollections of an Octogenarian, Merthyr Tydfil c. 1865 – Transcribed
12. Saunders Lewis, 1893-1985 by Margaret Lloyd
13. Ruth Rees, 1916, Merthyr Nonagenarian, lived in Merthyr Tydfil for 94 years – Transcribed
14. Journeying to Work by M. J. Jones
15. Parc Taf Bargoed, Then and Now by Karl Caiman Griffiths
16. A Biographical Sketch of John Thomas (1795-1871), Ieuan Ddu by Daniel Williams
17. Drawings by David Lewis Jones, Merthyr Tydfil Artist
18. Three black & white pictures
19. Celebration! – 200 Years of Steam Railways by Glyn Bowen
20. Trevithick 2004 Colour Photographs by Glyn Bowen
21. Interesting Book Plate. Tudor Crawshay

VOLUME 22 (2011)

  1. A Visit to Merthyr Tydfil in 1697 by Brynley F. Roberts
  2. A Pedestrian Tour Through Scotland in 1801: New Lanark before Robert Owen by Innes Macleod
  3. Note for Merthyr Historian by K. H. Edwards
  4. Charles Richardson White, Merthyr Vale by T. F. Holley
  5. Isaac John Williams, Curator by Scott Reid
  6. The Merthyr Historian. Some Statistics by J. D. Holley
  7. Thomas Evan Nicholas, 1879-1971 by Ivor Thomas Rees
  8. Eira Margaret Smith: A Personal Tribute by Huw Williams
  9. Saint Tydfil’s Hospital 1957. A House Physicians Recollections by Brian Loosmore
  10. John Devonald, 1863-1936. Aberfan Musician and Remembrancer of Musicians by T. F. Holley
  11. The Remarkable Berry Brothers by Joe England
  12. Albert de Ritzen: Merthyr Tydfil’s Stipendiary Magistrate 1872-1876 by Huw Williams
  13. A Scrap of Autobiography by Charles Wilkins, Annotated by His Great Grandson by John V. Wilkins, OBE
  14. Industrial History of Colliers Row Site and Environs by Royston Holder (the late)
  15. The Life of Maria Carini by Lisa Marie Powell
  16. Lecture by J. C. Fowler, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, 1872 ‘Civilisation in South Wales – Transcribed
  17. Gwyn Griffiths -‘The Author of our Anthem. Poems by Evan James’ – Book Review by Brian Davies
  18. Enid Guest – ‘Daughter of an Ironmaster’ by Mary Owen – Book Review by Ceinwen Statter
  19. Caepanttywyll – A Lost Community by Christopher Parry
  20. James Colquhoun Campbell (in four parts) – T. F. Holley

(A) The Social Condition of Merthyr Tydfil, 1849
(B) The Venerable Archdeacon Campbell, 1859, Biography
(C) St. David’s Church, Merthyr Tydfil, Visited, 1860
(D) J. C. Campbell and the Census Record, Research by Mrs. C. Jacob

  1. Interesting Book Plate

VOLUME 23 (2012)

  1. Vince Harris, 1904-1987 by Margaret Lloyd
  2. All Change for Plymouth: A Year in the Life of a Mining Engineer by Clive Thomas
  3. Who Was The Real Lydia Fell? by Christine Trevett
  4. Sewage Pollution of the Taff and the Merthyr Tydfil Local Board (1868-1871) by Leslie Rosenthal
  5. Redmond Coleman, the Iron Man from Iron Lane by Carolyn Jacob
  6. The Assimilation and Acculturation of the Descendants of Early 20th Century Spanish Industrial Immigrants to Merthyr by Stephen Murray
  7. David Williams, High Constable, Merthyr Tydfil 1878-1880 by T. F. Holley
  8. John Collins, V.C. by Malcolm Kenneth Payne
  9. Marvellous Merthyr Boy – Transcribed
  10. A Remarkable and Most Respected Enterprise, J. Howfield & Son, Merthyr Tydfil, 1872-2001 by Mary Owen
  11. The Uncrowned Iron King (The First William Crawshay) by J. D. Evans
  12. Watkin George 1759-1822, The Mechanical Genius of Cyfarthfa, The Pride of Pontypool by Wilf Owen
  13. Opencast History (Illustrated) by Royston Holder
  14. The Laundry Trade by T. F. Holley
  15. Grand Concert at the Oddfellows Hall, Dowlais – Transcribed
  16. Guidelines for Contributors – By courtesy of the Glamorgan History Society

VOLUME 24 (2012)

  1. Elphin, Literary Magistrate: Magisterial Commentator by Brynley Roberts
  2. Picturing ‘The Member For Humanity’. J. M. Staniforth’s Cartoons of Keir Hardie, 1894-1914 by Chris Williams
  3. William Morris, Yr Athraw and the ‘Blue Books’ by Huw Williams
  4. Hugh Watkins by Carl Llewellyn and J. Ann Lewis
  5. Gomer Thomas J.P. 1863-1935 by Wilf and Mary Owen
  6. Oddfellows and Chartists by Lyndon Harris
  7. John Roberts, Ieuan Gwyllt, Composer of Hymns by G. Parry Williams
  8. Georgetown? How Was It? By Clive Thomas
  9. Book Review: Bargoed and Gilfach – A Local History
  10. A History of Ynysgau Chapel by Steven Brewer
  11. ‘Mr Merthyr’ S.O. Davies 1886-1972 by Rev. Ivor Thomas Rees
  12. Historical Farms of Merthyr Tydfil by John Griffiths Reviewed by Keith Lewis-Jones
  13. National Service, Doctor With The Gurkhas by Brian Loosmoore
  14. A Year of Anniversaries: Reflections on Local History 1972-2012 by Huw Williams
  15. The Family of Dr. Thomas Rees, Revisited by John Mallon
  16. Merthyr District Coffee Tavern Movement, 1880 by T. F. Holley
  17. Henry Richard (1812-1888) – Apostle of Peace and Patriot by Gwyn Griffiths
  18. Owen Morgan – Miners’ Reporter by Brian Davies
  19. The Tredegar Riots of 1911 – Anti Liberalism ‘The Turbulent Years of 1910-1914’ by Lisa Marie Powell
  20. Adulum Chapel by Carl Llewellyn
  21. Cyfarthfa’s Curnow Vosper Archive by Gwyn Griffiths
  22. Whithorn Gas, 1870 by Innes Macleod
  23. A Journey from Merthyr to Sydney, A Talented Portrait Painter by Graham John Wilcox
  24. The Merthyr Bus Rallies by Glyn Bowen

Volume 25 (2013)

  1. The Merthyr Tydfil 1835 Election Revisited, Lady Charlotte Guest’s Account by E (Ted) Rowlands
  2. John Josiah Guest at Auction by Huw Williams
  3. Conway and Sons Dairies Ltd. – Some Notes by G. Conway
  4. John Petherick; Merthyr’s Man of Africa by John Fletcher
  5. Travels in the Valleys. Book Review by Glyn Bowen
  6. Plaques by John D. Holley
  7. William Thomas Lewis 1837-1914 by A Family Member
  8. Boom Towns by Brian Loosmore
  9. The Taff Valley Tornado 1913 by Stephen Brewer
  10. Plaques by John D. Holley
  11. From Mule Train to Diesel Lorries. The Dowlais Iron Company Connects the Coast by Wilf Owen
  12. Review CD. Some of the History of Merthyr Tudful and District via Its Place Names by John & Gwilym Griffiths by Keith Lewis-Jones
  13. Caedraw Primary School, 1875-1912 by Clive Thomas
  14. Charles Butt Stanton, 1873-1946 by Revd, Ivor Thomas Rees
  15. The Merthyr and Dowlais Steam Laundry Limited, 1891 by T. F. Holley
  16. Dynamism, Diligence, Energy and Wealth. Trade and Commerce in Merthyr Tydfil 1800-1914 by Mary Owen
  17. YMCA. Merthyr Tydfil Lecture 1861 by J. C. Fowler – Transcribed
  18. John Nixon and the Welsh Coal Trade to France by Brian Davies
  19. Tydfil School, Merthyr Tydfil, 1859-1873 by Evan Williams – Transcribed
  20. Gossiping in Merthyr Tydfil by Carolyn Jacob
  21. Penywern to Pontsarn. The Story of the Morlais Tunnel. The Writer’s Early Impressions by A. V. Phillips
  22. Short History of the Thomas-Merthyr Colliery Company. Merthyr Tydfil, 1906-1946 by Ronald Llewellyn Thomas – Transcribed
  23. Morien and Echos of Iolo Morgannwg by T. F. Holley
  24. Merthyr Tydfil’s Stipendiary Magistracy and Walter Meyrick North (1886-1900): A Case Study by Huw Williams

 Volume 26 (2014) 

  1. Three Generations of a Dowlais Medical Family 1860-1964 by Stuart Cresswell
  2. Viscount Tredegar, Balaclava Veteran, 1913 by T. F. Holley
  3. What Makes a Country Great? Lecture by Stipendiary Magistrate – J. C. Fowler – 1858
  4. Billy ‘The Doll’ Williams by Malcolm K. Payne
  5. Evan James, Dr. William Price and Iolo Morganwg’s Utopia by Brian Davies
  6. John A. Owen (1936-1998), Dowlais Historian: An Appreciation by Huw Williams
  7. Welsh Women and Liberation from Home: Feminist or Activist? By Lisa Marie Powell
  8. Gwilym Harry (1792-1844), Unitarian – Farmer – Poet by Lyndon Harris
  9. ‘Aunt’ Emma’s Ronnie by Clive Thomas
  10. Morgan Williams: Merthyr’s Forgotten Leader by Joe England
  11. Matthew Wayne (1780-1853) by Wilf Owen
  12. The Contribution of Hunting to the 19-14-18 War, 1914 by T. F. Holley
  13. The Difficulties of M.T.C.B.C.’s Financial Management and Administration, 1926-1937: Maladministration, Political Ideology or Economic Reality? By Barrie Jones
  14. The Rail Accident at Merthyr Station, 1874 by Stephen Brewer
  15. Courtland House, 1851 by Mary Owen
  16. Formation of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Brass Bands Association, 1891 by T. F. Holley
  17. Moses Jones (1819-1901) by Annette Barr
  18. Dr Richard Samuel Ryce, M.D. M.Ch.: An Irish Doctor by T. F. Holley
  19. Cwmtaf – A Drowning of the Valley and its Consequences by Gwyneth Evans
  20. A Professor Gwyn A. Williams Symposium
  21. Recollections of Professor Gwyn Williams, University of York, 1967-70 by Frances Finnegan
  22. Memories of Gwyn at York by Brian Davies
  23. Professor Gwyn Alf Williams. A Personal Remembrance by Viv Pugh
  24. Merthyr Tydfil at War, 1914 by Stephen Brewer
  25. Photo Feature – Archaeology by T. F. Holley