Tag: Abercanaid

Lucy Thomas

Following on from the last post here is a bit more about Lucy Thomas.

Lucy Thomas was born in Llansamlet, the daughter of Job Williams and his wife Ann Williams (née James). Her exact date of birth is not known, but records show that she was baptised on 11 March 1781. Very little is known about her early life, but on 30 June 1802, she married Robert Thomas, a contractor of a coal level producing fuel for Cyfarthfa Ironworks.

In 1828 Robert Thomas took up an annual tenancy from Lord Plymouth for the opening and mining of a small coal level at Waun Wyllt, near Abercanaid, south of Merthyr. The contract forbade Robert Thomas from trading with the four local ironworks which were under the ownership of Lord Plymouth. Although little was expected from the level, it was the first to hit the ‘Four Foot Seam, a rich deposit of high quality steam coal. The mine initially sold its coal to local households in Merthyr and Cardiff, with a tramline being constructed from Thomas’ level to the Glamorganshire Canal to allow transportation to Cardiff Docks. Within a couple of years of the level being opened Robert was in contract with George Insole a Cardiff trader. In November 1830 Insole had agreed the shipment of 413 tons of steam coal from Waun Wyllt to London.

Abercanaid House – the home of Robert & Lucy Thomas. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

In 1833 Robert Thomas died. Lucy Thomas and their eldest son Robert were granted probate and from that time Insole’s payments for the coal dispatched were paid to them. Through Insole a contact was written with Messer’s Wood and Company to supply the London-based coal merchants for a quantity of 3,000 tons of coal per year. These early deals with the London markets helped establish the reputation of Welsh coal and how Thomas became known as ‘The Mother of the Welsh Steam Coal Trade’. Although Thomas and her son Robert were credited with this success, it is now believed that much of this success was down to Insole.

The embellishment of Thomas’ achievements are today attributed to Merthyr historian Charles Wilkins, who wrote an account of Thomas in 1888. Wilkins had a penchant for imaginative touches and his work gave the impression of Thomas as an enterprising woman who looked to set up new markets, whereas evidence now suggest that this work was conducted by her agents. Further research has also shown that coal had been shipped to London from Wales before either of the Thomas’ began extracting coal from their level, with shipments from Llanelli and Swansea being exported to the capital as early as 1824.

In the mid-1830s the lease for the Waun Wyllt level was terminated and Thomas instead leased the neighbouring Graig Pit which also exploited the ‘Four Foot Seam’.

In September 1847 Lucy Thomas contracted typhoid fever and died two weeks later on 27 September 1847 at her home in Abercanaid. She was buried at the family plot in the cemetery of the Hen Dy Cwrdd chapel at Cefn-Coed. Despite this evidence available today, the myth of a sole woman engaging in a near-total male dominated industry has endured. This myth was given further credence with the construction of a fountain on the High Street of Merthyr Tydfil in commemoration of Lucy Thomas and her son Robert. It was part funded by her granddaughter’s husband, William Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr.

All of this being said, Lucy Thomas was indeed a remarkable woman who forged the way for women in industry.

Merthyr Historian Volume 32

What’s in the newly-launched 50th Anniversary volume of Merthyr Historian?

The answer is more than 450 pages about the history and communities and notable people linked with the lower end of our Borough.

It’s called Troedyrhiw Southward and Taff Bargoed. Glimpses of Histories and Communities.

This is what is in it …

FOREWORD: Lord Ted Rowlands

REGIONAL MAP       

WELCOME TO OUR 50th ANNIVERSARY VOLUME

 I. THE ROAD THAT RUNS THROUGH IT …       

  • Clive Thomas, ‘History, geography and the construction of the new A470 from Abercynon to Abercanaid’. A photographic account with commentary

II. PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

  • Christine Trevett, ‘The Idiot of Cefn Fforest farm: learning disability, lunacy and the law in 17th century Merthyr parish’
  • Transcription, ‘Visit to the Merthyr Sewage Farm’ (1872,South Wales Daily News)
  • Huw Williams, ‘A North South divide and the Troedyrhiw Sewerage Farm: a case study in local history’
  • Bleddyn Hancock, ‘Fighting for breath, fighting for justice: how a small Welsh Trade Union took on the British government on behalf of tens of thousands of coal miners suffering and dying from chest disease’

III. WAR, COMMEMORATION AND  PEACEMAKING      

  • Eirlys Emery et al., ‘Treharris remembers – Treharris yn cofio: a recent community project to record the past’
  • Gethin Matthews, ‘Honour to whom honour is due’: reports of First World War unveilings in the Merthyr Express, with special reference to those in the south of the Borough’
  • Craig Owen, ‘Born of Bedlinog – the man who united nations. The Rev. Gwilym Davies, world peacemaker’

IV. COMMUNITIES AND PROJECTS

  • Mansell Richards, ‘The Gateway to Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Plinths project’
  • David Collier, ‘The Saron graveyard project, Troedyrhiw’

 V. LOCAL POLITICS AND WORKERS’ EDUCATION

  • Martin Wright, ‘Aspects of Socialism south of Merthyr and in Taff Bargoed in the 1890s: a window on Labour’s pre-history’
  • Daryl Leeworthy, ‘Workers’ Education in the lower County Borough: a brief history of an enduring idea’

 VI. BALLADMONGERS AND MUSIC MAKERS

  • Stephen Brewer, ‘Idloes Owen, founder of Welsh National Opera’
  • Alun Francis, ‘Getting your timing right at Glantaff Stores – and what happened next’
  • Wyn James, ‘The Ballads of Troed -y-Rhiw’

 VII. SPORT AND OUR COMMUNITIES             

  • Alun Morgan, ‘1950s football rivalry between Merthyr Town and the Troedyrhiw-Treharris clubs’
  • Ivor Jones, ‘A community and its sport, a short history of Bedlinog Rugby Football Club’

 VIII. THIS BOOK WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT …  

  • John Holley and T.Fred Holley, ‘Troedyrhiw Horticulture 1876 –’

IX. OUR HISTORICAL SOCIETY: SOME HISTORY

  • Clive Thomas, ‘Before heritage began to matter. Only the beginnings’
  • The Society’s Archivist: an interview

CONTENTS OF Merthyr Historian vols. 1-31 (1974-2021)     

BIOGRAPHIES OF CONTRIBUTORS      

Volume 32 of the Merthyr Historian is priced at £15. If anyone would like to purchase a copy, please get in touch with me at merthyr.history@gmail.com and I will pass on all orders.

Scheduled Monuments in Merthyr

I recently received an enquiry asking whether there were any Scheduled Monuments in Merthyr Tydfil. The following is transcribed from Wikipedia:-

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough has 43 scheduled monuments. The prehistoric scheduled sites include many burial cairns and several defensive enclosures. The Roman period is represented by a Roman Road. The medieval periods include two inscribed stones, several house platforms and two castle sites. Finally the modern period has 14 sites, mainly related to Merthyr’s industries, including coal mining, transportation and iron works. Almost all of Merthyr Tydfil was in the historic county of Glamorgan, with several of the northernmost sites having been in Brecknockshire.

Scheduled monuments have statutory protection. The compilation of the list is undertaken by Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments, which is an executive agency of the National Assembly of Wales. The list of scheduled monuments below is supplied by Cadw with additional material from RCAHMW (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales) and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.

Name Site type Community Details Historic County
Gelligaer Standing Stone Standing stone Bedlinog A 2 m (6.6 ft) high stone on open moorland. Probably Bronze Age and with the possible remains of a Bronze Age burial alongside. An inscription on the stone, now mostly illegible, is described as either post-Roman/Early Christian or Early Medieval. Glamorganshire
Coed Cae Round Cairns Round cairn Bedlinog Located in a cairnfield with at least 19 stony mounds, the scheduling consists of a group of eight Bronze Age burial cairns. Glamorganshire
Gelligaer Common Round Cairns Round cairn Bedlinog A group of eleven Bronze Age burial cairns. Glamorganshire
Carn Castell y Meibion ring cairn Ring cairn Cyfarthfa

Troed-y-rhiw

 A ring cairn, possibly dating to the Bronze Age, with a 8 m (26 ft) diameter and surrounded by a 3 m (9.8 ft) wide stony ring bank. Glamorganshire
Brynbychan Round Cairn Round cairn Merthyr Vale, A Bronze Age circular cairn with a diameter of 18 m (59 ft). There is an OS triangulation pillar on the site. Glamorganshire
Cefn Merthyr Round Cairns Cairnfield Merthyr Vale Glamorganshire
Morlais Hill ring cairn Ring cairn Pant Glamorganshire
Tir Lan round barrow cemetery Round barrow Treharris The remains of six Bronze Age round barrows, three to the north-west and three to the south-east of Tir Lan farm. All six remain substantially intact despite being reduced by ploughing in the past. Glamorganshire
Garn Las Earthwork Round cairn Troed-y-rhiw The remains a circular burial cairn measuring 14 m (46 ft) in diameter, probably dating to the Bronze Age. Glamorganshire
Merthyr Common Round Cairns Round cairn Troed-y-rhiw A group of six Bronze Age burial cairns ranging from 5 to 19 m (16 to 62 ft) in diameter. Glamorganshire
Carn Ddu platform cairn Platform Cairn Vaynor Glamorganshire
Cefn Cil-Sanws ring cairn Ring cairn Vaynor Glamorganshire
Cefn Cil-Sanws, Cairn on SW side of Round Cairn Vaynor Brecknockshire
Coetgae’r Gwartheg barrow cemetery Round cairn Vaynor Glamorganshire
Garn Pontsticill ring cairn Ring cairn Vaynor Glamorganshire
Dyke 315m E of Tyla-Glas Ditch Bedlinog The remains of a later prehistoric/medieval dyke with a clearly defined bank and ditch running east-west across a ridge top. The 3 m (9.8 ft) wide ditch is 1.5 m (4.9 ft) deep at its east end. Glamorganshire
Cefn Cil-Sanws Defended Enclosure Enclosure – Defensive Vaynor Brecknockshire
Enclosure East of Nant Cwm Moel Enclosure – Defensive Vaynor Glamorganshire
Enclosure on Coedcae’r Ychain Enclosure – Defensive Vaynor Glamorganshire
Gelligaer Common Roman Road Road Bedlinog Glamorganshire
Nant Crew Inscribed Stone (now in St John’s Church, Cefn Coed ) Standing stone Vaynor A 1.5 m (5 ft) high square-sectioned pillar stone thought to date to the Bronze Age. A Latin inscription on the west face and cross incised on the north face are from the 6th and 7th-9th centuries. Holes in the stone indicate that it had been used as a gatepost. Brecknockshire
Platform Houses and Cairn Cemetery on Dinas Noddfa House platforms (& Cairnfield) Bedlinog Medieval house platforms, also prehistoric cairnfield Glamorganshire
Platform Houses on Coly Uchaf Platform house Bedlinog Glamorganshire
Morlais Castle Castle Pant The collapsed remains of a castle begun in 1288 by Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan. The walls enclosed an area of approximately 130 by 60 m (430 by 200 ft). It was captured during the 1294-95 rebellion of Madog ap Llywelyn and may have been abandoned shortly afterwards. Glamorganshire
Cae Burdydd Castle Motte Vaynor A 3 m (9.8 ft) high motte and ditch dating to the medieval period. The diameter of 23 m (75 ft) narrows to 9 m (30 ft) at the top. Brecknockshire
Cefn Car settlement Building (Unclassified) Vaynor Glamorganshire
Gurnos Quarry Tramroad & Leat Industrial monument Gurnos Glamorganshire
Sarn Howell Pond and Watercourses Pond Town Glamorganshire
Abercanaid egg-ended boiler Egg-ended Boiler, re-purposed as garden shed Troed-y-rhiw Glamorganshire
Cyfarthfa Canal Level Canal Level Cyfarthfa Glamorganshire
Cyfarthfa Tramroad Section at Heolgerrig Tramroad Cyfarthfa Glamorganshire
Iron Ore Scours and Patch Workings at Winch Fawr, Merthyr Tydfil Iron mine Cyfarthfa Glamorganshire
Ynys Fach Iron Furnaces Industrial monument Cyfarthfa Glamorganshire
Penydarren Tram Road Trackway Merthyr Vale Glamorganshire
Iron Canal Bridge from Rhydycar Bridge Park Glamorganshire
Pont-y-Cafnau tramroad bridge Bridge Park An ironwork bridge spanning the River Taff constructed in 1793. The name, meaning “bridge of troughs”, comes from its unusual three tier design of a tramroad between two watercourses, one beneath the bridge deck and the other on an upper wooden structure which is no longer present. Pont-y-Cafnau is also Grade II* listed. Glamorganshire
Merthyr Tramroad: Morlais Castle section Tramroad Pant Glamorganshire
Merthyr Tramroad Tunnel (Trevithick’s Tunnel) Tramroad Troed-y-rhiw Glamorganshire
Cwmdu Air Shaft & Fan Air Shaft Cyfarthfa Glamorganshire
Remains of Blast Furnaces, Cyfarthfa Ironworks Blast Furnace Park Glamorganshire
Tai Mawr Leat for Cyfarthfa Iron Works Leat Park Glamorganshire
Deserted Iron Mining Village, Ffos-y-fran Industrial monument Troed-y-rhiw Glamorganshire

Please follow the link below to see the original:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scheduled_monuments_in_Merthyr_Tydfil_County_Borough

Earthquake in South Wales

Most people will know about the terrible earthquake that devastated San Francisco on 18 April 1906, but did you know that another, much less powerful, earthquake actually hit Merthyr later that year, 115 years ago today?

At 9.45 am on 27 June 1906, a powerful earth tremor was felt across much of South Wales, its epicentre being placed just offshore of Port Talbot. The quake, which struck just a few weeks after the devastating San Francisco earthquake, was felt as far afield as Ilfracombe, Birmingham and southwest Ireland. Measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale, the quake was caused by movement in the ‘Neath Disturbance’ and ‘Swansea Valley Disturbance’, two fault lines in the South Wales area.

A headline from the Evening Express on 27 June 1906.

Although there were no fatalities, and only minimal minor injuries sustained by falling masonry, people were terrified by the unexpected tremor.

In Swansea, there was damage to St Andrew’s Church, Swansea Prison, the Board of Trade offices and the gasworks, and the Mumbles Lighthouse was said to have ‘rocked on its foundations’. In Llanelli, the town hall clock stopped and people in Ammanford were convinced there had been a huge pit explosion, and colliers from several pits in South Wales were hurriedly brought to the service due to concerns over the stability of the mines.

The tremor hit Merthyr about five minutes after the original quake. Chimneys on two houses on the Tramroad were dislodged and crashed to the street, a similar fate befalling a house at Bryn Sion Street in Dowlais, and the plasterwork in several buildings cracked. Apart from these incidents, there were several incidents of pictures and clocks falling off walls, and crockery was smashed as it fell from shelves and tables. Yet again, however, people were terrified.

At Abermorlais School, the glass partitions between the classrooms ‘shook like leaves’, and it was only due to the calmness of the teachers in reassuring the terrified pupils that panic didn’t ensue. At Twynyrodyn and St David’s School, windows rattled and the blackboards swayed alarmingly. Yet again it was only due to the presence of mind of the teachers that panic was avoided.

A rumour quickly spread that the roof of the school at either Abercanaid or Pentrebach had collapsed injuring many of the pupils, but luckily this was not the case. At the Dowlais Gas and Coke Company, the offices were shaken with such force that the staff there feared that one of the gasometers had exploded. The staff at the Town Hall were also greatly alarmed, and they described two shocks being distinctly felt, one gentleman present remarked however, that he thought that “the Ratepayers Protection Association had commenced its work”.

Tom Thomas – the First Welterweight Champion of Wales – part 2

by Roy Smith

Taking a break from touring, Thomas returned home in July 1924 and under ex-Bombardier Harold Holmes, trainer Bargoed Boxing Club, went into serious training for his next important engagement at Liverpool. On 17 July, the Welshman was up against the European welterweight champion Billy Mack (Liverpool) at the city’s Pudsey Street Stadium.  The Echo 18 July 1924 carried the report “The contest proved one of the fiercest short-lived affairs witnessed in Liverpool for some time, and Thomas was defeated in five rounds.  It commenced in sensational fashion for in the first minute, the contestants’ heads clashed which resulted in Mack’s cheek bone being badly gashed.  Mack tore in and after furious exchanges; Thomas received a cut over the left eye. It was evident in round two that both boxers were out to finish matters. Fierce exchanges ensued and little divided them. They strove for a knock-out in the third, both swinging for the jaw, but missed hearing the gong. The Merseysider caught the Welshman with a vicious upper-cut which put Thomas on the canvas and he stayed down for eight. Thomas was again sent to the canvas on three more occasions in the fourth and appeared beaten but refused to give in. He rallied wonderfully in the fifth and caught Mack to the jaw, but towards the end of the round, a right to the chin dropped him once more. He was groggy when he returned to his corner, when his seconds threw in the towel acknowledging defeat.”  Although he lost to such an eminent opponent, numerous admirers felt “he certainly cannot have lost in prestige.”

Under the capable hands of Arthur Evans (Tirphil) the ex-lightweight champion of Wales, Thomas’s training sessions at the Hanbury Hotel, Bargoed, in preparation for his next test, a contest with Tom Whitehouse (Birmingham) the 10st champion of the Midlands, created considerable interest locally. Thomas and Whitehouse were heavy hitters and the full house at the Liverpool Stadium on 18 September 1924, anticipated a fine struggle. The contest proved very dramatic and was quickly over. Birmingham Daily Gazette 19 Sept 1924 gave a vivid account of the action “Almost the first blow in the contest landed on the Welshman’s jaw and he dropped on his knees. On rising, he used the ring judiciously, flashing home a trio of lefts to Whitehouse’s face. The latter, however, got home a right cross and the Celt again visited the boards. Quickly regaining his feet Thomas crashed home a right to Whitehouse’s chin that reeled him across the ring to end the session. Coming up for Round 2 Thomas dealt out a stinging upper-cut and he dashed in to press home his advantage but he was met with a left hook, which put him on the canvas once more. Both boxers scored with several punches to the head in their endeavours to end matters. Nearing the end of the round Whitehouse caught Thomas and sent him to the boards. It was obvious that the blow had finished him, and the referee intervened without counting, awarding the decision to the Midland boxer.”

Tom Thomas travelled with Alf Stewart’s booth in 1925/1926 and he notched up a second run of consecutive wins. At Newport, on 10 January, he defeated Martin Sampson (Caerphilly) on points over 20-rounds. Thomas was billed as the welter-weight champion of Wales; and although there was no “official championship,” the Deri lad certainly had very strong claims to such a title. At the same venue the following Saturday, he knocked out Charlie Berry (Newport) in the 8th of a 15-round contest. The result of a clash in February against Tom Phillips (Neath), holder of the Ring Belt Championship of Great Britain is unknown. Tom Thomas continued his winning account with appearances in the north of England against Jack Gallagher (Newcastle) at Newcastle, Len Oakley (London) at Durham and Napper Richardson (Durham). On his return to Wales he continued the run with victories over Howell Williams (Hirwain), Billy Wagstaff (Abercynon), Com McCarthy (Pontypridd), and Phil Thomas (Abercanaid).

 Title Bout at Milford Haven: Tom Thomas won the Welsh welterweight title on 21 August 1926, after a hard battle against Billy Green (Taffs Well), at Stewart’s Empire Boxing Pavilion in Milford Haven.  Four days later, the Welsh champion featured in a tournament at the New Hall, Bargoed, held in aid of the local Canteen fund. Although Thomas won a points decision over W. Delahay (Dowlais) he did not reveal his best form, probably because of the hard fight, which he fought and won on the Saturday.  The fact he put in an appearance so as not to disappoint the audience speaks highly for the man.

Thomas retained the welterweight championship of Wales when, at Milford Haven on 17 September 1926, he was given a verdict on a foul against Billy Moore, the former light weight champion, who was disqualified in the fourth round. In the course of a vigorous exchange of blows, Thomas fell to his knees, and while in that position, Moore dealt the blow that disqualified him.

Notwithstanding the industrial depression, there was a full house at Cardiff’s Drill Hall, on Monday evening 25 October 1926 to see Tom Thomas the welter-weight champion of Wales, oppose Billy Mattick (Castleford) welter champion of the North, over 15-rounds. Thomas fought a gallant and fiery battle and proved himself a capable two-handed boxer. At the end of a hard battle, Mattick received the verdict.

Billy Mattick. Photo courtesy of Susan Buck, great-niece.

Tom Thomas and Billy Mattick had a second fight on 7 November 1926 in Leeds National Sporting Club. According to the Leeds Mercury 8 November 1926, despite bleeding from a cut to the left eye in the sixth round, which bothered him a great deal, Thomas was leading the contest at the tenth.  Just as the gong went at the end of the eleventh round Thomas was floored with a terrific left to the jaw; and he also took a count of eight in round twelve. Mattick held his advantage in the last two rounds and won on points.

Welsh Successes in Jersey: Eleven days after the contest with Mattick at Leeds, Tom Thomas faced Billy Bird (Chelsea) at St Helier Stadium on 11 November 1926, and came away with a victory. Bird disqualified for hitting Thomas when the Welshman had slipped to the canvas in the tenth round of fifteen.

To be continued…..