Penydarren Park – The Melting Pot

They Managed Merthyr Town

by Phil Sweet

BACKGROUND

During the first half of the Twentieth Century, the manager’s job was very different to what it is today. In this era managers were generally given the title of Secretary-Manager and were responsible for signing players and the day-to-day running of the club. Much of the training and ‘tactics’ were generally left to the Trainer who would sometimes consult senior players. Team selection was normally left to the committee or board of directors.

What follows is a series of biographies of those individuals who ‘managed’ Merthyr Town, a job when the club was a member of the Football League in the 1920s, which was widely regarded as being one of the toughest in British football due to the massive financial problems facing the club as unemployment mounted year on year in the Borough.

THE EARLY ‘MANAGERS’

DAVID THOMAS MANTLE

David Thomas Mantle was the first Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town. He was appointed in June 1908 and was assisted as Trainer by Sam Collins, a local insurance superintendent and trained masseur. Mantle arrived at Penydarren Park with a good pedigree having won the South Wales Cup with Ton Pentre the previous season. However, Mantle’s stay at Penydarren Park was to be a short one as he left in October 1908 to return to Ton Pentre. In 1912 he was banned from football for life having being found guilty by the Football Association of Wales of making illegal payments to players.

Following Mantle’s departure, Sam Collins continued as Trainer and the secretarial duties were taken over by Mr. W.H. Parry a local solicitor. Parry was himself replaced as Secretary for the 1909-10 season by Mr. W.T. Jones, a former Secretary of Merthyr R.F.C. and a member of the committee of Merthyr Athletic Club – the body that controlled Penydarren Park at that time.

ALBERT FISHER

Albert Fisher joined Merthyr Town in 1909 after a lengthy playing career in the Football and Southern Leagues. He was appointed Secretary-Manager in 1910 and the following season led the club to the Glamorgan League championship.

Season 1911-12 saw Fisher’s Merthyr Town team capture the South Wales Cup and pip Portsmouth on goal average to finish champions of the Second Division of the Southern League. Fisher left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1913 to become Notts County’s first Secretary-Manager and he marked his first season in charge by winning the Second Division Championship.

The 1922-23 season saw Fisher’s Nott’s County side reach the F.A. Cup semi-final where they were defeated by Huddersfield Town. In May 1922 Fisher took Nott’s County to Barcelona to play in tournament to mark the opening of Barca’s Les Corts stadium. Nott’s County’s notorious offside tactics didn’t endear themselves to the home crowd as they beat Barcelona by 4 goals to 2. For the second match against their hosts, County dropped their controversial playing style yet still secured a 1-1 draw.

The Notts County team in Barcelona – Fisher is on the far left

Season 1924-25 saw County return to the First Division as Second Division champions. Albert Fisher remained with Nott’s County until the summer of 1927. He never managed again and died in 1937.

DAVID M. BUCHANAN

Former Leyton manager David M. Buchanan joined Merthyr Town in August 1913. However, his first season in charge saw Merthyr Town relegated from the Southern League First Division. The following year Buchanan fared slightly better. He took the team to Highbury for an F.A. Cup tie against Arsenal and narrowly missed out on promotion.

In later years he served as Charlton Athletic’s Assistant-Manager and Trainer (1925-28) and managed Thames F.C. (1928-31). In a bizarre twist of fate Buchanan was succeeded as Charlton manager by Merthyr Town manager Albert Lindon whilst Thames FC was the team who replaced the Martyrs in the Football League.

HARRY HADLEY

England international Harry Hadley enjoyed a long and distinguished playing career with, amongst others, Aston Villa and W.B.A. before being appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in May 1919. He was in charge for the first Football League fixture against Crystal Palace and led the club to an eighth-place finish at the end of the 1920-21 season. Hadley resigned in October 1921 following a difference of policy with the board of directors.

In April 1922 Hadley was named as manager of Chesterfield where he remained until August 1922 before taking up a staff appointment with Manchester United.

In November 1927 Hadley was appointed as manager of Aberdare. This was a very difficult appointment as the club was officially known as Aberdare and Aberaman.

Following the demise of Aberdare in the summer of 1928 Hadley worked as an agent for several Football League clubs.

In late September 1930 Hadley became Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town for the second time, a post he held until the demise of the club in the summer of 1934.

JAMES McPHERSON

James McPherson joined Merthyr Town as Trainer in the summer of 1921. His background was in athletics having previously been Trainer to the Norwegian Olympic team.

Following the resignation of Harry Hadley, McPherson was given the sole responsibility of looking after the players. A mid-table finish at the end of the 1921-22 season led to the Board appointing McPherson as Manager in April 1922.However, after a challenging 1922-23 season McPherson left Merthyr Town at the end of the campaign

THOMAS DANIEL JONES

A pioneer of the association football code in South Wales, Jones, a native of Aberdare, was a former Welsh International and had served as a Secretary of Aberdare F.C. and a FAW Vice-President.

A solicitor by profession Jones was appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in July 1923. Despite finishing in a creditable 13^th position in the Third Division South, Jones tendered his resignation at the end of the 1923-24 season.

ALBERT LINDON

Albert Lindon was very much ‘Mr. Merthyr Town’ He joined Merthyr Town in the summer of 1920 after spells at Birmingham, Aston Villa, Barnsley and Coventry City. A giant goalkeeper, he made a record 250 Football League appearances for Merthyr Town, scoring 1 goal.

Lindon was appointed Player-Manager in August 1924 for the princely sum of £1 a week on top of his playing contract!

He remained in charge at Penydarren Park until January 1928 when he was appointed Manager of Charlton Athletic. One of the last things Lindon had to do before leaving the town was to get married by special licence.

Lindon served Charlton in a number of capacities until March 1934. He subsequently joined Arsenal where he eventually ended up as chief scout before returning to Penydarren Park in May 1947 to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC. Lindon remained at Penydarren Park until December 1949 by which time the team had won the Southern League Championship, the Welsh Cup and the Southern League Cup.

He then joined Cardiff City as a scout eventually becoming assistant manager before returning to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC in the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons. He then became a scout for Swindon Town and then Newport County. During his managerial career Lindon reckoned to have discovered around 30 future international players.

THOMAS McKENNA

Tom McKenna began season 1927-28 as Charlton Athletic’s first choice goalkeeper. However, he lost his place following Albert Lindon’s arrival at The Valley and in the summer of 1928, McKenna joined Merthyr Town.

In November 1928 the Board surprisingly offered McKenna the manager’s job. At just 26 he was the youngest manager in the entire Football League. However, McKenna lasted just six months in the hot seat and he left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1929 to join Southend United.

SAM GIBBON

A local grocer Sam Gibbon headed a syndicate that took control of the Club in the summer of 1928 after the old company had gone into liquidation.

Despite enduring a tough 1928-29 season where he was forced to sell his own son to Fulham in order to try and make ends meet, Gibbon, who was the main financial backer, decided to carry on.

However, financial circumstances meant that he was unable to afford the cost of a manager. As a result, Gibbon was forced to supervise the training sessions himself.

The 1929-30 season proved to be disastrous for Merthyr Town. The club finished the campaign rooted to the foot of the table with just 21 points from their 42 matches. Consequently, it came as little surprise when the Club failed to secure re-election to the Football League.

In the light of these circumstances Sam Gibbon severed his connections with the Club. Sam Gibbon’s association with Merthyr Town cost him well over £2,500 (around £200,000 today) – a figure which would have been much higher but for the sale of players.

Memories of Old Merthyr Tydfil

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.

Bidding goodbye to Plymouth, let us walk up to Penydarren, but to fall into line with what has been previously stated, now imagine ourselves at the old turnpike gate close to the Morlais Castle Inn. The road inclining to the right must now be followed.

After a short time the tramroad from the basin would be crossed, and only a few yards previously, the branch into the works would be seen. The gates, or rather the lower gates of the works are here, and passing through, the works would be virtually surrounding you, at least the rail shed, the brickyard, an the new mill, but persons other than hauliers with their horses etc. were not allowed in that way, so we must keep to the turnpike road for a short distance, having the tramway on the left, when another gate would be come to opposite the entrance to Penydarren Park.

A composite of parts of the 1851 Ordnance Survey Map showing Penydarren House and Gardens (left) and the Penydarren Ironworks (right)

Only a few yards further on the tramway again crosses the road, and over this very crossing the turnpike gate (the Penydarren gate) was hung. The gate house on the left was only recently removed by the District Council.

The clump of buildings on the right from the entrance gate to the works was agents or other employees residences, with the offices of the works in front of them. The tramroad kept to the right, and did not rise as fast as the turnpike road. There were no houses on the right-hand side of the road until the tramroad from the Morlais Limestone Quarries had been crossed.

The first come to was occupied by Mr Morgan, the blast furnace manager, but there were some cottages on the left before coming to the tramroad. There was a brick cistern near the crossing that was made for the use of the locomotives at work on the lower, or basin road, and upon one occasion, while being filled, the boiler exploded.

Before proceeding further, let us glance at the prospect on the right. Immediately in front were the blast furnaces, five in a row and one detached, a little to the right; but before reaching them the Morlais Brook, or dingle in which it ran, would be seen, then a long incline leading up on the left. This was used for the removal of cinders or other refuse, no doubt, after the tip on the riverside had become as large as could well be. On the other side of the incline were the blast furnaces, with a large spherical wrought-iron regulator for the blast between the engine houses.

To the left of the furnace yard are, or were, the hitting shops; to the right, after the blast furnaces, was the refinery, the the smiths shop, a self-acting incline to lower coal forge and mill use; then the rod lathe, the forge (or puddling forge) followed these mills where bars, sheets and slit rods were made. The rail mill was the lowest, and the sheds extended to the gates at the bottom of the works.

To be continued at a later date……

Walter William Meredith – The Man Who Secured Penydarren Park for Sport

by Phil Sweet

History is full of individuals who accomplish notable deeds and then fade from memory. One such gentleman is Walter William Meredith. This short article will hopefully both bring his story to life and recognise his achievements.

Walter Meredith was born on New Year’s Day 1863 and was the second child of William and Harriet Meredith who resided at 125 High Street in Merthyr. Walter’s father was a successful jeweller and had the financial means to invest in his son’s education.

Meredith initially attended Lloyd’s School in Merthyr. It was at this school that he first participated in the code of football which existed at the time. When he was eleven Meredith attended Taunton School and, during the five years he spent there, represented the school at both rugby and cricket.

He then spent the next three years at Shrewsbury School and whilst a pupil at the school he became acquainted with Association Football. Meredith proved to be a quick learner and went on to represent the school at football, cricket and running. During this time his rugby skills weren’t forgotten as he occasionally turned out for Merthyr RFC whilst home on vacation.

Meredith’s talents were not just confined to the sports field and on leaving Shrewsbury School in 1882 he was articled to a firm of solicitors in the City of London. While he was in the Capital Walter’s sporting career continued to flourish. He joined the London Athletic Club and on Wednesdays played rugby for a team called the Anomolites which was a combination of members of the London Athletic Club and doctors from the various London hospitals.

He was also a member of the Hermits & Phoenix Football Clubs which later merged into the well-known Clapton club. Indeed whilst he was with Clapton Meredith played at right back in the Clapton team which won the London Association Junior Cup. A true sporting all-rounder Meredith also competed in cross-country competitions for the Clapton Beagles team and during the summer months was a regular and successful participant in athletic sports held within easy travelling distance of London.

In 1887 Walter passed his final law examination and qualified as a solicitor This event saw him curtail his athletics career. However, his interest in sport was not extinguished completely as he served for a season as Secretary of London Welsh RFC.

In June 1891 Meredith returned to Merthyr to open his own solicitors practice in Market Square and resided with his parents and older sister Kate at 125 High Street. Back in his home town Walter wasted little time in throwing himself into the civic life of the area. As well as being President of Merthyr RFC and Secretary of Merthyr Athletic Club, in 1904 he was appointed High Constable of Caerphilly Higher.

Shortly after being appointed to the latter office Meredith made his lasting contribution to the sporting life of the town when he concluded the negotiations, on behalf of Merthyr Athletic Club, with the Bolgoed Estate for a 99 year lease on Penydarren Park which at the time was in great danger of being built on. This agreement secured for the people of Merthyr a central and well appointed venue for sporting activity which had previously been so lacking in the town.

Having secured the use of Penydarren Park for sport the twelve-strong syndicate of prominent townsmen who comprised Merthyr Athletic Club wasted little time in levelling the arena to create a playing field as well as athletics and cycling tracks. The ground was officially opened on Saturday 9th September 1905 when Swansea RFC took on Merthyr RFC and immediately became the home to Merthyr RFC, Merthyr Thursdays RFC and Merthyr Ladies Hockey Club.

These organisations were the first of many such clubs to take up residence at the ground. Although Penydarren Park has become synonymous with football in the town, having hosted both Football League and European Cup Winners Cup matches, the arena has also played host to touring international rugby teams and greyhound racing. Equally as significant is the fact that it has allowed countless thousands of children and adults in the Borough to engage in a variety of sporting pursuits.

Whilst securing the lease on Penydarren Park was undoubtedly Walter Meredith’s lasting civic legacy to Merthyr Tydfil his interests were not just confined to the sporting arena. As well as being an enthusiastic archaeologist and a recognised authority on the history of Merthyr Tydfil Meredith was the long-standing Secretary of both the Merthyr & Aberdare Incorporated Law Society and Merthyr Chamber of Trade & Commerce.

Politically he was a strong supporter of the Conservative Party acting as party agent in the town for the first decade of the twentieth century. Ten years earlier he had been one of the founder members of the Merthyr Constitutional Club eventually becoming the club’s president after holding the post of vice-president for eighteen years.

Walter Meredith was a bachelor who, following the death of his parents, moved with his spinster sister to 2, Courtland Terrace. He died on August 2nd 1932 whilst on holiday at Aberdw in Mid Wales where he was indulging in another of his life-long passions – angling. His funeral took place Friday August 12th at St David’s Church where he was life-long member. He is buried in Cefn Cemetery.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Evening Express
Merthyr Express
1871 Census
1881 Census
1891 Census
1901 Census
1911 Census

Antiquities Unearthed

From the Cardiff Times 120 years ago today….

Famous Footballers at Merthyr

From the Merthyr Express 80 years ago today….

Merthyr Memories: Merthyr Town F.C.

by Paul Newman

I began to watch football at an early age with my father at Penydarren Park. I recall the colourful characters in the crowd who often give some poor referee a verbal hammering. The colourful comments were often also directed at the opposition and some Merthyr players who had the misfortune of misplacing a pass. I bag of crisps and a chocolate bar and live football. I was hooked.

Penydarren Park. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

There was very little live televised football at the time. Therefore visits to Penydarren Park were our fix. We would come to watch both Southern League and Welsh League games. In my teenage years I would watch games with a group of school friends from Cyfarthfa High School. In later years I now attend with my son.

The first game I remember, and the first disappointment was the FA Cup Second Round defeat v Hendon in 1973, at the park. Hendon were drawn away to Newcastle in the next round which only added to the disappointment. I recall “King” John Charles was playing for the Town that day. I met John Charles many years latter at Elland Road Leeds. He spoke fondly of his time at Merthyr in which he was player manager. He also drove the team bus to away games!

Merthyr Town F.C. in 1974. John Charles heading the ball. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive.

I began watching the Martyrs on a regular basis in 1976; I remember the bruising battles with Barry Town in the league and Cup. 1977-78, was a good memory quarter final of the FA Trophy 1-1 v Runcorn at home Paul Caviel scored a header and had a better header disallowed. We was robbed! There was also a mid-week away trip to Wrexham in the Welsh Cup which was one of my first away games apart from our annual visit to Jenner Park in Barry.

One of my favourite memories is the Welsh Cup run of 1986-87; in the earlier rounds we played Cardiff Corries away. It was a 0-0 draw. I seem to remember Corries had a few chances to win the game. I was in college in North Wales at the time. So it was a short journey to see the Martyrs against Caernarfon Town in a scrappy 1-1 draw, and a dramatic penalty shootout win against Bangor City. Of course, the unforgettable final v Newport and then of course the Atalanta game in the European Cup Winner Cup at the Park.

Other memories include in the conference years, a 3-3 draw with Kidderminster, the Martyrs were 3 down. All the goals were at the Park End which was still frozen after an overnight frost! I remember a game against Macclesfield 1-1 at the Park when their goal keeper scored from a goal kick.

There have also been high profile friendlies v Red Star Belgrade, Celtic, and the Maltase National side. I remember the Red Star Game in which Belgrade had 2 players sent off.

Also in recent years, winning the South Western League and regaining our Southern League Premier status was more recent happy memories.

What a win on 15^th Oct 2022 in the FA Cup! 2-1, in front of a raucous crowd at the Park. First Round of the FA Cup, here we come!

Some of my favourite players over the years include: Gordon Davies, Paul Caviel, Ray Pratt, David Webley, and Ian Traylor all terrific goal scorers. But my favourite player who was a rock in the defence was Chris Holvey.

I am currently living outside Merthyr but I make the pilgrimage to Penydarren Park whenever I can. So, support your local team. It is better than any soap opera.

Up the Town!

Jimmy Edwards, Nancy Whiskey and an 11 year old Boy

by Brian Jones

The atmosphere in the red double-decker bus was a mixture of excitement and apprehension – the experienced pupils were pleased to renew old acquaintances, whilst the nervous first year boys and girls tended to quiet reflection. The bus, with the conductor keeping a watchful eye, meandered down Twyn hill, up the High Street to Pontmorlais, then skirted Merthyr General Hospital and finally reached its destination at Gwaelodygarth, near the top gates of Cyfarthfa Park. A mass of buses disgorged hundreds of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School pupils, 120 of whom were about to begin the first day of a new adventure.

The ten minute walk through the park would be repeated innumerable times over the next seven happy and eventful years. Amongst the wave of children, some marched at a brisk pace, others moved slowly and deliberately, whilst a few set off on a hurried race ignoring the beauty of the park. Soon each of the four seasons would pass leaving each of their distinctive colours and smells lingering in the memory – the odour of wet leaves crushed underfoot in autumn, the snow and ice of winter, the showers of rain that heralded a new spring, and finally the shade of the trees providing some relief on the occasional hot days of summer.

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

The girls peeled away – on the path to the rear of the school while the boys from 11 to 18 years of age followed the gentle downward slope to the front of the school. Only the sixth form and teaching staff could enter through the quadrangle, while the Lower and Middle schools walked a little further through the yard and into the long school corridor.

In 1957 Jimmy Edwards (left) was the star of the B.B.C television comedy series “Whacko” which was shown on small black and white television sets with poor picture and sound reception. Jimmy’s trademark handlebar moustache, mortarboard and black academic gown marked him out as the incompetent schoolmaster, forever jousting with that errant pupil “Taplow”. Their fictitious school mirrored some of the features of “The Castle” – the academic dress of the staff; the occasional corporal punishment; the management of the pupils by the school prefects, all of who seemed like giants to that very small 11 year-old boy. The prefects would dish out lines for the slightest perceived misdemeanours saying “100 lines by tomorrow boy” then to rattle off at breakneck speed, “Deep harm to disobey seeing as obedience is a bond of rule”.

In other respects the school where Jimmy Edwards ruled the roost was very unlike “The Castle”. There all pupils were “posh” whereas at Cyfarthfa the school was a delicious mix of children of professionals, tradesmen and unskilled workers – the sons and daughter of teachers, · electricians and fitters, production operatives at Hoovers, I.C.I, B.S.A and Triang Toys. In the comedy series all of the children were English through and through, with appropriate English surnames. In my class there were Bernstein, Lozano, Jones, Walsh, Robertson, Olsen and Muller reflecting the local ethnic mix, as a result of immigration spread over the previous century.

A few months earlier the 120 new entrants to the school had passed the 11 Plus Examination whereas on that first morning of term they assembled in the old school hall, which would soon be converted into extra classrooms. The stern looking Headmaster, Mr W. Lloyd Williams M.A. (right) began the introductions and commenced the allocations to forms by asking, “All those who wish to study Welsh hold up your hands!” Then thirty or so pupils were placed into form 2A and the remainder allocated into three streamed forms of 2B, 2C and 2D.

Mr Bernard Jenkins (English) took charge of form 2B. A lover of golf he proved a humorous, if strict form master. Later that day we would meet our new teachers such as May Treharne (Latin); Mr J H Davies (French) a short man nicknamed “Twiddles”; Mr A G Harris (Geography) known as Gus who prior to World War II had married a former school P.E mistress, Miss Florence Price, and set up home near Penydarren Park; Maud Davies (Biology) who lived in Treharris and was a cousin of the Headmaster; the History teacher, Mr G L Williams nicknamed “Nero” and Mr Trevor Jones (English) who lived in Twynyrodyn and who joined the staff in 1952.

Mr Harvard Walters (Welsh) (left) had been at the school since 1936 and much later became the Deputy Headmaster. One of his tasks was to begin the long and frustrating attempt to teach the Welsh National Anthem and school song, the first 2 lines of which were:-

Ienctyd y Castell, Caer I Ddysg a Hedd,
Gloewn Ein Harfau I’r Gad Ddi-gledd.

Many a time he would despair at the “Wenglish” of most of the pupils moaning that they were “a lot of Dowlais Cockneys”.

At lunchtime we marched to the canteen sited in its own ground to the rear of the school where under the keen eyes of the prefects we were taught dining room etiquette. Each pupil was careful to walk slowly to each of the afternoon lessons with leather satchels becoming heavier as the day progressed. New friends were quickly made and by the end of that school day new groups ambled back to the buses, however most of the pupils soon had their school tie askew, and gold trimmed school cap set at an angle.

The journey home on the bus was light-hearted although the prefects still remained in firm control. The older boys whistled the catchy tune of the song “Freight Train” which had been recorded by the singer Nancy Whiskey, just at the end period of the Skiffle craze. The new boy alighted from the bus at Penuel Chapel on Twyn Hill, with his school satchel seeming to “weigh a ton”, however as each of the years passed it lost its shine and became as “light as a feather”.

I remember with affection Jimmy Edwards, Nancy Whiskey and that first day at “The Castle”.

Storming Iscoed House, Pontmorlais 1935

by Christine Trevett

It was a Monday afternoon – the afternoon of February 4^th 1935 to be exact, and it had been snowing heavily that day. The women arrived first at Iscoed House, Pontmorlais, which housed the area offices of the Unemployment Assistance Board. There, the plan went, an orderly deputation which would include the district secretary of the National Unemployed Workers Union (NUWM) would be speaking with officials. Perhaps as many as a thousand women were part of the protest outside. They had marched there with around double that number of men, coming from all directions to reach Pontmorlais in a United Front demonstration during the Means Test protests of that year. Such things were happening all over South Wales and elsewhere.

The Unemployment Assistance Board

That had been set up by the government in the previous year (1934). It administered means-tested assistance to those who had no contributions-based unemployment benefit. In the Depression of the 1930s the Merthyr region was very hard-hit economically and many people were affected by Means Test decisions, a Test which at this time was creating even further hardship. Opposition to it was widespread, with the criticism coming from not just the working classes and the unemployed, so that the government was getting jittery. From 1931-June 1935 it was a National Government (a coalition) under the leadership of Labour’s Ramsay MacDonald and with Conservatives, Liberals and others in it.

Protests in Merthyr Tydfil region

Not quite two weeks previously, in January 1935, there had been another United Front demonstration. That Front was a sign of temporary Labour Party/Communist collaboration where The Means Test was concerned and that January demonstration had brought perhaps ten thousand people to Penydarren Park. They had marched there in organised processions from all parts of the Borough. Many women were in the throng, and carrying infants.

The crowd had been addressed by Wal Hannington, one of two organisers of the National Unemployed Workers Union (NUWM). Not a local person, he had also been the Communist candidate in Merthyr’s bye-election in the previous year. The crowd was addressed also by John Dennithorne, Warden of Dowlais Educational Settlement (the seat of all kinds of social and educational work) and by ILP (Independent Labour Party) leaders.

A deputation was agreed (it included two local ministers of religion) to interview officials at Iscoed House. They would present grievances and protest the unemployment assistance legislation. On that day the deputation had been told that its concerns would be passed on. The Western Mail of 23^rd January 1935 (p. 10) had reported that the gathering ‘dispersed in good order’.That had been then. But come February 4^that Iscoed House, matters would change from being orderly.

On February 4^thtraffic was brought to a standstill on Brecon Road as the demonstration took its course and from all quarters marchers were heading for Pontmorlais. The protest was being overseen by a contingent of police not large enough to be effective if trouble broke out on a large scale, given the numbers in the demonstration, but then the organisers of this United Front demonstration did not seem to be expecting trouble.

The actual march and deputation had been organised by the NUWM and by invitation it was also being led by the London-born Warden of Dowlais Educational Settlement, the same John Dennithorne (mentioned earlier). Dennithorne, who had served in World War I, was a Quaker and a pacifist.

Accounts of what happened

There are some first-hand accounts of the events of Fabruary 4^th, including one from John Dennithorne and another from Griff Jones, a local NUWM member who had been with those ‘starting off from Pengarnddu with banners’(an interview with him is kept in the South Wales Miners’ Library collection in Swansea university). Also there is a fictionalised account by the Clydach Vale born novelist and NUWM member Lewis Jones in We Live – his novel about those times.

The deputation was doing its work inside the building and thousands were gathered outside. UAB clerks on an upper floor had been ‘making faces’ at the crowd (Griff Jones recalled). They soon stopped, as the slim cordon of police was clambered over by a determined group –‘a mob of men who were prepared for anything’ as John Dennithorne called them.

With no previous sign of their intention they had made ‘a sudden rush’, so The Western Mail recorded. Stones were hurled through the office windows, shattering glass over the clerks; the gate of Iscoed House gave way; Dennithorne expected to be arrested. Inside the building he clambered onto a windowsill to be heard but ‘a howling mob’, now inside, shouted down his appeals against violence. ‘Old bug whiskers’ (a jibe at the bearded Warden, who was 39 years old) was told to ‘get down!’ as furnishings and fittings were being broken up and records angrily plundered for burning. Blood was spattering through the air, John Dennithorne recalled. Only a couple of well known South Wales Communists were suffered to speak.

It was the police which persuaded the violently protesting minority to disperse and to leave the grounds of Iscoed House. Hundreds of thousands of protestors had been on the nation’s streets that day. Given the strength of feeling nationally against the government’s stance there was some rethinking of the legislation. The Western Mail was already recording on February 5^th that ‘To-day Mr. Oliver Stanley (Minister of Labour) will probably announce changes in the regulations to meet the special grievances raised. New instructions have already been sent to area officers’.

There is more about this and those times in:

Lewis Jones, We Live (Parthian Books 2015)
Daryl Leeworthy, Labour Country: political radicalism and social democracy in South Wales 1831-1985 (Parthian, 2018).
Christine Trevett Dowlais Educational Settlement and the Quaker John Dennithorne (Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society, 2022)
Stephanie Ward, Unemployment and the State in Britain: the Means Test and Protest in 1930s South Wales and north-east England (Manchester University Press, 2013)

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.

Taliesin Williams by Joseph Edwards. ©Photo courtesy of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

The Rev J Carroll, the Catholic priest, resided on the Glebeland. He used to write a political letter to the Silurian weekly. Taliesin Williams’ residence was in Castle Street, but the schoolroom entrance for pupils was in Castle Field Lane. He had the most prominent school and the reputation for being somewhat too strict. My recollection of him, however, is quite clear, that he did not punish severely without great provocation. I can acknowledge that he gave me a slap once, and once only, but that it was also fully deserved must also be acknowledged.

As far as can now be recalled not one of his pupils can be named as alive now, except the writer. The late Mr Thomas Jenkins, of Pant, was supposed to be the last – but I am still left. The last of the family of that generation, Miss Elizabeth Williams, died about a year ago in the vicinity of London.

A Mr Shaw also had a school on the other side of the same lane. His son was an artist. John Thomas (Ieuan Ddu) can also be hazily recalled as keeping a school, but more vividly as a bass singer.

Mr John Millar, who, in conjunction with his brother Robert, carried on the brewery at Pontycapel, kept the Wheat Sheaf for many years, and afterwards moved to the Lamb. There was also a weaver, of the name of Wilkins, about the Glebeland, one of whose daughters married Mr W E Jones, the artist. The other daughter married and emigrated. The Merthyr Library and Reading Room started in the house at the corner of Castle Street and Glebeland.

Upon coming up to the Brecon Road from Caepantywyll, if we had gone on to Gwaelodygarth it would have led us past the entrance to the “Cottage” and Penydarren farm yard, past which the road leads to Penybryn and Pant, but keeping around by the Penydarren Park wall we came to the road to Dowlais close to the Penydarren turpike gate.

Mr Richard Forman, when manager of the Penydarren Works, resided at the “Cottage”. Mr William Davies, of the firm of Meyrick and Davies, lived there subsequently, and then Mr John Daniel Thomas, many years the high bailiff of the Merthyr County Court. Mr Grenfell, when the manager of Penydarren, resided at Gwaunfarren. Mr Benjamin Martin followed him (moving from the yard there) when becoming manager. Prior to this I always heard it called the Dairy. Occasionally one of the partners remained a short time at Penydarren House, but the gardener (named Price) used to sell the produce raised there.

Gwaelodygarth Fach a.k.a. “The Cottage”. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

It was at Penydarren Ironworks that the first iron rails were rolled. They were known as the “fish-bellied” pattern. Tredgold, the authority upon the strength of iron, had a piece of iron supplied him with “Penydarren” upon it, by a firm of merchants in London, to whom he applied for a specimen of Welsh iron for experimental purposes. This fact is recorded in his treatise on the strength of iron.

To be continued at a later date…..

The 1901 National Eisteddfod in Merthyr

by Laura Bray

It was Tuesday 6 August 1901 – 120 years ago today. The weather was undecided, threatening rain but holding off. The town was looking festive, with banners and streamers hung across the High Street, coloured lights put up around the Castle Hotel door, hotels gaily festooned with paper flowers and even houses decorated to catch the eye. The train station was busy all day, carrying people to Merthyr from all over, and 18,000 people made their way to the magnificent Pavilion in Penydarren Park, for the opening of the 1901 Eisteddfod.

The planning for the Eisteddfod had begun in February 1899 when a sub-committee of the Cymmrodorion Society, who were meeting in a care-takers room in the Town Hall, were discussing the Dewi Sant banquet and it was suggested that the National Eisteddfod might be invited to Merthyr in 1901 or 1903. The idea caught on, was discussed by “The Great and the Good” of Merthyr society and by 14 June 1899 it had been unanimously agreed that an application would be made to the Gorsedd Committee for either 1901 or 1903. The invitation for the Eisteddfod to come to Merthyr was accepted for 1901 and fundraising commenced apace. Some members of the committee had been part of the 1881 Eisteddfod, the last time it had come to the town, others were new and all came to together to decide that the Penydarren Park site, used in 1881, would again be ideal for the 1901 event.

The Penydarren Park site was, in 1901 as in 1881, a large open field with plenty of room for the Pavilion and space for the crowds outside the barriers so that the streets did not become too busy at the entrances. A refreshment tent was set up, a fruit stall and adjacent to that, a Post Office. Everyone wanted to come and by the time the Eisteddfod opened before midday it was packed, and by the afternoon, there was standing room only. The band played and the mornings proceedings were chaired by the Lord Tredegar, and conducted by “Gurnos” (Gurnos Jones) and “Mabon” (Abraham Williams).

The event spanned the week and was a great success. On the final Saturday, the sun shone and the Archdruid conferred Druidic degrees on the Rev Dr Rowlands, America; the Rev David Owen, Llanfair Muallt; Miss Annie Rees M.D., New York; Miss S.M Lewis, Dr. Hughes, Dowlais and others. The next Eisteddfod, to be held in Bangor, was also proclaimed. Merthyr did itself proud with prizes – Miss Edith Matthews won £2 for the best paper on counterpoint and harmony in four parts; Tom Price won £3/3- for the best oboe solo; Harry Llewellyn won £3 for the cornet solo, and came second in the bass solo; The Merthyr Orchestral Society won the prize of £40. In the Arts and industries section, Zechariah Watkins from Dowlais won the prize for a set of six panels imitating marbles; J Westacott from Merthyr won the best painted and varnished door and David Thomas in Merthyr the prize for one white shawl.

“Dyfed” (Evan Rees from Aberdare ) was chaired as Bard, having already won five National Chairs, including that of the Chicago Eisteddfod. The Crown went to John Jenkins of Gwili

What was interesting about the Eisteddfod was the huge coverage it received from the Press – way beyond anything you would get today – and the distances people travelled to attend. Hotels in Merthyr were booked up well in advance and there are reports of visitors from as far afield as America. Ticket sales alone brought in £3343 10s 9d and subscriptions another £1100. The cost to the town of hosting it was calculated at £4200, which meant that there was a surplus of £843 10s 9d – around £106,000 in today’s money – no mean achievement. This was the last time the National Eisteddfod came to Merthyr (although the Urdd Eisteddfod came in 1987). Perhaps we are due another visit!