The Town that Died

Has anyone read R L Lee’s remarkable book ‘The Town that Died’? The town in question is Dowlais, and the book recounts his memories of growing up there.

Dowlais is not a bad place at all, but when you compare the town today to how it was – for a lot of people from cherished memories, for others, relying on photographs, you can see that the epithet is a just one.

Below is an excellent photograph of Dowlais taken in 1920’s from the mountain behind the Ironworks (the present day Goat Mill Road). You can see what a large and bustling it place it was. A lot of the more prominent buildings are numbered and identified beneath the photo.

1.      Gwernllwyn Chapel
2.      Hermon Chapel
3.      Shiloh Chapel
4.      Elizabeth Street Chapel
5.      Bryn Sion Chapel
6.      Dowlais Works		 7.      Temple Buildings
8.      Ivor Works
9.      Elim-Tabernacle Chapel
10.    Oddfellows Hall
11.     Bethania Chapel

Almost everything in the photograph has gone. Of the buildings numbered above, only Bethania Chapel still remains.

The Town that Died indeed.

8 thoughts on “The Town that Died”

  1. Yes I thoroughly enjoyed The Town That Died. I’ve mislaid my copy or maybe lent it to someone. Is it still available?

    1. I too loaned my copy to someone many years ago, but I managed to get a copy on Amazon.

  2. I enjoyed the book, my family lived in South Street I’m related to Teacher Bessie, so all my family would have known R.L.Lee.

    1. I remember “Teacher Bessie” when I was a young boy growing up in Horse Street with my brothers Robert, Peter and sister Elizabeth. A great character. One of many who still live in our memories of Dowlais.

    2. I remember Teacher Bessie he was a good friend of Theresa and Danny Mahoney they lived in Walter street they were good friend to my late parents Billy and Violet Woodward who lived in Aeron House Walter Street which overlooked the Labour club they all enjoyed nights out there Theresa and Danny were my mams best friends and they went to the Labour club every Saturday night they always looked out for Mam when my Dad passed in 1978 my Mam was made a life member God bless them they are all passed now but I have wonderful memories of Dowlais we moved there from Kidderminster in 1969.

  3. I am proud to say that Reg Lee was my Uncle and that I have in my possession the very first book off the press , signed by Uncle Reg .
    In the book my grandad is mentioned. . Peg Leg Broadhurst
    Reg married my Fathers Sister , it was always a rush to see Reg when he came to visit because of his stories ..
    He always told me to write a book about the place I live and it’s characters because , he said , memories will be forgotten otherwise…very wise words.

  4. Tried looking on Amazon for the book couldn’t find the One about dowlais.. my mother was born in ivor street and her siblings.I live in America but am originally from merthy.

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