Did you know?

In the latest entry in this series, we have a bit of a mystery.

Did you know that there was a part of the Brecon Road area called ‘High Germany’ at one time?

Below is an 1875 Ordnance Survey map of the area in question.

Here is another map from the 1860’s, with a more detailed view. You can see that the houses at the bottom of Park Street are clearly marked ‘High Germany’.

Don’t let the position of Tabernacle Chapel confuse you. This was the original Tabernacle Chapel which was in a different location to the present chapel.

Despite research, I have been unable to come up with an explanation as to the history of the name ‘High Germany’.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

UPDATE

Many thanks to Roger Evans for providing the following information….

The street of 8-10 dwellings appears to have been developed in 1799, by collier David Cornelius, to help meet massive housing requirements not satisfied by employers. Even by the standards of the time, the accommodation was appalling, lacking sanitation, proper drainage, and running water. There are scores of newspaper reports of crime, and disease in the street. The houses appear to have been demolished around 1894, following a request from the Board on health grounds.

‘High Germany’ was a term referring to a region of southern Germany, used widely in the 18 Century. Cornelius is a Germanic name so possibly his family emigrated from Southern Germany?

REFERENCES
In his Ph. D. thesis of 1988 ‘Work and Authority in an Iron Town: Merthyr Tydfil, 1760 – c.1815’, Christopher Evans, refers to the proliferation of property speculators, including ordinary workers, building for the huge influx of people to the Merthyr area. Evans, specifically mentions a ‘plot at Pontmorlais’ being developed in the 1790’s by David Cornelius; a miner.

PRESS COVERAGE There are many press reports of crime and disease in the area, which is referred to as being part of Pontystore-house. In 1893 Dr. DYKE reported that the Board of Guardian could proceed to order their demolished on health grounds (Merthyr Times, 03 February 1893).
In 1872 Six cottages at High Germany are advertised for sale by auction -with sitting tenants (The South Wales Daily news 20/Aug.1872) under a 99 year lease dating from May 1799. And the Merthyr Telegraph 6/Sept lists them as ‘late property of David Cornelius deceased’

CENSUS REPORTS- 1841-1891; The street appears in Census reports until 1891, where it is listed as High Germany Court, a street of 10 dwellings. (No two Census reports list the same occupants).

7 thoughts on “Did you know?”

  1. The street of 8-10 dwellings appears to have been developed in 1799, by collier David Cornelius, to help meet massive housing requirements not satisfied by employers. Even by the standards of the time, the accommodation was appalling, lacking sanitation, proper drainage, and running water. There are scores of newspaper reports of crime, and disease in the street. The houses appear to have been demolished around 1894, following a request from the Board on health grounds.

    ‘High Germany’ was a term referring to a region of southern Germany, used widely in the 18 Century. Cornelius is a Germanic name so possibly his family emigrated from Southern Germany?

    REFERENCES
    In his Ph. D. thesis of 1988 ‘Work and Authority in an Iron Town: Merthyr Tydfil, 1760 – c.1815’, Christopher Evans, refers to the proliferation of property speculators, including ordinary workers, building for the huge influx of people to the Merthyr area. Evans, specifically mentions a ‘plot at Pontmorlais’ being developed in the 1790’s by David Cornelius; a miner.

    PRESS COVERAGE There are many press reports of crime and disease in the area, which is referred to as being part of Pontystore-house. In 1893 Dr. DYKE reported that the Board of Guardian could proceed to order their demolishen on health grounds (Merthyr Times, 03 February 1893).
    in 1872 Six cottages at High Germany are advertised for sale by auction -with sitting tenants (The South Wales Daily news 20/Aug.1872) under a 99 year lease dating from May 1799. And the Merthyr Telegraph 6/Sept. lists them as ‘late property of David Cornelius deceased’

    CENSUS REPORTS- 1841-1891; The street appears in Census reports until 1891, where it is listed as High Germany Court, a street of 10 dwellings. (No two Census reports list the same occupants).

    1. Marvellous – that answers a lot of questions. I will put the above on the piece itself if that’s OK.

      1. Please use as you wish. I had never heard of High Germany before, even though I have many old maps. So it was interesting to research.
        Regards, Roger

        1. Many thanks.

          If you would ever like to write something for the blog – any contribution would be greatly appreciated.

          Steve

  2. My Father-in-law was brought up in Merthyr Tydfil, Reginald Walters born 1904, he was always showing my son his grandson, German money he had brought with him when he came over to Somerset in the great depression of the 30’s, he never said where he got them from but seemed to know a lot about the Jewish faith, but he was a Catholic, the son of Catherine Waters.(name changed many times), wished I had asked him more about his childhood.

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