Tag: Heritage Plaque

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: James Keir Hardie

by Keith Lewis-Jones

James Keir Hardie
Plaque sited at the main entrance of the Old Town Hall, CF47 8AE

James Keir Hardie, (1856-1915) was born in Lanarkshire. He worked as a miner and journalist before, in 1893, founding the Independent Labour Party.

In 1900, he stood as a candidate in the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare Constituency and won one of the two seats.

He is recognised as the leading founder of the Labour Party in 1906. His determination and sincerity provided the basis for the early growth of the Labour Party in the South Wales coalfield and Britain.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Matthew John

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Plaque sited at Vulcan House, CF47 8LR

Matthew John (1807-1888) was the son of the Rev. David John, a Unitarian Minister.

In the 1830s Matthew became active in the Chartist Movement, and became one of the leaders in Merthyr alongside his father and Morgan Williams, the three leading marches of thousands of people.

Vulcan House, which had been set up as a foundry under Matthew, soon became the focal point for Chartist activities.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Philip Arvon Jones (Philip Madoc)

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Plaque sited at Bryn Street, Twynyrodyn, CF47 0TG

Born Phillip Jones near Merthyr Tydfil, he attended Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School, where he was a member of the cricket and rugby teams and displayed talent as a linguist. He then studied languages at the University of Wales and the University of Vienna. He eventually spoke seven languages, including Russian and Swedish, and had a working knowledge of Huron Indian, Hindi and Mandarin.

He worked as an interpreter, but became disenchanted with having to translate for politicians: “I did dry-as-dust jobs like political interpreting. You get to despise politicians when you have to translate the rubbish they spout.” He then switched to acting and won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Philip Madoc performed many stage, television, radio and film roles. On television, he played David Lloyd George in The Life and Times of David Lloyd George and the lead role in the detective series A Mind to Kill. His guest roles included multiple appearances in the cult series The Avengers and Doctor Who, as well as a famous episode of the sitcom Dad’s Army.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Sir Samuel Griffith

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Sir Samuel Griffith
Plaque sited at the entrance to the Merthyr Tydfil Civic Centre, CF47 8AN

Sir Samuel Griffith, 1845-1920, was born in the Glebeland, Merthyr Tydfil. His father was a Congregational Minister who emigrated, with his family, to Australia in 1854.

He was Premier of Queensland, Australia from 1883 to 1888 and again from 1890 to 1893.

He was Chairman of The Constitutional Committee of the National Australian Convention in 1891.

From 1903 to 1919 he was First Justice of The High Court of Australia.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: John Hughes

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Plaque sited at the entrance to the Merthyr Tydfil Civic Centre, CF47 8AN

John Hughes (1814-1899) trained as an engineer at the Cyfarthfa Ironworks in his native Merthyr Tydfil. He acquired an international reputation in marine engineering and armament production.

He was invited by the Tsar to help in the development of Russian railways and heavy industry.

He moved to the Ukraine in 1870 and established a steelworks at Hughesovka (Yuzovka) which was first renamed Stalino & then Donetsk.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Moss Evans

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Plaque sited on the side wall of the Gwynne’s Arms, Maeswgwynne,
Cefn Coed, CF48 2PG

Arthur Mostyn (Moss) Evans, 1925-2002, was born in Cefn Coed, Merthyr, one of 12 children.

In 1940 he joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union while working at Joseph Lucas in Birmingham

In 1950 he moved to the Bakelite Factory in Birmingham and became a shop steward a year later. His rise in the Transport & General Worker‟s Union started in 1956 becoming Birmingham Regional Trade Group Secretary in 1960, the Engineering National Officer in 1966, National Secretary (Automotive Section) in 1969 and National Organiser in 1973.

He was elected General Secretary of the union in 1977 defeating 14 other candidates. He retired on ill health grounds in 1985 at the age of 58.

He served as a Labour Councillor in Kings Lynn & West Norfolk from 1991, also serving a term as Mayor.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: S. O. Davies

by Keith Lewis-Jones

S.O. Davies M.P.
Plaque sited at Gwynfryn, Park Terrace, CF47 8RF

Stephen Owen (S.O.) Davies, 1886-1972, was Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil from 1934 until his death, a total of 38 years. He had previously been a miner and miner’s agent.

He was a strong advocate of Welsh Home Rule and was rebuked by the Labour Party for his part in the “Parliament for Wales” campaign.

He was rejected on grounds of age as the official Labour candidate in the 1970 General Election but stood as an Independent Socialist, winning the seat convincingly.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Jack Jones

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Jack Jones
Plaque sited on the wall of the derelict chapel at Chapel Row, CF48 1BN

Jack Jones, (1884-1970), was born in Merthyr and became a coalminer at the age of 12. He was politically active in turn, in the Communist Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Party and Oswald Moseley’s New Party.

His novels include, ‘Bidden to the Feast’, 1938  and ‘Off to Philadelphia in the Morning’ published in 1947, the latter being the story of Joseph Parry.

His three volume autobiography is among his finest achievements

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Arthur Trystan Edwards

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Arthur Trystan Edwards
Plaque sited in the main entrance of The Court House, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8DU

Trystan Edwards (1884-1973), had a brilliant undergraduate record at Oxford before embarking on an architectural career.

He served his articles under Sir Reginald Blomfield and began to lecture at Liverpool University in 1911. He joined the Ministry of Health after serving in the navy during World War I, dealing principally with housing policy.

In 1933 he was ahead of his time by founding the Hundred New Towns Association, a policy which didn’t bear fruit until after the Second World War.

In private practice he wrote a number of books about architectural  and planning philosophy. He also wrote “Merthyr, Rhondda and the Valleys” published in 1958.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Dr Thomas Dyke

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Dr. Thomas Dyke
Plaque sited on the fence of the disabled car park at Swan Street, Merthyr Tydfil 

Thomas Dyke (1816-1900) was born in Merthyr and played an active part in its public life for the greater part of a century. Trained at Guys and St. Thomas’s hospitals he was parish surgeon for various Merthyr districts and for the Dowlais Iron Company.

He was appointed Merthyr’s Medical Officer of Health in 1865.

The improvements in water supply, sewerage, sanitation, inspection, and housing, most of them under his guidance, meant that by the end of the century Merthyr’s average death rate was less than the average for other industrial centres and the death rate from infantile diarrhoea for most of 1865-1900 was the lowest of any town in the United Kingdom.

Dyke was also a prominent Freemason, a founder of the Merthyr subscription library and a keen advocate of town incorporation.