Tag: Heritage Plaque

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: John Collins

by Keith Lewis-Jones

John Collins V.C., D.C.M., M.M.
Plaque sited in the foyer of Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Memorial Plinth in the grounds of St. Tydfil’s Church, Merthyr Tydfil

John Collins was born in West Hatch, Somerset in 1880 and came to Merthyr when he was about ten years old.

He  fought  in  the  Boer  War  and  also served in India. In 1914 he joined the Welsh Regiment.

He won his Victoria Cross whilst serving in Palestine with the 25th Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. The citation states:

“…although isolated and under fire from snipers and guns, he showed throughout a magnificent example of initiative and fearlessness.”

Known as Jack the V.C., he died in 1951 and is buried in Pant Cemetery.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: The Berry Brothers

by Keith Lewis-Jones

This time we look at the plaques dedicated to three brothers born to Merthyr solicitor John Mathias Berry and his wife Mary Ann Rowe.

Henry Seymour Berry – Lord Buckland of Bwlch
Statue sited in front of Merthyr Tydfil Central Library

Henry Seymour Berry (1877-1928) acquired substantial holdings in steel, coal, transport, printing, and shipping.

He was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1923 and became Baron Buckland of Bwlch in  1926.

Statue & Plinth Grade II Listed

History
Erected 1931. Designed by W. Goscombe John RA.

Description
Standing, black-painted, bronze figure in full robes with cocked hat in crook of left arm; parchment grasped in right hand. Moulded pink granite plinth with inscription:

“Henry Seymour Berry, Baron Buckland of Bwlch, Hon. Freeman of the Co. Borough of Merthyr Tydfil. Born 1877 – Died 1928. Erected by Public Subscription”.

James Gomer Berry – Viscount Kemsley
Plaque sited on the plinth of the statue in front of Merthyr Tydfil Central Library

James Gomer  Berry (1883-1968) and William Ewart Berry together built a vast empire of magazines, regional and national newspapers, including the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Times.

Gomer became Baron Kemsley in 1936 and Viscount Kemsley in 1944. He was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1955.

William Ewert Berry – Viscount Camrose
Plaque sited on the plinth of the statue in front of Merthyr Tydfil Central Library

William Ewert Berry (1879-1953) and James Gomer Berry together built a vast empire of magazines, regional and national newspapers, including the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Times.

William was made Baron Camrose in 1929 and a Viscount in 1941.

More on the Berry Brothers coming soon……

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: Laura Ashley

by Keith Lewis-Jones

Laura Ashley
Plaque sited at 31 Station Terrace, Dowlais

Laura Ashley, the fashion designer, was born, Laura  Mountney,  at  31 Station  Terrace, Dowlais in 1925.

The Laura Ashley Company was started by Laura and her husband Bernard in a London flat in 1953. It started with tea towels and scarves in their own distinctive style. When the company was floated in November 1985, two months after Laura Ashley’s sudden death, it had become an international group with 219 shops worldwide.

Merthyr’s Heritage Plaques: E T Davies

by Keith Lewis-Jones

In a new regular feature, local historian Keith Lewis-Jones is going to highlight the many heritage plaques that are dotted about around Merthyr. Following on from our last article, we start with E T Davies.

E. T. Davies
Plaque sited in the pedestrian access from High Street to Zoar Chapel. CF47 8UB

Evan Thomas Davies was born, into a musical family and from a young age loved music. Until 1898 he worked in an office whilst, in his spare time accompanying in concerts.

In 1898 he was asked to accompany a party of Welsh singers to the U.S.A. for nine months. Whilst in America he was asked to accept a musical position, but he declined.

From early on he adjudicated in eisteddfods all over Wales and was the chief adjudicator in the Choral Competition at the Corwen National Eisteddfod in 1918; his adjudication being “a model of terseness and lucidity”.

From 1903 to 1917, he was the organist at Pontmorlais Church in Merthyr. He conducted his first important Cymanfa in 1905 at Pontmorlais and subsequently was very successful as a conductor, with his sympathetic and helpful advice to choir and congregation.

In October, 1920 he was appointed to the important post of Director of Music at University College, Bangor. This was the first time that a full time Director of Music had been appointed at Bangor, and it fell to E. T. Davies to establish and build up the new department. Amongst others, he introduced weekly Chamber Concerts, a College Orchestra and Chamber Music classes.