Tag: Dowlais

Merthyr Historian Volume 31

The Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society is pleased to announce that, despite all of the difficulties due to Covid-19, volume 31 of the Merthyr Historian is now for sale.

Merthyr Historian Volume 31 – Contents
Chapter 1 Penydarren born Frank T Davies, 1904-1981, pioneer, geophysicist and polar explorer Roger Evans
Chapter 2 Science at the cusp: Caedraw 1887 and education in Merthyr John Fletcher
Chapter 3 ‘Whom the gods love, die young’: the frail genius of Harry Evans, conductor T Fred Holley & John Holley
Chapter 4 ‘Kathleen Ferrier slept in my bed’: musical celebrities and wartime Merthyr Vale Mair Attwood
Chapter 5 Robert Rees: the Morlais Nightingale Stephen Brewer
Chapter 6 The female drunkard in the mid nineteenth century Barrie Jones
Chapter 7 Cefn Glas: a forgotten colliery Clive Thomas
Chapter 8 Emlyn Davies, Dowlais Draper: a family flannel and local business history Alan Owen
Chapter 9 Merthyr relief and social work in the worst of times: Margaret Gardner (1889-1966) Christine Trevett
Chapter 10 Appeal and response, Merthyr’s need 1930-31, from The Skip Collection Clive Thomas & Christine Trevett
Chapter 11 Pulpit and platform, revival reservations and reforms: the work of the Rev John Thomas (1854-1911) at Soar, Merthyr Tydfil Noel Gibbard
Chapter 12 The Rev G M Maber, Merthyr and the poet Robert Southey’s Welsh Walks Barrie Jones
Chapter 13 The drums go bang, the cymbals clang. Three bands, Troedyrhiw 1921 T Fred Holley & John Holley
Chapter 14 The railways of Pant and Dowlais towards the end of steam Alistair V Phillips
Chapter 15 Book Review: Merthyr Tydfil Corporation Omnibus Dept. Keith L Lewis-Jones
Chapter 16 From Dudley to Dover and Dowlais: Black Country tram sales and their brief second careers Andrew Simpson
Chapter 18 ‘Here’s health to the Kaiser!’ Patriotic incident at Treharris, 1914 Christine Trevett
Chapter 19 Lady Charlotte and Sir John: the Guest family at large. A review essay on recent books Huw Williams
Chapter 20 Dr Brian Loosmore (1932-2019).  An Appreciation T Fred Holly
Chapter 21 ‘Rather less than four pence’: A case of benefits in Merthyr Tydfil in 1933 (transcribed)

John Dennithorne

It is a mammoth volume at350+ pages long and priced at £12.50 (plus postage & packing).

If anyone would like a copy of the book, please contact me at merthyr.history@gmail.com and I will forward your request to the appropriate person.

Did you know?

Following on from the last post, did you know that, as well as being an ironmaster (and later M.P.), that Josiah John Guest was also a prize-winning turnip grower?

The excerpt from an article in The Cambrian dated 11 November 1820, detailing a meeting of the Glamorganshire General Agricultural Society gives the details:-

The Cambrian – 11 November 1820

The Guest Memorial Hall

One of the few remaining historical buildings in Dowlais is the Guest Memorial Hall, or the Guest Keen Club as it is more commonly know today. It has a fascinating, if troubled history.

When Josiah John Guest died in 1852, his widow, Lady Charlotte began thinking of projects to commemorate her husband. Her first project was to build a school for the children of the Dowlais area, and the Dowlais Central Schools were completed in 1855. Whilst the school was under construction, the work-men of the Dowlais Ironworks also wanted to contribute to another memorial to their former employer.

In March 1854, a public meeting was held, and it was proposed that a library and reading room should be built in memory of Josiah John Guest. A committee was set up, and subscription lists were issued – they even placed an advertisement in The Times newspaper. A sum of £2,200 was eventually raised, and Sir Charles Barry was commissioned to design the building.

The Times – 7 June 1854

Sir Charles Barry was one of the foremost architects of the day, his most famous work being the Houses of Parliament. A personal friend of Sir Josiah and Lady Charlotte Guest, he had been responsible for designing the Dowlais Central School.

Unfortunately, Barry’s plans proved too grandiose for the funds available. Work started in early 1855, but by the end of the year, over £5,000 had already been spent on the project. New trustees were appointed, and they were dismayed to discover that not only had a huge amount been spent in excess of the budget, but only the walls and roof timbers had been prepared.

The trustees, having paid for slating the roof and glazing the upper story, called an emergency public meeting. They offered two alternatives: firstly the subscribers could try to find the extra money required to complete the work; or secondly, they could hand over the project to the Dowlais Iron Company who would finish the work, and thus own the building. The subscribers decided on the latter course of action.

The Dowlais Iron Company took over the project, and the original subscriptions were returned to the trustees who used the money to provide annual scholarships for the children taught in the Dowlais schools.

A postcard of the Guest Memorial Hall from the early 1900s. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive.

The new library, which was a classical style cruciform two-storey building, the main rooms raised on a basement storey, built of massive stones with a Bath-stone balustraded pillared portico on the first floor, was finally opened in 1863. The total cost of the building was £7,000. The new library was equipped with an excellent collection of books in both Welsh and English, and newspapers and magazines were also available to the public. A part of the building was also set aside to be used as a museum, and fossils that had been discovered in local pits and quarries were displayed there.

The library closed in 1907 when the new Carnegie Free Library opened in Dowlais. The building subsequently became a social club and remains open to this day as a restaurant and as an events venue.

Can you help?

I am writing a history of the Dowlais Educational Settlement. This out of focus photograph may be of some of the staff of that Settlement, perhaps pre 1936. The bearded man at the back is John Dennithorne, the Warden. The person second left may be Patrick Michael Keating of Dowlais – can anyone confirm that, please, or put names to any other people in the picture?

Thanks

Christine Trevett

Merthyr’s Chapels: Beulah Chapel, Dowlais

Beulah English Baptist Chapel, Dowlais

In the early part of the 1800s, the growing population of Dowlais included many English speaking people. Many of these followed the Baptist cause, but as there was no provision for them in the town, they had to travel into Merthyr to attend High Street Chapel.

By 1850, the English Baptist population in Dowlais  had become large enough to encourage them to make a request to the members of Caersalem Chapel to hold services in English. The elders agreed and these were held in the vestry of Caersalem Chapel, the services being taken by Rev Thomas Davies of High Street Chapel.

The venture proved a success and before long a house in North Street was bought to hold services, and a Sunday School was also set up. As the congregation grew it became evident that they needed a proper place of worship, so they decided to build a chapel in Victoria Street.

A small chapel to seat 200 was completed at a cost of £400, and officially opened on 1 February 1857 and named Beulah. The chapel continued to be a branch of Caersalem until 23 January 1859 when it was recognised as a cause in its own right.

When Beulah became independent of Caersalem, 40 members of High Street Chapel moved to the new chapel and the congregation grew steadily. By 1869 the building was too small and a new chapel was built by Mr Evan Jones at a cost of £1,100. It was opened on Christmas Day 1869.

Shortly after this, a schism occurred at Beulah and the minister, Rev Alfred Humphreys and 34 of the congregation left and started their own cause and called it Tabernacle.

Despite this schism, the cause at Beulah continued to prosper and the chapel opened a schoolroom in Pant and also established Mount Pleasant Chapel in Penydarren.

Today, despite ever-falling numbers, Beulah survives as one of the very few chapels still holding services in Dowlais.

I remember that…..

by Margaret Dooley née McLenahan

I lived in Pant and one of my earliest memories is the smell of baking bread from Jenkins’ bakehouse. I was often dispatched to get a loaf, which would still be warm. By the time I got home I would have eaten half the crust. Delicious,  never tasted bread like it since.

I remember walking to school in the snow (to Cyfarthfa) as the buses wouldn’t be running. If Mr. Lee, a teacher who lived in Caeracca,  could get there, then we were expected to as well.

The Castle Cinema on Saturday night. The last bus to Pant went at 10.30 so if it was a long film you had to choose between seeing the end or a long walk home.

On the same note, ABC minors and getting a bag of chips in newspaper on the way home.

The Castle Cinema ABC Minors Christmas Party in 1959. Photo courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm

Going shopping in Dowlais with my grandmother (when I was about 8 or 9) and it seeming to take hours as she knew everybody and stopped to talk. I was expected to stand still and not interrupt.  Did hear some juicy bits of gossip though!

Happy days!!!

If you would like to submit an article for the ‘I Remember That’ series, please get in touch at merthyr.history@gmail.com

Tom Thomas – the First Welterweight Champion of Wales – part 2

by Roy Smith

Taking a break from touring, Thomas returned home in July 1924 and under ex-Bombardier Harold Holmes, trainer Bargoed Boxing Club, went into serious training for his next important engagement at Liverpool. On 17 July, the Welshman was up against the European welterweight champion Billy Mack (Liverpool) at the city’s Pudsey Street Stadium.  The Echo 18 July 1924 carried the report “The contest proved one of the fiercest short-lived affairs witnessed in Liverpool for some time, and Thomas was defeated in five rounds.  It commenced in sensational fashion for in the first minute, the contestants’ heads clashed which resulted in Mack’s cheek bone being badly gashed.  Mack tore in and after furious exchanges; Thomas received a cut over the left eye. It was evident in round two that both boxers were out to finish matters. Fierce exchanges ensued and little divided them. They strove for a knock-out in the third, both swinging for the jaw, but missed hearing the gong. The Merseysider caught the Welshman with a vicious upper-cut which put Thomas on the canvas and he stayed down for eight. Thomas was again sent to the canvas on three more occasions in the fourth and appeared beaten but refused to give in. He rallied wonderfully in the fifth and caught Mack to the jaw, but towards the end of the round, a right to the chin dropped him once more. He was groggy when he returned to his corner, when his seconds threw in the towel acknowledging defeat.”  Although he lost to such an eminent opponent, numerous admirers felt “he certainly cannot have lost in prestige.”

Under the capable hands of Arthur Evans (Tirphil) the ex-lightweight champion of Wales, Thomas’s training sessions at the Hanbury Hotel, Bargoed, in preparation for his next test, a contest with Tom Whitehouse (Birmingham) the 10st champion of the Midlands, created considerable interest locally. Thomas and Whitehouse were heavy hitters and the full house at the Liverpool Stadium on 18 September 1924, anticipated a fine struggle. The contest proved very dramatic and was quickly over. Birmingham Daily Gazette 19 Sept 1924 gave a vivid account of the action “Almost the first blow in the contest landed on the Welshman’s jaw and he dropped on his knees. On rising, he used the ring judiciously, flashing home a trio of lefts to Whitehouse’s face. The latter, however, got home a right cross and the Celt again visited the boards. Quickly regaining his feet Thomas crashed home a right to Whitehouse’s chin that reeled him across the ring to end the session. Coming up for Round 2 Thomas dealt out a stinging upper-cut and he dashed in to press home his advantage but he was met with a left hook, which put him on the canvas once more. Both boxers scored with several punches to the head in their endeavours to end matters. Nearing the end of the round Whitehouse caught Thomas and sent him to the boards. It was obvious that the blow had finished him, and the referee intervened without counting, awarding the decision to the Midland boxer.”

Tom Thomas travelled with Alf Stewart’s booth in 1925/1926 and he notched up a second run of consecutive wins. At Newport, on 10 January, he defeated Martin Sampson (Caerphilly) on points over 20-rounds. Thomas was billed as the welter-weight champion of Wales; and although there was no “official championship,” the Deri lad certainly had very strong claims to such a title. At the same venue the following Saturday, he knocked out Charlie Berry (Newport) in the 8th of a 15-round contest. The result of a clash in February against Tom Phillips (Neath), holder of the Ring Belt Championship of Great Britain is unknown. Tom Thomas continued his winning account with appearances in the north of England against Jack Gallagher (Newcastle) at Newcastle, Len Oakley (London) at Durham and Napper Richardson (Durham). On his return to Wales he continued the run with victories over Howell Williams (Hirwain), Billy Wagstaff (Abercynon), Com McCarthy (Pontypridd), and Phil Thomas (Abercanaid).

 Title Bout at Milford Haven: Tom Thomas won the Welsh welterweight title on 21 August 1926, after a hard battle against Billy Green (Taffs Well), at Stewart’s Empire Boxing Pavilion in Milford Haven.  Four days later, the Welsh champion featured in a tournament at the New Hall, Bargoed, held in aid of the local Canteen fund. Although Thomas won a points decision over W. Delahay (Dowlais) he did not reveal his best form, probably because of the hard fight, which he fought and won on the Saturday.  The fact he put in an appearance so as not to disappoint the audience speaks highly for the man.

Thomas retained the welterweight championship of Wales when, at Milford Haven on 17 September 1926, he was given a verdict on a foul against Billy Moore, the former light weight champion, who was disqualified in the fourth round. In the course of a vigorous exchange of blows, Thomas fell to his knees, and while in that position, Moore dealt the blow that disqualified him.

Notwithstanding the industrial depression, there was a full house at Cardiff’s Drill Hall, on Monday evening 25 October 1926 to see Tom Thomas the welter-weight champion of Wales, oppose Billy Mattick (Castleford) welter champion of the North, over 15-rounds. Thomas fought a gallant and fiery battle and proved himself a capable two-handed boxer. At the end of a hard battle, Mattick received the verdict.

Billy Mattick. Photo courtesy of Susan Buck, great-niece.

Tom Thomas and Billy Mattick had a second fight on 7 November 1926 in Leeds National Sporting Club. According to the Leeds Mercury 8 November 1926, despite bleeding from a cut to the left eye in the sixth round, which bothered him a great deal, Thomas was leading the contest at the tenth.  Just as the gong went at the end of the eleventh round Thomas was floored with a terrific left to the jaw; and he also took a count of eight in round twelve. Mattick held his advantage in the last two rounds and won on points.

Welsh Successes in Jersey: Eleven days after the contest with Mattick at Leeds, Tom Thomas faced Billy Bird (Chelsea) at St Helier Stadium on 11 November 1926, and came away with a victory. Bird disqualified for hitting Thomas when the Welshman had slipped to the canvas in the tenth round of fifteen.

To be continued…..