The Forgotten ‘Merthyr Tydfil Judgment of 1900’

by Roger Evans

Poverty, and hardship went hand in hand with worker exploitation during the industrial revolution, accompanied by disease and starvation. As a measure of help for the destitute, Poor Law Unions were established under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, administered by the local Board of Guardians. Many of these Unions, including that of Merthyr, continued in operation until 1930 when they were replaced by local authority Public Assistance Committees. After 1945 the Poor Laws were replaced by Welfare State legislation brought in by the post war Attlee Government.

In 1898 South Wales miners went on a prolonged and historic strike. It was an attempt by the colliers to remove the sliding scale, which determined wages based on the price of coal. There was widespread agreement that Merthyr Board of Guardians had no choice in law but to support destitute strikers, even though they had voluntarily withdrawn their labour.

The strike quickly turned into a disastrous lockout which lasted for six months and ultimately resulted in a failure for the colliers. There were some concessions but the sliding scale stayed in place.

The strike however was viewed as an important landmark in Trade Union history as it saw the true adoption of trade unionism in the coalfields of The Valleys. The South Wales Miners’ Federation  union originated from this dispute. As a result, coal companies took the Merthyr Board of Guardians to court, as they did not want to see striking workers gain any financial support.

In the subsequent famous High Court ruling in 1900, the Master of the Rolls (the equivalent of today’s Supreme Court), ruled the policy of relieving the strikers had indeed been unlawful.  The Guardians were allowed to help dependents of strikers if they were destitute. Unmarried strikers however, had no access to poor relief whatsoever.  The high court verdict became known throughout Britain as ‘The Merthyr Tydfil Judgment of 1900’.  Often cited in subsequent strikes elsewhere in the country, including the 1926 General Strike.

Historians viewed the ruling as part of the employers’ counteroffensive against the labour movement of the 1890’s and 1900’s.

The 1834 Poor Law Act was replaced by The Local Government Act, 1929.  Workhouses were abolished and The Board of Guardians dissolved, functions being transferred to the Public Assistance Committee. The Merthyr Judgement effectively rendered null and void.

Memories of Old Merthyr

We continue our serialisation of the memories of Merthyr in the 1830’s by an un-named correspondent to the Merthyr Express, courtesy of Michael Donovan.

We now, however, resume from the junction of Brecon Road and follow the one with the Tramroad on or alongside. Beyond on the right-hand for some distance were cottages; they had small gardens in front, but not one had a back door. The level of the field would probably range from three to ten feet higher than the ground floor of the dwelling.

After these cottages was the Cambrian Inn, and then Bryant’s Brewery, which had malthouses also, but had all ceased to to work ere I can recall it. This Mr Bryant was then old, and, I think, migrated to Cefn near Bridgend, and identified himself in the coal getting. Quarry Row is the opening if we continue to the right, but we next pass the grocery shop of Mr Charles. There were some more cottages, also a shop or two, and the Jackson’s Bridge public house on the bank of the Taff was the last of that side.

On the left, from where the Tramroad became a portion of the road, some few cottages under the tip, then the Bethesda Chapel lying back, and some cottages again by the side of the Tramroad, and, unless I err, some down near the bottom of the tip. It was in some of these houses or cottages very important persons resided, they were the acting parish constables who lived there.

There were three that can be recalled – two of the name Williams. There were ‘Billy the Balca’ and his brother Tom, of course of the same place; the surname of the other has gone, but he was known as ‘John Keep her Down’, from his method of dealing with corpses in the dreadful time of the cholera visitation. No doubt they had rather a rough time sometimes. Drunken brawls were not unusual, but there was then no ‘Bruce’s Act’ demanding their attention as to the hour of closing.

The good residence below was occupied by Mr David James, who carried on the business of a tanner. His yard was close by, having an entrance at the end of the garden. Mr William Davis, the eldest son of Mr David Davis, of the (then) London House, Hirwaun, was apprenticed to learn the tannery trade here, but after a while that was abandoned and the sale of coal occupied his attention. Another apprentice to Mr James named O’Connell, was a nephew of great Daniel, the Irish agitator.

Below the opening was the Black Bull, having its own brewery connected with it in the rear. Cottages followed a short way, a grocer’s shop, kept by Mr Samuel Thomas, afterwards of Scyborwen (sic), and then only a few cottages brought us to the Jackson’s Bridge again.

A portion of the 1851 Public Health Map showing the area in question

To be continued at a later date……

R. C. Wallhead, M.P.

Following on from the last post, we’ll have a look at S O Davies’ predecessor as Merthyr’s Member of Parliament – R C Wallhead.

Richard Christopher Wallhead (he later changed his middle name to Collingham) was born in London on 28 December 1869. He was educated at St Edward’s Elementary School at Romford before beginning his career as a clerk with the Great Eastern Railway. He then re-trained as a decorator and designer.

Remembering some of the privations of his youth, he became increasing drawn towards socialism, and he joined the Independent Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Hardie, becoming an active member, and was noted as a successful orator on behalf of the party. In 1906 he was appointed manager of the ‘Labour Leader’, the official publication of the party. With the headquarters of the publication housed in Manchester, Wallhead moved to the city, eventually becoming a member of Manchester City Council in 1919, this despite the fact that, as a committed opponent of World War I, he was detained in 1917 under the Defence of the Realm Act, following an anti-war speech he delivered in South Wales.

Wallhead unsuccessfully contested Coventry in the 1918 general election for the Labour Party, to which the I.L.P. was affiliated, but was elected as chairman of the Party in 1920. In 1921 he resigned his seat on the Manchester City Council to devote his time to his own political career, and to the administrative affairs of the Party.

In 1920 he represented the I.L.P. on the British Labour delegation to Russia to investigate conditions there, where he met Lenin. He would subsequently visit Russia again in 1925.

British Labour delegation to Russia. Wallhead is in the centre.

In 1922, he contested his former mentor, Keir Hardie’s seat at Merthyr. The previous incumbent Edgar Rees Jones, the Liberal candidate, chose not to stand for re-election, and Wallhead, standing as a Labour candidate beat his only rival in the election, the Independent candidate, Richard Mathias, with 53% of the vote. He was subsequently one of only five I.L.P. M.P.s to retain their seats in the 1931 general election, after Labour withdrew their support, and he initially supported the party’s disaffiliation from Labour.

In 1933, however, Wallhead, having become increasing disillusioned with the I.L.P.’s gravitation towards the Soviet policies of violence since its cessation from the Labour Party the previous year, resigned from the I.L.P and joined the Labour Party.

By this time however, concern had been growing for a few years about Wallhead’s health, and he died at his home in Welwyn Garden City on 27 April 1934. Following his death, Clement Attlee, the then acting head of the Labour Party said:

“Dick Wallhead will be mourned by many thousands in the Labour Movement, for he was a man who sacrificed himself to the cause of Socialism….There was no more popular and effective exponent of Socialism than Wallhead in the days when the foundations of the Labour Party were being laid.”

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.

A New Church in Treharris

The article transcribed below appeared in the Western Mail 125 years ago today (30 July 1895).

NEW CHURCH AT TREHARRIS

LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE

On Monday afternoon, in brilliant weather and in the presence of a large concourse of people, the foundation-stone of a new church – to be called St Matthias – in Cardiff Road, Treharris, was laid by Mr. Frederick Harris, of Collingham Gardens, London.

Until the introduction of the Rev. Daniel Lewis into the Rectory of Merthyr, Treharris, constitutes part of the parish of Merthyr, was unprovided with Church ministrations, but immediately the rector was appointed services were instituted in the schoolroom and the district furnished with a resident clergyman, the priest at present officiating being the Rev. R. David.

The new church, which will provide accommodation for 365 worshippers, will cost about £3000.  It is to built of native stone with Bath stone dressings in the simple Gothic style.  Mr J. L Pearson, the eminent architect, of London, has prepared the designs, and the contractors are Messrs. William Cowlin and Son, of Bristol.  The duties of clerk of the works are being discharged by Mr. H. Cana.  There will be a nave, a north aisle, a chancel, an organ chamber, and two vestries, with an ornamental bell turret at the western end.

The site upon which the church will stand has been gratuitously given by Colonel Lockwood, who has also subscribed a very handsome sum towards the building fund.  Among the clergy present at the interesting function of the stone-laying were:- The Rector of Merthyr; the Rev. G. A. Jones, St. Mary’s Cardiff; the Rev. Lewis Jones, Cadoxton-juxta-Neath; the Rev. W. G. Kirkham, Blackwood; the Rev. J Lewis, Troedyrhiw; the Rev. D. Leigh, rector; the Rev. W. Jones and the Rev. D. E. Jacobs, Llanfabon; the Rev. T. Jesse Jones, rector of Gelligaer; the Rev. J. R. Jones, Trelewis; the Rev. G. Davies, Aberdare Junction, and the Rev R. David, Treharris.

In order to perform the task so kindly undertaken by her, Mrs. Harris was presented by the building committee with a silver trowel, the contractors presenting her also with a pearwood mallet and an oak level.

A short religious service was conducted in connection with the ceremony, which was closed with the singing of “The Church’s One Foundation,” followed by the Benediction.  In the course of the proceedings the Rector of Merthyr thanked Mrs. Harris for her kindness in laying the stone and for the goodness which she and the family had always exhibited in relation to the progress of Church work in the parish.

Mr. Harris, on behalf of his wife, acknowledged the compliment, and said it had been a great pleasure to Mrs. Harris and himself to have come down to take part in the work that day.  It would be a source of much gratification if they were able to come down to the consecration, and it would afford them considerable pleasure if the church were attended by a large congregation.

Photo courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm

Many thanks to Tracy Barnard for transcribing this article.

Death of Penry Williams

135 years ago today, Penry Williams, the famous Merthyr-born artist died in Rome. The article transcribed below appeared in the Cardiff Times on 8 August 1885.

DEATH OF PENRY WILLIAMS, THE MERTHYR ARTIST.

LETTER FROM MR C. H. JAMES, M.P.

We have received an intimation that Mr Penry Williams, the artist, died at Rome on Monday morning last, in his 86th year. Mr C. H. James, M.P., writing to, us from Brynley, Merthyr, thus speaks of the deceased painter:- “He was Merthyr born, and attained considerable renown in his profession, several of his works having got into our National Galleries, and into many of the houses of lovers of art in England.”

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

A recent “History of Merthyr” states that Penry Williams was the son of William Williams, a house painter; and after his childhood had passed, with its indications showing the bent and genius of the lad, he began to assist his father, until his remarkable skill in drawing and painting attracted the notice of Mr W. Crawshay, who eventually acted the kind patron, and sent him freighted with letters of introduction to influential people in London. Amongst others he was introduced to Fuseli, then keeper of the Royal Academy – one of those kind-hearted and eccentric men who are apt to be misjudged until thoroughly understood. Penry showed him several sketches he had taken amongst the Welsh mountains, to the great delight of Fuseli, who insisted on purchasing them, and from that time became his staunch friend, and gave him the entrée into the academy until he had won his right to enter there by an exhibition of his artistic powers. This he did in a short time, and steadily worked his way upward to renown.

Years passed in the tedious and often painful struggle for a secure position in the world of art. Every now and then he would visit Merthyr, and the seats of gentlemen who had shown an interest in his welfare, and from them always received hearty welcome and good commissions. For Sir John Guest he painted some charming pictures that were the special favourites when exhibited at the British Institution in Pall Mall: and others of our leading iron-masters were only too proud to possess some of his gifted productions. From that era we trace his career, and see him in the most delightful scenes of England, studying the ever-changing beauties of nature with an eye that never tired and a love that never faltered. Amidst the lonely mountains of his own home, in the ravines of the North, among the bosky shades of Tintern, and then again on the Continent amidst all that nature has perfected in its witchery of beauty, and man has made classic and immortal, there was he to be found perfecting his artistic powers until they ripened in fair proportions, and he became known and famous.

Sir Thomas Lawrence, Gibson, the sculptor, Sir Charles Eastlake, and many others of the gifted band were proud to call him friend, and began a friendship that ended only when, one after another, these peerless men passed away. The story of his efforts and of his triumphs is a long but a triumphant one, for the lad who painted Merthyr signs, and knew many of life’s hardships in his youth, eventually reached the highest eminence, was singled out and patronised by royalty and, far more than this, besides distinction and approval from royal hands, became one of those world-honoured artists of whom Britain is justly proud.

A brother of Penry, deaf and dumb, exhibited singular ability in youth as an artist, but he died ere a prominent position had been won.

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Merthyr’s Chapels: High Street Chapel

Our next chapel is one of Merthyr’s most famous chapels – High Street Chapel.

The oldest English Baptist cause in Merthyr started in 1807 and from 1813 was originally housed at Bethel Chapel in Georgetown (see http://www.merthyr-history.com/?p=2963). By 1840 the congregation had grown, so a new site was acquired in the High Street and a chapel designed by T H Watt of London was built at a cost of £2000, and the new chapel opened on 8 June 1841.

A painting of High Street Chapel completed at around the time the chapel opened

Around 1858 a disagreement occurred regarding the appointment of Rev George Ward Humphreys as minister and a number of the congregation left to set up their own cause eventually becoming Ainon Chapel in Georgetown. In 1885, a further disagreement occurred and a number of the congregation left High Street Chapel. They went on to start their own cause at Morlais Chapel.

The chapel was home to many organisations at this time: a Christian Endeavour, Band of Hope and Sunday School.  There was a young ladies sewing class, and the ladies of the Dorcas Society at the chapel made baptismal gowns. Tonic Sol-fa lessons were also held which led to the formation of the church choir. The chapel members were also at the forefront of charitable organisation, supporting, among others: the Merthyr Tydfil Mission Fund, the Children’s Hospital, the Deaf & Dumb and Widows & Orphans fund, the Indian Famine Fund and the Baptist Foreign Mission.

In 1899, it was decided to renovate the chapel. Meetings were held and on 8 June 1899, the tender from Mr John Jenkins Canal Wharf, of £1.592.10d was accepted for the renovation of the building. A new pipe organ was also installed at this time built by Messrs Harrison, Durham at a cost of £400.

The interior of High Street Chapel showing the magnificent Harrison organ

The cost of the renovation would eventually cost £2,300. Fundraising events and collections were held, but only realised a fraction of the cost. The remainder was met by mortgaging the building. While the renovations were being done, the congregation met in the Town Hall.

In 1928, it was decided to build a large school room behind the chapel. Four cottages were bought for £365, and the school room was built by Mr Warlow at a cost of £939.4s.8d, and it was formerly opened on 4 July 1929.

Members of High Street Chapel outside the School Room in 1981. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Collection.

High Street Chapel continues to prosper today.

From Cefn to the Café – Remembering Jane Freeman

Anyone over a certain age will fondly remember the long-running BBC comedy series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. One of the longest serving and best remembered characters was the ferocious Ivy in the café, often bellowing ‘What the blood and stomach pills?’ before usually bashing Compo over the head with a tin tea-tray. The magnificent actress who turned, what could have been a one-dimensional character, into one the country’s most well-loved comedy creations was Jane Freeman.

Jane Freeman was born Shirley Ann Pithers in Brentford, Essex on 12 June 1935, to Arthur, a railway engineer, and Joan (née Dewhurst). Her father died in an accident on the London Underground when she was nine and, in 1945, she moved to Merthyr Tydfil when her mother married Russell Evans, a solicitor, and the family settled in Cefn-Coed, with the young Shirley taking her step-father’s surname and adopting Jane as her first name.

Having enjoyed acting in plays at Vaynor and Penderyn School (notably in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’, playing the role of Malvolio!), she trained at the Cardiff College of Music & Drama (now the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama).

The programme for a 1951 production of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at Vaynor & Penderyn School. In the cast list is Jane Evans (Jane Freeman) as Lady Bracknell. Courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm
A photograph from the production. Jane Freeman is unmistakable at the centre of the front row. Photo courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm

After graduating in 1955, she moved to London before joining the Gloucestershire-based all-female Osiris Repertory Theatre touring company, changing her name to Jane Freeman. In her 18 months with Osiris, Jane played around 40 parts in roughly 1,000 performances.

In 1958 she joined the Arena Theatre, Sutton Coldfield, where she began to attract attention, and was seen as Margaret More in the inaugural production of the Welsh Theatre Company – Robert Bolt’s ‘A Man for All Seasons’, at the New Theatre, Cardiff in 1962.

Following repertory theatre in Dundee (1966-7), she joined Birmingham Rep (1967-78), where Michael Simpson arrived from the BBC to become its artistic director. They married in 1971 and Simpson returned to the BBC, eventually directing Freeman in two Play for Today productions – as a snooty seaside landlady in ‘The Fishing Party’ (1972), in which John Comer also appeared, and as the mother of Alan Bleasdale’s Liverpool schoolboy of the title in ‘Scully’s New Year’s Eve’ (1978).

In 1971 she was cast in the new BBC Comedy ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ opposite John Comer as Ivy and Sid –  owners of the local café. Appearing in the very first episode, she went on to appear in 274 further episodes of the series over 37 years – the only cast member besides Peter Sallis to appear throughout the entire run of the series.

John Comer and Jane Freeman and Sid and Ivy.

Although best known as Ivy, Jane made many other TV appearances, most notably in the first series of ‘Blackadder’ (the first series actually being called ‘The Black Adder’) as the peasant woman Tully Applebottom, who almost committed bigamy with Rowan Atkinson’s Prince Edmund, to spare him marriage to Miriam Margolyes’s Infanta; and also as Mrs Kimble in ‘Silas Marner’ in 1985.

Despite her television fame, theatre remained her first love. When television filming commitments allowed, she could be found playing a number of strong, usually northern, matriarchs in ‘Billy Liar’ (Nottingham Playhouse, 1980), touring productions of J.B. Priestley’s ‘When We Are Married’, Michael Frayn’s ‘Noises Off’ (1987) and Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke’s ‘Situation Comedy’ (1989).

She scored a personal success as the sharp-tongued Emma Hornett (a role made famous by Peggy Mount) in Philip King and Falkland Carey’s ‘Sailor Beware!’ at the Lyric, Hammersmith (1991), subsequently touring with it in 1992 and 1993. Later theatre appearances included Pam Gems’ ‘Deborah’s Daughter’ (Library -Theatre, Manchester, 1994) and tours of William Ash’s adaptation of Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Height’s in 1995 and again in 1998.

After her husband Michael’s death in 2007, Jane continued to work, despite suffering a neurological condition that affected her hands and feet, and she passed away after a battle with cancer on 9 March 2017.

Co-operative Stores for Bedlinog

The article transcribed below appeared in the Merthyr Express 110 years ago today (16 July 1910).

CO-OPERATIVE STORES FOR BEDLINOG

OPENING CEREMONY

The Dowlais Co-operative Society opened their first branch establishment on Thursday week at Bedlinog. The opening ceremony was performed by Mr. Hugh Jones, Dowlais (chairman of the parent Society), in the presence of a good gathering of delegates from other Co-operative Societies in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire, and local members. Mr. Jones, who was presented with a silver key by the builder (Mr. Horace J Davies, of Bargoed), congratulated the architect, the contractor, and the Bedlinog members upon the erection of the handsome and spacious building they were opening that day. Forty delegates sat down to luncheon, after which congratulatory speeches were delivered by the Chairman, the Contractor (Mr. H. J. Davies), Mr. T. Andrews, J.P., and other representatives.

In the evening a large gathering took place in front of the shop, and Mr. H. Jones presided. The Chairman, in opening the meeting, explained the objects of the co-operative movement. The idea of organization for the sake of profit-sharing was scouted, and the idea of service emphasised. The provision of good, wholesome food, suitable clothing, and other necessaries at reasonable prices regulated their conduct. Some object to Co-operative Societies taking up trade, holding that it was the province of individuals. Under the individual system, the idea of service vanished, and the accumulation of profits loomed largely, to such an extent that in order to swell their profits, adulteration of goods has been resorted to, and the Government has been compelled to legislate to check the evil. The private trader must now sell margarine as margarine, and not as butter.

Humane conditions of employment for men and women was another object of the movement. Under private traders, human beings were mere machines, utilised for accumulating wealth for their masters, shop assistants and apprentices were subjected to inhuman conditions in the form of low wages, an insanitary living-in system, bad food, and impositions. Co-operation, Trade Unionism, and the Labour movement are proceeding on parallel lines with the same objects in view, of securing for the industrial classes their fair share of the wealth they labour to produce and distribute, and by so doing reduce to a great extent the unnecessary suffering and poverty which exists.

Mr. T. Andrews congratulated the Society upon its courage and enterprise, and exhorted the Bedlinog people to respond in a like spirit. He urged greater loyalty on the part of existing members, and invited others to join the movement. Let them adopt, like the Jews of old, the policy of transmitting to their offspring the spirit of faithfulness. This movement, which was started in a small way, had by today assumed huge proportions. Its branches were spread all over the land. Hardly a town existed in this land but had its co-operative society, and in some towns the movement was powerful. It was one of the most powerful movements recorded in the history of human activity. Its trade was immense. It was the greatest trading concern in the world. It produced boots; it manufactured cloth and cotton, and made clothes and dresses. It possessed several flour mills, soap and candle and chemical works, jam and pickle factories, tea gardens, cocoa, coffee, and sugar plantations. creameries, orchards, and gardens. It had established convalescent homes and subscribed large sum of money annually to hospital and other charitable purposes.

Councillor John Davies (miners’ agent), Dowlais, urged all Trade Unionists to become members. The co-operative movement, he said, was the twin sister of Trade Unionism. It was the bounden duty of every Trade Unionist to become a co-operator, because this movement sought to secure for workers fair conditions of labour; good, wholesome food to sustain them good clothes to protect and adorn them; and a just share of the wealth they produced and distributed. This movement assisted all classes of workers.

Inspector John Edwards, Dowlais, advised all to join the Society. It was a movement started by workers and carried on by them. The Society was started by railwayman, but all classes of people were admitted. Mr. W. Payne, Dowlais, also spoke, and at the close of the meeting the Chairman invited non-members to join the Society, which can be done by paying an entrance fee of one shilling.

The architect of the premises was Mr. Springall, of the Co-operative Wholesale Architects’ Department, Manchester, and the contractor Mr. Horace Davies, Bargoed; and both gentlemen have given every satisfaction in the carrying out of the work. During the afternoon, tea was provided, and a large number of adults and children sat at the tables. The Bedlinog members and their children had free tickets, while non-members paid sixpence each, and the children threepence each.

Bedlinog Co-operative Stores in 1932. Photo courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm