Merthyr’s Lost Landmarks: Lost Chapels of Dowlais

Carrying on with the requested look at Merthyr’s lost chapels, here is the second batch – the lost chapels of Dowlais.

Bryn Sion Welsh Independent Chapel

Brynsion Street, Dowlais

Built 1834. Rebuilt 1844. Demolished 1969

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Caersalem Welsh Baptist Chapel

Well Street, Dowlais

Built 1821. Rebuilt 1833. Demolished 1977

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Calfaria Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

High Street, Caeharris

Built 1879. Closed 1979

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel

Wind Street, Dowlais

Built 1846. Burnt down 1927

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Elizabeth Street Presbyterian Chapel

Elizabeth Street, Dowlais

Built 1876. Demolished 1965/6

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Gwernllwyn Welsh Independent Chapel

Mary Street, Dowlais

Built 1850. Rebuilt 1874. Demolished 1965

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Hermon Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Castle Street, Dowlais

Built 1827. Rebuilt 1841. Demolished 1960s

Libanus Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Libanus Street, Dowlais

Built 1852. Rebuilt 1858, 1870. Demolished 1996

Moriah Welsh Baptist Chapel

Mount Pleasant Street, Dowlais

Built 1856. Demolished 1992

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Penywern Welsh Independent Chapel

Jones Street, Peneywern

Built 1857. Rebuilt 1877. Demolished ?

Shiloh Welsh Wesleyan Chapel

Castle Street, Dowlais

Built 1811. Rebuilt 1853. Demolished 1920s

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Tabernacle (Elim) English Baptist (Pentecostal) Chapel

Ivor Street, Dowlais

Built 1873. Rebuilt 1876. Demolished 1974

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Unitarian Chapel (later Salvation Army)

White Street, Dowlais

Built 1881. Demolished ?

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Wesleyan Chapel

Castle Street, Dowlais

Built 1843. Rebuilt 1850, 1832. Demolished 1967

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

If anyone has photographs of any other chapels that are no longer with us, and there are a few I can’t find photos of, or if anyone can fill in any details, please get in touch.

Earthquake in South Wales

Most people will know about the terrible earthquake that devastated San Francisco on 18 April 1906, but did you know that another, much less powerful, earthquake actually hit Merthyr later that year, 115 years ago today?

At 9.45 am on 27 June 1906, a powerful earth tremor was felt across much of South Wales, its epicentre being placed just offshore of Port Talbot. The quake, which struck just a few weeks after the devastating San Francisco earthquake, was felt as far afield as Ilfracombe, Birmingham and southwest Ireland. Measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale, the quake was caused by movement in the ‘Neath Disturbance’ and ‘Swansea Valley Disturbance’, two fault lines in the South Wales area.

A headline from the Evening Express on 27 June 1906.

Although there were no fatalities, and only minimal minor injuries sustained by falling masonry, people were terrified by the unexpected tremor.

In Swansea, there was damage to St Andrew’s Church, Swansea Prison, the Board of Trade offices and the gasworks, and the Mumbles Lighthouse was said to have ‘rocked on its foundations’. In Llanelli, the town hall clock stopped and people in Ammanford were convinced there had been a huge pit explosion, and colliers from several pits in South Wales were hurriedly brought to the service due to concerns over the stability of the mines.

The tremor hit Merthyr about five minutes after the original quake. Chimneys on two houses on the Tramroad were dislodged and crashed to the street, a similar fate befalling a house at Bryn Sion Street in Dowlais, and the plasterwork in several buildings cracked. Apart from these incidents, there were several incidents of pictures and clocks falling off walls, and crockery was smashed as it fell from shelves and tables. Yet again, however, people were terrified.

At Abermorlais School, the glass partitions between the classrooms ‘shook like leaves’, and it was only due to the calmness of the teachers in reassuring the terrified pupils that panic didn’t ensue. At Twynyrodyn and St David’s School, windows rattled and the blackboards swayed alarmingly. Yet again it was only due to the presence of mind of the teachers that panic was avoided.

A rumour quickly spread that the roof of the school at either Abercanaid or Pentrebach had collapsed injuring many of the pupils, but luckily this was not the case. At the Dowlais Gas and Coke Company, the offices were shaken with such force that the staff there feared that one of the gasometers had exploded. The staff at the Town Hall were also greatly alarmed, and they described two shocks being distinctly felt, one gentleman present remarked however, that he thought that “the Ratepayers Protection Association had commenced its work”.