Merthyr’s Lost Landmarks: Lost Chapels of Merthyr

Following on from the recent pictorial look at Merthyr’s lost churches, (https://www.merthyr-history.com/?p=8922) I have had a number of requests to do a similar one for Merthyr’s lost chapels. As there are so many, I have divided them up into various areas. We start with the chapels in Merthyr itself.

Adulam Welsh Independent Chapel

Lower Thomas Street, Merthyr Tydfil

Built 1831. Rebuilt 1857. Demolished late 1990s

Ainon Welsh Baptist Chapel

Dynevor Street, Georgetown

Built 1860. Demolished 1971

Photo courtesy of Maureen Druce

Bethel English Baptist Chapel

Bethel Street, Georgetown

Built 1809. Rebuilt 1826, 1855. Demolished 1983

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Bethel Apostolic Church

Brecon Road

Built 1951-2. Demolished ?

Photo courtesy of Ann Lewis

Bethesda Welsh Independent Chapel

Bethesda Street

Built 1811. Rebuilt 1829, 1880. Demolished 1995

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Bethlehem Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Waterloo Street, Caepantywyll

Built 1841. Demolished 1979

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Church of Christ

Plymouth Street

Built 1904, Demolished 1995

Photo Courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Ebenezer Welsh Baptist Chapel

Plymouth Street

Built 1793. Rebuilt 1831. Demolished ?

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Market Square Congregational Chapel

Graham Street

Built 1841. Demolished 1969

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Morlais English Baptist Chapel

Glebeland Place

Built 1881. Demolished 1925

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Salem Welsh Independent Chapel

Heolgerrig Road, Heolgerrig

Built 1855. Rebuilt 1872. Demolished 1990

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Trinity Forward Movement Presbyterian Chapel

Baden Terrace, Penyard

Built 1907. Demolished ?

Twynyrodyn Unitarian Chapel

Court Street

Built 1821. Demolished 1969

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Tydfil Hall Forward Movement Presbyterian Chapel

Pontmorlais Promenade

Built 1907. Partially demolished 2010s

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

Ynysgau Welsh Independent Chapel

Victoria Street

Built 1749. Rebuilt 1853. 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.

Merthyr: Then and Now

TYDFIL HALL CHAPEL

Below is a photograph of the opening of Tydfil Hall Forward Movement Chapel in Pontmorlais on 9 May 1907.

It was designed by Mr Arthur D Marks and built by Mr William Watts of Dowlais. The building cost £1,300 and the excavation of the site £2,700.

Unfortunately, the cause was not a great success, and the chapel closed in 1930. Following its closure, the building was used as the Labour Exchange and later as the Unemployment Benefit office. It is was left derelict following a fire, and the building has now been demolished, just leaving the facade, as part of a new housing development, as the photo taken in 2019 below shows.

Most of us remember it as the Labour Exchange/Benefits Office but I wonder how many of you knew that it was originally a chapel?