Welcome to Merthyr – the town of the iron works. It is a very important town in the history of Wales.This Just Starting script is an exact translation of the Mynediad/Entry Level version, so when ready, please move up to see how much you can understand.
There were thousands of people working in the four iron works between 1750 and 1850. There were farmers from Wales and there were people from England and Europe.
The works are closed. This fountain was a gift from the gentry of Aberdâr (Aberdare). The iron works of Merthyr had made a fortune for the business people. On the fountain it says ‘In commemoration of Robert and Lucy Thomas of Waunwyllt the pioneers in 1828 of the South Wales Steam Coal Trade.’
There were 20 Italian cafes in Merthyr. There were people from all over Europe but there was plenty of Welsh on the streets of the town.
In the middle of Merthyr there’s the old town hall – the work of the architect Johnson in 1896. There is nothing in the hall today. This is the Castle Cinema. Here in the Castle Hotel was the Merthyr Uprising of 1831.
The terraced houses of the iron workers have gone, almost. But here’s one – the terraced house of the composer Joseph Parry..
Cyfarthfa Castle was the home of the Crawshay family – the iron masters. The great house is here since 1825. It looks over Merthyr and the iron works.
And there are modern houses in Merthyr too. Llys Penydarren is a bungalo. In 1972 Graham and Mari Davies from Barry wanted to build a modern house. Everything in the house is from shops in Wales.
