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Home » Contributors » Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Central Library

Displaying results 1 to 6 out of 58

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  • This picture illustrates an early age of motorised transport, although it is clear from the photograph that such vehicles were few, and that traffic congestion was no problem in the 1920s. Prior to this period it was only mules and horses which waited outside inns and hotels for their drivers... a common practice which led to the saying that, following refreshments, 'too often mules would restart their journey like gentlemen and the drivers like mules'. The hotel in the picture, dating from 1886, takes its name from the original name of the district. Bontnewydd means 'new bridge'. Like Treharris, Trelewis developed in the late 19th century as a small community of mining families who depended on the winning of coal. The most important communication link was always to the source of employment - at the neighbouring Deep Navigation Colliery. Improved transport links, in terms of the roads and bridges, were encouraged by the opening of the new collieries at Taff Merthyr in 1926 and Trelewis Drift in 1954. Source: Merthyr Tydfil Public Libraries (1991) 'Valley Views, Books 2: transport.'
High Street, Trelewis, 1920s
  • On October 27 1913, South Wales experienced a tornado which was described as 'unusually destructive'. The following account was supplied for an official Meteorological Office report of 1914, by the Headmaster of the Senior Boys' School: 'At 5:15PM a dead calm set in... it was a
Edwardsville, after the tornado, 1913
  • The 1930s saw a number of major disturbances and labour troubles at Taff-Merthyr Colliery, near Bedlinog, due to the problem of company unionism, which threatened to undermine the position of the South Wales Federation of Miners (the Fed). There were a number of violent clashes between members of the Fed and non-unionists or miners who had joined the rival 'scab' or company union. Matters came to a head in October 1934, when 250 members of the Fed were dismissed from the colliery and unemployed miners, who were not members of the Fed, were taken on to replace them. As they made their way to the pit, protected by a large police escort, violent scenes erupted. As many as 300 summonses were issued to people allegedly involved in the 'riots' at the colliery. Following the punitive sentences received by the protestors there were huge demonstrations around Treharris at which S. O. Davies, Arthur Horner and others spoke. The significance of the disturbances in Bedlinog was summed up by Jim Griffiths in that they 'revealed a new spirit of revolt amongst our people' and 'determination to fight for our economic existence'. Source: Merthyr Tydfil Public Libraries, 'The unconquerable spirit: Merthyr Tydfil and District in the 1930s' (1993).
Demonstration against the imprisonment of rioters, Taff-Merthyr, 1936
  • There was a tradition of jazz bands in Aberfan and Merthyr Vale and the most famous band of all was the Aberfan Coons Band. This jazz band, comprising of Merthyr Vale coal miners who often hardly needed to blacken their faces with the necessary boot polish. They won an important national competition in London and carried the cup in triumph to Wales. The Merthyr Express reported that in June 1934 a crowd of nearly 5,000 people saw the 500 guinea Challenge Cup, won at the Crystal Palace National Jazz Band Concert by the Aberfan Coons, presented at the Grove Field Aberfan by Councillor Mrs B. M. Thomas, the conductor of the band. The Aberfan Coons won the prestigious title of 'Britain's premier Jazz Band'. When the Band later paraded the streets of Aberfan in their full dress uniform there were another 12 cups and a shield won in competitions, on public display. Another later band were the Merthyr Vale Toy Soldiers. Source: Merthyr Tydfil Public Library (2001)
Bryntaf Girls Band, 1934
  • When this picture was taken Howard Winstone had just turned professional, standing with him are Eddie Thomas and David and Bobby Giles. In the front row (left to right): Malcolm Price, a Welsh junior champion and a Welsh International; Gerald Jones, a flyweight champion and Welsh International; Don James, Boy's Club of Wales champion, Welsh International, Welsh flyweight champion and a British NCB champion; John Gamble, a British welter weight champion and a Welsh International. The boxers are celebrating Don James winning the Viscount Hyndley Trophy (the first time the trophy had left England) and becoming the British National Coal Board boxing champion. Price, Jones, James and Gamble all went on to fight professionally. Don James has been a big influence on boxing in Merthyr; he trained Johnny Owen before the European bantamweight began hitting the headlines. Source: Merthyr Tydfil Public Library (1997)
Dowlais Amateur Boxing Club, 1960
  • In 1738 a circulatory school was founded in the Bedlinog area and in 1847 a report by the School Commissioners described the Graig Y Fargoed School which was founded in 1836 in the local chapel by the minister Thomas Rees. The Graig Bedlinog School was opened in 1887 and the school shown in the photograph is the girls' school which opened in 1912 and became Bedlinog Secondary Modern in 1949. Pupils were transferred to Afon Taf school in 1974 and the buildings became a junior school. Source: Merthyr Tydfil Public Library (1992)
Bedlinog School, n.d.