Heritage Plaques, Statues & Plinths

Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Regeneration Trust

- People

Compiled by Keith L. Lewis-Jones

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Laura Ashley Plaque sited at 31 Station Terrace, Dowlais. CF48 3PU

Laura Ashley, the fashion designer, was born, Laura Mountney, in 31 Station Terrace, Dowlais in 1925.

The Laura Ashley Company was started by Laura & her husband Bernard in a London flat in 1953. It started with tea towels and scarves in their own distinctive style. When the company was floated in November 1985, two months after Laura Ashley’s sudden death, it had become an international group with 219 shops worldwide

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The Berry Brothers

All born in Merthyr Tydfil to solicitor John Mathias Berry and his wife Mary Ann Rowe

Henry Seymour Berry - Lord Buckland of Bwlch Statue sited at the front of Merthyr Tydfil Central Library. CF47 8AF

Henry Seymour Berry (1877-1928) acquired substantial holdings in steel, coal, transport, printing, and shipping.

He was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1923 and became Baron Buckland of Bwlch in 1926

Statue & plinth - Grade II Listed

History Erected 1931. Designed by W. Goscombe John RA.

Description Standing, black-painted, bronze figure in full robes with cocked hat in crook of left arm; parchment grasped in right hand. Moulded pink granite plinth with inscription: "Henry Seymour Berry, Baron Buckland of Bwlch, Hon. Freeman of the Co. Borough of Merthyr Tydfil. Born 1877 - Died 1928. Erected by Public Subscription".

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James Gomer Berry - Viscount Kemsley Plaque sited on the plinth of the statue in front of Merthyr Tydfil Central Library. CF47 8AF

James Gomer Berry (1883-1968) and William Ewart Berry together built a vast empire of magazines, regional and national newspapers, including the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, and the Sunday Times.

Gomer became Baron Kemsley in 1936 and Viscount Kemsley in 1944. He was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1955.

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William Ewert Berry - Viscount Camrose Plaque sited on the plinth of the statue in front of Merthyr Tydfil Central Library. CF47 8AF

William Ewert Berry (1879-1953) and James Gomer Berry together built a vast empire of magazines, regional and national newspapers, including the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, and the Sunday Times.

William was made Baron Camrose in 1929 and a Viscount in 1941.

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John Collins V.C., D.C.M., M.M. Plaque sited in the foyer of Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery. CF47 8RE Memorial Plinth in the grounds of St. Tydfil’s Church, Merthyr Tydfil. CF47 8DF

John Collins was born in West Hatch, Somerset in 1880 and came to Merthyr when he was about ten years old.

He fought in the Boer War and also served in India. In 1914 he joined the Welsh Regiment.

He won his Victoria Cross whilst serving in Palestine with the 25th Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. The citation states “...although isolated and under fire from snipers and guns, he showed throughout a magnificent example of initiative and fearlessness.”

Known as Jack the V.C., he died in 1951 and is buried in Pant Cemetery

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E. T. Davies Plaque sited in the pedestrian access from High Street to Zoar Chapel. CF47 8UB

Evan Thomas Davies was born, into a musical family and from a young age loved music. Until 1898 he worked in an office whilst, in his spare time accompanying in concerts. In 1898 he was asked to accompany a party of Welsh singers to the U.S.A. for nine months. Whilst in America he was asked to accept a musical position, but he declined.

From early on he adjudicated in eisteddfods all over Wales and was the chief adjudicator in the Choral Competition at the Corwen National Eisteddfod in 1918; his adjudication being “a model of terseness and lucidity”.

From 1903 to 1917, he was the organist at Pontmorlais Church in Merthyr. He conducted his first important Cymanfa in 1905 at Pontmorlais and subsequently was very successful as a conductor, with his sympathetic and helpful advice to choir and congregation.

In October, 1920 he was appointed to the important post of Director of Music at University College, Bangor. This was the first time that a full time Director of Music had been appointed at Bangor, and it fell to E. T. Davies to establish and build up the new department. Amongst others, he introduced weekly Chamber Concerts, a College Orchestra and Chamber Music classes.

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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.

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Dr. Thomas Dyke Plaque sited on the fence of the disabled car park at Swan Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8ES

Thomas Dyke (1816-1900) was born in Merthyr and played an active part in its public life for the greater part of a century. Trained at Guys and St. Thomas’s hospitals he was parish surgeon for various Merthyr districts and for the Dowlais Iron Company.

He was appointed Merthyr’s Medical Officer of Health in 1865.

The improvements in water supply, sewerage, sanitation, inspection, and housing, most of them under his guidance, meant that by the end of the century Merthyr’s average death rate was less than the average for other industrial centres and the death rate from infantile diarrhoea for most of 1865-1900 was the lowest of any town in the United Kingdom.

Dyke was also a prominent Freemason, a founder of the Merthyr subscription library and a keen advocate of town incorporation.

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Arthur Trystan Edwards Plaque sited in the main entrance of The Court House, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8DU

Trystan Edwards (1884-1973), had a brilliant undergraduate record at Oxford before embarking on an architectural career.

He served his articles under Sir Reginald Blomfield and began to lecture at Liverpool University in 1911. He joined the Ministry of Health after serving in the navy during World War I, dealing principally with housing policy. In 1933 he was ahead of his time by founding the Hundred New Towns Association, a policy which didn’t bear fruit until after the Second World War.

In private practice he wrote a number of books about architectural and planning philosophy. He also wrote “Merthyr, Rhondda and the Valleys” published in 1958.

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Moss Evans Plaque sited on the side wall of the Gwynne’s Arms, Maeswgwynne, Cefn Coed CF48 2PG

Arthur Mostyn (Moss) Evans, 1925- 2002, was born in Cefn Coed, Merthyr, one of 12 children.

In 1940 he joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union while working at Joseph Lucas in Birmingham

In 1950 he moved to the Bakelite Factory in Birmingham and became a shop steward a year later. His rise in the Transport & General Worker‟s Union started in 1956 becoming Birmingham Regional Trade Group Secretary in 1960, the Engineering National Officer in 1966, National Secretary (Automotive Section) in 1969 and National Organiser in 1973.

He was elected General Secretary of the union in 1977 defeating 14 other candidates. He retired on ill health grounds in 1985 at the age of 58.

He served as a Labour Councillor in Kings Lynn & West Norfolk from 1991, also serving a term as Mayor.

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Sir Samuel Griffith Plaque sited at the entrance to the Merthyr Tydfil Civic Centre CF47 8AN

Sir Samuel Griffith, 1845-1920, was born in the Glebeland, Merthyr Tydfil. His father was a Congregational Minister who emigrated, with his family, to Australia in 1854.

He was Premier of Queensland, Australia from 1883 to 1888 and again from 1890 to 1893.

He was Chairman of The Constitutional Committee of the National Australian Convention in 1891.

From 1903 to 1919 he was First Justice of The High Court of Australia

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James Keir Hardie Plaque sited at CF47 8AE

James Keir Hardie, (1856-1915) was born in Lanarkshire. He worked as a miner & journalist before, in 1893, founding the Independent Labour Party.

In 1900, he stood as a candidate in the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare Constituency and won one of the two seats.

He is recognised as the leading founder of the Labour Party in 1906. His determination and sincerity provided the basis for the early growth of the Labour Party in the south Wales coalfield and Britain.

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John Hughes Plaque sited at CF47 8AN

John Hughes (1814-1899) trained as an engineer at the Cyfarthfa Ironworks in his native Merthyr Tydfil. He acquired an international reputation in marine engineering and armament production.

He was invited by the Tsar to help in the development of Russian railways and heavy industry.

He moved to the Ukraine in 1870 and established a steelworks at Hughesovka (Yuzovka) which was first renamed Stalino & then Donetsk.

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Matthew John Plaque sited at CF47 8LR

Matthew John (1807-1888) was the son of the Rev. David John, a Unitarian Minister.

In the 1830s Matthew became active in the Chartist Movement, and became one of the leaders in Merthyr alongside his father and Morgan Williams, the three leading marches of thousands of people.

Vulcan House, which had been set up as a foundry under Matthew, soon became the focal point for Chartist activities.

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Jack Jones Plaque sited at CF48 1BN

Jack Jones, (1884-1970), was born in Merthyr and became a coalminer at the age of 12. He was politically active in turn, in the Communist Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Party and Oswald Moseley’s New Party.

His novels include, ‘Bidden to the Feast’, 1938 and ‘Off to Philadelphia in the Morning’ published in 1947, the latter being the story of Joseph Parry.

His three volume autobiography is among his finest achievements

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Philip Arvon Jones (Philip Madoc) Plaque sited at CF47 0TG

Born Phillip Jones near Merthyr Tydfil, he attended Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School, where he was a member of the cricket and rugby teams and displayed talent as a linguist. He then studied languages at the University of Wales and the University of Vienna. He eventually spoke seven languages, including Russian and Swedish, and had a working knowledge of Huron Indian, Hindi and Mandarin. He worked as an interpreter, but became disenchanted with having to translate for politicians: "I did dry-as-dust jobs like political interpreting. You get to despise politicians when you have to translate the rubbish they spout." He then switched to acting and won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Philip Madoc performed many stage, television, radio and film roles. On television, he played David Lloyd George in The Life and Times of David Lloyd George and the lead role in the detective series A Mind to Kill. His guest roles included multiple appearances in the cult series The Avengers and Doctor Who, as well as a famous episode of the sitcom Dad's Army.

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Richard Lewis (Dic Penderyn) Plaque sited at CF47 8AF

Richard Lewis (1807/8-1831), better known as Dic Penderyn, was a native of Aberavon.

At the time of the 1831 Merthyr Rising he was a miner in Merthyr Tydfil.

He was charged with feloniously wounding Donald Black of the 93rd (Highland) Regiment. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Despite a petition of 11,000 names for his reprieve, he was hanged at Cardiff on 13th August, 1831. His last words on the scaffold were reported to be ‘O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd’ – ‘O Lord, what injustice’. He is buried in Aberavon.

Later in the century another man confessed to the crime for which Lewis had been hanged.

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William Thomas Lewis - Lord Merthyr Statue sited at CF47 0BL

William Thomas Lewis (1837-1914), later Lord Merthyr, was probably the most powerful figure in Welsh industry in the decades before 1914.

From a lowly beginning in 1855, he rose, by 1880, to be the manager of all of Lord Bute’s mineral, docks, railways, urban and agricultural property. He became a major coal owner and established the Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Ltd. He was Chairman of the Coalowner’s Association and was totally opposed to trade unions.

He was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1908 and was raised to the peerage in 1911.

Statue & plinth - Grade II Listed

History Granite plinth dated 1900. Bronze statute by T Brock RA, sculptor of London, 1898.

The monument was relocated from the original site outside the General Hospital.

Description Standing, bearded figure with arms across front holding unrolled document or plan. Miners’ lamp and pile of papers at rear of feet. Tapering pedestal with moulded cornice and stepped plinth. Bronze heraldic plaque to front.

Long (rear) inscription of good works begins: "Erected by the Voluntary Subscriptions of Friends and Admirers....".

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Ursula Masson Plaque sited at Merthyr Central Library CF47 8AF

Ursula Masson (1945–2008), née O'Connor was born into the Irish community of Merthyr Tydfil, whose history she researched for her master's degree. After university she worked as a journalist, at home in South Wales and in Australia, before returning to teach adults in Swansea.

In 1994 she became a lecturer in history at the University of Glamorgan. She worked closely with Jane Aaron and Honno Press/Gwasg Honno, the Welsh Women's Press, on the imprint Welsh Women's Classics – to bring back into print the works of forgotten Welsh women writers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Leslie Norris Plaque sited at Merthyr Central Library CF47 8AF

Merthyr born Leslie Norris (1921-2006), was much influenced by his upbringing in the south Wales valleys.

He spent most of his life in England and the United States, where he earned his living as writer-in-residence at various academic institutions.

He came to prominence in the 1960's and soon established himself as a major figure in Welsh literature in English. He published over twenty books of short stories, translations, poetry and criticism.

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Johnny Owen Statue sited at CF47 8EL

Johnny Owen, 1956-1980, began boxing at the age of eight.

By the time he was 24, he was the British, Commonwealth and European Bantamweight Champion.

He was shy, kind and unassuming outside of the ring which was the only place where he was ‘comfortable’. He became known as ‘The Matchstick Man’ owing to his skeletal frame .

In 1980 he was knocked unconscious in a World Title fight in Los Angeles. He went into a coma and died six weeks later.

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Dr. Joseph Parry Plaque sited at CF48 1BN

Joseph Parry was born on 24th May 1841 in the front, side room of 4 Chapel Row, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil. At the age of seventeen he began to take music lessons and made rapid progress. He sent four compositions to the Swansea Eisteddfod in 1863 signing them 'Bachgen Bach o Ferthyr, erioed, erioed' (A Merthyr boy forever and ever). In 1868 he entered the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied for three years.

It is estimated that his songs numbered about 300, including the well-loved 'Myfanwy', in addition to some 300 anthems, chorales, glees, choruses, operas and orchestral works. He is probably best known intenationally for his hymn tune 'Aberystwyth - Jesu, lover of my soul'.

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Eddie Thomas Statue sited at CF47 8LR

Eddie Thomas, 1925-1997, was born in Merthyr .

He was a miner who won the Amateur Boxing Association lightweight title in 1946. He turned professional and became the British, European & Empire welterweight champion from 1949 to 1951. His weight difficulties and injury forced his retirement in 1952.

He became a very successful manager and took both Howard Winstone & Ken Buchanan to World Championships.

He was Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil in 1994 and later became a Freeman of the Borough

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Lucy and Robert Thomas Fountain sited at CF47 8DF

Lucy Thomas (1781-1847), was one of the most remarkable people in the south Wales coalfield. She is considered to be the ‘Mother of the Welsh steam coal trade’ . It was the coal from the Waun Wyllt Colliery at Troedyrhiw opened by her husband Robert in 1824, that helped to establish the reputation of Welsh coal on the London market.

Lucy & Robert Thomas are commemorated by a decorative fountain at the southern end of Merthyr High Street. This was formerly sited further south, close to the site of the present roundabout.

Grade II Listed

History Later C19. Designed by W Macfarlane & Co, architectural ironfounders of Glasgow. Inscribed plate records the erection of the fountain "in commemoration of Robert and Lucy Thomas of Waunwyllt, the pioneers in 1828 of the South Wales Steam Coal Trade". Given by Sir W T Lewis and W T Rees of Aberdare, ca 1890.

Description Octagonal, openwork iron canopy (in sections) with circular ribbed dome enriched by interlaced foliage trails, all surmounted by a heroic classical figure. Filigree spandrels to cusped arcades with rope-mouldings, circular armoria and guilloche bands. Griffin finials over volute brackets to angles, polygonal foliage capitals to leaf shafts with foliage frieze above square bases.

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Richard Trevithick Monument sited at CF47 0LJ Frieze sited at Tesco car park CF47 0AP

Richard Trevithick from Camborne in Cornwall was carrying out work on the stationary steam engines at the Penydarren Iron Works for Samuel Homfrey. For some time he had been experimenting on self-propelled steam vehicles. Whilst at Penydarren, he had the opportunity to try his railway locomotive on the Penydarren Tramroad.

On 21st February, 1804, Richard Trevithick’s locomotive was used to haul a train of 10 tons of iron and 70 passengers along the Penydarren Tramroad from Merthyr to Abercynon (then known as Navigation), a distance of nearly ten miles. This was the first steam engine to haul a load on rails!

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Sir Pendrill Charles Varrier-Jones Plaque sited at CF48 4EZ

The Papworth Village Settlement in Cambridgeshire, later to become world famous as a heart transplant centre, was originally built as a tuberculosis hospital. Sir Charles Varrier-Jones, who was the inspiration and guiding light of the centre, was born in Troedyrhiw in 1883. Many other institutions of a similar kind also appointed him as a director.

Sir Charles died in 1941

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Gwyn Alf Williams Plaque sited at CF48 3ND

A native of Dowlais, Gwyn Alfred Williams (1925-1995), was a lecturer at Aberystwyth University followed by professorships at York and Cardiff.

His books on Welsh subjects include – ‘The Welsh in their History’ 1982, ‘The Merthyr Rising’ 1978, ‘When Was Wales?’ 1985 and ‘Madoc: The Making of a Myth’ published in 1979.

He was a Marxist who later joined Plaid Cymru.

He took part in many television progammes of which his series with Wynford Vaughan Thomas, ‘The Dragon Has Two Tongues’ aroused much interest.

The plaque has a mistake in that Gwyn Alf Williams died, not in Cardiff, but in Dre-fach Felindre, Carmarthenshire.

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Howard Winstone Statue sited at CF47 8EG

Howard Winstone, 1939-2000, was born in Merthyr Tydfil. He lost three fingertips in a factory accident which meant that he was never a great puncher, but won a Gold Medal at the 1957 Commonwealth Games followed by the ABA championship.

He turned professional in 1959 and became the undefeated British & European featherweight champion from 1961 to 1968. He fought three times for the World Championship losing each time before, after the retirement of Vincente Saldivar, winning the World Title in 1968. Having passed his best, he lost the title in the same year.

He was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1969.

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