Skip to main content

Merthyr Tydfil: Old Photos & Film

 Step back in time with fascinating old images of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

The South Wales town of Merthyr Tydfil has changed enormously over the past century. Luckily, old film footage captured the town’s people and places on a number of occasions over the past century.

19th Century Written Accounts

Uploaded to YouTube by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, this short film tells us what 19th century French and German visitors wrote about their experiences in the town.  It’s packed full of information about the street conditions, female miners and the ironworks.



Land of Forges and fire: Merthyr Tydfil in the 1800s - Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales on YouTube

Football Heroes 1927

This short British Pathé film opens with the title card, announcing Cardiff City “and the cup” have great reception in Merthyr.

Crowds of people pack the narrow streets and attend the football game.



See The Conquering Heroes Come A.K.A. Cardiff V Merthyr (1927) - British Pathé on YouTube

War Memorial 1931

Like communities all over Britain, Merthyr Tydfil lost many sons to the Great War. In 1931 the town’s War Memorial was inaugurated by Field-Marshal Lord Edmund Allenby. Huge crowds turned out to watch the large procession.



Lord Allenby (1931) - British Pathé on YouTube

New Drill Hall 1938

In 1938, Secretary of State for War, Leslie Hore-Belisha, opened a new drill hall in the town. Crowds gathered to watch the official ceremonies.

Leslie Hore-Belisha later became 1st Baron Hore-Belisha of Devonport in Devon.

Unfortunately, evidence suggests that racial bigotry contributed to the downfall of this Jewish politician under Chamberlain's early wartime premiership.

However, he is widely credited for his success in modernising the British road system as Minister of Transport, 1934-1937.

He died at the age of 63 on 16 February 1957, while giving a speech in the town hall in Reims, France, as part of a British parliamentary delegation.



Secretary Of State For War Opens New Drill Hall At Merthyr Tydfil (1938) - British Pathé on YouTube

Music in Merthyr Tydfil 1955-1975

Uploaded to YouTube by Professor Paul Carr, this film is about the memories of music in the town between 1955 and 1975. Images and digital stories used formed displays at the Redhouse exhibition between January 27th and February 24th 2018.



The Lost Musical Histories of Merthyr Tydfil - Professor Paul Carr on YouTube


John Bentley At Tri-Ang in the 1970s

The footage includes the factory production line, where a number of local women are busy working on sewing machines.

British Pathé records from the 1970s show John Bentley visiting the Tri-ang Pedigree toy factory, but little information about the location or the man himself. Luckily, the information is found elsewhere.

At 2:16 we see Cyfarthfa Castle in its parkland close to local housing, quickly followed by the factory in its valley setting in the town. So we know this is Merthyr Tidfil's factory.



John Bentley At Tri-Ang (1970-1975) - British Pathé on YouTube

In addition, something is known about the businessman John Bentley too:

"A Pathe website user has informed us that John Bentley's company Barclay Securities Ltd bought Tri-ang in December 1971.  He closed the Merton, London SW19 factory in June 1972 and moved production to Merthyr Tydfil in Wales.  He sold Tri-ang by 1975."

British Pathé on YouTube

If you want to find out more about the highs and lows of John Bentley’s life, a 1995 article from the Independent, Predator turned prodigal son : John Bentley : Profile , is fascinating.

Buses 1995

From YouTube channel DaveSpencer32, a short clip showing buses, along with the occasional passenger, pedestrian or passing car.



MERTHYR TYDFIL BUSES 1995 - on YouTube


Labels:
Location: Merthyr Tydfil CF48, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Old Images of Spokane, Washington: Vintage Photos and Archive Film

Glimpse history through old images of  Spokane , Washington. Spokane  in 1902 Panorama of Spokane, Washington, taken sometime around 1902. With thanks to the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Closeup of two extracts from the panorama of Spokane, Washington, taken sometime around 1902. With thanks to the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Closeup of two extracts from the panorama of  Spokane , Washington, taken sometime around 1902. With thanks to the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Spokane ’s Davenport Restaurant Spokane ’s Davenport Restaurant was an internationally renowned venue which offered popular Sunday afternoon tea dances. Old photo of the Davenport Restaurant in Spokane, Washington, taken around 1908. With thanks to the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Closeup of an extract of the old photo of the Davenport Restaurant in  Spokane , Washington, taken around 1908. With thanks to the...
Post a Comment
Read more

The History of Manchester, New Hampshire and the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

  The story of Manchester, New Hampshire, is the definitive narrative of the American Industrial Revolution. It is a chronicle that spans centuries, transforming a vital Indigenous fishing ground into a planned corporate utopia that housed the world's largest textile empire, before navigating a devastating collapse and emerging as a modern high-tech hub. At the absolute center of this transformation was the Merrimack River, the Amoskeag Falls, and a corporate behemoth known as the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Manchester, New Hampshire, composed from sketches taken near Rock Raymond by J.B. Bachelder, 1855. 1. Ancient Waters and Colonial Beginnings (Pre-1810) Long before brick mills lined the Merrimack River, the geography of modern-day Manchester was shaped by the Amoskeag Falls . Dropping approximately 55 feet over a short distance, the roaring rapids created a massive natural barrier for migrating fish—and an invaluable resource for human inhabitants. Walking along the street ...
Post a Comment
Read more

10 Historical Facts That Shaped North Conway, New Hampshire

  Nestled dramatically beneath the sheer granite cliffs of Cathedral Ledge in Carroll County, North Conway, New Hampshire , is famous as a premier gateway to the White Mountains. Unlike a standalone municipality, North Conway is a distinct major village legally contained within the broader township of Conway. Its evolution from a fertile Abenaki riverfront valley into a haven for 19th-century fine artists and a pioneer of American winter sports represents one of the most successful resort transitions in New England. Old photo of the skimobile up Cranmore Mountain, North Conway, NH - circa 1940   Part of the Original 1765 Royal Charter: North Conway’s municipal history began on October 1, 1765 , when colonial Governor Benning Wentworth issued a formal royal charter establishing the township of Conway. Named directly to honor Henry Seymour Conway—a prominent British statesman and military commander who championed colonial interests in Parliament—the grant required early pioneer...
Post a Comment
Read more