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
Steam Trains in 1971
In just one minute, this clip from Unseen Steam takes us back to the steam age – even though it’s 15th April 1971.
The British Rail passeneger services had waved goodbye to the age of steam trains three years previously. But the National Coal Board continued to use them on their colliery lines, including at Merthyr Vale.
Merthyr Vale 1971 – Unseen Steam 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.
Antiques Roadshow 1991
In 1991, hundreds of people rushed to the Rhydycar Leisure Centre, bringing their old treasures for valuation by the Antiques Roadshow experts.
The episode opens with shots of the town in 1991, along with a short history introduced by Hugh Scully.
Antiques Roadshow UK Series 13 Episode 3 Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales – on YouTube
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
More pages about Wales
- Old Images of Monmouth, Wales
- Old Images of Blaenau Gwent, Wales
- Old Images of Monmouthshire, Wales
- Old Images of Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Old Images of Llanybydder, Wales
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