Post by twynjasper on Feb 21, 2014 20:38:50 GMT 1
I came across this paper last week and was suprised that it was written by a reletive,
An area of Significance.
When the bulldozer’s moved in 1980 to Caepanttywyll, we pronounce it (cap-en-two-with) (The field in the dark hollow), few people realised that they were witnessing the end of a significant era in one of the most colourful districts of Merthyr Tydfil, an era that played a considerable part in the industrial, Religious and musical life of the town, a town that was once known as the unofficial capital of wales. Caepanttywyll consisted of some 14 streets, with approximately 176 houses, occupied by welsh and Irish families who lived in harmony, they were mainly employed in the Cyfarthfa works and colliery, there were also 4 general stores, a greengrocer, a fish and chip shop and 4 public houses, together with a quoit field attached to the masons arms where matches were played every Saturday during the quoit season. By far the most important building in this close knit community was “Bethlehem” Welsh Calvinistic Chapel, it was built in 1841, the same time that a famous son of Merthyr Tydfil was born across the river, namely Dr.Joseph Parry, who was always referred to as “Bachen bach o Ferthyr, eriod, eriod”,as Merthyr’s the little chap from Merthyr always, always”. Bethlehem Chapel played a vital role in the lives of the people, a very welcome refuge from their hard lives. Rev John Roberts, “Ieuan Gwyllt”, a noted preacher, musician and composer, was minister of the chapel for a number of years, and to him must be given the credit of promoting the first “Cymanfa Canu”, as we know it today, many of the older generation are very grateful for the opportunity they had of belonging to this Chapel, and for the teaching and guidance they received from the dedicated and devoted teachers, who gave their time, thus enabling thus enabling their pupils to go out in to the world and take part in dramas, concerts and the wonderful children’s Cymanfa Canu, held every good Friday, at Caepanttywyll, “Moriah”, Cefn Coed and “Carmel”, Clwydyfagwr, and then being rewarded with a wonderful tea, consisting of all homemade goodies, given free and lovingly by the chapel members, and taken between the afternoon and evening services. Mention must be made of some of the people, (we regret not being able to mention them all) whose names have never been recorded, who gave their time and services with such love, after coming home, having done a day’s work. William Morris: William Powell: John Evans (Chapel House): David Lloyd: Benjamin Rees: David Lloyd Jones: Peter Peters: David John Caswell: and W.H.Jenkins. The Organist of the Chapel for many years was miss. Margaret Jane Jones, of Taf Fechan Villa, Cefn Coed, and she was a personal friend of “Ieuan Gwyllt” and Dr.Joseph Parry, who helped her choose her first piano. Miss Jones came from a very distinguished family, being a sister of many doctors, solicitors, Reverends and Mr. Alfred Jones, Chemist of Penrhiwceiber: who served his apprenticeship with the well-known historian Thomas Stephens, who wrote “The literature of the Kymry”. The late professor Emery’s Lloyd Peters, who was the reader of Geography and Anthropology at Manchester University, was brought up in this Chapel, and worshiped there with his Parents.
Dr.Elwyn Bowen and Mr.Dewi Bowen, who have both made invaluable contributions to the religious and cultural life of their native village of Cefn Coed and Merthyr Tydfil, they have close connections with this area through their late farther Mr.Davis Bowen, who was brought up in Taff street, Also of Taff Street was the little known Dai “Bess” Jones (my Grandad)originally from the Carmarthen area, the Bess nickname came as he used to work in the Bessemer converter part of the Cyfarthfa Iron works, he changed his job on to the steam shunting engine moving all the heavy material around the different sections he was the last engine driver at the works and on one unfortunate day whilst carrying out some essential maintenance he slipped off the top of his engine causing severe internal injuries, he continued working for the next six months and eventually died through complications brought on by the injuries, he left behind in his two up two down, a loving wife Letty, 9 daughters, 1 son and a lodger (John Letty’s brother). Those were the days, those who are interested in their roots, might seek further contributions to this article, however small, and add to the story of this area, in the hard and to the turbulent times in which they lived.
Name of Streets.
Williamstown; Williams Street; Waterloo Street; Taff Street; Harris Court; Masons Court; Lewis Court; Chapel Street; Cross Chapel Street; King Street; Queen Street; Hill Street; Gate Street and Llewellyn Street.
Public Houses.
Puddlers Arms; Masons Arms; The Balance and Castle Inn.
Shops.
Miss Moira Foley, Taff Street; Mrs. Bessie Davies, Taff Street; Mrs. William Powel; Mr. Peter Peters; Mrs. Sarah Thomas, and Mr. Thomas Thomas, all of Waterloo Street.
By Mr. D.T.Morris. Sept 1987
Dai Morris, his Mother was a sister to Letty (My Gran)attachment Dai Bess is 3rd from the left in the front row
In the at
An area of Significance.
When the bulldozer’s moved in 1980 to Caepanttywyll, we pronounce it (cap-en-two-with) (The field in the dark hollow), few people realised that they were witnessing the end of a significant era in one of the most colourful districts of Merthyr Tydfil, an era that played a considerable part in the industrial, Religious and musical life of the town, a town that was once known as the unofficial capital of wales. Caepanttywyll consisted of some 14 streets, with approximately 176 houses, occupied by welsh and Irish families who lived in harmony, they were mainly employed in the Cyfarthfa works and colliery, there were also 4 general stores, a greengrocer, a fish and chip shop and 4 public houses, together with a quoit field attached to the masons arms where matches were played every Saturday during the quoit season. By far the most important building in this close knit community was “Bethlehem” Welsh Calvinistic Chapel, it was built in 1841, the same time that a famous son of Merthyr Tydfil was born across the river, namely Dr.Joseph Parry, who was always referred to as “Bachen bach o Ferthyr, eriod, eriod”,as Merthyr’s the little chap from Merthyr always, always”. Bethlehem Chapel played a vital role in the lives of the people, a very welcome refuge from their hard lives. Rev John Roberts, “Ieuan Gwyllt”, a noted preacher, musician and composer, was minister of the chapel for a number of years, and to him must be given the credit of promoting the first “Cymanfa Canu”, as we know it today, many of the older generation are very grateful for the opportunity they had of belonging to this Chapel, and for the teaching and guidance they received from the dedicated and devoted teachers, who gave their time, thus enabling thus enabling their pupils to go out in to the world and take part in dramas, concerts and the wonderful children’s Cymanfa Canu, held every good Friday, at Caepanttywyll, “Moriah”, Cefn Coed and “Carmel”, Clwydyfagwr, and then being rewarded with a wonderful tea, consisting of all homemade goodies, given free and lovingly by the chapel members, and taken between the afternoon and evening services. Mention must be made of some of the people, (we regret not being able to mention them all) whose names have never been recorded, who gave their time and services with such love, after coming home, having done a day’s work. William Morris: William Powell: John Evans (Chapel House): David Lloyd: Benjamin Rees: David Lloyd Jones: Peter Peters: David John Caswell: and W.H.Jenkins. The Organist of the Chapel for many years was miss. Margaret Jane Jones, of Taf Fechan Villa, Cefn Coed, and she was a personal friend of “Ieuan Gwyllt” and Dr.Joseph Parry, who helped her choose her first piano. Miss Jones came from a very distinguished family, being a sister of many doctors, solicitors, Reverends and Mr. Alfred Jones, Chemist of Penrhiwceiber: who served his apprenticeship with the well-known historian Thomas Stephens, who wrote “The literature of the Kymry”. The late professor Emery’s Lloyd Peters, who was the reader of Geography and Anthropology at Manchester University, was brought up in this Chapel, and worshiped there with his Parents.
Dr.Elwyn Bowen and Mr.Dewi Bowen, who have both made invaluable contributions to the religious and cultural life of their native village of Cefn Coed and Merthyr Tydfil, they have close connections with this area through their late farther Mr.Davis Bowen, who was brought up in Taff street, Also of Taff Street was the little known Dai “Bess” Jones (my Grandad)originally from the Carmarthen area, the Bess nickname came as he used to work in the Bessemer converter part of the Cyfarthfa Iron works, he changed his job on to the steam shunting engine moving all the heavy material around the different sections he was the last engine driver at the works and on one unfortunate day whilst carrying out some essential maintenance he slipped off the top of his engine causing severe internal injuries, he continued working for the next six months and eventually died through complications brought on by the injuries, he left behind in his two up two down, a loving wife Letty, 9 daughters, 1 son and a lodger (John Letty’s brother). Those were the days, those who are interested in their roots, might seek further contributions to this article, however small, and add to the story of this area, in the hard and to the turbulent times in which they lived.
Name of Streets.
Williamstown; Williams Street; Waterloo Street; Taff Street; Harris Court; Masons Court; Lewis Court; Chapel Street; Cross Chapel Street; King Street; Queen Street; Hill Street; Gate Street and Llewellyn Street.
Public Houses.
Puddlers Arms; Masons Arms; The Balance and Castle Inn.
Shops.
Miss Moira Foley, Taff Street; Mrs. Bessie Davies, Taff Street; Mrs. William Powel; Mr. Peter Peters; Mrs. Sarah Thomas, and Mr. Thomas Thomas, all of Waterloo Street.
By Mr. D.T.Morris. Sept 1987
Dai Morris, his Mother was a sister to Letty (My Gran)attachment Dai Bess is 3rd from the left in the front row
In the at