Cast Iron Bridge Trecynon
The single span cast iron bridge is one of the oldest cast iron bridges in Great Britain. It was used to carry trams of iron ore from Llwydcoed Ironworks to the canal head in Cwmbach. The bridge was formed in Abernant Iron in 1804-05.
Yr Hen Dy Cwrdd (Chapel) Trecynon (notes from Rev I. Parry)
This was Cynon Valley first Non-Conformist chapel was established on this site in 1751 by members of the Cwm-y-glo chapel, which was on Merthyr Mountain. The chapel cost was precisely £753.00 and 15 shillings and 4 old pence and the appearance was designed to be simple and strong, reflecting Unitarian beliefs in liberty.
Many eminent and respected members graced the chapel but the most famous was the Rev. Thomas Evans (Tomos Glyn Gothi). He was a prolific hymn writer and author of one of the first English-Welsh Dictionaries. In the early 1800’s he was imprisoned for two years for allegedly singing a song which the government felt treasonable. He died in 1853 and was buried in the chapel graveyard. Legend has it that eighteen years later, when is grave was opened for the burial if his daughter, his skeleton was found to be lying face down. The rumours were rife around Aberdare that the unfortunate man had been buried alive.
The Rev John Jones minister of the Aberdare Hen Dy Cwrdd from 1833-1863 and several of his congregation were well known advocates of “moral force Chartism” and contributed regularly to “Udgorn Cymru” Trumpet of Wales, the Chartist newspaper published in Merthyr Tydfil.
This congregation has included several notable figures over the years, the most prominent is Griffith Rhys Jones and the people of Aberdare knew as “Caradog” in 1872 and 1873 he led the South Wales Choral Union to victories in the Crystal Palace Challenge Cup. (Caradog was born at the Rose and Crown Inn Trecynon in 1834).
Thomas Dafydd Llewellyn was also a member of the congregation. In 1858 he brought the song “Maes Hen Wlad Fy Nhadiau” (Welsh Anthem) to public notice at the Llangollen Eisteddfod.
It is also said that the National Anthem was sung unofficially at this chapel on Christmas Eve.
St Fagan's Church
The Stag Inn (William Williams) 1808-1872
He was born on March 6th 1808 near Aberpergwm then he moved to Tredegar and then in 1832 moved to Aberdare where he married a local girl. He was a prominent Unitarian and politician. He was one of the first to support Chartism in the Cynon Valley and was one of the founders of “Y Gwladgarwr” in 1857 he died in 1872 and his buried in St Fagan’s Churchyard. The Red Stag Inn was built in 1837 and was leased to him by Lady Harriet Clive from the 1st May 1839 at £1.2.0 p.a. to 1856 (348 sq yards). It was closed in 1914 and demolished in 1951. Lady Harriet Clive contributed to the building of St Fagan’s Church Trecynon, she later became Right Hon Windsor.
William Williams more usually known by his bardic name of Y Carw Coch (The Red Stag), in 1841 he with others founded “Cymreigyddeion y Carw Coch” Cymricists of The Red Stag with the idea of study, practice and further the literary and musical skills of the Welsh tradition as they perceived it. This society preceded an earlier one which was founded in 1837 called “Cymmdeithas Rhyddymofynwr” The Aberdare Free Thinkers its membership largely of non-conformists (particularly Unitarians) and a number of literary, semi political figures, tradesmen, craftsmen, shopkeepers, publicans, shopkeepers, farmers, weavers, blacksmiths of the district and “some working class”
An eisteddfod in Mountain Ash by Y Carw Coch which is notable because it contains the first record of a prize of £1.10.00 been given for a choir. It was divided between Merthyr and Aberdare Choirs.
In 1850 the first chapel eisteddfod was held at Siloa Chapel, from then onwards the eisteddfod became recognised part of non-conformist life. Inevitably, therefore they lost the radical edge that had such a large part of the origin of Trecynon.
The eisteddfodau’r Carw Coch was an expression of the reformists ideals of those associated with them. In Aberdare Parish the reforming movement was expressed in cultural and religious terms and not in violence and unrest. This group sparked the growth of the eisteddfod movement in Aberdare in the second half of the nineteenth century.
The eisteddfodau’r Carw Coch was an expression of the reformist’s ideals of those associated with them. In Aberdare Parish the reforming movement was expressed in cultural and religious terms and not in violence and unrest.
There were many eisteddfod’s held during in the 1840’s and 1850’s, the most famous of these Eisteddfods was the poem called the “Gardd Aberdar” which was written by David Williams (Alaw Goch) who sunk the first deep mine in the Cynon Valley Deep Duffryn Colliery in Mountain Ash in 1855.
In 1850 the first chapel eisteddfod was held at Siloa Chapel, from then onwards the eisteddfod became recognised part of non-conformist life. Inevitably, therefore they lost the radical edge that had such a large part of the origin of Trecynon.
The Welsh Harp Inn
Thomas Lewis or blind Thomas was the official harpist’s to the Williams of Aberpergwm (Jane Williams) and the Bruce family of the Dyffryn lived in the public house.