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.
St Fagan's Chapel Trecynon
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 in 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. He his is buried with his parents in the Burial Grounds of the Chapel.
Poem by Nathan Dyfed
Poem on gravestone of Thomas Dafydd Llewellyn
Wyf argel fangre Llewelyn-Alaw I am the hidden place of Llewelyn-Alaw Golofn gerdd a thelyn A pillar of art and music; Gaed gyda’I gladdfa’n y Glyn There came with his laying in the Vale Angladd i’w gan a’I englyn The funeral of a fine song. Bri ei anian oedd byw I rinwedd-bur His life’s delight was virtue-a true Ddyn a bardd gloew fuchedd Man and bard of good name
Er rhawd o glod a rhydedd Although much praise and honoured
A dim a fu-dyma’I fedd He was of nought-this is his grave
It is also said that the National Anthem was sung unofficially at this chapel on Christmas Eve.
Jonathan Reynolds1814-1891 "Nathan Dyfed"
He was a poet, wasborn in the parish of Llanwinio, Carmarthenshire, and, after receivinga little elementary education, sought employment on a farm. In a fewyears, he returned to his home, and learnt his father's trade of wheelwright.Upon the death of his mother, in 1833, he settled at Llanelly, afterwards removing to Merthyr, where, in course of time, heestablished a business of his own. He was a good prose writer, andfor some years edited the Welsh columns in the Merthyr press. As anEisteddfodwr he was well-known throughout the Principality, and many were the prizes he won at these gatherings.
Ministers of the Yr Hen Dy Cwrdd Chapel
Thomas Evans 1764-1833, "Tomos Glyn Cothi"
In 1793 he published what was probably a translation of Priestley's "Triumph of Truth"being an account of the Trial of Elwall for publishing a book in defence of the Unity of God. In 1795 he issued the first number of a Welsh quarterly magazine,"The Miscellaneous Repository" but it was discontinued after the appearance of the third number. In 1811 he issued a hymn-book, containing 100 hymns, all original, for Unitarian congregations, asecond edition appearing in 1822. He became minister of the OldMeeting House, Aberdare, in 1811, not 1813 as generally stated; the church cash book is conclusive on this point. Mr Evans was theauthor of the first Unitarian sermon ever published in Welsh.
John Jones 1802-1863
Of Heol-y-felin, a Unitarian minister and author, was born at Pantlluest, Llanarth, Cardiganshire. He was educated for the ministry by David Davies, Castle Howell, and had charge of the Old Meeting House, Aberdare, from 1833 until his death, 30 years later.
His published works include "Llythyr ar y Drindod""(A Letter on the Trinity), 1834; "Edifeirwch Gwely Angeu" (DeathbedRepentance), 1836;"Llyfr Ysgol Sul" (Sunday School Book),1839;“Galwad ar leuenctyd i droi at Dduw", (A Call to the Young to turn to God), 1840; "Pechod yn erbyn yr Yspryd Glan" (Sin against the Holy Ghost), 1846; "An Essay on the Sabbaths, and Six Sermons" 1885. He also edited the poetical works of his brother, Rees Jones (1797-1844).
The Stag Inn (William Williams) 1808-1872
William Williams (Carw Coch) was born in ‘a cottage in the middle of the country' between Rhiw-oleu and Aberpergwm, in the Vale of Neath, on the 6th March 1808. His parents were Noah and Jean Williams. a couple widely respected in their community. Carw Coch did not receive as much as an hour of daily schooling throughout his life. He was one of the children of the night school and Sunday school and it is because of them, and his own personal efforts that he achieved what he did. When he was young, he moved from his birthplace to Tredegar and from there to Aberdare, settling in the area known as Tregibbwn (Tregibon) in Llwydcoed. There he married Margaret (daughter of Lewis John, Rees, Llwydcoed) on May 5th 1832 and together they had 8 children.
In 1837 he built the house called The Stag Inn, Harriet Street He lived here with his wife until their deaths At about this time, or shortly after this, Chartism was widespread in this area and in the surrounding parishes, and the ‘Carw' was a fervent and faithful champion of it, remaining faithful to the Chartists' principles until his death. Throughout his lift, he endeavored to support everything that championed and blessed mankind. About 32 years ago, a handful of workers calling themselves ‘Rhvddymofawyr` Aberdar’ met in the Stag Inn to discuss topics of public interest; and if the author of these lines remembers correctly on 10th May 1841, one of the first eisteddfodau. if not the very first, was held at the Stag Inn. As a result of the work and huge effort on the part of Carw Coch, a literary society was formed by himself and Alaw Goch. Eiddil Cynon. Cynonwyson, and others under the name of `Cymreigyddion y Carw Coch'. These eisteddfodau brought him and various others to the fore as poets and writers. In his day the Carw Coch did all he could support literature in the area.
His zealous, untiring and unyielding efforts for the freedom and general welfare of his fellow man remain alive and fresh today amongst the few left who remember him. He was a Unitarian in his religious beliefs, and in his tine he strove diligently to advance the cause in the Hen Dy Cwrdd, where he was a faithful, hard working and respected member until the summons came to call him home.
On Thursday morning 26th September 1872, he died of a liver disease at his home in The Stag Inn aged 64. His illness was very short, his career quickly brought to an end, and his tender spirit suddenly and unexpectedly released. He was an amiable and true friend, ready to do what he could to advance the morals, virtue and well being of mankind. In contentious subjects, he has never offensive, but would always strive to use fair, genial and peaceful buns of expression.
On the day of his funeral many gathered from near and far – poets, writers and ministers of the gospel from different denominations to pay their respects to their dear and esteemed friend. The service was led by the Rev. E. W. Lloyd. Cwmbach in the Hen Dy Cwrdd, who delivered a fitting sermon based on I Peter ii, 17 ‘Respect everyone. Love your fellow man. Fear God’. His remains were buried in the cemetery of St Fagan’s Church.
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 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.