Merthyr Tydfil
Abraham Evans lived at Cyfarthfa Lane, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil in 1841-51. In a record from 1856, he is mentioned as living at Williams Street. This does not appear to be in Georgetown, where workers at Cyfarthfa Iron Works were housed. Would anyone know about the living conditions in 1856 at Williams Street? It seems to be close to China, which was a slum, I believe.
Anyone knowledgeable about Merthyr Tydfil?
Comments
-
Hi I don't know if it is of any help but there are several YouTube videos about Merthyr Tydfil. I just entered 'Merthyr Tydfil History' and several interesting videos were listed. Even if you can't find what you are looking for you can get a feel for the living conditions and the utter poverty of the slums, hell on earth by the sounds of it. This one is short but gives the feel of what the iron works were like.
1 -
There is a William Street and you can see it on Google Earth Street View. The postcode is below.
William Street, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, CF47 0RG
1 -
This is just old photos. Working in a steel works must have been a type of hell. My grandfather worked in a steel works, not this one, but watching the two videos makes me very. very glad I didn't have to, as women worked in them as well. I now have a much better appreciation of the work he did.
1 -
Thank you so much for all this information. My grandfather was a coal miner in Wales and my great grandfather was a fireman in the iron works. I obtained a copy of "Labour and the poor in England and Wales 1849-1851". It has taught me a lot about Merthyr Tydfil. I have been working for a few months on an Evans line that has had some misinformation attached. Trying to trace the lives of this family has prompted my question. I did find Williams Street, but have not found out what it was like in 1856. Was it a step down from Cyfarthfa Lane to Williams street? It seems it might have been, but maybe the whole area of workmen's cottages was unsavory? The bottom line is that an owner of several properties and a major brewery would likely not work as an iron miner and live at those places. Family lore about rich relatives has hindered the research.
Again, thank you for all the help. It certainly brings deep feelings for my poor ancestors and anyone else who worked in the iron works.
Carole
1 -
Hi, I found this today, I'm not sure if it's any use or if you have to join to find out. I was using google to find old maps of the Merthyr, I will keep looking.
- RootsChat.Com »
- Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) »
- Wales »
- Glamorganshire (Moderator: Morganllan) »
- 1800's -1840s street maps - Merthyr Tydfil
1 -
Link to Ordnance Survey Maps.
I don't know if you are from Britain, but the Ordnance Survey is the premier mapping group in the UK and have been since mapping started in 1747, the OS was officially created on 21 June 1791 . When we first moved into this house (which is new) a representative called to enquire about the name of this house and the two next to us so they could update their maps. So, as you can see they like to keep up to date.
This link should take you to the Nation Library of Wales, you will then fine a link the Ordnance Survey Maps of Merthyr.
1 -
Fantastic. Thank you again.
0
