Merthyr Tydfil Contents

Dowlais in the Parish of Merthyr Tydfil

Bibliography

References to the town of Dowlais at

• The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

Bessborough, Earl of. Lady Charlotte Guest. Extracts from her journal 1833-1852. London, John Murray, 1950. A fascinating insight into the life of a quiet remarkable woman with particular reference to that period of her life as the wife of Sir John Guest of the Dowlais Iron Works. Here are substantial extracts from her Diaries.

Church History

Pant Cemetery, Dowlais - three photographs of church and cemetery by Brian Wagstaffe

Hanes Eglwys y Methodistiad Calfiniaidd yn Hermon, Dowlais by Cunllo Davies, published 1905. Here is a name index by Brian Wagstaffe

Church Records

For full and up-to-date details of their holdings see the sites of Glamorgan Record Office and/or West Glamorgan Archives

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on  FreeReg

The town of Dowlais contains two Anglican churches :-

Christ Church

The church is dedicated to Christ Church, is in the Benefice of Dowlais, and diocese of Llandaff. Details of the present incumbent of this benefice can be found at the Church in Wales website. The church can be located at grid reference SO063092.

The following Religious Institutions are covered in the Mormon International Genealogical Index (IGI) :-

• Dowlais, Christchurch - Christenings (BT's), 1839-1863

All Saints

The church is dedicated to All Saints, is in the Benefice of Dowlais, and diocese of Llandaff. Details of the present incumbent of this benefice can be found at the Church in Wales website.

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• Dowlais Ecclesiastical Parish records           " ...... including registers for St. Lukes Mission Church Gellifaelog, St Michaels Mission church Pengarnddu, St Marys Welsh Church and Dowlais Welsh church of baptisms, 1839-1946; marriages, 1838-1982; burials, 1839-1920; banns, 1895-1967; services, 1914-1962; confirmations, 1921-1964; church organisations, 1894; civil and miscellaneous records, 1858-1901; parish history, 1977"
  "Dowlais is a modern parish within the rural deanery of Merthyr Tydfil in the diocese of Llandaff. It is situated approximately 2 miles north-east on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil town. It was formed in to an ecclesiastical parish from Merthyr Tydfil ancient parish in 1837. The parish church is dedicated to St. John and was restored in 1894. There was also a church dedicated to St. Michael, situated in the village of Penngarnddu and erected in 1894; a church in the village of Pant, erected 1895; a Welsh church erected in 1871 by the Dowlais Iron Co.; and St. Luke's Mission Church in Gellifealog village, erected in 1903."

GRO - Glamorgan Record Office, Cardiff
NLW - National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
WGAS - West Glamorgan Archive Service
PRO - Public Record Office, London

The following Religious Institutions are covered in the Mormon International Genealogical Index (IGI) :-

• Dowlais, Christchurch - Christenings (BT's), 1839-1863
• Dowlais, Bethany Independent - Christenings, 1825-1837
• Dowlais, Bryn Sion formerly Bethel Independent - Christenings, 1829-1837
• Dowlais, Hermon Calvinistic Methodist - Christenings, 1828-1837

Description and Travel

Dowlais on Alan George's site

Pantywaun on Alan George's site

ICI works on Alan George's site

Dowlais Railway - on the railscot site

History

War Memorial, Pant (Dowlais) - on the Roll of Honour site

Land and Property

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• Caeracca Building Club, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil records     1902-1921            "The object of the club was to erect buildings at Caeracca Farm, Dowlais, and the Trustees of the club were to hold this land plus any buildings erected upon it in trust for the club. Each member of the club was entitled to one house for each share held by him or her, and paid regular subscriptions to the Building Club. Once the houses were certified by Merthyr Tydfil Urban District Council as fit for occupation, each member of the club would take on responsibility for finding a tenant, dealing with rents, and paid any additional outgoings for the house and an increased subscription to the Trustees of the Club. The club was to be wound up once all monies expended have been paid by the trustees out of members subscriptions. It is not clear whether the membership book that forms part of this collection covers the entire period of the Club's operation (1902-1909)."

Occupations

Dowlais - Hotels, Taverns, Inns and Public Houses 1800 - 1978. Contributed by Barrie Jones with additions by 'Josephine', 2001.

Dowlais - various - on the People's Collection Wales site

Dowlais Ironworks - on Wikipedia

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

• Dowlais Iron Company collection      1792-1955        "The Dowlais Iron Company was founded in 1759 when an agreement of co-operation was signed by 9 parties, to build a furnace for the production of iron. In its first year the primitive furnace produced 500 tons of iron. In 1763, another 22 acres of land was leased from Lady Windsor, which enabled the company to build more furnaces, mills, forges and housing for the growing workforce. In 1767 John Guest of Broseley, Shropshire, was appointed manager, and in 1782 he became a partner. By 1851, the Guest family had managed to buy out all the remaining partners until the company was brought under the sole ownership of Josiah John Guest. Under the management of the Guest family the company rapidly expanded in the wake of the railway boom of the 1820s and the 1830s. By 1842 over 5,000 people were employed by the company in 17 blast furnaces. ........................................................"
• ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd. Dowlais Ammonia Factory records         1942-1958

Politics and Government

• Dowlais Independent Labour Party
  1901-04: minutes
  [University of Swansea Library - Reference: p295]

Schools

Letter from a teacher at Dowlais school in 1820 - on the People's Collection Wales site (use search box)

Social Life and Customs

Interesting Jewish Wedding, Oct 26 1895, Dowlais - from the Merthyr Express

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Dowlais in the Parish of Merthyr Tydfil

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