Pigot's London Provincial Directory,1822-1823

Merthyr Tydvil

Transcribed by Phil Mustoe

MERTHYR TYDVIL is a market town in Glamorganshire, situated in the valley of the Taff, about nine miles from the source of that river. This town has grown into great importance by the establishment of very extensive iron works, on account of the ore and coal that the neighbourhood abounds with. There are four of these in Merthyr, the most extensive of which is the Cyfartha, employing about three thousand persons; and in this immense concern are nine blast furnaces, in conjunction with four very superior and powerful steam engines, making an average quantity of iron of from 65 to 70 tons each furnace weekly, which exceeds that of any other furnace in the kingdom. The whole of the metal from these works, and from furnaces a few miles distant, is converted into bar and other malable iron, by machinery of the most superior construction, driven by water, taken into levels at some distance up the river Taff, and conveyed by aqueducts, which produce some considerable falls on arriving at the site of the works. Merthyr does not prepossess the visitor with a very favourable idea of its respectability, as it is very irregularly built, without form or order, and ill adapted to the extent of business that is prosecuted there. The church is a plain modern edifice; there is also a chapel of ease, and meeting houses for the different dissenters; a theatre, and two reading rooms conduce to the amusement of the inhabitants. The agriculture in the vincinity of this town is of late years arrived to great perfection; and the crops from the lands in the immediate neighbourhood, are equal in proportion to the production of the most fertile districts of the kingdom. The population in the parish is 17,004, and, including the vicinity, it is estimated at 30, 000; a great portion of whom get their livelihood by the iron works, or in some pursuit connected with those large establishments. The market day is Saturday, and there is a fair on the 18th. Nov.

Post Master, D. Davies. Mail to Cardiff, &c. every day at half-past twelve; returns every night at ten

Attorneys

Davies John
Edwards William
Meyrick William
Perkins William

Auctioneers

Jones David
Llewellyn John

Bankers

Pierce, William and Co.
Wilkins and Co. branch of Brecon

Booksellers, Printers, &c.

James Job
Jenkins John
Price Thomas

Boot & Shoe Makers

Bowen James
Davies David
Keyes Richard

Brewers, Maltsters & Millers.

Williams and Bryant

Curriers amd Leather Sellers

Jones Henry
Morgan John
Richardson Samuel
Thomas Daniel

Druggists, &c.

Adney Thomas
Dyke Thomas

Grocers

Chick John
Davies David
Martin Christopher
Morgan Edward

Iron Masters

Aberdare Iron-works
Cyfartha, Wm. Crawshay & Son
Dowlias, Guest, Lewis & Co.
Penydarren Iron Co.
Plymouth Iron-works, Richard James and Anthony Hill

Ironmongers

Davies Margaret
Williams David
Williams Lewis

Linen and Woollen Drapers and Grocers.

Brown Thomas, Dowlias
Darker and Co.
Davies David
Davies David
Davies W. M.
Gay William
Griffiths William
Henry Richard, Dowlias
James Christopher, (and brandy merchant and tanner)
James William, (and maltster)
Jones David
Jones Elizabeth & Son
Jones Thomas
Lewis Lewis
Lewis Morgan
Lewis Rice
Rees John
Richards David
Stephens James
Todd Robert
Williams Jane
Williams John
Williams Roger
Williams William

Milliners.

Hemus H.
Jones Jane

Painters and Glaziers

Edwards James
Jones Richard
Lediard John
Lewis Wm., and ironmonger
Whitty Henry

Saddlers

Adney Thomas
Davies William
Greenhouse John
Thomas Henry

Skinners

Jones James
Morgan William
Williams John

Surgeons

Davies David
James Job
Russell George
Thomas William

Tallow Chandlers

Burnell Thomas
Jones Reece
Williams Daniel
Williams David

Tanners

Coffin Joseph
James Christopher

Inn, Taverns, &c

Castle Inn, John Treharne
Angel, John Williams
Beaufort Arms, J. Evans
Boot, David Jones
Cambrian, Morgan Jenkins
Crawshay Arms, James Sutton
Crown, John Richards
Cross Keys, M. Jenkins
Dowlias Inn, James Cocks
Duke of York, Wm. Llewellyn
Duke of Wellington, Wm. Painter
Full Moon, David Rowland
Globe, Samuel Watkins
Iron Bridge, Edwmund Williams
King's Arms, John Morgan
Lower Greyhound, Wm. Saddler
Mason's Arms, M. Eaustance
Miner's Arms, M. Teague
Pant, David Thomas
Patriot, Wm. Howell
Plymouth Arms, Daniel Rees
Rising Sun, Thos. Williams
Royal Oak, Thomas Price
Ship, Richard Jones
Ship-in-Distress, David Morris
Star, Richard Watkins
Swan, John Davies
Talbot, William Thomas
Three Salmons, Edmund Harmen
Upper Greyhound, Henry Morgan
White Lion, George Thomas

Watch and Clock Makers

Bowen Owen
Jones David
Morgan John
Williams Evans
Williams William

Miscellaneous

Brown Capt. S., R.N. & Co. patent chain cable manufs. Newbridge
Davies Daniel, maltster
Dyke R. & M., glass & china dealers
Francis Wm., hat manufacturer
Martin Tim, veterinary surgeon
Rees David, physician
Rennett -, builder, Dowlias

Carriers

BRECON, Geo. North, from Richard Milward's, twice a week.
BRECON, Prosser & Allen, from Richard Millward's, twice a week
SWANSEA, D. Joseph, Friday

Water Conveyance

CARDIFF, by Canal daily, Wm. Parry, agent, Cyfartha Wharf
CARDIFF, W. & M. Pride, once a week
CARDIFF, James and Thomas, once a week

Coach

CARDIFF, Royal Mail, from the Crown, every day at half past twelve.

[Transcribed by Phil Mustoe, 5th April 1998]

Pigot's London Provincial Directory. Merthyr Tydfil 1822-1823 [Last Updated : 19 Sept 2002 - Gareth Hicks]