1900 - 1925
1905 Merthyr Tydfil was granted incorporation and made a County Borough Council
1905 The original Borough Seal had three circles with illustrations of Morlais Castle, Trevithick’s Engine and a blast furnace.
1905 The CBC motto? “Nid Cadarn Ond Brodyrdde” – “ Not Force, but Fellowship”
1905 A new byelaws prohibited any bull more than 12 months from the town.
1905 Glyn Jones noted author of “Island of Apples” was born.
1905 The new Post Office opened in John Street.
Lest we should complain about current working times and salaries...
In 1906 the town librarian for Treharris Library, Parry Jones, wrote to Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council. He asked for a salary raise because in 1906 his pay was still only £65 a year. He had been in the job for 4 years and felt that he had proved his worth by working extremely long hours. He claimed to be on duty from 9.30am until 10pm every day, including every Bank holiday.
1906 120 Orthodox Jews brought to work in Dowlais Works because of labour shortages during the Boer War emigrated to Canada.
1906 The Fountain erected in honour of the South Wales Steam Coal Trade.
1908 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Police and fire Service was formed.
1908 Men from Carmarthen travelled by train with their coracles to search for Cromwell Davies a little boy who disappeared in the River Taff at Quakers Yard.
1909 Cyfarthfa Castle was purchased for £19,700 from the Ironmasters
1910 Cyfarthfa Castle was opened as a public Museum and Art Gallery.
1910 The famous writer & playwright Bernard Shaw campaigned for Keir Hardie.
1910 Dowlais had the largest Spanish Community in Great Britain.
1911 Merthyr Tydfil CBC recorded its’ highest population of 80,991
1912 The Independent Labour Party held its national conference in the town.
1912 3 million tons of coal was mined in Merthyr Tydfil by 16,000 colliers
1912 King George V and Queen Mary visited Dowlais Steelworks.
1913 Edwardsville was hit by a devastating tornado.
1914 Sailing ship S.S Merthyr and S.S. Dowlais were in service.
1916 Merthyr Tydfil raised £1,250,000in 3 days to fund tanks for the 1st World War – more than given by Cardiff and worth over £50,000,000 at current rates.
1917 Mr John Collins of Penydarren was awarded the Victoria Cross and D.C.M.
1920s Ieuan Edwards of Bedlinog played soccer for Wolves and Wales with the reputation of having the strongest kick in British football.
1920s Professor Sir Glanmor Williams, the famous Welsh Historian was born in Dowlais – the only Welsh Historian named in “Who’s Who”.
1921 Kitty Evans of Dowlais was believed to be an IRA gunrunner by MI5
1924 Gwaunfarren Swimming Baths opened. Lord Buckland made a substantial contribution to the construction costs.
1925 South Wales News Challenge Cup Competition won by Arthur Lewis.
1922 R C Wallhead became the local Member of Parliament
1922 First sheep dog trials held in Merthyr Tydfil at the Gurnos Farm
1922 Merthyr Tydfil Football team badly defeated West Ham.
1922 Former army huts used to house Quakers Yard Grammar School – which had a fine reputation for its' victories on the rugby field.
1924 The County Borough started a bus service with 5 routes and 9 buses. The annual mileage was for the first year was 349,756.
1924 Cuthbert Taylor won the British 5 stone 7lbs championship.
1925 World famous designer Laura Ashley was born in Dowlais