Welcome to Cyfarthfa Castle

Opening Times

1st April - 30th September
Daily10am - 5:30pm
 
1st October - 31st March
MondayCLOSED
Tuesday10am - 4pm
Wednesday10am - 4pm
Thursday10am - 4pm
Friday10am - 4pm
Saturday12pm - 4pm
Sunday12pm - 4pm
Free Admission

Contact

If you require any information about the Castle, feel free to contact us any time:

Tel: +44 (0)1685 723112
Email: museum@merthyr.gov.uk

Politics - Collection

    Merthyr Riots 1816 by Penry Williams.

    530mm height x 680mm width

    The Merthyr Riots of 1816 started due to employers lowering workmen’s wages. The end of the Napoleonic Wars brought about a slump in trade which meant a severe drop in wages within the South Wales valleys. The overwhelming anger of the workers alarmed the ironmasters and there was little they could do to stop the riots. There were personal attacks against the manager of the Penydarren works; the Crawshays were warned of such attacks and fled to a farmhouse until the workmen agreed to a settlement and the disturbances ended.

    Mayors Hat Box

    165mm height x 510mm length

    Black metal Mayors hat box with gold handle and gold border. It belonged to Enoch Morrell Esq, Mayor from 1905–1906. The hat box was made by Ede Ravenscroft of London.

    Mayors Hat

    155mm height x 440mm length

    Black Mayors hat with gold braid decoration and drawstring. It belonged to Enoch Morrell Esq, Mayor from 1905–1906. The hat was made by Ede Ravenscroft of London.

    Mayoral Gown

    1300mm length

    Mayoral Gown of Office (1980’s) worn by officials from Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council for many years.

    Election Poster

    360mm height x 275mm width

    Election poster with pencil portrait of J. Keir Hardie. This famous Scotsman was the first “labour” MP in Britain. He was a Labour Party candidate in the 1900 election and won the seat for Merthyr Tydfil. Hardie was a pacifist and a proponent of Disestablishment. His Welsh nationalism was expressed in the ideal of ‘land for the people’; living in a socialist society and economy.

    Election Notice

    165mm height x 142mm width

    An election poster from 1913. The text reads: Election notice 1913 MERTHYR TYDFIL BOROUGH ELECTION, 1913, PLYMOUTH WARD, Your VOTE and INTEREST is respectfully solicited on behalf of the Independent Candidate. Vote for your Faithful Lady Representative who has served the public well for twelve years. Mrs M A Edmunds Medraf sserbyn eich cwynion yn raith HEN WLAD EICH TADAU. Printed and published by H.W. Southey & Sons Ltd, Merthyr.

    Commemorative Certificate

    202mm height x 505mm length

    Illuminated parchment scroll, handwritten and painted with a tassle at the end. This certificate was presented to Councillor John Edward Jones on 8th July 1948 when he was admitted as an honorary freeman of the borough of Merthyr Tydfil.

    Commemorative Case

    130mm height x 295mm length x 168mm depth

    Wooden coffer case with crest of Merthyr Tydfil Borough on top of lid. The text on inner lid reads: Presented to Councillor John Edward Jones, J.P. upon the occasion of the Presentation of Freedom of the Borough 8th July 1948.

    Ceremonial Key

    30mm height x 195mm width x 85mm depth

    Ceremonial silver key in a presentation box. The was presented to Mayor and Councillor, F.T. James, J.P., during the opening of Dowlais New Infants School on 5th October 1910.