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Dowlais

 Merthyr Tydfil

  <Click on the photograph to see a larger version>

 
   

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Gypsy Castle Farm

   
Dowlais Top - B.P. Petrol Station in the Snow - 1970's

 

The biggest hole in Europe?

This is a picture of the huge opencast coal site operated by Taylor Woodrow. It was taken in the second half of the 1970's. A century earlier the Dowlais Iron Company removed coal for their furnaces  from the very same area. New engineering technology made it feasible to reach much lower seams than the Victorians could. This is not the same hole that has been used to dump hazardous materials in recent years. That location is at the top of the picture, yet to be developed by Taylor Woodrow.

(photograph courtesy of Tom Hier)

Aerial View Of Dowlais.

(Photograph courtesy of Viv Bayliss of South Woodham Ferrers in Essex)

  Dowlais_AerialView_Overview_VivBayliss.JPG (677860 bytes)  
     

 

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General View of Dowlais.

(Photograph Courtesy of Dave Lewis)

 

The Plas - Dowlais Top

This is approximately the site of the former Dowlais Top McDonalds.

(Photographs Courtesy of Phillip Owens)

 
Dowlais Top 1953.

 
The Tredegar Arms, Dowlais Top.

Blaen Dowlais and the Works.

Dowlais_BlaenDowlaisAndWorks.JPG (127448 bytes)

Wintry Scenes in Blaen Dowlais - Mid 1960s

(Courtesy of Dave Robins)

 

Trecatti.

Just a row of cottages up on the mountain overlooking Blaen Dowlais. No services or amenities, very inhospitable

but home some families up to the 1970's.

 

Mrs & Mr Will Price

of Trecatti - 1955 .

   

Photographs courtesy of

Richie Price

 

View of Dowlais from the Dowlais High Street Station.

Dowlais_HighStreetFromLNWRStation.JPG (118892 bytes)

 

Taken from the parapet of the LNWR Bridge on 20th June 1970.

(Photograph Courtesy of David Beilby)

Caeharris, taken from High Street Station.

On the right is Hebron Chapel. In the middle of the picture is The Antelope Hotel and to the left is the Red Bull Inn.

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Train entering Dowlais High Street Station, 1948.

(Photograph courtesy of the John Owen Collection)

 
Hebron Chapel.

 
Red Bull Inn.

  The Entrance to Dowlais High Street Station (LNWR)

Dowlais_Caeharris_HighStreetStationEntrance.JPG (96752 bytes)

Go to Dowlais High St Station.

 

The same scene in 2002

Caeharris High Street.

Dowlais_CaeharrisHighStreet_2.JPG (135732 bytes)

Caeharris, High Street showing The Antelope on the right hand, and in 

   the distance the bridge to the Dowlais High Street LNWR Station.

DowlaisCaeharrisNo1.jpg (90126 bytes)

Caeharris Pond.

Situated just above Dowlais House. The water was used for the iron making process.

The Ifor Works is in the distance, with Muriel Terrace to the right of it. 

Dowlais_Caeharris_ThePond.JPG (165817 bytes)

G.K.N. Train pulled by engine 'Gower' crossing the High Street.
 
  Dowlais_Caeharris_tRAIN.JPG (133468 bytes)  

Same Crossing in 1974.

(Photograph Courtesy of Andy Kirkham)

 

 

Click Here

To enjoy a railway trip from Radyr to Caeharris delivering used moulds to the Ivor Works.

 
 

 

Gwernllwyn House

 
Caeharris Post Office - 1970's c.

Caeharris,  Pond Street. This was just above the Pond, and ran up to Caeharris

Station. Intersected by Cwmcanol Street.

Dowlais_PondStreet_.JPG (196899 bytes)

The top end of Pond Street, the large

building in the background is The Antelope.

Dowlais_Caeharris_PondStreet_1972.JPG (136843 bytes)

 

 
Cwmcanol Street, looking towards High Street, Caeharris.
 
  Cwmcanol St - 1971  
   
 
 

GKN Train crossing the High Street at the top of Doctor's Pitch.

   
 
 
 
 

Originally The Library, built by Lady Charlotte Guest, later to become the Guest Club, and

in the background St Mair's Church. 

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The Library. 

Dowlais_TheLibrary_LeoDaviesCollection.JPG (304106 bytes)

 

An Accident involving a Cementation Drilling Rig, probably used during the construction of the

'Heads of the Valley' road, outside the Guest Club in the 1960's.

 

Another Nasty Accident - A British Road Services (Probably Ex-Dowlais Motor Services) Lorry's ,

load slid back, during a gear changedown to first, causing it to tip back, on Doctor's pitch

 
Doctors Pitch. Conways horse being revived with a nice cup of hot tea.

Dowlais_ConwaysHorseServedHotTeaOnDoctorsPitch_2.JPG (142368 bytes)

 
High Street at the junction with Market Street, in the 1960's
       
 
High Street, The Patriot Inn. - 1972

Dowlais_HighStreet_PatriotInn-June1972.JPG (161252 bytes)

Dowlais Central School.
  Dowlais_School.JPG (164642 bytes)    

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DOWLAIS CENTRAL SCHOOL

PHOTOGRAPHS

 
 
Dowlais House from the High Street - 1969.

Dowlais House from The Engine House

 
 
Dowlais House - 1905

 
Garden Row, with Wells Street to the right and the Blast Engine House in the distance.

High Street,  junction to Well Street.  c1930s.  "A pint of vinegar please!"

Is this a picture of the good old days? 

Dowlais_HighStreet_WellsStreet_5.JPG (174448 bytes)

  Wells Street - 1972, and Caersalem Chapel.

Dowlais_WellsStreet_1972.JPG (192964 bytes)

Caersalem - 1967

Caersalem Interior

 

The Wimborne Club and Institute.

Opened in 1898 by Lord and Lady Wimborne and situated just below Dowlais House. it

provided recreational activities for the Iron workers.

 
Dr Clark's Hospital, High Street, Late 1800s.
   

The same scene in the 1970s

 
High Street - 1970's. Awaiting demolishment, Caersalem Chapel in the background.

Dowlais_HighStreet_1970s_.JPG (169823 bytes)

High Street - Miriam Buildings, 1970s. opposite O.P.Chocolates.

Dowlais_HighStreet_OppCoalArch-1970s.jpg (236840 bytes)

 

O.P. Chocolate Factory - 1970's.

Click Here for More O.P. Chocolate

Click Here to see the Dowlais Ladies Hockey Team