WPW029749 WALES (1929). View of Merthyr Tydfil and Dowlais, oblique aerial view. 5"x4" black and white glass plate negative.

Ivor English Congregational Church, Dowlais, 14/09/2014 Administrative and biographical history: Ivor English Congregational Church, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, was formed in 1859. 'A sketch of the Early History' is contained in the first minutes book, and in Ivor English Congregational Church, Dowlais 1960 (Aberdare, 1960). A group was formed in the winter of 1859-1860 to provide for English Independents in Dowlais and Merthyr Tydfil. A special fund was set up, and three cottages were purchased from the Dowlais Iron Co., in Ivor Street, with ground lease for 99 years. Contributions from the local Welsh Independent churches and individuals in Merthyr enabled the establishment of a building committee. The building stone was laid on 22 May 1860, the chapel opened in March 1861. Fortunes increased for a short period but congregations fell away sharply in 1938 and generally declined thereafter despite improvements to church accommodation. Major renovation work has been undertaken c1992-2002 and in 2012 the chapel continues to have an active congregation. The church is a affiliated to the Congregational Federation in Wales. Courtesy National Library of Wales

Dowlais Public Library, 14/09/2014 This is a Grade II listed building. Listing Text Location On the SE side of Upper Union Street opposite the Church of St John and some 100m SW of Dowlais Works Stables. History Public library, 1903-7, by E. A. Johnson of Abergavenny, built as the Free Public Library with a grant from the Carnegie Trust. Arts and Crafts free style, with Tudor to C17 detail. The carved detail, in Art Nouveau manner, now much eroded, was by T A Jones of Cardiff. Interior Main reading room has open timber roof with double-collar trusses, ceiled at upper collar with arch bracing at both levels, the trusses on corbels. Glazed screens to 2 small W end areas. C20 ceiling to S exhibition room. Exterior Public library in rock-faced Pennant stone with red Alveley sandstone dressings and slate roof. Basement and main storey, L-plan with main reading room in N crosswing, entrance and exhibition room in S range, over basement. Free C17 style with Art Nouveau carved details, and plain square section mullions and transoms to flush grid windows. . Main E and S gables have ornate shaped gables with ogee tops and finials, the coping interrupted by 2 raised piers with shaped curved caps. Two ground floor 3 x 3-light windows with moulded sills, flush band below and above and large gable roundel with 9-pane grid and ornate carved cartouche above. The 2 raised piers are carried on brackets to each side of ground floor sills. Copings have a concave curve each side of the raised piers, then an ogee curve to a shoulder and then a big convex curve going ogee at the top for the finial. Piers have a carved cartouche at tops. N side wall has 5 grid windows, 3 3x3 and outer ones 2x3 lights, similar moulded sills with brackets, flush band below and another band under eaves cornice which is split in 2 by little gable with ornately carved roundel window, ogee gable with finial framed by piers with ashlar tops and curved caps. subtle projection of outer windows to emphasis narrow centre bay. Three basement openings to right. Main range to left of E gable has slightly projected entrance bay to right with hipped roof and moulded sandstone eaves cornice stepped forward over carved plaque with 'Public library' in art Nouveau letters. Cornices each side have short piers with curved caps over. Flush band under plaque over 3 small plain leaded lights over cornice of doorway. Doorway has splayed sides, ashlar depressed-arched head with scrolled keystone and dental cornice, supported by Art Nouveau shield each side. Six stone steps, concreted over to inner arch with Art Nouveau carved books in spandrels, and keystone over double panelled doors. Wing to left has modillion eaves cornice over 4 grid windows, one 2x3 the others 3x3, moulded sills. Basement door to left and 2 3-light and one 2-light mullion windows. Panelled door with 2-light overlight and cornice. Big carved cartouche each side of overlight with bearded face. Iron railings in front on ramped stone wall with ashlar coping. Rear mostly C20 render. Projecting bay with mullion window on S side of reading room. Reason for Listing Included as an Edwardian public building in free C17 style with good Art Nouveau carved detail. References J Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, 1995, p 448.

Remaining buildings on the otherwise cleared site of the Ivor Works, 14/09/2014

South Street, Dowlais.

Wind Street, Dowlais.

The Bush Hotel, Dowlais.

Church Street, Dowlais.

Horse Street, Dowlais.

Caeracca Villas

Caeracca Villas

Gwladys Street

Edward Street

South Street

Barrack Row

Pant Road

Victoria Street

Beulah Chapel

Upper Row

Station Road

Lower Row

Garden Street

Market Street

Bethania Chapel

Lloyds Bank

Stables

New Houses, Pant Road

ST John's Church Dowlais

Dowlais Central Station Brecon & Merthyr Railway