Merthyr-Tydvil

Merthyr-Tydvil or Tydfil (so called from the martyrdom here of a Welsh princess of that name), a parliamentary borough and market-town of South Wales, on the confines of the counties of Glamorgan and Brecknock, 24 miles N. by W. of Cardiff, its port, and 178 W. of London. Pop. (1801) 7705; (1891) 58,080. Surrounded by lofty and bleak hills, the town stands on the banks of the river Taff, and is partly built on slag foundations, the refuse of mines in the vicinity. Its streets are for the most part narrow and irregularly built, and the public buildings of little architectural interest, but of late years—since the formation of a Local Board of Health in 1850—great improvements have been effected in the widening of thoroughfares, the supply of pure water, and the construction of effective sewageworks: previously all sanitary arrangements were entirely neglected, and as a result epidemics of great severity were of frequent occurrence. The civil government of the town (which extends over the outlying districts of Dowlais and Penydarren) is vested in a high constable, who is elected annually. The sole industries, upon which the whole population is more or less directly dependent, arise from the numerous collieries and iron and steel works in the vicinity; Merthyr being the centre of the Glamorganshire coalfield, and as such having excellent railway communication with all parts. With Aberdare it is noted for the excellence of its steam coal, and the quantity of iron and steel annually turned out from the great works of Dowlais, Cyfarthfa, and Plymouth is enormous. In 1816, and again in 1831, the town was the scene of severe riots, on the latter occasion the disturbance not being quelled by the military without a loss of twenty-three lives. For the parliamentary borough (1867), which embraces Aberdare and two other outlying districts, and in 1891 had a population of 104,008, two members are returned.