11488

1-2  

II  

Designated  

22/08/1975  

19/12/2002  

1-2 Upper Colliers Row  

1-2 Upper Colliers Row  

Merthyr Tydfil  

Cyfarthfa  

 

 

303982  

206060  

 

Situated SE of Heolgerrig, some 500m W of the remains of the Ynysfach Iron Works and just W of the A470.  

Domestic  

 

Pair of cottages in a row of early C19 industrial workers'' houses with catslide roofs to rear, typical of industrial housing of the period. Since 1975 all have been thoroughly altered, but they remain one of the very few early rows to survive in the Merthyr region. The row is shown on surveyors'' drawings of 1814 and 1826 and detailed on subsequent 6" OS maps from 1875 onwards. The cottages were part of the Dynevor Estate during the C19, housing colliers working the Cyfarthfa mines but the roadway before the houses originally lead to the Ynysfach Iron Works (established in 1801) and it is possible that some of the inhabitants worked there. Certainly, it was conveniently located adjacent to both the Cyfarthfa Canal basin at Llwyn-celyn and the Cyfarthfa Tramway. Originally the cottages were of stone with stone heads to openings, stone-slab roofs and stone chimneys, one-window and door (Nos 2 and 7 are now 2-window) with small upper windows and probably sash glazing. The upper window heads were under the eaves. The interiors had joisted floors rather than beams with thin joists, the fireplaces had winding staircases adjacent, of stone or timber.  

Nos 1 and 2 are joined, render removed since 1975 with close-eaved slate roof, red brick stack to left, rendered stack to right (shared with No 3). Mirrored pair with upper windows immediately over larger outer windows, and inner doors, an additional window over door of no 1 which has had head raised. The door to No 2 is now a window and has a thin brick head as do ground floor windows. All glazing and doors late C20. Catslide roof to rear, there may be a pre-C20 window to the rear under eaves, possibly the only one on the row.  

Not available for inspection. It is said that the interior has joisted floors, fireplaces to left and right with winding staircases adjacent, timber to No 1 and stone to No 2.  

Included notwithstanding modern alterations as part of one of the last surviving rows of industrial workers'' houses in the Merthyr region.  

One of a row of mostly altered 2-storey stone cottages with slate roofs. Some stone chimneys survive and a very few original window openings may remain unenlarged. Catslide roofs are generally visible to rear, many extended. Many cottages have been joined together and there are gardens in front with some remaining stone walls. To the S is an area of irregular enclosures or allotments associated with the cottage row.