80776

5-6  

II  

Designated  

22/08/1975  

19/12/2002  

Nos 5-6 Upper Colliers Row,,,,,,  

5-6 Upper Colliers Row  

Merthyr Tydfil  

Cyfarthfa  

 

Ynysfach  

304002  

206061  

 

Situated SE of Heolgerrig, some 500m W of the remains ofthe 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 5 and 6 are joined (now No 6) have late C20 render and stone chimneys (shared with Nos 4 and 7). The doorways are within a double late C20 porch, the window openings are renewed with brick sills, widened on ground floor, the upper ones set relatively close to centre. Rear extended to form gable and tiled.  

Interior has joisted floors, the ground floor now one room. Fireplace to right with winding stone staircase adjacent, fireplace to left removed and original timber staircase replaced by C20 timber staircase. Room and kitchen to rear in C20 extension.  

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