Dowlais
Encyclopedia
Dowlais is a village
and community
of the county borough
of Merthyr Tydfil
, in Wales
. As of 2001
, it has a population of 6646.
Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company
, roughly 5,000 people, the works being the largest in the world.
until the 1930s, the two notable buildings that remain are the Engine House, now occupied by O.P. Chocolates, which took up the site in 1963, and the stable block which is now sheltered housing.
Dowlais House, which has now been demolished, was once home to John Josiah Guest
and Lady Charlotte Guest
, and it was at Dowlais House that Lady Guest translated the Mabinogion
. The Guest Memorial Library (1863); commissioned by Lady Guest and designed by Charles Barry
, still stands.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
of the county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. As of 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, it has a population of 6646.
Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company
Dowlais Ironworks
The Dowlais Ironworks was a major ironworks and steelworks located at Dowlais near Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. Founded in the 18th century, it operated until the end of the 20th, at one time in the 19th century being the largest steel producer in the UK...
, roughly 5,000 people, the works being the largest in the world.
Notable buildings
Little remains of the works that once sustained the community throughout the Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
until the 1930s, the two notable buildings that remain are the Engine House, now occupied by O.P. Chocolates, which took up the site in 1963, and the stable block which is now sheltered housing.
Dowlais House, which has now been demolished, was once home to John Josiah Guest
John Josiah Guest
Sir Josiah John Guest, 1st Baronet, known as John Josiah Guest, was a Welsh engineer and entrepreneur.-Life:Born in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, as the son of Thomas Guest, a partner in the Dowlais Iron Company...
and Lady Charlotte Guest
Lady Charlotte Guest
Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Guest, , later Lady Charlotte Schreiber, was an English businesswoman and translator...
, and it was at Dowlais House that Lady Guest translated the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
. The Guest Memorial Library (1863); commissioned by Lady Guest and designed by Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
, still stands.
External links
- Old Merthyr Tydfil: Dowlais - Historical Photographs of Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil.
- Photos of Dowlais and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk