Conference To Hear About Merthyr Tydfil’s History And Current Renaissance

Merthyr Tydfil’s heritage and the role it can play in supporting the regeneration of the County Borough will be discussed at a conference taking place in one of the town’s newest buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Town Football Club’s recently opened stylish function room ‘Romans’ is the venue for the seventh annual Merthyr Tydfil Heritage and Regeneration Conference next Friday (November 4). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Delegates will hear about the town’s role as ‘the crucible of modern Wales’ and its hundreds of listed buildings – many of which are being restored through millions of pounds of funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The host club’s secretary will tell the story of how Merthyr Town has seen an exciting revival in its fortunes, while local Welsh Government Assembly Member Dawn Bowden will give a talk entitled: What Merthyr Has to Offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dawn Bowden said: “During my months of campaigning to become the Assembly Member – and since taking the role – I have become acutely aware of the rich industrial and cultural heritage of the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I look forward to the opportunity celebrating Merthyr Tydfil’s heritage and discussing the role this can play in supporting the regeneration of the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The free event, run by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in partnership with Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Forum, is taking place from 9.30am-3pm. There will be a buffet lunch and also the opportunity of a guided tour of the club. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Forum Chair, Joe England, said: “Merthyr Tydfil was the crucible of modern Wales. It was in here, Wales’s first and largest wholly industrialised town, that the environment was ravaged, humans oppressed, and town life enjoyed and suffered on a scale never previously seen in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It was here that its immigrant population from rural Wales found fellowship in its many friendly societies and chapels. Through booms and slumps, its musicians and choirs, fighters and boxers, writers and politicians foreshadowed the experience of the South Wales to be.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Borough Council Design, Heritage and Conservation Officer, Joanna Hughes, will talk at the conference about Merthyr Tydfil’s ‘rich quality of heritage building stock’: 233 listed buildings and, ranging from embellished civic buildings to smaller workers’ housing and farm outbuildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other speakers include Merthyr Town Secretary John Strand on Penydarren Park: A New Beginning, Sian Workman from Cardiff Capital Region City Deal onMerthyr Tydfil and the City Region and County Borough Council Chief ExecutiveGareth Chapman on Regenerating Merthyr Tydfil. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Cllr Brendan Toomey said the conference had become established as the premier event for people interested in the history and continuing renaissance of Merthyr Tydfil. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Even the best-informed attendees will learn something they never knew, and also come away impressed by the scope of work being carried out to ensure our historically-significant buildings are preserved for residents and visitors of the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​