Merthyr Tydfil’s Heritage In Line For A National Lottery Windfall

One of south Wales’s most historic towns could soon get a fantastic face lift in a funding boost worth up to £6.6million from the National Lottery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Pontmorlais area of Merthyr Tydfil is set to continue with its transformation as a cultural and creative centre, along with two other projects to improve the much-loved Cyfarthfa Castle and Park which are also in line for a collective £5.4m windfall* to progress their ambitious plans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Telling Merthyr’s story ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once an industrial powerhouse, Merthyr Tydfil was fundamental to the birth of the Industrial Revolution and is home to Grade I listed and internationally significant Cyfarthfa Castle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thanks to National Lottery players, visitors will soon be able to take a step back in history and enjoy the new ‘discovery gallery’, equipped with audio-visual and interactive displays depicting the castle’s colourful past. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Linking past, present and future ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work in the pipeline for outside Cyfarthfa Castle – in its Grade II listed 65 hectare park – will complement plans for the rejuvenated building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Having belonged to the people of Merthyr since the early 20th century, providing the town’s main green space, Cyfarthfa Park will be given a new lease of life with the development of themed trails, promotional leaflets and online resources. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Looking to the future, the creation of new spaces for small enterprises and start-up businesses as part of the work to rejuvenate Cyfarthfa Castle will also bring an economic boost to the town. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Brendan Toomey, Leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Council, commented: “The announcement of these three projects coming together to create a more vibrant place for people to live, work and enjoy will help keep Merthyr Tydfil buzzing with new energy. These projects will conserve the historic character of our buildings while giving them a new lease of life, renewing people’s pride in their town, attracting visitors and investment to help boost the local economy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Bellamy, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, commented: “Thanks to National Lottery players, HLF has been able to invest in a wide range of projects across Merthyr, investing nearly £12m to 54 local projects to date. By supporting these latest three fantastic projects, the town will benefit even further through its heritage – whether that be new businesses, local people or visitors to the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​