Clydac, or Llanelly (in the parish of latter)
Freer 2 furnaces
Blenavon, Hill 4
The Varteg 2
Nant-eglo, Bayley 4
Beaufort, Kendal 3
Ebro Vale, Harford 2
Sirhowy, Harford 2
Tredegar, S. Homfray and Co. 5
Romney, Mrs. Hall 2
Dowlass, Guest and Co. 8
Penydarran, Forman and Thompson 5
Cyfartha, Crawshays 8
Plymouth, R. I. and A. Hill 5
Aberdare, formerly Thompson and Scales, now Scales 3
and Co.
Abernant, ditto, Tappendens 1
Hirwaen 2
Myers and company, four miles short of Neath, charcoal furnace, &c.
The immense collections of cinder, or refuse from the ore, astonish the
beholder: it appears almost incredible, that the labour of man could
transport such quantities of materials; but when, added to this, you
reflect that nearly the whole has passed through the furnaces, and been
moved two or three times, how much is the wonder increased! In short, to
witness what immense capitals, indefatigable industry, and human
ingenuity can accomplish, in dragging forth the bowels of the earth, the
vales of the Taff from Brecon to Cardiff, and the very numerous vales
running parallel with the Taff, betwixt Abergavenny and Neath, should be
explored, both above ground, and in the mines; the value of the inclined
planes and rail-roads only would be immense.
About three miles to the north-east of Merthyr, are the remains of Castle
Morlais, an extensive and singular ruin: it was originally a British
post, afterwards rebuilt by Gilbert, Earl of Glocester, in the reign of
Edward I., and the source of a quarrel betwixt that nobleman and Humphrey
de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, which brought down the anger of the monarch
on both their heads to such extent, as to subject them to fine and
imprisonment: it was so completely destroyed by the Parliamentary army in
the seventeenth century, that its form and extent are difficult to trace;
a small keep, or look out, on the most elevated part of its scite, still
however remains: its upper story is much dilapidated; and the walls as
well as roof, nearly destroyed, except the door-way and window, which are
of freestone: from the top of one of these, the view of the Black
Mountains, &c. is most extensive: the lower apartment (part of the
vaulted roof of which has at length yielded to time, and the injuries of
the animals who have resorted to the upper apartment for shelter) has
once been curious; the arches, twelve in number, which supported its roof
sprang from a pillar in the centre; the rib of the arch is freestone, and
shows good masonry; the wall is likewise rubbed stone, part of which has
been defaced, apparently to see if it communicated with any other part of
the castle, or contained any thing worthy the searching for. The
pleasantest way for an active person to ascend to this ruin, is at the
bridge above the Cyfartha works, to take the right bank, ascending the
little Taff: for some distance you pass along the quarries, and at length
reach a path cut through the woods, along the banks of this romantic
stream: the termination of the path obliges you to incline to the right,
and passing two fields, you begin to ascend the hill between a stone wall
and extensive lime-stone quarries, belonging to the Pendarren works. The
ascent is steep; but if fine, you are amply repaid, on reaching the
summit, by the extensive views you command. Dowlass works, which, as
well as Cyfartha, have eight furnaces, are seen from here to great
advantage. The descent to Merthyr, along the rail-road from the
lime-stone quarries you passed in ascending, is easy and pleasant,
running alongside the beautiful grounds of Mr. Forman, formerly belonging
to Mr. S. Homfray, and which a former tourist describes as containing all
of elegance or comfort that Merthyr can boast of. From hence we
travelled the road to Pont Neath Vechan, the first part of which is
hilly, rough, and through a barren country; but the latter half is rich
in scenery, sublime and awful, from pendent rocks and gushing cataracts,
and worthy the time and observation of the admirer of nature’s beauties.