Merthyr Tydfil: Difference between revisions

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'''Merthyr Tydfil''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɜː|θ|ə|_|ˈ|t|ɪ|d|v|ɪ|l}};<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://phonetic-blog.blogspot.com/2010/01/merthyr.html |title=Merthyr |last=Wells |first=John |authorlink=John C. Wells |date=12 January 2010 |work=John Wells's phonetic blog |access-date=5 March 2010}}</ref> {{lang-cy|Merthyr Tudful}} {{IPA-cy|ˈmɛrθɪr ˈtɪdvɪl|pron|Merthyr Tudful.ogg}}) is the main town in [[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough]], [[Wales]], administered by [[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council]]. It is about {{convert|23|mi|km|0}} north of [[Cardiff]]. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after [[Tydfil]], daughter of [[Brychan Brycheiniog|King Brychan]] of [[Brycheiniog]], who according to legend was slain at Merthyr by pagans about 480 CE.<ref>Farmer, David Hugh (1978), "Tydfil". In ''The Oxford Dictionary of Saints''.</ref> {{lang|cy|Merthyr}} generally means "[[Martyr of the Faith|martyr]]" in modern [[Welsh language|Welsh]], but here closer to the Latin {{lang|la|[[martyrium (architecture)|martyrium]]}}: a place of worship built over a martyr's [[relic]]s. Similar place names in south Wales are [[Merthyr Cynog]], [[Merthyr Dyfan]] and [[Merthyr Mawr]].

 

Noted for its industrial past, Merthyr was known as the 'Iron Capital of the World' in the early 19th century, due to the scale of its iron production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmerthyr.co.uk/things-to-do/places-of-interest/cyfarthfa-iron-and-steelworks/|title=Cyfarthfa Iron & Steelworks &#124; visitmerthyr.co.uk|first=Visit Merthyr-Merthyr Tydfil|last=CBC|website=Visit Merthyr}}</ref><ref>{{Coflein|num=33136|desc=Merthyr Tydfil}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Merthyr-the-Welsh-Men-of-Steel/|title=The History of Merthyr Tydfil - The Town of Steel|website=Historic UK}}</ref> The worlds first ever railway journey happened in Merthyr in 1804, travelling 9 miles from the ironworks at [[Penydarren]] to the [[Glamorganshire Canal]] on the [[Merthyr Tramroad]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museum.wales/articles/1012/Richard-Trevithickrsquos-steam-locomotive/|title=Richard Trevithick's steam locomotive|website=Museum Wales}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merthyr-history.com/?tag=richard-trevithick|title=Richard Trevithick|website=The Melting Pot|date=24 January 2023 }}</ref> The 1851 census found Wales to be the world's first industrialised nation, as more people were employed in industry than agriculture, with Merthyr the biggest town in Wales at that time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://traveltrade.visitwales.com/fact-sheets/heritage-and-culture/industrial-heritage-south-wales#:~:text=By%201851%2C%20Wales%20was%20the,in%201920%20with%20271%2C000%20men. | title=Visit the industrial heritage of South Wales valleys, towns and cities }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peoplescollection.wales/content/wales-first-industrial-nation-world|title=Wales - the first industrial nation of the World|website=Peoples Collection Wales}}</ref> The Ukrainian City of [[Donetsk]], originally 'Hughesovka', was founded by [[John Hughes (businessman)|John Hughes]] of Merthyr in 1870, when he took iron working to the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/culture/review-dreaming-a-city-from-wales-to-ukraine-by-colin-thomas/|title=Review: Dreaming a City - From Wales to Ukraine by Colin Thomas|date=2 May 2022|website=Nation.Cymru}}</ref> Iron production declined in Merthyr from 1860 on, though Merthyr's population continued to rise due to the emergence of coal mining in the area, peaking with around 81,000 people in 1911.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.victorianprofessions.ox.ac.uk/town.php?id=6|title=Victorian Professions: Merthyr Tydfil|website=www.victorianprofessions.ox.ac.uk}}</ref>