Collection: Merthyr Tydfil Museums Service

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery is situated within Cyfarthfa Castle, a grade I listed building built by the Crawshay family, Ironmasters of Cyfarthfa Ironworks, and as such is an important monument to the town’s industrial past. Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery was established in 1910 to hold in trust the historic and contemporary collections of Merthyr Tydfil and district. The museum fulfils the role of a local history museum and gallery and features a surprisingly wide and eclectic collection. Notable early collectors of ethnographic and archaeological material include Frank James, Frederick Dumayne and Harry Hartley Southey whose bequest makes up a large part of our Egyptology collections. The art collection contains work by eminent local artists such as Penry Williams and has been improved significantly by the donation of a number of contemporary paintings from CASW (Contemporary Arts Society of Wales) over a 30 year period from the 1960s – 1980s. The museum’s collection reflects the interests, pursuits, occupations and products of the people of the Borough in all their diversity. Since 1986 the museum has sought to strengthen its social, political and industrial history collections with specific relevance to the history and development of the Borough and its people and issues directly relating to its history.

  Joseph Parry’s Cottage.

  Prior to 1997, Joseph Parry’s Cottage was run by the Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust. In April 1997, the Heritage Trust relinquished its museum management role, and handed the ownership of Joseph Parry’s Cottage to Merthyr Tydfil Museums Service to run alongside Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery. Many of the items within Joseph Parry’s Ironworkers Cottage are on loan from Amgueddfa Cymru: National Museum Wales. There is also a small collection of objects on display at the Cottage that are from the collection held by Merthyr Tydfil Museums Service.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2020

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Social History

  The most diverse of all the collections containing items that relate life in Merthyr Tydfil. It contains domestic and household items and also covers working life and the industrial history of Merthyr Tydfil to present. This section also covers the cultural and sporting life of the Borough and includes such items as the instruments of the Cyfarthfa Brass Band and material associated with the life of Doctor Joseph Parry. This collection contains approximately 5,500 items.

   

  Fine Art Collection

  The fine art collection, when taken to encompass all artistic mediums, forms a strong C19th and C20th collection with important local elements in the work of Penry Williams, Thomas Prytherch and G.F. Harris and artists with links to the Dowlais Educational Settlement such as Cedric Morris and Heinz Koppel. Many Welsh artists and subjects are represented but not to the exclusion of English work, especially with reference to the Newlyn School of Art. This breadth of work is invaluable for setting in context the locally important works within the group. The fine art collection falls into a multi-disciplinary role, in that many of the works have a direct relevance to the interpretation of the County Borough and its people’s history. This collection contains approximately 2,000 items.

  Ceramics Collection

  The porcelain collection spans European and some Eastern products. The collection includes some important examples of Swansea and Nantgarw wares and other local products. This collection contains approximately 1,500 items.

  Costume

  There is a heavy emphasis on Victorian female clothing and accessories in this collection. The collection also contains examples of ceremonial clothing, such as Mayoral hats and priests robes, as well as a selection of flags. There are also collections associated with Merthyr Tydfil’s sporting history including boxing and rugby items. This collection contains approximately 800 items.

  Archaeology and Ethnography

  This collection was largely created by a number of wealthy Merthyr Tydfil citizens who acquired items globally for their private collections. The archaeology collection largely consists of British, unprovenanced material from Merthyr Tydfil collectors. Exceptions to this are Roman material from an excavation of Penydarren Roman fort and the Cilsanws Bronze Age dagger. Collections include Greek, Roman, Persian, Asian and Oriental items, as well as a large collection of Ancient Egyptian objects. This collection contains approximately 1,700 items.

  Natural History Collections

  The natural history collection has been created by a small group of wealthy Merthyr Tydfil citizens, illustrating their leisure pursuits and travels, and it can be interpreted with this in mind. Similarly the geology element is formed primarily from the private collections of a number of Merthyr citizens spanning a world wide selection of samples, but linked back to Merthyr by association. The comprehensive collection of slag and coal / ironstone samples collected throughout Merthyr in the 1930’s can be seen as a vital social and industrial historic tool with great relevance to the experience of those who worked to extract and use these materials. This collection contains approximately 2,000 items.

  Numismatic Collection

  The Numismatic collection was trying to achieve a comprehensive range of British coinage and has resulted in a representing all major coinage but at an inferior quality. There are a few local trade tokens and locally printed notes but these are rare exceptions. There is also a small medal collection.

  MSS & Printed Books

  This is a small collection of a variety of bound volumes in the collection. These are largely publications to do with the iron and coal industry and various religious items. It contains approximately 50 items.

  The Photographic Collection

  The photographic collection is modest but expanding (around 200 prints) and is clearly focused on the Borough and any related events / persons. An important element of this work is the collection of Robert Thompson Crawshay’s photographic work. The photographic collection contains approximately 1,000 items.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2020

  Licence: CC BY-NC