User:PotentPotables/Cyfarthfa Castle

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Cyfarthfa Castle
Castell Cyfarthfa
Front view of Cyfarthfa Castle in 2009
PotentPotables/Cyfarthfa Castle is located in Merthyr Tydfil
PotentPotables/Cyfarthfa Castle
Location in Merthyr Tydfil
Established1824 (1824)
LocationPark, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Coordinates51°45′24″N 3°23′25″W / 51.75666°N 3.39014°W / 51.75666; -3.39014
TypeHistoric house museum and art gallery
ArchitectRobert Lugar
OwnerMerthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust (since April 2015)
WebsiteCyfarthfa Castle

Cyfarthfa Castle (Welsh: Castell Cyfarthfa; [kəˈvarθva]) is a castellated mansion in Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. The house was built in 1824 for William Crawshay II, the owner of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, and designed by Robert Lugar. Now a museum and art gallery maintained by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, it forms part of Cyfarthfa Park alongside the site of the eponymous ironworks.

History[edit]

Background[edit]

Further information: Cyfarthfa Ironworks

Following the death of Cyfarthfa Ironworks owner Richard Crawshay in 1810, his son William Crawshay I (William Sr.) and grandson William Crawshay II (William Jr.) took over the company. While William Sr. managed the sales, his son managed the actual production of iron, eventually being nicknamed the "Iron King".[1]

1824[edit]

William Jr.

The house was designed by the architect Robert Lugar, who had become known for his Gothic Revival houses in Scotland (namely Tullichewan and Balloch Castle).[2]: 2–4 

In 1889, the Crawshay family moved to Caversham Park,[3] leaving the castle unoccupied.[4]: 2  By this time, the estates of the other ironworks owners had all been converted or sold. The Crawshays considered letting out the house and its accompanying farm, using the land for agricultural science.[5] In November 1895, the house and estate were available for renting.[6] Around 1,000 acres of land were still available in 1899 for the purpose of shooting.[7]

Museum and art gallery (1908–present)[edit]

In 1908, Merthyr mayor D. W. Jones purchased Cyfarthfa Castle and 111 acres of parkland from William Thompson Crawshay for £14,500. An additional 47 acres of land were purchased from William Thompson for £4,000 and the Local Government Board sanctioned a £22,000 loan. Alongside this, he donated the family's carriage, paintings, and handmade furniture, as well as the music, instruments, and uniforms of the Cyfarthfa Brass Band, which became the Cyfarthfa and Merthyr Municipal Band. Plans were then made by the council to turn the castle into a museum and art gallery, as well as secondary schools for 200 boys and girls.[8] The museum opened two years later and its first curator, Isaac John Williams, stayed in the position until 1914.[9][10]

In 2000, a £11m regeneration scheme was launched to develop the castle and its grounds. Creating an estimated 200 jobs, the project aimed to restore the old blast furnaces, turn greenhouses into hydroponics centres, recreate the walled garden, and create a children's discovery centre.[11]

The castle was reopened in April 2011 by Merthyr mayor Clive Tovey after a five month renovation: it was funded by a grant from the Heads of the Valleys Programme and cost £320,000. This renovation involved "much-needed repairs" to the site alongside the addition of new case displays and audio guides. The reopening exhibition was Made in Merthyr, showcasing dresses made by Laura Ashley and the world's oldest steam whistle. The Gentleman's Collection exhibition featured a range of items from around the world, collected by residents of the town.[12]

In 2012, the castle received another £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund through the "Sharing Treasures" scheme to create a new gallery space. On 1 July 2013, the site's first exhibition A Life In Pictures showed the paintings of Kyffin Williams, with some being loaned by the National Library of Wales.[13][14]

In 2014, the council launched a public consultation to gauge support over the castle being run by a private not-for-profit trust, in efforts to £330,000 a year.[15] The trust, named Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust, took over the site on 1 April 2015.[16]

In September 2019, the Welsh government announced a £6.6m development plan of natural and cultural heritage sites to be used between then and 2021, including £700,000 for Cyfarthfa Park.[17]

The castle and park have been used as music and festival venues, for events like a Donny Osmond concert,[18] Children in Need's "Pudsey in the Park" show,[19] and the Merthyr Rock festival.[20]

House[edit]

Like the other houses built by Robert Lugar, Cyfarthfa Castle was built in a Gothic Revival style.[4]: 2  The external walls are constructed of limestone.[4]: 2  There are fifteen towers,[4]: 2  seventy-two rooms,[4]: 2  and battlements.[4]: 2 

Garden[edit]

Grounds[edit]

Cyfarthfa Castle is situated in 65 acres of parkland, known as Cyfartha Park.

In 2011, the park received a £1.96m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair its bandstand, walled garden, glasshouses, and bowls pavilion. The grant was also used to employ a heritage officer and warden, and to create apprenticeships for local people in skills like stone wall building.[21]

Ecology[edit]

The grounds are home to several species of plants and animals, including:

Museum collection[edit]

The Cyfarthfa Castle replica of Richard Trevithick's Penydarren locomotive

The museum and art gallery holds a number of artworks from artists who were born or lived in Merthyr and Wales, including:

  • George Frederick Harris – several paintings and photographs by Harris are held by the museum, including an 1877 photograph of Merthyr and a portrait of his wife. He lived in Merthyr for most of his life and their grandson, Australian former entertainer Rolf Harris, was a special guest at the museum's 2011 reopening.[12]
  • Laura Ashley – various dresses from the Dowlais-born designer are held by the museum, and formed part of the reopening exhibit.[12][23]
  • Julien Macdonald – dresses made by the Cyfarthfa-born designer have also formed part of the museum's collection.[23]
  • Kyffin Williams – three paintings by the Welsh painter are held by the museum.[14]
  • Penry Williams – the museum owns around 20 paintings by the Merthyr-born artist, previously owned by the castle. Williams had been a decorator for the Crawshay family before William Crawshay II paid for him to attend the Royal Academy. He painted several paintings of Merthyr landmarks, including the Cyfarthfa Ironworks.[24]
  • Sydney Curnow Vosper – the museum holds over 1,000 of the English painter's works, including a version of Salem and portraits of Breton saints. His wife, Constance James, was the daughter of a former mayor of Merthyr.[25]

Other artefacts held by the museum include the oldest steam whistle, the first voting ballot box,[23] a replica of Richard Trevithick's Penydarren locomotive,[26] the "Miner's Window" from St John's Church in Dowlais,[27]

The museum holds many of the instruments used by the Cyfarthfa Brass Band, including bugles, trumpets,[28]: 125–6  side drums, bombardons, and a ophicleide.[4]: 6–7  It also holds a large portrait of George Livsey, the band's long-lasting leader, commissioned by the public and painted by George Frederick Harris in 1905.[29]

Notable exhibitions[edit]

Cyfarthfa Ironworks Interior at Night by Penry Williams (1825)

The museum has held a variety of exhibitions, including:

  • Walter Waygood: Coming Home – a 2009 exhibition showcased the work of Blaenavon-born photographer Walter Waygood, exploring his portrayal of life in the South Wales Valleys during the 1970s until the 1990s.[30]
  • A 2010 exhibition showcased the Penry Williams paintings owned by the museum alongside ten pieces by J. M. W. Turner, loaned from the Tate Gallery. Two of the Turner pieces were sketches of Merthyr made in the late 18th century.[24]
  • Big Portrait Project – the March 2012 exhibition was a collection of paintings of Welsh celebrities like Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones, including a painting of Gary Speed by Merthyr resident Steven Samuel.[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "CRAWSHAY family, of Cyfarthfa, Glamorganshire, industrialists". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  2. ^ Wolffe, Antony; Agnew, Richard (30 October 2017). "Two Lugar Houses in Galloway". Architectural Heritage. Edinburgh University Press. doi:10.3366/arch.2017.0080.
  3. ^ "The Cyfarthfa Works". Western Mail. 5 August 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Herbert, Trevor; Myers, Arnold (1988). "Instruments of the Cyfarthfa Band". The Galpin Society Journal. 41. doi:10.2307/842702. ISSN 0072-0127.
  5. ^ "Cyfarthfa Castle". Western Mail. 3 February 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Dwelling-Houses To Be Let". Western Mail. 18 November 1895. p. 2. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Shooting". Western Mail. 11 April 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. ^ "New Corporation Park at Merthyr". The Times. 1 June 1909. p. 11. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Merthyr museum marks its centenary". BBC News. 17 March 2010. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  10. ^ "WILLIAMS, ISAAC JOHN (1874 - 1939)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Castle 'miracle' hope for jobs". BBC News. 10 July 2000. Archived from the original on 31 July 2004. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Made in Merthyr as museum reopens". BBC News. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Six museums to 'share treasures'". BBC News. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  14. ^ a b Parry, Christopher (28 June 2013). "Unseen work by Kyffin Williams goes on display in Merthyr". www.walesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Trust could run castle to cut costs". BBC News. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Leisure services handed to trust". BBC News. 1 April 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Mining museum to get £1.8m for renovations". BBC News. 11 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  18. ^ "BBC One - Donny Comes Home - The Concert". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  19. ^ "BBC - Press Office - Peter Gabriel to perform at Children In Need concert in Merthyr". www.bbc.co.uk. 14 November 2003. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Line-up for Merthyr Rock revealed". BBC News. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  21. ^ "£1.9m lotto aid for Merthyr park". BBC News. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  22. ^ Davey, A. J. (1961). "Epilobium Nerterioides A. Cunn". Journal of Ecology. 49 (3). British Ecological Society: 758. doi:10.2307/2257237. ISSN 0022-0477. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  23. ^ a b c "Queen to meet Grand Slam winners". BBC News. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  24. ^ a b Prior, Neil (1 August 2010). "Artists 'face off' at castle show". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  25. ^ Gower, Jon (23 May 2002). "Salem exhibition visits castle". BBC News. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Trevithick the railway pioneer". BBC News. 29 April 2009. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Flats plan for iron works' church". BBC News. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  28. ^ Bacon, Louise (2004). "The Pace Family of Musical Instrument Makers, 1788-1901". The Galpin Society Journal. 57. ISSN 0072-0127. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  29. ^ "LIVSEY, GEORGE FREDERICK (1834-1923)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Walter Waygood: Coming Home". BBC News. 21 April 2009. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Speed portrait given to Welsh FA". BBC News. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
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