11-12 Upper Colliers Row

Cadw's description

Location

Situated SE of Heolgerrig, some 500m W of the remains of the Ynysfach Iron Works and just W of the A470.

History

Pair of cottages in a row of early C19 industrial workers'' houses with catslide roofs to rear, typical of industrial housing of the period. Since 1975 all have been thoroughly altered, but they remain one of the very few early rows to survive in the Merthyr region. The row is shown on surveyors'' drawings of 1814 and 1826 and detailed on subsequent 6" OS maps from 1875 onwards. The cottages were part of the Dynevor Estate during the C19, housing colliers working the Cyfarthfa mines but the roadway before the houses originally lead to the Ynysfach Iron Works (established in 1801) and it is possible that some of the inhabitants worked there. Certainly, it was conveniently located adjacent to both the Cyfarthfa Canal basin at Llwyn-celyn and the Cyfarthfa Tramway.
Originally the cottages were of stone with stone heads to openings, stone-slab roofs and stone chimneys, one-window and door (Nos 2 and 7 are now 2-window) with small upper windows and probably sash glazing. The upper window heads were under the eaves. The interiors had joisted floors rather than beams with thin joists, the fireplaces had winding staircases adjacent, of stone or timber.

Exterior

Nos 11 and 12 are joined, very altered. Painted roughcast and stone end stacks shared with Nos 10 and 13. Late C20 window each floor to outer bays, the lower window set further out, all widened in C20. Inner doors, that to No 11 in late C20 double porch, that to No 12 removed.

Interior

Not available for inspection. It is said that the interior has joisted floors, fireplaces to left and right with winding staircases adjacent, timber to No 11 and stone to No 12.

Reason for designation

Included notwithstanding modern alterations as part of one of the last surviving rows of industrial workers'' houses in the Merthyr region.