7-8 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 7 and 8 are joined, painted render with stone end stacks, shared with Nos 6 and 9. Each with a 4-pane casement above, set relatively close to centre. No 7 has a broad C20 triple casement below to left and ledged door. Another casement over door is presumably an insertion. No 8 has a window in former doorway to left and a 4-pane casement to right, aligned further out than window above. There were plate-glass sashes in 1975.

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 7 and stone to No 8.

Reason for designation

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