Merthyr Tydfil Borough, Records

Scope and Content

Records of the Merthyr Tydfil Borough and County Borough, 1852-1973, includes; education committee minute books, 1904-1973; education committee minute books, 1920-1973; agenda books, 1944-1948; clerk and director of education, 1904-1922; papers relating to staffing, 1902-1927; education schemes, 1910-1947; miscellaneous school and college records, 1894-1943; Cyfarthfa Castle Municipal Secondary schools, 1910-1949; accounts and salaries, 1906-1957; and regulations, statutes, reports and circulars, 1904-1974; overcrowding survey records, 1936; Housing Inspection registers and notebooks 1930s; inspection sheets, 1960s; registers of dwellings, 1960s; plans and drawings of Gurnos Estate, 1950s; Fire Bridgade occurrence books, 1941-1974.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Methyr Tydfil Corporation Act 1905 resulted in the formation of the Municipal Borough of Merthyr Tydfil (Glamorgan). The borough was divided into eight wards: Cyfarthfa, Dowlais, Park, Town, Penydarren, Plymouth, Merthyr Vale and Treharris. The borough took over the responsibilities of Merthyr Tydfil Urban District Council for public health, water, sewerage, isolation hospitals, highways, housing, bridges, scavenging and public elementary schools. In 1908, the borough was granted County Borough status and undertook the additional responsibilities for the police, Commission of the Peace, Court of Quarter Sessions and secondary education; it was empowered to levy rates. See the attached document for a map showing the boundaries of the Borough. In 1974, following local government reorganisation, Merthyr Tydfil lost its county borough status although it retained its borough status and mayor. The District Council replaced the old borough council within the new county of Mid Glamorgan and responsibility for education, highways, planning, fire and ambulance services was transferred to that authority. The area of the District Council was extended to include Vaynor (formerly in Brecknockshire) and Bedlinog.

Arrangement

Chronological within record series.

Access Information

Items containing information on named individuals may be restricted in accordance with data protection legislation and GA policy

Acquisition Information

Transferred by the Merthyr Tydfil Borough and its successors at various intervals. Additional transfers received from Merthyr Tydfil Public Library Service Oct 2012 and Afon Taf high School Sep 2014

Other Finding Aids

A detailed catalogue is available online.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Fair condition

Archivist's Note

Compiled by Hayden Burns for the ANW project, revised by Andrew Thynne for Glamorgan Archives. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description; Glamorgan Record Office catalogues, Riden, Philip, Records sources for Local History, (London, 1987); The Story of Merthyr Tydfil, compiled by members of the Merthyr Teachers' Association (Cardiff, 1932).

Conditions Governing Use

Normal Glamorgan Archives conditions apply.

Appraisal Information

All records which meet the collection policy of Glamorgan Archives have been retained.

Custodial History

The records remained in the custody of the depositor until transferred to Glamorgan Archives.

Accruals

Accruals are possible.

Related Material

Further records in the Glamorgan Archives are ESB70, Merthyr Tydfil School Board; LBMT, Merthyr Tydfil Board of Health; UM, Merthyr Tydfil Poor Law Union; UDMT, Merthyr Tydfil Urban District Council; M, Mid Glamorgan County Council; and DVAU Box 5, Vaughan Collection; and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Library.