History and Heritage in Merthyr

21/10/2025

Event Location Theatr Soar, Canolfan Soar, Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8UB

Event Date: 29/11/25  9:30am-6pm

Update 17/11/2025: We have made the decision to postpone the Llafur AGM portion of the programme for this event to enable more time for AGM proceedings to take place and to make discussions more accessible for Llafur members. Further joining information will be sent to Llafur members in due course.

To confirm, this will not change the schedule of any other part of the event on the 29th November, and all other sessions will go ahead as planned.

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Join Llafur, in collaboration with the Cyfarthfa Foundation, to explore the rich history of Merthyr and the next steps in the story of its heritage. Including a variety of talks, panel discussions and the inaugural Cyfarthfa Foundation public lecture.

Programme:

  • 9.45-10.00 – Welcome – Cyfarthfa Foundation & Llafur
  • 10.00-10.20 – Keynote: Geraint Talfan Davies (Chair, Cyfarthfa Foundation) – A new Cyfarthfa – which stories to tell?
  • 10.20-11.30 – Industrial beginnings
    • Dr Marian Gwyn – Iron and Empire – Anthony Bacon and the global roots of Cyfarthfa
    • Huw Williams – A Crawshay Comes to Town!
  • 11.30-11.40 – Short break
  • 11.40-13.00 – Politics, society and internationalism
    • Dr Marion Löffler – Merthyr’s European Connections
    • Dr Martin Wright – James Keir Hardie MP: Merthyr, Wales and the World
  • 13.00-14.00 – Break
  • 14.00-15.10 – History, culture and art
    • Professor Jane Aaron – Representing the ‘New Woman’ in Wales: Remembering Ursula Masson
    • Dr Peter Wakelin – Activism and Inspiration: Dowlais and the Merthyr artists
  • 15.10-15.20 – Short break
  • 15.20-16.20 – Panel – The Stories We Tell – History, Heritage and Next Steps
    • Chaired by Jess Mahoney (Chief Executive, Cyfarthfa Foundation)
  • 16.20-16.30 – Closing remarks
  • 16.30-17.00 – Break

Cyfarthfa Foundation Public Lecture, 17.00-18.00:

Dr Stephanie Ward – The Women of Merthyr: Town, Region and Nation

This event will take place in-person, is free to attend and a warm welcome is extended to all!

Tea and coffee will be provided during the breaks throughout the day. Light buffet options will also be provided in the break after 4.30pm, before the Cyfarthfa Foundation Public Lecture.

There is also a cafe on site at Theatr Soar in case you would like any additional refreshments.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend or have any queries about accessibility for this event, please contact us via enquiries@llafur.org

Reserve your free ticket at: https://buytickets.at/llafurwelshpeopleshistorysociety/1913848