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Page created: 25 May 2003
Latest revision or update: 26 December 2016
Site of Merthyr Tydfil Synagogue, built 1872-7
Town of Merthyr Tydfil
The
town of Merthyr Tydfil (also spelled Merthyr Tudful or Merthyr
Tydvil), with a population of about 55,000, is located on the river
Taff in the centre of the valleys of south Wales, approximately 24
miles north of Cardiff. Until 1974,
Merthyr Tydfil formed the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil in the county of
Glamorganshire. From 1974 until 1996, it became the district of Merthyr Tydfil
in the new county of Mid Glamorgan. In 1996, Mid Glamorgan was abolished as an administrative
county, and Merthyr Tydfil again became the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil - a
unitary authority (within the ceremonial, or
preserved, county of Mid Glamorgan).
Merthyr Tydfil Jewish Community
Merthyr once had a large and prosperous Jewish community
dating from at least the 1820's. The descendants of the 19th and 20th century
community now are scattered. The last Jew living in Merthyr, George Black, died in
Manchester around 1998. The following are details of the only Jewish
Congregation known to have existed in the town.
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Congregation Data |
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Name: |
Merthyr Tydfil Hebrew Congregation |
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Last Address: |
Church Street, Thomas Town, Merthyr
Tydfil Synagogue built 1872-7 Reconstructed and dedicated 1955 -
(article in
Merthyr Expres)
Slated to be turned into flats in 2009 -
(article in
South Wales Echo) |
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Former Address: |
Victoria Street, Merthyr Tydfil.
Erected
1853, with accomodation for 60 men and 33 women (Jewish
Directory, A. Myer, 1874) |
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Date Founded: |
1848
(Jewish
Directory, A. Myer, 1874) |
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Current Status: |
Closed |
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Ritual: |
Ashkenazi Orthodox |
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Membership Data: |
1851 - 30 appropriated seats (Provincial
Jewry in Victorian Britain)
1852 - 20 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns)
1860 - 19 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns)
1870 - 30 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns)
1874 - 50 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns), congregation numbered
238 persons
(Jewish
Directory, A. Myer, 1874)
1880 - 30 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns)
1890 - 28 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns) 1900 -
26 seatholders (Board of Deputies Returns), 27 seatholders (The Jewish Year Book 1900/01) |
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On-line Articles
and other Material relating to
the Merthyr Tydfil Jewish Community
on JCR-UK
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The Jews of Merthyr Tydfil by Wendy Bellany, reproduced from Shemot (JGSGB), September 2001.
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Merthy Tydvil from "Provincial
Jewry in Victorian Britain" - Papers for a
conference at University College, London, convened by the Jewish
Historical Society of England, prepared by Aubrey Newman - 6th July
1975.
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Newspaper Articles
relating to the Merthyr Tydfil Jewish Community, 1847 - 2009.
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Personal
Encounters of Dora Rees (née Bernstein)
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School Registers
of Caedraw, Merthyr Tydfil
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Naturalised Citizens
of Merthyr Tydfil
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How 'Greeners' Came to the Valleys
by M.
Wallach, reproduced from the Jewish Chronicle Colour Magazine, 1975.
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Jewish Heritage Sites
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Bibliography
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Material Relating to the Jewish Cemetery, see
below.
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Other Merthyr Tydfil Jewish Institutions & Organisations
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* As listed in the Jewish Year
Books 1896 & 1900. |
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Merthyr Tydfil Jewish Cemetery Information
Merthyr Tydfil Jewish Burial Ground, Brecon Road, Cefn Coed,
Merthyr Tydfil CF48. Established 1865, extended 1935. The ohel
(built about 1878) includes plaques inside taken from the now closed
synagogue. The cemetery is maintained by the Board of Deputies.
Articles and other material on JCR-UK:
(For additional information, see
IAJGS International Jewish Cemeteries Project - Merthyr Tydfil) |
Jewish Congregations
in the former county of Glamorganshire
Jewish Congregations
in Wales, listed according to current unitary authorities
Jewish Communities & Congregations in Wales
home page
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