Cyfarthfa Castle & Park 1825 - 2025 - A peoples history

“Cyfarthfa Castle & Park 1825–2025: A People’s History” marks the bicentenary of Merthyr Tydfil’s landmark with a richly illustrated and deeply researched account that tells not just the story of William Crawshay II’s grand castellated home, but of the local community who shaped it.

This volume explores the Castle’s transformation from private ironmaster residence into a school, museum, and beloved ‘People’s Park’, revealing the working lives and memories of ordinary folk—servants, schoolchildren, council workers, visitors, and heritage volunteers. 

Drawing on archival records, personal testimonies, and vivid historic imagery, it offers readers a social history of place, identity, and change in one of Wales’s most iconic industrial heritage sites. Published by the Merthyr Tydfil & District Historical Society in celebration of Cyfarthfa200.