History of Labour's Red Flag and Merthyr Tydfil.

In June 1831, a community of Welsh miners rose up against the ironmasters and defied the might of the British state, seizing control of their town for a full week, and flying the RED FLAG or the first time on British soil as a symbol of workers' insurrection.

The Merthyr Rising was a tremendous act of rebellion that terrified the British ruling class, which was forced to send hundreds of professional troops to restore order, but not before the budding trade union movement took a firm foothold in South Wales – which became a major front of the British class struggle.
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Richard Lewis (1807/8 – 13 August 1831), known as Dic Penderyn, was a Welsh labourer and coal miner who lived in Merthyr Tydfil and was involved with the Merthyr Rising of 3 June 1831. In the course of the riot he was arrested alongside Lewis Lewis, one of the primary figures in the uprising, and charged with stabbing a soldier with a bayonet. The people of Merthyr Tydfil doubted his guilt, and signed a petition for his release. However, he was found guilty and hanged on 13 August 1831. After his death he was treated as a martyr in Merthyr and across Wales.

 

What was it called before 1831?

 

With respect mate. After Stephen's question. Is the following from the Encyclopedia Brittanica correct. Or have I misunderstood your post.


Merthyr Tydfil, also spelled Merthyr Tudful, industrial town and county borough, southern Wales. It is named after a 5th-century Welsh Christian princess (Tydfil the Martyr) who was slain there.

Re the Miners. Welsh were the hardest fekkers during the strike. 84/85. That I came across. My mate Derby is a welshman (Worked at Houghton if I remember right. If not, Darfield) now living in Australia. Mad as a hatter.

 

Was thinking same.

 

You are right - I have edited my OP - Dic Penderyn is regarded as a martyr and the one mostly associated with the town.
(as a child don't ever recall being taught about the princess.)

o/t The Ukrainian City of Donetsk, originally 'Hughesovka', was founded by John Hughes of Merthyr in 1870, when he took iron working to the area.
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Wales' Second Airport

The Welsh Assembly announced recently the opening of Wales's second airport, the Gurnos Estate International Airport in Merthyr Tydfil.
The first flight to arrive was the 11.50 Virgin Airlines Cross-Atlantic flight from America. The people from Gurnos estate were so excited that they raced to meet the flight, as it was the first Virgin seen in the area for 20 years.
The return journey to America was due for departure at 12.30, but it was delayed because when the pilot went to the aircraft he found it up on blocks and stripped to the bone. As a result every house in the Gurnos now has a new hall carpet, every lounge now has a reclining chair, every bed has new pillow cases, and the Jones family are now living at 747 Penydarren Road,