25mm diameter

In paying their workers, the Ironmasters were divided over paying by tokens or by hard cash. The Crawshays paid their workers with money, and the employees were free to spend the money where they liked, other employers, such as the Guests of Dowlais, paid with tokens redeemable in company-run shops. This example is a 5 shilling token.

Scholarship Certificate

208mm height x 252mm width

This Guest Testimonial Scholarship Certificate was awarded to Anne Jones, aged 13, for proficiency in reading, writing, arithmetic, dictation and the scriptures; and for regular attendance and good attendance at school. Charlotte Guest was endowed with a strong social conscience and established schools in the area for the education of the workers' children. This particular example is dated Dowlais, 28th December 1866.

Reward Poster

380mm height x 503mm width

Reward poster for £100. It concerns rumours surrounding the Nantmelyn Colliery, put about by some 'evil-disposed person.' The poster was produced by William Morris of Aberdare.

Pig Iron

80mm height x 30mm width

A portion of pig iron, taken from the first run at the newly opened 'Sarah' Blast Furnace at the Plymouth Works, 1850.

Pencil Drawing

550mm height x 780mm width

Cyfarthfa House & works by William Pamplin. This is one of the earliest illustration of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, drawn some time between 1791-1800. Pamplin was the gardener of Richard Crawshay and was requested to draw Cyfarthfa iron works.

Painting (Watercolour)

470mm height x 390mm width

Working Iron at Merthyr Tydfil (1792), by Julius Caesar Ibbetson (1759-1817). The painting shows a puddled mass of iron being hammered to remove slag.

Oil Painting

580mm height x 790mm width

Dowlais Works at Night (1929), attributed to Mansell Lewis.

Iron Rail Section

129mm length x 68mm width x 44mm depth

'I' shaped iron rail section.

Iron Cannon Ball

68mm diameter

Iron cannon ball made at the Cyfarthfa Ironworks for Nelson's troops.

Bottle Fragment

27mm height x 69mm width x 8mm depth

Fragment of a green glass bottle enclosed in a wooden frame. The wood is covered by ink writing: June 13 1850, Portion of the bottle broken against no 9 Furnace at Plymouth works when named "Sarah".