Years ago, the cows, goats, sheep, horses and Pigs were fed on the mountains and hillsides. The base of a mountain is frequently referred to as the foot; as in Troed y Mynydd; Troed y Wyddfa (The foot of Snowden) so also the Rhiwrau that ascends Cefn Brithdir namely Rhiw’n Da (Cow) Rhiwr Cadno (Fox) and the Foch Rhiw, pig’s pathway or ascent. Hence the place is called Troed-Rhiw Fuwch but I like to call it Troed-Rhiw’r-Fuwch because it was from this spot that the cow began her climb to the hillside overlooking the place. This place is now quickly becoming a village. the Baptists have had a Chapel here since 1868. They commenced building it in 1867. It is rented by the school board for the purpose of day school at the rate of £5 per annum. There is room enough for 103 children allowing 8ft of space for each child, and also in this place the church which was established in 1873 meets regularly.

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Mr. William Williams or William Morgan as he was called by the old folks or more frequently William the Miser, was the owner of Troedrhiwfuwch. It was left to him by his father. He gathered great wealth during his time and it is said that he has about £50,000. He bought many farms but Troedrhiwfuwch was generally regarded as being the most valuable and it undoubtedly is worth £200,000. The Church of England has established herself here too (but she doesn't appear to be prosperous here - but then she can prosper only where there is plenty of wealth to be had from tithes.

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The old farm stands in Sebastopol on the Troedrhiwfuwch land and there are three public houses on this land besides, namely Sebastopol Inn, Rising Sun, and Troedrhiwfuwch Arms. The houses number 45 - 50 and the population is between 250 and 300. The houses were built at different periods between 1853 and 1874 as the surrounding works were opened. Coal mining was started on the land of Troedrhiwfuwch by the son of Mrs. Williams, widow of the owner. It was then sold a “Packet” of years ago to Holoway & Co. who again sold it in 1868 to David Joseph Esq., the former Manager of the works belonging to Mr. Hill of Troedyrhiw and Merthyr Tydfil.

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There was a remarkable lawsuit between Mr. Lawrence, the present husband of Mrs. Mr. William's (The Miser) widow and Lord Bute regarding the stretch of land (as grazing ground for sheep) which was called Craig Troedrhiwfuwch and the Heir of Troedrhiwfuwch along with his step-father, Mr. Lawrence, won the day completely and it is said that he enclosed more land than he was entitled to but it is rather a pity that he did not enclose as far as Twyn-y-waun for the Judge said when closing his case "Give him all he claims".

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​From all accounts the coal seams at Troedrhiwfuwch have now almost been worked out.

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​There are many interesting and amusing tales in connection with Troedrhiwfuwch. After the mother of William the Miser died he had to have a servant to look after him and one day after she had been with him for many years she quarrelled with the Miser and in the course of the quarrel, somehow she received a fatal blow. The legal controversy that followed cost Williams a great deal of money and for one reason or another he was acquitted. This took place some seventy years ago around 1803 or 1804. Williams during his later years used to rent the farm to a tenant and retain one room for himself. He lived here and here also he stored potatoes, swedes, turnips, plums, cheese, bread, currants, apples, pears, treacle, gold and silver, bills and documents, the bed and his clothes all higgeldy piggeldy - what a mixture! It served as kitchen, bedroom, dining room, bank, pantry, counting house all in one. What a room!

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Wm. Croft kept a shop under the supervision of his mother-in-law and also Mr. Lewis of Tredegar and later Lew Williams (the Rock Inn after that) kept shops and so did old William Tyle Du at Pontlottyn and they all sold treacle at 3d per lb. But the treacle could be bought for 2 1/2d per 1b at Merthyr, so to Merthyr Mr. Williams would go to purchase 31lb at a time, thus saving 1 1/2d after having walked ten miles at least. He carried a walking stick about 6ft long which he used to hold by the middle and thus he would set off towards Fochriw. Through rushes bogs and streams he would go and I should not be surprised to learn that he took off his boots and carried them to save wearing them down. Undoubtedly in his old age he derived some pleasure in doing this sort of thing. He was frequently the butt of mischievous lads, especially when the fruit was ripe and especially the apples. the boys home when he would make such good use of them, thus saving cheese and butter so we had that little sleep dude in the fruit harvest.

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From 1803 until the period of peace after Waterloo in 1815 (when France had been at war along with the other great powers in Europe and when Gt. Britain had conquered France and all her allies) the Farmers decided to form a sort of Money Club which met at Abertysswg. It was customary for each farmer to pay £1. monthly. Then if the lot fell upon one of the farmers to become a soldier, £60 would be paid out of this fund to procure a man to become a soldier instead of the unlucky farmer. The lots were drawn at Caerphilly. Thomas Edwards the father of Rachel Williams the Rock Inn, Pontlottyn was the Rate Collector at Abertysswg and he was in charge of the Farmer's Club. After paying for a short time Williams the Miser came out one day to Abertysswg and he told Thomas Edwards - "Twmi I don't intend paying more money into the Club, I don't see the use of it". Twmi answered "Very well Billy". The Club met soon afterwards and Edwards warned those present that if during the next drawing of lots at Caerphilly, the lot should fall upon the Miser that one should leave immediately to let him know in order to forstall the Miser and prevent him getting any benefit from their Club. Well, the following Thursday, the lots were drawn and Oh! the misfortune! the lot fell upon Williams. With all speed one of the farmers rushed on horseback to convey the news to Edwards at Abertysswg. And now Williams the Miser was to become a soldier! If not, what expense! what a loss to the old Miser! He would have to dig deeply into the old stocking for £60! Would that he had paid the £1. But no, very early the next morning Williams turned up at Abertysswg. "Well Twmi - I have been thinking things over for several days now and I think that after all I had better pay the £1. into the Club - it will perhaps be more profitable in the end". "Oh indeed" said Edwards, "perhaps the lot fell upon you at Caerphilly last night”. “Yes, to be sure it did” answered the Miser. "Well then” said Edwards. “You have made your broth now drink it yourself – not a penny shall you have from this Club” and back to Troedrhiwfuwch went Williams very down hearted indeed for now to save his skin he would have to pay £60. What a blow to the Miser.

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It was a customary thing for the Farmers to take sheep, geese, ducks, chickens etc., to sell at Abergavenny and after the sale the farmers would all dine together, each paying for his own dinner afterwards. But one day, although Williams had done well, then it came time to pay up Williams was nowhere to be found. A thorough search was made for him and to everyone’s surprise he was found hiding in the straw under one of the horses mangers and he was forced to pay for his dinner ( an amount which would have been sufficient to keep him in bread and cheese for the whole week!) This was in 1822.

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​A Miss Williams fell deeply in love with the old Miser (she is. now Mrs. Lawrence) and at this period Harry Watkin (Henry Harri) had rented the farm from the old Miser and he lived in one of the rooms of the house. Miss Williams called frequently to see him (as lovers will) but after courting each other for a time one day the old Miser told Miss Williams that he would never Marry. With the word Miss Williams fell into a dead faint, Mari Harri Watkins was called to the scene and when she saw Miss Williams lying on the floor she said the old Miser - "Well Williams, you've killed one woman before and you had a Job to get free then and if this one dies again then they'll surely hang you this time”. "Without hesitation Williams said "If she revives, I’ll marry her.” She revived and very soon afterwards they were married by Special Licence at Gelligaer Church. Davies, the old Vicar of Capel Brithdir officiating. Williams was then 76 and Mrs. Williams 28. They lived together for 4 years during which time two or three sons were born to them. Williams died when he was 80. The eldest son died in Italy in 1860. He was sent there for the sake of his health when he was but 21 years old by Dr. Lawrence who had become his step father. His name was Charles. He left all his property to his mother and the children. He was of a quiet gentle intellectual ability.

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I should have said before that his father the Old Miser was a very good looking man with fair hair and blue eyes but that he was small stature.

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​Mrs. Williams, who is now Mrs Lawrence, had rather a bad accident (yet not bad on the whole) near Pontypool. she fell heavily from the back of her horse and broke her knee. Dr. Lawrence was called to attend to her and she paid the Dr's bill by giving herself to him as his Bride. He is obviously an able Doctor for Mrs. Lawrence has now no trace of lameness. Long live both Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence to continue in their good work at Troedrhiwfuwch.

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​Dr. Lawrence has given the Baptists a piece of land, freehold on which to build a chapel and he has made more than one land owner in the Village, I am told. The great ones of the world in all parts are seeking to destroy the Baptists but our King and our Brother lives and hence we shall live also. "Byw wyf fi a byw ffyddwch chwithdu nefyd".

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Many thanks to both Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence for their great generosity. But to get back to Troedrhiwfuwch Farm, It was in the hand of Nancy Troedrhiwfuwch in 1825 and Harri Watkin. Harri kept it when the old Miser died. One night after his death some thieves came to the house and after shooting the dog they set about looking for plunder. Mrs. Williams had escaped to the garden and was in hiding there when they found her and compelled her to hand over all the money that was in the house. Fortunately, there was but little there but they left taking with them such silver plate. They did no harm to Mrs. Williams, apart from giving her a bad fright.

​Mr. Buchan of the Company Shop, Rhymney opened the coal level which is near the Rising Sun in 1854 and in 1856 he sold it to the Rhymney Iron Company. The works belonging to Thomas Joseph Esq., were called New Brithdir Colliery. He rented the place in 1857. The Level which is near Stephen Lewis' shop (formerly owned by Gwilym Graig y Tyla) is now called the Tirphil Colliery. Mr. Joseph has 72 coke ovens here and 2 Levels. 65,000 tons of coal is raised annually, and 21,000 tons of Coke is produced. Craig Rhymney is the next farm to the right of Troedrhiwfuwch.