For a measure of the wealth that accumulated at the top of the industrial pile, check out this castle, built in 1824 by William Crawshay II, overlooking his ironworks. Set into the hillside across the river from the castle are the Cyfarthfa Blast Furnaces, all that remains of them. The house is now jam-packed with interesting stuff, from ancient Egyptian and Roman artefacts to Wedgwood porcelain to a George Best tie rack. The basement houses an excellent exhibition on Merthyr's gritty history.
