Cyfarthfa200

In 2025, Cyfarthfa Castle celebrated its bicentenary. Alongside other partners, the Cyfarthfa Foundation and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council organised a number of celebratory events to highlight its history and heritage, its national and international importance as the greatest centre of ironmaking in the world during the nineteenth century, and the multi-faceted history of the people and community that made it.

The bicentenary year was celebrated with over 200 events across Cyfarthfa Park and Castle. Events were delivered by Cyfarthfa Museum and Art Gallery, the Cyfarthfa Foundation and a wide range of other individuals and partner organisations across Merthyr Tydfil. This includes members of the Cyfarthfa Park Forum including Merthyr's Roots, Merthyr Tydfil & District Naturalist Society, Oriel Bothy Gallery, Halo Leisure, Cyfarthfa Miniature Railway and the Rose Retreat Spa.

Event highlights

The bicentenary festivities fostered extensive local collaboration through seasonal events, including a Halloween trail, a Christmas light show, and the launch of the Giant Storytelling Chair.

Athletic and academic communities were also deeply involved, with the Merthyr Tydfil Half Marathon rerouted through the park, students from The College Merthyr Tydfil curating history-inspired art exhibitions, and the Lafur Welsh People's History Society hosting a conference at Theatr Soar.

Culturally, the Cyfarthfa: Juxtaposed arts prize attracted entries from 76 Welsh artists creating contemporary responses to the museum's collection, while a celebratory event at the Senedd brought national visibility to Merthyr's rich heritage.

Their Majesties visit Cyfarthfa - Credit Merthyr Tydfil Council.jpeg

Cyfarthfa Castle and Park recently hosted a vibrant series of community events, highlighted by a royal visit from Their Majesties The King and Queen to celebrate His Majesty's 77th birthday.

The celebrations also marked the bicentenary of Cyfarthfa Castle, which inspired creative workshops for 560 students across 23 local schools, resulting in the publication of three books, alongside a commemorative town centre mural by artist Tee2Sugars.

Ruth Jones and Steven Spiers - Image credit - ITV Cymru Wales.jpg

Major public engagement milestones included an exhibition on Cyfarthfa's history and future that drew nearly 4,000 visitors, a birthday weekend festival attended by 2,500 people, and a BBC Cymru Wales broadcast that reached over 1.7 million viewers.

The Impact of Cyfarthfa200

The year of celebration resulted in a 75% increase in the number of visitors to Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery (vs 2024) and The Cyfarthfa200 campaign was shortlisted for Marketing + Communications Campaign of the Year at the 2026 Museum and Heritage Awards alongside industry leaders like the National History Museum and Imperial War Museums.

Much of what we were able to achieve was due to the active and lively contribution of many of the participating organisations and individuals, and the sheer pride of the people of Merthyr Tydfil which turned a date on a calendar into a movement for regeneration, and built significant momentum towards the long-term vision for Cyfarthfa.