Capel y ton was first built in 1791 in High street, due to its popularity it was rebuilt twice, the first in 1836 and then the current chapel, which was built in 1863 and has since received a facelift in 1905.With congregation numbers falling from over a hundred during the second world war to only 12, the chapel was closed on the last Sunday of 2002. the bbc’s website published an article in 2003 about the chapels closure which can be read in both welsh and english HERE
After several years of closure the chapel was sold by auction (for £30,000) by Seel & Co of Cardiff (auction details HERE). just before the auction took place I contacted the viewing agents Lanyon Davies & Evans of Pontypridd and they graciously allowed me access to photograph the chapel and the graves.I found it in a terrible condition as it had been vandalized inside with paint being thrown over the pews, almost all the windows being broken and any remaining bibles and books being torn up. the graveyard was also very overgrown after four years of neglect. fortunately I took a lot of photographs that day, very fortunate infact as the chapel was destroyed by a fire in the early hours of October 20th 2007. click the inferno photograph below for more details of the fire, or check the fire thread on the tonyrefail.org forums HERE for up to date information.
click the photo to find further information on the fire at capel y ton and photographs of the aftermath
a photo of capel y ton before its renovation in 1905
a view of capel y ton taken on august 8th 2006 showing an overgrown and vandalized chapel
I have burial records from Capel y ton including a map of the graves original locations, an A to Z index of names of those buried there and the grave stones inscriptions. including those moved in the road widening in 1969 if you want details of any burials please contact me
click the photo to see the photos of the chapel taken before the fire in august 2006
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