employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, over 7,000 people, the works being at one stage the largest in the world.

Governance

Dowlais was originally part of the parish of Merthyr Tydfil. In 1872 its population was 15,590.

From 1973 to 1996 Dowlais was an electoral ward in Mid Glamorgan County Council. Since 1996 it has been a ward in the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough,