Dowlais

Dowlais
The Guest Memorial Library
Dowlais
Location within Merthyr Tydfil
Population6,926 (2011 census)
OS grid referenceSO075075
Principal area
  • Merthyr Tydfil
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMerthyr Tydfil
Postcode districtCF48
Dialling code01685 38
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

Dowlais (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈdɔu̯lai̯s]) is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in South Wales. The name is derived from the Welsh du meaning 'black' and glais meaning 'stream'. Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, over 7,000 people, the works being at one stage the largest in the world.