Merthyr Tydfil is a county and town in the South of Wales with a population of 55,000 over an area of 69 sq miles making it one of the smallest areas in the UK. Merthyr Tydfil has been inhabited since ancient times however only since the Middle Ages that a permanent habitation can be found.

Merthyr Tydfil played an important part in the Industrial Revolution with major coal mining, steel works and iron works. Since that time the area has become significantly disadvantaged but a new open cast mine opened in 2006 has 10 million tonnes of coal to be extracted in the next few years.

Famous people with a link to Merthyr Tydfil are ex Merthyr Tydfil MP and Prime Minister Kier Hardy, singer Rolf Harris, fashion designer Laura Ashley and composer Joseph Owen.