73 Nightingale Street

73 Nightingale Street is a terraced house built between 1852 and 1861, part of an important early group of industrial housing at Abercanaid. The settlement originally comprised 7 terraces in 4 rows facing east between the river and canal (one in River Row, two facing and two backing onto Nightingale Street, and two in Canal Row), followed to the north by three longer rows at right angles to the river and canal known as The Squares, a terrace of larger houses backing onto the canal, and two detached houses for higher-grade employees. The terraces were possibly built by the Plymouth Iron Company to house workers at the Abercanaid Pit and Pentrebach Forge. Of the original 7 terraces, all survive but five are listed; the rear two in Canal Row are unlisted. The northern terraces have been demolished, though one of the two detached houses, Llwynyreos, survives.

Though small, these houses are relatively generous for their era, comparable to those at nearby Triangle, Pentrebach (now demolished). They are double-fronted rather than the earlier single-window-and-door type seen at Rhydycar (now at St Fagans Museum), but narrow with roof-spans of 4 to 5 metres and without rear outshuts, since roads or access paths ran both front and back. As originally built, the plan was arranged around a centre passageway and rear staircase. The houses were constructed of rubble stone with small-paned sash windows, slate roofs with close eaves, and stone chimneys. Stone voussoirs and sills frame the openings on both floors. The façades are slightly offset to accommodate larger kitchen chimneys, the offset sides alternated to create mirrored pairs. Gardens in front or behind were accessed via a footpath running down the terrace line. Houses backing onto gardens (numbers 70–81 Nightingale Street) have generally been extended to the rear; others retain original depth.

The rear walls are also of rubble stone, originally featuring one small door and pantry window below on one side, and one small upper window. Houses further south in Nightingale Street appear to be of later date and, though much altered, contribute to the character of the Abercanaid settlement.

No. 73 originally had 12-pane sashes and a 4-panel door when listed in 1975. The stone voussoirs and sills remain visible. The house now has 21st-century uPVC windows and door (inserted 2003) and a rendered rear wall with one upper window.