The local board of health for Merthyr Tydfil, which was established under the chairmanship of Sir John Guest, in 1850, initially established its offices at 71 High Street. Proposals for a new town hall were considered in 1869, but the local board decided that such a development could not be afforded at that time. Following significant population growth, particularly associated with the coal mining industry, the area became an urban district in 1894. The new civic leaders decided to proceed with the town hall development: the site they close was open land on the corner of the High Street and New Castle Street, just to the north of the old offices of the local board of health.
