Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Mr T. H. Prichard 1867-1935.
Mr Thomas Henry Prichard was the son of the Rev John Prichard, one of the most well-known Baptist Ministers in South Wales who had held pastorates at Noddfa, Abersychan and Tonyrefail.
Mr Thomas Henry Prichard (as seen left) was born in 1867 at Abersychan, he later served his apprenticeship as a Pharmaceutical Chemist at Porth and was for some years at Bridgend, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Manchester where he qualified as M.P.S.
The Medical Hall, Abertillery.
In 1892 Mr Thomas Henry Prichard opened a chemist business on his own account at Abertillery called the Medical Hall at Cwm Street, Abertillery, later renamed Somerset Street. Mr T. H. Prichard later opened chemist shops at Ely, Cwmfelinfach, Merthyr, Blaina and Nantyglo.
The First Advertisement.
The advert (as seen right) is from the 25th of October 1895 and one of the earliest I could find published in any newspaper.
Mr and Mrs Prichard.
Mr Thomas Henry Prichard married Miss Elizabeth Ann Edwards in 1893. Miss Elizabeth Ann Edwards born in Brynmawr, Breconshire in 1873 was the daughter of the well-known Rev Eliasaph Edwards of Ebbw Vale.
Thomas and Elizabeth Prichard had five children, four sons – Master Henry Edwards Prichard, born 1894. Master Oswald Reginald Prichard, born 1905. Master Emrys Prichard, born 1907 and Master Glyn Prichard, born? and a daughter Gladys Maud Prichard born in 1896.
(More information to come).
Mr T. H. Prichard at Church Street.
In December 1902 it was advertised that Mr T. H. Prichard had opened a branch of the chemist in Church Street, Abertillery. This coincides with the fact that the shop in Church Street was opened in the buildings that had been newly constructed in 1902. I am unsure of the dates the later branches opened but it was reported that his chemists at Abertillery soon developed into one of the largest businesses of its kind in Monmouthshire.
Councillor Mr T. H. Prichard.
In the early 1900’s Mr Thomas Henry Prichard became a councillor for the Abertillery District Council and its chairman in 1911-1912. (More information to come).
Messrs Prichard & Son.
In about 1925 Mr Prichard took his son into the business and it was renamed Prichard & Son.
The Death of Mr T. H. Prichard.
In November 1935 Mr Thomas Henry Prichard died, he passed away at his home Oakleigh, Oak Street, Abertillery. Mrs Elizabeth Ann Prichard died in February 1961 and are both buried at the Blaenau Gwent Baptist Chapel Cemetery, Blaenau Gwent.
The Six Bells Branch.
In October 1948 it was reported that Messrs T. H. Prichard Chemist had opened a store at 23 Alexandra Road, Six Bells, Abertillery.
The Later Years.
The business of Prichard’s Chemists at the Medical Hall and Church Street, Abertillery is still operating under the same such name, it is the oldest continuous business in Abertillery. The company has been trading since 1892 and still going strong.