Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
A Pair of Vintage Dexter Roller Skates.
A pair of Vintage Dexter Roller Skates with Bakelite wheels a set of Dexter stamped metal wheels with hub caps.
Made from leather, Bakelite and metal. Size – There is no size stamped on the boots although their dimensions are 12″ x 10″ inches. There are 15 lace holes with 72″ inches long laces to match.
Roller Skating in Abertillery.
Roller skating at Abertillery seems to have began when a rink was constructed at the Colliers Hall, Cwmtillery in March 1901.
The Colliers Hall.
On Monday 4th of March 1901, a skating ring was opened to the public at the Colliers Hall, Cwmtillery. The main room at the miner’s hall was said to have been shared by the roller ring and a shooting gallery. It was stated in the South Wales Gazette that the whole undertaking had been launched by the Cwmtillery Workmen’s Institute and was opened by the Secretary Mr Hobkirk. I am not sure how long this roller ring was in use but after the pastime of skating was revived a new rink was opened at the hall (as seen below).
There were no other reports of the pastime of skating until it was revived during the winter of 1909. During this time, it gained in popularity that the authorities quickly reacted and provided rinks within many public buildings and Mr Arthur Tilney at Abertillery constructed a purpose-built skating hall at Carlyle Street, Abertillery.
The Market Hall.
On Tuesday 2nd of November 1909, the Market Hall, Market Street, Abertillery was the first to provide a roller-skating rink at the premises.
The Empress Skating Rink.
On Wednesday 17th of November 1909, the Empress Skating Hall at Carlyle Street, Abertillery was opened to the public. The building was purpose built as a skating hall constructed by Mr Arthur Tilney, who also owned the Pavilion Theatre. After the pastime of skating died-off Mr Tilney converted the rink building into a picture hall and renamed it the Empress Picture Hall.
Roller Hockey Game.
On Tuesday 8th of February 1910, a roller hockey match took place at the Empress Skating Rink, Abertillery between two teams, that of Mr H. Tilney and Mr D. T. Bond. The team members were as follows – Mr Tilney’s team were the Aberbeeg Nomads Hockey Club, Goal – Mr T. Nicholas; Back – Mr M. R. Lewis; Forwards – Mr C. S. Reed; Mr C. Stafford and Mr H. Tilney: Mr Bonds Team, Goal – Mr T. J. Keir; Back – Mr J. Bowen; Forwards – Mr D. J. Evans; Mr L. W. Wallen and Mr D. Thomas: The Aberbeeg Nomads won 3 goals to 1.
The Alexandra Skating Rink.
On Friday 26th of November 1909, the Alexandra Skating Rink, Alexandra Road, Six Bells, Abertillery was opened to the public, it was constructed by Messrs Skidmore and McWhirter of Six Bells and was a part of their Alexandra Buildings combine. Again, as skating declined the owners sold the rink and it was converted into a picture house, renamed the Kino Picture Hall. The team members at Six Bells consisted of the following: Goal Keeper – Mr S. Simkins; Back – Mr S. Rees; Center – Mr E. Ackland; Left Wing – Mr R. Thomas; Right Wing – Mr E. Nicholas: Referee – Mr A. L. Cranch: The team jerseys had A.R.H.C. emblazoned across the chest, denoting Alexandra Roller Hockey Club.
Colliers Hall.
On Wednesday 8th of December 1909, the Colliers Hall Skating Rink was opened to the public. Mr Henry Sutcliffe was the instructor at the hall. The Colliers Hall was originally the first place to cater for roller skating back in March 1901 (as seen above).
Roller Skate Manufacturers.
In March 1910 Ads were placed in the South Wales Gazette for the sale of roller skates made by Richardson, Veloplane and Empress, these skates could be purchased at Mr Edwin Price’s Athletic Stores, Abertillery. Other skate manufacturers made skates such as – Richardson’s, Chicago, Relifast, Derby, Invicta, Union, Winslow, Elite and Meteor Skates.
The Lucania and the Regents Ballroom.
After the old Alexandra Skating Hall, later Kino Picture Hall closed, the building on Alexandra Road, Six Bells was sold and was renamed the Lucania which housed the Regents Ballroom, it was used as a dance hall with its own orchestra. The proprietor was reported as being a Mr Emlyn Everard Purnell of Gwern Berthi Road, Cwmtillery, Mr Purnell was also the conductor of the ballroom orchestra. The Lucania had a billiard hall and the ballroom which catered for roller skating during the 1920’s, 30’s and into the 1950’s.
The Drill Hall.
On Saturday 16th of March 1957, a new modern roller-skating rink was opened at the Drill Hall, Abertillery. I’m not sure if its opening was delayed, as a few months later on Wednesday 20th November 1957 the South Wales Gazette printed ads for the opening of the roller-skating rink at the premises.
The West Side Social and Sports Club, Cwmtillery.
Much later, the West Side Social and Sports Club, Cwmtillery provided for roller skating at the hut at West Side, Cwmtillery.
Abertillery Sports Centre.
In the early to mid 1980’s the Abertillery Leisure Centre, Vivian Street, Abertillery was used as a venue for roller skating.