Blaina and Nantyglo Fire Brigade – Formation and Early History. In the mid to late 1880’s the need for protection against fire in the district was first brought to the attention of the Nantyglo and Blaina Local Board by Mr Edmund Harris. The matter was held over until a later date. The Beginning. On Thursday 25th of October 1888, a …

Cruttwell and Allies & Co – Cwm Celyn and Blaina Iron Works. A letter envelope dated February 1853, to Messrs Cruttwell, Allies & Co, Cwm Celyn and Blaina Works, near Newport, Monmouthshire. Folded size – 5″ x 3″ inches. In the 1850’s Mr Frederick Levick was in partnership with Mr George Shaw Munn; Mr Robert Cruttwell; Mr Robert Allies; Mr …

Nantyglo and Blaina Hospital for Infectious Diseases. Epidemics. Throughout time many epidemics had broken out in England and Wales. Since records began in the 1600’s they were mainly confined to large cities and spread through the populous areas with poor sanitary conditions and inadequate supplies of drinking water. Though as the population grew and expanded (mostly in primitive conditions) to …

Arrail Street, Griffin Street and Lancaster Street – Six Bells. The houses on Arrail Street, Griffin Street and Lancaster Street were constructed over a period of about five years from 1898 to 1903. The housing scheme was under the direction of the Messrs J. Lancaster & Company through the Arrail Griffin Building Club. The architect was Mr Charles Telford Evans, …

The Blaina Instruction Society. In January 1846 a British and Foreign School was built at the Blaina and Cwmcelyn Iron Works (as seen in the clipping left) to educate the children of the many iron workers and was established through the persistence of Mr Frederick Levick, Ironmaster of the Blaina and Cwmcelyn Iron Works. In March 1848 it was reported …

Six Bells Infants and Mixed Schools. Until 1890 the village of Six Bells, Abertillery was sparsely inhabited with just a couple of coal levels and a handful of cottages. The children of the village used to have to travel to schools outside the village such as Abertillery or Aberbeeg. In the late 1880’s the population was growing and when Messrs …

William Williams & Co – Nantyglo Iron Works 1811. Mr William Williams was partner with Mr Matthew Wayne and Mr Joseph Bailey Esq at Nantyglo Iron Works in the early 1800’s. Their partnership was known as William Williams & Co and was a company shop business when the Nantyglo Ironworks were in its infancy. The partnership of Bailey and Wayne …

Blaina House – Cwmcelyn, Blaina. Blaina House, along with a few other houses and the Blaina Inn belonged to and was part of the Blaina Estate. The estate was all part of the Blaina Iron Works. I don’t know the exact date Blaina House was constructed though it was on the 1840 tithe tap (as seen left) The block of …

Blaina Iron Works. Mr George Jones. The Blaina Iron Works were established in 1820 by Mr George Jones, Mr Jones was a Shropshire Iron Master. Over the proceeding years the area slowly built up around the iron works and was later carried on by Mr Richard Brown and his sons Thomas and James. More information on Mr George Jones below. …

Rose Heyworth Colliery. Rose Heyworth Colliery – An image of the colliery with the original wooden headgear and flat winding rope, taken late 1890’s early 1900. In the distance (top left) are the waste tips from the Coed Cae Tillery Levels. The waste tips are now behind the top Arael View houses. The coal trucks entering the building (left) are …