Blaenau Gwent Workmens Club

Blaenau Gwent Workmens Club.
The Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club was addressed 155 Alma Street, a shop premises, the end building on the approach to Lewis Street from Alma Street. The houses on Lewis Street were numbered 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 which were a continuation of the Gaen Street house numbers.

Number 155 Alma Street.
In 1900, long before the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club was formed, the premises at 155 Alma Street was a shop in the possession of Mr Knight with the houses numbered 42 and 43 Lewis Street, attached, being occupied by Messrs Payne and Thorne. In 1901, Thomas and Elizabeth Clayton lived at the premises. Not long after Messrs Michael and Sidney Ash lived there and later Mr Barney Harris, a local pawnbroker was at the address although Mr Harris was later made bankrupt. 

First Mention.
The club was first mentioned in a job’s vacancy advertisement in the Western Mail newspaper on Monday 9th of May 1927. A steward and stewardess were wanted for the club, wages £3. 10s. with living accommodation, light and coal. A £50 bond required.

House Sales.
On a property sales sheet dated 1929 it states that the houses numbered 42 and 43 Lewis Street, Blaenau Gwent, were for sale along with 155 Alma Street, which was described as a shop premises, which was then in the occupation of Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club at £80 per annum.

The Lease on the Building.
The building was mentioned in an article in the South Wales Gazette on Friday 2nd of October 1931 – 155 Alma Street, Abertillery, given a 999 year lease as from the 1st of January 1891. That doesn’t mean that the club began at this time, just that the building was given a lease from that date and I believe it was originally a 3 storey building with a shop at the ground floor.

The Extension Into Lewis Street.
In 1940, number 43 Lewis Street disappeared from the electoral registers and in 1959 number 42 Lewis Street was not registered. This makes me believe that Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club purchased both 42 and 43 over this time and extended the club premises. These two houses can still be seen behind the facade of the club entrance.

There isn’t a great deal of information regarding the founding of the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club, Alma Street, Abertillery.

The Founder of the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.
The founder of the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club was stated as being Mr Gregory Gardner later of 2 Clydach Cottages, Gwern Berthi Road, Cwmtillery.

Mr Stanley James.
In 1934 Mr Stanley James and Mrs Elizabeth James were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club. Mr James passed away in 1940.

Mrs Elizabeth James.
There were no records of the tenancy between 1940 and 1944 although Mrs Elizabeth James the widow of Stanley James was resident at 155 Alma Street in 1945.

Mr Albert G. Coles.
In 1945 Mr Albert G. Coles was steward of the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club. Also registered at the address was Mrs Elizabeth James.

Mr Rowland Gay.
In 1948 Mr Rowland Gay and Mrs Mary Gay were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club. Mrs Elizabeth Parsons was listed as being at 155 Alma Street.

Mr Edwin E. Taylor.
In 1950 Mr Edwin E. Taylor and Mrs Delena M. Taylor were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Lewis Prosser.
In 1951 Mr Lewis Prosser and Mrs Jean Prosser were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Leonard Davies.
In 1954 Mr Leonard Davies and Agnes V. Davies were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr William Henry Bibey.
In 1955 Mr William Henry Bibey and Mrs Doreen Bibey were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr David Childs.
In 1959 Mr David J. Childs and Mrs Valerie B. Childs were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Wyndham Meredith.
In 1960 Mr Wyndham Meredith and Mrs Phyllis Meredith were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club. Mr Meredith left the Workmen’s Club in 1962 to become steward at the newly formed Rose Heyworth Tenant’s Club at the Rose Heyworth housing estate.

Mr Douglas Jones.
In 1963 Mr Douglas Jones and Mrs Rita Jones were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr William M. Hancock.
In 1964 Mr William M. Hancock and Mrs Ella M. Hancock were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Sidney Hill.
In 1965 Mr Sidney Hill and Mrs Gwen Hill were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Reginald Rolfe.
In 1966 Mr Reginald Rolfe and Mrs Maureen Rolfe were steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Frederick Tucker.
In 1967 Mr Frederick Tucker was steward at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

Mr Edward Holbourn.
In 1971 Mr Edward Holbourn was listed as steward at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club. There is then a gap in information in regard to the club’s stewards.

Ken and Shirley Meek and Family.
In about 1980 Mr Ken Meek and his wife Mrs Shirley Meek and family were listed as being steward and stewardess at the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.

The Closure of the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club.
The Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club ceased to exist from the 8th of August 1985.

Mr Ron Bradley.
After the closure of the Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club, the building was purchased by Mr Ron Bradley, although it was left derelict.

Mr Richard Carey.
Towards the end of 1988, Mr Richard Carey and his wife Mrs Andrea Carey purchased the old Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club off Mr Ron Bradley with the intention of transforming the old premises into a fitness and health club.

The Physique Health and Fitness Club.
Sometime between 1989 and 1990, Richard and Andrea Carey had converted the old Blaenau Gwent Workmen’s Club into the Physique Health and Fitness Club.

Thanks to Bryan Boots, Richard Carey and Andrew Eddy Edmunds.