Brynithel Cemetery – Abertillery

Brynithel Cemetery – Abertillery.
The southern part of the Parish of Aberystruth (from Cwmtillery to Llanhilleth) initially had two major churches, the Parish Church of St Illtyds at Llanhilleth and the Blaenau Gwent Baptist Church, Blaenau Gwent, Abertillery. I don’t know when burials began at St Illtyds though the first person to be interred at Blaenau Gwent Baptist Church was in 1715, the wife of Mr Watcin Harry. During the early 18th century there were not many people living in the valley and the population was very sparse with ample burial spaces at these places of worship.

As the Industrial Revolution began thousands of people migrated to this valley in search of employment in the iron and coal industries. The old burial grounds were not designed for the rapid change in population and death rates, they were not able to accommodate the mass influx of people living in unsanitary conditions and working in dangerous occupations. Towards the end of the 19th century St Illtyds and Blaenau Gwent graveyards were becoming full to capacity and new burial grounds were badly needed.

As the population rose the death rates grew, Dr Muir of Cwmtillery had reported 400 to 450 deaths on average per year at the Abertillery district, adding to this, it was feared that if there was a large-scale colliery disaster there would be no place to bury the dead.

It was later reported that there were then four cemeteries in the area, one at Llanhilleth and one at Cwmtillery belonging to the Established Church and one at Blaenau Gwent and one at Glandwr, Aberbeeg belonging to the Nonconformists, it was said the Llanhilleth cemeteries were practically full.

The New Cemetery Proposal.
On Monday 14th of August 1899, at the monthly meeting of the Abertillery District Council held at the Council Offices, Abertillery, Mr William Davies J.P., presided, the following members attended – Mr W. Thomas; Mr W. P. Thomas; Mr C. W. Carpenter; Mr William Lewis; Mr Arthur Tilney; Mr E. J. Williams; Mr Daniel Lewis; Mr G. Gregory; Mr A. P. Williams; Mr C. B. Cook; Mr J. A. Shepard (Clerk); Mr William Gait (Assistant Clerk); Mr James McBean (Surveyor) and Mr F. Padfield (Inspector): At this meeting a new cemetery was proposed when Mr W. P. Thomas said that the question of a new cemetery be further considered, a committee had been formed for the purpose of selecting a site but no report had been received. The Blaenau Gwent cemetery was rapidly filling up and a new cemetery had to be established. Mr Carpenter seconded and the motion was carried.

On Tuesday 12th of September 1899, at an ordinary meeting of the Abertillery District Council the Sanitary Committee were shown a plan of the different sites considered suitable for the formation of a public cemetery. Two sites were proposed, one at Cwmnantygroes and another close to the Arael Farm on the Arael Mountain. Mr W. Thomas suggested that it was essential that any new cemetery should have ease of access and be placed central, he had recently observed a child’s funeral ascend a steep hill, the horse refused to go and the undertaker had to carry the coffin, Mr Thomas thought it was disgraceful.

On Monday 8th of January 1900, at a monthly meeting held at the Council Offices, King Street, Abertillery, Mr William Davies J.P., presided, the following members attended – Mr W. Stewart; Mr W. Thomas of Aberbeeg; Mr Moses Adams; Mr Theo Evans; Mr William Lewis; Mr Arthur Tilney; Mr E. J. Williams; Mr C. W. Carpenter; Mr Daniel Lewis; Mr G. Gregory; Mr A. P. Williams; Mr C. B. Cook; Mr J. A. Shepard (Clerk); Mr William Gait (Assistant Clerk); Mr James McBean (Surveyor); Mr David Edwards (Collector) and Mr F. Padfield (Inspector): At this meeting Mr Theo Evans stated a site for the new cemetery had been chosen on the Arael Mountain. Mr Evans had given it consideration and thought a more convenient site would be adjoining the present Parish Church at Llanhilleth, it would be a good connection between the people of Pontypool and Six Bells, Mr C. W. Carpenter agreed and the matter was held over

It was later decided to enter into talks with the owners of the Argoed Farm with the intention of purchasing land to lay-out a cemetery at that place.

The Argoed Farm Land.
In February 1900 the council members arranged to meet on the fields close to Argoed Farm in connection with the proposed cemetery, the site meeting was called off owing to the severity of the weather at the site and it was arranged for a later date.

In September 1900 the council announced that Mr Evans, along with the surveyor and the medical officer had visited the site and thought it ideal for the proposed cemetery and instructed the surveyor to make plans and levels to see if an approach road with the right gradient could be constructed to the site.

In November 1900 the council surveyor reported, the levels he had taken found the distance from the Llanhilleth Schools to the new cemetery were too short to form a roadway of any practical gradient and therefore to get a satisfactory gradient of 1 in 11 it was necessary to commence from the Six Bells junction. The distance was approximately 1,000 metres to meet the altitude of 270 feet, a gradient of 1 in 11. The costs of which was calculated at £500 provided no unseen circumstances occurred. The council instructed the clerk to write to Messrs Graham Hitchcox & Co and the executors of the late Mr John Lewis of Aberbeeg asking permission to make trial boreholes and to the terms upon which the land may be obtained. The council were debating on whether to purchase the Argoed Farm outright to have total control over the ground for the new cemetery and for future planning.

In September 1902 the Abertillery District Council were informed via Mr William Graham that the trustees of Sir Thomas Phillips’ will – could not be advised to sell Argoed Farm in connection with the proposed new cemetery.

In April 1903 the council were still having arguments over the location of the site for the proposed new cemetery. Mr Stewart thought it was too exposed and another site should be considered. Mr T. Evans said he disagreed and that it was lower and more sheltered than that at Llanhilleth Parish Church, also the cost of land in the valley was £800 to £900 per acre, they were having 15 acres for the site for a cemetery at just £2,000 and a new road. The council heard the occupier of Argoed Farm asked for £15 for the permission to sink the trial holes and offered to do the work for £2 per hole.

In September 1903 the surveyor submitted a plan to the council showing the proposed new road to the new cemetery at Argoed Farm, from Six Bells junction to Penrhiw.

On Monday 8th of February 1904, at a monthly meeting held at the Council Offices, King Street, Abertillery, Mr E. J. Williams (Chairman); Mr J. Tarrant (Vice-Chairman); Mr W. Thomas; Mr W. Stewart; Mr G. Jones; Mr T. H. Prichard; Mr R. Downs; Mr G. Purnell; Mr W. P. Thomas; Mr D. Smith; Mr A. C. Willis; Mr F. Athay; Mr W. Lewis; Mr G. Little; Mr D. Lewis; Mr J. A. Shepard (Clerk); Mr William Gait (Assistant Clerk); Mr James McBean (Surveyor); Mr D. Lewis (Assistant Surveyor); Mr David Edwards (Collector); Mr W. Tarrant (Assistant Collector) and Mr F. Padfield (Inspector): At this meeting it was stated the Sanitary Committee (consisting of gentlemen of the council) had received a letter from Graham Hitchcox & Co saying they had instructed Messrs Lyne & Co to prepare the draft conveyance of the land for a public cemetery near Argoed Farm. A further letter from Graham Hitchcox & Co fully setting out the terms of the sale of land. It was recommended to purchase 17 perches of land close to the old level at Six Bells at £85 to construct an approach road to the new cemetery. A letter from Messrs Bythway & Son stated their clients were prepared to sell the land for 2d. per square yard over a 22-year purchase.

Proposed New Houses.
It was originally planned by the Abertillery District Council to have houses built all along the new approach road to the new cemetery, though their plans were never followed through. The idea was looked at again as the new road was being constructed though planning was dismissed yet again. 

The New Cemetery.
On Friday 23rd of December 1904, the Abertillery District Council held a special meeting, those present were Mr J. Tarrant (Chairman); Mr R. Downs; Mr G. Little; Mr E. J. Williams; Mr F. Athay; Mr T. H. Prichard and Mr G. Jones with the clerk, and surveyor etc: At this meeting the Surveyor Mr James McBean submitted his detailed estimates of the costs of providing a cemetery for the district, under the provisions of the Public Health Interment Act of 1877, the Burial Act of 1900, which amounted to £12,524. 10s. 4d. The clerk was instructed to make an application for sanction to borrow the said amount, to be repaid over 40 years.

On Thursday 23rd of February 1905, a Local Government Board inquiry was held at the Abertillery Urban District Council Offices held by Mr A. E. Sandford Fawcett C.E., with reference to the application by the Abertillery Urban District Council for sanction to borrow £12,534 to lay out the new cemetery at Aberbeeg. Five council members attended with the clerk, surveyor, sanitary inspector, vice-chairman and Medical Officer Mr D. Muir, no private ratepayers were present and there were no opposition to the project. The surveyor, clerk and inspector supplied the following information – The site was 15 acres of freehold land at a cost of £2,000 the council had not purchased the mineral rights, though provision was made for compensation in case of subsidence. The coal seams were 100 to 200 yards from the surface and there was good drainage. The surveyor stated the cemetery could provide 13,650 graves (nine’ feet by four’ feet), the roads were to be Macadamised. A mortuary chapel was planned to accommodate 120 people with a caretaker’s cottage. The cemetery would be surrounded by un-climbable fencing, and an accommodation road would be laid from Six Bells to Penrhiw.

As the work on the new cemetery and approach road began, Surveyor Mr McBean was not too pleased in the position in which the council had placed him. He stated the council had put him in the position of contractor, to deploy a foreman and to employ men to carry out the work, though the council wanted Mr McBean to use local labour and not to employ workers from Crickhowell and elsewhere! Mr McBean replied he “didn’t have local men who were capable of laying roads, or for the laying out and draining ground for cemeteries”.

In November 1906 the housing question in Abertillery was again raised at a monthly meeting of the Abertillery and District Trades and Labour Council, presided over by Mr J. Snellgrove. At the meeting it was announced that the new road to the cemetery had been completed, plant was on the spot for building a caretaker’s house and a chapel. Mr A. C. Willis wanted to press ahead with the construction of houses along the new road while the machinery was there. It was agreed to press the members of the Abertillery Urban District Council to buy up the land and to build houses.

In April 1907 Mr James McBean the council surveyor told the council the new cemetery would be ready for interments in October 1907.

In June 1907 Mr Isaac Thomas, the tenant of Argoed Farm sadly passed away at the age of 52. It was reported he was interred at Llanhilleth Parish Churchyard.

The Caretakers Cottage.
In July 1907 Mr James McBean the council surveyor submitted two designs for the caretaker’s cottage at the new cemetery, Brynithel. One was approved of and the surveyor was instructed to cement the house in consequence of the poor quality of stone available at the time.

The Cemetery Chapel of Rest.
The chapel of rest at the cemetery (as seen far left in the image to the left) was designed by the surveyor of the council Mr James McBean and was built under his direction.

In September 1907 the council awarded the following tenders – Un-climbable fencing for the new road in connection with the new cemetery to Messrs Bayliss, Jones and Bayliss of Wolverhampton at 5s. per yard. Tenders for slates and battens for the cemetery chapel and cottage (as seen in the image left looking north) to Messrs Mayberry and Co of Newport, Monmouthshire. The council also received a letter from the undersecretary of state approving of the table of fees for services rendered by ministers of religion in regard to the new cemetery.

In November 1907 the caretaker’s cottage at the new cemetery had been completed. Mr F. Powell’s decorating tender was accepted and was given the contract to paint the cottage. 

On Monday 13th of January 1908, at a monthly meeting of the Abertillery Urban District Council held at the Council Offices, King Street Abertillery, it was stated that a special committee consisting of two members of each ward, was appointed for the purpose of taking into consideration arrangements in connection with the new cemetery. This committee – Mr D. Smith (Chairman); Mr A. T. Jenkins and Mr J. E. Flowers with the clerk and surveyor had met on the Friday 20th December 1907, they recommended the advertisement of a caretaker to take sole charge of the new cemetery, who must be experienced as a practical gardener, to keep books, registers and accounts of the cemetery, the salary was 35s. per week, with a house, coal and light provided.

At the council meeting, Councillor Mr R. Downs enquired as to when the new cemetery would be open as it was a disgrace that people were still being interred at the Llanhilleth Church Yard. A neighbour of Mr Downs had enquired as she had recently buried her son at Llanhilleth Church and later found out he had been buried in the wrong grave, she intended having him re-interred at the new cemetery after permission from the Home Secretary.

On Friday 31st of January 1908, tenders were invited for the position of caretaker gravedigger at the new cemetery, Brynithel. It had the same conditions (as stated above) though an amended salary of 27s. per week and an age limit to under 40 years of age for applicants. Their duties would begin on the 30th of March 1908. Applications to Mr William Gait, Clerk to the Council, Council Offices, 1 King Street, Abertillery.

The Caretaker.
On Tuesday 18th of February 1908, a special meeting of the Abertillery Urban District Council was held at the Council Offices, King Street, Abertillery, presided over by Mr F. Athay J.P., (Chairman). Those present were as follows – Mr W. Harris (Vice-Chairman); Mr T. Jones; Mr J. Carter; Mr W. H. Jones; Mr A. T. Jenkins; Mr J. E. Flowers; Mr D. Smith; Mr G. Purnell; Mr W. Thomas J.P.; Mr G. Jones; and Mr E. J. Williams with the Surveyor and Clerk: At this meeting the applications for post of caretaker gravedigger were discussed. It was reported 33 applications were submitted, many were received which exceeded the age limit, they were removed and the remaining ones were voted for. The applicants were voted down to two, as follows, Mr William Walbey of Aberbeeg and Mr Thomas Cox of Dudley Port, Tipton, West Midlands. Mr Walbey received ten votes and Mr Cox three, the former was declared duly elected. At this same meeting it was decided to accept the tender of Mr Eardley, a blacksmith of Blaina Road, Abertillery to supply three biers (Coffin Stands) at £1 each, if acceptable another three were to be ordered.

The chapel of rest in the entrance of the new cemetery was constructed with a mortuary attached. The applicants for caretaker gravedigger had to have experience at laying-out of bodies and that was a requisite on their application forms.

First Funerals.
On Saturday 29th of February 1908, Mr George Williams, aged 17 years old of Llanhilleth, was reported to have been buried at the new cemetery and on Tuesday 3rd of March 1908 the death of Mr Tom Watkins aged 33 of Carmel Street, Abertillery was announced. It was stated Mr Tom Watkins was buried at the new cemetery, I believe Mr Williams and Mr Watkins were two of the first burials at the new cemetery.

On Saturday 10th of April 1909, Mr James McBean, surveyor to the Abertillery Urban District Council sadly passed away, his funeral service was the first to be held at the new Chapel of Rest at the new cemetery, Brynithel. A report in the South Wales Gazette stated – The chapel at the cemetery had not been utilised before, so that the first service in it was in connection with the funeral of its constructor! (More on Mr James McBean below)

On Saturday 4th of December 1909, a military funeral took place at the new cemetery when Mr J. Fry of 17 Partridge Road, Llanhilleth was buried with full military honours. Mr Fry had served in the Crimean War and had later belonged to the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment. It was described as the first military funeral witnessed at Llanhilleth and was attended by the Llanhilleth Brass Band who headed the procession to the cemetery.

The Mortuary.
In the 19th century most postmortems were usually carried out at the deceased’s home, this was later deemed unacceptable and in the early 1900’s mortuaries were proposed to be built in the district. The chapel at the new cemetery was originally built with a mortuary incorporated within. I am not sure if the mortuary was ever used as the council made arrangements with Mr Joseph Price and Mr Charles Cook, trustees of the Oddfellows Hall to acquire a piece of land at the Oddfellows Hall, Queen Street, at 3d. per yard to build a mortuary at that location. The planning department had trouble trying to purchase another small strip of land at that place to make a pathway from the proposed mortuary to the police station close by.

In July 1907 the council dropped the plans and utilised their traction steam road roller shed on Vivian Street, Abertillery. They sectioned off the room and placed a mortuary within the same building. Over the following years the council received many complaints in connection with the mortuary on Vivian Street, residents were concerned that their children could witness gruesome images while playing around the building. There were also many complaints from the public and the medical professionals as to the hygiene and also the risks of diseases if anyone being brought to the mortuary had a contagious disease, there was also a steam tractor road roller in the same building. In the late 1920’s there was a lot of vandalism done to the building and with more complaints being reported the council had no option but to relocate the mortuary.

Bus Service to Brynithel.
On Monday 26th of September 1927, the Abertillery Urban District Council’s Roads, Bridges and General Purposes Committee, consisting of – Mr S. Pask (Chairman); Mr Gordon Jones (Surveyor); Mr J. T. Boots and Mr D. Walters met to confirm that a bus service would be established from Six Bells to Brynithel via the Cemetery Road, Brynithel and to decide on which company would be granted the license to run the service. Applications were received from the following – Mr T. W. W. Jones; Messrs H. J. Collier & Son and Mrs E. Jones & Son: There was a tie between Mr T. W. W. Jones and Messrs Collier until Mr S. Pask the chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the former. Because of the terrain of Cemetery Road, Mr Jones was told he could only use small buses on that route. Councillors Boots and Walters voted that the road was not suitable for any buses and a service should not be put on, they were both voted down on their proposal.

A short while later there were objections from Messrs Collier with the granting of the license to run the bus service to Brynithel and questions were raised over the various applicants, in 1929 there are reports that Messrs Collier was running a service to Brynithel. In the November of the same year one of their buses hit a pothole and crashed into the metal fencing, the posts stopped the bus going over the edge and falling 300 feet.

The Proposed Crematorium.
In 1931 the Abertillery District Council were discussing having a crematorium built at the Brynithel new cemetery to ease people’s burial costs. At this time the Abertillery Council were faced with a bill of over a £1,000 to repair the Rubbish Destructor at Six Bells and to get it started again. The council decided to sell the plant. Meanwhile owing to the lack of space at Brynithel, the Rubbish Destructor site was proposed to have the crematorium built and it was being considered. Later the proposed crematorium was shelved and was never discussed again.

The Proposed New Mortuary.
On Monday 29th of July 1935, at a meeting of the Abertillery District Council presided over by Mr F. Hayes J. P. (Chairman). Those present were as follows – Mr W. Beynon (Vice-Chairman); Mr W. F. Walters; Mr P. Burchell; Mr J. Dixon; Mr Ivor Morgan; Mr G. H. Jones; Mr W. Hillman; Mr W. Saunders; Mr J. Day; Mr D. Walters Mr W. Hardwick; Mr T. Gale; Mr F. J. Dayton; Mr F. Sheen; Mr Godfrey Jones; Mr D. R. Davies (Clerk); Mr H. J. Williams (Deputy Clerk); Mr L. Robbins (Assistant Clerk); Mr H. Powell (Accountant); Mr Mr T. B. Smith (Medical Officer); Mr Dawson Thomas (Electricity Manager); Mr H. Maycock (Gas Manager); Mr F. Padfield (Sanitary Inspector); Mr A. Gordon Jones (Surveyor) and Mr D. E. Williams (Rating Officer): At this meeting a new purpose built mortuary was proposed at a site on the Cemetery Road, Brynithel close to the entrance to the new cemetery. The council stated the project to construct a new mortuary may be funded under the Special Areas Fund.

In October 1936 tenders were invited by the Abertillery District Council for the construction of a Mortuary and Post-Mortem Room at the public cemetery, Aberbeeg. Tenders were to be addressed to Mr D. R. Davies, Clerk of the Council, Council Offices, Abertillery, Mon 7th October 1936.

In December 1937 it was announced in the South Wales Gazette that the new mortuary (as seen in the image right) had been built. The contractor was Messrs J. S. Jones & Co of Pontllanfraith. The new mortuary was built at a cost of £1,559. 8s. 7d. A report at the time said the building had been constructed to fit in with the landscape and the other buildings at the cemetery.

The Mortuary.
The mortuary was used during the recovery of the bodies of the men who were involved in the Six Bells Colliery explosion in June 1960. 

The Demolition of the Chapel of Rest.
On Thursday 27th of September 1984, the Gwent Gazette reported on the demolition of the chapel of rest at the Brynithel Cemetery. The council stated that it was being demolished because of deterioration, it was hoped a new chapel was to be built although the council later opted to convert the old mortuary to include a chapel of rest and a rest room, the old chapel ground was used as a car park. The dedicatory plaque was moved from the chapel to the outer wall of the mortuary (as seen left).

The New Chapel of Rest Opening.
On Friday 2nd of September 1988, the old mortuary, the new chapel of rest was officially opened. The official opening and unveiling of the plaque was conducted by the mayor of the borough Mr Peter Law and Steve Bartlett, the chairman of the borough’s environmental health committee with Reverend John Hanson and few relatives of the victims of the disaster.  

The Six Bells Colliery Canteen Clock.
Later, in September 1988 the clock that used to hang in the Six Bells Colliery Canteen was presented to the borough mayor Mr Peter Law by Mr Brian Phelps the chairman of the Six Bells Lodge on behalf of the N.U.M. The gift of the clock was to commemorate the victims of the Six Bells Colliery disaster of 1960. A report in the Gwent Gazette states the clock will be placed in the chapel of rest at the old mortuary Brynithel Cemetery, dedicated to the men who died. 

The council later purchased more ground to the north-east to expand the cemetery though at this present time it is getting close to its limit once again.

Source – South Wales Gazette and the Gwent Gazette.

 

Points of Interest – Mr James McBean 1849-1909.
Mr James McBean was born in 1849 at Invernesshire, Scotland, the son of Mr John McBean a Publican and Auctioneer. Mr James McBean was educated at Inverness and learned to become a surveyor at Wrexham, North Wales. He later joined the Royal Engineers and became chief surveyor in the Ordnance Survey Department. He later married Miss Elizabeth Frances Phillips of Haverfordwest, in that place in 1874.

In 1877 while engaged in making a survey of the Newport district, Mr McBean obtained an appointment as surveyor to the then Abertillery Local Board. At this time the Abertillery Local Board was in its infancy and Mr McBean acted as surveyor, clerk, sanitary inspector and collector. As surveyor to the Local Board and later Abertillery Council he planned and superintended the following – The two roads to Cwmtillery, laying of the Sewage System, the erection of the Foundry Bridge, the Bush Hill Bridge, the road to Blaina, the road to Six Bells and Aberbeeg, the New Cemetery and many more projects.

Mr and Mrs James and Elizabeth McBean had nine children, among them, Mr Clement McBean, son was Surveyor for the Monmouthshire County Council. Another son Mr W. McBean had a business in Scranton U.S.A.

Following is a Link to – Mr James McBean.

The Growth in Population at Abertillery.
The population of Abertillery in 1881 was said to have been 7,386, in 1901 it was 21,945 and in 1981 was said to have been 19,267. The population peaked in 1912 with 41,733 residents in Abertillery according to the medical officer’s report in the South Wales Gazette, February 1913.