The Growth of Education in the Valley. It was seen by many who had studied the progress of education that Wales was sorely neglected in the past and that early educational facilities were not afforded to it as they should have been and as it fully deserved. The Welsh nation proved itself the great stumbling block in Wales. The Welsh ... Read More »
Lewis Viaduct Hotel Bottle. A Green glass bottle with the original Vulcanite stopper, the bottle is embossed with Lewis Viaduct Hotel Crumlin. The stopper is embossed with Viaduct Hotel Crumlin. This type of bottle was first designed in the 1870s and patented in 1880. Size of the bottle 11″ x 3″ inches. As the bottle manufacturers didn’t mould the first ... Read More »
Abertillery Intermediate County School – Circa 1905. The image shows the area of Clyn Mawr with the original Abertillery Intermediate County School opened on Wednesday 19th January 1898, extended and reopened on Wednesday 20th December 1911. Points of Interest – At the bottom are the newly built houses of Glandwr Street. Two blocks of the Wooden Houses (far left) ... Read More »
Railway Story, a Brief History. From the late 18th century Coal and Iron was taken from the workings in the valleys by pack-mules to the various canals for transportation to the docks. By the early 19th century more collieries in the form of coal levels were opening out in the top end of the valleys and the use of trams and ... Read More »
The Intermediate School New Extension 1911-1980s. On Wednesday 20th December 1911 the Abertillery Intermediate School opened its new extensions. The opening Ceremony was presided by Alderman Mr W. Thomas J.P. who was presented with a specially inscribed Gold Key in a Leather Case for the occasion. Mr Thomas unlocked the door and invited a general inspection of the building. After ... Read More »
Abertillery Intermediate County School. On Thursday 24th February 1892 the need of an Intermediate School for Abertillery was first raised. A letter was read from the Clerk to the County Council that the Education Committee had provisionally settled that an Intermediate School to provide accommodation for 70 boys and 50 girls be placed at Abertillery. On Thursday 3rd March 1892 ... Read More »
King Edward VIII Lapel Badges. During King Edward VIII’s Reign a fund was set up for the Miners of Wales, souvenir items related to the Prince of Wales was sold in aid of the Welsh Miners Fund. The Edward VIII Lapel Pins sold at 2d (Pence) each, all proceeds to the fund. The collection below consists of a small metal ... Read More »
King Edward VIII at Abertillery. In November 1936 King Edward VIII announced he would visit the district during a two-day official tour of South Wales. On Wednesday 18th, the first day’s tour, would begin at Llantwit Major and end at Penrhiwceiber with the route through Merthyr Tydfil. On Thursday 19th the tour would begin at Llantarnum, at Llanfrechfa the King ... Read More »
Roseheyworth Housing Scheme. The Roseheyworth Housing Scheme was being debated as early as 1901, a few years later the planning was given and the go-ahead was given by the Council as part of the “Housing for the Working Classes Programme” within the Housing for the Working Classes Act Part III. Two fields at Clynmawr were being laid out by Mr ... Read More »
Oak Street Cottages – Abertillery. The main image (featured above) taken sometime between 1905 and 1920 shows the Station Hotel, rebuilt in 1902 by Mr Noel Bagley, Building Contractor of Oak Street, Abertillery and the 3 attached cottages which at the time this image was taken belonged to Mr D. W. Morgan, The South Wales Argus Offices of Newport and Messrs ... Read More »
Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting