General History

Mr Matthew Habakkuk – Colliery Owner, Agent and Mining Engineer. Mr Matthew Habakkuk was born in the 1790’s at Langyfelach, Glamorgan. Some documents have him with differing age. I believe he married a Margaret (no information) she was from the same town Langyfelach, Glamorgan and was born in 1800. An advertisement from the Monmouthshire Merlin newspaper (as seen left) dated …

The Salvation Army Congress Hall Band of London – 1911. In June 1911 the Salvation Army Congress Band of London visited Risca and Abertillery, during their visit they performed pieces of musical works. Some of the members of the Congress Band were as follows – Captain H. Otway: Bandsmen, A. Dalziel; R. Lawley; Holmes; Goffin and Kyle: At Six Bells …

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 …

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, …

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. …

The Drinking Fountain – Bush Hill, Abertillery. On Tuesday 25th of March 1902, a special meeting of the Abertillery District Council, convened by Mr W. P. Thomas the chairman, was held for the purpose of considering in what manner the Coronation of King Edward VII should be celebrated in the district. It was decided to celebrate the coronation day by …

Abertillery War Memorial. After the Great War of 1914-1918 and prior to the erection of the War Memorial, the people of Abertillery attended Remembrance Day Services every November 11th at various buildings and locations in the town and surrounding area. The main procession for these services was formed at the Abertillery Drill Hall with a walk to the Parish Church …

Mr John Monks – Contractor. Mr John Monks was born in 1852 at Bath, Somerset, England. After the death of his father in 1869 he came to Monmouthshire and entered into the employment of his uncle Mr J. Cox at Crosskeys. He moved to Newport and was employed by Messrs Firbank, Railway Contractors. It was reported he was with this …