Abertillery History

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 …

The Old Six Bells Inn. The old Six Bells Inn (as seen circled on the featured image above) was situated close to the old Black Bridge by the side of the main railway line where Cwm-Llydrew Home is today. I don’t know the date it was originally built or established though a building at that place was on the 1840 …

Six Bells Hotel. In August 1892 Mr Phillip Meredith, landlord of the old Six Bells Inn applied to the General Annual Licensing Meeting to transfer his licence from the old Six Bells Inn to a new premises which was about to be erected upon the new road. This new public house was to be known as the Six Bells Hotel …

Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club. The Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club (as seen circled on the map in the featured image above) was, I believe, a wooden structure built on West Bank between Doctors Lane and the Methodist Church, Cwmtillery. It was located about 400′ feet north of Winifred Terrace on Ty-Dan-y-Wal. It was funded by …

The Six Bells Congregational Church – The Rehoboth. From the 1890’s, the congregationalists of Six Bells, Abertillery had held their religious meetings at the Hafod Van Reading Room, Six Bells. Over the years to follow the members of the church – a mission off-shoot of the Tabernacle Church looked toward more suitable accommodation, a church of their own in which …

Abertillery v The New Zealand All Blacks Army Rugby Touring Team – April 1919. During WW1 many rugby football team members enlisted and signed up to serve their country. At the same time the sport of rugby at club and country level was suspended, though survived through Inter-Service and Allied Forces Matches. As the war came to an end most …

Mr Titus Phillips. Mr Titus Phillips was born in 1836 at Rudbaxton, Pembrokeshire, the son of Mr Thomas Phillips, the family lived on the estate of the father of Judge Owen at Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire. At a young age moved to Cwmtillery and worked at the colliery company’s shop under Mr Treharne Rees. Mr Titus Phillips First Marriage and Family. Mr …

The Abertillery Church of England School – Text Book 1930. This is a 1930 Abertillery Urban District Council Education Committee text book which came from the Church School, Abertillery. The book belonged to Miss Frances Trigg of Class 1 Standard 6. Miss Frances Trigg was born in 1918 and while at school lived at 48 Bridge Street, Abertillery. She sadly …

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 …

An Early History of the Choirs and Choral Unions – Abertillery. From the mid 19th century, Abertillery, like many other towns has had organised choirs, mostly junior parties in connection with religious activities within the church and other small societies. Later various senior male voice choirs appeared and since there has been many singing parties based in and around Abertillery …