Abertillery History

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 of November, the first day’s tour would begin at Llantwit Major and end at Penrhiwceiber with the route through Merthyr Tydfil. On Thursday 19th of November, the tour would begin at Llantarnum, …

Rose Heyworth Housing Scheme. The Rose Heyworth 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 Clyn Mawr were being laid …

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, 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 …

Mr Samuel Mills. Mr Samuel Mills was born in 1846 at Avening, Gloucestershire, England. He later married Elizabeth (no maiden name available) also from Avening, Gloucestershire and moved to the South Wales Valley’s to work at the collieries. In January 1876 the first branch of the Independent Order of the Rechabite Association was established at Abertillery, the branch was called …

Photographers – Abertillery and District. It’s generally accepted that the photographic procedure was introduced in 1839, this date is seen as the birth of photography. There were not many early photographs taken in and around the Abertillery district. The earliest I have seen is a very old image of Cwmtillery Colliery showing the old wooden headgear and the S.W.C.Co. South …

Blaina and District Cottage Hospital. On Thursday 26th of December 1889, a meeting of the Nantyglo and Blaina Local Board took place. Those present were as follows – Mr Thomas Morgan presided in the absence of Mr John Dakers (Chairman); Mr E. Harris; Mr J. Bainton; Mr J. Allen; Mr Rosser Rosser; Mr W. Parry (Grocer); Mr G. R. Harris; …

Mr William Adams – Grocer. Mr William Adams (as seen in the main featured image above) was a native of Abertillery, born in 1870, son of Mr George Adams a coal miner from Blaina and Mrs Cecelia Adams of Llanhilleth. The family lived at the Co-operative Stores Building, Church Street, Abertillery. In 1880 Mr George Adams died at the age …

The Alexandra Buildings Skating Rink and Cinema. The Alexandra Buildings (as seen in the middle of the main featured image above) were constructed by Messrs Skidmore and McWhirter in the early 1900’s on the south side of Alexandra Road, between the road and the back lane at Six Bells.    Messrs Skidmore & McWhirter. Mr Edward Skidmore and Mr Peter …

Abertillery and District Hospital – Aberbeeg. The idea of some sort of hospital institution for the district of Abertillery was first raised in the late 1860’s, a subscription scheme and fund were put into place and in 1870 donations were given towards the scheme to generate funds for its construction. At that time a few local doctors were holders of …

Mr James McBean. Mr James McBean was born in 1849 at Beauly, Invernesshire, Scotland, the son of Mr John McBean a publican and auctioneer. Mr James McBean was educated at Inverness and later apprenticed to surveying at Wrexham. He joined the Royal Engineers and became a surveyor in the Ordnance Survey department. Moved to Haverfordwest with the Royal Engineers ordnance-survey, …