Abertillery History

The First Reading Rooms at Abertillery in 1856. Long before Mr Thomas Wilde Powell came to the valley, education was at the forefront of the long-term planning for the town’s workforce by the industrialists. One of these who pushed for education was Sir Thomas Phillips, he fought for the Welsh language and worked closely with Messrs T. P. & D. …

Lady Christiana Jane Herringham nee Powell. Miss Christiana Powell, born 1852, married Physician Sir Wilmot Parker Herringham K.C.M.G., C.B. (1855-1936) on the 1st of September 1880 at the Parish Church, Guildford, Surrey. Sir Wilmot Parker Herringham was awarded the (Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, a British order of chivalry that honours individuals for their service …

St Michaels Church Abertillery. Abertillery in the 1830’s-40’s was practically non-existent, a few farms and one main small iron works owned by Mr Richard Walker of Trevethin, Pontypool, father-in-law to Mr William Webb, Brewster of Aberbeeg. Mr Walker’s Iron Works were situated where Tesco’s Supermarket is today. In the mid 1840’s Mr Walker went bankrupt and he sold the works. …

The Hebrew Synagogue – Abertillery. In the late 1880’s there was a temporary synagogue for the Hebrew congregation at Bailey Street, Brynmawr. Reports mentioned it was at Heathcock House? The president was Mr B. Isaacs and the vice-president was Mr I. Isaacs. The minister was Rev Rocowsky. In February 1891 a fight broke out at the synagogue during the Saturday …

Newall Street Methodist Chapel. On Monday 8th of May 1905, at a council meeting, plans were put forth for the erection of a Primitive Methodist Chapel at Newall Street, Abertillery. The chapel was to be built to ease the overcrowding at the Methodists Chapel on Somerset Street and was to be its sister chapel. In 1906 the building of the …

Mr Lewis Reynold Rogers of Rogers Buildings, Abertillery 1857-1894. Mr L. R. Rogers was a tradesman and proprietor of the Abertillery Tea Exchange. Mr Rogers descended from the old, respected family of that name and was the son of Mr William Rogers, the engineer to the Cwmnant-y-Groes Colliery Company. At an early age he was apprenticed to Mr George Hiley at …

Blaenau Gwent Primitive Methodist Chapel. The Blaenau Gwent Primitive Methodist Chapel is situated at the top of Ty Bryn Road, behind the Blaenau Gwent Rows. It was reportedly built in 1883. There is a date stone on the front of the chapel though I cannot verify the exact original construction date as no records are available at this present time. …

Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel. The original Trinity English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel at Church Street, Abertillery, (as seen center on the 1879 land sales map) was built in 1877. I had previously stated it was built in 1875 as stated in the South Wales Gazette report dated November 1905, although I have now amended this date as seen below. New …

Brynteg English Congregational Church. The Brynteg English Congregational Church is located at the bottom of Oxford Street, Blaenau Gwent, on the junction with Alma Street, Blaenau Gwent. That area from Alma Street, Oxford Street, Glynmawr Street, Portland Road down to Oak Street and onto the Station Hill, taking in Gladstone Street and west of the Foundry Bridge was called Brynteg. …