Abertillery History

The News Chronicle National Newspaper Competition. In 1956, at the height of their success, the Abertillery Liberal Club team (as seen below left) entered a national team competition sponsored by the News Chronicle national newspaper. The prize was the Championship Table from Thurstons Hall, Leicester Square, London. The Abertillery Liberal Club Team. Out of 1,109 team entries, the Abertillery team …

The Last Decade. Throughout the 1990’s the Liberal Snooker club, though still successful in the Abergavenny Snooker League, went into decline. Many older members had passed away and the club reached out to the younger generation which only had a minimal effect. Sadly, the Liberal Club’s successful past could never be regained and with the loss of many members, lack …

Abertillery Rugby Football Club. There is a consensus that the Abertillery Rugby Football Club was formed in 1883. I have thoroughly searched all newspaper reports from that time but can’t find any information or details of their set-up. The earliest mention of the team in official reports that are available is in 1885 when the Abertillery Rugby Football Team were …

Abertillery v Australia Rugby Football Club – December 1908. The Visit by the Wallabies. During the 1907-08 season, the Abertillery Rugby Football Team won the Monmouthshire League with a record of – Played 37 games and won 31, losing six. They amassed a total of 436 points for with only 104 points against. On June 24th, 1908, at a meeting at …

The Australian “Wallabies” Rugby Football Tour of the British Isles – The team that played Abertillery in 1908. The Abertillery Team held the Wallabies to a 3-3* draw and set two records at the time. The first team to hold the Aussies to a draw and that it was the first time the Wallabies failed to cross an opponents line. …

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 …