Abertillery History

The F. W. Woolworth Stores. The Woolworth empire was started by Mr Frank Winfield Woolworth aided by his brother Mr Charles Sumner Woolworth in 1879 trading under Woolworth Bros. His first store at Utica, New York was started but with limited success, he relocated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and later to Harrisburg, Reading and Scranton. These stores were called the “Five …

Lower Glandwr Street and the King’s Head Area 1960. A map showing the area of the King’s Head and lower Glandwr Street 1960. This is the same area as seen on the photographic image from 1902-03 but with the Black Bridge now moved further north as mentioned. Following is a Link to – An image of this area from 1902-03.

Lower Glandwr Street 1902-03. A portion of an old image showing the lower section of Glandwr Street (in the foreground) after the completion of the houses. Also showing the houses of Park View Terrace (as seen bottom right) under construction. The Kings Head Level Crossing. The Kings Head area originally had a railway level-crossing, in July 1901 the level-crossing was …

The Liberal & Labour Club Abertillery – The Central Snooker Club. Abertillery Liberal & Labour Club. List of the founding members 1902 and thereafter up to 1925. The Central Club and Institute, Foundry Bridge, Abertillery. March 1902 – March 1925. 1902. Mr G. Selby, 43 Alma Street, Insurance Agent. Mr J. Boots, 14 Ashfield Road, Insurance Agent. Mr G. G. …

Mr John (Jack) Cable. Mr John Cable, known as Jack, was born on the 24th of September 1886 at Abertillery, the son of William and Martha Cable of 1 Penybont Road, Cwmtillery. In this story I will refer to him as Jack. Two of his uncles (his father’s brothers) George and Silas Cable were sadly killed in the 1876 Cwmtillery …

Mr Horace Farquhar Evelyn Coles. Mr Horace Farquhar Evelyn Coles was born in 1896 at Cardiff, the son of Mr William German Coles and Mrs Edith Haysom Gillett Coles nee Cox of Cardiff, the licensees of the Avondale Hotel, Cardiff. The Bush Hotel, Abertillery. In 1911 the family moved to Abertillery to take the licence of the Bush Hotel, Abertillery. …

Mr Brinley Gravenor. Mr Brinley Gravenor was born on Wednesday 5th of May 1909 at Abertillery, Monmouthshire. He lived with his parents Mr James Gravenor, a coal miner and Mrs Maggie Gravenor, along with his elder brother Tom Gravenor at 21 Penybont Terrace, Cwmtillery. Brinley, better known as Bryn became an accomplished billiard and snooker player, he first started playing …

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 Abertillery Central Club in the Abergavenny and District Snooker League. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, the Abertillery Liberal Club, the Central Club as it was known, featured in the Rhymney Valley and Sirhowy Valley Snooker Leagues. They had been, and still were, very successful winning many competitions and had built a strong reputation. There is currently no record of …

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 …