Abertillery History

Reading Miners Support Group Newsletter. The N.U.M. Representatives of Rose Heyworth Colliery were based in Kings Road Transport & General Workers Union Offices, Reading, Berkshire from about May to September 1984. We were attending union meetings, street collections and other fund-raising activities to get financial aid for the Blaenau Gwent Food Fund. We were well accepted by the community and …

The Western Valley’s Railless Traction Trolley Bus Scheme. The Railless Traction Trolley Bus Scheme was the introduction of a bus service with the vehicles powered by electricity through the means of overhead electric wire system. Other than the electric power, the buses were normal transport vehicles with rubber tyres. Each bus had an overhead hanger cradle incorporated to ensure a …

Abertillery Railway Stations. In the 1830’s – 1840’s the old tram road from Newport to Nantyglo passed through Abertillery. The town of Abertillery was undeveloped at this time with no major infrastructure, though when the Abertillery Iron Works of Richard Walker was established and began producing, there must have been some sort of siding on the tramline to transport the …

The Arcade, Abertillery. There were buildings in and around the area what we now know as the arcade from the early build-up of the town, a few cottages, yards and open spaces occupied the area behind the Pontlottyn Store (as seen in the image above). Commercial Street was known as part of the main shopping area along with Market Street …

Mr S. C. Holman, Tobacconist and Newsagent. Mr Samuel Charles Holman was born in 1872 at Crewkerne, Somersetshire, he came to Abertillery in 1893. Miss Harriet Edwards. On Wednesday 30th of October 1895, Mr S. C. Holman married Mrs Harriet Edwards born 1873, also from Crewkerne. The wedding ceremony took place at the English Wesleyan Chapel at Blaina, in what …

Buckley’s Temperance Hotel The Oak Street Temperance Hotel building was originally owned by Mrs Elizabeth Evans of the Royal Oak Public House, Abertillery. Mrs Evans was a very influential woman and also the mother of Mrs Mary Ann Buckley, Mr Thomas John Buckley’s wife. Mrs Elizabeth Evans owned property at Brynteg, Oak Street and at Rhiw Park and had previously …

Abertillery Steam Laundry. The Abertillery and Western Valley’s Steam Laundry Co (as seen in the middle of the featured image above) was situated at New Princess Street, Abertillery, later to become Richmond Road.  The Steam Laundry Proposal. On Tuesday 5th of May 1891, at a monthly meeting of the Chamber of Trade at the National School Rooms, Abertillery the need …

Wilkins Coffee Tavern. Mr William Gale Wilkins and his wife Caroline Wilkins nee Elson married in 1873 and came to Abertillery from the West Country in the mid 1870’s. Mr Wilkins came here to work on the Great Western Railway. A short while later he and his wife Caroline opened a coffee tavern in Somerset Street, called “Wilkins Coffee Tavern” …

Abertillery Tin Works Feeder. During tin plate production at the Abertillery Tin Works and maybe before at the time the Iron Works were established by Mr Richard Walker, the works relied on a steady and forceful flow of water to power the machinery to manufacture such products. The land which the Abertillery Tin Works and earlier Abertillery Iron Works were …