Abertillery History

The Old Bon Marche Store. The Bon Marche Store, Abertillery was constructed in the mid 1880’s and was originally a two-storey building opposite the Medical Hall, on the junction of Cwm Street (later known as Somerset Street) and King Street, Abertillery. Messrs T. Davies and J. H. Powell. From its beginning it was owned by Messrs T. Davies and Joseph …

Mr Lionel Falkman 1892-1963. Mr Lionel Falkman, born 1892, was the son of Mr and Mrs Joseph and Annie Falkman, furniture retailers of Abertillery & Llanhilleth. Master Lionel Falkman was a child violinist, a pupil of Mr J. Collier of Abertillery and played many violin solo’s in and around Abertillery on many occasions, one of these was at the Eisteddfod …

Abertillery Park Swimming Baths. The construction of an outdoor swimming baths at Abertillery Park was the brainchild of Councillor Mr Arthur Tilney. Following is a Link to – Mr Arthur Tilney. The Council Meeting and Proposal. On Monday 8th of August 1898, a council meeting was held at the Abertillery Offices where Mr W. Stewart presided, those present were as …

Mr Richard Walker of the Abertillery Iron Works. Mr Richard Walker was born in 1786 at Lower Sapey, Worcestershire, England. He later came to live at Trevethin, Pontypool, he became an ironmaster and during the early 1830’s he established his own ironworks at Abertillery. Sadly very little is known about him, although he was later listed as being an ironmaster, …

Abertillery Post Offices. The First Post Office – Postmaster. The first post office at Abertillery was on the railway platform, part of the Abertillery Tin Works, adjoining what would become known as Pond House. The first sub-postmaster, sub-postmistress was Mr Edward Jones, a contractor and his wife Mrs Jane Jones, nee Hughes, Abertillery. Mr and Mrs Jones were the parents …

Abertillery Cricket – An Early History. In the 1870’s the Abertillery Cricket Grounds (coloured green on the map above) was originally on the fields where Glandwr St is now built (between the river and the tin works feeder). There is a news report that Abertillery played Ebbw Vale, at Ebbw Vale as early as 1871. The Glandwr Cricket Field was …

Abertillery Recreational Grounds. In the early days of Abertillery there wasn’t one specific recreational ground for any sport to be played, or for anyone to go and relax, to hold shows or fete’s etc. The population was rapidly increasing, ground being sold off for substantial house building projects and the need for a park or recreation ground was at the …

The Board Schools Cwmtillery – Cwmtillery Junior Mixed (Cock n Chick School). The Board Schools Cwmtillery – Cwmtillery Mixed School (Cock n Chick School) was situated on the eastern side of Mynydd James (Cock n Chick Mountain) on the western side of the Cwmtillery valley, overlooking Penybont. The school was known and referred to by many names in old reports, …

The Board Schools Cwmtillery – Cwmtillery Junior Mixed (Cock n Chick School). The school after having the new dinner hall, canteen and kitchens built. All situated in the long corrugated tin hut along the front of the yard.    

The Technical Annex School. The need for a local technical school at Abertillery came up in an educational meeting as early as May 1928, up until this date the mechanical, engineering, civil, motor engineering and mining part of education was all based in Crumlin or Pontllanfraith. The Proposal of the Technical Mining School at Abertillery. On Tuesday 15th of May …