The First Market Place. On Saturday 6th of April 1867, the first Market Place was opened at Abertillery. On Saturday the 13th of April 1867, the Hereford Times newspaper reported on its opening and the reason as to why. It stated – On the increasing population at Abertillery and the growing need for a market and its competing salesmen. The …
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Abertillery Isolation Hospital. The need for an isolation hospital at Abertillery was brought up as early as January 1892 after an outbreak of smallpox at Blaina in that year. Following is a Link to – Blaina and Nantyglo Isolation Hospitals. Abertillery. In July 1898 typhoid and diphtheria broke out with a few deaths reported, the patients were confined to their houses. …
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Circus Entertainment in the Valley. In 1859 the Sangers Circus came to Brynmawr, the earliest known visit to the valleys by a circus. Mr A. Frost. In May 1889 Mr A Frost, a circus acrobat announced that he would go 1,000 feet up in the air over Blaina hanging onto the tail of a balloon, then would attempt to fall …
Read More »Portable Travelling Theatres at Abertillery. In the late 1880’s early 1890’s many towns were visited by portable travelling theatre companies. It must have been quite a site seeing these travelling companies rolling into town, the logistics of it all must have been something to be admired. The theatres were in a sort of kit-form, with timber and canvas walls, joists, …
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The Picture Palace – Abertillery. The Picture Palace, Abertillery, was situated at the junction of King Street and Carmel Street Abertillery. The Building and Equipment Corporation Ltd. In May 1911 a company called the Building and Equipment Corporation Ltd produced plans for a new picture palace which was to be built at Abertillery, the plans were presented to the council …
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The Empress Skating Rink – Abertillery. The Empress Skating Rink, Carlyle Street, Abertillery was originally constructed to cater for the pastime of roller skating and named the Empress Roller Skating Rink. In November 1909 Mr Arthur Tilney proprietor of the Pavilion Theatre, Abertillery expended a great deal of money in having the Empress Skating Rink erected. At this time there …
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The Gaiety Hall – Abertillery. The construction of the Gaiety Hall began when a few prominent businessmen in Abertillery formed the Abertillery Gaiety Hall Company Limited. On Thursday 25th of March 1920, the Bioscope Newspaper printed a report on new companies, it featured the Abertillery Gaiety Hall Company Limited which had been registered on 13th March 1920. The company had …
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The Pavilion Theatre Abertillery. On Monday 3rd of June 1907, the Pavilion Theatre, Abertillery, (as seen in the main featured image above) was officially opened and equipped through the enterprise of Mr Arthur Tilney, of Carlyle House, Abertillery. Mr Tilney had been an advocator of the arts and performances in Abertillery and in the 1890’s had organised the many travelling …
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Mr T. H. Prichard 1867-1935. Mr Thomas Henry Prichard was the son of the Rev John Prichard, one of the most well-known Baptist Ministers in South Wales who had held pastorates at Noddfa, Abersychan and Tonyrefail. Mr Thomas Henry Prichard (as seen left) was born in 1867 at Abersychan, he later served his apprenticeship as a Pharmaceutical Chemist at Porth …
Read More »The Old Pontlottyn Store Abertillery. The Pontlottyn Store, Abertillery was originally set up by Mr David Morgan in the mid 1870’s. Mr David Morgan. Mr David Morgan was born in 1833 at Caecrwn, Battle, Breconshire. In the 1850’s, at the age of 23, Mr David Morgan opened his first drapery shops at Rhymney and at Pontlottyn, Rhymney in Glamorganshire. The …
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Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting