Services

The Abertillery Labour Exchange. It was said by one of Churchill’s biographers Mr Philip Guedella, that Churchill had introduced Labour Exchanges to the UK after a preliminary survey of the German system in operation in Alsace. Others state David Lloyd George as the founder, although the scheme was later approved and passed by Parliament. The Labour Exchange Act of 1909. …

Remploy. Remploy was established in 1945 under the terms of the Disabled Persons Act of 1944, it is an organisation owned by the Department of Works and Pensions in the United Kingdom and provides employment and employment placement services for disabled people. Abertillery Remploy. On Friday 21st of September 1945, the South Wales Gazette reported – The first meeting of …

The Original Drill Hall – Abertillery. During the late 1890’s the Drill Hall at Abertillery was in a room on the upper floor of the Castle Inn, Castle Street, Abertillery (as seen left, center of the image). The Castle Inn and the old Drill Hall was opposite where the entrance into Tesco Supermarket is today. It was used by the 3rd …

Abertillery Gas Works. Abertillery Gas and Water Company. In November 1866 the Abertillery Gas and Water Company was set up. The company was incorporated with the power to supply gas and water within the Parish of Aberystruth, Monmouthshire, to manufacture, sell and dispose of coke with residual products such as bricks, pipes and tiles. To deal in coal, lime, slates …

Abertillery Council Authorities. The Old Aberystruth Rural Sanitary Authority. Abertillery was originally under the jurisdiction of the old Aberystruth Rural Sanitary Authority based at Blaina. The chairmen of the authority in the 1870’s were Mr Spencer and Mr James Phillips. Other members of the board were as follows – Mr Edmund Morgan; Mr Thomas Phillips; Mr J. R. Harding; Mr …

Cwmtillery Reservoir. Prior to the piped water network at Abertillery, residents had to rely on streams, waterspouts and wells to obtain a fresh supply of water. As the town expanded and the population grew the need for water greatly increased. The use of water in many collieries in the area put extra pressure on the supplies. At this time the …

Oak Street Cottages – Abertillery. The main image (featured above) taken sometime between 1905 and 1920 shows the Station Hotel, rebuilt in 1902 by Mr Noel Bagley, contractor of Oak Street, Abertillery and the 3 attached cottages which at the time this image was taken belonged to Mr D. W. Morgan, the South Wales Argus Offices of Newport and Messrs …

Blaina and District Cottage Hospital. On Thursday 26th of December 1889, a meeting of the Nantyglo and Blaina Local Board took place. Those present were as follows – Mr Thomas Morgan presided in the absence of Mr John Dakers (Chairman); Mr E. Harris; Mr J. Bainton; Mr J. Allen; Mr Rosser Rosser; Mr W. Parry (Grocer); Mr G. R. Harris; …

Abertillery and District Hospital – Aberbeeg. The idea of some sort of hospital institution for the district of Abertillery was first raised in the late 1860’s, a subscription scheme and fund were put into place and in 1870 donations were given towards the scheme to generate funds for its construction. At that time a few local doctors were holders of …

Brynithel Cemetery – Abertillery. The southern part of the Parish of Aberystruth (from Cwmtillery to Llanhilleth) initially had two major churches, the Parish Church of St Illtyds at Llanhilleth and the Blaenau Gwent Baptist Church, Blaenau Gwent, Abertillery. I don’t know when burials began at St Illtyds though the first person to be interred at Blaenau Gwent Baptist Church was …