Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Cafes and Refreshment Rooms in Town. Mr Smith’s Coffee House. In 1891 Mr Thomas Smith had a coffee house at Market Street, Abertillery. It was advertised as Smith’s Coffee House. The Arcade Cafe. In the late 1890’s the Italians come to the valley and in 1899 Messrs Antonio and Louis Bracchi came to Abertillery and opened a cafe ice cream parlour …
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Church Street Cafés and Refreshment Rooms
Church Street Cafés and Refreshment Rooms. The Tillery Restaurant. In 1894 the Tillery Restaurant was opened by Mrs A. Challenger at 30 Church Street, Abertillery. The Tillery Restaurant was in the building next door to where Hectors Cafe, Church Street is today. The Waverley Hotel. In 1910 the Waverley Hotel, was advertised as being in Church Street, Abertillery. The proprietors were …
Read More »Briggs Boot & Shoe Company – Somerset Street
Messrs Briggs & Co Boot and Shoe Manufacturers. Messrs Briggs & Co were Mr William Edwin Briggs and his son Mr Arthur Edwin Briggs, a family of boot and shoe manufacturers from Leicestershire. Messrs Briggs had stores in all major towns with many in South Wales, including, Brynmawr, Risca, Blackwood, Abercarn, Ebbw Vale and Newbridge. In the early 1900’s the …
Read More »The Gaen Brothers – Building Contractors
The Gaen Brothers, Building Contractors. The Gaen Brothers comprised Mr Thomas Gaen, born 1862, Mr Charles Gaen, born 1864 and Mr Frederick Gaen, born 1869. The family were from Langton Matravers, Dorset, the sons of Mr John Thomas Gaen and Ellen Jane Gaen nee Brown. Their father was a stone mason and all three sons entered the trade at an early age …
Read More »The F. W. Woolworth Store – Abertillery (1931-2009)
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 …
Read More »Mr Alfred Prosser Williams 1849-1932
Mr Alfred Prosser Williams 1849-1932. Mr Alfred Prosser Williams – A. P. Williams born on 25th of March 1849, was one of Abertillery’s most renowned building contractors. He constructed the new Market Hall building, the Globe Hotel, the St Michaels Vicarage in Church Street and also re-built St Michaels Church, he built the Co-operative Store in Church Street. He built …
Read More »Mr Lewis Reynolds Rogers of Rogers Buildings – Abertillery
Mr Lewis Reynold Rogers of Rogers Buildings, Abertillery 1857-1894. Mr L. R. Rogers was a tradesman and proprietor of the Abertillery Tea Exchange. Mr Rogers descended from the old, respected family of that name and was the son of Mr William Rogers, the engineer to the Cwmnant-y-Groes Colliery Company. At an early age he was apprenticed to Mr George Hiley at …
Read More »The Arcade Abertillery
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 …
Read More »Mr S. C. Holman – Tobacconist
Mr S. C. Holman, Tobacconist and Newsagent. Mr Samuel C. Holman was born in 1872 at Crewkerne, Somersetshire. He came to Abertillery in 1893 and set up business as a newsagent and stationer in the town. His wife was Mrs Harriet Holman nee Edwards born 1873, also from Crewkerne. They were married in 1895. Mr Holman became a friend of …
Read More »Buckley’s Temperance Hotel Oak Street
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 …
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