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 …
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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 …
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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 …
Read More »Messrs Joseph and Falkman Furniture Dealers. Mr Joseph Falkman was a Russian Jew originally trading in furniture in South Africa, though he left that place for England, Great Britain sometime between 1890-1894 with savings amounting to £300. While residing in England he met Annie Falkman nee Joseph, born in 1873 at Birmingham, England. The couple moved onto Port Talbot, South …
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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” …
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Mr William Barrow Harrison. Mr William Barrow Harrison, was born in 1854 at Slackhead, Beetham in Cumbria. His family was from Beetham Hall at Beetham, Cumbria, England. His parents moved to Monmouth in 1863. Mr Harrison at Abertillery. At the age of 14 he started work and entered the service of Mr W. Hiley who had a business in Abertillery …
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The Co-operative Stores Abertillery. The Beginning. The Co-operative Group began in the mid 19th century and had its origins in the co-operative consumer societies started by the Rochdale Pioneers. These pioneers were a group of workers who were losing their jobs as the mechanization of the industry were forcing skilled workers out of their employment. This bunch of tradesmen banded …
Read More »Abertillery Undertakers. Mr George Down. The earliest recorded undertakers and funeral directors I can find resident in Abertillery was Mr George Down of 39 King Street Abertillery. He was in Abertillery in the 1860’s though I am unsure of where his premises were at this early time? Mr Down was an old resident of Abertillery and was an undertaker until …
Read More »Abertillery Saddlers & Harness Makers. Abertillery was still in its infancy while the Nantyglo, Coalbrookvale, Cwmcelyn & Blaina Iron Works and collieries and the many other industries further north were in full swing. The iron and coal companies had their own saddlers and harness makers, either working for them or independent saddlers that were in contract to the many different …
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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 …
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Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting