Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club.
The Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club (as seen circled on the map in the featured image above) was, I believe, a wooden structure built on West Bank between Doctors Lane and the Methodist Church, Cwmtillery. It was located about 400′ feet north of Winifred Terrace on Ty-Dan-y-Wal. It was funded by the Social Services who had subscribed £430 toward the cost of the erection of the building.
The Opening Ceremony.
On Friday 31st of December 1937, the Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club was officially opened by Sir Percy Watkins, Sir Percy Watkins was secretary of the National Council of Social Services. Mr Sam Horler presided and also present was Mr John Roberts of the Social Service Council. Tribute was paid to P.S. Mr A. Phipps who had secured the site, upon which the club was built.
The Building.
The Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club building (as seen in the image, circled far left) was 75′ feet long by 35′ feet wide, it had a large hall, reading rooms, card rooms and offices. Over 400 tons of earth was removed from the site to make the area level for its construction. All the work was done by local residents many of whom were unemployed.
The officers of the Cwmtillery West Side Social and Sports Club were as follows – Mr Rowland Nash (President); Mr Wyndham Jones (Chairman); Mr Joseph Williams (Vice-Chairman); Mr George Toombs (Treasurer) and Mr Gwyn Young (Secretary):
After the day’s events a concert and social evening was provided.
The club was later a venue for roller skating and was demolished in the 1960’s. Two houses were later built on the site.
Ponts of Interest – Sir Percy Watkins was on the Welsh Department of the Board of Education, later Secretary of the National Council of Social Services.
In September 1936 he officially opened the Guild Hall building for the unemployed, in the old brick yard at Vivian Street, Abertillery.
In October 1937 he officially opened the High Street Institute for the unemployed at Blaina, that was a wooden structure capable of holding 200 people.