Mr Joshua James and 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Joshua James.
Mr Joshua James, 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent (as seen in the featured image above and left) was a milk vendor, fruiterer and grocer and billiard hall keeper.

The James Family.
Mr Joshua James, born in 1870 at Brynmawr was the son of Mr John L. James of Blaenavon a coalminer born in 1829 and Mrs Sarah James nee Lewis of Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire born in 1835. On the 1871 census the family were living at Lewis James’ Row, next to the Forge Hammer Inn on what was later, Hill Street. The children were – Miss Ruth James, born 1861 at Abertillery. Miss Hannah James, born 1863 at Abertillery. Master Emrys James, born 1866 at Brynmawr. Miss Martha James, born 1868 at Brynmawr and Master Joshua James, born in 1870 also at Brynmawr.

By the 1881 census the James family had moved to Pilgrims Place, Abertillery and had added to their family with Master William H. James, born 1872. Master John R. James, born 1875 and Master Emanuel James, born in 1877. The last three children all being born back at Abertillery. The daughters, Ruth and Hannah were listed as working at the Abertillery Tin Works.

The First Marriage of Mr Joshua James.
On Saturday 4th of May 1901, Mr Joshua James married Miss Delilah Teresa Humphreys, born in 1874 at Abertillery. There is very little known of Delilah (Lila) Humphreys apart from the fact her father was Mr Seth Humphreys, listed on the marriage certificate as being a carpenter by trade from 37 Alma Street, Abertillery. Though on the 1901 census Delilah Humphreys was at 37 Alma Street living with her grandparents William and Rebecca Hill.

21 Victoria Street.
In 1906 Mr Joshua James appeared on the Electoral Register as living at 21 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.

The Death of Mrs Delilah Teresa James.
On Sunday 28th of April 1907, Mrs Delilah (Lila) Teresa James, wife of Mr Joshua James, died during childbirth, the South Wales Gazette reported that the infant died a few hours later.

The Milk Vending Business.
At some point prior to 1908 Mr Joshua James purchased the milk vending business from Mr William Montague Henry Criddle a fruiterer of Abertillery and Tredegar. Mr Criddle had gone bankrupt in 1908 and stated that he had sold his milk vending business a few years prior to that date. Mr Criddle was a proprietor of a shop in Church Street, Abertillery and resided at “Penygraig”, Gladstone Street, Abertillery.

The Second Marriage of Mr Joshua James.
In September 1909 Mr Joshua James married Miss Mary Robbins, born 1885 at Abertillery, the daughter of Mark and Emma Robbins.

No21 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.
On the 1911 census Mr and Mrs Joshua James and their son Emrys James, born in 1910 were living at 21 Victoria Street, Abertillery, Mr James was listed as a Milk Salesman. Also living at the premises was Miss Emily Robbins, listed as a servant.

The Victoria Billiard Saloon.
On Friday 23rd of January 1920, the South Wales Gazette issued a planning notice regarding the construction of a billiard hall on land behind 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent and permission for a public billiard licence for the premises to be called the Victoria Billiard Saloon. The reversioner in the document was Mr R. W. Jones of Lewis School, Pengam, via Cardiff.

Joshua and Mary James and family lived at 21 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent until the late 1920’s.

No17 Victoria Street.
In 1931 Mr and Mrs Joshua James began living at the shop at 17 Victoria Street (as seen in the main featured image), on the junction of Victoria Street with Gaen Street.

Mr J. Davies – Milk Vendor.
In 1931, Mr J. Davies, a milk vendor, appeared at 21 Victoria Street, the old premises of Mr Joshua James. This coincides with the removal of the James family to 17 Victoria Street, the shop on the corner.

On Friday 20th of March 1931, the South Wales Gazette reported that the Provision of Meals sub-committee at Abertillery had accepted the tender of Mr J. Davies, of 21 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent to provide milk to the feeding centres. The price was one-shilling, one and a half pence per gallon.

The Death of Mr Joshua James.
On Friday 10th of May 1935, the South Wales Gazette announced the death of Mr Joshua James of 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent. It stated that Mr James, aged 65 was a milk vendor, proprietor of the billiard hall at Blaenau Gwent, a member of the Lodge of the Royal Order of Moose and Deacon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Abertillery. He leaves a widow, six sons and a daughter – Messrs Emrys James, Joshua James, Ray James, Reg James, Cyril James, John James and Miss Gwladys James.

The Billiard Hall.
After the death of Mr James, his wife Mary had the licence for the billiard hall transferred to herself. The transfer was granted in February 1936. Mrs Mary James stayed at the shop at 17 Victoria Street until 1950.

Mr and Mrs Gwillim Hopkins.
In 1950 Mr Gwillim Hopkins and his wife Mrs Mary Hopkins were listed as being at 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.

To Let Notice – Shop and the Billiard Hall.
On Friday 1st of September 1950, the South Wales Gazette printed a notice – To let, a shop and billiard hall at Blaenau Gwent. Apply to Mr Hopkins, 17 Victoria Street.

The Sale of the Shop.
On Friday 27th of August 1954, the South Wales Gazette printed a for sale notice – For sale, with vacant possession, a freehold house and shop, No17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.

Technical School Annex.
In the 1950’s the old billiard hall on Gaen Street was taken as an annex for the Abertillery Mining Technical Institute. In 1955 Mr W. J. Robins the headmaster of the Mining Institute stated “Good progress was being made in the building of the new engineering workshop and excellent work was being done in repairing and painting the school annex at James’ Billiard Hall.

Mr Ivor Morris.
In 1956 Mr Ivor Morris and his wife Mrs Linda Morris with Mr Ron Jones and Mr Thomas Grindle were listed as being at 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent until 1957 when just Ivor and Linda Morris and Thomas Grindle were listed as occupants.

Mr Elsan Powell.
In 1964 Mr Elsan Powell and Joyce Powell were listed as being at 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent. The Powell family were at this address until 1967.

Tom Mytton Hall.
Technical School Annex, the old billiard hall was turned into a pensioners hall.

The Official Opening of the Tom Mytton Hall.
On Friday 10th of February 1967, the South Wales Gazette reported on the official opening of the Tom Mytton Hall at Gaen Street, Blaenau Gwent. The report stated the hall was a former billiard hall and storehouse., it had been redecorated and refurbished and had 140 members.

Mr and Mrs Brinley Brooks.
In 1968 Mr Brinley Brooks and his wife Mrs Edith M. Brooks were listed as being the proprietors of the shop at 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent. Throughout the 1960’s Mr and Mrs Brooks had lived at 63 Victoria Street, the house on the junction with Wallace’s Lane and Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr and Mrs Bryn James.
During the 1970’s Mr Bryn James and his wife Mrs Joan James were proprietors of the shop. I am uncertain at this time whether the following people owned the building or just worked there under lease.

Mr Martin Whitcombe.
In the mid to late 1970’s Mr Martin Whitcombe and his wife Mrs Cath Whitcombe were trading from the shop at 17 Victoria Street?

Mr William Edward Lukins.
In 1980 Mr William Edward Lukins of Parsons Row, Blaina was listed in the London Gazette as a greengrocer trading at 17 Victoria Street, Abertillery. Mr Lukins was in a business partnership and also trading from Ebbw Vale.

Mrs Beryl Jean Morris.
In 1981 Mrs Beryl Jean Morris of Briardene, Llanhilleth was listed in the London Gazette as a (femme sole – a woman alone) a general grocer at Brooks’ Stores, 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent. Abertillery.

Mr Brian Morgan.
From 1981 to 1986 Mr Brian Morgan and his wife Mrs Diane Morgan were the shopkeepers at 17 Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent.

The Later Years.
The shop later closed, the shop frontage was altered and it was turned into a private residence. The old billiard hall, later pensioners hall that was on Gaen Street was demolished, the site was cleared and is now a small carpark.

Points of Interest –
Prior to Mr and Mrs Joshua James being at the corner shop, earlier occupants included the following –
Mrs Joyce Geap.
Mr Henry Powell.
Mrs Ann Challenger and James Gardner.
Mr Thomas Williams and Mrs Ann Challenger.
Mr Leonard Blewitt.
Mr William Henry Lewis and Mabel Lewis.
Mr Thomas Tanner and Mrs Sarah Ann Tanner (1913-1923).
Mr Thomas Tanner (1923-1930).
It is unclear as to whether the earlier residents were shopkeepers as the electoral registers doesn’t mention the premises purpose.

I would like to acknowledge the following people who helped put the story together – Mark Morgan, Sharon Stephens, Susan Pembridge Bridgeman, Beryl Rykala and Bob Evans.