Mr S. C. Holman – Tobacconist

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 was known as (according to a South Wales Gazette report), the first marriage of its type in that chapel. 

Abertillery Business and Trade.
In about 1895 Mr Holman set up business as a tobacconist, newsagent and stationer in the town, he became a friend of Mr T. H. Prichard and played an active part in the religious life of the town as an officer of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and had been a Sunday School teacher for 40 years. He was later elected a Deacon of the church.

The First Business Premises.
Mr S. C. Holman set up his first newsagents and tobacconist shops in Somerset Street, Abertillery, one shop was located in the Pontlottyn Buildings (as seen in the featured image above and the advertisement, left) and another shop in the Rogers Buildings, later known as the Glasgow House (as seen in the same ad, left) opposite the Bon Marche on Cwm Street, later known as Somerset Street, Abertillery.

The Sign of the Pipe.
In September 1900 Mr Holman had a giant “pipe” made and hung above his premises in Somerset Street. After this date his slogan became “The Sign of the Pipe” and it was featured on every advertisement printed in regard to his newsagents and tobacconist business.

Mr S. C. Holman at Blaina.
In April 1901 Mr Holman opened a branch of his tobacconist and newsagent shops in 59 High Street, Blaina.

The Holman Family.
Mr and Mrs Holman had two sons, Mr Thomas Frederick Holman and Mr John Stanley Holman and also two daughters, Miss Annie Holman and Miss Elsie May Holman.

Mr Thomas Frederick Holman.
Mr Thomas Frederick Holman, of Sunnyside, Oak Street, Abertillery. He worked as a clerk in Lloyds Bank, Brynmawr. He was a member of the Powell’s Tillery Swimming Club and also a member of the Cardiff Water Polo team. He was married to Miss Marion Leigh, daughter of Mr W. H. Leigh M.E. manager of Six Bells Colliery living at Hafod Arael Cottage, Six Bells, Abertillery.

Mr John Stanley Holman.
Mr John Stanley Holman married Miss Muriel Griffiths of Camerton Gladstone Street, Abertillery.

Miss Annie Holman.
Miss Annie Holman was a daughter but sadly little is known of her.

Miss Elsie May Holman.
Mr and Mrs Holman’s other daughter was Miss Elsie May Holman, she was married to Mr Charles William Reginald Salter, originally of Brighton. Mr Salter played association football for Abertillery. They later emigrated to Perth, Australia and entered the Congregational Home Mission at Korrelocking.

The S. C. Holman Shop on High Street, Abertillery.
Later, Mr S. C. Holman opened a shop on High Street, Abertillery (as seen in the image left).

The Death Of Mr Samuel C. Holman.
On Saturday 16th of August 1941, Mr Samuel C. Holman of Stationers Hall, passed. His obituary taken from the South Wales Gazette stated the following details in relation to his freemasonry activities – Mr Holman was a prominent Freemason and in 1917 became Worshipful Master of the Glan Ebbw Lodge. He also received the honour of Provincial Grand Standard Bearer. He was one of the founder members of the Gwent Lodge and was Worshipful Master in 1922.

In 1937 he was promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden and was elected treasurer of the Gwent Lodge for seventeen consecutive years. He was also active in the Tylery Lodge, becoming becoming Worshipful Master 1916 and later attained the rank of Provincial Grand Warden.

The Later Years.
The shop in Somerset Street closed and was relocated to High Street, Abertillery. That premises closed in the 1980’s and was taken over by Camelot Newsagents and Tobacconists. The premises is now a Cash Generator establishment.