Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
The Old Bon Marche Store.
The Bon Marche Store, Abertillery was constructed in the mid 1880’s and was originally a two-storey building opposite the Medical Hall, on the junction of Cwm Street (later known as Somerset Street) and King Street, Abertillery.
Messrs T. Davies and J. H. Powell.
From its beginning it was owned by Messrs T. Davies and Joseph Henry Powell. Adverts appeared in local newspapers regularly from 1888 wanting dressmakers and apprentices for the millinery and drapery departments.
Following is a Link to – The Old Bon Marche Store.
Messrs J. H. Powell and Griffiths Owen Jones.
In 1894 Mr T. Davies left the business and Mr Griffith Owen Jones entered into the partnership and it became Messrs Mr J. H. Powell & Mr Griffiths Owen Jones.
Mr J. H. Powell.
Mr Joseph Henry Powell of Aberdare, Glamorganshire was a former High Sheriff of that county.
Mr Griffiths Owen Jones.
Mr Griffiths Owen Jones was born in Newcastle Emlyn, Cardiganshire in 1864. Mr Jones was a keen sportsman and one of the pioneers of the Abertillery Rugby Football Club, Mr Jones was the donor of the “Bon Marche’ Cup” which was given for rugby competition. He was president of the Abertillery Rugby Club from 1908. He also donated a cup for the annual Abertillery Schools Swimming Gala.
The Other Stores.
Messrs Powell and Jones later launched out in other localities with branches of their Bon Marche stores in Blackwood, Aberdare and Ebbw Vale, all owned by Mr Jones himself.
The Chimney Fire.
On August 7th, 1894, the Bon Marche nearly burned down from a chimney fire.
Additions to the Bon Marche Store.
In August 1894 the council passed planning application for additions to the store made by Mr Powell.
The Renovations to the Store.
In January 1899 to keep pace with the increasing trade Messrs Powell and Jones extended their showrooms and made extensive alterations (as seen on the image above). In the same year Messrs Powell and Jones applied to the council for permission to rent the wall at the railway station for the use of advertising the Bon Marche, it was granted at £5 per year for seven years contract.
The Dissolved Partnership of Messrs Powell & Jones.
On the 16th of January 1901, the London Gazette issued a statement of a dissolved partnership of Mr Joseph Henry Powell and Mr Griffith Owen Jones of the Bon Marche, Abertillery. As of that date the sole owner of the store was Mr Griffith Owen Jones.
The New Bon Marche Store.
In October 1901 Mr G. O. Jones decided to add a much larger imposing building north of their present premises, on Somerset Street, a building similar in style and size of the new Pontlottyn Store built a few years earlier. They presented the plans drawn up by the architect Mr G. C. Hillard to the council and they were approved on October 23rd, 1901.
In February 1902 tenders were invited from builders to build the new Bon Marche Store. Mr G. C. Hillard was the architect in charge of planning the new store.
The Start of Construction.
In March 1902 the tender of Mr Noel Bagley of 70 Oak Street, was accepted, the architect being Mr G. C. Hillard, of the Market Chambers. Mr G. C. Hillard the architect was based in Aberbeeg until 1902 when at this point he moved into the Market Chambers, Abertillery. Mr Noel Bagley was one of the most renowned contractors of Abertillery.
November 1902 a workman, Carpenter Mr John Morgan, while working on the roof of Bon Marche stepped back to admire his own work, he lost his footing and slid down the roof at the back of the building, he was left dangling by his fingertips, Mr Bagley saw him fall and went to his aid, he steadied the man until the other workers threw him a couple of ropes for him to bring himself to safety.
Shops Incorporated into the new Bon Marche Store.
Mr G. O. Jones of the Bon Marche had already acquired five shops and incorporated them into the new building, in addition they also bought the buildings north of the old Bon Marche building which were occupied by Mr Jordan a boot factor and Mr Rees a general dealer, the Bon Marche purchased these individual businesses and incorporated them into the new building.
The Completion of the New Bon Marche.
In July 1903 the new Bon Marche store was completed, its address was officially – No’s 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, & 30, Somerset Street, 13 & 14, Commercial Street, King Street and Carmel Street.
Staff Outings.
Each year during the month of June, the Bon Marche Store Assistants outing was held. The assistants from the Bon Marche used to hold their annual outings at Gilwern and have a meat tea at the Navigation Inn. The members would travel by coaches and brakes, all expenses paid for by Mr Jones.
Mr Wilfred Jones.
In 1921 Mr Wilfred Jones, the son of the manager Mr G. O. Jones, took over as manager at Bon Marche, Abertillery.
The Death of Mr G. O. Jones.
On the 18th of January 1924, Mr Griffith Owen Jones sadly passed away at his residence Rutland House, Oak Street, Abertillery.
The Bon Marche Fire.
On Tuesday 5th of December 1939, the Western Mail newspaper reported on a fire at the Bon Marche store, Abertillery. The blaze started on Monday 4th of December and looked as though it would cause serious damage to the building. The auxiliary firemen aided the Abertillery Fire Brigade in fighting the fire. At this time the traffic through the main street was diverted.
Bon Marche Store Assistants.
The report on the fire at the store in 1939 (as seen above) stated the number of assistants working in the Bon Marche departmental store numbered between 70 and 100.
The Electric Shop.
In February 1967 the old section of Bon Marche (opposite the Medical Hall) was taken by the Electric Company for their showrooms and sales for Abertillery.
The Closure of Bon Marche.
On Saturday 5th of July 1969, the Bon Marche, Abertillery, closed.
The Gateway Supermarket Store.
On Tuesday 14th of July 1970, the Gateway Securities Limited, Supermarket Stores of Bristol opened in the old Bon Marche store and took the main part of the building as a supermarket. Mr Alan Taylor, star of TV was at the opening.
Mills Chemist.
During the conversion of Bon Marche into the Gateway Supermarket, provision was made for Mills Chemist (part of the Gateway Group) to occupy part of the building to the right of the main entrance on Somerset Street. The chemist sold a full range of health and beauty aids, cameras and other associated items with modern chemist retailing.
Messrs Evans & Schofield.
Messrs Evans & Schofield a furnishers shared the building on the Commercial Street side of the store, once occupied by Mills Chemist. Messrs Evans & Schofield closed sometime in the 1980’s with their section of the building being consumed entirely by the Gateway Supermarket.
Somerfield Supermarket.
On the 21st of March 1995, the Somerfield Supermarket Group started trading in the old Gateway Store.
The Closure of the Somerfield Supermarket.
I am not sure as to when the Somerfield Store closed at Abertillery, although in March 2009 the Somerfield Stores were taken over by the Co-operative Group in a 1.57 billion pound deal, this made the Co-operative Group the fifth largest food retailer in the UK. After this date the company began closing all non-profitable stores. The Abertillery branch may have been one of these stores that closed at this time.
The Original Factory Shop.
After the closure of the Somerfield Store, The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) was established in the building. During this period the upstairs of the large building was renovated, refurbished and made into flats accessed from Commercial Street.
The Original Factory Shop.
In April 2023 it was announced that The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) was to close within the next few weeks. As to date, the stores have remained vacant.
Notes of Interest – The Bon Marche was not part of the Bon Marche Department Store chain as we know it today. That company was founded in 1890 by Mr Edward Nordhoff, in Seattle, Washington U.S.A. The store at Abertillery was named the Abertillery Bon Marche, the stores in the other towns owned by Mr G. O. Jones were also known as the Abertillery Bon Marche.
The name of Bon Marche is French for “Good Market” the name was taken by Messrs Powell and Davies when they opened their store at Abertillery in the mid 1880’s.
Mr Noel Bagley, contractor and architect (as seen left) was born in Wing, Oakham in the County of Rutland. He came to Abertillery in the late 1880’s and lived at 39 Oak Street Abertillery, lodging with Mr John Winmill and family.
In 1894 he married Miss Amy Emmaline Johnson, daughter of George and Priscilla Johnson of Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England. Mr George Johnson was a locomotive foreman for the G.W.R. at Peterborough.
Noel and Emmaline moved into 70 Oak Street, Abertillery and had 6 children, amongst them were – Miss Winifred Ethel Bagley, born 1895. Miss Dorothy Bagley, born 1898. Master William Bagley, born 1901. Miss Laura Bagley, born 1902 and Miss Queenie Bagley, born 1904.
Mr Noel Bagley had constructed the Vivian Colliery railway sidings and was part of the engineering group involved in the extensive alterations to the Abertillery Railway re-routing scheme and new Abertillery Railway Station and the Bush Hill Bridge. He was responsible for the building of the new Six Bells Hotel, the new Station Hotel, the Six Bells Colliery Screens and Washery Building, the Bon Marche and many other buildings, he also constructed the Cwmtillery Reservoir.
He later built his home “Rutland House” in Oak Street in the early 1900’s and more than probably named it after his home County of Rutland.
The Death of Mr N. Bagley.
On Friday 15th of March 1907, Mr Noel Bagley sadly passed away after suffering from pneumonia at his home at Abertillery.
Not long after his death, his wife Amy Emmaline and children moved from Abertillery to live with her mother Mrs Priscilla Johnson at 9 Providential Place, Newtown, Peterborough, who also at this time was a widow herself.