The Clyn Mawr Hotel – Blaenau Gwent

The Clyn Mawr Hotel.
It is thought the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent was built in 1861, although the earliest reports I can find on the Clyn Mawr Hotel are from the 1870’s, when Mr Edward Thomas and his wife Mary were the landlord and landlady. The Clyn Mawr Hotel (seen lower middle on the map from 1880) was named after the area of Blaenau Gwent known as Clyn Mawr, the area extended from Tyr Bryn down to the main railway line at Glan-y-dwr (later Glandwr) and across to Brynteg to the east.

Clyn Mawr.
Clyn is a corruption of Clun, roughly translated to meadow, moor or a wood. Mawr is large or big. On the land maps of the 1830’s the area was known as Clain Mawr. Later the street name of Glynmawr was a corruption of Clyn Mawr. 

Many thanks to Ben Screen for the Welsh translation.

Mr Edward Thomas.
In 1881 Mr Edward Thomas born 1845 at Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire and his wife Mary nee Davies? born 1848 at Abertillery.

The Official Opening of the Cwmtillery Junior Mixed School, the Cock n Chick.
On Monday 15th of January 1877, the Board Schools at Cwmtillery more commonly known as the “Cock n Chick School” were officially opened. Guest were Mr Lawrence Heyworth for the South Wales Colliery Co (who established and opened the Rose Heyworth Colliery and was the architect of the cottages of Blaenau Gwent Rows); Mr J. W. Walters J.P.; The Rev Howell Howells; Mr T. Phillips; Mr J. Thomas of Brynmawr and Dr Soper; Mr Edmund Morgan; Mr Titus Phillips (Vice Chairman of the Board) Mr J. Harding; Mr W. Dayson; Rev J. A. Jones (the Clerk); Mr Walters (Treasurer) Dr Williams: Rev J. Lewis and Mr Allen (Nantyglo):

After the opening of the school the party then left and walked to the Clyn Mawr Hotel for lunch where Mr Edmund Morgan presided. Toasts were given to the South Wales Colliery Co, the people of the valley, the coal iron and general trade of the district, the Aberystruth Shool Board and the Guardians of the Bedwellty Union.

Pride of the Valley Lodge of Shepherds.
In 1879 the “Pride of the Valley Lodge of Shepherds” was established with over 70 members initiated and many more proposed for membership. The lodge used the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent for their meetings.

On Monday 11th of October 1880, the “Pride of the Valley Lodge of Shepherds” held their first annual meeting at the Clyn Mawr Hotel. Reports in the South Wales Daily News stated over 60 members sat for dinner under the superintendence of their host Mrs Thomas. Following were the officers of the lodge – Mr Thomas Prosser Stewart (Chairman); Mr Bradbury (Vice-Chairman) and Mr John Morgan (Secretary): At the meeting, entertainment was supplied by the following singers – Mr T. P. Stewart; Mr D. Harris; Mr W. Morgan; Mr John Williams and Mr Bradbury. The Harpist was Mr Henry Jones: Speeches were given by the Chairman and Mr William Banfield.

On the 1881 census Mr Edward Thomas born 1845 at Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire was still the landlord of the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent and his wife Mary nee Davies? born 1848 at Abertillery, with their children Master Edward John and Misses Hannah S. and Margaret Thomas, also a Servant Miss Mary Ann Densley from Tredegar.

Mr Lewis Richards.
In October 1881 Mr Lewis Richards was the licensee of the Clyn Mawr Hotel, it was reported in the Cardiff Times newspaper on 15th of October 1881 (as seen right) that he had transferred the license to a Mr William Bebb. There is no information available on both Mr Lewis Richards or Mr William Bebb.

Mr William Bebb.
Mr William Bebb became the landlord of the Clyn Mawr Hotel from October 1881 after the transfer of the license from Mr Lewis Richards. 

Mrs Sarah Aston.
On the 1891 census Mrs Sarah Aston born 1847 at Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire was the landlady with her husband Mr Benjamin Aston, Mrs Aston’s second husband (see below) married in 1887, with their family listed as being Miss Kate Aston, born in 1873 at Crumlin. Miss Mary Jane Aston, born in 1874 at Crumlin and Master William Aston, born in 1877 at Crumlin. Also a servant living there by the name of Miss J. Jenkins, born in 1870 at West Dean, Gloucestershire. At this time the Clyn Mawr Hotel’s official address was 72 Newtown, Blaenau Gwent. There was also a Clyn Mawr House listed at 73 Newtown, Blaenau Gwent.

Mrs Aston’s First Marriage.
Mrs Sarah Aston had previously been married to Mr William Morgan, a civil engineer from Llanhilleth,  from 1872 to about 1886. Mrs Morgan then married Mr Benjamin Aston in 1887.

Even though Sarah and Benjamin Aston’s family were listed as being Aston on the 1891 census, it seems as though it was either an error on part of the registrar or the children were named as such but later reverted back to their birth name of Morgan, as on the later 1901 census, Mary Jane and her brother William both listed as being “single” had the surname Morgan. 

The Miners Meetings.
In the 1890’s it was the venue for many miners meetings, reports stated the men also used to gather on the fields around the Clyn Mawr Hotel if there were large crowds.

Throughout the 1890’s Mrs Sarah Ashton was the landlady of the Clyn Mawr Hotel.

Mrs Mary Morgan.
In August 1900 Mrs Mary Jane Morgan, the daughter of Mrs Ashton applied for a transfer of the license of the Clyn Mawr Hotel from her mother who was in ill health. Mrs Sarah Aston sadly passed away a few weeks later in September 1900.

On the 1901 census Mary Morgan, born 1874 at Crumlin was landlady at the Clyn Mawr Hotel, living with her was her brother Mr William Morgan. At the Clyn Mawr Hotel was also a servant, Miss Winifred Ralph, born in 1883 at Blaenavon.

The Council Inspections of 1908.
The Clyn Mawr Hotel, when it was constructed, like many other public houses had ample stable requirements to accommodate the travellers who frequented the establishments. In February 1908 the Council Inspectors examined many of the public houses in the area and the first case to be assessed was that of the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent. The report (as seen above) stated the following – General repairs were required to the outside of the building. The house was in a bad condition and the stable was dirty. There was no lavatory in the house. It was desirable that there should be, and that recommendation was made. The report listed many inns and most had no bathroom or lavatory, the Royal Exchange at Blaenau Gwent didn’t even have a kitchen.

Mr William Joseph Fahey.
On the 1911 census Mr William Joseph Fahey born 1878 at Kilcrea, County Cork, Ireland and his wife Mary Fahey nee Meade of Crumlin were landlord and landlady of the Clyn Mawr Hotel.  Mr and Mrs Fahey lived at the Clyn Mawr Hotel with their sons Masters John William Fahey and Edward Morgan Fahey aged 1 year and 3 months respectively, also two Nursemaids – Misses Ellen and Lily Summers of Brynmawr.

The Skittle Alley and the Free Church Council.
On Wednesday 24th of May 1911, the Abertillery Free Church Council held its annual meeting at the Tabernacle Chapel, Abertillery addressed by Rev T. Richards. Also present were the following – Mr D. J. Badger (Corresponding Secretary); Mr A. Hill (President); Revs T. Humphries; A. Evans; and D. Collier, Messrs T. F. Salt; J. Snelgrove and Mr R. More (Vice-Presidents); Mr T. F. Salt (Treasurer); Mr A. Phillips (Financial Secretary) and Rev T. Grey Davies: The Free Church Council had an area from Abertillery to Six Bells and were intent on promoting religious activities and to stem (what they called) the growing evil in the district by taking action in regards to licensing issues, boxing saloons and such, they reported their opposition on the granting of an extra license for the Cwmtillery Brewery and the proposed construction of a skittle alley at the Clyn Mawr Hotel, they were successful in opposing the license for the Cwmtillery Brewery though permission to build a skittle alley at the Clyn Mawr Hotel was granted.

Mr Arthur Gittins.
Sometime during the Great War, Mr A. Gittins became landlord of the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Mr Gittins had a Motor Car Hire business and was hiring out cars from the Clyn Mawr Hotel.

The Marstons Skittle League.
In October 1934 the Clyn Mawr Hotel featured in the Marstons Skittle League with the following teams – The Castle Hotel, Lymes Club “B”, Oak Street Social Club, High Street Social Club “A”, Walpole Hotel, Legion Club “A”, Cwmtillery Club, Glasgow House “A”, National Club Cwm, Central Hotel, Lymes Club “A”, Blaenau Gwent Club, The Drill Hall (Abertillery), Legion Club “B”, Glasgow House “B” and the High Street Social Club “B”.

In 1936 Mr A. Gittins was still listed as the landlord of the Clyn Mawr Hotel.

The Webb’s Skittle League.
In September 1938 the Clyn Mawr Hotel featured in the Webb’s Skittle League “A” Division with the following teams – Walpole, Drill Hall (Cwm), Top Hotel (Llanhilleth), Cwmtillery Club, Castle Hotel, Lymes Club, Oak Street Social Club, High Street Social Club, Conservative Club (Llanhilleth), Lion Hotel, Blaenau Gwent Club and the Blaentillery Club. At this time the Clynmawr only had one team in the league.

Mr Ben Brown.
There were reports that Mr Ben Brown was later landlord at the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr George Jones.
In about 1950 Mr George Jones and his wife Rose became the landlord and landlady of the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr William Hughes.
In 1963 Mr William (Bill) Hughes and his wife Maureen were landlord and landlady of the Clyn Mawr Hotel, Blaenau Gwent, they had both been previous steward and stewardess of the Top Hat Club, Cwmtillery. Mr and Mrs Hughes left the Clyn Mawr Hotel in 1988.

A Section of the Clyn Mawr Hotel Tree.
During the tenure of Mr William (Bill) Hughes, the tree that had been growing for quite some time and was a landmark of the back garden that was situated at the southern side of the Clyn Mawr Hotel was getting too big and was cut down on Thursday 6th of October 1983.

Mr Harry Potter, a regular at the Clyn Mawr acquired the section as a memento and hand painted the details and date of the removal of the tree on the face of the piece (as seen right).

The tree section was exhibited in the bar for quite a while although was later removed to the cellar.

Mrs Lyn Drinkwater.
In 1988 Mrs Lyn Drinkwater became the landlady of the Clyn Mawr Hotel. Her tenure lasted ten years and she left in 1998.

Mr Alan Ford.
In 1998 Mr Alan Ford and his wife Jeanette became owners of the Clyn Mawr Hotel at Blaenau Gwent.

The Sale of the Clyn Mawr Hotel.
In the summer of 2021 Alan and Jeanette Ford sold the Clyn Mawr and moved out in September 2022.

Mr David Clease.
In September 2022 Dai and Zoe Clease took out a lease on the pub and became licensees of the Clyn Mawr Hotel at Blaenau Gwent.