The Cwm Hotel – Abertillery

The Cwm Hotel – Abertillery.
In the late 1890’s Messrs Monks and Parfitt, contractors of Newport began constructing the new road on the eastern side of the valley from Abertillery to Six Bells, this new road was to be called Alexandra Road. Messrs Webb Bros, Brewers of Aberbeeg saw an opportunity to have a new hotel built on this new road (as seen center left in the main featured image above), on a plot of land on the Cwm Estate, close to the junction of Queen Street and Cwm Street.

The Cwm Estate.
This hotel was to be called the Cwm Hotel, named after the estate it was to be built upon. It was planned to be built on part of the Cwm Estate adjacent to the new road and bounded to the north and east by land owned by Reverend Daniel Griffiths of Llangranog Rectory, Llandyssil, Cardiganshire and Mr Robert Thomas Martin of Caederwen, Clytha Park, Newport.

The Granting of the Hotel by the Authorities.
The licensing authorities would only grant the licence for the proposed new hotel on a condition that Webb’s Brewers of Aberbeeg would transfer the Forge Hammer Inn at Hill Street to the new hotel then close the said inn and to also close another of their pubs, the Ivorites Inn at Castle Street, Abertillery that was in close proximity. This condition was to stop Webb’s Brewery having a monopoly of the trade in such a small area.

The Webb Brothers had no option but to close two of their old premises and forfeit those licenses in order to build the new hotel. They abided by the magistrates wishes and offered to surrender the licenses of the Forge Hammer Inn and of the Ivorites Inn on Castle Street. While the new building went ahead and the closure of the other two inns was put in motion Mr William Tippins of the Forge Hammer Inn was put in place as licensee of the new hotel in order to oversee the undertaking.

Mr William Tippins.
In 1899 Mr William Tippins was landlord at the Forge Hammer Inn and licensee in waiting of the new Cwm Hotel. Mr Tippins was born in 1854 at Abertillery, his wife was Mrs Sarah Ann Tippins nee Jones, born in 1856 at Blaina.

The Completion of the New Road to Six Bells.
In January 1902 the new road was completed and open to heavy carts etc. This coincided with the construction of the Cwm Hotel.

Licences Surrendered.
In December 1902, the licence of the Forge Hammer held by Mr William Tippins was transferred to the Cwm Hotel and the licence for the Ivorites Inn was surrendered. The effects from both inns were later auctioned off at the newly constructed Cwm Hotel.

Mr C. J. Judd.
In 1903 Mr Charles James Judd became licensee at the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery. Mr Judd was born in 1861 at Brynmawr, his wife was Mrs Zena Judd nee Oliver and children Miss Gladys Judd, born 1894 and Master Henry Judd, born 1896.

Judd’s Fair Ground.
There was a vacant piece of land adjacent to the Cwm Hotel, this bit of land, known as Judd’s Ground was used to hold fairs and shows etc. On the 21st of May 1904, the Era newspaper printed the following – At Judd’s New Fairgrounds, Abertillery, Mr White’s tunnel railway and his wheel, with the usual side-shows, coconut shies and shooters etc are doing a good business. In 1910 this land was taken so as to construct the new Drill Hall.

The Departure of Mr C. J. Judd.
In 1904 Mr Charles James Judd left the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery to take the licence at the Newbridge Hotel, Newbridge, Monmouthshire.

Mr Joshua Weeks.
In 1904 Mr Joshua Weeks was the licensee at the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery. Mr Weeks was from Maindee, Newport and had previously been landlord at the Walpole Arms, Llanhilleth.

The Alexandra Photographic Company.
On Saturday 8th of July 1905, the Alexandra Photographic Company opened. The studio was reported to have been adjoined to the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery.

Mr William George Thomas.
In 1916 Mr William George Thomas took the licence of the Cwm Hotel and was its landlord until 1923.

Webb’s Western Valley Quoit League.
In late 1920, the South Wales Gazette published Webb’s Western Valley Quoit League. Following is a list of all the teams that were in the league – The Cwm Hotel, Lamb Inn, The Prince of Wales, The Commercial Hotel, The Royal Exchange, The Globe, Ebbw Vale, The Mitre, The Colliers Arms, The Crown Inn, The Railway, The Old Bridgend Inn, Aberbeeg C.C., The D.S.D.S. Club (British Legion) and the South Wales Inn, Cwmtillery.

Mr Jesse Robinson.
In the mid 1920’s Mr Jesse Robinson became the landlord at the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery.

The Abertillery and District Indoor Quoits League.
In the late 1920’s the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery featured in the Abertillery and District Indoor Quoits League. The teams that featured in the league were as follows – The Cwm Hotel, Abertillery, The Hillside Social Club, Llanhilleth, The Mount Pleasant Hotel, The Central Hotel, The Walpole Hotel, The Commercial Hotel, Lanhilleth Workmens Club and the Globe Hotel, Abertillery.

The Quoits Team Members.
Throughout the late 1920’s and into the 1930’s the team members in the quoits league were as follows – Mr J. Robinson; Mr I. Weybourne; Mr W. Williams; Mr J. Swansbury; Mr E. Penny; Mr L. Davies; Mr J. Williams; Mr D. Williams; Mr C. Dore; Mr J. Harris; Mr T. Meredith; Mr D. Jones; Mr G. Edmunds; Mr W. Edmunds; Mr J. Swansbury; Mr W. Dean; Mr J. Jones; Mr L. Dobbins; Mr W. Powell; Mr L. Smith; Mr T. Williams; Mr J. Jenkins; Mr A. Hoskins; Mr W. Pincott; Mr O. Wilcox; Mr A. J. Coleman; Mr G. Pitts and Mr W. Sheppard:

Mr Albert George Carter.
On the 1939 register Mr Albert George Carter was listed as manager at the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery. Mr Carter was married to Mrs Lily Carter and had been at the Cwm Hotel throughout the 1930’s.

Mr Wyndham Tossell.
In the 1940’s Mr Wyndham Tossell was listed as Landlord at the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery.

Mr William J. Dyke.
In 1947 Mr William J. Dyke was landlord.

Mr Thomas Simmonds.
In 1951 Mr Thomas Simmonds was landlord.

Mr George Wynn.
From 1957 until its closure, Mr George Wynn was the landlord.

The Abertillery and District Darts League.
In November 1958, just shortly before it closed, the Cwm Hotel had two dart teams featured in the Abertillery and District Darts League. The league was as follows – Division 1 – The Clyn Mawr Hotel “A”, The Cwm Hotel “B”, Cwmtillery Excelsiors, The Prince of Wales, Six Bells Club, The Bell Hotel “A”, The Mitre Inn, Blaenau Gwent Club, The Crown Inn “A”, Oak Street Social Club, Aberbeeg Club, The Arrael Social Club, The Mount Pleasant Hotel, The Officers Club and the Royal Exchange. Division 2 – The Bell Hotel “B”, The Hanbury Hotel, The Clyn Mawr Hotel “B”, Ralphs Club, The Colliers Arms, The Cwm Hotel “A”, The Castle Hotel, The Somerset Hotel, The Rolling Mill, The South Wales Inn, The Coach and Horses, The Globe Hotel, The Crown Inn “B” and the Six Bells Hotel.

The Closure of the Cwm Hotel.
In the late 1950’s the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery closed.

A List of Landlords and Landladies at the Cwm Hotel.
A list of landlords and landladies (1901-1959)
Mr William Tippins (1901-1902)
Mr Charles James Judd (1902-1904)
Mr Joshua Weeks (1904-1916)
Mr William George Thomas (1916-1920’s)
Mr Jesse Robinson (1920’s-1930′)
Mr Albert George Carter (1930’s-1940’s)
Mr Wyndham Tossell (1940′-1947)
Mr William J. Dyke (1947-1951)
Mr Thomas Simmonds (1951-1957)
Mr George Wynn (1957-1959).

The information on the later landlords and landladies was kindly supplied courtesy of Mr Bryan Boots.

The New Council Offices Proposal.
After the closure of the Cwm Hotel, Abertillery, the council, who at this time had its offices at King Street were looking for new premises, mainly to use as a main office and also to combine other depots etc. Initially, there were many objections put forward to this idea and an inquiry into the proposal took place.

The Objectors to the Council Offices Proposal.
On Thursday 26th of March 1959, the South Wales Gazette reported on an inquiry held at the council chambers on the previous Thursday the 19th of March 1959, where members of the Abertillery Ratepayers Association where the main objectors to the councils proposals to purchase the Cwm Hotel and to convert the premises into a council offices.

The main grounds of the council’s application to borrow £13,500 to purchase the Cwm Hotel and £6,500 for its conversion were outlined by Councillor H. S. Snellgrove (Chairman) of the local authority. Mr Snellgrove informed them of the inadequacy of the council’s premises received consideration in the immediate post-war period and that a scheme was then considered for constructing an entirely new building, although national financial policy at that time rendered that scheme impracticable and it was not proceeded with. Following is a transcript of the report.

The present difficulties were outlined as such –
1/ The structural limitations of the present building at King Street.
2/ The fact that the administration is split up amongst several buildings at some distance from each other. The bulk of the work is at the main offices at the junction of King Street and Castle Street, while two departments namely those of the Public Health Inspector and Housing Manager and the Council Chamber are in the building known as Oddfellows Hall, Queen Street.

The stores are split up between the three depots – One at the offices, one at the top of King Street and one at Bywaters Row. The vehicles and petrol stores are at Chapel Street, Vivian Street and the top of King Street. The council was concerned about the difficulties of the stores control and they appoint a special sub-committee to look into the matter. All this added to an inconvenience and the centralisation of its activities would result in improved efficiency and a great increase in convenience to the members, the officers and the public at large.

The council had set up a committee to deal with this matter in 1956, at this time the surveyor considered the condition of the present offices and in consequence of the council’s inability to carry out work other than make the offices safe and wind and water-proof they appointed a sub-committee to inspect the premises of the Cwm Hotel and the surveyor was instructed to report on its condition. The committee reviewed the available accommodation throughout the district and concluded that it was not possible to adapt the existing premises to meet their requirements and that the most economical course was to move to a new site which could be easily adapted.

The only building they found to meet their requirements was the Cwm Hotel, the council entered into negotiations with the owners. The old hotel could be easily adapted, it was on a bus route and was quite central. There followed a large number of meetings, the council weighed up all the pros and cons and found the whole scheme including conversion would cost £20,000, which the council were advised would be far less than a new building. Later the council were given the go-ahead to proceed with the renovation of the hotel and its conversion into a council offices.

The Opening of the Cwm Hotel as the Council Offices.
On Monday 22nd of February 1960, the new Abertillery Council Offices at the old Cwm Hotel was officially opened. The opening ceremony was conducted by Councillor S. R. Harris J.P. (Chairman) of the council. Mr Harris was supported by Councillor S. T. Butler (Vice-Chairman) of the council and Mr Blaise Gillie (Welsh Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government).

It was reported in the South Wales Gazette on the Friday 26th of February 1960 – Sadness tinged the opening of the Abertillery Council Offices as the Sunday prior to the opening, the Clerk, Mr Hector J. Williams passed away. The entire proceedings were subdued as each speaker paid tribute to Mr Williams. Outside the building the Union Jack flew at half mast, while inside the clerks chair was left empty and a vase of white chrysanthemums rested on a clean ink-blotter.

Rev S. L. Davies the minister of the Ebenezer dedicated the new council offices and during the opening by Mr Harris, all guests spoke highly of Mr Williams, Mr John Hall M.P., for High Wycombe, a director of Webb’s Brewery Aberbeeg, the former owners of the building paid tribute. Other guests were as follows – Alderman Harry Phillips J.P.; Councillor Mrs B. Goldsworthy of Ebbw Vale; Councillor J. Hewins of Abercarn; Councillor Jack Durban of the Nantyglo and Blaina Council and others.

The Closure of the Council Offices at the old Cwm Hotel.
In the late 1980’s the Abertillery Council had a new purpose built council offices constructed at the junction of Mitre Street and King Street, Abertillery. The site chosen was that of the old British Legion Club. The old offices at Alexandra Road was vacated.

The Move From the old Council Offices to the New Offices.
On Saturday 10th of December 1988, the council staff moved out from the old offices at Alexandra Road and moved into the new offices.

The Official Opening of the New Council Offices at Mitre Street.
On Friday 3rd of February 1989 the new offices were officially opened.

Cwrt Alexandra.
After the old council offices at the Cwm Hotel were vacated by the council, the old building and land at Alexandra Road was earmarked for development by the Blaenau Gwent strategy for relocating district council buildings into town center’s in a £500,000 development scheme. It was partly funded by Housing For Wales with additional funding provided by the Nationwide Building Society.

As a result, during 1992-1993 a block of housing association flats were constructed. The complex, named Cwrt Alexandra, owned and managed by SHAW Home Care Housing Association was constructed, opened by Mr Mike Mochan (Deputy Mayor) they consist of eighteen self-contained one person, and two person flats.

Designers and Contractors.
The designers of Cwrt Alexandra was SHAW Design, Development and Management Services. The contractors were Woodward Construction Limited. (Gwent Gazette – Thursday 11th of March 1993).