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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The New Bon Marche Store.
In October 1901 the building of the new Bon Marche Store on Somerset Street began.
Following is a Link to – The New Bon Marche.
Points of Interest – The Bon Marche was not part of the Bon Marche Department Stores 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.