The Rolling Mill Inn – Abertillery

The Rolling Mill Inn.
The area of land upon which the Rolling Mill was constructed was originally owned by Mr Edmund James, prominent landowner colliery and quarry proprietor, Mr James had owned much of the land around the Church Street area.

On Thursday 1st of October 1868, Mr Joseph Harris obtained the lease of the land (as seen coloured green – Lot 14 on a later sales map). The original Rolling Mill was practically in the same place as where it is today, on Church Street (as seen on the map left) though slightly smaller than what it is today.

In early reports Mr Joseph Harris held the freehold for the Rolling Mill, it was stated that he had later passed away, although the Rolling Mill was left to his wife and – to his sons after her demise. In that case it was eventually passed on to Mr Joseph T. Harris, son of Joseph senior.

Mr Joseph Harris Senior.
Mr Joseph Harris was born in 1823 at Machen, Monmouthshire. Mr Harris’ first wife was Mrs Jane Harris nee Williams, they married in 1843. Their family were – Miss Elizabeth Ann Harris, born 1850. Master John Harris, born 1853. Master William Harris, born 1857 and Miss Rachel Harris, born 1859. Mr Harris later became a Roll Turner at the Tin Works, Abertillery and was living in Church Street, Abertillery.

On the 1871 census Mr Harris had remarried, his wife was Mrs Martha Harris born 1841 at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, and had added to their family – Miss Mary Jane Harris, born 1866 and Master Joseph Thomas Harris, born 1868. Mr Harris senior was still listed as a roll turner in the Abertillery Tin Works and living next door to the Rolling Mill on Church Street, Abertillery.

Mr William Edwards.
On the 1871 census the Rolling Mill Inn was listed as a Beer House and living there was Mr William Edwards, born 1840 at Llantilio and his wife Mary Edwards, born 1824 at Radnor. There were reports in the South Wales Gazette from 1904 of the Rolling Mill having its first licence issued in 1872, this is a bit confusing though may be an error!

Mr Thomas Thorne.
On the 1881 census Mr and Mrs Thorne were landlord and landlady of the Rolling Mill. Mr Thomas Thorne, born 1839 at Somerset, his wife Harriet Thorne, born 1841 at Somerset and children – Mr Thomas Thorne listed as Barman. Master Frederick Thorne. Master Broderick Thorne and Miss Harriet Thorne.

Mr William Jones.
On the 1891 census Mr William Jones was the landlord of the Rolling Mill. During this time Miss Helen Ducey and Miss Margaret Crowley were servant girls and barmaids.

Mr Joseph Thomas Harris Jnr.
In the mid 1890’s Mr Joseph Thomas Harris became the landlord of the Rolling Mill, Abertillery. As mentioned, his family had held the lease of the Rolling Mill since the 1860’s.

In 1899 plans were issued for the rebuilding of the Rolling Mill. The Architect was Mr L. R. Roberts of Abercarn.

On the 1901 census Mr and Mrs Joseph and Elizabeth Harris were still at the Rolling Mill, its address at this time was No14 Church Street. Mr and Mrs Harris were living there with their children – Master Joseph Harris, born 1898 and Master Edward Harris, born 1899. Also living at the house was Mrs Elizabeth James, the grandmother of the Landlord Joseph Harris, Mrs James was stated as being a native of Tredegar and born in 1808.

The 1904 Renovations.
In 1904 the Rolling Mill Inn, Abertillery, was completely renovated, partly rebuilt and enlarged. The date of this construction can be seen engraved into the keystones above the window arches on the front of the building.

In February 1905 it was reported in the South Wales Gazette that the Abertillery Silver Band were to open a temperance club in Church Street, Abertillery next door to the Rolling Mill, it was stated the premises was to be known as the Abertillery Silver Band Temperance Club, it was reported to have been on the right-hand side of the Rolling Mill Inn, (I don’t know which way the reporter was standing or looking when he wrote the report).

In February 1905 Mr Lyndon Moore, Solicitor of Newport on behalf of the landlord applied for a spirit license, it was stated that the application was refused and held over has the landlord had not yet carried out the structural alterations that had been planned, it was said that certain alterations had been carried out, but they were done with the object of increasing the drinking, principally among women.

On Tuesday 28th of February 1905, at a meeting of the Abertillery Licensing Court, presided by Alderman S. N. Jones and Mr E. Jones Williams, the landlord of the Rolling Mill, Mr Joseph Thomas Harris applied for a full spirit license for his beer house. Mr Harris was again refused a full license as it was opposed by the police, the district council and the temperance interests. The application had been adjourned as of a technicality in the reconstruction of the house the previous year the licensee had departed from the plans approved of. As a result the Jug & Bottle accommodation was seriously enlarged, this was done to allow more of the “stand-up” customers to increase sales.

At this court hearing it was stated that the Rolling Mill had received its first license in 1872 and confirmed the present applicant had held a license for six years, which in the first place belonged to his father, passed to his widow and upon her death was left in trust to the five children. The house was freehold and not tied to any brewer. After hearing many witnesses in favour of the landlord and for the need for spirits in that part of town, the bench adjourned and on their return still refused the application of a spirits license, they did however renew the existing beer house license.

Women Drinking at Abertillery.
During the court case in connection with the granting of the spirit license for the Rolling Mill, Abertillery in 1905, the bench discussed the growing problem of licensees serving drinks to women. The court wanted the press to take note of the current situation as many licensed victuallers were not taking notice at all. The chairman reported that he had seen a growing number of women drinking in licensed houses, the bench thought it right to report the licensees who harboured these women, it was said, quote – “These women were seen to be spending the the money so hardly earned by their husbands and it was not right”. The bench thought it necessary, that in future to caution the offending licensees and instructed the inspector of Abertillery to keep a strict look-out in all licensed places, it was said that there were almost as many women drinking in Abertillery as men!

Mrs Elizabeth James.
In 1905 Mrs Elizabeth James, the grandmother of the landlord Mr Joseph T. Harris passed away at 97 years of age. Mrs James obituary in the South Wales Gazette stated she had lived through the reign of 5 British Monarchs, George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria and Edward VII. She was a native of Tredegar and had been living at the Rolling Mill since 1896.

The Sale of the Rolling Mill.
In January 1909 the Rolling Mill was put up for sale at auction …. It was purchased for the sum of £11,480. by Mr C. E. Dovey, a solicitor of Cardiff on behalf of Messrs Phillips & Sons, Brewers of Newport. Equivalent to £1.3 million in today’s money.

Mrs Ethel May Evans.
In 1947 Mrs Ethel May Evans was the landlady of the Rolling Mill.

The 1980 Renovations.
In 1980 the Rolling Mill was renovated with internal layout alterations.

A list of Landlords and Landladies.
Full list of landlords 1870 – 2010 were as follows –
Mr Joseph Harris (1870)
Mr William Edwards (1872)
Mr Thomas Thorn & Francis Evans (1874 – 1890)
Mr William Henry Jones (1893 – 1900)
Mr Joseph Thomas Harris (1905 – 1924)
Mr Thomas James Bacon (1925 – 1932)
Mr Hugh Herbert Evans (1933 – 1946)
Mrs Ethel M Evans (1947 – 1951)
Mr William Thomas (1953 – 1954)
Mr William S Gregory (1955 – 1957)
Mr Alfred G Atkins (1958 – 1965)
Mr Michael J Kelly (1966)
Mr Jack Eason (1967 – 1969)
Mr Michael G Weston (1970)
Mr Keith R Elms (1971 – 1972)
Mr John O’Brian (1973)
Mrs Eileen Cordaro (1974)
Mr and Mrs Frank and Maria Morgan (1977 – 1978)
Mrs Maria Morgan (1979)
Mr William Clark (1980 – 1983)
Mr Alan Collett (1983 – 1985)
Mr Jeff Dyke (1986)
Mrs Shirley Meek (1987 – 1988)
Mr and Mrs Ken and Shirley Meek (1989 – 1991)
Mr and Mrs David and Helen Scott (1993 – 1995)
Mr Kevin Meek (1997 – 1999)
Mr Roy Preece (2000)
Mr Lionel J Williams (2001- 2010).

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

The Later Years.
The pub was refurbished in 1980, Mr Bill Clark, the landlord was photographed at the Rolling Mill with Welsh Rugby Internationals Gareth Davies, Elgan Rees and Jeff Squire in the Gazette 06th of November 1980.