The Royal Exchange Inn – Blaenau Gwent

The Royal Exchange Inn – Blaenau Gwent.
The Royal Exchange Inn (as seen in the main featured image) was situated on Victoria Street, on the corner of what is now known as Upper Royal Lane, opposite Blaenau Gwent Baptist Chapel. Photograph copyright unknown.

Mr and Mrs William and Rebecca Lloyd.
The first mention of the inn was in a report printed in the Star of Gwent newspaper dated September 1869. The earliest licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Victoria Street, Blaenau Gwent were William and Rebecca Lloyd. Mr William Lloyd was born in 1823 at Aberystruth. Mrs Rebecca Lloyd nee Rogers was born in 1826, also at Aberystruth.

Rebecca Lloyd nee Rogers.
Mrs Rebecca Lloyd, nee Rogers, was of the old Rogers family of Penybont and Cwmtillery.

Kelliau House.
On the 1861 census, William and Rebecca Lloyd, after ten years of marriage, were now living at Kelliau House. According to the censuses, the house was situated somewhere between Ty Dan-y-Wal and Clyn Mawr Uchaf, it has yet to be identified.

The 1871 Census.
The 1871 census has Mr William Lloyd as being at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent listed as being a wagon loader at one of the local collieries. Mrs Rebecca Lloyd was listed as being the innkeeper. They lived at the inn with their children – Miss Miriam Lloyd, born 1852. Miss Mary A. Lloyd, born in 1857. Miss Dinah Lloyd, born 1859 and Miss Sarah Lloyd, born in 1863.

Mr A. Jones.
In 1872 the Bedwellty Licensing Files shows Mr A. Jones of Blackwood was the owner of the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Mr Jones later leased it to Mr John Davies.

Mr and Mrs John and Hannah Davies.
On the 1881 census, Mr John and Hannah Davies were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Mr John Davies, born in 1847 at Aberystruth was listed as a coal miner and inn keeper. His wife, Mrs Hannah Davies was born in 1849 at Brynmawr, Brecknock. They both lived at the inn with their children – Miss Mary Ann Davies, born 1869. Master Evan M. Davies, born 1870. Master Francis Davies, born 1874 and Master Thomas Davies, born in 1879. Also living at the premises was Miss Mary Jones, born in 1865 at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire.

Webb’s Aberbeeg.
In 1892 Webb’s Brewers of Aberbeeg were listed as the owners of the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr James Jones.
In 1892, under the ownership of Webb’s Brewery, Mr James Jones and his wife Mrs Rosie Jones were listed as licensees.

The Prince of Llewellyn Lodge of Ivorites.
In September 1892, the Prince of Llewellyn Lodge of Ivorites that its headquarters at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent was dissolved.

Messrs J. R. & T. A. Webb, Brewers of Aberbeeg.
In 1896 Messrs J. R. & T. A. Webb, Brewers of Aberbeeg were owners of the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Under the ownership of Messrs J. R. & T. A. Webb Brewers of Aberbeeg, Mr James Jones and his wife Mrs Rosie Jones were still listed as licensees until they left the inn in 1901.

Mr James Jones, born 1867 at Blaenavon and his wife Mrs Rosie Jones, born in 1868 at Abertillery. They were at the inn with their children – Master Frank Jones, born 1888. Master Isaac Jones, born 1891. Miss Bronwen Jones, born 1894. Master Wyndham Jones, born in 1898. Also at the premises were Miss Hetty Jones, niece, Miss Ethel Williams, a visitor and Miss Florrie Ford listed as a servant, born in 1885 at Abertillery.

Mr Alexander James Edwards.
In 1903 Mr Alexander James Edwards became licensee of the inn under the ownership of Messrs J. R. & T. A. Webb, Brewers of Aberbeeg. Mr Edwards kept the licence until 1905.

Mr William Williams.
In 1906 Mr William Williams and his wife Mrs Sarah Jane Williams were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Also at the premises was Miss Sarah Prothero, listed as a servant born in Cwmtillery.

Mr Abraham George Williams.
In 1926 Mr Abraham George Williams and his wife Mrs Eleanor Williams were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Also living at the premises were – Mr Harold George Williams and Arthur William Williams.

Mr Samuel John Wickett.
In 1928 Mr Samuel John Wickett and his wife Mrs Minnie Wickett nee Matthews of Frome, Somersetshire, were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Thomas Blewitt.
In 1930 Mr Thomas Blewitt and his wife Mrs Elizabeth Blewitt were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Llewellyn Edmunds.
In 1932 Mr Llewellyn Edmunds and his wife were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Jacob Brooks.
In 1936 – 1946 Mr Jacob Brooks and his wife Mrs Elizabeth S. Brooks nee Preece, married in 1886 were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Arthur L. Brooks.
In 1945 Mr Arthur L. Brooks was licensee at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Mr Brooks was licensee until 1947.

Mr Gomer Derrick.
In 1947 Mr Gomer Derrick and his wife Mrs Olive Derrick nee Shaw were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. They were listed as being there until 1953 until Mr Gomer Derrick died and the licence was taken by his wife Mrs Olive Derrick.

Mrs Olive Derrick.
In 1954 Mrs Olive Derrick and Mr William Hickey were registered as being at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. The couple were listed as being there until 1961.

Mr George Prosser.
In 1962 Mr George Prosser and his wife Mrs Edith Prosser were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent. Mr and Mrs Prosser were at the inn until 1968

Mr Ronald Lloyd.
In 1969 Mr Ronald Lloyd and his wife Mrs Rita Lloyd nee White married 1956 were licensees at the Royal Exchange Inn, Blaenau Gwent.

The Closure of the Royal Exchange.
On Friday 10th of October 1975, Gwent Gazette reported, an empty hotel, the Royal Exchange, owned by Welsh Breweries Ltd had been vandalised. They were to draw up a report on that and other buildings at Victoria Street.

The Demolition of the Royal Exchange.
On Thursday 3rd of February 1977, the Gwent Gazette reported on the “Decline of an Abertillery Hotel”. Councillor Ron Baker said he would call for action from the town council if buildings were left to deteriorate. Members had complained repeatedly about the dilapidated state of the Royal Exchange Inn and said it was an eyesore. The town clerk Mr Gwyn Price told them at the latest meeting that he understood the inn was now being demolished. The inn was later demolished and the site was cleared.

SHAW Houses.
In May 1988, the Gwent Gazette reported that SHAW the Secondary Housing Association for Wales were granted planning consent to demolish three houses on Victoria Street and built four new homes.

(More information to come).