Mr William Barrow Harrison – Harrison’s Ironmongers

Mr William Barrow Harrison.
Mr William Barrow Harrison, was born in 1854 at Slackhead, Beetham in Cumbria. His family was from Beetham Hall at Beetham, Cumbria, England. His parents moved to Monmouth in 1863.

Mr Harrison at Abertillery.
At the age of 14 he started work and entered the service of Mr W. Hiley who had a business in Abertillery with branch shops in Beaufort, Nantyglo, Brynmawr and Blaina. After leaving Mr Hiley, Mr Harrison worked for Mr George H. Hiley at Abertillery.

The Ironmongery Business.
In 1878 Mr William Barrow Harrison married Sarah Ann Harris, the daughter of Mr John Harris of Abertillery. They lived at Ebbw Vale but came back to Abertillery in 1880 and he set up an ironmongery business, he also ventured into coal mining.

Abertillery Local Board.
From 1888 to 1891 Mr Harrison served on the old Abertillery Local Board, he also served on the Tredegar Board of Guardians, reaching vice-chairmanship, he became the first governor of the Abertillery County School, he was a member of the Aberystruth School Board and was also a councillor for the Abertillery Central Ward.

Miners Strike Fund.
Between 1891 and 1898 he was the trustee for the Miners’ Strike Fund.

Powell’s Tillery Institute.
Later became the trustee for the Powell’s Tillery Institute and Gymnasium,

West Monmouth Liberal Association.
In politics Mr Harrison filled the presidential chair of both the West Monmouth Liberal Association and also the Local Liberal Association.

King Street Baptist Church.
In religious practices he was a member of the King Street Baptist Church and for 14 years was their secretary, was a member of the deaconate and treasurer of the same church.

Justice of the Peace for Monmouthshire.
In 1902 was a founding member of the Abertillery Liberal and Labour Club and was its first chairman.

St Julians House, Abertillery.
In 1909 Mr W. B. Harrison lived in St Julian’s House, Abertillery and was forwarded by the Right Honourable Viscount Tredegar to the post of Justice of the Peace for Monmouthshire.

The Market Street Shop.
In 1912 Mr Harrison moved from his premises in 90 Somerset St to Market St, Abertillery.

The Kelly’s Directory of 1920 shows Mr Harrison living at 49 Gladstone Street, Abertillery. 

The Queen Street Shop.
In 1927 Mr Harrison moved the business from Market St to Queen Street, Abertillery.

The Later Years.
The name of Mr W. B. Harrison and business is still trading as the same company at Ebbw Vale.

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