Abercarn

DOC COOPER, yes I am sure he has a lot of good stories. Tony

Tony,

Yes, Abercarn Hal stood opposite Abercarn Baths. Was talking to Doc Cooper recently regarding his childhood exploits at both buidings. It was hilarious. Abercarn Hall/House was the home of Lady Llanover for many generations and of course she married Benjamin Hall, the designer/manufacturer of Big Ben, now sited at The Houses of Parliament in London.

Talk soon,

Brian

OK I will send you a message now.

With regards to this site, was the old house that used to stand opposite the entrance to Abercarn baths named Abercarn Hall, I remember it as ruin but it was quite a big house

Tony,

Message recieved but I could not reply as your "domain refused to accept!"

Brian brianj.watkins@sky.com

Brian, I sent you an e-mail via the Abercarn RFC web site with my e-mail address please keep in touch. Tony

Tony,

YES of Abercarn RFC. Good to hear from you. How are you? I'm trying to write some detail of Abercarn RFC's history. A paragraph or two from an Abercarnian in exile would be welcomed. Have met Dereck and Ray a few times in the past 12 months, but have not heard of, or seem Mike and Mary. Any photos or memories you may have can be sent to Abercarn RFC for my attention, or via the WRU website to ARFC.

Brian

Brian Watkins, of Abercarn Rugby ??

I remember as a child playing around what was left of Abercarn Hall wasn;t that the house of Lady LLanover. I was raised in the Ranks and now live in the USA

I recognise The Rhysswg behind the chimney stack; the village, including The Ranks and Abercarn Hall. Can anyone confirm that the buildings adjacent the chimney stack are part of The Prince of Wales Colliery?

Ebenezer Rogers - Abercarn Hall

My great-great grandfather born in 1810 lived in Abercarn Hall from about 1850 until his death in 1862. He ran Abercarn Colleries from 1845 to 1851(at least). He contributed much to pit safety. In 1850s he was President of S Wales Inst. of Engineers and received many prizes. Any info about Mr Rogers most welcome.David Smith

Thank you very much xx

Call 01495 226622 thats the number for the Civic Centre and ask to speak to someone re cemeteries. I hope this works.

Thank you, I really apprieciate that. Look forward to hearing from you again. Suzan

My sister will try and get that for yoou

Tonyspencer...I dont suppose you could forward me there num could you. I would be so gratefull if you could. Suzan

I have been to the cemetery, and have checked in at the office at the gatehouse, the records are kept there

Hi

My Gt Gt Grandparents are buried at abercarn. I visited the cemetry on the 15 Aug 09 hoping to locate there graves so I could take my grandfather later in the year (they brought him up) but I couldnt locate them. The chapel of ease was closed and there was no one around to ask. I travelled the 230 miles home disapointed. Can anyone suggest or help me locate there plot num? My grandfather is unsure if his grandfather was called James or George Symes, his nanna was called Elizabeth Symes and he thinks she passed away in 1958. Getting the info of the final resting place would be the best news as like I stated earlier, my grandfather wants to travel back to Abercarn and pay his respect to the people who brought him up. Thanks

I remember the long hard climb up chapel of Ease to the cemetery to put flowers on my grandparents` graves

i am susan gleed

Susan,

Your comments echo the thoughts of many Abercarn people, though such a memorial would take a huge effort to even commence the funding.

As an aside, my wife Mary (nee Tooze) was very friendly with a Susan Gleede from Wattsville area. Any connection?

i wish they would put a memorial to the miners of 1878, my 2 great uncles were killed, george and gilbert gleed

The district was traditionally associated with the coal mining collieries, ironworks and tinplate works of the South Wales coalfield and South Wales Valleys, although all have now closed; the town, which lies in the middle portion of the Ebbw valley, being situated on the south-eastern flank of the once great mining region of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire .

Phillip,

Its good to hear from you.

Mam is the last of the women to work in the Tin Works as all her female co-workers have now passed away. Like you she has many fond memories of Abercarn and particularly her time spent in the Tin Works.

Brian

Yes, I remember your mother with great affection along with Vera, Ivy Mona, Rita and Esme along with Mary Roach.

I now live in Weybridge, Surrey but am still very interested in the history of Abercan and its environs. The pictures on this websie have brought back many memories.

Phillip

Phillip,

You're correct. My mother is Glenys Hollister and her parents, Stan nad Kath lived near your home in Llanover street before moving all the way to Railway Terrace.

Brian, you say that you lived in Mount Pleasant, am I right in thinking that your mother worked in tin works and your grandparents lived in Llanover Street?

Many agree with Barbara's comments and the disappointment that local councilors thought their names should be imortalised as they were the people responsible for the memorial at the entrance to the industrial estate named after the Prince of Wales Colliery. There are many who think the memorial should include the names of those poor souls lost in the disaster of 1876.

My Ancestor was killed in the Prince Of Wales Pit Disaster, there are those that sadly were never brought out from underground. And on the site there are names of local councillors but not one memorial to mark the loss of those that died.

The large factory in the centre of the photograph was known as The Tin Works. The row of houses to the left of the works is Mount Pleasant where I lived from early 1950's until 1970. Many fond memories. The chimney in the back ground is the last remnants of The Prince of Wales Colliery where, in 1878 the worlds worst mining disaster occured due to explosion. the owners had to turn the nearby canal waters into the mine following exhaustive attempts to rescue those buried.

Alan,

Glad to hear the family is well, though I thought you would have made it to Commissioner of Scouts by now!

Brian

TWINS OK MARRIED. JAN HAS SON 9 Y/O

SCOUTS AT ABERCARN STILL THERE ! YOU AND FAMILY OK?

Hia Alan,

I certainly do remember the sack of sheep's droppings. It was usually me that had to collect it!

How are things with you and the twins? Still involved with Scouting?

Give my regards to your family

Brian

Hia Alan,

I certainly do remember the sack of sheep's droppings. It was usually me that had to collect it!

How are things with you and the twins? Still involved with Scouting?

Give my regards to your family

Brian

Hia Alan,

I certainly do remember the sack of sheep's droppings. It was usually me that had to collect it!

How are things with you and the twins? Still involved with Scouting?

Give my regards to your family

Brian

Hia Alan,

I certainly do remember the sack of sheep's droppings. It was usually me that had to collect it!

How are things with you and the twins? Still involved with Scouting?

Give my regards to your family

Brian

LAST MESSAGE WAS FOR PHILLIP.

BY THE WAY BRIAN........... REMEMBER YOUR DADS BARREL OF MANURED WATER HE USED FOR HIS GARDEN? SHEEP MANURE IN COALBAG!

HI there remember the boxing on the land near your house?

Thanks, I know Malcolm quite well and he along with many others at the club would welcome any memories or artifacts to do with the clubs history.

hi

my ex husband runs abercarn rugby club im sure if you ring he would help you

is name is malcolm

Hia Phillip. Good to recognise a familiar name on the site. I'm sure that you, like me, remeber the scenes in the photographs and enjoy the reminders of our childhood. I am researching Abercarn RFC's history, which is very limited. Would your family have any memories or momento's of the club, particularly those of your Grand-father "Con."

I used to live in High St. When we were told in school to draw what was outside my bedroom window I had a terrible row for drawing a castle!! It was of course St Lukes church

Centre of the scene is Saint Luke's Church. The row of houses to the front of the churh is High Street, Aberc an. The large building at the end of High St. is The Garn Congregational churh and behind that it looks like the building that was Abercarn Urban District Council Offices and Gwyddon Secondry Modern School..

Left of the scene is Abercarn quarry and above that is Llanfach

ROCK OF AGES? IT STILL EXISTS AND HIDDEN AMONGST LUCH GREEN GRASS MIDST PINE TREES....VERY MAGICAL!

Sian,

You say that Glyn & Winnie - were married in the Welsh Free Presbyterian Church. That would have been Lady Llanovers Welsh Church and not the Central Hall Pres Church which was never described as "Welsh Presbyterian" it was built under the "Forward Movement" a building scheme by the Presbyterian Church of Wales.

Sian Parry-Jones

Railway Cottages were at the end of Dany rhiw not far from the Crown PH.

When Revd Glyn P-J worked for the BBC he aranged Sunday Half Hour to be broadcast from the Garn.

Hi Sian,

I have recently been given some memorabilia of Abercarn and amongst this is a cutting from the local paper together with a photo of the wedding of the Rev. Glyn Parry- Jones to Miss Winifred Major at the Lady Llanover Church, Abercarn, (known locally as the Welsh Church) on 18th Oct 1932. Incidently the reception was held at Abercarn House, the former home of Lord & Lady Llanover. Winifreds parents lived at 'Elsmere' Pant-yr -Esk Rd. West End. I will be pleased to pass all to you.

Mike,

Pen Rhiw Terrace is sited to the front of Llanfach and the rear of Persondy, two small communities within the village/town of Abercarn. The only Morgan family that I knew in my childhood, lived in Llanover Street at The West End. Mrs Morgan recently celebrated her 90th birthday at the Top Club in Abercarn. Her son, Gareth made all the arrangements. Same family?

Brian

I was born at 22 penreuh terr in abercarn (spelled wrong)my grandfather lived in the west end.

my father and some brothers worked in the coal mines, I was looking up facts on the Prince of Wales Disaster when i came across this site, very interesting, I have lived in Canada most of my adult lifebut still call Wales Home.

Mike

Thank you very much for taking the trouble to look. There are no more clues about the chapel on my grandparents' wedding certificate, but my grandmother's address is given as Ellesmere in Abercarn. My grandfather and great-grandfather were both Presbyterian ministers which is presumably why then chose to get married there - but what a pity it no longer seems to be there. I should come up on a recce one day. Thanks again

Sian

Have tried to find the information, but I have only been able to ascertain that the Prebytarian Church MAY have been what I knew in childhood as The Central Hall, which stood opposite Llewin Foxons hardware shop with just the canal separating both buildings. The hall has been demolished some years ago, but Foxons old shop has been replaced by a gardening and hardware store.

During the 1950's, Foxons shop was the only place in Abercarn to sell petrol, along with tools and general hardware.

Thanks fot that Brian.

This afternoon my father gave me a photo of my grandmother arriving for her wedding with her father. The sticker on the back suggests the photographer was Walter Foxon of Abercarn - "The Cheapest and Best House in the Valley for all kinds of Picture Framing"! The wedding took place at the Welsh Free Presbyterian Church in Abercarn on 18 October 1932. Can you tell me anything about the chapel?

I think Railway Cottages MAY be the front row on this picture. The right hand sideof this street was demolished by the early 1940's, leaving just a short street of some 10 homes. My uncle, Des Hollister lived there from the mid 40's. We memories of picking coal from trucks in the railway sidings and the short journey down the garden to the only toilet for the house.

Hello

My great grandparents - David Major and Annie Farr - lived in Railway Cottages in 1901, and David was a Railway Clerk. Would Railway Cottages be in this picture?

Diolch

The view shows the West End with Railway Terrace to the fore with Llanover St, Islwyn St and Mynyddislwyn and The Rock of Ages at the rear.

Mount Pleasant is sited to the forward and left of this view, where I lived from the age of 4 in 1952 until 1970 when I married and moved to the Gwyddon(Opposite side of the village!)

When at #14 Mrs Lewis lived at #15 Johner Brookes at #16

Mrs Hall at #13

Mrs Hodges at # 12

It was always a friendly and neighbourly place to live and I believe it still is as some of the residents keep in contact after all this time.

My father was born in 1913 at #15 MT PLEASENT , West End Abercarn.

Would love to hear from someone livig there or near by.

Cheers Pat