Timeline 1880 - 89
1880
January:
The Mistress of Resolven Infants’ School recorded that “The
First Standard is still present and working hard with spelling. The Reverend
David Griffiths (the School Manager) called, and transferred the First Standard
from the Infants’ Room to the Master. He also sent the two Pupil Teachers,
Sarah Ann Jones and Catherine Stephens, to the older Children’s Room”. The
number of pupils on the First Standard register was 58.
February:
On the first day of the salmon fishing season, the employees
of the Rheola Estate, Resolven, caught in the River Neath “(…) seven fine fish
varying from 18 pounds to 25 pounds in weight.”
Henry Goss of Resolven was fined ten shillings and costs for
stealing 60 pounds of coal from the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal
Company.
Members of Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel, under the
chairmanship of the minister, Rev D. E. Thomas, held an entertainment in aid of
the chapel’s tonic sol-fa class.
A lecture entitled ‘Y Tirion ar Traws’ was given at Seion
Chapel by Rev. Moses Thomas. “The lecture was very interesting and instructive,
and the humorous remarks and suggestions of the lecturer were greatly
appreciated by the audience.”
March:
At the Castle Hotel, Neath on 16 March, a sale was to be
held of “(…) the valuable Vein or Bed of Fire Clay, cropping out at the
waterfall at Melincourt, (…) together with the Fire Brick and Clay Works, (…)
the Tramway leading to a siding of the Neath railway, and the Croft or piece of
land with two Cottages (part of the farms and lands called Aberclydach Isha in
the hamlet of Clyne).” All of this property was held on a remaining lease of 80
years, with an annual rent of £80, an additional £6 a year for the croft and
cottages, and a royalty of sixpence per ton for the clay extracted.
May:
The Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal Company
succeeded in winning a vein of coal at their Resolven colliery in Cwm Clydach.
“The coal is a solid seam 3 feet 9 inches thick with a rock top and of
excellent quality. Owing to the rock top, the coal will be worked at a
comparatively small cost, and, as the seam extends under 3,000 acres of the
Company’s property, the quantity is not likely to be exhausted for many
generations.”
July:
“A fearful storm broke over the Resolven valley on Wednesday
night, accompanied by almost continuous lightning and thunder. The fall of rain
was of the most alarming kind, the water which descended, apparently in sheets,
choking the culverts and rapidly filling the river to overflowing. The stream
by the Vaughan Arms became so rapidly full that it burst away the wall, and
found an outlet over the Vale of Neath railway embankment, bringing down
thousands of tons of soil and rubbish. Had the water not forced this outlet,
the village would in some parts have been completely washed away. Traffic on
the Vale of Neath railway line was entirely suspended until mid-day on
Thursday. The destruction of property was immense; garden crops were completely
ruined, and tons of hay have been washed away; and every conceivable portion of
loose material in the way of the sweeping streams has been carried bodily away.
Fortunately no casualty to any of the inhabitants, beside the loss of their
property, is reported.”
At a meeting of members of the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless
Steam Coal Company, it was reported that the output of Resolven colliery “(…)
was greatly affected by the strike of July and August 1879, but more
particularly by the coal in most of the levels having latterly becoming thin,
soft and very expensive to work. For these reasons, the levels, with the
exception of the No. 5 Cwm Level and the Tyra Level, have been suspended. Cwm
Clydach sinking has proved, so far, a great success; and the first pit is down
to the No. 2 seam which is over three and a half feet in thickness, with an
excellent roof. As soon as the second shaft is finished, the Board intend
pushing forward the opening out of this seam as quickly as possible. The coal
appears hard, and of fine quality, thus rendering it fit for transhipment.”
August:
Notices were posted up at the Lower Resolven Collieries,
Melincwrt, terminating all contracts, and stating that work would not now be
resumed except at a reduction of between five and ten percent in colliers’
wages. “The unprecedented depression in trade, and the low price at which coal
is now selling, (lower even than in February, when the men were receiving five
per cent less wages),has caused Napier Corbyn, the Lower Resolven Colliery
Company’s manager, to take this step, and it is now believed other collieries
in this district are likely to take similar action. It is to be hoped that,
before the month’s notice has expired, some arrangement may be come to,
otherwise nearly two hundred hands will bring up their tools.”
October:
In a letter to a newspaper, Mrs. Powell of Rheola, Resolven
wrote: “A little boy of mine has been completely cured of a bad cough and croup
by your invaluable Balsam of Honey; his breathing and pain in the chest were so
bad that we were compelled to seek medical advice, and were then informed it
was croup, and of such a kind that a recovery was next to impossible. I may
here state that I have taken it (‘William’s Balsam of Honey’) myself for a bad
cough and cold, which it soon cured. Several of my friends are now trying it,
and I have good report of its usefulness; every mother should keep a bottle of
it at hand.”
At an eisteddfod held at the Temperance Hall, Aberdare,
Resolven choir, under Gwilym Cynon, won first prize, with Aberaman choir coming
a close second. It was reported that what clinched the decision was Resolven
choir’s inherently reverential style, despite the fact some choristers
occasionally sang out of tune. (“Wn i ddim beth sydd yn peri i gorau fynd dros
y ‘rails’ fel hyn.”)
Resolven colliers employed by the Cardiff and Swansea Steam
Coal Company went on strike, owing to a dispute regarding the price to be paid
for cutting the coal at the new pits at Cwm Clydach. A number of workmen met
the general manager, Mr. Thomas, but failed to come to an agreement. There was
no hope of a speedy settlement, as both sides were equally determined not to
yield. The colliers employed at the Levels also received notice that their
existing contracts would cease at the end of the month.
At the Neath Poultry and Dog Show, D. Herbert, of Resolven,
won third prize in the ‘Duck and Drake’ competition.
December:
The Annual Report of the Inspector of Schools stated that
“(…) Resolven Infants’ School is orderly and the instruction has been very
fairly attended to. The children in the first class read well, made neat
figures, and worked simple sums with tolerable ease. Lessons on form and colour
have also been given, and Singing and Needlework are fair.”
1881
January:
In Cwm Clydach, Resolven, workmen were now actively engaged
in clearing away rubbish in the headings and airways of the new pit in
preparation for a possible end to the strike.
At the County Petty Sessions held at the Neath Police Court
before a full bench of magistrates, an important case under the Affiliation Acts
was heard. The complainant was Mary Jane Rosser, of Resolven, “(…) who sought
to recover child payment of £4-12s-6d from a collier named David Evans, under
an order dating as far back as 1871. Before August 1872, a woman could only
obtain from the putative father of her child payment of 13 weeks’ arrears, but,
by the Act of 1872, the amount of arrears recoverable was not limited”. The
Bench decided that the complainant was entitled to recover full payment of the
amount due.
March:
After successful sinking operations to seam no. 2 in the new
pit at Resolven, the Cardiff and Swansea Colliery Company began sinking to seam
no.3 in the same pit. As the distance between these two seams was not great,
the work was expected to be completed in the course of a few months.
After six years in post, the Rev. D. Thomas tendered his
resignation as minister of Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel, having accepted an
invitation to the pastorate of the Welsh Baptist Chapel at Pontypool.
April:
The 1881 census took place on Sunday 3 April. The following
synopsis of the Census again focuses primarily on those employed in the
manufacturing and service sectors and/or those born outside Wales:
New Inn Row (11 Houses): John Lewis, 39, a collier, his wife
Ann, 36, a woollen draper and their son John, 17, a pupil teacher. No.11:
Griffith Thomas, 30, a licensed victualler.
Company Street (46 houses): No.1: John James, 46, a tailor
and local preacher, his wife and six children, four of whom were born in
Cheshire. No.3: Two boarders employed as packers on the railway, one born in
Dorset, the other in Ireland. No. 36: David Howells, 50, a timber haulier, and
his stepdaughter, Anne, 33, a letter carrier. No. 39: William Lloyd, an
agricultural labourer, 62, born in Somerset and his two daughters, Ann, 24, and
Clare, 21, both employed as brick-makers, also born in Somerset. No. 41: Robert
Parsons, 37, a collier, born in Bridgewater, Somerset, as were nearly all his
family. No. 44: Walter Summerton, 55, a railway porter, born in Oxfordshire,
his wife Kezia, 38, born in Worcestershire. No.46: Moses Reed, 46, a police
constable, his wife, Ana, 35, with five sons and one daughter.
Yeo Street (42 houses, 33 of which were unoccupied at this
time): No.40: Ieaun Jones, 32, a boarder employed as a well sinker. No.42:
Three boarders, all colliery well sinkers.
Cory Street (38 houses): No.1: Martin Markham, 44, a
police constable, with his wife and two daughters. No. 10: Marshall Budge, a
general labourer, born in Somerset.
Railway Terrace (now comprising 21 houses): No.3: Mary
Davies, a widow, 70, her two daughters and seven boarders. No. 12: Thomas
William James, 31, a railway stationmaster. No.13: Samuel Griffiths, 25, a
schoolmaster at Resolven National School. No.14: Daniel Thomas, 40, minister of
Bethania Chapel, his wife, Ellen, and his niece, Mary Ann, born in
Staffordshire. No.17: Arthur Snell, 27, a railway platelayer, born in
Barnstaple, Devon. No.21: Samuel Parsons, 34, a railway platelayer, born in
Laycock, Wiltshire.
Station Road (included the School House, Garw House and the
Vaughan Arms): School House: Jane Thomas, 48, a saddler’s wife, along with her
son and daughter. Garw House: Eleanor Ann Thomas, 36, a Methodist minister’s
wife. Vaughan Arms: David Sims, 29, a licensed victualler and his brother,
William, 24, a solicitor. Sim’s Court (three houses situated behind the Vaughan
Arms, one unoccupied): No. 1: Thomas Williams, 23, a collier. No.2: Hannah
Jones, 37, a collier’s widow.
Lyon’s Row (18 houses, three unoccupied): No.9: Mary James,
22, and her sister Lucy, 17, employed as general labourers in a brickyard. No.
11: Mary Jane, 18, also employed as a general labourer in a brick-works, born
In Gloucestershire.
Chapel Cottages (two
houses) with Jenkin’s Row (five houses) comprised today’s Tan-y-rhiw Road. Jenkin’s
Row: No.1: Evan Rees, 39, a woodcutter, and his son Benjamin, 14, a solicitor’s
general clerk. No.3: Martha Gibbs, 38, a confectioner.
Clun-y-castell/Glyncastle: Ernest Henry Lloyd, 47, a civil
engineer, his wife Mary, their two sons, both born in London, one daughter and
four servants, of whom one was a gardener and the other a governess. Woodland
Terrace (3 houses): No.1: Mary Ann Parsons, 61, a widowed schoolmistress, born
in Gloucestershire, her son-in-law, John Morgan, 30, a school attendance
officer, and his wife, Mary, 29, a schoolmistress, who was born in Ireland.
No.3: David Morgan, 41, minister of Jerusalem Chapel and his wife Elizabeth,
44. Woodland House: Thomas Rees, 64, colliery manager, with his wife Mary, 32,
and their five children. Pentwyn Cottages (two houses) No.1: John Jenkins, 26,
a carpenter, and his wife Margaret, 23. Pentwyn Farm: John Harold Morgan, 37, a
mining engineer and farmer of 32 acres.
Davies Row (six houses): No.3: lodging at this house was
Samuel Williams, 27, a land and mineral surveyor. No. 5: Thomas Davies, 62, and
his son also named Thomas, 31, both cordwainers (shoemakers).
Church Road (this
road comprised the Ton, Sim’s Terrace, Jerusalem Terrace and Nant-y-gleisiaid).
The Ton: included the Post Office, in
addition to the family of Jenkin Rosser, 30, a grocer, and the family of John
Josiah Jones, 30, a bachelor of medicine and a master in surgery. Sim’s Terrace
(seven dwellings in the Ynysfach farm complex): Nos.1-6. Tenanted by colliers
and their families No.7: John Harrison, 67, a tailor, his wife Sarah, 62, and
their two daughters, Annie and Elizabeth, both dressmakers. Jerusalem Terrace
(two houses): No.1: Jane Jones: 71, a farmer’s widow, and her three
grandchildren. No.2: Rees Herbert, 33, a stonemason, his wife Ann, 33, and
their five children. Nant-y-gleisiaid: two dwellings both inhabited by colliers
and their families.
Neath Road (14
houses): No. 1: Samuel Thomas, 49, a cordwainer (shoemaker). No.2: Mary Evans,
a farmer of ten acres, and her brother David, 29, an unemployed certificated
mine surveyor. No.5: Daniel Herbert, a mason, 30, his wife, Sarah, 30, and
their four children. No.6: Ann Williamson, widow, 40 years old, a greengrocer.
No. 7: William Snooks, 31, a blacksmith born in Herefordshire. No.8: William
Jones, 44, a boarder employed as a local Baptist minister. No.12: William
Morris, 41, a butcher, born in Worcestershire. No. 14: John Jones, 32, a grocer
and draper, and his wife Maggie, 33.
Furnace Terrace, Melincwrt (today’s Waterfall Terrace):
Three houses tenanted by colliers and their families and three unoccupied
houses. Melincwrt/ Court Mill: (six houses): No.1: John Lloyd, 25, born in
Wolverhampton. No.3, The Mill: Margaret Evans, 29, widow, a general dealer and
farmer of thirty acres. Llwyncoedwr Mary Jones, widow, 47, a farmer of
300 acres and her six children. Ffald-y-dre: Howell Rees, widower, 71, a farmer
of 200 acres. Llwynffynnon: Rees Williams 53, a collier, his wife Gwenllian,
50, their seven children and two grandchildren. Tyllwyd (three
dwellings, two unoccupied): Henry Goss, 37, a collier, his wife Jennet, 36, and
their three children. Ty’n-y-wern: William Jones, 47, a farmer of 800 acres,
employing one shepherd and one labourer, along with his sister, two nieces and
one servant. Hendre Owen: John Rees, 42, with his wife Jane, 40, their three
sons, three daughters and one servant.
The 1881 census also revealed that Ann Thomas of Resolven, a
thirty-five year old unmarried woman previously employed as a general domestic
servant, was now an inmate at the Neath Union Workhouse. She was described as
an imbecile.
April (continued):
Resolven Baptists held their half-yearly meeting in Bethania
Chapel at which the Rev. F. D. Morgan preached three sermons and gave a lecture
entitled ‘The people of next door’. The proceeds of the meeting went towards
the building fund, and D. Williams, of Drehir, presided.
The strike at Resolven collieries, which had gone on for
some six months, came to an end. “We are pleased to say that a long conference
held at the colliery between the men and Mr. Thomas, the Company’s general
manager, resulted in the men resuming work on Wednesday on the terms originally
offered them, and it is now hoped that better days are in store for the
neighbourhood of Resolven. We are told that, though hundreds of yards of double
partings, headings, airways and stalls (the latter, some of them, twenty yards
wide) had been opened out, such is the quality of the roof, that not a single
piece of pit-wood has hitherto been taken down the pits.”
Briton Ferry Coal and Pottery Company purchased a bed of
fire- clay, which lay under various farms and lands in Resolven and Clyne. The
purchase price was £5775, payable as £4200 in debentures and the remainder in
shares.
May:
According to the Census of 1881, the population of Resolven
was 1,293, as compared with 1,015 in 1871: an increase of 178.
Dr Jones, Resolven’s General Practitioner, together with
Police Constables Mark Thomas and Martin Markham, were called out to
investigate suspicious activity in the garden of a house In Glynneath, which
had formerly been occupied by a Mrs. Ann Thomas. “After going through about a
foot of soil, a large stone was struck which, upon being removed, disclosed the
resting-place of the skeletons of two infants.” The latter turned out to be two
stillborn children which Mrs. Thomas (now deceased) had asked a servant-girl by
the name of Mary Hopkins to bury in June 1879.
Resolven Working Men’s Club held its annual meeting at the
Reading Room this month. “From the report and accounts presented and adopted,
it appeared that, notwithstanding the six months’ strike, and consequent
scarcity of funds, there was no debt unpaid, neither had any of the newspapers
been withdrawn, a success principally due to the energy displayed by the
Honorary Secretary in soliciting donations. Donations had been received from,
amongst others, Major V. H. Vaughan-Lee, M. P; Mr. O. Sheppard and Mr. E. H.
Lloyd, and special mention was made of the fact that Mr. W. Thomas, general
manager of the Cardiff and Swansea Coal Company, had kindly supplied all the
coal required during the past year free of charge. The following officers were
re-appointed: President: Rev. D. Griffiths, M. A. (Vicar); Vice-President: Rev.
M. Thomas; Treasurer: W. Sims; and Honorary Secretary: Mr. T. W. Thomas. This
being the only reading room, and the supply of papers embracing all the best
dailies and weeklies, in addition to the illustrated and comic papers, it is to
be regretted that the working men of the neighbourhood do not support it more
heartily. It was started solely in their interest, the subscription is merely
nominal, the institution could not only be made self- supporting, but the
accommodation now offered might easily be improved and multiplied.”
The following advertisement was placed: “Grocery and
Drapery. Wanted immediately, a Young Lady, to take charge of Co-operative
Stores at Resolven. Apply, stating age and salary required, to John Morgans,
Tanyrhiw, Resolven, Neath. Welsh indispensable.”
June:
On Whit Monday, members of Resolven church choir and Sunday
School held their annual outing at Abergarwed. They were joined by Tonna Church
choir who, along with members of a brass band, had travelled by barge along the
Neath canal from Aberdulais to Resolven. After the Whitsun tea held in the open
air, there was much singing accompanied by the brass band, as well as outdoor
sports.
At the Vaughan Arms an auction was to be held on 17 June to
sell the lease of building land in Melin-y-Cwrt “(…) containing 1,128 square
yards, together with two cottages and gardens, and a stable thereon the term of
lease being 99 years, from 25 March 1875, at a ground rent of £7-10s, and
contains power to erect a public house.”
August:
At the eighth Annual General Meeting of the Cardiff and
Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal Company, it was reported: 1. that the Cory
Brothers had taken over the agency for selling Resolven coal; 2. that the
Levels for which they were led to expect such satisfactory results had
completely failed; 3. that the Brick Works had turned out nearly one million
bricks; and 4. that the prospects of the Farm for the current year were good,
the greater part of the hay crop having been secured and of good quality.
A cricket match was held between Resolven Cricket Club and
members of the Ordnance Survey, who were temporarily located in the village.
The home team was successful with a total of 32 runs, as opposed to 14 runs for
the Ordnance Surveyors. The Resolven scores were: W. Sims 0; D. Jenkins 3; D.Thomas, 0; D. Duncan 13;
W. Rees 0; D. Williamson 0; S. Rees 1; J. Eynon 5; J. Rosser 5; R. Thomas 0; W.
Rowells 2; and extras 3.
October:
At the Neath County Court, under Judge Beresford, the first
case involving the new Employers’ Liability Act was heard. The plaintiff was a
‘sinker’ named Alfred Moyle, of Aberafan, who was suing for £250 in damages,
owing to injuries he had received at Resolven Colliery through the negligence
of a fellow worker. The defendant was Thomas Jenkins, a colliery contractor
from Treherbert, who was sinking a new pit for the Company. “ Two ‘sinkers’ had
neglected to give the plaintiff notice that there was a charge of dynamite in
the rock, which subsequently exploded, rendering the plaintiff severely shaken
and his mutilated arm needing amputation. The plaintiff maintained that the
defendant knew of the accident since the latter had sent his son to visit him
in hospital, that the defendant had given him £4, and that the defendant had
received notice of the amputation from the Matron. Mr Abel Thomas, however,
appearing for the defendant contended that no written notice, as required by
sections 4 and 7 of the Employers’ Liability Act, had been given. The Judge
agreed that no written notice had been given, but adjourned the case, as a
superior court would shortly have to try a similar objection.
November:
The minutes of Resolven Reading Room for this month revealed
that many of its members had left the village because of the strike at the
Resolven collieries and the recession in the coal trade, which had lasted from
1878 to 1880. There were fears that the building would have to close, but this
had been prevented, principally through the efforts of its secretary, T. W.
James.
Four young Resolven boys Rees Hopkin, Moses Pritchard,
Richard Watkins and Thomas Davies were summoned by Police Superintendent
Howlett and charged with cruelty to two pigs. Sarah Richards alleged she had
seen the young boys “(…) riding the two pigs and hunting them about the yard,”
but, in Court, the Bench did not know “whether it was the boys or pigs that
suffered the most, as the ride could not have been a pleasant one.” The case
was dismissed.
December:
Watkin Morgan was summoned for “(…) fraudulently removing
his goods from a cottage at Resolven to avoid payment of rent. David Evans, the
landlord, said that 22 shillings were due to him on 5 November for the rent of
the cottage, and on that day at about half-past six, the defendant’s wife,
together with some neighbours, were seen emptying the property”. The case was
adjourned for three weeks to enable the defendant time to pay the rent.
Police Superintendent Howlett summoned Levi Lewis, a
Resolven collier, for being drunk and disorderly. Police Constable Markham
reported that he had seen the defendant in Cory Street at about midnight on
Saturday 26 November. “He was causing a disturbance, and two women were holding
him as he was drunk and very violent. He endeavoured to kick the Constable whom
he mistook for another officer. Having freed himself from the women, he threw
himself to the ground, commenced kicking and beating his head against the
pitching. His mother cried out that he would surely kill himself. Assistance
was obtained and Lewis was carried bodily into his house.” Just prior to this
episode, at about a quarter to twelve, another officer, Police Constable Reed,
had also come across Lewis who “(…) was drunk, kicking at the door of the
Company’s houses and swearing. He was told to go away, which he did, but again
returned and said he would like to have a smack at me. I advised him to go home
quietly and turned on the lamp to give him light up the street. He walked up a
short distance, then turned back, used fearful language and threatened to kill
me. He kicked me on the legs and also broke my lamp by kicking it. He was
kicking like a wild animal, and to protect myself I struck him on the
shoulder.” The case was adjourned to a higher Court.
The Government School Inspector, in a report dated 20
December, wrote that Resolven Infants’ School “(…) is conducted efficiently.
The instruction in Reading is quite good, but the children should be taught to
read louder. The Writing in the first class is very creditable, but not so in
the second class, where the children also did not acquit themselves well in
Arithmetic. Simple Subtraction must be taught in full, and the third class must
receive better instruction in figure making. Form and Colour have been fairly
well imparted, and Needlework and Singing have received care and attention.”
1882
January:
Members of Jerusalem Chapel held an eisteddfod at which the
chief choral prizes were won by the Baptist and Methodist United Choir, under
the leadership of William Davies, and by Jerusalem Chapel Junior Choir led by
William Thomas. Prizes for singing and for playing the harmonium were awarded
to Miss Stephens, D. Duncan and William Herbert. Prizes for literary
composition went to J. Llewellyn and E. Williams, while prizes for recitation,
dialogue and addresses were presented to W. Herbert, G. Reed, H. Evans, M. Reed
and D. Duncan. The president of the event was J. Salathiel; the adjudicator was
E. Young of Alltwen, and the secretary D. W. Evans.
February:
Elizabeth Jenkins, of Gelli Cottage, Resolven, was offering
for sale by auction “(…) about 16 acres of timber of 45 years growth, now
standing on Tynewydd Farm, Resolven consisting principally of fine larch, oak,
ash and alder, all very hearty and of large average dimensions and length,
together with the coppice wood , which is large and good. A capital road from
the railway station affords easy access to the wood, which is favourably
situated for felling, while road, rail and canal are immediately available for
transit.”
March:
At 2 p.m. and at 6 p.m. on Monday 6 March, a second
eisteddfod of the year, with the aim of contributing to the building fund, was
held at Jerusalem Chapel. James Thomas was chairman; John Salathiel, the
president; D. Yorath, the adjudicator.
Mrs Jones, Ynysnedd, and Mrs Rees, Blaen-nant-yr-hebog, adjudicated the
ten pairs of ‘cuffs’ sent in. Highlights of the day were the impressive
performances by the accompanist, local boy Robert Jones, and by the young alto,
Tom Davies. Of the first, it was stated “(…) ac y mae clod mawr yn ddyledus
iddo am ei ffordd wylaidd ond medrus yn chwareu yr holl ddarnau”, and of the
second: “Darfu i alto y bachgenyn Tom Davies, mab Thomas Davies, Davies’ Row,
swyno a synu pawb. Dalied ati.”
The high volume of events now being held at Jerusalem Chapel
represented a concerted effort on the part of its members to clear its
financial deficit., One member explained
that the chapel had cost £2,100 to build in 1876, of which only £450 had been paid off. As a result of the
dire economic situation in the village for the past three or four years, it had
been impossible to pay off any more. In the last few months, however, the
situation had slightly improved and the aim this year was to secure £100 from its yearly, half-yearly, and
quarterly meetings, its annual tea party, its ‘cyfarfodydd llenyddol’, and its
weekly offerings. “Nid ydym wedi cyfyngu i un cynllun, ond gwneyd y goreu o
amryw, yn ol amgylchiadau y gymydogaeth.”
Early on a Sunday morning this month, two men were caught by
the Vicar’s game-keeper poaching salmon in the River Neath at Ynysarwed. “The
Neath River is scoured nightly by poachers with nets of illegal mesh, and
during the day the spear and gaff are used.”
April:
Meetings to promote the benefits of abstaining from alcohol
were held in the various places of worship in the village with some 200 people
‘signing the pledge,’ “(…) wedi gosod yr arwydd a chymeryd yr ymrwymiad”.
Addresses were given by ministers from outside the village as well as from the
following local ministers and others: D. Morgan, M. Thomas, D. Williams, Trehir,
and Benjamin Davies.
May:
At Seion Chapel, Resolven, the Mayor of Swansea gave a “very
instructive and interesting address” on the Blue Ribbon movement which was
affiliated to the Temperance movement.
June:
At Resolven, Whit-Monday was observed as a holiday, all
business being entirely suspended. Members of the English and Welsh Baptist
Sunday Schools held their annual Whit-Monday tea, and subsequently proceeded to
a field kindly lent for the occasion by Thomas Rees where they held their
games. “The weather being delightfully fine there was a large influx of
visitors, many of whom visited the well-known waterfall at Melin-y-cwrt, whilst
others found simple pleasure in strolling about the wood and viewing the lovely
scenery, which at this time of the year is extremely beautiful.”
Owing to certain disputes regarding the advance in wages and
differences in allowances, a meeting was held by the colliers at the Lower
Resolven Collieries, at Melin-y-cwrt, to decide what steps should be taken.
After considerable discussion, the colliery manager, Temple Stroud, stated that
the colliery owner had consented to all the colliers being put on an equal
footing and that a satisfactory arrangement would be made regarding the
allowances. On this understanding, the colliers returned to work.
At a recent Baptist Conference held at Merthyr, a very
pointed remark was made by a member
about the minister of the Resolven Baptists, describing him as “(…) one who had
last year not only drawn a salary of seven pounds ten shillings, but had
actually run up a travelling bill of ninepence. Prodigality like this must end
somewhere.”
A large gathering of colliers met at the club-room of the
Gored Hotel to make a presentation to William Pickering, the recently- retired
manager of the Lower Resolven Colliery. The presentation consisted of “(…) a
portrait of himself and family, six in number, together with an illuminated
address and a pair of gold spectacles.” Some 350 colliers had contributed
towards the presentation.
July:
Richard Attenborough, owner of the Lower Resolven Colliery,
was described as being fortunate in
having a very energetic agent in Napier Corbyn who “(…) brought to the market a
large quantity of steam coal and disposing of the same”, also in having Temple
Stroud as his new manager “(…) who will no doubt ensure the colliery becomes a
remunerative undertaking.”
At a meeting of the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal
Company, the state of the Resolven Colliery gave the directors much cause for
concern. They had used every means to keep down the cost and reduce the loss as
much as possible, but the shareholders were reminded that, under the terms of
the Resolven lease, they had agreed to sink not only to the No. 3 seam, but
also to the coal measures underlying it. The ground landlord had for some years
allowed them to postpone this sinking, but when he finally insisted on this
work being done, he also donated the money, £7,750, to enable this work to be
carried out, and had even cancelled the rent due to him. It was also reported
that Resolven Colliery had been kept going very irregularly during the past
year because the No. 3 seam of this colliery had proved to be of no value
whatever because of its thinness and softness, because of the difficulties
experienced by the company’s agents, Cory Brothers, in disposing of the coal,
and because of the very low prices being charged for the coal and the increase
in wages to be paid under the sliding- scale agreement.
In the county-wide Sunday School examinations for pupils
under twelve years of age, the subject of the essay was: “The life of Samuel
from his birth to the death of Eli” (“Hanes Samuel o’i enedigaeth hyd
farwolaeth Eli.”) There were four successful candidates from Resolven: Mary
Herbert; Mary Anne Davies; William J. Williams; and Mary Eleanor Thomas. The
first three wrote the essay in Welsh, and the last in English. Out of the
scores of candidates, they came fifteenth, thirty-third, thirty-sixth and
thirty-seventh, respectively.
August:
John Cory and Sons, coal-agents for Resolven colliery, added
yet another screw steamer to their fleet. The launch took place at
Jarrow-on-Tyne, from the ship-building yard of Palmer and Company, of a new
steamer which was named ‘Resolven’. The dimensions of the ship were: length:
275 feet; beam: 36 feet; and depth of hold: 19 feet. The engines were 190
horse-power.
A Resolven correspondent, writing of Clyne, maintained that
several of its inhabitants could still recall a time in the mid-1830s when
prayer meetings took place there and when sermons were delivered in some of the
local farmhouses. There had been a Sunday School since 1872 and, in 1876,
peripatetic worship services had begun to be held in people’s houses. It was
felt, however, that now was the appropriate time to set up a permanent building
for worship. This aim coincided with that of D. Walter Williams, Cefngelli, who
offered a plot of land in the very spot which had been selected. The plot
measured 99 feet by 66 feet, and was on a
99 year lease at a nominal rent of a shilling a year. Despite the
depressed economic circumstances, it was decided to build initially a
school-house and to leave sufficient space for a chapel to be built when there
was a call for it. The building contract was awarded to Walter Walters, Neath,
for £106 inclusive of six windows and “a cosy fire-place”. The land was
measured out and mapped by William Jones, Ty’n-rheol, and specifications and an
agreement were drawn up free of charge by John Salathiel. D. Jones and D.
Llewellyn, Ynysdwfnant, carried out the necessary haulage work for free, and
the women of the community donated the table, chairs, fender, lamps etc; The
building could seat 130, and was opened to coincide with the quarterly meeting
held at Jerusalem on 6 August. “Ond gan fod hyn a wnawd yn angenrhaid, ‘trwy
ffydd’ awd yn mlaen.”
September:
At the magistrates’ office in Neath, David Rees Davies, a
Resolven collier, was charged with wounding George Ashman, also a collier from
Resolven. Ashman was confronted by Davies as they both were making their way
home from Resolven railway station. A struggle between them ensued in which
Davies struck Ashman “(…) with a stone, and with a sharp instrument, inflicting
six or seven wounds on the side of his head, from which blood flowed freely.
Davies, when inflicting the injuries, threatened to rip Ashman open. The
screams of Ashman’s wife brought together some people who were on their way
home and they succeeded in separating the two men.” The Bench remanded Davies in custody until
further evidence was obtained.
November:
At the Reading Room, Resolven, under the presidency of E.
Lloyd, Clun-y-castell/Glyncastle, a concert was put on for the benefit of the
Resolven Working Men’s Club. This event included addresses delivered by Rev. M.
Thomas and John Salathiel, colliery manager, on the principles and usefulness
of working men’s institutions.
On a Friday afternoon early this month, Resolven was “(…)
visited by a severe gale, accompanied by a downfall of rain. During the night
the storm developed into a strong hurricane. The lightning was vivid, and the
peals of thunder heavy. Rain fell in torrents. The River Neath overflowed its
banks, and the water covered a great portion of the flat ground through the
valley. A large hay-shed was blown down and several families suffered from the
gale. No accidents happened.”
The following advertisement was placed: “Resolven
Co-operative Stores, November 4th 1882. Wanted, a woman, not under
21 years of age, to manage the above stores. She must be well acquainted with
grocery and drapery departments, and also with the Welsh language. Applications
with salary expected, to be sent in on, or before, the 18th instant.
The person appointed will not be required to commence duties until the 1st
of January, 1883. Testimonials required. Address to Mr. John Morgan, Tanyrhiw,
Resolven.”
December:
On a Tuesday evening this month, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer of
Rheola House invited their servants and friends to their annual dinner. “Dinner
was served at seven o’clock. After the cloths were removed, the usual toasts
were duly honoured, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer being drunk amidst loud
applause. The party subsequently repaired to the ball-room, where dancing was
indulged in until four o’clock on Wednesday morning, all present thoroughly
enjoying themselves.”
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer gave
members of Resolven Church Sunday School their annual treat at Rheola
House and about 80 sat down to tea and cake. “Prizes were awarded to the
children for good conduct and attendances, and alms were distributed to the deserving
poor.”
On Christmas day an eisteddfod was held at Bethania Welsh
Baptist Chapel. The chairman of the event was J.J. Jones, M.B. and the
accompanist was W. Herbert, both local men. Successful winners from Resolven
were: Priscilla Davies, (for singing “St. Peter”); Dewi Nedd, (for reciting “Y
mor yn ceisio dianc o’i wely”); H. Evans, (for singing “Y Llongddrylliad”); and
Daniel Herbert, (for an impromptu address). The chief choral competition with a
prize of £16 for singing “Worthy is the Lamb”, was won by the Aberdulais Choir,
conducted by John Arnold, who kindly returned half the prize money as a
contribution toward the Bethania Chapel Debt Fund.
On 6 December, the School Inspector reported that Resolven
Infants School (…) is now in fairly good order. A few more desks will probably
tell favourably in the discipline. The training as well as the instruction of
the children is very creditable. Marching ought to form a more important part
of the Physical Exercises in a room so well adapted for it, and the
kindergarten lessons might be introduced with advantage. The girls sew and knit
nicely, but the boys have not yet made a commencement in this direction.
Something should be done about the walls of the school which are becoming dirty
and dingy.”
1883
January:
In order to raise funds towards the new school-house at
Clyne, a ‘cyfarfod llenyddol’ was held on the 22nd of this month. In addition
to songs and recitations, J. J. Jones, M.B., Resolven’s chemist, spoke on his
medical career in a talk entitled ‘Y Glust a’r Geg.’
February:
At the Neath Petty Sessions, William Walters, of Resolven,
was accused of assaulting a police officer. Police Constable John Devine stated
that he was on duty near Resolven railway station when he saw Walters, drunk
and swearing, and asked him to go home. “The defendant then made a rush, struck
the officer several times, took hold of him by the legs, threw him down and
began kicking him.” The officer maintained that he struck the defendant several
times, but not when he was on the ground. “I did not see a lot of blood about.
The truncheon was only used in self-defence.” W. Sims, speaking on behalf of
Walters, claimed that his client had been badly assaulted by the policeman, and
that the case was not as bad as the officer had tried to make out. After hearing all the evidence, Walters was
fined three pounds and two shillings, as well as costs.
At a meeting of the Neath Board of Poor Law Guardians, a
request for an increase in salary was submitted for consideration by W. Sims of
Resolven, who was a collector of poor rates for Neath Higher and also a
solicitor. In his request, he wrote: “I have held the appointment for the past
twelve years during which time I have performed the duties to your
satisfaction. The salary I now receive is £28 per annum, which your Board must
consider too little considering the heavy rateable value which I have to
collect upon, and the very large area I have to travel to do so.” It was
unanimously agreed that the salary of the Collector be increased from £28 to £40
a year.
On 26 February, the third ‘cyfarfod llenyddol’ in the series
was held at Jerusalem Chapel to aid the Building Fund. A newspaper
correspondent who attended the event glowingly wrote that many of those who
performed deserved to be recognised beyond the community of Resolven: ‘Mae yma nifer o lenorion a chantorion a
deilyngant sylw eangach na chylch y gymydogaeth hon’. “Verses were recited by
the following children: Elizabeth Davies, Sarah Griffiths, Mary Llewellyn,
Hannah Griffiths, Rachel Ann Bowen, Gwen Williams, Richard Watkin Morgan, as
well as the winner Gwilym Reed. The young singers Llinos Nedd, Eos Penderyn,
and Eos Resolven deserved all the support they could get, and it was a pleasure
to listen to the duet sung by David Herbert and Eos Penderyn. It was also a
treat to hear items sung by the Resolven Glee Party under the direction of the
young and promising Henry Evans.”
April:
A lecture entitled ‘Gogoniant Gwyr Ieuainc’ was given by
Rev. T. Johns, Llanelli at Jerusalem Chapel on 2 April; whilst on 3 April, at
Seion Chapel, a farewell meeting was held for Dewi Duncan, (Dewi Nedd) on his
departure for the United States. Several inhabitants of Resolven had already
emigrated to America, and several others had decided to go.
May:
At Resolven Colliery, it was proposed to sink to the lower
coal measures, the coal of No. 3 Rhondda seam having proved to be of inferior
quality and, consequently, not extensively worked. The old framing was
dismantled and new framing was in the process of being erected. William Thomas,
the general manager of the Company accompanied by one of the directors and a
contractor, had been to the colliery and inspected the ground over which it was
proposed to make a new tramway.
A meeting of the colliers of the Lower Resolven Collieries,
at Melin-y-Cwrt, was held to discuss the price charged by the Company for coal
supplied to them for their own domestic use. They wanted to pay the same rate
as that charged by the Cardiff and Swansea Steam Coal Company, which was five
shillings per ton. The request was put to Temple Stroud, the manager, who, in
turn, passed it on to Neville Corbyn, the General Manager. An amicable
arrangement was arrived at.
June:
Daniel Evans, of 4 Railway Terrace, Resolven, “(…) a shoe
dealer, draper, newsagent and tea dealer” was declared bankrupt.
At 10.46 a. m. on 14 June, an excursion train was to leave
Resolven bound for London. It was intended for passengers who would be
attending the Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace and also the International
Fisheries Exhibition at South Kensington.
There was considerable cause for concern in the Vale of
Neath about the high level of chest complaints in the vicinity. This was
thought to be the consequence of draughty and damp housing caused by the high
level of rainfall. “(…) os bydd glaw yn rhywle, bydd yng Nghwmnedd”.
Inhabitants of Glynneath had witnessed many cases of measles and whooping
cough. The School there had been closed and several children had died. There
had also been cases of measles in Cwmgwrach, and some had been reported in
Pentre-clwydau. The sickness had, so far, not yet spread to Resolven.
July:
At an annual meeting of the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless
Steam Coal Company held at the Cannon Street Hotel in London, it was reported
that the quantity of coal extracted at Resolven Colliery had not increased
during the previous financial year, 1882-1883, as a result of the slackness of
trade in the early part of that year. The Directors were pleased, however, to
find that that the output was now gradually increasing, “(…) and that a
considerable improvement has taken place in the coal trade during the latter
half of the company’s financial year, which enables them to show a better
balance- sheet than that of many years past.”
A man by the name of John Jones was accidentally killed at
the Neath Merthyr Colliery, Clyne. “He was engaged in his occupation as
roadman, when a journey of empty trams came upon him unobserved. The empty
trams ran over him and killed him on the spot.”
September:
At the Neath Borough Petty Sessions held on 9 September,
Police Constable John David, stationed at Resolven, was summoned by William
Thomas, a contractor from Resolven, for “wilful and corrupt perjury.” This
followed on from a case held at the County Justices on 24 August where Police
Constable David had charged Thomas with being on licensed premises during
prohibited hours. At that trial, the police constable had testified that, from
the upstairs window of his house in Railway Terrace, he was able to see the
back door of the Vaughan Arms, through which he could see William Thomas go in
and out, and later saw him walking along the main road wiping his moustache.
Samuel Rees, a witness for the defence, had stated that Thomas had asked for
beer in the public house but had been refused by the landlady and barmaid.
Thomas, on that occasion, had been fined ten shillings and costs, but all these
allegations were now refuted by him. William Whittington, surveyor for the
Borough of Neath, having paid a visit to the police constable ‘s house in
Railway Terrace, prepared a plan of it, and swore that it would be impossible
to see the back door of the pub from its upstairs window. The case against the
policeman was, however, dropped because of insufficient evidence.
Developments at Resolven Colliery included the construction
of a new powerful engine, pit framing and other plant, prior to the further
sinking of the second pit to the Rhondda steam coal measures, which lay beyond
the unprofitable No.3 seam. These steam coal measures were about 300 yards
deeper than the No.3 seam, and situated about 500 yards from the surface. (In
their first pit, the Company kept working a considerable amount of coal from
the No.2 seam, and they fully intended to continue to do this).
November:
A district meeting of the Aberdare Miners was held at the
New Inn, Resolven under the presidency of William Phillips, Aberaman. The
following resolutions were passed: “That we receive the miners of Resolven pit
into our association with pleasure, and that this meeting opposes Mr. W.
Abraham (Mabon) having anything to do with
the case of the miners on strike at the Aberdare Coal Company’s
colliery, Cwmbach, and wishes him to stay in his own district.”
Developments at Resolven Colliery included a two- and -a
-half per cent increase in wages for the colliers; a steam-powered tramway
constructed above the pits; and an incline descending to the railway sidings.
This did away with the need for the former, seemingly- endless, tunnel ‘yr hen
dwnel tragwyddol’. Developments at Clyne included the purchase of the Tin Works
by a Mr. Smith from Aberdare, who, apparently, had much experience of the tin
trade. It was hoped that work there would be resumed soon after a gap of about
a year and a half.
At Bethania Chapel, a lecture entitled “Abraham Lincoln” was
delivered by Rev. J. Lewis, Swansea.
On 26 November, a lecture was given at Jerusalem Chapel by
Rev. J. Davies, Abercwmboi, entitled: “Yr Electric Light a’r Phonograph.”
Having explained to the audience what electricity and electric light were, he
gave a practical demonstration by proceeding to “(…) set up the machine or
battery and then turning the wheel”. The audience was relieved to discover that
he did not electrocute himself. After this, he gave a demonstration of the use
of the phonograph. (The phonograph was the precursor of the tape-recorder and
compact disc, and had been invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1877). Everyone
was delighted with what they had seen and heard of these two wonders of the
age. “Cafwyd cynulliad rhagorol i weled a chlywed dau o brif ryfeddodau yr oes
bresenol.”
December:
At Melin-y-cwrt, the Lower Resolven Colliery Company tested
one of the seams of coal which lay just above the Resolven seam on which they
were working, and it proved to be of first-class steam quality and harder than
the Resolven seam. It was expected that, as soon as a tram-road incline was in
place, 100 tons of this coal could be worked each day. Two other veins were
also about to be tested and the Company hoped to be working 500 tons daily from
these seams. This quantity, in addition to that raised from the Resolven seam,
would make Lower Resolven Colliery one of the largest in the valley.
Rees William, a Resolven haulier, was summoned for poaching
salmon. Police Constable David said: “At 8 p.m. on Sunday 9 June, I was on duty
by the riverside near Resolven. I saw the defendant on the bridge. He walked
from the bridge to the other side and looked into the river. He saw me and
walked away. I stopped him and asked him if he had anything about him. He said
no. I then searched him and found on him the spear I now produce. It was hung
round his neck with a leather thong. It had a fish scale on it. He said he was
only going for a walk." The defendant was convicted and fined forty
shillings and costs, or one month in prison.
In a report of 7 December, Mr. Munro, the Government
Inspector of Schools wrote that Resolven Infants’ School “(…) is in good order
and a good examination has been passed in Elementary Subjects, Objects, Mental
Counting, Needlework and Occupations. The Writing of the class of five-year-old
children should be a little better, as also the Arithmetic, and better
arrangements should be made for Occupations. A merit grant of Good is
recommended this year. A qualified Assistant Teacher or transferred Pupil
Teacher should at once be appointed.” The grant received was £80-9s-6d.
On Christmas Day at Bethania Chapel an eisteddfod was held
during the day and a concert in the evening. The prize for the main choir
competition, singing “Huddersfield” from the “Llawlyfr Moliant,” was shared
between Bethania Chapel and Seion Chapel. The evening concert was led by the
Rev. John Davies, minister of Bethania, and the main singers were T. Evans, of
Carmarthen; Edwin Nicholas, of Ystalyfera; Laura Rees, of Clyne; Eos Pendre;
Eos Resolven, and W. C. Davies.
1884
January:
On 18 January, the Vicar, Rev. David Griffiths, visited
Resolven school in his capacity as its Manager. He noted in the school records
that he “(…) found the attendance improving and that there was plenty of room
for instruction. Trade in the village also shows signs of improving, and more
people may come and fill the empty houses.”
February:
The following advertisement appeared in the press: “Wanted,
a Lad, to attend Horse and make himself useful. Apply to Dr. Jones, Resolven.”
On a Thursday morning in early February, Police Constables
John David and Moses Reed were on duty on the Tyrrau Bridge, which carried the
railway over the River Neath. As they
were looking at the otters in the river, they saw about fifteen men coming up
the railway line towards them. “When within forty yards of the policemen, the
men, seeing they were observed, commenced throwing cinder slags (of which there
are hundreds of tons on the railway side) at the constables. They were called
upon to desist, but, instead of refraining, one of the men drew a gun and
fired, the shots whizzing past the constables without, however, doing any harm.
The officers retreated amid a shower of cinders, followed by the ruffians, who
eventually were left in possession of the river for the time. Suspicion is
attached to a notorious poacher (who has recently come in to the village) as
the man who fired the shot. (…). The officers in question have been very
diligent in bringing to justice a large number of salmon poachers this season,
as there is a plentiful supply of salmon in the river just now.”
April:
At Resolven Colliery, five or six men were engaged in
repairing a boiler. One of them, a blacksmith by the name of Joseph Davies, (my
great-grandfather), was “ (…) in the act of lifting the boiler by means of a
screw-jack, when it slipped off and fell
on both of his legs, fracturing them very badly below the knee. The weight of
the boiler was about fifteen tons. Police Constable John David, along with
about a hundred other willing hands, lifted the boiler and rescued Davies. Dr.
Jones made efforts to relieve Davies until two surgeons from Neath arrived who,
after consultation, decided that amputation would be necessary. A great deal of
sympathy is felt in the village at the occurrence, Davies being a married man,
with young children dependent on his earnings.”
A meeting of the Resolven Cricket Club was held at the
Vaughan Arms to elect officers for the current season and the following were
chosen. President: Temple Stroud; vice-president: Dr. Jones; captain: William
Sims; and vice- captain: David Thomas. On a motion of F. Beaman, a vote of
thanks was accorded to Temple Stroud for his handsome donations to the funds.
On 16 April, at Bethania Chapel, a farewell gathering took
place for two of its young members who were leaving Resolven and emigrating to
North America. They were Anne Reynolds, who was moving to Canada, and Benjamin
Davies who was going to Plymouth, Pennsylvania in the United States They were
both highly esteemed within both Chapel and community for their enthusiasm,
faithfulness and industry. “Yr oedddent yn sefyll ar y blaen mewn sel, ffyddlondeb a
gweithgarwch cyffredinol”. Benjamin, a collier, was also a gifted lay-preacher
and it was hoped that America would provide the opportunities to further his
education in this direction. A “penillion”, a free-metre poem composed by
Watkin Evans, was recited in his honour.
May:
The following advertisement was placed: “Housemaid or Nurse.
Wanted, a situation, by a respectable young woman, from the country; not been
out before; age 22, and member of a Christian Church.” Apply Kate Rees,
Woodland Terrace, Resolven, near Neath.
At a meeting to further the cause of the disestablishment
and disendowment of the Church of England, John Salathiel, the manager of the
Resolven Colliery, moved the following resolution which was unanimously
approved: “That this meeting is of the opinion that the Established Church in
Wales be disestablished and disendowed forthwith (…) and supports Mr. Dillwyn,
the hon. Member for Swansea, in the carrying out of his laudable efforts.” The
Rev. D. Morgan, minister of Bethania, also took part in the proceedings.
June:
Benjamin Davies, the collier who had recently emigrated from
Resolven to the United States, submitted a detailed account of his journey from
Resolven to his destination, which was the small town of Plymouth in
Pennsylvania in the heartland of the anthracite- mining industry near Scranton
and Wilkes Barre. The journey took twelve days, from 23 April to 5 May 1884.
Having travelled by train to Liverpool, he boarded the steamship “Germanic”
which he describes as 155 yards long and 17 yards wide, and as carrying some
200 crew and 1300 passengers of which about twenty were Welsh. He travelled by
ship from Liverpool, via Cork, to New York, and by train from New York to
Scranton where he was greeted by his brother-in-law. “Yr oeddem ar ben ein
taith, yng nghanol ein hanwyliaid a’r lluaws cyfeillion oedd yn ein disgwyl”.
At a meeting of the Neath Health Board, the Rev. David
Griffiths, vicar of Resolven, called attention to the water supply of Resolven
maintaining that “(…) it was a very sad sight to see people walk miles for
water.” Plans had already been prepared and approved for the construction of a
small reservoir and he now moved that work be carried out at a cost of about
£1000. William Sims, the Resolven solicitor, seconded the proposition and it
was unanimously carried.
July:
Despite the fact that the Neath Health Board had resolved to
construct waterworks for Resolven, inhabitants of the village, at a public
meeting held at the Vaughan Arms, voted by a large majority to postpone the
scheme for the present until it was seen how successful Resolven Colliery would
be in its venture to sink to the Rhondda steam-coal measures. If the venture
failed, the burden of costs for the water supply would fall on the already
impoverished collier.”Nad ydym yn gwybod eto pa fath drysor a geir yng
nghrombil yr hen ddaear yma.” This decision was confirmed at a meeting of
Resolven Vestry on 4 July when it was stated that “(…) in the face of the great
slackness of trade now existing in this neighbourhood and the large number of
vacant houses now vacant, and considering that there is the same supply of
water as heretofore at some distance, this meeting deems it advisable to
postpone the construction pf the proposed waterworks until the result of the
sinking at Cwm Clydach be known, as the prosperity of the district and the immediate
necessity of waterworks greatly depends on the success of that undertaking.”
An anonymous Resolven correspondent wrote the following
letter to the editor of a weekly newspaper: “The sanitary arrangements of
Resolven are of the most primitive kind. Indeed, so simple are they that the
refuse depositories merely consist of a hole surrounded by four walls and
covered by a roof, there being nothing to carry the offensive stuff away;
consequently, during this hot weather the inhabitants of the place while
walking on the main road are daily compelled to inhale air which you may be
assured, sir, is not very agreeable to our nostrils. As far as I know the
owners of these closets, which are so close to the main road as to form its
boundary, do not attempt to lessen the grievances. This they could easily do by
using a little quicklime. For the past ten years refuse has been accumulating
in these offending closets, and every summer we are unpleasantly made aware
that the source of typhoid and kindred diseases is in close proximity to the
parish road. It is to be hoped that remedial measures will at once be taken.”
August:
At a meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists’ Association,
chaired by the Rev. Moses Thomas, minister of Seion Chapel, Resolven, the
following resolution was passed: “That the association desires to express its
sorrow that Mr. T. Davies gave his vote at the Swansea Town Council for the
motion to permit a band of music to play in the public park of Swansea on
Sundays; but that having ascertained from Mr. Davies that he did not do so with any intention to desecrate
the Sabbath, and having received from him an expression of his sorrow that by
his action he had given offence to his brethren, the association does not wish
to subject him to Church discipline.”
At the Neath County Petty Sessions, Richard Davies of
Resolven was charged with “being drunk on the highway near the Vaughan Arms”
and was fined five shillings and costs , while John Jones and William Walters
were charged with “ drunkenness and sleeping in the taproom of the Gored Hotel”
on 18 August. They were each fined ten shillings and costs. At the same
Sessions, a man named James was summoned for “firing off a gun on the highway”:
P. C. Davies stationed at Resolven said that “(…) on 18 August at 7.30p.m. on
the highway near Resolven, he saw the defendant. He was in a Volunteer uniform,
and had a rifle with him. He passed him on the road and saw him fire off his
rifle opposite some houses. On being asked why he had fired off his rifle, he
said he did not think it was any harm.” James was reprimanded and fined ten
shillings and costs.
At Melincwrt, the Lower Resolven Colliery had started to
develop a second seam of good quality steam coal, and a 1000 yard incline had
already been completed from the colliery openings on the mountain to the
colliery yards. The day the first coal
was brought down from the new seams was a day of celebration. In the presence
of both the colliery owner, Richard Attenborough, and its general manager,
Napier Corbyn, two reports of gun-powder announced the departure of the coal
from the colliery and its arrival at the colliery yards. A cold luncheon was
then held at the Gored Hotel for the guests, and later the colliers themselves
were treated to an evening of festivities at the Vaughan Arms and the Gored
Hotel.
September:
A request from the landlord of the New Inn, Resolven for the
renewal of a licence was discussed at a meeting of the Cardiff Licensing
Sessions. Mr. Superintendent Howlett said that the applicant had been convicted
three times of offences against the Licensing Act. In defence of the applicant,
however, it was pointed out that the license had not actually been endorsed
since the offences were not serious; that the defendant had lost his eyesight
in a colliery explosion some time ago; and that the house had been very well
conducted since. The landlord was cautioned, and the licence renewed.
0ctober:
The Rural Sanitary Authority of the Neath Union advertised
to receive tenders for the construction of a reservoir and the laying- down of
water mains for a supply of water to the parish of Resolven. The work of
supplying water to Resolven was to be carried out despite the feeling of many
in the village that the time was not yet right for it. In a published letter, a local correspondent
asks why the houses above Seion Chapel were not to be included in the scheme.
The current source of water for these houses was Ffynon Felen, but the houses
would now be deprived of this source which was intended to supply the new reservoir.
The reservoir itself was to be built too low down to supply them.
At a concert given on 27 October at Bethania Chapel the main
performer was ‘Caradog’, winner of the London Silver Cup. (‘Caradog’ was the
pseudonym of Griffith Rhys Jones of Trecynon, a precocious organist and
violinist as well as a conductor, who led the South Wales Choral Union to
victory in choral competitions at Crystal Palace, London, in 1872 and 1873.)
Reserved tickets for the event cost two shillings and unreserved tickets one
shilling. Some 700 tickets were sold, 600 of which were sold at the doors.
“Teimlem fod golwg lewyrchus ar bethau yn ein plith.”
November:
At this time it was reported that there were five places of
worship in the village: Seion Chapel (Calvinistic Methodist), Jerusalem
(Independent), Bethania and Sardis, (Welsh and English Baptist) and St.David’s
(Anglican). Sardis, the English Baptist Chapel, (which had previously been
bought from the Welsh Baptists), had now 24 members and 60 in its Sunday
School. Bethania, the new Welsh Baptist Chapel which had opened in 1875 at a
cost of £1600, had now three Sunday Schools: one at Bethania itself, one at
Ynysarwed, and one at Blaenycwm, with a combined total of two hundred
‘scholars’ which was increasing rapidly.
December:
At the Neath County Police Court, Robert Chappel, of
Resolven, was charged under the Poaching Prevention Act with “(…) illegally
being in possession of rabbit nets and a ferret on Sunday evening last.”
Through a technicality, the case was dismissed because the charge should have
been brought by the police constable who found the nets in the defendant’s
possession rather than by Superintendent Howlett. After the case was dismissed,
the defendant’s defence solicitor asked the bench for the nets to be given back
to Chappel. This request was refused. The solicitor “(…) then walked over very
quietly towards the place where the nets were deposited, and took possession of
them. Superintendent Howlett ,with two officers, thereupon made a rush towards
the advocate, and endeavoured to regain possession, but Mr. Evans, refusing to
hand over the articles in question, the officers wrested them from him, though
not without considerable difficulty. The Bench looked on with astonishment and
the spectators with evident amusement.”
At a public meeting, chaired by the Rev. D. Davies, held in
the New Inn, the following resolution was unanimously agreed: “(…) that a Watch
Committee be formed in the village composed of the most influential persons and
others to watch over the various interests of the neighbourhood.” It was
decided that fifteen members should sit on the committee and that the first
meeting would be held the following Monday at the end of December at seven
o’clock in the New Inn.
1885
January:
In his report of 3 January, the Government Inspector of
Schools wrote: “Resolven Infants’ School has experienced many changes during
1884, and the present Mistress has not been in charge long. Nevertheless she
has pushed forward the attainments materially, and has maintained good
discipline. There is every prospect of the school becoming a really good one.
Object lessons, Elementary Subjects, Mental Counting and Spelling have been
very carefully prepared and a good beginning has been made as regards
Occupations. Physical exercises, Repetition, and Singing are fair. The classes
are large enough to warrant a separate Teacher being appointed for each. The
attendance is not good.”
A seam of coal, nine feet thick, was discovered at Resolven
Colliery during a visit made to the pit by O. Sheppard, the estate agent and
trustee, along with W. Thomas, the company’s engineer, and several other
interested parties. After clearing what was supposed to be the bottom of the
four- feet seam, another bed of coal was struck revealing that the whole seam
had a thickness of nine feet. This coal, when inspected and tried, proved to be
of better quality than was expected. “And as the area of the Company’s taking
is 4000 acres, and the seam just struck is only one out of several in the
ground, the amount of ‘black diamond’ and wealth before the Company is
immense.” This seam had never been reached before.
At Clyne, the colliers of the Neath and Merthyr Colliery
went on strike. The reason for the strike was the Company’s unacceptable offer
of 2s 3d per ton for filling the trams at the sidings with coal which was
“clean and without small coal,” whilst the colliers were insisting on three
shillings per ton. “As the difference between the estimate of the Company and
the men is so great, no approximate understanding has as yet been reached
between the parties.”
February:
Twenty-seven books were bought for the sum of £2 to add to
the library at Resolven Reading Room. The books, for the most part, dealt with
aspects of the Christian faith, but there were also books on astronomy and on
English literature.
March:
A collision occurred between the morning ‘pick-up’ train and
the Aberdare to Swansea train near Melincwrt sidings. The guard’s van of the
‘pick-up’ train and about ten of its wagons were very seriously damaged, as was
the engine of the Swansea-bound train. Fortunately no one was injured. It
appears that the cause of the accident was a signal malfunction. A ‘break-down’
gang from Neath arrived within the hour to clear up the debris.
April:
James Blick, a gamekeeper, brought an action against Edward
Lewis, a contractor from Resolven, “(…) to recover £50 as damages for injuries
which he had sustained as a result of
being ridden over by Lewis’s horse.” Blick maintained that he was knocked down
and had become senseless after Lewis “(…) galloped at a furious rate”, and, in
consequence of his injuries, had been laid up for six weeks. His collar-bone
had been pulverised, he was deaf in one year, and would never be able to use
his gun again. His Honour Judge Beresford said that if Lewis would offer to pay
£5 per month in compensation, he would reduce the amount of damages to £40.
This was accepted.
A well-attended meeting was held at the Temperance Hall in
Resolven with the intention of forming a local branch of the Liberal
Association in the village. David Williams, of Drehir, was appointed chairman;
Thomas Rees, of Woodland Terrace, treasurer; and the Rev. D. Morgan, secretary.
A published newspaper editorial contained the following
account: “If all I hear from a correspondent is correct, there is
unquestionably a public nuisance at Resolven. My correspondent says that it has
been the practice for some time past for a number of people there to parade the
roads on a Sunday evening and to attack passers-by, and drag them through the
mud. In some cases, indeed, when the victims have resisted, they have stripped
their shoes off and treated them to further indignities. If that much is done,
Resolven must be a pleasant place to pass a few hours in on a Sunday evening.
(…) Rufffians of the kind my correspondent speaks of should be introduced to
the gaoler as soon as possible.”
May:
In a published letter, Rev. D. Morgan, minister of Jerusalem
Chapel, described the current depressed state of Resolven. Despite striking a
new seam in Resolven Colliery, no further operations had been carried out
there, while work at the Neath and Merthyr Colliery had come to a complete
stop. People had moved out of the village, and the colliers who remained now
only worked between one to three days a week. Poverty in the village was a
state pitiful to behold (“Mae yn druenus dlawd yma”), and the situation was so
‘tight’ that many struggled to get sufficient food (“mae yn eithaf ‘tight’ ar
lawer i gael digon o fwyd.”) It would take another two or three years, he
wrote, for the new coal-seam to be operational and for the general working
conditions in the village to improve.
At an annual meeting of the Rural Sanitary Authority,
chaired by Rev. Walter Griffiths, vicar of Resolven, it was disclosed that the
following firms had sent in tenders for the construction of water-works at
Resolven: Cecil Bachelor, (£1024); Peckthall and Sons, (£440); and Pearson and
Pall, (£391-13s-4d). The tender of Pearson and Pall was accepted.
On a Friday evening late in this month, a large number of
members and friends met at the Working Men’s Club, Resolven, for the purpose of
presenting a testimonial to its former secretary, T. W. James. ”The
presentation consisted of a massive gold albert chain with a spade guinea and a
locket attached bearing the inscription ‘Presented to Mr. T. W .James (late
secretary) by the Resolven Working Men’s Club, after ten years’ gratuitous
services May 22, 1885.’” The success of the club was largely attributed to his
efforts.
June:
At a weekly meeting of the Resolven Temperance Society, the
following resolution was unanimously passed: “That this Society strongly
protests against the prejudicial and detrimental manner in which that portion
of the budget relating to taxation on alcoholic drinks has been dealt with by
the Conservatives and, moreover, passes its most sympathetic vote of condolence
and unabated confidence in Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues in their resolute
efforts to pass this bill. This Society also urges the importance of all
temperance societies throughout Great Britain and Ireland to supporting, as far
as possible, the present Ministry in their undaunted perseverance. That a copy
of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Gladstone.”
At a meeting of Resolven Liberals, held in the Temperance
Hall and chaired by the Rev. M. Thomas, the following resolution was passed:
“That this meeting wishes most strongly to express its unabated confidence in
the Gladstonian Government in their ardent perseverance to uphold the honour of
our country, and sincerely trusts that neither Mr. Gladstone nor his colleagues
will give any pledge to Lord Salisbury in his endeavours to form a cabinet; and
, moreover, hopes Mr. Gladstone , as leader of the Liberal Government, will
soon be replaced in office, and with the support of his co-adjutors, bring the
present crisis to a victorious termination.”
After four years working as manager of Resolven colliery,
leased by the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal Company, John Salathiel
was moving to Blaengarw to begin work as manager of the Transatlantic Colliery.
At a public event held in his honour on 15 June, he was described as a man who
had good working relations with both employers and employees, during whose time
as manager there had been no strikes, nor even the loss of even one life, when
the first pit had been sunk to the Aberdare Seams. Salathiel had been fully
involved in the industrial, cultural and religious life of Resolven, and,
despite the widespread poverty of the place, he was still much respected. He
was presented with a gold watch valued at £20, and his wife received a tea and
coffee service. He was leaving, he said, with malice to no-one and good- will
to everyone. “(…) heb falais at neb, gan
adael ei ddymuniadau goreu i bawb.”
July:
At the Neath County Petty Sessions, Charles Cheeke, a beer
retailer, was charged with illegally selling beer at the Gored Hotel, a place
not covered by his licence. Police Constable John David claimed he saw Cheeke
“(…) hawking bottled beer, and selling a dozen bottles to the landlord of the
Gored Hotel”. In Cheeke’s defence, it was submitted that there had been no
legal violation since the sale had been wholesale and not retail. There was
also no evidence to show that the beer had been consumed on the premises. The
summons was dismissed.
At the Royal Show held at Preston, the coal selected for the
engines driving the agricultural and other machinery which had been installed
there had come from the Lower Resolven Collieries. Despite the long distance and
expense involved in transporting this coal to the North of England, it was
regarded, after exhaustive and careful trials, to be the best, “(…) as
consumers, firemen and stokers expressed the greatest satisfaction with it, the
selection of Lower Resolven coal has been amply justified.”
A match played between the Resolven and the Resolven
Temperance Cricket Clubs, “(…) ended in a draw somewhat in favour of Resolven.
Scores: Resolven Temperance Club 85; and Resolven 70, with five wickets to
fall.”
At a meeting of the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal
Company held on 24 July, one of its members, Colonel Shakespeare, made the
following statement “There was something at work in preventing the working of
the Resolven Colliery. It might be ignorance of the common rules of geology,”
whilst another member, Mr. Russell, asked if it was even worthwhile working the
Resolven Colliery, and suggested that it
would be much better for the Company to confine itself to the Rhondda valley.
The chairman responded to this statement by saying: “(…) that such an idea was
childish, as they could not go behind all their covenants. If they stopped
working at Resolven, the property would revert to the owners and he did not
think he need say any more.” The Company had started operating Resolven
Colliery in 1873 and a financial statement revealed the losses that it had
subsequently sustained: 1875-76:
£3,621.19.10. 1876-77: £3,764.13.11.
1877-78: £2,198.1.2. 1878-79: £344.15.7. 1879-80: £1,754.18.11. 1880-81: £3,360.12.9. 1881-82: £1,041.17.0. 1884-85: £279.15.2. The only profit the
Company had made was in 1882-83:
£144.14.9 and in 1883-84 £541.9.5.
August:
At the Glamorgan Agricultural Show, Resolven Lower Colliery
came second in the pony stallion competition and also second in the donkey
competition.
Trade in Resolven had been exceptionally bad during the
previous six months and now the Lower Resolven Colliery at Melincwrt, which was
the largest working colliery in the locality, had stopped work for more than a
fortnight, owing to over-production and the consequent reduction in prices. The
colliers there had experienced some delays in being paid, but, as the pumping
engines were being kept going, there was some hope that work would re-start
before long. Work at Resolven Colliery itself was “(…) very slow, only working
two or three days a week. Many have been obliged to go in search of work
elsewhere.”
On a Monday early this month, Sunday School teachers and
‘scholars’ of Seion Chapel, Resolven, about 300 in total, met together to
commemorate the centenary of the Sunday School movement in Wales.
The inhabitants of both Resolven and Melincwrt had been
affected for months by an outbreak of measles and scarlet-fever. The schools
were closed; many children had died; but the situation was now gradually
improving.
September:
At the Lamb and Flag Hotel, a sale by public auction was
held of 130 fat sheep, 30 head of fat and store cattle and 10 horses belonging
to Abercwlyd Farm, “(…) distant one mile from the Glyn-neath and Resolven stations
of the G. W. R. and adjoining the Turnpike Road.”
The current state of the collieries in the district was
described as follows. Resolven: “As the small water- works for Resolven are now
completed, the few hands that were employed there have been dismissed. The
Cardiff and Swansea Colliery only works about two days a week, so that the
outlook is anything but encouraging.”
Melincwrt: “The Lower Resolven Colliery, which has been the greatest
support to the neighbourhood for the last few years, has been standing still
for the last three months, with the exception of a few men who are employed for
pumping purposes. Although the Bankruptcy Court sanctioned a special manager
over Mr. Attenborough’s estate there are no signs of re-starting.” Clyne: The
stoppage of work at the Neath and Merthyr Colliery has “(…) caused great
distress amongst the families of the workmen.”
October:
At a meeting held at Blaengarw, John Salathiel, the former
manager of Resolven Colliery, spoke of his experience at Resolven working with
the Miners’ Permanent Provident Society and of its merits compared with other
organisations set up for the benefit of the working classes. “The South Wales
Society had at present a membership of nearly 36,000, with an accumulated fund
of £26,000. Since the formation of the Society, the sum of £2,194 had been paid
on the death of members, £2,320 to widows, £1,952 to children, and £27,233 to
disabled members. There were currently over 100 widows and 200 children
receiving weekly allowances. (…) The Society showed a distinct advantage over
the Employers’ Liability Act, and those present were urged to make provision
for themselves and their familie
November:
Fred Davis, a Liberal candidate in the forthcoming Rhondda
elections, had leased the hunting and fishing rights on the Rheola Estate, but in
a newspaper editorial he was severely criticised for the harsh manner in which
he dealt with those who infringed those rights. According to the editorial, his
predecessor, Major Lee, never used to prosecute those who were caught but,
under Davis’s tenure, the offenders were “ultimately mulcted in fines and
costs. These men who had to pay so dearly for their amusement were poor
colliers, having large families to maintain and who, being idle that day, went
to fish for diversion. (…) His conduct in the capacity of petty landlord
justifies the belief that he would be a tyrannical oppressor if he really had
the power.”
At the Neath Petty Sessions, charges were brought by Her
Majesty’s Inspector of Factories against the Melincwrt Brick Company with
offenses contrary to the Factory Act. The Brick Company was fined ten
shillings, with costs of nine shillings and three pence, for employing a girl
under 16 for brickmaking; and the Resolven Tinplate Company (Limited) was fined
fifteen shillings, with costs of thirty shillings and nine pence, “for
employing two children without obtaining surgical certificates of their fitness
and of their attendance at school.”
On 17 November, a rugby match played between Resolven and
Skewen resulted in a win for the visitors by 36 points to nil. The Resolven
team comprised: Back: S. Robinson. Three-quarter backs: J. Prosser (captain),
S. Place, W. Powells and D. Jenkins. Half-backs: F. Bunan and W. Rees.
Forwards: G. Evans, T. Stroud, J. Davies, W. Bowen, T. Rees, F. Francis, W.
Jones, and W. Davies. (This 1885 game
against Skewen is the first recorded game played by Resolven Rugby Club. The
Club was formed this year after two playing members of Newport R.F.C. (who were
temporarily employed at Glyncastle colliery) invited local onlookers to join in
their training sessions which they were holding at Cae’r Berllan, the orchard
belonging to the Ton on the site of today’s Church Hall. (In context, Pontypool
R. F. C. was formed in 1868, Neath in 1871, Swansea in 1872 and Aberafan in
1876.)
December:
At the London Bankruptcy Court, an arrangement was agreed by
the creditors in relation to the bankruptcy of R. Attenborough, the owner of
the Lower Resolven Colliery, Melincwrt. Attenborough, who went bankrupt in
September, had total liabilities of £259,812 and assets of £9,525.
A rugby match between Skewen and Resolven on 12 December
ended in “(…) an easy victory for Skewen by five tries and two touches down, to
one touch-down scored by Resolven”.
Richard Evans, a former student at Cambridge University, was
ordained priest at Llandaff Cathedral and was appointed to the parish of
Resolven.
On Christmas night, the cantata, “The Voyage of Life” by H.
Davies, (Pencerdd Maelor), was sung at Jerusalem Chapel by its choir under the
leadership of W. Thomas. The president of the event was D. Williams, Drehir.
“The proceeds will be devoted towards liquidating the heavy debt on the
Chapel.”
1886
January:
Work at the Lower Resolven Colliery, Melincwrt, re-started
on 21 January. A meeting between the colliers and Mr. Temple Stroud, the
manager, had proved to be successful and an agreement had been reached. “The
colliery is by far the largest in the Vale of Neath, employing upwards of 400
men, and the coal is of excellent quality.”
February:
The Good Templars (Resolven) team played Neath Juniors at
Resolven. “A well-contested game resulted in favour of Neath Juniors by three
tries and seven minor points to one goal. The tries were obtained by T.
Griffiths.”
A rugby match between Resolven and Aberdare Star at Resolven
ended in a win for the latter by “(…) one goal, one try and three touches down,
to one try and one touch- down. The Resolven team comprised: Back: H. Paine.
Three-quarter backs: W. Powell, P. Evans, G. Davies, W. Jones. Half-backs: W.
Rees and S. Hughes. Forwards: J. Prosser (captain), F. Francis, T. Rees, J.
Evans, W. Davies, J. Griffiths, T. Stroud, and R. Williams.”
February:
William Powell, of Resolven, was fined five shillings and
costs “(…) for being drunk and cursing and swearing near the Vaughan Arms on 13
February.”
March:
At a meeting of the Conservative Party held at Robinsons’
Assembly Rooms, Neath, and chaired by Howell Gwyn, it was agreed that “(…) the
Party’s message of loyalty to the Queen and of attachment to the institutions
of this country should be spread, not only in the town of Neath, but
also in the surrounding district, including Resolven”. Members of the
Party wanted to expand their organisation and considered that the best way to do
this was through the medium of the ‘”Primrose League”. (The Primrose League was
an organisation founded in 1883 to promote Conservative principles, especially
that of the free market.)
April:
On 5 April, a concert was held at Bethania Chapel with solo
performances given by Eos Penderyn, Llinos Nedd, Eos Resolven, Llinos y Dyffryn
and Eos Morlais. Two duet items on mandoline and piano were performed by the
Joseph sisters, of Brynawel. The accompanist was Miss Joseph, Brynawel, and the
chairman D. Joseph, Brynawel. The Chapel was full to capacity for the event.
A poem entitled “Rwy’n methu‘n deg cael cariad”, composed by
W. L. Evans of Resolven, was printed in the newspapers.
May:
At a well-attended meeting of the Resolven Liberal
Association, under the presidency of D. Davis Joseph, of Brynawel, the
following resolutions were unanimously agreed: “1. That this branch Liberal
Association expresses its continued and unabated confidence in the Right
Honourable W. E. Gladstone, M. P; and the present ministry, and wishes them
every success in passing the Irish measures now before Parliament. 2. That this
branch Liberal Association strongly disapproves of the opposition of C. R. M.
Talbot, Esq; M. P. to the Home Rule and Land Purchases Bill for Ireland, and is
decidedly of the opinion, if he does not vote for the measures, that he should
abstain from voting against them.” It was also resolved that copies of these
resolutions should be sent to the Prime Minister.
June:
Charles Davies, of Cory Street, Resolven, was fatally
injured by a train on the Great Western Railway as he crossed the railway line
on his way home. The deceased left a widow and six children, and his funeral
was attended by, amongst others, members of two Friendly Societies.
July:
A poem entitled “Brawdgarwch”, composed by Daniel T. Evans,
Resolven, was printed in the newspapers.
At a meeting of the Cardiff and Swansea Smokeless Steam Coal
Company, attempts were made to reduce expenditure and to arrange terms for the
benefit of the shareholders. The Company had leased two collieries, Resolven
and Pentre in the Rhondda Valley, and, except in the first year 1873-1874, the
shareholders had not received any dividend. Resolven colliery had, in the past
ten years, incurred a loss to the Company of £44,357-0s-7d, which included the
costs of sinking to the lower measures of Cwm Clydach in order to meet the
continued demands of the lessors. The result was that, as one large shareholder
expressed it, “(…) the working at Pentre stops the hole at Resolven.” Another
shareholder maintained that the most fatal part of the policy of the Board had
been that it had refused to accept the offer of Mr. F. A. Yeo in 1878 to
re-purchase the unfortunate Resolven property. The Committee was of the opinion
“that this ruinous state of affairs ought not to continue and that a strong
attempt must be made to terminate this partnership of two collieries, and thus
avert a disaster to this Company. Having regard to the original cost of the
Resolven property and the sums since spent by the directorate, the proposal for
abandonment, however, is not one which the committee is disposed to recommend.”
September:
At the Temperance Hall, Resolven, a farewell gathering was
held for W. L. Evans (“Alarch Glan Nedd”) and for G. W. Jones who were both
emigrating to the United States of America. The Hall was full and many friends
had to remain outside. Speeches, recitations and songs were given by John
Evans, R. Herbert, D. Harris, R. Benjamin, Thomas M. Lewis, John Davies and
Miss C. Stephens (“Eos Resolven”). Each of those leaving the village received a
Bible and, in his speech of thanks, Evans said that he was so overcome with
emotion that he was unable to say much that night, but that he would send one
of his poems back to his friends in Resolven from ‘y wlad yr Ianci’, as well as
an account of his journey.
November:
Bethania Chapel held its Preaching Meeting on 3 November;
the visiting preachers were: Rev. D. Davies, of Cwmgarw and Mr Rosser, of
Neath. Rev. Davies preached three times on the Sunday “gyda hwyl a dylanwad
mawr”, and Mr. Rosser preached once in English in the afternoon.
After working two days a week on an average for the past two
years, the Cardiff and Swansea Company’s works at Resolven stopped completely,
the colliers having received notices that all contracts would be terminated.
“The distress in the neighbourhood is already keen, and it is feared that it
will be greatly increased by this stoppage. (…) The prospects for the coming
winter are very gloomy.”
Work at Resolven Colliery was partially resumed on 16
November, after the colliery agent, W.Thomas, of Brynawel, accepted the
colliers’ offer of a five per cent reduction in wages.
At Jerusalem Chapel and at Clyne schoolroom, two
performances of the cantata “Moses a Josua”, were given by members of Jerusalem
Chapel choir under the direction of W. Thomas.
A local correspondent, B. Carolan Davies, reported on the
various Thanksgiving Meetings which were being held at various places of
worship in Resolven. While it was generally recognised among the villagers
that, from an economic point of view, there might seem little to be thankful
for, it was also recognised that the harvest had been exceptionally good this
year: the crop of corn, hay, turnips, etc; had been wonderful; the trees had
been laden with fruit (‘plygent dan eu llwythi o ddaioni’), and this was good
news indeed for those families in need. The ground had retained heat for much
longer than usual and the frost had not come so early this autumn. There were,
however, some complaints about the high price of meat, resulting from a
shortage of cattle.
December:
William Davies was arrested at Resolven, charged with
failing to report to the police. He had formerly been sentenced to 28 years’
penal servitude, but was freed in July 1884 on ‘ticket-of-leave’. He had turned
up once at Hirwaun police station where he had received a £2 gratuity from the
Society in Aid of Discharged Prisoners, but had failed to turn up subsequently.
Davies said he had not reported himself because he was afraid of losing his
job. The magistrates said that it was very unfortunate but they had to
administer the law, and Davies was sent back to jail for one month.
On 6 December, a rugby match between Resolven and Skewen
“(…) ended in an easy victory for Skewen, through their superior passing and
dribbling, by seven goals, four tries and two minors to nil.”
In his yearly report of 7 December, Mr. Munro, the
Government Inspector of Schools, stated that “(…) the order in Resolven
Infants’ School is very good and the results give thorough satisfaction in
almost all points. The Merit mark of excellent would have been recommended had
the work in all classes come up to the same standard of excellence as in the
first class. As it was, it was very nearly reached. The Writing and Repetition
of the second and first classes being below the remaining work in quality were
the chief drawbacks.” A grant of £67-5s-0d was awarded to the school.
On 17 December Margaret Thomas resigned as Mistress of
Resolven Infants’ School.
On Christmas Day morning, Resolven played against Resolven
Harlequins, resulting in a win for the former “(…) by one goal, two tries and
four minors to nil.”
Also on Christmas Day, an eisteddfod was held at Bethania
Chapel, presided over by T. Rees, Woodland Terrace, Resolven. The adjudicator
of the singing was R. Morris, of Hirwaun, and the adjudicators of the
recitation and public speaking were Rev. J. Davies and J. S. Lewis, an
assistant schoolmaster from Cwmafan.
1887
January:
On 3 January Ellen Harries took up the position of Mistress
at Resolven Infants’School.
On 24 January, Resolven rugby team played away to Aberafan,
the match resulting in a draw: Aberafan one try and six minors and Resolven one
try and four minors. (John R. Davies, in his book Resolven Rugby Football Club, explains the method of scoring which
was adopted in deciding the result: this match, which was in Aberafan’s favour,
was in effect declared a draw.)
Resolven Second XV played Hirwaun Silica Rovers Second XV at
Hirwaun resulting in “(…) a win for Hirwaun by one goal, one try and a touch-
down, to one goal and a touch-down for Resolven. The Resolven team left the
field ten minutes before ‘no side.’”
February:
On 7 February, Resolven played against Resolven Harlequins,
(the former Resolven Temperance Club side), the game resulting in a win for
Resolven “by one goal, one try and two minors to nil”.
March:
Playing against Neath Harlequins on 14 March, Resolven
scored “four touches to Harlequins’ one drop goal and three touches”.
The following advertisement was placed: “Found. 28 February,
a Greyhound. If not claimed within three days will be sold. Apply D. Griffiths,
Melincourt, Resolven, near Neath.”
A meeting of the Resolven Branch of the Mid- Glamorgan
Conservative Association was held this month. The vicar, Rev. David Griffiths
presided, and also present were Captain Temple Stroud, W. Sims, J. H. Morgan,
Croft Wilcox, E. H. Place and others. R. L. P. Cox, secretary of the
Mid-Glamorgan Association gave an address. “The Chairman also spoke, and was
received with applause. A stirring address from Captain Stroud brought a
successful meeting to an end.”
April:
On 4 April, Resolven, playing at home, scored “one minor,
and Neath Institute one try and three minors”.
At a meeting of the Resolven branch of the Conservative
Party held at the Temperance Hall, Resolven, a resolution was carried
“condemning the Irish Coercion Bill, considering it totally uncalled for and
likely to prove subversive of the rights and liberties of the Irish people”.
(This was a Bill aimed at repealing the Act for the better Protection of Person
and Property in Ireland which had been made law in 1881. It was one of many
such Acts passed in the nineteenth century enabling the Government to respond
with force to any popular discontent or uprising in Ireland.) Approval was also
expressed at the meeting of the policy advocated by W. E. Gladstone, the Prime
Minister, whom it was hoped would be spared to see the triumph of the Irish
national cause. Copies of this resolution were to be sent to the Prime Minister
and to the South Wales Daily News.
June:
On Whit Monday, the annual meeting of the Resolven church
choir and Sunday School took place “(…) at the Old Manor House , Glyncastle,
which is situated on an eminence with a fine view of the Vale of Neath, with
Rheola and Church amongst the trees, making the situation a pleasant place for
a picnic. The Rev. David Griffiths, Miss Griffiths, Dr. Jones, Mrs. Sims and
others, were indefatigable in their endeavours to amuse the children in all
sort of pastimes and sports. The cake was good and the buns excellent.”
At the Quarterly Conference of the Southern Association of
Independents it was resolved, after hearing of the desperate economic situation
in Resolven and district and of the energetic attempts by Jerusalem Chapel to
lessen the debt with which they were burdened, that members would show their
warm support and their desire to help in any way they could.
At Briton Ferry, a cricket match between Briton Ferry
Crown and Resolven Harlequins resulted in a draw. The scores were Briton Ferry
42 runs; Resolven 20 runs for six wickets.
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated on 20
June, the fiftieth anniversary of her accession to the throne on 20 June 1837.
In Resolven, it was celebrated with a tea-party “given free to all
comers.” It was estimated that at least
1,500 adults and children attended the tea held in the National School where
“(…) twenty trays were brought into use and, by relays, the whole were provided
for in three hours. After the tea, a procession, headed by the Resolven Fife
and Drum Band, marched to Glyncastle field, where various games were held.
Later, a bonfire was lit on Resolven Mountain from where it was also possible
to see the bonfire on the Drummau Mountain as well as the one on the Brecon
Beacons. Jubilee Day ended with a display of fireworks and balloons. Praise is
due to Mr. W. Thomas J. P. of Brynawel for his kindness in heading the list of
subscriptions. The arrangements were left in the hands of Mr. D. Williams,
cashier, and Mr. T. W. James, stationmaster, as chairman and secretary of the
acting committee.”
July:
Resolven Harlequins Football Club held a well-attended
meeting at which the following were elected officers for the season 1887-88.
Captain: W. H. Thomas; vice-captain: E. Jones; honorary secretary: W. R.
Herbert; and treasurer: T. Evans.
August:
Two Swansea cycling clubs, Glantawe and East Side,
competed in a 25 mile inter-club road race from Morriston Bridge to the
Farmers’ Arms, Resolven and back. “The Glantawe Club had taken the precaution
of sending men forward to fill up any holes and put ashes on the different tram
crossings, and buglers were placed at all sharp curves and dangerous hills to
prevent accidents.” East Side won by ten points.
October:
D. C. Davies, on behalf of Bethania Chapel, Resolven
placed a notice in Seren Cymru
stating that there would be no preacher available this coming week apart from a
student minister. The reason given was that the chapel was in financial straits
and could not afford to pay for a preacher, whereas the services of a student
were free of charge. (…) yr unig reswm nad yw yr ymgylchiadau yn gyfryw ac y
gallwn dalu dim am hyny.”
At Melincwrt, the Lower Resolven Colliery was completely
closed on 8 October, as the colliery’s plant and machinery were being dismantled.
“As there are no other works going here, the poor workmen are obliged to seek
for something to do elsewhere. The outlook is very dark, and much privation and
distress are feared.”
Although the inhabitants of Resolven were in a despondent
state owing to the permanent stoppage of work at the Lower Resolven Colliery,
there was some good news on hearing that the Ynysarwed Collieries were being
re-started under the management of Temple Stroud, who had been the former
manager of the Lower Resolven Colliery. It was hoped that before Christmas all
of the men formerly employed at Melincwrt would be in full-time work again at
Ynysarwed.
At the Annual Meeting of Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven, only
one visiting preacher could be afforded an invitation to attend. This was Rev.
O. R. Owen, Glandwr, who, on Saturday evening, gave a talk on one of the most
famous of Welsh Independents: Dr. Rees of Swansea. On Sunday, Mr. Owen preached
three times, and a substantial amount was received at the collection, despite the
current recession.
November:
The trickle of people leaving Resolven and emigrating for
lack of employment was continuing apace. This month saw the departure of David
Thomas for the United States. He was a good cricketer and a member of St.
David’s church choir, and was presented with a leaving gift of £5-10s.
December:
The whole of the contents of the Lower Resolven Colliery,
(plant, machinery, materials, stores and horses), were to be put up for sale by
auction on 15 and 16 December. “A valuable and nearly new pair of 30-inch cylinder air-compressed engines;
60-horse power winding engine; 15-horse power direct- acting engine; two new
10-inch cylinder hauling engines; 2 donkey engines; 2 ‘Universal’ steam pumps;
2 ordinary steam pumps; 3 Galloway boilers; 3 egg-end boilers; one 20- ton
weighing machine; two 2-ton weighing-machines; about 150 wooden and iron trams;
2ft 8ins gauge; 200 tons of rails varying from 18lbs to 24 lbs per yard; about
200 tons 2-nch to 10- inch Spigot and Fawcet new cast-iron flange pipes; 20
tons new steel iron ropes of various sizes; about 4000 sleepers; 500 sheaves,
rollers, and brackets of various sizes; about 20 tons wrought and cast scrap
iron; a quantity of the usual colliery
stores; the contents of blacksmiths’ and carpenters’ shops; several wooden
buildings, office furniture, (…) nine colliery horses, one donkey, two tip
carts and ten sets of underground and other harness.”
Three advertisements relating to Resolven appeared in the
newspapers this month. The first advertisement: ”Swedes wanted. State lowest
price by ton at sender’s station. Apply Davies. Post Office. Resolven.” The
second advertisement: “Melin Court Brickworks, Resolven, Neath, on Sale or to
Let; Machinery latest improvements; excellent clay abundant; direct to rail;
favourable terms. Apply David Jones, 44 Windsor Road, Neath, late Hirwaun.” The
third advertisement: ”Sheep farm to let. Glyngwillim Uchaf, near Resolven, six
miles from Neath, 290 acres, with house and buildings. Apply the Owner, William
Jones, Ty’nyrheol, Tonna, Neath.”
1888
January:
In a published letter, Rev. D. Morgan, Jerusalem Chapel,
wrote to express his thanks to all those who had offered support for the chapel
in its present dire financial circumstances, “(…) oblegid trom yw ein dyled, a blin iawn yw gwasgfa ein
cymydogaeth.” From September 1886 to the end of 1887, the sum of £135 3s 7d had
been received by the chapel, with the greatest share of this (£108- 1s-6d)
coming from well-wishers in England. Other major contributions came from the
proceeds of lectures given by Rev. T. P. Evans, of Glynneath, and Rev. J.
Ossian Davies, of Merthyr, (£8-15s- 6d and £7- 2s -0d respectively.)
The financial plight of the chapels was, of course, only one
aspect of the plight of the village as a whole. As one Resolven correspondent
wrote: the present straitened circumstances were not the beginning of trouble,
but represented the cumulative effect of disaster upon disaster, with some
families, to his knowledge, approaching starvation. “Nid dechreu cyfyngder ydyw
hynyma, ond gwasgfa ar ol gwasgfa, a’r olaf wedi llethu y gymydogaeth ydyw, fel
y gwyddom ei bod yn gyfyng ar lawer I gael digon o fwyd.”
Resolven R.F. C. played away to Neath 2nds on 30 January,
resulting in a victory for Neath “with 4 goals, 1 try and 5 minors to
Resolven’s 2 minors”. (From this year to 1908, there is a dearth of printed
material on Resolven rugby. As John R. Davies points out: “(…) the source of
information seems to run dry.” I
have, however, found material relating to matches played in April 1900, January
1901, November 1902, January 1903, September 1906 and in October and November
1908.)
February:
The following advertisement was placed: “To let. Melincourt Mill, Resolven. A Dwelling House and
conveniences, where a corn, flour, and grocery business is carried on; a small
quantity of Land and Cottages are included in the present holding. Conveniently
situated near collieries, brickworks, and the Resolven Tinworks. Apply to O.
Sheppard, Esq; Neath, or Z. Evans, Pontardawe”.
The former vicar of Resolven, Rev. Walter Griffiths, and the
present incumbent, Rev. David Griffiths, contributed £5 and £1-1s respectively
to the memorial statue at Neath of the late Howel Gwyn, J.P; D. L; of Dyffryn.
March:
The Gelly hunters and hounds were scheduled to meet at
Resolven at 9 a.m. on Friday 16 March when a greyhound fox would be ‘let off’.
David Williams, Resolven, was elected a member of the South
Wales Miners’ Fund which had been set up to assist financially the widows and
orphans of deceased colliers. At a
meeting attended by Williams it was reported that the amount received in 1887
by the Fund from honorary members had greatly increased from that received in
1886, (£800 from £200). Some 250 widows and 499 orphans had already been helped,
with 5s per week being paid to widows and 2s 6d per week to orphans.
April:
Swedes and mangolds “of excellent quality” were offered for
sale and delivery to Resolven. Those interested were requested to apply in
writing to: Rock, Trimsaran, Kidwelly, South Wales.
At a meeting of the South Wales Calvinistic Methodists, a
report of the deacons’ committee was read in which in which it was strongly
recommended that all the chapels in the connexion be insured in its Insurance
Trust, and that members of the monthly meetings should endeavour to bring this
about by appointing agents. It was reported that 51 chapels in south Wales were
already insured. The Rev. Moses Thomas, of Resolven moved to adopt the report.
In a published letter of 25 April, the deacons of Bethania
Chapel: David Davies, Samuel Thomas, Thomas Rees, and Thomas Jenkins, pleaded
for help in the precarious situation which the chapel found itself: the level
of poverty in the village, the closure of the works, the movement of many
chapel members out of the community, the considerable debt and interest
remaining to be paid off, and payment for the occasional preacher. “(…) mae y
frawdoliaeth fach wedi teimlo angen am help.” Some financial assistance had
been already received: Daniel Thomas of Pontypridd, for example, had sent in a
Post Office Order for £5, but more help from the public for this deserving
cause was requested.
May:
At a quarterly meeting of the southern division of Welsh
Congregationalists, the Rev. D. Morgan, minister of Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven,
proposed the following motion which was
carried: “That this conference desires to express its continued abhorrence of
the manner in which the personal freedom and national rights of the Irish
people have been violated by the despotic and coercive policy of the Government
, and it further desires to protest, in the name of justice and humanity,
against the injustice of treating political prisoners as common criminals.”
Another motion, which was seconded by Mr. Morgan, involved the Local Government
Bill which had been recently introduced In Parliament. Members of the meeting
were of the opinion that the Bill did not give inhabitants of a locality
sufficient power to express their own wishes with respect to the number of
licensed houses that they should like to have in their immediate neighbourhood.
July:
At the National School, Resolven, on Saturday 12 July, a
presentation was made to George Smith, manager of Clyne Tinworks, and to his
wife. The presentation was made by the workers at the tinworks and consisted of
two portraits in oil of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Among those present were Dr. Jones,
William Davies, D. Williams, Rev. D. Griffiths, and Rev. D. Morgan. “Addresses
were delivered by several friends on behalf of the workmen. The presentation
was made by Mrs. Watkins and Mrs. Davies, wife of Mr. Davies, roll-turner. The
proceedings were enlivened by some capital singing.”
August:
David Williams and Matthew Driscoll, of Resolven, were
summoned at the Neath County Petty Sessions for “(…) unlawful presence at the
Gored Hotel, on a Sunday morning.” Williams who was not present in Court, was
fined 7s.6d; and Driscoll was ordered to pay 5s. and costs. At the same
Sessions, John Parker, a hobbler, was fined 2s.6d; and costs for being drunk at
Resolven on 7 July.
October:
The second minister of Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel, after
the retirement of Rev. Daniel Thomas, was the Rev. John Davies, of Llandyssul.
Unfortunately, he was able to spend only a fortnight a month in Resolven,
despite efforts to persuade him to move permanently to live in the village. His
pastorate soon came to an end by mutual agreement. A new minister would not be
appointed until September 1889.
The creditors of Hodges and Craddock, the former owners of
Ynysarwed Colliery, held their first meeting at the London Bankruptcy Court. A
peculiarity of the case was the denial of any partnership existing between the
debtors, Craddock maintaining that he had purchased Hodges’ interest in the
colliery in November 1887. The accounts of these former owners showed that
there were gross liabilities of £2,862 and assets of £3,896. A spokesman for
Craddock requested an adjournment “(…) pointing out that, in all probability,
before the next meeting, arrangements would be made which would enable work at
the colliery to be carried on for the benefit of the creditors.”
November:
A letter written jointly by Rev. David Griffiths, Thomas
Rees and James Thomas was sent, on behalf the inhabitants of Resolven, to
express their congratulations to Mr. Nash Edwards-Vaughan, of Rheola on the
occasion of his marriage. The concluding words of the letter were: “We pray
that God may bless you both with health and happiness for many years to come,
to live together in the ancestral home of Rheola, exercising hospitality to
your neighbours, attending to the interests of your tenants and adding to the
comforts of your poor dependents.”
At a meeting held in Neath, members of the Resolven Liberal
Association were among those who unanimously adopted Edward Plummer as the
Liberal candidate in the forthcoming Glamorgan County Council elections to
oppose the Tory candidate, Walter Griffiths J. P. In a subsequent published letter, Plummer
wrote: “I respectfully solicit your votes and, if elected, all matters
affecting different interests concerning rate-payers in the division, and
especially those affecting the working classes, shall have my best attention.”
George Wilcox, of Resolven, was one of three who submitted
tenders for the widening and levelling of Llantwit Road. His tender was 1s 6d
per yard. The other two were submitted by John Emmanuel, Neath (1s 3d per yard)
and William Thomas, Gallt Cwm, (1s per yard up to 200 yards, and 1s 3d above
that). The tender of the latter was accepted. The question of masonry for the adjacent
Llantwit high wall was postponed until the next meeting.
December:
Referring to Resolven Mixed School (pupils of 7-11 years
old), the Government Inspector, in his yearly report of 10 December, stated:
“There is a marked improvement in some of the mechanical work, the Writing
being much better. The slate work of the first and second standards is very
satisfactory, and the Spelling generally is good. Grammar is not very strong,
and would not deserve the higher award without the Repetition. As for the
Infants School (pupils of 3-7 years old) he concluded: “Some very good work was
exhibited in elementary subjects, and evidently the Mistress has taken great
pains with the instruction. The Object Lessons might have been further
developed and the singing by ear demands more cultivation.”
1889
January:
According to a current report on the commercial activities
at Swansea Docks, the south Wales steam coal trade was continuing to flourish,
and high prices for its coal were still the rule, with 19,981 tons having been
shipped out during the previous week. “The fact that the Cardiff and Swansea
Coal Company has at length struck the 4 ft. and 6 ft. seams of coal at their
Resolven collieries, is of great importance to Swansea, and in the near future
should become a valuable adjunct to her coal supply.”
On 28 January, a Mr. Davies from Abercwmboi gave a lecture
at Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven, entitled “Ryfeddodau y Dwfr”, (“The Marvels of
Water”). The proceeds from the event were donated to Thomas Howell, a Resolven
collier, who had received serious injuries in a colliery accident and had been
unable to work for over a year.
February:
Annie Morgan, Resolven, a pupil at the South Wales School
for Girls, Summerfield Hall, Maesycymmer, passed in five subjects the examinations
set by the College of Preceptors.
A local newspaper correspondent wrote that, although the
winter in Resolven had not been particularly cold or severe, with no snow or
ice and just a little rain in January, there had been many sudden deaths in the
village, or deaths following a very short illness. “Gadawa hyny ei wersi, os gwna y byw eu gosod
at eu calon.”
Creditors and others who wished to make a claim on the
estate of John Lewis, a former coal-weigher at the Lower Resolven Colliery,
were asked to send in details to Frank James, Solicitors, Merthyr Tydfil, by 28
March.
The result of the election to fill the vacancy on the Glamorganshire County Council for a member to
represent the Resolven Division, (created by the appointment of E. Plummer, the
current member, as an Alderman), was as follows: J. Edwards Vaughan
(Independent) 630 votes and S. T. Evans (Liberal) 556 votes. “The large crowd
who awaited the result in great excitement outside the office in Wind Street
cheered vociferously at the announcement. Mr. Vaughan, on appearing at the
window to return thanks, received quite an ovation. In a few appropriate words,
he promised to do what he had pledged himself to: his duty to them all.”
March:
A fatal accident occurred on Saturday, 16 March at the
Resolven Collieries, when a collier by the name of David Griffiths was killed,
and another, John S. Jones, slightly injured. “It appears that the shift which
left work at ten o’clock had ascended the pit in safety, and all had reached
the bank except the two men, Griffiths and Jones. The bowk (lift cage) on which
they were ascending oscillated and came in contact with the byets, or framing,
in the pit. It collided with such force that a large piece of timber snapped in
two, knocking the deceased man into the ‘bowk’, and, on coming to the pit’s
mouth, it was found that he was dead.” He was forty-eight years old and left a
widow and eight children. “Da genym fod pedwar o’r cyfryw yn dyfod I wneud
drostynt eu hunain, a bod tipyn o help I ddod allan o drysorfa damweiniau I
gynorwthwyo i fagu y rhai eraill.”
George Smith, a tin-plate manufacturer of Resolven, was
elected a member of the South Wales Institute of Engineers.
May:
At a meeting of local Liberals held at Neath, S. T. Evans, a
solicitor, who was recently defeated in the Resolven Division at the County
Council elections, was thanked for “(…) the
gallant stand he had made on behalf of Liberal principles.” Liberals
would profit from the lessons learned from the contest, including the need for
a thorough re-organisation. “A parliamentary election was not far off and it
behoved Liberals to be up and doing.”
June:
The minister of Jerusalem Chapel, Rev. D. Morgan, had
published his second booklet “Y Cyfeirydd Crefyddol”, and this was now on sale
in the chapel. There was considerable controversy among members about selling
such items within the chapel building, but the general consensus was that the
chapel did not profit greatly from this activity and that people were able to
have access to devotional literature which they would be unable to obtain in
any other way. The booklet was described as being “(…) full of pearls of wisdom
and more readable than a novel (…) ac yn hollol yn yr oll ‘gytuno ag iachus
eiriau ein Harglwydd Iesu Grist, ac a’r athrawiaeth sydd yn ol duwioldeb’”.
The choir and Sunday School of St. David’s Church held their
annual outing on Whit-Monday on a field adjacent to Glyncastle House, which had
been kindly lent for the occasion by J. L. Thomas, of Brynawel. They were
joined by children from Rheola Church and the number in total of those present
was around 150. “The Rev. David Griffiths, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Duncan,
Mr. Wilcox, Mr. Jones, Mr. Rhys Herbert, Mr. Owen and others, were
indefatigable in their exertions to amuse the children in various sports on the
field, and money prizes were distributed. (…) The tea tables were presided over
by Miss Griffiths, Miss Palmer, Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Jones, Miss Jones, Miss Stroud
and other willing assistants.”
A shareholder in the Cardiff and Swansea Colliery Company
queried why the value of the shares in the Company had decreased to such an
extent. “As the two splendid pits at Resolven were down at Christmas, the roof
found sound, and no disturbance in the coal, the output -which I now believe is
100 tons per day- ought, in four or five months, to reach 500 to 600 tons per
day. Why, then, the drop in the shares? I was told the Resolven coal was
neither steam nor anthracite and, in fact, unsaleable, but having made careful
inquiry, I found on good authority that the coal exactly suits the London
market, and that there would be no difficulty to dispose of the entire output
for twelve months in advance to responsible firms at 8s to 8s 6d per ton at the
pit’s mouth. If anyone doubts the correctness of this statement, let them
inquire in the London market. This looks like an assured success at Resolven,
in fact a large profit this very year. Why, then, the drop in the shares?”
July:
The following advertisement was placed: “Found, two Sheep
and one Lamb; unless claimed in seven days will be sold. Apply to Mr. Williams,
Ffaldydre, Resolven.”
Tenders were invited for “(…) Painting, Colouring and
Cementing the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Resolven.” Specifications for the
work to be carried out could be viewed at the home of the Rev. Moses Thomas,
and tenders were required to be sent to in by 5 August 1889. Members of the
chapel committee did not bind themselves to accept the lowest, or any, tender.
August:
Two Resolven pupils of the South Wales School for Girls,
Summerfield Hall, Maesycymmer, were successful in the recent examinations set
by the Kensington Local Board: Annie Morgan, passed with honours in terra-cotta
painting (second class certificate); and Annie Thomas, passed with honours in
needle-work.
The funeral of William Sims, a Resolven solicitor, formerly
of the Vaughan Arms, took place at St David’s Church. “The procession was a
lengthy one, all sections of the community being represented. The deceased was
only 33 years of age, and was the only surviving son of Mrs. Margaret Sims,
widow of the late Samuel Sims, who has now had the misfortune to lose seven out
of eight children.”
The following advertisement appeared in the press: “Found on
Clyne Farm, a Radnor Ewe. Unless claimed in five days will be sold for
expenses. Apply, with description, to David Llewellyn, Clyne Farm, Resolven.”
September:
At the annual Neath Fair, Temple Stroud of Resolven was
unwittingly involved in the following event: “There were several of the
light-fingered fraternity present at the fair, but they received a severe
check, when Detective Sergeant Price, having his suspicions aroused, arrested a
man and charged him with being in the fair for the purpose of committing a
felony. Whilst being in the act of being apprehended, the man endeavoured by an
adroit dodge to upset the officer but, although partially successful, Sergeant
Price was equal to the occasion, and marched him off in triumph. Whilst the
struggle took place, Mr. Temple Stroud of Resolven observed the man throwing
away a purse containing 15s 4d and a railway ticket, which were subsequently
claimed by a woman from Crynant. On Friday, the prisoner was brought before the
borough magistrates and remanded until Monday. “
An inquest was held at the Police Station, Resolven, on
Saturday 16 September by Edward Plummer, the Deputy County Coroner, relating to
the death of three- year old David John Davies, whose parents lived at Clydach
House, Resolven. It was stated in evidence that (…) the deceased child was
sleeping on a chair near the fire-place. In front of the fire was a fender with
a sharp top-bar. The child, while sleeping, fell on the fender and received a
severe cut which caused profuse bleeding.” This accident occurred on Sunday 8
September and the child died on Friday 15 September. The doctor in attendance,
Dr. J. J. Jones, was severely criticised by the Deputy Coroner for writing a
premature death certificate.
October:
On Sunday and Monday, 6 and 7 October, members of Jerusalem
Chapel held their annual meetings. The guest preachers were Revs. J. Towyn
Jones, of Cwmaman, and J. Thomas and P. W. Hough, of Merthyr. In his account of
the meetings, Rev. D. G. Morgan, minister of Jerusalem, wrote that
circumstances in the village, which for some years had hundreds of empty
houses, were now beginning to improve considerably, and that the burden of debt
weighing down on the chapel did not seem quite as heavy as previously.
David Colwyn Davies, late Senior Student of Haverfordwest
College, accepted the invitation made to him this month to become pastor of
Resolven Welsh Baptist Chapel. He was the third minister of the chapel and his
ministry there would continue until 1934. “Ei bregeth bob amser yn ffres fel yr
awel, gloywder i’w feddwl, a than santaidd yn ei galon.” The membership of the
chapel when he took over stood at 56, but it soon grew. Davies set up a ‘Band of Hope’ society,
supported in this endeavour by several of the young female members of the
chapel: Lizzie Davies, Neath Road, Dil Davies, Commercial Road, Catherine
Davies, Catherine Mary Morgan and, later,
Bess Morgan. He also formed in 1895 a Bible Study Class and, under his
direction, Sunday Schools were established at Melincwrt and Ynysarwed, the
latter being faithfully served by John B. Davies and Richard Francis. Melincwrt
Welsh Baptist Sunday School was founded in 1898 and supervised by two members
of its parent chapel: John C. Davies and William S. Thomas, followed later by
William D. Davies and William James Maddocks, and later still by Mrs. Carpenter
and Miss Ada Rees. It was during his time as minister that a vestry adjoining
the chapel in Railway Terrace was built in 1902.
Mrs. John Davies of Gored Cottage, Resolven, wrote the
following testimonial to the efficacy of Tudor Williams’s “Balsam of Honey”:
“My child, nine months old, was suddenly attacked by Bronchitis. Although away
from home at my mother’s house at Brecon, I sent to the nearest chemist for a
bottle of your Tudor Williams’s ‘Balsam of Honey’, as I usually do, and a few
minutes after giving it to my little darling, it eased the cough and tightness
of the chest, and in a few days was restored to usual health. I must say that
on several occasions it has saved my children’s lives.”
David Evans, New Inn Cottages, Resolven, advertised for a
partner or partners, with a little bit of money, in his coal business. “Yn
Eisiau. Partner neu Bartners, (ac ychydig arian), mewn gwaith glo.”
November:
Richard Richards, of Resolven, was charged with letting off
fireworks at Resolven, and was fined five shillings and costs.
The new pits at Resolven, which had struck coal at the
beginning of the year, were now producing coal regularly and, week by week,
increasing in quantity. ”Under these circumstances, and with coals at present
prices, it cannot take very long to pay off the cost of sinking these pits and,
as the Cardiff and Swansea Colliery Company has no other liabilities, the
prospect of a dividend comes within measurable distance and success is
apparently assured. The shareholders have every reason to be satisfied with the
prospects. (…) 4000 acres of coal at Resolven should produce a very
satisfactory result.”
W. Walters, a collier from Resolven, was fined five
shillings and costs, or seven days in prison, for drunkenness, and David John
Davies was fined fifteen shillings and costs, or fourteen days in prison, for
“(...) being drunk and ill-using his mother, at Jenkin’s Row, Resolven on 16
November.”
December:
In his report of 21 December on Resolven Infants’ School,
the Government Inspector wrote: “The singing by ear is unmusical and the tunes
are not correctly taught. An improvement must be shown next year to secure a
recommendation for the subject. The Elementary work is very satisfactory,
although the writing is a little large and the reading lacking a little in
modulation and expression, but its fluency is everything that could be desired.
Object lessons, except in the second class, are very well conducted.”
Bethania Chapel’s annual eisteddfod was held on Boxing
Day. The music adjudicator was John
Watkin of Treforus, and the adjudicator of the other competitions was James
Treharne of Trecynon. The set-piece for the main choral competition, sung by
choirs of no less than 60 voices, was “Round about the Starry Throne”. The
prize for the winners of this event was £8, and £1 for the conductor. The
set-piece for the other choral competition, for choirs between the ages of 15
and 25, was “Myd’d tua thref”, composed by William Rhys Herbert, of Resolven.
The prize for the winners of this event was £1- 5s, and five shillings for the
conductor. There was also an essay competition on the theme “Ddaioni y Reading
Room yn y lle” and there was also a prize awarded for the best epitaph in
memory of Williams Sims, “Beddargraff I’r diweddar William Sims.”
A disgruntled newspaper reader commented: “Chapel debts and
Chapel wrangling. The internal dissensions and weaknesses of Nonconformity are
becoming more in evidence every day. And what is still worse is the absence of
shame in making them publicly known. I have frequently drawn attention to the
subject, but the evil seems to be on the increase.” He cited two cases: one of
a Resolven minister, pleading to the public at large throughout Wales and
beyond, for money to pay off the debt incurred by his chapel, and the other of
a minister in North Wales who actually excommunicated from the church two
deacons and an old man of eighty. “The (newspapers) “Tyst” and the “Celt” are
not ashamed to wash the dirty linen of their denominations in the streets!”
posted by eclecs | 2:22 pm
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