Timeline 1900 - 05

 

1900

January:

On a Thursday evening early this month, Rev. S. O. Beckingham, minister of Sardis English Baptist Chapel, Resolven, attended a lecture in Swansea given by Rev. D. Oliver Edwards which was entitled ‘Proverbs for the People’.

The Rev. D. Towy Rees, minister of Seion Chapel, Resolven, along with T. Davies, Resolven, attended the West Glamorgan monthly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists held at Tabernacl Chapel, Cwmafan.

The following five candidates, with the respective votes they received, were elected members of Resolven School Board: David Williams, former colliery cashier, (446); John Edwards Vaughan, gentleman, (394); William Waplington, colliery manager, (380); R. D. Pritchard, physician and surgeon, (276); David Johns, colliery checkweigher, (217).

February:

David Evans, Resolven, was appointed organist and choirmaster of the Jewin Welsh Presbyterian Chapel, London, in place of Bryceson Treharne, who had left to join the staff of the Adelaide Conservatoire of Music in Australia. (Jewin Chapel, situated in Clerkenwell, was so- named because the congregation had moved here in 1879 from nearby Jewin Crescent, a site now incorporated into the Barbican.)  David Jenkins, writing in Y Cerddor, was full of praise for what Evans had already achieved, mentioning that he had obtained his degree in music at the early age of twenty-one, an achievement even more impressive considering that he had still been working as a collier when he was nineteen. He had obtained a scholarship to study at the Tonic Sol-fa College and had won a prize for his Harmony Ear Exercises; after this, he had studied in Cardiff for two years before moving to London. He was now twenty-six years of age and had already composed two cantatas, some anthems and part-songs, and his latest work included a Romance for violin, a string quartet, and a version of the Hundredth Psalm for soloists and chorus. He was said to possess an exceptional ear for music, ‘clust tuhwnt i’r cyffredin’.

An interesting letter was published by Private George H. Salmon of the 1^st Scots Guards in which he describes his experiences in 1899 at the Battle of Belmont in South Africa, including details surrounding the death of Dai S. John, of Resolven. “When we arrived at Cape Town we were at once ordered to join Lord Methuen at the Orange River. It took us three days and two nights to reach our destination. We left to attack the Boers at Belmont, ten miles distant. We got within 100 yards of the Boer position before they discovered us. We then had orders to fix bayonets and charge them. This we did with a ringing British cheer. Our battalion was in front. But the sight was something horrible, and I can never tell how I felt when the bullets were whistling all around and my comrades were falling, some killed, others wounded. Dai St John, the Resolven pugilist, who was in the Grenadier Guards, was shot stone-dead after he had run his bayonet right through a Boer.”

March:

The half-yearly amount required from Resolven rate-payers towards the cost of social services provided by the Neath Board of Guardians was £422. There had been an under-estimate for the previous half-year as an increase in spending had been needed for vaccination fees, for the extension to the Cottage Homes, and for the fees involved in the assessment of the poor.

April:

A sad accident occurred at the railway signal-box in Clyne, resulting in the instantaneous death of a tin-plate worker named Philip Maddocks, aged eighteen. The circumstances were as follows: two brothers, Daniel and William Davies, living in Clyne, had purchased “(…) a cheap double-barrelled breach-loader sporting gun and they went out on a Saturday afternoon with a view of getting a shot at stray pigeons. They met Maddocks who went with them as far as the signal-box with the purpose of getting a few matches. They were supplied with a light by William Andrews, the signal-man, and, when about to leave the box, the left barrel of the gun discharged, the shots penetrating Maddocks’s left side near the heart and he fell dead at the feet of his companions. How the gun went off is not exactly known.”

Resolven rugby team brought their season to a close “(…) in brilliant style by so handsomely defeating Crynant. The team has done very well considering their first season. Among the defeated are Glynneath, St. Catherine’s, Melin Juniors, Crynant (twice), while good games have been played with Neath Excelsiors and a few more good teams. Next season, they intend competing for the Shield given by the Neath club, and should give a good account of themselves.”

The winning numbers for the Resolven Prize Draw were published. The prizes would be distributed before 14 April.

All of the houses in Woodbine Cottages, Melincwrt, belonging to the late Thomas Williams, were to be offered for sale by auction at the Castle Hotel, Neath, on 25 April.

The quarterly meeting of the Neath and Dulais Valleys’ Temperance Union was held at Resolven. A prize was awarded for the best essay on the subject of ‘Temperance and the Home Circle’, and the members at the meeting “(…) expressed their satisfaction with the second reading of the Sunday Closing Bill for Monmouthshire, and its prohibition of the sale of intoxicating drinks to children under 16 years of age.” 

May:

Lee Davies, a surveyor and mining engineer of Clun Gwilym Farm, Resolven, tragically lost his life at the Eaglesbush colliery “(…) when a passing coal tram (the last of three trams returning to the deep) ran off the rail and, striking side- timbers, brought them and a large portion of the roof down. Mr. Davies was killed instantaneously, and those near him, a group of seven in all, had very narrow escapes.” He was 29 years old.

Tenders were invited for “(…) the Construction of Roads, Lanes and Sewers etc; and the Erection of 50 Houses at Resolven for Messrs Cory Brothers and Company Limited.” Plans and specifications could be seen, and Bills of Quantities of the roads obtained, from the office of W. D. Wright at the Gelli Collieries, Pentre, before 28 May.

June:

A cricket match played at Longford between Neath Junior Clerks and Resolven Juniors resulted in the former scoring 48 runs and Resolven Juniors 17.

John Evans, a colliery haulier of Cory Street, Resolven, was “(…) run over by a journey of trams at the Resolven colliery on 22 June, and received such injuries that he died before he could be conveyed to his home.” He left a widow and children.

July:

At Briton Ferry, a cricket match played between Briton Ferry Steelworkers and Resolven resulted in a win for Resolven by 10 runs: Resolven 46 runs and Briton Ferry Steelworkers 36.

William Walters, aged 43, who lived with his parents at Resolven, was “(…) haymaking for Mr. W. Rees on the marshes at Cadoxton, near Neath, when he was observed to suddenly fall on his back. Assistance was promptly given, but the unfortunate man died within half an hour.” The cause of death was considered to be sun-stroke.

The 8.55 a.m. Pontypool Road passenger train, timed to arrive at Swansea at 11.30 a.m. (…) ran into some cattle when travelling at high speed at a point between Glynneath and Resolven. This took place on a sharp curve. The train was heavily laden, and one of the coaches was thrown off the rails. The engine and four of the coaches had passed over the body of a cow, and it was the fifth that was derailed.”  The passengers were all unhurt.  

 

Thomas Whitlock, of Resolven, accused H. F. Jones, a collier, also of Resolven, of punching him on the nose and causing it to bleed, because he had refused to carry a load of coal for him. Jones was fined five shillings and costs.

Tenders were invited for the “(…) Pulling-Down and the Re-Building of the New Inn, Resolven, for E. Evans-Bevan Esq; Neath.” Tenders were to be sent, no later than 18 August 1900, to J. Cook Rees, Architect, St. Thomas’ Chambers, Neath.

August:

Mr. Willis, a Resolven contractor, advertised for “Quarrymen. Wanted at Once, 6 good Men.”

Resolven cricket team played at home against Rheola on a perfect wicket. “Rheola batted first and lost five of their best wickets for no runs. I. Croft, for Rheola, stopped the rot and scored 18 out of the total 23. Resolven went in and passed their opponents’ score with only one wicket down and won easily with 88 runs”. The Resolven team, with their scores, comprised: T. W. Herbert, 7; J. G. Jones, 9; D. Rees, 7; D.J. Jones, 1; W. J. Williams, 17; J. Stephens, (captain), 7; W. Stephens, 0; R. Williams, 2;  J. Herbert (not out), 19; W. Rees, 0; W. M. Thomas, 14; extras 5. Total 88.

S. Evans, of Resolven, won a prize for his results in a mathematics and science examination held at Llandovery College where he was a pupil.

At a meeting of Neath Rural District Council, it was decided to amalgamate the committee which had been set up to consider the question of drainage at Resolven with a similar committee set up for Glynneath.

On a Saturday this month, Resolven cricket team went to play Aberpergwm and “(…) a spicy report was received of the afternoon’s proceedings, evidently written by a Resolven man. It seemed that Aberpergwm batted first, and were dismissed for 25, Ford being the only man who could do anything with the bowling. Resolven then started batting, and it is stated that Aberpergwm and their umpire commenced making extraordinary measures to prevent the visitors exceeding the home total of 25 runs. Matters reached a climax when the umpire ruled that D. Jones was rightly stumped. The usual scene followed and Resolven declined to play on. This was the second occasion this had happened, and there was a general consensus that a League be formed and neutral umpires obtained.”

J. T. Williams of Resolven was elected as secretary of the Young People’s Union at their meeting held at Llandrindod, and at which it was decided to prepare a small Handbook of Nonconformity for Young People.

Staff of Cory Brothers Company Limited, writing from the Collieries Department in Cardiff, placed the following advertisement: “Wanted, a Junior Clerk, able to write shorthand, for Resolven Colliery, near Neath; salary £50 per year.” 

Over 400 men at Glyncastle colliery went on strike on 1 August because a few members of The Enginemen, Stokers, and Surface Craftsmen Association, who were not members of the Miners’ Federation, had been given employment there. After referring the matter to the Executive Committee, it was decided to call off the strike and to resume work on 7 September.

September:

The whole of the live-stock of Heol-Hir Farm, Resolven, was advertised for sale by auction on 27 September. The live-stock comprised: “ Sheep: 250 Breeding ewes; 63 cross-bred fat lambs; 140 wether lambs; 44 ewe lambs; 4 rams. Cattle: 5 cows in calf; 5 cows and calves; 3 heifers in calf; 3 steers. Horses: Bay mare, 6 years old, 14 hands high, broken to all harness, suitable for Grocers; mountain pony 5 years old, with colt at foot.” The auctioneer “(…) begs to draw special attention of Butchers, Dealers, Farmers, and others to the above sale; very seldom has he the opportunity of offering stock of such high-class quality.”

October:

M. E. Rees, of Resolven, a student at Neath County School, won a junior certificate in the recent Central Welsh Board examinations.

Members of a committee appointed by the Neath Rural District Council reported back on their visit to Exeter where they had inspected the Septic Tank System of dealing with sewage. They unanimously recommended a similar system be adopted for Resolven and Glynneath.

Resolven was the scene of the home-coming from South Africa of Captain J. Edwards Vaughan of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. “The village was profusely decorated, nearly all the houses displaying the national colours, and a series of triumphal arches had been erected on the road, one and a half mile in length, from Resolven to Rheola. All the collieries in the district stopped work, and the population of the entire valley gathered at the railway station, awaiting the arrival of the train bringing the popular hero home.” A dais had been erected on Resolven Square where short addresses were delivered by the vicar of Aberpergwm; Captain Stroud; Dr. Pritchard; John Rees, (the oldest tenant on the Rheola estate); W. D. Wright, ( general manager of Cory Brothers’ Collieries); and John Jones, ( colliery checkweigher). Resolven Male Voice Choir, conducted by W. T. Davies, sang ‘The Soldiers’ Chorus’. “After this, a procession was formed, headed by the Neath Borough Band and with all the local schoolchildren waving flags. The carriage, in which were seated Captain and Mrs. Vaughan and their two little girls, was drawn by enthusiastic admirers. On arriving at the gates of Rheola House, torches were lit and the band struck up ‘Home, Sweet Home’.”

November:

The employees of Glyncastle colliery, Resolven, made a contribution of £4- 4s to the funds of the Swansea General and Eye Hospital.

At the monthly meeting of the Resolven School Board, the agenda included, firstly, an appreciation of thanks to Captain Vaughan-Edwards for “(…) his courage and personal sacrifice in volunteering for the front to fight for his Queen and country”; secondly, a resolution to increase the salary of Lily Norton, an ex-pupil teacher, by £2-10s bringing it up to £47 per year; thirdly, a notification of an additional grant of £124-18s-10d which had been received by the Board and, fourthly, the opinion of the Board  that “(…) the time has come to improve the education of the children of Cwmgwrach which is in the parish of Resolven.”

December:

Five people from St. David’s Church, Resolven were among the seventy-two candidates who were confirmed by the Bishop of Llandaff at St. David’s Church, Neath.

At Neath County Police Court the case of alleged persistent cruelty was brought by Mrs. Challenger of Resolven against her husband Isaac Challenger. “Mrs Challenger said she was the mother of eighteen children. The defendant had been very unkind to her. He had not, however, struck her for many years”. Police Sergeant Martin, however, maintained that the defendant was of good character and a hard-working man. The bench of magistrates adjourned the case for a fortnight, and advised the wife to ‘make it up’ with her husband.

 

1901

January:

In a rugby match played between Resolven and Skewen, it was reported that “(…) in the first half, honours were fairly even, neither side scoring. In the second half, Skewen scored a try. This put the Resolvenites on their mettle and they played up with such vigour that they scored in quick succession one converted goal, one penalty goal and two tries. Skewen did not add to their score. The great feature of the game was the sterling play of David Davies, a deaf and dumb young man, who scored the three tries for Resolven. He crossed the line four times, one try being disallowed. Resolven, 14 points; Skewen, 3 points.”

February:

Queen Victoria died on 22 January, her funeral taking place on Saturday, 2 February. All shops and businesses in Resolven on that day were closed as a mark of respect.

At the Neath County Police Court, J. T. Lawrence, a farmer of Resolven, was fined one shilling and costs for allowing his pig to stray on the main road through the village.

W. R. Mathews, of Resolven, a recruit in the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry Cavalry, was one of a batch of men who, on arriving at Tenby railway station, were “(…) run out to Penally, tested in riding and shooting and, after undergoing the other tests necessary, were six hours later on their way to Aldershot.”

March:

Tenders had been invited for building a police station at Resolven. The tender received from J. Goodrich and Sons, Swansea, was chosen.

D. Lewis, Resolven, passed, with a second class result, the examination for admission into training colleges for teachers. Some 9,887 candidates had passed the examination and 935 candidates failed.

The 1901 Census took place on Sunday 31 March. Unfortunately, the enumerator failed to record many of the house numbers and these gaps have been marked in the following summary with an asterisk (*). The summary again primarily highlights those inhabitants employed in the manufacturing and service sectors, and/or those born outside of Wales.

 

New Inn Row (ten houses and one public house): No.3: George Palmer, 31, a coal hewer born in Bridgewater, Somerset. No.4: David Lewis, 21, a school teacher. No.7: David Evans, 66, a market gardener. New Inn Hotel: Jane Thomas, 53, a licensed victualler. Rose Cottages: No.2: Mark Evans, 60, a sawyer.

 

John Street (twenty houses): No.7: John Funning, 56, a colliery labourer; his wife Lucie, 50; their sons, Theodore, 28, and Emile, 18, both colliery labourers; their daughter Elizabeth 14; their grandson Gabriel, aged 4. All were born in France as were their two boarders Julien Maillet, 45, and Fernand Luche, 25, also colliery labourers. No. 20: William Cowley, 25, a colliery fireman born in Redbrook, Gloucestershire.

 

Company Street (forty- six houses): No. 1: Caroline Evans, 31, born in Bridgewater, Somerset. No.10: John Pope, 38, a collier, and his wife Emma, 38, both born in Devon. Also, Ann Nott, a widow, 76, born in Devon; Amos Rudge, 32, a boarder and colliery ostler, born in Kington, Hereford. No.11: William Hodgson, 37, a boarder and plumber born in Dodworth, Yorkshire. No.14: James Harris, 26, a plasterer born in Frome, Somerset and two boarders: John Bear, 75, a plasterer, born In Exmouth, Devon, and William Bennett, 19, a colliery labourer born in Somerset. No. 22: Thomas Morgan, 32, a coal hewer born in Hereford and Michael Corney, a boarder and colliery labourer born in Ireland. No. 27: John Edwards, 28, a boarder and colliery labourer born in Birmingham. No. 32: Ada Ryndon, 34, born in Ilfracombe, Devon. No. 36: Robert Cowley, 34, a colliery hewer born in Redbrook, Gloucestershire; also born in Redbrook were Robert’s sister, Mary, a letter carrier to the brickworks, and his father, Robert, 62; their boarder, Thomas Hornsby, 56, a colliery stoker, was born in Bridgewater, Somerset. No. 37: John Evans, 18, a boarder and coal- hewer born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. No. 39: W. H. Chard, 19, a boarder and blacksmith’s striker born in Westbury, Wiltshire. No. 40: Patsey Burke, 57, a boarder and builder’s labourer born in Ireland. No.43: Alfred Keeling, 43, a colliery carpenter born in Stockport, Cheshire; his wife Alice, 28, born in Somerset and their son William, 26, a coal- hewer born in Birkenhead.

 

Yeo Street (forty- two houses): No. 3: Two boarders: John Cowling, 40, a colliery ostler born in King Arthur’s Castle, Cornwall and Michael White, 35, a collier born in Kilkenny, Ireland. No.5: Emily Davies, 31, born in Warminster, Wiltshire. No.7: William Gilbert, 25, a collier also born in Warminster.No.8: William Hanman, 30, a boarder employed as a baker, born in Gloucester. No.12: Mary Ann Hughes, 45, born in Stroud, Gloucestershire; a lodger, William White, 23, born in Durham. No.14: George Milner, 46, a collier born in Derby; his wife Mary, 46, born in Dodworth, Yorkshire; their five daughters and four sons all born in Yorkshire, and their boarder, Fred Manley, 20, a collier, born in London. No.16: Charles Vaughan, 49, a brick cutter, and Joseph Good, 20, a boarder employed as a collier, born in London. No.19: Alfred Pesler, 43, a collier; his wife Selina, 38, born in Somerset; their son John, 16, a collier born in Pennsylvania U.S.A. No.22: Samuel Williams, 50, a collier born in Barnstaple, Devon. No 23: George Cooke, 30, a collier born in Cannock, Staffordshire; two boarders: Thomas Evans, 22, born in Lydney, Gloucestershire and Thomas Powell, 40, born in Newnham, Gloucestershire. No.24: Mary Ann Jones, 27, born in Edinburgh. No. 25: John Harris, 46, a collier born in Hereford. No.26: Richard Williams, 25, a colliery blacksmith, his wife, daughters, two sons, mother, sister and brother- in- law all born in Cornwall. No.33: William Lane, 23, his wife Lizzie, 23, both born in Hereford. No.34: Harry Pettel, 33, a collier born in Surrey; his wife Dora, 32, born in Kent; two of their sons and one daughter were born in Kent, and another son was born in Somerset. No.40: Thomas Scrase, 25, a collier born in Bristol. No.42: John Williams, 51, a greengrocer born in Somerset.

 

Cory Street (thirty eight houses): No.2: Francis Beaman, 39, a colliery cashier born in Rock, Worcestershire. No.4: Trevor Davies, 22, a hairdresser. No.5:  James Pick, 51, a tinplate worker born in Bream, Gloucestershire; his wife Louise, 45, born in Staffordshire, their daughter Rosanna, 15, born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire and their boarder David Sheppard, 22, a stone quarry worker born in West Australia. No.11: Edward Bowen, 42, a hairdresser. No.16: occupied by thirteen people including William Matthias, 45, a collier; his wife Edith, 35; their four sons, two daughters all born in Cornwall. No.19: Sarah Kevern, 27, born in Cornwall, as was Samuel Seymour, a boarder employed as a blacksmith’s assistant. No. 21: William Hopkins, 24, a coal-mine deputy; his wife Jane, 26, and Elizabeth Morris, 23, born in Darton, Yorkshire. No 22: John Saunders, 56, a collier born in Kilburn, Derbyshire, his wife Emma, born in  Yorkshire; James Beazer, 25, a boarder employed as a  collier, born in Antigua, West Indies and two other boarders born in Portugal. No. 26: George Morris, 32, a colliery storekeeper, his wife Ellen, 33, and three boarders all born in Herefordshire. No. 28: Joseph Billen, 52, a collier, his wife Pamela, 27, their son and daughter all born  in Somerset; one of their boarders, James Alex Williams, 21, a collier, was born in Barbados, West Indies; the other, Godfrey Joshua Roderick, a brickwork labourer, was born in Texas USA. No. 30: Emily Kate Evans, 20, born in Gloucester. No. 34: Amelia Weaver, 38; two of her sons and three daughters were born in Thornbury, Gloucester, and two other sons were born in Yeovil, Somerset. No. 38: Reginald Watts, 20, a collier, born in Piccadilly, London.

 

Railway Terrace (twenty- three houses): No.4: Ann Williams, widow, 61, a sweet- shop keeper. No7: Jennet Evans, 23, a dressmaker; Annie Evans, 18, a pupil teacher and Willie Evans, 14, a clerk at the colliery office. No.9: Catherine Rosser, 30, a schoolteacher and Edwin Roberts, 37, a schoolmaster. No.10: William Crowder, 37, a colliery mechanic, born in Macclesfield, Cheshire as were two of his daughters, his son, sister-in-law and niece. His wife Annie, 39, was born in St. Helen’s, Lancashire and his brother Frederick, 30, was born in Longton in Staffordshire. No.12: Mary Davies, 20, a dressmaker born in Barnsley Yorkshire. No.13: Michael Martin, 40, a police sergeant born in Ireland; his wife Elizabeth, 37, was a hospital nurse and their boarder, Robert Jones, 27, a police constable. No.14: Marian Thomas, 39, born in Taunton, Somerset. No.17: William Stockden, 25, a stonemason, born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire. No.19: John Morgan, 81, a retired gamekeeper. No.21: Arthur Dyer, 28, a former railway platelayer, born in Moreton-in-the-marsh, Gloucestershire, his wife Sarah-Jane, 26, born in Leominster, Herefordshire. No.22: Simon Uren, 31, a collier born in St Austell’s Cornwall. No.23: Daisy Polly Cole, 11, born in Bristol.

 

Commercial Road (twenty-six houses; called Neath Road in earlier censuses): No.2: James Herbert, 60, and his two sons, William, 27, and Thomas, 21, all employed as masons. Also a boarder, Charles Pyrer, 20, a railway signalman, born in St. George’s, London. No.3: (Aberclydach Farmhouse), Mary Evans, 62, a dairy keeper. No.6: Bronwen Davies, 16, a pupil school teacher. No.9: Elizabeth Jones, 54, a dressmaker; her niece, Catherine Pike born in the U.S.A; also two boarders, Edward Overed and Fred Broome, a labourer born in Taunton, Somerset. No.10: William Herbert, 55, a grocer, his daughter Mary, 24, a grocery shop- assistant. No. 12: Charles Palmer,70, a railway platelayer born in Taunton, Somerset, his wife Jane,70, born in Ottery, Somerset, and their son-in-law Albert, 30, a labourer born in Worcester. No.14: Henry Heal, 64, a coal hewer and his wife Ann, 61, both born in Bridgewater, Somerset. No.15: Rhys Towy Rhys, 40, minister of Seion Chapel. No.16: George Wilcox, 58, a builder’s contractor born in Bridgewater, Somerset. No17: Griffith Thomas, 28, a butcher. No. 18: William Thomas, 54, a grocer. No.22: Samuel Thomas, 76, and his son William, 32, bootmakers working at home. No.23 (Waterloo House): Edward John Jones, 32, a grocer and draper. No.26 (Bridgewater House): S. C. Parsons,49, a greengrocer born in Bridgewater, Somerset .On the day of the census there was a van located on one side of Commercial Road which accommodated William Boswell,71, a travelling showman, his wife Eleanor, 59, and their family of ten children, four of whom were ‘assisting with shows’.

 

Vaughan Arms: Abraham George, 53, a licensed victualler, two barmaids and two housemaids.

Manchester House: John Davies, 36, a grocer and his sister Mary, 30, a draper. Bristol House: Thomas Davies, 51, a boot repairer. Post Office: John Davies, 32, a collier; his wife, Maria, 32, a sub- postmistress, and their two sons, two daughters and one servant. Ton House: Robert D. Pritchard, widower, 42, a physician and surgeon; his son Wilfred, 5; his housemaid, Elizabeth Edwards, 26, and his groom and coachman, James Turner, 24, born in Ross, Herefordshire. Schoolhouse: John Hutchins, 48, a blacksmith born in Newcastle- upon- Tyne, his three children and mother-in-law.

Gwern Vale: David Butler, 37, a carpenter, his wife and three children. Caron House: William Morris, 58, a butcher and two boarders: Alfred Jones, 45, a medical assistant and James Williams, 22, an assistant school master.

 

Tan-y-rhiw (seven houses):*Amy Davies, 53, a letter carrier.* Two lodgers: William Parker, 38, a shoemaker and John Bowden, 25, a collier born in Devonshire.

 

Clun-y-castell/Glyncastle (two families): William Morgan Jones, 44, a colliery manager, his wife Sarah, 31, his son, two daughters, two sisters, one servant and one nurse. Also, Edward Williams, 60, a colliery under- manager, his wife Margaret, 61, his son Thomas, 26, a collier and Olive Llewellyn, 13, a domestic servant. Llwyn- y- ffynnon: J.Whisker, 29, a blacksmith born in St. Helen’s, Lancashire. (This house above Pentwyn, along with Green Hill House and Brynhyfryd, were formerly known as Pen-y-cwar).Pentwyn farm: John Owen, 48, a colliery mechanic, his wife Elizabeth, 48, and their three sons including Richard, 25, a surveyor. Bryngolwg (two properties) and Brynheulog: all occupied by colliers and their families. Woodland Terrace (five houses): *William Howard, 17, a railway porter, born in Mickleswick, Herefordshire. Pant-y-gelli: John Collier, 41, born in Somerset.

Woodland House:  Temple Stroud, 72, an estate agent.

 

Davies Terrace: * David Williams, 27, a self-employed baker and confectioner.

 

Lyon’s Place: *Isaac Brazer, 50, a platelayer, born in Marshfield, Gloucestershire; his wife Ann, 46, born in Midsommer Norton, Somerset. *Thomas Scott, 58, a general labourer, born in Burton, Yorkshire. *Fred Bailey, 40, a railway platelayer born in Westbury, Wiltshire; his wife, Mary, 39, born in Cornwall.

 

Neath Road (forty- five houses, the numbers of the houses are not recorded by the Census enumerator): *David Herbert, widower, 50, a house builder; his son, James, 24, a stonemason, and his daughter Elizabeth, 18, a dressmaker. * William Jones, 25, an insurance agent.  *Morgan Williams, 28, a student of mine engineering; his sister, Ann, 24, an assistant in a grocery shop and draper’s. *M. Thomas, 42, a collier born in Cornwall.*Rhys Herbert, 53, a quarryman.*Thomas Hopkins, 46, a colliery foreman and his wife who was born in Sheffield.*Samuel Rees, 44, a surface colliery manager and two boarders: Samuel Dunant, 25, a carpenter, and Elizabeth Jenkins, 25, a school teacher.*David Davies, 39, a Baptist minister.*Thomas Evans, 30, a colliery manager.*Ethel May, 19, a grocer’s assistant.*David Jones, 37, a  butcher.

 

Nant-y-gleisiaid (two dwellings): No.1: Charles Windsor, 59, a gardener, and his wife Emilia, 61.

The Vicarage: William Lloyd, 60, a clergyman, his niece Helen, 36, and his housekeeper born in London. Tyllwyd (two properties): *Francis Took, 26, a collier, born in Summerton, Somerset.

Hendre Owen: John Rees, 64, a farmer, his wife Jane, 60, and their three sons and two daughters.

Ty’n-y-cwm: Mary Jones, 38, a widowed farmer; her son William, 19, and her daughter Gwenllian, 18. Heolhir: Evan Jones, 53, a farmer; his wife Hannah, 55, and their three children. Llwyncoedwr: John Davies, 41, a farmer; his wife Mary 38; and their daughter, Annie, 5. Also, Mary Jones, a widow and retired farmer, with her daughter Sarah, 36, a schoolmistress. Ffaldydre: William Williams, 64, a farmer; his wife, Mary, 64, and their two sons and a servant. Pant-y-crybach: Johany Berkis, 29, a collier, and his wife, Catherine, aged 27. Ty’n-y-wern: Thomas Griffiths, 47, a colliery haulier; his wife Elizabeth, 41; their son and two daughters, one of whom, Sophia, 15, was working in the tin works. Waterfall Terrace (six properties, house numbers not recorded by the enumerator): *Edith Davies, 17, working in the tin works.*Mary Broome, 20, working in the tin works, with her father Raymond, 46, born in Wiltshire, and her mother, Elizabeth, 45, born in Devonshire. Melincwrt/Court Mill (seven dwellings): *John Williams, 49, a colliery labourer born in London.

 

According to the census figures for 1901, the population of Resolven now stood at 2,389. This was an increase of 704 on the census figures for 1891.

May:

Tom Bevan, a former signal-man at Resolven railway station, had now returned home after many years spent working in South Africa. He had gone out there in April 1890 to join as a volunteer in the Ambulance Service based at Kimberley and, after gaining the requisite qualifications, was appointed a guard on the ambulance train running from Kimberley to Cape Town. After eleven years of absence, he was warmly welcomed back to his Resolven home: “Derbyniwyd ef gyda breichiau agored gan ei fam weddw a’i gyfeillion lluosog.” 

T. R. Davies, formerly of Resolven, was appointed Mayor of Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.

David Evans, from Resolven, was the conductor of a Cymanfa Ganu held by the Mid-Rhondda Calvinistic Methodists. A correspondent at the event wrote of him: “In the first place he knew what he wanted; secondly, what he wanted was worthy of the cause of music and of worship, and lastly he got out of the choir what he required, so that it goes without saying that the Cymanfa was one of the best of the long series.” Two of Evans’s own compositions were sung at the event: ‘Hyfryd Ganaan’ and the ‘In Memoriam’ anthem.

The following advertisement was placed in the newspapers: “Resolven, near Neath. To Let, Furnished, desirable Detached House, with grounds of 2 acres; 3 sitting-rooms, 6 bedrooms; three-stall stable; tennis and croquet lawns; delightful country. Apply John M. Leader and Son, Estate Agents, 46 Waterloo Street, Swansea.”

At a meeting of the Neath Rural District Council, the question of land required for the proposed Water Storage Works at Resolven was discussed. Captain J. Edwards Vaughan had offered some of his land for this purpose at a cost of £250 per acre. The Council had considered the price too high, and Captain Edwards Vaughan now thought that the best course for the Council would be for it to make him an offer.

The cricket match between Rheola and Resolven “(…) was a very good one, but time would not permit of its being played out. Rheola made a century, H. Williams and D. Morgans being the top scorers with 22 and 18 to their credit. Resolven compiled 48 for the loss of four wickets. J. Jones knocked up a neat 24.”

June:

At the Neath County Police Court, William Lloyd, vicar of Resolven, was charged with selling milk which was adulterated with ten per cent water. According to Police Sergeant Evans, the milk was sold on 8 May by the vicar’s agent, John Thomas Davies, aged 10, to a customer who happened to be Deputy Chief Constable James Thomas. A fine of ten shillings and costs was imposed on the vicar.

David Rees St. John, of Yeo Street, Resolven, (the brother of the late Dai St. John), was one of three additional constables appointed by Neath Town Council’s Watch Committee.

July:

At the Glamorgan Quarter Sessions, John Jones and Mary Ann Jones were jointly charged with stealing at Resolven a silver Geneva watch from Mary Elizabeth Busch. Both pleaded not guilty, but Mr. Redwood Davies, representing the prosecution, succeeded in proving John Jones guilty and he was sentenced to four months in prison with hard labour. Mary Ann Jones, “(…) who cried bitterly all the time, was acquitted and left the Court a free woman, after having been in prison for over two months awaiting her trial.”

At a local government inquiry held in Glynneath, an application for the amalgamation of the hamlets of Neath Higher, Neath Middle and Blaengwrach was made by J. W. Evans representing Neath Higher. It was strongly opposed by Rhys Williams, representing Resolven Parish Council, and also by several Resolven rate-payers, including J. Edwards-Vaughan, of Rheola.

W. B. Willis, a Rhondda contractor, was accused by the Neath Rural District Council of stealing water meant for drinking purposes from its water- pipes at Resolven. Inspector William Thomas said that “(…) not only had the defendant used the water for building purposes, but a plug had been put so that the water might run continuously.” Willis was fined £5 and costs.

 

August:

At the National Eisteddfod held at Merthyr Tydfil, David Evans, from Resolven, now living in London, was the winner of the orchestral suite competition for his compostion: ‘Dum Spiro Spero’.

At a meeting of the Neath Rural District Council, the chairman reported that the Electric Light Order had now been received and that the necessary steps to provide electric lighting for the district would be taken at once. It was also emphasised that plans for the drainage scheme and Storage Water Works for Resolven had not been dropped, and that there were ongoing discussions with landlords over the acquisition of suitable land for the purpose.

David Evans, a collier aged 67, of New Inn Place, Resolven, was working in a hayfield on a Thursday afternoon this month, when he suddenly fell dead. Dr. Pritchard, who was summoned and arrived about ten minutes later, stated that the cause of death was sun-stroke. 

September:

Resolven School Board was one of several which applied to the County Council, under the terms of the Education Act 1901, to provide evening schools and classes. The Board’s application was successful.

Resolven School Board advertised for “(…) an Assistant Master for the Mixed Department of the Resolven Board Schools. Salary, £65 per annum. Knowledge of Drawing and Welsh desirable.”

On Sunday and Monday, 15 and 16 September, Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel, Resolven, held its annual meetings, the twenty-sixth series of meetings held since the chapel was opened in 1875. The guest preachers were the Rev. J. Hughes, Nantymoel, and the Rev. J. Williams, Aberteifi. When the chapel was first opened, its debt stood at £1600 and, with a membership never exceeding eighty combined with fluctuating work conditions in the community, it had been difficult to bring down the amount owed. The current amount still owed was £85 and the aim was now to clear it as soon as possible.

October:

Edward Halden Place, of Resolven, applied for a licence to sell spirits at the Farmers’ Arms. The Licencing Sessions learned that “(…) the house had been licensed before 1869 as a beer-house, and a spirit licence was now applied for. The house was on the main road from Neath, and it was usually known as The Halfway House. It was much used by people who drove in brakes and carriages up the Vale of Neath. There was no other house within two and a half miles on the one side and four miles on the other. It was a growing district, too, and collieries were being opened up there.” There was no opposition, and the licence was granted.

November:

The Neath Union of Guardians advertised for a Relieving Officer and Collector to cover Resolven and other parishes within its second division. “The person appointed must be a Welsh-speaking person, and must not be under 25 nor over 40 years of age. The remuneration as Relieving Officer will be £100 per annum, payable quarterly; and as Collector, a commission of ten per cent on the amounts collected.” (The Relieving Officer was responsible for evaluating those in need of financial assistance because of sickness or poverty, and was authorised to provide emergency relief or to enforce entry to the workhouse. The Collector was employed to collect rates from property owners, based on the valuation of each property, contributing to an early form of social security system.)

The following caustic comment was made in relation to the planned rugby match between Melin Quins and Resolven: “Fancy the home team failing to turn up on their own ground! But this happened on Saturday last, when the Melin Quins failed to turn out on their own ground against Resolven. Such conduct as this deserves the severest censure. They had not even the courtesy to communicate with the Resolven Secretary, whose team were put to the expense of a journey for nothing.”

Dr. Whittington, the local Medical Officer of Health, reported that there had been two fatal cases of diphtheria at Resolven, and that all precautions had been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Within the last month, in the Neath district as a whole, there had been sixty-seven cases of scarlet fever, three of typhoid, twenty-two of diphtheria and three of erysipelas. Medical practitioners were requested to diagnose more carefully cases of supposed diptheria. 

A  Smoking Concert organised by members of Resolven Cricket Club was held at the Farmers’ Arms on the evening of 20 November. “Resolven are in the proud position of being the winners of the medals in both the first and second divisions of the Neath District League. R. J. Martin made the presentations to John G. Jones and William Stephens for the best batting and bowling average respectively in the first eleven, and to John Davies and Tom Davies for similar achievements in the second eleven. Songs were rendered by John Evans, Alf Rostrow, D. Thomas, D. V. Evans, Evan Jones and Wat Williams.”

At the Gnoll rugby ground, Neath Excelsiors played against Resolven. The final score was: Neath Excelsiors two converted goals, and Resolven nil. The previous encounter had resulted in a draw. “Williams started for Resolven; Thomas, the Neath centre, returning to touch near the visitors’ line. It was soon seen that the Resolven pack were the heavier lot. Herbert failing to hold. Carney crossed, Jones converting. Towards the end, Evan Thomas, intercepting from the lineout, beat Herbert, and scored under the posts, Jones converting.”

December:

At a meeting of the Resolven Parish Council there were two main items on the agenda. Firstly, the plans for the Ystradfellte Water Scheme were discussed, and a committee was formed to consider the matter and to report back to the Council. Secondly, a resolution was made in respect of the Resolven sewerage scheme, and “(…) the action of the Neath Rural District Council was strongly criticised in disregarding the resolution of the Parish Council regarding the value of the land required.”

By the end of this year, membership of Seion Chapel, Resolven, had risen to 143, with some 100 children belonging to the church, whilst on Sunday nights, with the congregation swelled by ‘listeners,’ it rose to nearly 400.

 

1902

January:

On 1 January a special meeting of members of Resolven Reading Room took place at which it was agreed to buy a billiard table from E. J. Riley and Company for the sum of 50 guineas, plus £2-10-0 to cover transport and installation costs.  An additional electric light bulb was to be applied for and members were asked to subscribe to the purchase of a clock. The cost of a game of billiards was to be four pence and the game should last no longer than twenty minutes.

The Parish of Resolven contributed one hundred shillings to the Llandaff Diocesan Million Shilling Fund. There had been 30,030 shillings collected up to the end of December 1901, and the Fund was to remain open until 31 March 1902.

March:

A Resolven man, writing anonymously in the newspapers, made the following observation: “Perhaps I may be pardoned for mentioning cricket in these notes, but football is on the wane, for this season at least. What inspires me to write this note is that the Neath Cricket Club, in arranging their fixtures for the coming season, have refused a fixture to Resolven, the League Champions of last season, whilst they have given a fixture to De Winton, who were absolutely last in the league. Treorchy, Mountain Ash, Briton Ferry and Bridgend have all given fixtures to Resolven, but Neath have refused, and still they profess their wish to foster cricket in the neighbourhood.”

An enthusiastic reception was given at Neath railway station to those soldiers from Resolven, and elsewhere in the district, who were returning home from the horrors of the Boer War in South Africa. “The Skewen Drum and Fife band provided the music, while willing hands had brightened with bunting the localities where the men resided.”

Sardis English Baptist Chapel, Resolven, contributed the sum of £13-13s to the Baptist Union Fund. The total collected was £1,031-8s-3d.

J. T. Williams, Resolven, secretary of the Young People’s Christian Union of Wales, attended a meeting of the Union at Llwynypia at which it was decided to hold an examination for members on the Principles and History of Nonconformity.

Rev. R. E. Williams, currently pastor of Moriah, Cilfynydd, accepted the call to be minister of Jerusalem Congregational Chapel, Resolven. A native of Bethesda, North Wales, he had originally served at Swansea before proceeding to Cilfynydd where he served for eleven years. Mr. Williams was widely regarded as “(…) one of the most eloquent preachers in the denomination.” He was formally inducted in his new post at a ‘Cyfarfod Sefydlu’ on 2 March.

April:

Abraham George, of Resolven, advertised the following: “Lost, from the Vaughan Arms, Resolven, a Collie Dog, on April 15; finder rewarded; detainer prosecuted.”

Resolven Parish Council requested “(…) a surveyor of Neath Rural District Council  to move the tap and lamp post on top of John Street to a more convenient position.”

May:

Resolven Cricket Team had already made a good start this season and a correspondent predicted “(…) that there is every possibility of them again being on top of the Neath District League table. Last Saturday they beat the Swansea District League champions (Clydach) by 26 runs, and a bowling feat of Tom Williams is worthy of record. He took six Clydach wickets at a cost of only two runs. Four were clean bowled, and the other caught. Williams is only a youngster, and has a nice, easy delivery, a good length, and medium pace. He should be heard of later.”

A public meeting was held at the Resolven Board School on the evening of 12 May, with David Jones acting as chairman. Captain Edwards-Vaughan stated that he and his wife would like to invite all the school-children in the village to tea at Rheola in order to celebrate the upcoming coronation of King Edward and to present each of them with a commemorative medal. It was also resolved to have a public, village-wide celebration for the Coronation and to invite subscriptions. A committee was formed for this purpose: Captain Edwards-Vaughan was appointed chairman; David Jones, vice-chairman; and Dr. Pritchard, treasurer.

An anonymous Resolven collier, in a newspaper letter dated 14 May, put the following questions to leaders of the South Wales Miners’ Federation: “1. By what authority do they raise a 3d. Parliamentary levy? 2. How is it our district has to pay 1s 6d.per month, notwithstanding our having by a majority decided not to sanction it? 3. Haven’t they got anything to talk about at the Executive Committee except the corn tax? 4. Could not a smaller number do the executive work of the Federation as well as the holiday set who crowd to Cardiff? It is high time, my fellow-workmen, to open our eyes and see how much of our interests and how much of their own our leaders think of.”

June:

Resolven Parish Council sent a petition to the Local Government Board requesting permission to bring the hamlet of Blaengwrach under its jurisdiction. It was, however, decided to defer this petition until the question of the amalgamation of the parishes of Neath Higher and Neath Middle was first resolved.

Celebrations were held at Resolven on 26 June to mark the coronation of King Edward V11: “(…) a procession was formed at 1.30 p.m. and paraded the principal streets of the village. A public tea was provided at the Board School where about 1,500 partook. Sports were held at the Ton Field and were well-patronised. The fireworks and bonfire were postponed.” (Unfortunately, the celebrations at Resolven were premature: Edward’s coronation was scheduled for 26 June, but on 24 June he was diagnosed with appendicitis. After a successful operation, it was announced that the coronation would now take place on 9 August.)

July:

At Pont-nedd-fechan, a competition was held involving Fife and Drum Bands. The Resolven Band was one of three bands competing, the other two being from Mountain Ash and Brynamman. The last-named won the first prize.

At a monthly meeting of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, plans to build a new chapel at Resolven were warmly applauded. ‘Caniatawyd yn galonog gais eglwys Resolven am ryddid adeiladu.” (This would be Tabernacle Chapel opened in 1904.) 

Dr. Pritchard advertised for “A Groom-Gardener, and to be generally useful. Apply with reference, stating age and wages.”

August:

At the Neath County Police Court, J. T. Law, a farmer of Resolven, was summoned for the fourth time for “(…) allowing two pigs to stray on the highway in the village.” The magistrates’ clerk said to Law: “If you don’t put up a fence you’ll pay in the end in fines more than the pigs are worth.” To which Law replied “(…) that it was not his fault that the place was all open and I am not going to spend £50 to put up a fence when the estate should do it.” He was fined two shillings and sixpence with costs.

Tom Davies of Resolven came second in the second heat of the Hundred Yards Flat Handicap Bicycle Competition in the Aberystwyth Cycling Club sports.

 

 

September:

On 16 September, Elizabeth Thomas, of Company Street, Resolven, was found dead in a gutter by William Thomas, of Yeo Street, Resolven. “It is said that the deceased went to the New Inn public house on Monday night to fetch some supper beer. She crossed the field to get to her home and fell into a deep gutter close to her house where her body was found. Her husband did not make any inquiries about his wife as he thought she was at her married daughter’s house in John Street. The deceased, when found, had on her person 18s-9d in her purse. Dr. Pritchard, who carried out the post-mortem, gave his opinion that the cause of death was “(…) syncope through excessive drinking.”

On Wednesday evening, 17 September, a presentation was made at Jerusalem Chapel to W. Thomas who had been choir-master there for thirty-one years and who was also one of its deacons. Speeches in appreciation of all his hard work were made by T. Lewis and E. Rees. T. Morgans sang the opening song, ‘Boed ysbryd ein cyndadau’, and Miss Renbridge later sang ‘The Orphan’s Song’.

At a meeting of the Sanitary Committee of the Glamorgan County Council, it was reported that Neath Rural District Council had refused to proceed with the Resolven sewerage scheme on account of the price of the land which would be required. The Sanitary Committee recommended that the District Council be informed that, “(…) unless they give due notice to apply for a provisional order to take the land compulsorily, proceedings would be taken against them for polluting the river.” At a later meeting held in December, the Sanitary Committee was asked to postpone the drainage scheme until the question of the availability of water for flushing purposes had been resolved.

At Resolven police station, the Assistant Overseer for Resolven produced his claim for expenses and mentioned that the claim was a large one, to which the Revising Barrister present retorted: “And so is the pay.” The Assistant Overseer replied: “Not in comparison with other parishes”. The revising Barrister answered: “That has nothing to do with it. I am afraid that if any ratepayer objected, there would be a cutting down of charges all round. As it is I am not going to reduce them.”

The Gored Merthyr Colliery and Melincourt Brickworks was reported to be carrying on business despite the retirement of two out of three of its proprietors. Herbert Matthews and Wybrants Olphert were leaving, but Samuel L. Jones remained in charge.

October:

A local correspondent wrote of the unity of the Resolven Calvinistic Methodists in their resolve to build a new chapel. “Yr oeddwn yno yn treulio Sabbath yn ddiweddar, a gallwn ddweyd ei fod yn llawn bryd i’r frawdoliaeth hon i symud pabell.”

In a public meeting held at Resolven, William Abraham, (‘Mabon’), criticised the Education Act of 1901 for failing to make provision for technical and commercial education.

On a Thursday morning this month, a prize fight had been arranged on Resolven Mountain between Tom Culley (Bermondsey) and Dai Jenkins (Maesteg) for £25 a-side. The spot chosen for the fight was “(…) deliberately selected, as the country could be seen for miles around ensuring no interruption from the police, but it also could not be seen by any walkers who happened to be crossing the mountain. The fight proved to be a severe struggle between science, on the one hand, and strength on the other, and in the end science again decisively showed its superiority, Culley fairly outclassing Jenkins after fighting twelve hard rounds.”

After a successful appeal by Cory Brothers Limited, the Assessment Committee of the Neath Union reduced the rateable value of Resolven colliery from £3,334 to £2,134.

At a match against Neath Seconds on Saturday 13 December, Resolven rugby team was completely disorganised. “They turned up minus their full-back, two three-quarters and a couple of forwards. They found substitutes, but it meant rearranging the back division with disastrous results. At least half the forwards shirked the scrums, and when four forwards out of eight suddenly develop ‘winging’, the remaining four cannot carry so many passengers. With all their drawbacks, Resolven should have scored at least four times. Time after time they got right up to the line and took the ball over, but a kick too hard, or missing the ball, lost them the score.”

Resolven Parish Council received loans of £5,470 for the financial year 1901-02, and £4,219 for 1900-01 from the Public Works Loan Board for property development in the village.

November:

Resolven rugby team were doing well this season though “(…) their record is nothing to be proud of. Still, they have played some good games, Neath Seconds only beating them by a try, while last Saturday they drew with Taibach. It was the hardest of luck they did not win. Taibach’s line was crossed twice, but tries were just missed in each case. Jack Williams, ex-Clayton, ex-London Welsh, captains the team this year. He is quite a veteran, but still plays an exceedingly good game at centre three-quarter.”

Sardis English Baptist Chapel contributed two pounds two shillings to the funds of Swansea Hospital.

On a walk through Glamorgan, a newspaper correspondent described a spring he came across on the Rheola Estate near Resolven “(…) where there is a constant volume giving out about a million gallons of pure and wholesome water per 24 hours, and has never been known to increase or diminish.”

Resolven Rugby Team played against Ogmore Vale in a scrappy game. “The try for Resolven, which proved to be the winning point, was scored by J. H. Evans after a brilliant dribble. Nicrews, late of the Grenadier Guards, and who has recently returned from South Africa, plays a clinking forward game, and does it quietly. His opponents never hear him, but they feel his presence decidedly. Evan Davies also plays a rattling forward game.”

December:

C. J. Evans of Resolven, a pupil of Neath County School, passed the examination for a King’s Scholarship.

The English Baptists at Resolven had for some time wanted to build a new chapel, the present one being much too small to meet the needs of the district. Cory Brothers Company Limited now offered them a convenient site for this purpose at a nominal rent and promised to donate £350 towards the cost. This, together with a gift of £50 from Richard Cory, enabled work on the building to proceed.

The first billiard tournament organised by members of Resolven Reading Room was held on 20-22 December. The entrance fee was sixpence, and the prizes were as follows: first prize: a billiard cue, in a case, worth nine shillings and sixpence; the second prize: a billiard cue worth six shillings and sixpence; and the third prize: a billiard cue worth four shillings and sixpence. This was the first of many such tournaments and friendly matches.

 

1903

January:

The number of Resolven people eligible to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections was 468. The current Member of Parliament was S. T. Evans (Labour); he represented Glamorgan (Mid-Division) covering 22 Districts, of which Resolven was one.

On Monday, 5 January, a performance of the cantata ‘Dan y Palmydd’ was given by Jerusalem Chapel choir under its leader W. Thomas, (‘un sydd wedi ei brofi fel gweithwr cyson ac ymdrechgar ers 31 o flynyddoedd’.) The following took part: J. Williams, Mattie Rowlands, and Mary Thomas (sopranos); Maggie Kewbridge (contralto); W. Davies and George Davies (bass); T. W. Morgan and W. Rowlands (tenors). The minister, Rev. R. E. Williams, gave a short introductory explanation of the Cantata, and the proceeds of the event went towards the chapel’s organ fund.

For their game at Morriston against Bath Excelsiors, the Resolven rugby team comprised: Full-back: Dai Thomas; three-quarter backs: Tom Powell, W. H. Thomas, Edgar Rees, and Jack Williams; half-backs: W. H. Rees and Herbert Williams; forwards: Tim Herbert, J. M. Evans, J. Tregoning, D. Davies, Ned Pugh, Jenkin Williams, D. Jenkins and D. T. Williams. Whilst against Troedyrhiw, Resolven “(…) although only playing four men of their regular team, managed to beat Troedyrhiw by a dropped goal to nil. The youngsters who turned out for the home team proved exceptionally smart, and deserve every credit for the win. A couple of old warhorses also turned out, including the energetic secretary and another old stager, who got a badly- damaged eye. Some of the regular players had better look to their laurels, or the young blood will oust them. Dai Thomas, at full-back, played a very safe game, and the committee cannot do better than keep him in this position. He is a good tackler.”

Resolven rugby committee “(…) seem to be acting wisely in discarding those players who fail to turn out at matches when a match of any importance is on at Neath or Swansea. Those players should have the courtesy to notify the secretary of their inability to play. If they do not, they must not blame the committee for the consequences.”

A published list of anthracite collieries in south Wales revealed that there were currently 263 men employed by the Cory Brothers Company at their colliery in Resolven. (The total number of employees in anthracite collieries in the whole of Glamorganshire this year was 3,379.)

March:

St David’s Day dinners, organised by members of Resolven Reading Room, had been an annual occurrence since 1891; they were prepared by members’ wives and held in the schoolroom. The menu for the dinner this year was: Soup, followed by a choice of beef, mutton, or pork, with roast and boiled potatoes, cabbage, parsnips, and turnips. Desserts included a choice of apple tart, tapioca, blancmange, stewed fruit, cheese and celery. Those attending were expected to wear a leek. After the meal, toasts were proposed and a talk on St. David was given by Mr. T. Matthews.

At Neath Borough Police Court, Griffith Lewis Williams, a clerk living in Resolven, was charged with “(…) stealing two booklets from the bookstall at Neath railway station: one of the ‘Happy Hour’ series and the other entitled ‘Fruits of Crime’.” The defendant, who had been locked up for two hours immediately after the supposed theft, totally denied the charge and his solicitor stigmatised the court proceedings as ‘monstrous’.  The case was dismissed.

At Swansea Police Court, Mary Davies, a middle-aged woman from Llansamlet, was charged with stealing by deception at Neath railway station a parcel of clothing which was to be delivered by train to Dr. Pritchard in Resolven. A porter at Neath station said “(…) she asked him if he had a parcel for that gentleman, and he handed it to her.” The contents of the parcel, along with other stolen goods, were found either pawned or in her house. She was sentenced to three months hard labour.

Six sheep, the property of John Rees, Hendreowen, Resolven were “(…) killed by stray dogs on Thursday night , and half a dozen others were so badly injured that they had to be slaughtered.”

April:

Mr. Thomas, of Newcastle House, Resolven, wanted immediately “(…) experienced Knitters, good wages and comfortable home given to suitable girls.”

June:

A representative from Resolven was present at a meeting of Nonconformists held at Neath to discuss the implications of the Education Act 1902. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: “That this meeting protests against the Education Act of the Government as being detrimental to the true progress of the education of the country and a direct insult to the Nonconformist conscience. And, furthermore, pledges itself to use every means to make it inoperative.” (The Education Act 1902 abolished all school boards and handed over their duties to county councils and their local education authorities. They were given power to develop the existing system of elementary schools as well as to establish new secondary schools. For the first time, voluntary elementary schools- mainly Anglican –received public funds from the rates, a situation which was much opposed by Nonconformists and Liberals.)

July:

At a monthly meeting of the West Glamorgan Calvinistic Methodist Association held at Nantymoel, members agreed for a new chapel to be built at Resolven at a cost of £2,000.

David Evans of Resolven was appointed Lecturer and Head of Music at University College, Cardiff, in succession to Dr. Joseph Parry. For two years after taking his university degree, “(…) Evans received private tuition from Dr. Yorke Trotter in composition and orchestration, studied singing under Frederick King, and received tuition in piano technique at the Virgil Clavier School in London. Having had experience in class teaching in Neath, Resolven, and other parts of Wales, he was appointed, in 1895, examiner at the Tonic Sol-fa College, and engaged as a lecturer by the London Organ School for its special Easter session in 1902. For the last four years he has been organist and choir master at the New Jewin Chapel, London. He is already well-known in Wales as a lecturer, adjudicator at eisteddfodau, conductor of musical festivals, and composer. (…) He is one of the most promising composers in Wales and has already earned a reputation as a good and efficient conductor.”

Dr. Whittington, Medical Officer of Health, reported to members of the Neath Rural District Council that an epidemic of measles had broken out at Resolven and that, as a consequence, he had ordered the schools there to be closed.

On 19, 20 and 21 July, services were held in Bethania Chapel, Resolven, to celebrate its re-opening after restoration work. The chapel had been thoroughly cleaned and painted, a new pulpit erected, a coal-fired heating system installed, gas lighting fitted, and a vestry built in 1902. Just as important was the fact that the congregation itself seemed to have acquired a new lease of life, with an increase in the number of weekly meetings being held, and some 19 people joining within the last two months.

 

August:

In the Exhibition of Horses held at Swansea, the Roberts Brothers of Resolven, with their horse Dulais Boy, won first prize in the Jumper Class which was restricted to residents living within a radius of twenty miles of Swansea Post Office.

A coroner’s inquiry was held at Swansea Hospital into the circumstances attending the death of William Idris Lewis at Resolven colliery on 23 July. The deceased had apparently been driving holes into which props could be erected when a stone fell from the roof. Mr. Robson, His Majesty’s Inspector of Mines, asked several questions relating to the position of the props, after which a verdict of accidental death was returned with a rider stating that “(…) the maximum distance between the props was too great.”

On Thursday, 20 August, a new organ was installed in Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven, at a cost of £525. An organ recital was subsequently held with items played by Dr J. W. Hinton, London; May John, Rhondda; and W. T. Davies, Resolven. It raised £30 towards the organ fund.

September:

Police Constable Lisk, of Resolven, won first prize in the 120 yards flat race at the Neath Athletic Sports’ Day event.

S. Jones, (Morlaisfab), of Resolven, published in the newspapers a poem which he had composed in memory of his friend, the late Benjamin Phillips. The first verse is as follows: “Mor gynar aeth i arall fyd/I fyd y dirgel ffeithiau!/ Am hyn mae’m tafod heddyw’n fud./ Llefara ddim ond dagrau,/Dagrau heilltion car a brawd,/ Adrodda drymder calon,/Calon dyner, ddwys, y tlawd,/ Dan bwysau trwm ofalon.”

At Neath County Police Court, Walter Gregory, a collier of Resolven, was charged with, and found guilty of, committing an aggravated assault on Margaret Seymour, a married woman who lived near him. She appeared in court “(…) with her head bandaged, and with both eyes almost closed, and said that an altercation took place between the defendant and her daughters on the day the assault was committed upon her. The defendant, without any provocation, forced his way into her house, and beat her in a most cruel manner about the face.” Walter Gregory was sentenced to three months in prison with hard labour.

October:

Resolven Parish Council made a request to Neath Rural District Council to “(…) erect additional          (electric) lamps on Neath Road and, if the electric power is insufficient, we wish to have gas oil lamps erected.”

At the first annual eisteddfod to be held at Aberdulais, Resolven Male Singing Party won the first prize in the Male Voice Choir competition for their rendition of ‘The Sailors’Chorus’.

At an auction held at the Sportsman Hotel, Caernarfon, 44 acres of land in the parish of Llanrug, Caernarfonshire, were sold for £3,300 to Dr Pritchard, Resolven’s general practitioner.

At the Glamorgan Quarter Sessions, David Moses and Thomas Mullings, both labourers, along with Thomas Watkins, a colliery fireman, were indicted for the theft of four heifers, valued at £40, the property of John Rees, a farmer, of Hendreowen, Resolven. “On 7 October, the cattle were driven off Hendreowen Mountain, and it was alleged that Moses unsuccessfully offered them for sale to a Hirwaun butcher; that Mullings afterwards asked another butcher to be allowed to put the cattle in his field and it was here that the police found them, the prisoners being in a shed at the rear of the Lamb and Flag Inn.” Mullings and Watkins were acquitted, but Moses was found guilty and was sent to prison for seven years. “Moses, it was stated, has a wife and four children in great destitution, and the Chairman expressed the hope that some charitable institution might assist them.”

Howel Cuthbertson, the County Coroner, held an Inquiry at Resolven into the death of a three- year old boy whose parents lived in Cory Street, Resolven. “From the evidence it appeared that the child was playing on the Square at Resolven, when he fell over a low wall into the Clydach Brook and was drowned. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Found drowned’, and added a recommendation that railings be placed along the top of the wall to prevent the recurrence of such a fatality.”

On a Thursday afternoon this month, eight foundation stones for the new chapel, Tabernacl, to be built for the Calvinistic Methodists in Resolven were laid by Mrs. Anne Jones, Mrs. T. Davies, Miss M. A. Davies, Dr Pritchard, J. Davies, T. Davies, D. Evans, and L. D. Howell. The chapel would have a seating capacity for 675 people and would cost in the region of £2,300, towards which £540 had already been subscribed. It would be built on the site of the former National School.

November:

At this point in time Resolven Reading Room held 302 books in its stock and this was growing each year as a result of new purchases being made.

On 9 November, a successful concert was held at Bethania Chapel, with David Evans as the adjudicator. The recitation winners, with the poems they recited, were: D. S. Davies, (‘Yn Boddi’); J. Davies, (‘Murdered by Drink’); S. Jones (‘Congl yr Amen’). Winners of the singing competition, with the chosen songs, were: T. Davies ‘(Children’s Home’); Miss S. Morgan (‘Mentra Gwen’); J. Jones (‘Hen gadair freichiau fy mam’).

December:

According to the local Chartered Patent Agency, G. Watkins, of Resolven, had applied for a patent for his ‘improved machine for boring or drilling in rock.’

At Neath, Mary Jones, of Ty’n-y-cwm Farm, Resolven, was summoned “(…) for selling milk deficient in butter fat. The analyst’s certificate showed that the sample purchased contained 2.70 per cent, instead of 3 per cent, of butter fat.” A fine of ten shillings was imposed.

 

1904

January:

On Monday 11 January, in the first of a series of five University Extension Lectures delivered at Seion Chapel, a Professor Burrows spoke on the theme of ‘Citizenship’. The price of admission to the complete course was one shilling.

William Rhys Herbert, a native of Resolven  and now resident in the United States, was described by a newspaper correspondent who had visited him at his home as one of the brightest stars in the musical firmament of the Twin Cities of Minnesota: St. Paul and Minneapolis (“un o’r ser dysgleiriaf yn ffurfafen gerddorol y lle.”) He was much respected there both as a teacher and composer (“fe glywir ei ganeuon yn cael eu tincian gan ugeiniau yn y ddwy ddinas fawr.”)

Some 200 colliers at Resolven, along with many more in the Western District, had stopped work, mainly on account of the imposition of a coal tax. (The coal tax was a tax on exported coal which had been imposed by Charles Ritchie, Chancellor of the Exchequer in Balfour’s Government, to offset the continuing expenditure incurred in the South African Wars. The tax was imposed directly on the colliers themselves, resulting in an inevitable decrease in their wages.)

 

At a recently-held miners’ conference, it was resolved to establish an out-of-work fund to draw attention to the amount of distress which prevailed among colliers and their families in consequence of the recent stoppage. Some monies had been distributed from the Western District funds, pending donations from its Central Fund, but some of the workmen, including those from Resolven, had been out of work for eight weeks, and had not received any financial contribution from any source whatsoever.

A meeting was held at Swansea between Mr. White, the agent of Resolven Colliery, and John Williams, the miners’ agent, with regard to the tendering of notices to some 200 colliers at Resolven. No indication was made that the notices would be withdrawn, but it was hoped to settle the matter in dispute before the notices expired.

February:

Plans were being made to build a Mission Hall in Resolven and, with this in mind, special services were held in St. David’s Church on a Sunday and Monday early this month, whilst another service was planned for a Friday evening in March. The sum of £41-15s-6d had so far been raised towards the cost of the proposed building.

March:

D. Evans was elected to represent Resolven on the Glamorgan County Council. He was one of the 33 ‘Radicals’ elected in the county. Other candidates elected in the county included six Unionists, one Independent and one Labour.

At Neath County Police Court, Nathaniel Edwards, a hawker, was found guilty of “(…) cruelly working a horse when in an unfit state at Resolven on 14 March and was fined ten shillings; and Robert Edwards, his uncle, had to pay a similar amount for causing the animal to be worked.”

April:

Dr Pritchard, of Resolven, was one of several medical practitioners who gave their unconditional support to the establishment of a district Cottage Hospital. They felt that “(…) it was their bounden duty to proceed with the work and to secure the establishment of an institution which will be a boon and blessing to the people of Neath and district.”

At the Mountain Ash Eisteddfod, Resolven Male Voice Choir won the first prize of £40 for their rendition of the test-piece: ‘The King of Worlds’. Other choirs competing were London Welsh, Tredegar and Cwmbach.

 

David Griffiths and Edith Evans, a recently-married deaf and dumb couple from Swansea, chose Resolven as the location for their honeymoon. When interviewed, the bridegroom declared: “We have had a delightful time. (…) I am happier now in my marriage than ever I was. I can read, I can work, and make known my wants. What more can a man desire? My affliction has never troubled me, though of course I should like to be as others are. Yet I am very well as I am.”

 

 

May:

 

Resolven Reading Room subscribed, at the cost of one guinea, to a copy of the forthcoming book: Dwyfol Gan. Annwn, Purdan a Pharadwys, a translation by Daniel Rees, from Italian into Welsh, of Dante’s Divine Comedy.

 

Daniel Sheppard, a labourer from Resolven, was charged with deserting his wife and child in March of this year and leaving them chargeable to the common funds of the Neath Union. The sum of eighteen shillings was consequently owed to the Guardians of the Poor. Sheppard had told his wife that he was going to look for work, but no money had been sent to her. He was remanded in custody for a fortnight.

 

Early in the morning of 13 May, on Resolven Mountain, a prize fight took place between Dai Jenkins, of Maesteg, and Bernard Platt, of London. The stakes were £120. “The contest was not one to a finish, but Jenkins had to knock Platt out in twelve rounds or lose the money. The contest is described as having been a terrible one. Jenkins knocked Platt out in the ninth round. Platt had one of his arms dislocated before the deciding blow was given.”

 

Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel’s first annual eisteddfod took place on the second Saturday of this month. The president was Dr Pritchard; the conductor D. Edwards, Tonna; one of the adjudicators was David Evans, and one of the accompanists Tom Hopkin Evans. The following were the prize-winners: Maud Avon Jones, Brynmawr (soprano solo); May Harris, Swansea (children’s solo); Alice Cove, Treorchi (contralto solo); Philip Griffiths, Pontycymmer (tenor solo); Tom Williams, Blaengarw (baritone solo); D. Davies, Alltwen (bass solo); Ivor Owen, Swansea (piano solo for children); E. Nicholas, Ystalyfera and D. Davies, Alltwen (duet); J. Roberts, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen (recitation); Waunarlwydd Youth Choir, (youth choir competition; the test-piece was ‘Sleep, my darling, sleep’). Penrhiwceiber Male Voice Choir: (male voice choir competition; the test-piece was ‘Martyrs of the Arena’; seven choirs competed for the prize of £20, with a gold medal being presented to the conductor.)

 

June:

 

Another case of desertion came before the Neath County Police Court. John Jones, a collier from Resolven, was accused of deserting his wife and child. The wife had consequently no choice but to resort to financial assistance from the Neath Poor Law Union and so far she had received from them the sum of one pound and eight shillings. Edward Powell, who appeared for the prosecution, described the defendant as ‘a pugilist and a great, hulking brute.’ The case for desertion was proved, and Jones, who had been arrested at Carmarthen by Police Sergeant Martin, was sent to prison for one month with hard labour.

 

Resolven Cricket Team played away to Pentre. “The light was not good. Resolven elected to take the first knock, but their batsmen were unable to make a stand against the bowling, and the whole side was dismissed in less than an hour for 30 runs. Hall, the Pentre Captain, took six wickets for six runs. When Pentre went to the wickets, it seemed an easy matter to beat Resolven, but the batting was very indifferent, and they only won by four runs. The bowling of Stevens for Resolven was very successful.” The scores of the Resolven side were: J. G. Jones: 9; W. Thomas: 6; D. Rees: 0; W. Stevens: 0; T. Williams: 0; J. Stevens: 4; D. J. Jones: 0; T. W. Herbert: 3; J. Clarke: 0; W. Williams: 3; and R. Williams: 0.

 

Sidney Maddocks was charged with obtaining by false pretences a pair of boots from a shop in Resolven owned by William Samuel Thomas. Maddocks had apparently obtained the pair of boots by pretending that he had his brother’s permission to do so, his brother being a faithful customer in the shop. He was found guilty and sent to prison for twenty one days with hard labour.

 

Ann Howells died at Resolven at the age of 106. She had been born in Abercwmboi in 1798, and, in early life, had worked at the pit-head and had “(…) a vivid recollection of squads of Chartists drilling on Merthyr Mountain.” She married for a second time when she was 90.

 

July:

 

The chairman of the Education Committee (Neath Group) of the Glamorgan County Council received the following letter from the headmaster of the new Resolven Mixed Council School: “Dear Sir. We are out of soap, scrubbing brushes, chalk, dusters, and ink. A cord is wanted for a window blind. Also wanted are a peg for an easel, as well as some blotting paper, pens, slate, pencils and a catch for one of the windows. I shall be glad to have the order at once for, as you will see, some of the things are absolute necessaries.” In a classic example of bureaucracy, this request had to be submitted as a recommendation to the main Education Committee of the County Council in Cardiff, provoking one of the Neath Group’s members to exclaim: “We are nothing but children. Is it worth our while coming here at all?”

 

Frank Waite, of Aberdare, was charged with driving a motor-cycle at Resolven to the danger of the public. Police Constable Jones said “(…) the defendant was driving at the rate of about 28 miles an hour. I shouted and signalled, but he would not stop.” The defence, however, contended that he was only driving at fifteen miles an hour. Nonetheless, Waite was fined ten shillings, with costs.

 

At a meeting of the Neath Board of Guardians it was agreed that Dr Pritchard, the medical practitioner for Resolven, be reminded that, under the terms of his appointment, he was obliged to set up a surgery at Glynneath which should be opened several times a week. Attention was drawn to the hardships suffered by the ‘paupers’ at Glynneath who, through the lack of a surgery, were forced to walk or catch a train to Resolven to consult the doctor. It was moved that the attention of Dr Pritchard be called to the matter and that he be instructed to fulfil the terms of his contract.

 

William Matthews of Resolven was summoned for “catching fish, other than by angling”, on 20 July at 11.30 a.m. It was reported that Matthews had gone to the brook behind Aberpergwm House and caught the fish with his hands. He was fined £2 and costs.

 

August:

 

At the Cycling Club’s annual event held at Cardigan, H. Morgan, of Resolven, came third in the first heat and James Morgan, also of Resolven, second in the third heat of the half-mile open handicap bicycle race.

 

The wife of John West, Yeo Street, Resolven, gave birth to triplets: two girls and a boy. The mother and children were doing well and the ‘King’s Bounty’ was being applied for.

 

It was announced that, under the tutorship of T. H. Evans, the following young Resolven people had been successful in their music examinations. First Class: Evan Derby, Jennie Evans, Annie Evans (Railway Terrace), Annie Evans (Aberclydach), Lizzie Evans and W. Harries. Second Class: W. J. Davies, Watkyn R. Evans, Thomas J. Davies, Maggie Evans, T. D. Herbert, James Williams, David J. Evans (Aberclydach), Eddie Evans  and D. J. Evans (Cory Street). As a result of such successes as these, it was no wonder, exclaimed a correspondent, that Resolven was gaining a substantial reputation in the musical field. “Mae y lle hwn yn cyflym ddringo grisiau dyrchafiad yn y ganghen hon o wybodaeth.”

 

September:

 

The two year-old son of Ernest Deveraux of John Street, Resolven, died as a result of scalding. “The mother of the deceased child states that she was washing some clothes, and her little boy was playing about the kitchen. He fell into the boiler of hot water which was on the floor and was very badly scalded about the back and loins. The child died from shock at 6 o’clock in the evening.”

 

Colliers employed by the Melincourt Collieries Company (Limited) were, through the good offices of the Miners’ Federation, successful in their claims against the Company and recovered the whole of the money-£730- which was owing to them.

 

In the cricket match played between Clydach and Resolven to decide which team was to be the holder of the Swansea and District Challenge Shield for the ensuing year, there was a surprising finish. Clydach went in first and scored 49 chiefly by the efforts of T. Saunders who made 16 runs. Resolven then went in and were dismissed for the remarkable total of six runs, the top score being one run. Four men scored a run each and the rest went out for ‘ducks’.

 

October:

 

Richard Cory, J.P. visited Resolven on the last Saturday in October to unveil a plaque recording the opening of the new Sardis English Baptist Chapel in the village. The builders of the chapel were George Cozens and Company, Cardiff, and the architect, J. Llewellyn Smith of Aberdare. Mr. Cory declared the building open and this was followed by a well-attended service at which the preacher was Mr. Cory himself, assisted by the Rev. D. C. Davies, Bethania, and the Rev. J. H. Searle, the pastor. Mr. Cory also preached at the services held on the following day, Sunday; whilst on Monday evening the Revs. James Owen, Swansea and R. E. Williams, Resolven, were the preachers. The building has been described as “(…) a self-consciously advanced design of 1904, a Diocletian central window, and semi-domed stair-turrets. Snecked Pennant sandstone dressed with red-brick, and red sandstone for radiating voussoirs. Unexpectedly plain interior. Galleries on three sides, supported on numerous iron columns.”

 

Also this month, on 16 and 17 October, Tabernacl, the new Calvinistic Methodist Chapel was opened. It was erected at a cost of £2613 by Cozens, the Cardiff contractor who had also built Sardis Chapel, on the site of the former National (later Board) School and was capable of seating some 650 people. It had been designed in the Gothic style by Sir Beddoe Rees, a Cardiff architect and Member of Parliament, and featured “(…) one of his best chapel interiors with its graphic ceiling beams, recessed organ towering over the pulpit, a fine stained-glass window, and a  three- sided gallery whose fronts were made of light metal traceries in stylized plant forms.” (This, the first Tabernacl, was in use for public worship until October 1984 when, because of serious structural problems, it was abandoned and finally demolished in July 1987. Members then temporarily worshipped alongside the Salvation Army at Seion, until the second Tabernacl Chapel, built on the same site as the first, was opened on 18 June 1995.)

 

November:

 

Members of Resolven Reading Room held their annual meeting at the end of this month and the accounts showed that the institution was in a very satisfactory financial position. Some members complained that the building had become too small to hold meetings, concerts or lectures, and that the only place available to hold these was in one of the chapels. It was suggested that

rate-payers in the village be encouraged to form a committee to consider the matter.

 

In the last week of this month, the religious revival, which had begun in west Wales, had reached the Vale of Neath. Special meetings, often lasting until late at night, were held at Aberdulais, Resolven, Cwmgwrach and Glynneath. The revival had begun under the ministry of Joseph Jenkins (1859-1929), minister of Tabernacl Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, New Quay, and had come to a climax at a meeting which he had held at Blaenannerch in September. It spread to other parts of Wales through the ministry of Evan Roberts of Llwchwr (1878-1951), and was the latest in a spate of revivals which had taken place in Wales in the second- half of the nineteenth century: Tre’r Ddol (1859); Cwmafan (1866); Rhondda (1879); Dowlais (1890); and Pontnewydd (1892).

 

December:

 

By the second week of this month, Resolven had begun to experience a religious awakening such as the village had never experienced in living memory. In Jerusalem, Rev. R. E. Williams received forty-six new members into the church, whilst in Bethania there were forty-one, in Tabernacl thirty, and many, too, in Sardis. “O! am deimlo yr wythnos hon eto o bur effeithiau y Dwyfol dan.”

 

A member of Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel in Railway Terrace gives us a good description of what happened there at the beginning of this month. On a Tuesday evening, an unusually fervent prayer meeting was held. Two days later, on a Thursday, the ‘tide’ began to rise and, on the next day, Friday, the ‘floods’ came “(…) daeth yn ddyrfaoedd nofiadwy.” The flood-gates of heaven had opened and ‘Living Water’ poured out.  On the Sunday, it was decided to forego the usual sermons and to continue to hold prayer meetings throughout the day, a day which was described as the strangest ever experienced in the chapel. Parents were praying for their children, children for their parents, husbands for their wives and wives for their husbands, until the place was just one sanctuary of tears “(…) un foddfa o dagrau.” People who had not previously been given to public prayer were now led by the irresistible influence of the Holy Spirit to do so. One young member, on beginning to pray, broke down under the force of his emotions, then his mother got to her feet, gave out a hymn to sing and came forward to pray, until the whole building seemed kindled by the ‘fire’ and unction of the Spirit, (…) yn boethach byth dan ddylanwadau yr Ysbryd Glan, a nerthoedd y byd a ddaw.” One little boy told his mother to burn his football clothes as he was never going to play football again. A brother of one of the deacon’s went to pray in the colliery on behalf of his co-workers. The public houses in the village were empty, whilst the chapels were full of people earnestly imploring for the out-pouring to continue. Chains of Inhibitions were cast off in both ‘listeners’ and backsliders in the congregation, and forty-four people were added to the number of believers in Bethania Chapel.

 

By 17 December, it was estimated, from the returns collected from the various places of worship, that the number of converts so far in south Wales as a result of the Revival was 19,654. The figure for Resolven was 201.

 

1905

January:

New Year’s Day, a Communion Sunday, was a memorable day in the history of Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven. The congregation, enthused by  divine ‘fire’,   was on its feet worshipping  without apparently being conscious of it, and the crowd of ‘listeners’ was seen  trying to escape the sheer volume of prayer and the overwhelming heat in the place, exclaiming that “(…) it was too hot for them to remain there. Yr oedd yn rhy dwym i ni aros yn hwy yn y capel.”

On a Wednesday evening this month, there was a united revival meeting held at St. David’s Church, Resolven, attended by both Church members and Nonconformists. Again, it was a remarkable event where the heat witnessed elsewhere was much in evidence.

Prayer meetings were now being held regularly at the different places of worship in Resolven, and both Churchmen and Nonconformists united in a weekly meeting. At Jerusalem Chapel, at one of these meetings, a well-known boxer recounted his conversion experience, moving the congregation to tears by saying that “ (…) for twenty-five years he had not been in a place of worship on a Sunday night, but that during those years he had rarely missed being in a public house on a Saturday night. On giving out the hymn ‘Lead, kindly light’, he said that formerly he used to read the rules of the prize-ring, but now he was privileged to read hymns of praise.”

As a direct result of the revival in Resolven, the number of converts in the village for the period November 1904 to 6 January 1905 was estimated to be 245. The total for south Wales was 32,000.

On Tuesday 17 January, the people of Resolven had the privilege of welcoming in their midst the famous revivalist, Evan Roberts. Scores, if not hundreds, of people had travelled to the village from outlying places, and beyond, to witness the event. Morning, afternoon and evening, the chapels were crowded, belying any rumour that the revival was abating.

Roberts was scheduled to attend a meeting at Bethania Chapel in the morning, but was unable to do so as he was delayed at Neath until mid-afternoon. The meeting at Bethania, without Roberts, was well- attended, the Rev. E. R. Lewis, of Milnesbridge near Huddersfield, asking the congregation there to pray that the revival might also spread to Yorkshire, whilst three young ministers from the East End of London had come to discover the facts about the revival and to report back to their respective congregations.

At noon, the doors of Tabernacl Chapel were opened and its minister, the Rev. Towy Rees, began the service with prayer; then the hymn ‘Dewch at Iesu’ was struck up and the mass of people joined in with whole-hearted fervour.  For two hours or more before Roberts’s arrival, there was an unbroken series of prayers, testimonies and hymns, the meeting being notable for the prominent part taken by the recent converts. On his arrival in the village, Roberts, accompanied by the two ‘singing’ evangelists, Annie and Maggie Davies, pressed their way through the dense mass of people packed solidly at the entrance to Tabernacl Chapel. Religious fervour was at white heat when the revivalist made his appearance at precisely three o’clock and, as he ascended the pulpit, it was obvious to some that many had come out of mere curiosity. No one was quicker to realise this than Evan Roberts himself, his first words spoken were: “Away with curiosity”. A newspaper reporter recounted what happened next:  “Following a prayer, in which thanks for Divine blessings formed the key-note, Roberts remarked that it had been the custom in the past to hold thanksgiving services only once a year, but that those meetings were so ‘cold’ that they might just as well have not taken place. Wales, he said, had to pray for three things: faith, love and obedience. Life was only worth living if it was filled with the Spirit. In the congregation, a former convict was seen to be writhing and crying out to God for forgiveness. An old man was heard to beseech God to save his wicked brother and to bring him to chapel. Another voice proclaimed: ‘I have been a big sinner and, when the evil one lost me, he lost one of his biggest followers.’ Yet another cried out that he had been ‘caught by God when he was driving hard and fast in the devil’s motor.’ Before the closing hymn had been sung, the meeting was completely transformed, and the revivalist seemed buoyant and happy.”

At the evening meeting in Jerusalem Chapel, attended by some 2,000 people including ministers and clergymen from various parts of the country, there seemed initially to be a lack of the real revival ‘fire’, but the ice soon thawed. . David Matthews of Aberdare, who was present at this service, gives us the following eyewitness account: “An interesting refrain to the popular hymn ‘Throw out the lifeline’ was sung to the words: ‘This is the life-line, this is the life-line, Jesus is saving today.’ One young miner confessed in his prayer that he had been a poacher, but now he was going to depend on the Spirit. The spiritual atmosphere pervading the worship of the people so thrilled him (Roberts) when he came that his countenance seemed to be luminous. Whenever he felt the perfect liberty of the Spirit in a service, his eyes glistened, his face became almost transformed and his smile radiant. Burdens lifted, sighings fled, Christ glorified. What else mattered? With what boyish joy he entered into the spirit of the service. Changing moods were apparent. Invitation hymns suddenly turned into rhapsodies of praise. A sombre ‘Dies Irae’ issuing its dread ultimatum to sinners, warning impenitent mockers of impending doom, uttered by those inspired voices, would resound through the building, filling every soul with unspeakable awe. Sensitive to these changing moods of the Spirit, Mr. Roberts would reflect them in his face. The meetings in Resolven were unique.” By this date, the estimated number of converts in Resolven was 609 out of a population of about 3,000.

February:

Writing under the pseudonym ‘Ab Eifryn’, a native of Resolven submittted a poem for publication entitled ‘Dymuniad am yr Ysbryd’, of which the first verse reads as follows: “O! Arglwydd y Diwygiad, / Rho heddyw dro i’n plith; / Bedyddia ein hysbrydoedd/ A’th nefol, sanctaidd wlith; / Cwyd leni anghrediniaeth, / O! argyhoedda’n awr,/  Fel delo llu o’r newydd/ I  daflu’u harfau ‘lawr.”

At a service held at St. David’s Church, Resolven, the Bishop of Llandaff confirmed 50 candidates. The total number of converts attending church since December 1904 was 79. Prayer meetings were being held nightly.

Herbert Smith, chairman of Resolven Tinplate Company, was recently appointed Assistant Private Secretary to the Home Secretary. He was also selected as the Conservative candidate to fill the vacant seat representing the constituency of Plymouth.

March:

Evan Jenkins, of Resolven, won a King’s Scholarship (Division 1V) at Neath County School; this would now enable him to pursue his studies at University College, Cardiff.

There was to be a revised train timetable from April, with trains now scheduled to depart from Swansea East Dock for Glynneath and included a stop at Resolven. The carriages for this proposed service were currently being constructed at the Great Western Railway Company’s works at Swindon. It was intended to run five return journeys each day, a single journey from Swansea to Glynneath taking 43 minutes. “There is only one class on the motor-car (train); passengers must produce the tickets on entering the cars, and smoking inside is prohibited. (…) The seating capacity of the cars is 52, and the length 62 feet. The motive power is steam.”

The Vicar of Resolven placed the following newspaper advertisement: “Curate wanted immediately; good sphere, energetic worker, stipend £120.”

 

 

 

April:

Evan Davies, of Tregaron, was appointed Electrical Superintendent of all the Cory Brothers’ collieries in south Wales, and would be based at Resolven. He was an Associate of the Electrical Engineers’ Institute.

Members of Bethania Chapel, Resolven contributed the sum of £2 to a fund set up to support the Temperance Society. Azariah Davies, on their behalf, encouraged other churches in the village to contribute to “this worthy, yet neglected, cause”.

James Jenkins, proprietor of the Vaughan Arms, Resolven advertised: “House to let. Vaughan Arms, fully-licensed, Resolven; near the station and colliery; nine and a half years’ lease; invoices to be seen for one year and eleven months; the reason for leaving: through illness.”  

The three-year old daughter of a collier living in Commercial Road, Resolven “(…) was playing with the fire in her house when her clothing became ignited and she was burned to death.”

May:

Police Constable Aspee arrested two girls at Resolven for theft. In Court, Police Sergeant Martin said “(…) after the defendants had been in the Resolven cells for three hours, they made a statement. One of the girls said: ‘We want to tell the truth about the money. I took three sovereigns from the box,’ and the other girl confessed: ‘I took three sovereigns and a kruger shilling.’” Each girl was sentenced to one month in prison with hard labour, and they both left the Court weeping.

In a published letter, praise was heaped on the seventeen-year old Resolven poet, Samuel Lloyd (Myfyr Nedd), who had recently left his work as a collier to pursue an educational course at a school run by Watcyn Wyn, of Ammanford. At Jerusalem Chapel, too, he was praised by its minister, Rev. J. R. Williams, for the faithfulness shown in his work with the Sunday school at Melincwrt Chapel. “Hwyl i Myfyr i’w myfyrio-bellach/ Bo’i allu’n dysgleirio, / Yn ben bardd buan y bo/ A’i gamrau’n glod i Gymro.”

At a meeting of the Neath Rural District Council, the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Whittington, reported an outbreak of enteric fever in Resolven and in the upper Vale of Neath as a result of contaminated drinking water. There had also been outbreaks of measles and scarlet fever in the area. As a consequence of this, the schools had been authorised to close.

Resolven Cricket Team played away to St. Jude’s, Swansea and won by 27 runs. The Resolven team comprised (with their respective scores): J. Jones 10; C. G. Williams 0; W. Stevens 3; William Thomas 1; R. Williams 6; J. Stephen 0; J. Clark 20; F. Rowlands 0; T. Lewis 8; J. Brown 7; extras 2. Total 57.

At Neath County Police Court, William Morgan accused his neighbour John Bassett of assault. Both were colliers living at Resolven. Morgan was on record as stating that Bassett “(…) came to his lodgings, struck him four times in the face, and accused him of behaving improperly with his daughter. Bassett, however, maintained that he had merely asked Morgan what he had been saying to his daughter, and that, on being threatened, he had simply pushed him down onto his chair. Morgan’s landlady, Mrs Gilbert, confirmed this since she had seen no marks on his face.” The case was dismissed.

It was reported that, during the period 1 November 1904 to 30 April 1905, 95 people had been baptised at Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel, Resolven, and 28 members had re-joined.

At a conference held at Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven on 31 May, ministers and deacons of the Welsh Congregational Church, representing some 227 churches and 61,165 communicants in Glamorgan, “deplored the sectarian strife engendered by the Education act of 1902, and (…) pledged itself to support, morally and financially, the County Council of Merioneth in its noble struggle for free education in the public schools, untrammelled by sectarian bigotry.”

June:

A League cricket match, played between Resolven and St. Thomas, Swansea, resulted in the following scores: St. Thomas, 50 and Resolven, 41. For St. Thomas, Johnson took 8 wickets for 13 runs, and for Resolven, Stephens took 6 wickets for 17 runs.

July:

On 2 and 3 July, Bethania Baptist Chapel held its annual meetings. The visiting preachers were Rev. S. Glannedd Bowen, Bryncemaes and Rev. J. Jenkins, Ammanford. The services were memorable, as the fruits of the Revival were still being experienced. “Mae y gwres ysbrydol yn para yn uchel yn Bethania.”

At Neath Police Court, David Butler, of Resolven, accused Thomas Scott, aged 15, of Lyons Place, Resolven, of threatening behaviour alleging that, in the course of an argument about some work to be carried out, Scott had raised a hatchet and had threatened to “knock Butler’s head off”. Scott denied the allegation and said that he had put the hatchet down when he spoke to Butler. The case was dismissed and the costs to be paid were divided between both parties.

A rumour was circulating in Resolven that the Whitworth Estate, covering some 6,000 acres between Resolven and Fforch-Dwm and comprising one of the largest virgin coal estates in south Wales, had been already been sold to a German syndicate for the sum of £250,000. The rumour proved to be incorrect: the purchase of the estate would not be completed until some months later, and the purchaser was English, not German. Captain Stroud, of Resolven, had been informed that he was to continue in office as Agent of the new Company.

August:

At the National Eisteddfod held at Mountain Ash, Resolven Mixed Choir, conducted by Tom Hopkin Evans, won the first prize of £40 for choirs of between 80 and 100 voices. Five other choirs competed: Treorchi United, Gilfach Goch United, Mountain Ash Temperance, Mountain Ash Choral, and Treboeth and District. (Ten choirs had entered, but Cinderford Choral society, Beaufort Harmonic, Cymmer United, and Troedyrhiw had failed to turn up).The test-pieces were: ‘Insulted, chained,’ by Emlyn Evans, and ‘See what love hath the Father’, by Mendelsohn. The adjudicators made the following observation: “With regard to Resolven, the contraltos were very good, but the quality of tone was not all that could be wished, and it was just a little ‘buzzy’.” It was at this National Eisteddfod that Samuel Lloyd, of Resolven, joined the novitiate of the Bardic Circle, having qualified himself to do so by means of examination.

At the Royal Albert Hall, London, Resolven Male Voice Choir, conducted by Glyndwr Richards, was the joint winner with Cynon Male Voice Party, of the first and second prizes of £50 and £10. Six other choirs competed: Rhondda, London Welsh, Havelock, Cynon, Rhymney and Newport. The test- piece was “(…) that intensely dramatic work by D. Williams describing a homeward journey.”

 

 

September:

At Seion Chapel, Tom Hopkin Evans, conductor of the Resolven Mixed Choir, presented Dr. William Rhys Herbert, a native of Resolven (now living in St. Paul’s, Minnesota), with a gold seal bearing the following inscription: “Presentation to Dr. Rhys Herbert by the Resolven Male and Mixed Voice Choirs as a memento of their victory at the recent National Eisteddfod.” The event was presided over by T. Glyndwr Richards, of Mountain Ash, supported by David Evans and John Evans, both of Resolven.

The Rev. William Lloyd, Vicar of Resolven, died this month after a short illness. “The reverend gentleman was appointed to the living of Resolven in 1892 and previous to that had held curacies in Aberdare, Gelligaer and Cullen, near Bath, whilst for seven years he had done duty in South Africa. He was a native of Llanbadarn Fawr and was educated at St. Bees. During the last few years he had gathered around him an earnest body of lay workers and the steady progress of the church at Resolven bears testimony to the excellent work done.” Prior to the funeral, a short service was held outside the Vicarage in which the following Nonconformist ministers from Resolven took part: Rev. Towy Rhys, Rev. D. C. Davies and Rev. R. E. Williams.

October:

In a report on Resolven School, His Majesty’s Inspector of Schools was critical of some of the methods of teaching employed there, and of the lack of punctuality and irregular attendance on the part of some pupils. A County Council Education Inspector, however, after several surprise visits to the school, entirely disagreed and gave a favourable account of the working of the school and of its efficiency.

November:

At Neath County Police Court, Robert Davies, a tinker, was sent to prison for a month for stealing, on 19 October, a purse containing six shillings and two pence from a house at Resolven, the property of John Williams. Police Sergeant Martin had arrested Davies at Carmarthen.

An inquest was held at Resolven Police Station on the death of Sidney Devereux, aged 17, of John Street, Resolven, a collier at Glyncastle Colliery. Mr. Cuthbertson, (the coroner), Mr. Robson, (His Majesty’s Inspector of Mines), Mr. Jones, (colliery manager), and Mr. W. E. Morgan, (miners’ agent) were present. “It was alleged that the deceased had strained himself about a week ago by raising a lump of coal on to a tram. A post-mortem examination was held by Dr Pritchard and Dr Whittington, acting on behalf of the Colliery, and Dr J. Evans, acting on behalf of the relatives and the Miners’ Association.” The verdict was that the deceased had died from peritonitis, though it was not determined whether this was due to natural causes or to the accident.

The following young people from Resolven were successful in the Glamorgan County Council music examinations that they had recently sat: First class: Jennie M. Evans, and Maggie Evans. Second Class: Albert Edward Evans, David John Evans, Lizzie Evans, Tommy H. Evans, Watkin Rees Evans, Catherine Mary Morgan, John Edward Morris, and Evan T. Williams. Third Class: Jessie Winifred Norton.

December:

Three Resolven choirs were busy this month learning different musical items: Jerusalem Chapel Choir was rehearsing ‘Elijah’; Bethania Choir ‘Dafydd y Bugail Da’; and Resolven United Choir ‘King Olaf’, the latter under the direction of Tom Hopkin Evans.

Major Edwards- Vaughan, Rheola, opened a new Church Mission Hall and Institute at Resolven on a plot of land which he had already donated (present-day Clydach Avenue). The building was made of iron and erected by J. C. Hawes, London; it measured 90 feet by 32 feet and comprised a porch, a vestry, a main hall and two additional rooms. The congregation of the parish church had trebled during the previous two years, and the provision of a new building, which could also accommodate members of the Sunday school, was deemed essential. In order to save money, members of the congregation had themselves carried out the excavation work, laid the foundations of the building, and erected a bridge across the Clydach Brook. The Rev. J. Dewi- Jones, curate-in- charge, presented a gold key to Major Edwards- Vaughan who declared the Hall open. In the evening, the Rev. D. H. Griffiths, vicar of Aberafan, preached to a large congregation, and services were held each evening during the week. The new building cost £400.

On 24 and 25 December, Bethania Chapel held its half-yearly meetings. On 27 December, there was a meeting of the ‘Social Endeavour Society’ (‘Cymdeithas Ymdrechol ei Social’), followed by tea and a musical entertainment provided by Tom Davies on the organ, and by E. Francis, M. J. Davies, D. T. Davies, C. Pike, D. Davies, M. A. Jones, J. Jones, H. Jones, E. Morgan and W. J. Davies.

Month unknown:

By this year, the enterprise owned by John Cory at Resolven consisted of three collieries: Glyncastle, Number 1 Level, and Rheola; they employed 91, 70 and 358 men respectively.