Timeline 1906 -10

 

1906

February:

On 22 February, at the new Church Mission Hall, members of Bethania Chapel gave a performance of the Cantata: ‘David the shepherd boy’ (by Root).The people who took part were: W. C. Davies (Samuel and Saul); Evan Bevan (Dafydd); T. M. Evans (Jesse); Mrs. M. A. Jones (Abigail); Mrs. Jane Jones (Micah); Mrs. A. Morgan and Mrs. S. Dunard (servant-girls); and Ivor Jones, E. J. Francis, William Hunkin, David Steven, John Steven, and D. Morgan (shepherds).They were accompanied on the piano by Tom Hopkin Evans, on the organ by Tom Davies, and by an orchestra from Aberdare. The musical director of the event was James Morgan. The Hall was full to overflowing.

March:

At St. David’s Church, Resolven, the Bishop of Llandaff instituted the Rev. David Thomas to the living of Resolven. In addition to the Bishop, the following members of the clergy were present: the Revs. J. C. Thomas, Rural Dean; J. Llewellyn Thomas, Aberpergwm; L. H. Walter, Aberafan; Lloyd Williams, Briton Ferry; and Gilbert Williams, Skewen. Among the local Nonconformist ministers present were the Revds. R. E. Williams; D. C. Davies; and J. H. Searle. The parishioners were told by the Bishop that they also had their responsibilities to carry out and that, “(…) they must work loyally hand-in-hand with their Vicar.”

March:

In Jerusalem Chapel, Rev. Peter Price, from Dowlais, gave an informative lecture entitled “Ieaun Gwynedd.”

The official patron of the parish of Resolven, and so entitled to appoint its vicar, had been the Marquess of Bute, but as a Roman Catholic, he had not been permitted to exercise this right. Patronage of the parish, together with that of all the other Bute livings in Glamorgan, had consequently passed to the University of Cambridge, and Resolven was the first of the lapsed livings where that University had exercised patronage as, previous to the death of the late Marquess of Bute, it had been vested in Trustees.

April:

A newspaper correspondent expressed his opinion that it was high time that Jerusalem and Bethania Chapels followed the lead of Tabernacle and Sardis by installing electric lights in their buildings instead of gas lighting. It would, he commented, be much more efficient and a lot cheaper. He also noted that  the  Saturday- night prayer meetings were  still much appreciated by the ‘new converts’, but that the number of ‘old members’ present was, sadly, beginning to diminish. He exhorted: “Dangoswch well esiampl i’r ‘new converts’”!

Bethania Chapel contributed the sum of £4-18s-9d to overseas mission work. The minister’s yearly report showed that the number of members had increased from 163 to 205, largely as a result of the Revival, and that the total amount of contributions had been £285-9s-8d.

Resolven United Choir, conducted by Tom Hopkin Evans, was one of four choirs competing in a competition for choirs composed of 150 to 200 voices. The other choirs were: Merthyr and Dowlais Philharmonic Society, Mid-Rhondda Choral Society and Cwmafan United Society. The test-piece, from Mendelsohn’s ‘St.Paul’, was entitled ‘Lord, Thou alone art God’. Sir Walter Parrott, in delivering his adjudication, characterised the singing overall as excellent, but that the phrasing of all the choirs was faulty in one passage, and that the sopranos in the Resolven choir were ‘rather sharp.’

The amount to be paid by the parish of Resolven for road maintenance in the financial year 1906-07 was £174-4s, but “(…) each parish will be entitled to have the service of the steam roller at various periods during the year.”

It was reported that Rev. L. N. Roberts, a native of Resolven who had emigrated some forty years previously to Providence, Pennsylvania, in the United States, had now moved for health reasons to live in Susquehanna County also in Pennsylvania. On his departure from Providence, he was presented with a chair by the Baptist Chapel of which he was a deacon, and his wife was presented with a tea-set.

On Monday, 30 April, many friends and fellow-colliers gathered together at the Farmers’ Arms to express their good wishes to James Morgan who was now leaving Resolven for health reasons. Solos were sung and speeches made to express the high esteem with which he was regarded. He had been a most successful music director at Bethania Chapel and its minister, Rev. D. C. Davies, was of the opinion that it would have been better to present him with a gift to induce him to stay rather than to convey good wishes on his departure.

May:

David Morris, of Resolven, was accused in Court of illegally fishing in private waters near Rheola. Police Constable Davies “(…) saw the defendant and another man, who appeared to be laying night lines. He and the Gamekeeper gave chase and dashed through the big pond. They caught Morris but the other man escaped. They found seven night-lines down and four trout attached.” The defendant denied having anything to do with the lines. The Bench said that the offence was greater because the defendant belonged to the Angling Association and they fined him £1 and costs. Morris retorted: “I won’t pay a penny, I’ll go down first.”

An inquest was held at Resolven this month relating to the death of five-year old John Matthews, the son of William John Matthews, of Cory Street, Resolven. “The deceased wore a flannelette nightshirt, and a box of matches was on a chair in the bedroom on Thursday morning, when he was left alone in bed. He was found shortly afterwards in flames.” The Coroner, Howel Cuthbertson, commented severely on the use of flannelette, which was a very combustible material, and “(…) upon the carelessness in leaving matches within the reach of a child who it was known was fond of playing with them.” The verdict of the inquest was death from burns.

The following advertisement was published: “Resolven Co-operative Society. Needs a good, reliable Working Manager; bilinguist; weekly average £60. State age, salary, and references. Application, endorsed ‘Manager’, to reach the Secretary no later than 30 May.”

William Charles Williams, a haulier for a wine and spirit merchant, was accused at Neath County Police Court of driving a horse and cart “(…) without lights, and for cruelty to a horse by beating it at Resolven on 18 May.” Police Sergeant Martin said that he had seen the defendant beating the horse with all his might and he had examined the animal and found several wheals on its loins and back. In reply to a question as to why he beat the horse, the defendant replied “I cannot get the---to go. I have been to Pontrhydyfen today with a load of stuff, and when I returned I had to go out again. He is the worst horse in the stable.” Williams was fined five shillings and costs for driving without lights, and one pound and costs for ill-treating the horse.

On 19 May, an eisteddfod was held at Resolven, under the auspices of the Resolven Male Voice Party. Major J. E. Vaughan presided and the adjudicators were: David Evans, Tom Hopkin Evans and Rev. Ben Davies. The successful competitors from Resolven were: Tom Williams (children’s solo), Gwen Morgan and Tom Williams (duet), R. C. Williams (mining competition), and David Williams (free-hand drawing).

June:

Another inquest was held at Resolven, this time on the body of 14-month old Margaret Herbert, daughter of William Herbert, Cory Street, who died on 3 May “(...) from exhaustion resulting from scalds. The child, when seated at the breakfast table, overturned a cup of cocoa, scalding her arms severely.”

Mr. Place, of Resolven, advertised for sale “Champion- bred Old English Sheepdog Pups, eight weeks old, correct type and colour, also a fine Brood Bitch.”

At Neath County Police Court, Giovanni Streinate, who kept a refreshment house at Resolven, was fined ten shillings and costs for allowing the place to be open at 10.35p.m.

On 27 June, an earthquake occurred in the Swansea and Neath areas; it was one of the strongest earthquakes recorded up to this time, measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale. The shock was described as severe with much damage being caused to property in Resolven, where several women were “(…) frightened into fits.” In the vicinity, houses swayed, chimneys were knocked down, and ceilings were split.

August:

At a Male Voice Choir competition held at Carmarthen, Resolven was one of seven choirs competing, the other choirs being: Carmarthen, Carmarthen Orpheus, Morriston, Llangennech, Treorchi and Bargoed. The test-piece was: ‘On the Ramparts’. According to the adjudicator, the first prize of £30 went very decidedly to the Resolven Male Voice Party which obtained 43 marks out of 50. He thought “(…) that the tone of the tenors was exceedingly fine, the pronunciation was good and distinct, every ‘sforza’ mark good, and the first beat of the bar was throughout well-extended. He awarded this choir four marks out of five for time, four for tune, five for words, eight out of ten for accuracy, phrasing and artistic feeling, and 22 out of 25 for general effect and quality.”

At the annual Horse Show at Aberafan, Cory Brothers and Company (Limited) won the first prize in in the competition for ‘a mare or gelding, not exceeding 15 hands, which had worked underground for at least three months prior to the show.’

The Hopkin Evans Party of Resolven won the prize of £10 for the four-part chorus for male voices at the National Eisteddfod in Caernarfon. It was at this National Eisteddfod that the short oratorio ‘Llawenhewch yn yr Ior’ by David Evans, of Resolven, was first performed, in addition to his concert overture for orchestra.

In a cricket match played at home against Ystalyfera, Resolven beat their opponents by one run: Resolven 38 runs and Ystalyfera 37. Sid Powell bowled well for Ystalyfera taking 8 wickets for 6 runs.

September:

On 3 September, ‘Sedgwick’s Great Yankee Menagerie’ was scheduled to visit Resolven. This was, allegedly, ‘the largest collection of Birds, Beasts and Reptiles travelling Great Britain. A veritable Noah’s Ark on Wheels.’ It included ‘Three World- famous Lion Tamers, and the Great Lady Lion Tamer, Miss Carlotto Lorenso.’ There was also to be a ‘Great Tug-of War Contest: an Elephant against 40 local men, and a handsome Cup for the Winner.’ The admission charge would be one shilling, and sixpence for the ‘Working Classes.’

On Monday, 6 September, the oratorio ‘Elijah’ was performed at Jerusalem Chapel, under the leadership of W. T. Davies. The performers were: Miss S. M. Lewis, Ebbw Vale (soprano); Miss Richards, Rhymni (contralto); Mr Hopkins, Aberdare (bass), accompanied by R. W. Morgan (organ) and by the Hutchings orchestra of Neath. The chapel was full to capacity and the soloists, choir, accompanists and conductor were all highly praised.  After this concert, rehearsals were to begin for a performance of Haydn’s ‘Creation’.

On 15 September, Resolven Rugby Team played away to Briton Ferry Crusaders. “The homesters kicked off, and kept play in the visitors’ territory for some time. Eventually relief was found by a long kick into touch, and then the visitors made a dash for the line. Briton Ferry was penalised for offside play and Tom Brown, for Resolven, landed a penalty goal. Dai White, for Briton Ferry, got possession from a line-out, ran three-quarters of the field and scored a beautiful try, which he failed to convert. The final score was: Briton Ferry 3 and Resolven 0.”

October:

Miss Jennie M. Evans, a dress-making teacher from Resolven, was congratulated on the success of the classes which she held under the auspices of Glamorgan County Council. One of her pupils, Lizzie Price, had recently been awarded a first- class certificate by the ‘Scientific Dress-making Association.’

At Neath County Police Court, Marion Thomas of Railway Terrace, Resolven, accused Ann Morgan, also of Railway Terrace, of “(…) having wilfully beaten her son, age seven years.” The boy maintained that he had thrown a stone at Ann Morgan’s front door, and that “(…) she threw it back at him striking him on his back.” The magistrates thought it a ridiculous case to have been brought to their attention and it was dismissed.

 

November:

Annie Jane Harris, the two-year old daughter of Lewis Harris, a butcher, of Commercial Road, Resolven, met a shocking death on a Saturday early this month. “The child was playing on the pavement and, just as a coal-cart approached, she ran before it, and was knocked down. The wheel passed over her chest and death was instantaneous.”

F. C. Billens, a collier,”(…) the stepson of a black-man named Wiggins, of Cory Street, Resolven, was killed by a fall of stone at the Pwllfaron Colliery, Aberpergwm on 10 November. He was eighteen years of age.”

At a supper held by members of the Free Gardeners’ Friendly Society, the district chairman, Mr. Gregory of Resolven, read a paper on the work of Friendly Societies. He spoke very strongly of the need for centralisation of the Societies and for pooling financial resources. He also had strong views on old-age pensions and criticised those who maintained that anyone receiving four shillings and nine-pence from any source should not be entitled to an old age pension. It would be “(…) very unfair and unjust for a working man who had been battling through life to be bereft of a pension simply because of the fact that his pay would amount approximately to five shillings a week.”

Philip Richards, a collier, formerly of Cross Street, Resolven, was declared bankrupt by the Official Receiver. “The debtor with liabilities of £119 7s. and a deficiency of £106 17s., attributed his failure to disputes at collieries, which resulted in strikes, and being thrown out of employment during which time he got into debt. In November 1904, he had started as a coal dealer, a local coal merchant lending him three tons of coal on credit with which he hawked on the streets.”

December:

The Herbert Brothers, contractors of Resolven, were accused at Neath County Police Court of two breaches of the Factory Acts. They pleaded guilty to the breaches which consisted, firstly, of not complying with the regulations regarding a boiler examination and, secondly, of not reporting this. The non-reporting charge was dropped, but a fine of £5 and costs was imposed for the first charge. The Chairman remarked that “(…) the offence was a serious one, and that, if the boiler had burst, the lives of people in the vicinity would have been endangered.”

Mr. Thomas, of Company Street, Resolven, advertised: “For sale, 24 Edison, Columbia, Sterling Records; in good condition; will sell cheap to immediate purchaser; approval before payment.”

A ‘Cyfarfod cystadleuol’ was held at Seion Chapel, Resolven. The adjudicators for the evening were: R. W. Morgan, (singing), John Evans (recitation), and the accompanist was Tom Davies. The winners were: Tom Williams, (‘Mor o gan yw Cymru i gyd’); D. W. Jones, (‘Looking this way’); Jane Jones, (‘Myfi sy’n magu’r baban’); C. William and G. Newbury, joint- winners, (‘ Lead, kindly light’); best solo performance for women, shared by Mrs. Dunant and Miss M. A. Thomas; Catherine Williams, (best out of five for reciting any poem); Evan Williams, bass, (‘Cwymp Llewellyn’); and Tom Williams, tenor (‘Annwyl yw Gwalia fy ngwlad’).

 

1907

January:

After an illness lasting eight months, Edwin Roberts, a Resolven schoolmaster, passed peacefully away at the age of forty- three. On the day of his death he had completed twenty years of service as a teacher in the village, where he was much respected. He was a native of Pontyberem, a staunch churchman, and an ex-president of the Mid-Glamorgan Branch of the National Union of Teachers. He left a widow and two children.

Developments on a large scale were taking place at Ynysarwed Colliery, Resolven, on a site covering in excess of 1000 acres of steam and anthracite coal. New sidings to connect with the Great Western Railway were already in place, and machinery was being installed in order to ensure a large output of coal in the next few months. A considerable amount of capital had been invested in the enterprise. “Ynysarwed coal is an excellent steam coal and is principally shipped to French ports and especially adapted for electricity works.” This development would be very beneficial to Resolven as it would provide employment for some two hundred additional men.

At Neath County Police Court, Arthur Godfrey Davies, a butcher of Resolven, was charged with “(…) working a mare in an unfit state.” Police Constable Edwards found a large wound under the animal’s collar and another on its withers. Davies pleaded guilty, but said that “the animal was all right when he left home with a load.” He was fined fifteen shillings and costs.

February:

The following newspaper advertisement was printed in its ‘Pigeon and Poultry’ section: “For Sale, 12 Racing Homers; not rubbish, but strain guaranteed; no reasonable offer refused. Apply to Thomas, 37 Yeo Street, Resolven.” 

From Sunday 10 February to Thursday 14 February, Rosina Davies, a popular evangelist, had been invited to hold a series of revivalist meetings at Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven. Crowds attended each evening, both old and young, everyone listening attentively, with tears often seen streaming down their cheeks, “(…) dagrau yn treiglo i lawr dros eu gruddiau.”Miss Davies had last been in Resolven some 26 years previously, and her gifts and personality would long be remembered.

March:

Newspaper advertisements were placed this month by two inhabitants of Resolven. The occupant of 41 John Street, Resolven, offered for sale an: “Overstrung Upright Iron Grand Piano, latest improvements, black frame, beautiful carved panels, double sconces. Can be seen any time, cost £50; What offers?” Whilst T. Bowen, of Ynysyrallor Farm, Resolven, was looking for “A good steady man for general Farm Work; twelve shillings a week; live in; apply with references.”

Rev. R. E. Williams, Jerusalem Chapel, Resolven, was one of many who attended a conference of representatives of churches of all denominations in Glamorgan, to consider the steps to be taken to prevent the “(…) increase of drinking clubs in our valleys and towns and to counteract their deteriorating influence.”

April:

Temple Stroud, a Resolven land agent for the Whitworth Estate extending from Resolven to Tonmawr, was present at the cutting of the first sod of one of the two colliery shafts which the Company intended to sink. These two shafts were expected to be followed by a No. 3 shaft, and it was currently intended to sink only to the middle measures of the Rhondda No. 2 seams.

May:

A pit roof collapsed at the Ynysarwed Colliery, which resulted in three colliers sustaining serious injuries, one fatally. The deceased was John Evans, 53 years of age, married, with four children. “It took some time to extricate him from the fallen debris. He was in a very bad state and was conveyed with all despatch to his home, Bank House, Resolven, where he subsequently died.”

Resolven Cricket Team played at home to Swansea Thirds, the latter winning by eleven runs. The Resolven scores were: J. L. Jones 0; W. M. Thomas 6; D. Rees, 4; W. Stephens 0; T. W. Herbert 0; J. Clarke 0; H. Thomas 5; R. Stroud 1; R. Williams 3; J. Lewis 1; C. Williams, not out, 0. Extras 1. Total 21.

At Neath County Police Court, Margaret Ann Elias, of Cross Street, Resolven, was accused of verbally threatening Magdalene Bennett, who lived in the same street. Mr. David represented the defence. Bennett maintained that Elias had called her “(…) a --- white-livered cow, and threatened to draw her liver out.” During the course of the proceedings, it transpired that this was not the first time that Elias had been summoned for using obscene language and been convicted. The case, however, was dismissed.

George Wilcox, of Resolven, offered to let a “Double-fronted corner shop (butcher’s); good back premises and slaughter- house; centrally situated.”

On 24 May Resolven Parish Council resolved to establish a ‘Lighting Committee’, and members of this committee were to include D.Jones, T. Stroud, T. Davies, E.I. Jones and R. T. Pritchard.

June:

At Neath County Police Court, Mary Ann Evans, of Yeo Street, Resolven, accused her aunt, Mary Davies of Commercial Road, Resolven, of physical assault. The aunt had asked her niece for the return of some money which she claimed was owed to her. After some angry words, the niece struck her aunt, who subsequently retaliated by smacking her on the face with the back of her hand. The aunt was ordered to pay costs.

Resolven Cricket Team played away to Hirwaun, the latter winning by eight runs: Hirwaun 31; Resolven 23.When Resolven went in to bat, J.G.Harvard, for Hirwaun, had “(…) 19 overs, 6 maidens, and took 6 wickets for 9 runs in a comparatively short space of time. He also hit the bails on one occasion, a distance of 29 yards, which constitutes a record distance in local circles.”

A presentation was made to R. W. Morgan, organist at Jerusalem Chapel, on his retirement from the post after 18 years of faithful service. Speeches in grateful thanks for his services were made by the minister, Rev. R.E. Williams, and by two of the deacons: J. S. Jones and E. Jones. Miss S. Davies sang ‘Bendithiaist’; Bob Howells ‘Rock in the Cradle of the Deep’, and Miss M. L. Hopkins ‘Breuddwyd y Frenhines’.

George Williams, a collier of John Street, Resolven, was accused of being drunk and disorderly and of assaulting Police Constable Carpenter causing damage to his uniform. In a confrontation between the two, Williams had thrown the policeman to the ground at which point some 200 people soon gathered around, some of them supporting Williams and others Carpenter. One of this crowd, John Davies, was struck on the head with a poker. “A lady came and blew the policeman’s whistle to summon assistance and Police Sergeant Martin soon came and Williams was taken into custody.  At the subsequent Court proceedings, the Chairman said “(…) the thanks of the public were due to Mrs.Margaret Hadley for her assistance, and the Bench wished that everybody was as ready to do their duty as her.” Williams was sent to prison for two months. In a separate trial, John Potter, the man who had given John Davies a severe blow on the forehead with a poker rendering him unfit for  work, was sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour.

Lily Cole, daughter of John Cole, a Resolven collier, was found in an exhausted state at Cwmgwrach after having wandered overnight on the mountains. Lily’s parents “(…) knew nothing of the escapade of their daughter until the brother-in-law of the girl came over from Treorchi and informed them. The parents went to Cwmgwrach and the girl returned home to Resolven with them.”

July:

Members of Resolven Parish Council, at a meeting held on 19 July, resolved that (…) the collection of ashes from back lanes, where such lanes exist, be entered into the next Contract of Scavenging.”

Under the chairmanship of Rev. Towy Rees, a gramophone recital was held at Tabernacl Chapel, Resolven, on 29 July. The recorded music was played by George C. Howell, ‘a gramophone entertainer’, of Caer Street, Swansea. The first half of the recital comprised miscellaneous solos, duets, quartets and glees; and the second half included selections from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and ‘Elijah’. The recorded voices were those of Madame Patti, Madame Melba, Perceval Allen, John Harrison, Edward Lloyd, Caruso, Charles Knowles, Evan Williams, Andrew Black and several other well-known vocalists.

August:

Mark Trott, a collier of Resolven, was accused at Neath County Police Court of “(…) having been drunk and furiously driving a trap without lights.” Police Sergeant Martin gave evidence bearing out the charge. The magistrates found Trott guilty and he was fined two shillings and sixpence for driving without lights, and ten shillings, or seven days in prison, for ‘furious’ driving.

T. W. James, of Daisy Cottage, Railway Terrace, Resolven wanted to buy “Good strong second-hand Forms (desks) with backs, for schoolroom. Sixteen 11 foot long, six 9 foot long, four 8 foot long.”

At the National Eisteddfod held at Swansea, Resolven Male Voice Party won the first prize of £50 in the Male Voice Choir competition for choirs of between 60 to 90 voices. The test-piece was ‘Nun at Nidaros’ by the composer Dr. Dan Protheroe, who was also the adjudicator of the event. In his adjudication of the performance by the Resolven Party, Dr. Protheroe said: “Magnficent opening; intonation pure and voices rich. Rendering full of sympathy and spirit; intonation not absolutely perfect; somewhat too fast in time.” A newspaper correspondent filled in some of the background: “The Resolven Male Voice Party was formed a little over three years ago, under the leadership of Mr. J. Morgan, who is now doing well in America. They have taken part in all the chief eisteddfods since, and have been very successful, taking, with honours, eight first prizes. The mainstay of the Society is its chairman, Rhys Herbert (the father of Dr. Herbert, St. Paul, America). The secretary is Mr. T. Williams who is also the sub-conductor. Mr. W. Rowlands has worked hard with this choir.”

Mr. Jenkins of the Vaughan Arms, Resolven, offered for sale a billiard table valued at £20, or in exchange for a piano.

A colliery workman found James Green, an Irish labourer, lying injured in a cabin near Melincwrt Colliery. Green had fallen from the colliery premises onto the railway line below and had sustained a serious injury to his spine, but had managed to crawl to the cabin where he was found. Later, Dr. Pritchard, Resolven’s general pracitioner, examined Green and ordered his removal to the Neath Workhouse.

September:

Jane Jones, of Resolven, composed a eulogy to Tom Hopkin Evans, praising his successes at the last two National Eisteddfods. The first verse is as follows: “Tyr’d awen, deffro enyd, / A thyred gyda mi/ I ganu llwyddiant bywyd/ I Hopkin Evans gu; / Mae wedi cipio gwobr/ Ar lwyfan bri o’r tan, / A gwn fe gipia ragor/ Yn ngwyliau gwlad y gan.”

Two colliers, Thomas Hopkins and William Griffith Thomas, “(…) while riding a tandem bicycle near Resolven, lost control of the machine which dashed down an incline at a furious rate. At the bottom of the hill, they collided with the end- wall of a house. Both men were flung violently off the machine, which was smashed to pieces. There was no brake on the tandem. Hopkins had a fractured skull and concussion of the brain and died of his injuries. Thomas is suffering from concussion of the brain.”

Students of the Resolven Machine Construction, Drawing and Applied Mechanic Classes “(…) visited the well-known Steel Works belonging to Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, Limited. The party was shown around the works with the greatest courtesy by the officials, everything being explained, from the raw Bilbao ore to the finished steel-plates ready for shipment. The party was taken on top of the No.1 Furnace, which stands 110 feet high and were witnesses of the world-record finishing charges.”

At Neath County Court, Mark Evans, an elderly man of Rose Cottage, Resolven, exclaimed to the bench of magistrates: “I want to get two of my sons out of the house. They abuse me, knock me about and never pay anything for their keep. I am suffering from a kick now.” The clerk of the court explained to him that he should serve his sons with a written notice, and Superintendent Menhennick added that he would do his best to help the applicant.

At the village schoolroom, members of Resolven Male Voice Party, winners of the first prize at the National Eisteddfod at Swansea, were entertained to dinner to celebrate their splendid achievement. The Party sang ‘Crossing the Plain’, in addition to the test-piece which they had sung at Swansea. Songs were also sung by M. Davies, D. Cynon Evans and others.

October:

David Evans, of Resolven, currently Lecturer and Head of Music at University College Cardiff, composed ‘The Coming of Arthur’, a dramatic oratorio which was performed at the Cardiff Triennial Festival.

Members of the Lighting Committee, at a meeting of the Parish Council held on 25 October, proposed three additional lamps for the village: one in Vale terrace, one in Cross Street, and one in New Inn Place and this proposal was carried unanimously. It was also resolved at this meeting that Neath Rural District Council be asked to spray with tar the main roads in the village  from the Church to Sion Chapel and down to the River Bridge, and also that the postal authorities be petitioned for letters to be delivered to Resolven on Sundays.

December:

In the Royal Courts of Justice, B. Francis Williams, K. C. sat as a referee appointed by the arbitrators in the dispute between Grey and Lewis, H. M. Inspectors of Mines, and Cory Brothers Limited. The matter in dispute was whether safety lamps were to be used, or not used, in certain mines belonging to Cory Brothers Limited. Apparently, a new rule had been proposed by the Home Office exempting some mines from using safety lamps and these mines included Glyncastle, Rheola, and No. 1 Level, Resolven. The proceedings were adjourned until a later date.

Month unknown:

The Tyra/Tyrrau colliery levels were opened this year.

 

1908

January:

Through the medium of the press, David Evans, of Resolven, a Lecturer in Music at University College, Cardiff, expressed his opinions on the Welsh attitude to music and on the merits and de-merits of the competitive system as found in eisteddfodau: “The competitive spirit I should like to do away with. There should be more mutual respect among Welsh professional musicians. Like so many other things, the system has good and bad features. The ruin of the eisteddfod has been the money-making aspect: if we need £70 to repair our chapel, we get up an eisteddfod. That I do not like. Cannot the chapel find some other way of raising money? And on the other hand, our choirs would never have attained the perfection of technique without the stimulation of competition. (…) The Welsh run too much in the groove of Handel and Mendelssohn. They seem also to get to a certain point and there to stop. Our musicians sadly need a course of hearing the best music: Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mozart. How often are these composers heard in Wales?  But of course there is the practical difficulty, lack of money stops the way.”

At a meeting of the Neath Rural District Council, the medical officer, Dr Whittington, reported that there had been several cases of scarlet fever and croup in Resolven within the last month and that twenty inhabitants had died in that period.

Workers at the three collieries in Resolven, (Glyncastle, Rheola, and the No1 Level), along with other colliers in Glamorgan employed by Cory Brothers Company Limited, were of the opinion that there was no need for specially appointed people at each colliery to be responsible for re-lighting safety lamps. They maintained, contrary to Home Office directives, that the colliers themselves were capable of doing this.

February:

A poem on the theme of Christmas composed by Sam Lloyd, of Resolven, (Myfyr Nedd), was published in the newspapers. The first verse is as follows: “Ddydd Nadolig! Ddydd bendigaid, / Canwn, ‘deulu’r ffydd,’/ Molwn gyda’r llon ‘fugeiliaid’/ Yn yr hapus ddydd; / Syllwn ar y ‘baban Iesu,’/ Gwelwn ‘Dduw’ mewn cnawd! / Gorfoleddwn am y ‘geni’, / Ganwyd ini ‘Frawd’”.

At Neath County Court, Frederick Spencer, of Resolven, sued the South Wales Equitable Friendly Society for the sum of £8- 2s which he alleged was owing to him from an insurance policy he held on the life of his father. The Friendly Society was not represented at Court, and the magistrates judged in favour of Spencer, with costs.

March:

A Mr. Thomas, of Company Street, Resolven, advertised for sale a “Dulcetto Phonograph and 20 Records, £3-5s. With large Brass Horn £3-10s. Can be heard playing any evening.”

April:

At an inquest into the death of Evan Richard Lloyd, a ‘repairer’ of Yeo Street, Resolven, it was stated that “(…) the deceased was following a coal-cutting machine when a   roof-fall occurred, and he was killed almost instantaneously, sustaining a fractured neck.” The verdict of accidental death was reached, and the colliery management was urged to follow the recommendation of His Majesty’s Inspector of Mines that supporting timber props in the colliery be placed at six- feet intervals instead of the present nine- feet.

An employee of the Singer Machine Company based at Orchard Street, Neath, placed a notice in the newspapers: “Lost. Gold Buckle Ring in 12.30 motor car (i.e. train) from Resolven, or in Neath Railway Station. Finder handsomely rewarded.”

At a meeting of Neath Rural District Council, the Medical Officer, Dr Whittington, reported “(…) a marked improvement in the sanitary conditions at Resolven”. He also informed the committee that in March there had been 109 births and 59 deaths in the district. At a later meeting of the Council’s Highway Committee, under the presidency of J. Edwards Vaughan, it was decided that repairs should be undertaken as soon as possible on Glyncastle Road, Resolven.

In Court, Maggie Davies, of Resolven, requested that she be awarded a separation order from her husband, Evan John Davies, a collier. She maintained that her husband “(…) had bullied, nagged and threatened her two weeks before her baby was born, had threatened to throw a lamp at her and had told her to clear out of the house. When she was laid up after her confinement, he grumbled about the cost of milk provided for her and prevented any fire being lit in her room.” The Bench of magistrates granted a separation order, the husband having to contribute ten shillings per week, and the mother to have custody of the child.

In the Horse and Donkey races at Tonypandy, Daniel Richards, of Resolven, came third on ‘Annie Bellini’ in the ‘One mile-and-a half trotting in harness’ competition.

At the Castle Hotel, Neath on Wednesday 29 April, a sale by auction was to be held for any interested colliery proprietors or timber merchants. The sale consisted of: “Birch and other Poles and Underwood. Comprising an area of 100 acres or thereabouts now standing or growing on Ynysarwed Farm, Resolven, adjoining the main turnpike road, adjacent to the canal, and about two miles from Resolven Station.”

Resolven Co-operative Society advertised for: “A Junior Assistant; to assist in shop and to take charge of horse; wages 24 shillings.”

May:

At Neath County Police Court, Albert Samson, a Resolven engine driver, summoned Rogers and Sons, builders, for the recovery of £1 which he maintained was owing to him. The claim was admitted, but a counter-claim of £1 was put forward against Salmon for leaving work early. The Bench judged in favour of Salmon as far as the claim was concerned, but against him in the counter-claim. In the same Court sessions, Samuel Veall was accused of leaving his horse and cart on a road in Resolven for an unreasonable amount of time, blocking the way of a haulier who was unable to pass to unload his van and kept waiting for fifteen minutes. Veall retorted: “That is forgery. It is a lie. (Laughter in Court).” Veall was fined ten shillings and costs.

Herbert Evans, James Morris and John Jenkins, all of Resolven, were put in police custody on a charge of stealing, at the Crown Hotel, Neath, an overcoat valued at sixty shillings which belonged to Mr. Ebsworth, a cattle dealer from Pendine. The three accused had quickly disappeared from the hotel after the theft, but were eventually caught by Police Sergeant Davies and the coat recovered. The three were committed for trial, bail being accepted.

 

 

June:

Resolven Cricket Team played at home to Aberaman. The final score was Resolven 43 runs and Aberaman 75. The Resolven team, with their respective scores, comprised W. M. Thomas 1; David Rees 0; J. Stephens 7; D. J. Jones 0; Tom Williams 0; W. Stephens 16; Gwilym Davies 2; J. Jones 8; R. Williams 5; T. Herbert 0; and Llewellyn Lewis 1. Extras 3.

July:

At the Court sessions held at Neath, Sarah Ann Lloyd, of Cory Street, Resolven, testified that her husband, David Lloyd, had deserted her. Two years previously he had stayed away for nine months; he had written to ask her to join him, but she didn’t reply. In a written statement to the Court, David Lloyd said “(…) it was all through his wife’s mother that he had left Resolven. She wanted to rule his home as well as her own. No doubt she wanted him to pay to her daughter so she could rule his money as well.” He was, however, ordered to pay maintenance to his wife of fourteen shillings a week.

An inquest relating to the death of George Crabb, a collier of John Street, Resolven, was held at Swansea Hospital. A representative of Cory Brothers’ Colliery Limited and W.E. Morgan, a Miners’ Agent, were present. Witnesses included Maria Crabb, the deceased’s mother, John Thomas Davies, a night overman, and Thomas Oaten, a banksman. In work, Crabb had complained of an acute pain in his stomach and was consequently placed on a horse to be taken home; there he was examined by a doctor who administered chloroform, after concluding that the pain was caused by a rupture. In hospital, Crabb was diagnosed with a strangulated hernia, but sadly died soon afterwards. A verdict of death in accordance with medical testimony was returned.

James Jenkins, of the Vaughan Arms, Resolven, advertised a “fully -licensed Public House to let”. He must have had second thoughts about this for later in the year he advertised for “a Lady-Pianist and Vocalist. A good vamper and singer.”

August:

Members of the Resolven Male Voice Party arrived in Ilfracombe where they had planned to give a series of concerts, only to find that the audiences in the hall booked for them on the first two nights were so scanty that the choir was unable to cover its expenses. Some members of the choir subsequently came up with the idea of singing outdoors on Capstone Hill where, despite a large and highly appreciative audience, it was soon discovered that they were unable to collect any money for their efforts as this was contrary to local bye-laws. On hearing this, a deputation of eight people from the outdoor audience marched to the Council offices where the Chairman was put under so much  pressure that he eventually allowed the choir to sing on a piece of land which he owned. “Here the Party held concerts in the afternoon and evening to immense audiences.”

In Swansea, representatives of the Resolven collieries were among 4,000 or so members of the Western and Anthracite Miners’ Association who marched in its annual procession, prior to a mass meeting at the town’s Albert Hall. Speakers at that meeting included the Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill, M.P. and W. Abraham (Mabon). Among the topics discussed were the Miners’ Eight Hours Bill and the build-up of German militarisation and aggression.

Two Resolven men, Charles Ridout and Morgan Rees Hopkins, were charged with stealing two billiard balls valued at £2 from the Neath Workmen’s Social Club. The men had been in the billiard room of the Club and, after they had left, the balls were noticed to be missing. “The billiard-marker followed them down High Street and asked them to return the balls, but they denied having them.” When they were arrested by Police Constable Thomas, however, the balls were found to be in Ridout’s pocket. In Court, they both pleaded guilty.

September:

At a creditors’ meeting at Swansea, Samuel Jones, a labourer of Cory Street, Resolven, was shown to have gross liabilities of £63, and assets of £10, resulting in a deficit of £53. The causes of his financial predicament were said to be: “Sickness and death in family, and irregular employment.”

Resolven Cricket Team played away to Swansea Thirds at St. Helen’s Ground and won by 110 runs to 61. The Resolven team with their respective scores were:   W. M. Thomas 11; J. Jones 0; W. Stephens 15; G. Davies 0; T. Herbert 1; Stevens 5; D. Jones 20; P. Williams 23; T. Evans 2; R. Williams 13; Robert Williams 5;Extras 7.

A serious accident occurred at Neath. “A group from Resolven had been attending a funeral at Neath and, on the return journey back to Resolven, the brake in which they were travelling collapsed as it crossed the bridge over the River Neath, throwing all the occupants, about twelve in number, to the ground.” The driver was seriously injured, as was Mrs. Hughes of Company Street; others suffered from shock and bruises and were forced to stay overnight at Neath.

At Neath Magistrates’ Court, Miss Thomas, landlady of the New Inn, Resolven, applied for permission to hold a meeting of the Buffalo Lodge on a Sunday. The magistrates ruled that “(…) as long as she kept within the law all would be well,” and the magistrates’ clerk emphasised: “You must clearly understand that the Resolven people will not be entitled to intoxicating drink on that day.”

At Neath County Police Court, James Morris, a night labourer of Resolven, failed to turn up to answer a charge of “(…) sleeping with a lighted lamp down Glyncastle Pit”, and, consequently, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Jenkin Lloyd, of Resolven, passed the entrance examination to study at Bala-Bangor Theological College. He was placed fourth in the pass-list.

October:

Resolven Rugby Team played at home against Danygraig. “Resolven kicked off and ten minutes from the start Jack Miles scored for Danygraig. The kick at goal failed. Miles has thus the honour of scoring the first try on the Resolven ground. The Danygraig backs passed beautifully and were chiefly in the Resolven half. After beautiful passing, Shefford scored, which was converted. In the second half, play for a time ruled even. One of the Resolvenites was knocked out and Resolven were now playing a man short. Dai Parry nearly scored for Resolven, but was held up on the line. Llewellyn Bowen scored an unconverted try for Resolven. The final score was Danygraig: one converted goal and one try; Resolven: one try.”

At a meeting of the Glamorgan Standing Joint Committee, Resolven was one of nine districts to be granted an additional police constable. It was also reported at the meeting that the police force in Glamorgan now consisted of 467 men and 41 private constables, serving a population of 702,700.

At the Bridgend Poultry, Pigeon and Cage-bird Society Exhibition, the Thomas Brothers of Resolven, “(…) captured firsts and specials in the Buff Orpington cock and hen classes respectively.”

The Tynewydd Hounds met at Resolven and found their quarry, a fox, at the top of the Tyrrau. It broke away in the direction of Cwmgwrach, ran back again to Resolven and “(…) was rolled over at the top of the Tyrrau, after a remarkably fast run lasting an hour.”

November:

Resolven Seconds Rugby Team played away to Aberdare County School. “Resolven was much the heavier team, and the visiting forwards had little difficulty in heeling and wheeling the scrummages, but Williams, their outside half, appeared too slow in breaking away with the ball. After some passing, Lewis Bevan, the Resolven inside half, ran over with a try, which Llewellyn Lewis failed to convert. Pritchard found relief for the visitors time after time. Eventually Stroud, the visiting right centre, tried to drop a goal, but the ball fell short and Rowlands, a Resolven forward, followed up well and dropped over with a try, which Stroud failed to improve upon. In the second half, Resolven came away with a bang. The visitors were powerful in every department and tries were further added by Llewellyn Lewis, Ned Morgan, Tom Williams, Ernie Lewis and Lewis Bevan, the latter’s try converted by Ernie Lewis. Final score: Resolven Seconds: 1 goal, 6 tries. Aberdare County School: nil.”

The finances of William Hickey, a shoe- maker of Commercial Road, Resolven, were placed under public scrutiny at the Neath Bankruptcy Court: his liabilities amounted to £138 and his deficit to £137. Hickey attributed his failure to: “(…) bad debts, lodging expenses and the heavy rent of his shop.” The Court Registrar agreed to an adjournment as there were still proceedings pending in the case.

At Neath County Court, David Bassett, a collier, was released from paying five shillings a week maintenance to his wife, Mary Bassett, on the grounds of her adultery with a man named Brown who had been witnessed lying on her bed. Another witness, Mary Jones, of Resolven, had seen the couple together in the Vaughan Arms and recounted hearing Mrs. Bassett say to Brown in relation to the gold and silver coins which had been put on the table in front of them: ‘All right, dear, the money is as good in your pocket as in mine.’” A third witness. Arthur Godfrey Davies, a butcher of Resolven, said he had seen Brown “(…) putting Mrs. Bassett, who was in a drunken state, to bed just after midnight.”

The death occurred in Resolven of Captain Temple Stroud, who for eighteen years had worked as Agent for the Whitworth Estate. Born in Monmouth in 1827, he was the oldest certificated colliery manager in south Wales. He was “(…) thorough in all things and the tenants of the Whitworth estate, and all having business with him, will miss him much.”

John Rees, of Yeo Street, Resolven, pleaded guilty at Court to trespassing on the Great Western Railway at Neath on 20 September. It was reported that “(…) the defendant had evidently got very drunk. He was found under the grease-box of a truck, and in his pockets were three bottles. Showing how near death he had been, one of the trucks had actually passed over one of the bottles cutting off its neck.” Rees was fined ten shillings and costs.

December:

William David Mort, a Resolven labourer, was charged with “(…) stealing on 4 December a pair of trousers, a waistcoat and a glass valued at £1, the property of his landlord, Richard Lloyd. He maintained that he did not steal the things; he simply borrowed them.” Mort was nevertheless sentenced to 21 days’ hard labour.

Thomas Phillips, a collier of John Street, Resolven, sought the aid of the public in finding his missing wife whom he had last seen on 21 December. “He came home about 8.30 in the morning and his wife, with whom he had been on fairly good terms, was in the kitchen. No words passed between them of any consequence, and he went to bed. An hour and a half later, he woke up because the baby was crying downstairs and he found that there was nobody there to look after it. Mrs. Phillips had left the house and a neighbour said that she had seen her on the way to the railway station. Beyond that, no trace of her is to be found. From the clothes missing from the house, it appears she was wearing a grey jacket, a grey motor cap, a black skirt and lace-up boots. She is of dark complexion, pale, 30 years of age and about 5ft 3ins in height. The husband has the care of three little children on his hands.”

A very successful eisteddfod was held at Tabernacl Chapel, Resolven. The adjudicators were David Evans, (music), Dr Pritchard (ambulance), and the accompanist was Miss M. E. Rees. The winners were: Neath Abbey and Morriston, jointly (children’s choir); Janet Lloyd, Pont-nedd-fechan (soprano solo); Maggie Cox, Swansea (contralto solo); competitors from Pontardawe and Pontardulais, jointly (duet for tenor and bass); Llewellyn Jones, Aberdare (tenor solo), David Davies, Alltwen (baritone solo); S. Hopkins, Ystalyfera (adult piano solo); ‘Ivor’, Cwmafan (children’s piano solo); Bert Phillips, Aberaman (violin solo); ‘Gweledydd’, Abercraf (‘pryddest’ and ‘englyn’); R. J. Bennett, Ogmore Vale (mining competition); Trecynon (chief choral competition, singing the  test-piece , ‘ Father, whose Almighty Power’ by Handel). Five choirs competed: Resolven, Trecynon, Neath Temperance, Skewen, and Abernant. In the ambulance competition, prizes were divided between six out of the seven competing teams.

 

1909

January:

Twenty-three year old Robert Edwards was accused of embezzlement by his former employer, T. C. Young, a Neath wine and spirit merchant. Edwards had called at the house of Catherine Mills in John Street, Resolven, and collected the sum of nine shillings which she owed. It was only later, after Edwards had stopped working for him that Young discovered nine shillings had indeed been received from Catherine Mills, but that this sum had not been accounted for. Edwards pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to one month in prison with hard labour.

February:

Henry Clifford Darby, destined to become Britain’s most eminent historical geographer, was born on 7 February at 3 Cross Street, Resolven, the son of Evan Darby, a colliery mechanic and blacksmith, and of his wife Janet. The family later moved to live in 19 Coronation Avenue. After leaving Neath County School, he went up to Cambridge University at the age of sixteen, eventually becoming a Fellow of King’s College. After wartime service with Naval Intelligence, he became Professor of Geography at Liverpool University and, in 1966, Professor of Geography at   Cambridge University. He retired in 1976, was knighted in 1988, and died in 1992. He is best known for his work on the massive Domesday project which attempted to reconstruct the geography of England in the eleventh century.

March:

Winifred Lewis, of Tan-y-bryn, Resolven, accused Ann Morgan of assaulting her. The two girls came across each other in Commercial Road, Resolven and, after a few angry words, Morgan struck Winifred Lewis with a bottle and broke two of her teeth. Morgan was fined ten shillings and costs.

For the half-yearly period ending on 31 March, the amount of rates collected by the Overseers from village ratepayers was £1727.15.0, out of which the Neath Union Treasurer received £1080.0.0 and the Neath Rural District Council received £333.10.0. The two Overseers for Resolven at this time were John Jones and F.H. Beaman.

April:

Thirty-three people from Resolven were among the seventy-five candidates for confirmation by the Bishop of Llandaff at St. Annes’ Church, Tonna. The officiating clergy were the Revd. David Thomas, Vicar of Resolven, and the Revd. Chaloner Lindsey, Vicar of Tonna and Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Glamorgan.

An application was received by George Barker, a consulting engineer, for the patenting of an invention which had been submitted to him by E. J. Broome, of Resolven. The invention was a ‘Rope Grip’, described as “(…) constituted by two jaws formed on the ends of two bars, which are embraced by a collar. The jaws are tightened by lowering the collar, and the collar is held down by a spring-catch or the like. One of the bars has a hook formed upon it, and the other is bent outwards so that the collar may force the jaws open when it is lifted. A stop prevents the collar coming right off, a projection on one bar entering a recess, and the other forms a hinge.”

William Hawkins, a collier of Resolven, was accused of obstructing Police Constable Cooke in the execution of his duties at Resolven. The constable stated that Hawkins “(…) had put an umbrella between his (the constable’s) legs and tried to throw him down.” Hawkins maintained it was an accident, but was fined ten shillings and costs.

In another case of embezzlement, Frederick Charles Lucas was sentenced to one month in prison with hard labour for deceiving his employer, T. C. Young, a wine and spirit merchant. Among the witnesses were Mrs. Catherine Davies, of New Inn Place, Resolven and Mrs. Margaret Harris of Company Street, Resolven who stated that they had in good faith paid Young certain sums of money which in total came to twenty-two shillings and ten pence. Young had, however, deliberately failed to pass these monies on to his employer.

A well-attended ‘smoking concert’ was held at Resolven at which John Evans was presented with a marble clock on the occasion of his departure from the village to take up the post of Inspector on the Great Western Railway at Carmarthen. He had been treasurer of the Resolven Reading Room for twenty-four years, and had also done sterling work in other local institutions including the Friendly Societies. Mr. Evans said that he was glad to be leaving the Reading Room in such a flourishing condition and he hoped that that this would continue until a more extensive building was erected to meet the needs of the young people of the village. Speeches of thanks were made by several of those present, including one by T. W. Herbert, the chairman of the Reading Room.

At the annual ‘Cymanfa’ of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists held at Aberdulais on Easter Monday, “(…) a very little girl from Resolven recited from memory an extract from the New Testament, namely, the long fifteenth chapter of Paul’s first Letter to the church at Corinth. The little scholar did not once falter or forget, and rendered the difficult chapter with eloquence.”

June:

Mr. Richards, of Pentreclwydau, Resolven, advertised for a: “Respectable man wanted on Farm; able to milk and to assist in milk round; abstainer. Reference and wages required.”

William David Richards, aged seven, of Yeo Street, Resolven, along with six or seven other children, were chasing some horses in a field at Resolven. William caught hold of the tail of one of the horses, and the horse retaliated by kicking the boy in the stomach. The boy sadly died the following morning as a result of this injury.

The Right Honourable David Lloyd George, accompanied by Sir William T. Lewis, paid a visit to the collieries at Resolven and Aberpergwm. Lloyd George said he had come to this part of the country “(…) in which are illustrated every form of the land taxes dealt with in the Budget.”

Henry Morris, of Resolven, was accused of using threatening and abusive language on a train and picking a fight with a fellow train- passenger. In Court, he was fined forty shillings and costs, or one month in prison.

In the West Glamorgan Baptist Sunday School examinations, the following, with the marks they obtained, were successful in the under-sixteen class: Thomas John Davies: 91; Ernest Davies: 90; William H. Jones: 90; Llewellyn Morgan: 54; Mary Davies: 96; Mary Lizzie Pike: 93; Priscilla Davies: 92; Bess Morgan: 99.

At a meeting held at Swansea of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Colliery Enginemen, Stokers and Craftsmen’s Association an address was delivered by W. Hopkins of Resolven on “(...) the Mines’ Eight Hours Act and its application to the various underground sections of workmen in the mechanical department. It was evident that there would be some re-arrangements necessary between the management and the men to enable the changing of shifts to be made at weekends.”

Resolven Cricket Team played away to Swansea Thirds winning by 76 runs to 33 runs. The Resolven scores were J. R. Davies: 2; R. Stroud: 17; J. Stephens: 0; D. Rees not out: 34; W.M. Thomas: 0; W. Stephens: 7; J. G. Jones not out: 12

In its match against Neath Seconds, Resolven Cricket Team won by two wickets and 12 runs. The Resolven team, with their respective scores, were R. Stroud: 10; J. Lloyd: 1; D. Rees: 32; J. G. Jones: 0; W. M. Thomas: 4; W. Stephens, not out,:9: J. Stephens: 1; W. Herbert: 3; J. Clarke: 0; R. C. Williams, not out,: 12. Extras: 16. Total for eight wickets: 88.  (In the table of local cricket batting records, D. Rees of Resolven came 26^th with his score of 32 runs in this match. The highest score achieved was by W. J. Bancroft with 139 runs in the Swansea versus Llanelli match.)

On 19 June, at the Vaughan’s Arms, a ‘Smoker’ was held to celebrate Resolven Rugby Club’s achievement in winning the Neath and District League Shield and Medals 1908-1909.

July:

 In the Aberpergwm Horse Show held at Morfa Glas, Glynneath, E. Evans, of Resolven, came second in the ‘Colliery Horse’ competition.

Louisa Beynon, the wife of a Resolven labourer, was charged “(…) with stealing two pieces of muslin from the counter of the village shop owned by Mr. Brinley Richards. Police Sergeant Ben Davies proved the case against the prisoner.” She admitted the theft and was fined twenty shillings and costs.

August:

G. Thomas was a successful Resolven competitor in the Sports Day held at Aberdare. He came first in the first heat of the One Mile Novice Cycle Race and second in the final of that race. He also came first in the first heat of the One Mile Open Cycle Race.

On their march from Merthyr to Pontardawe, the Merthyr Territorials reached Resolven at 10.50 in the morning and then proceeded to Melincwrt where they stopped to take their mid-day meal. “A nice shady spot near a pretty waterfall and running brook was selected for the ‘run-up’. The pots and pans were got out and a fire was soon started, and the coffee brewed. While these preliminaries were being carried out, the men were ordered to ‘peel off’ and bathe their feet in the stream. The luxury of this foot parade was appreciated by all. It refreshed them and, after a pipe of peace, the men renewed their march with renewed vigour.” 

Resolven District Cottage Gardening Society organised a well-attended exhibition of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and poultry at the Mission Hall. “The entries were not as numerous as in the previous year, but the quality of the exhibits was praiseworthy, although the season had affected the garden produce and in consequence the classes for fruit and flowers lacked much support.” The silver cup for the best exhibitor went to Fred Ball, of Blaengwrach, who carried off twelve first prizes and a number of second prizes. Winners from Resolven included F.H. Beaman, G. Squire, and J. J. Evans. The judges from Resolven were: J. Crofts (flowers and vegetables); D. J. Jones (poultry); Mrs. J. H. Morgan and Mrs. Powell (dressed poultry). The president of the Society was Major J. Edwards-Vaughan, Rheola; the secretary was S. Stroud; and the treasurer was Police Sergeant Martin.

About 150 colliers employed at the Neath-Merthyr Colliery, Melincwrt, went on strike after a dispute with management over a weighing machine. This machine had been tested by the County Inspector who found it to be in correct working order, but the men refused to return to work. At a subsequent mass meeting, the men decided to ask for an increase in wages, but this was refused and the management issued 76 summonses against the men for being absent from work.

An Athletic Sports Day, the first of its kind in Resolven, was held “(…) in fine weather, before a capital attendance. The arrangements were excellent, and the programme was much appreciated.” Winners from Resolven were: E. Williams, who came second in the one- mile novice cycle race; Harry Morgan, first in the one-mile open cycle handicap; Watkin Evans, first in the ‘kicking a football’ competition; W. Evans, first in the competition which involved throwing a cricket ball for a distance of 110 yards; D. Durham, first in the boys’ race; and Jonah Griffiths, first in the ‘bowling at wicket’ competition. ( In context: the first athletics meeting in Wales was held at Cwmystwyth in 1860, the Amateur Athletic Club was formed in 1866, Newport Athletic Club in 1875, the Amateur Athletic Association in 1880,  Wales’ first amateur athletics event was held in 1893, and the first athletics championship was held in Newport in 1907.)

At the first annual show of the Pontardulais Horticultural, Poultry and Bee-Keeping Society, the Thomas Brothers of Resolven won first prize in the competition for ‘any variety of pullet’.

September:

On 4 September the following advertisement was placed in the newspapers: “Resolven Rugby Club (Winners of the Neath and District League Shield and Medals (1908-1909) want fixtures with good junior teams; also for Seconds (age 16-18years.) Apply: J. Clarke, Secretary, 15 Yeo Street.”

Mrs. Lascelles, of Brynawel, Resolven, was one of several people who had handed over money to William Dowsell, a van-driver, to settle her account with his employer, Gwyn Nicholls, Winsfield and Company, laundry owners of Cadoxton.  Dowsell, however, had kept the money for himself, deliberately failing to give it to his employer. He was eventually arrested, found guilty of embezzlement and theft, and sentenced on each charge to a month in prison with hard labour.

Evan Elias, a haulier, of Cross Street, Resolven, was accused at Court of neglecting his five children. Inspector Best, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, reported that when he had called at the defendant’s house in June, four of the children there were badly nourished and ill-clad. The house was clean, but there was practically no furniture, and not a morsel of food. His wife, Margaret Elias, said that she had fifteen children, but only seven were now under her care. She maintained that her husband had not given her any money for nine weeks and that she had been forced to sell most of her furniture to buy food. Evan Elias, who was described by his wife as of a rambling disposition, claimed that work had been slack. Nonetheless, he was sent to prison for one month, without the option of a fine.

Tenders were invited from builders and contractors “(…) for the erection of a Bakery and Stores for the Resolven Industrial Co-operative Society.” Plans and specifications could be viewed at the offices of T. Cook Rees, Architect, Neath, and tenders were to be submitted on, or before, 25 September.

At a meeting of Glamorgan County Council, Dr. Williams, the medical officer, spoke of the inadequate or unsatisfactory water supply in many areas of the county, but stated that Resolven, along with other parts of Neath Rural District Council, would soon benefit from a very large scheme-the Ystradfellte Water Scheme- which was estimated to cost in the region of £200,000.

To mark the opening of their new rugby ground, Resolven Rugby Team “(…) played a match against a team got up by the popular Neath and International forward, D. H. Davies. Unfortunately, several of the visiting team cried off at the last moment, and their places were filled by Resolven men. Police Constable Pullman and T. C. Lloyd were the pick of the visitors, while for Resolven, Dai Parry and Llew Bevan were the shining lights. The game was a fast one, and Llew Bevan scored an unconverted try.” The final score was Resolven: 3; D.H. Davies’s team: 0.

October:

John Morgan, of John Street, Resolven advertised in the newspapers for any information on the current whereabouts of his aunt who had left Wales for America in 1868.

Heavy rainfall played havoc at Resolven: “The Clydach Brook, which runs through the village, carried away an iron girder bridge and a huge volume of water poured into the roadway, flooding Neath Road and the Railway Station. The houses in Yeo Street were flooded and New Inn Row was practically under water. The damage to property has been considerable. The No.1 seam level of Messrs. Cory Brothers and Co; (Limited) could not be worked owing to damage caused by the flood, and the telephone service was also greatly dislocated.”  At a subsequent meeting of the Neath Rural District Council, D. M. Davies, the Highway Surveyor, stated “(…) that the rainfall was the highest on record for the past twenty years being 3.3 inches north of Resolven and 2.93 at Neath. The rush of water from the Clydach Brook at Resolven brought down a large quantity of debris and the immediate repairs would cost about £100.”

November:

At the Neath Bankruptcy Court, William Stanford, a collier, of Glynneath Road, Resolven, “(…) lately trading as a baker and confectioner at Bristol House, Resolven, had liabilities of £202-18s-10d, a deficiency of £189-4s-6d. The causes of his failure were alleged to be want of capital and heavy trade expenses. The debtor said his takings averaged £10 a week, and he made £2-10s gross profit. He went to America in February, his passage costing £9-10s.” When asked by the Official Receiver why he went, he said: “Some fit came over me, and I went unawares to anyone.” He had lodged with relatives in New York for five weeks and had worked his passage back home in a cattle boat. The bankruptcy examination was adjourned.

Lewis Harris, a butcher of Resolven, placed the following advertisement:” Wanted, at once, a strong girl to assist in house duties; fond of children; comfortable home.”

Under the heading ‘Foot Guards, Grenadiers, 2^nd Battalion’, the name of Private David St. John, of Resolven, was inscribed on the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff. The Memorial had been unveiled by General Sir John French and contained the names of all those who had died in the South African War.

John Williams, a collier of Resolven, was ordered by the Neath Board of Guardians to repay the monies which they had paid to his wife and children whom he had deserted. The case had been adjourned on two occasions to give the defendant the opportunity to pay. The amount owing was £2-14s. When asked why he had not paid the balance, he replied “Cos I haven’t got the money.” When, however, he was committed to prison for fourteen days the defendant paid up immediately.

 

1910

January:

Two Resolven colliers, Joseph Tregoning and Ernest Lewis, were accused of “(…) engaging in a prize fight on the mountain near Resolven on the 29th of December. Police Sergeant Martin said that the men had fought 23 rounds with bare fists, and Tregoning appeared to be the winner. The defendants were bound over to keep the peace for six months and to pay costs.”

A poem in Welsh composed by Edward Jones of Resolven was printed in the newspapers. The first verse reads: “Peidiwn gorphwys ar ein rhwyfau/ Tra yn marchog gwar y don, / Holl ystormydd maith ganrifau/ Aflonydda ysbryd hon; / Pa sawl braich fu dan ei phennyd/ Er amddiffyn cam y gwan, / Llawer cleddyf dur a dorwyd/ Gan y tadau ar ein rhan.”

Three Resolven boys, aged 10, 11 and 13, were accused at Neath Court of “(…) stealing eight packets of sweets from an automatic vending machine at Resolven railway station on 4 January. The defendants abstracted the sweets by using metal checks, of which 58 were found inside the machine.” They pleaded guilty, and their parents were each fined twenty shillings including costs.

William Stanford, of Glynneath Road, Resolven, “(…) a collier, lately residing and carrying on a business at Bristol House, Resolven as a Baker and Confectioner,” was offering his debts for sale at £3- 6s- 2d.

Mr. Oaten, of Resolven, placed the following advertisement: “Bargain. For Sale, two Nanny Goats (one hornless); must sell; room wanted; no reasonable offer refused.”

E. Darby, of Resolven, was the lantern-operator at a lecture given by the Vicar of Aberpergwm on a tour the vicar had made through the Crimea in the summer of 1909. “The lecturer described his visit to Balaclava and to the site of the historic charge of the Light Brigade, whence he sent a greeting to the gallant survivor, Lord Tredegar.”

February:

W. M. Jones (representing Resolven Colliery) and J. Beaman (representing Glyncastle Colliery) were present at the funeral of John Cory held at the parish church of St. Nicholas, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Following a vist to Resolven Infants’ School on 16 February, the Government Inspector of Schools wrote that Resolven Infants school “(…) suffers from overcrowding especially in the main room, but the Mistress and her staff work very conscientiously and the children seem to be making very good progress. The elements of reading, writing and number are soundly taught, and the morning talks with the children have been very beneficial in strengthening their powers of observation and expression. Simultaneous answering should, however, be checked. There is a class of children under five for which there is really no room at present. These Babies should be excluded. Dual desks should be substituted for the remaining long ones.” The average attendance for the week of the Inspector’s visit was 223, and the number on the books was 258.

March:

At Court in Neath, “(…) George Williams and Charles Hill, tramps, were charged with breaking in to Resolven Co-operative Stores, stealing garments and other articles to the value of £5-7s. Mr Burrows, manager of the stores, said the police had woken him up at 5.30 a.m. to inform him of the break-in. Entry to the stores had been gained through a side window. Police Constable Coute said that he had come across the defendants at Rhigos; Hill was wearing a new coat under an old one and the police constable arrested him on suspicion, and later managed to find Williams who was wearing a new overcoat. In their pockets were cigarettes, cheese, biscuits etc. Police Constable Rees produced fingerprints and said that there were three previous convictions against Williams.” The accused were committed for trial, at which both pleaded guilty. Williams received six months in prison and Hill two months.

April:

William Jones, a collier of Resolven, accused Alfred Smith, a resident of Neath, of stealing money from him on 21 March. “Jones said that he had met the lad who claimed he was looking for work and was very hungry. The witness took him home and gave him lodgings and on the following day money was found to be missing. The prisoner, when charged by Police Constable Coute, said ‘I took the money and spent it.’ The Bench ordered the lad, who was described as lazy, to be sent to a reformatory for four years.”

Two Resolven inhabitants placed advertisements in the newspapers this month: Mr. Rosser, a coachbuilder, “wanted a Wheelwright, or good Improver, used to light and heavy work;” and Mr. Rennie, of Rose Cottage, “wanted Variety Artistes for one night, May 9, Resolven. State lowest terms.”

Hannah Harrison, aged twenty, formerly of John Street, Resolven, but now an inmate of the Neath Workhouse, gave birth to her second child while there. Richard Lewis, of Cwmgwrach, was summoned to appear before a local court of the Neath Guardians responsible for the workhouse at which Lewis admitted paternity of the child. He was ordered to pay three shillings and sixpence maintenance each week to the young woman.

The Bishop of Llandaff held a service at St. David’s Church, Resolven, at which he confirmed forty- three candidates. “One of the candidates was deaf and dumb, and questions prior to confirmation were put to him by the Bishop in sign language, and the afflicted candidate responded in the same manner. The majority of the candidates were well advanced in years.”

June:

Windsor Jones and James Morgan Thomas, both of Resolven, were accused of playing cards for money in a field at Ynysarwed. Police Constable Jones reported that, having witnessed the scene, he seized some of the playing cards, and managed to catch Thomas, but was unable to catch Jones who had run away. At Court, the defendants denied playing for money, but each was found guilty and fined ten shillings and costs.

A young Resolven lad tragically drowned while bathing with some other boys near Melincwrt waterfall. His uncle had managed to get the boy out of the water after attempts by the boy’s friends had proved unsuccessful, and Dr T. M. O’Driscoll attempted to revive the boy with artificial respiration but to no avail. At the subsequent inquest held at Resolven, evidence showed that the boy had fallen accidentally into the water which was about seven feet deep. “Boys who were dressing on the bank heard his cries and tried to get the little fellow out but failed, and the latter sank and did not rise to the surface again.” The cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

July:

On Saturday 2 July, at the Crown Skating Rink, Neath, a fifteen-round boxing contest was to be held between Pugh, of Resolven, and Meredith, of Neath. It was to be held “(…) for £10 a-side and a £10 purse. The stakeholder was Tom Bates, Esq.”

W. C. Munn, of Resolven, was one of twenty-six mining students awarded travelling scholarships by Glamorgan County Council to finance a tour of sites in the Belgian coalfield. The two-week tour would include a visit to the Brussels Exhibition, and to “(…) several of the deepest collieries in the coalfield, some of the shafts reaching a depth of considerably over 3,000 feet.” Subsequently Mr.Munn passed with honours the Mine Managers’ examination held in Cardiff. He had been a student at the Cambrian Mining School in Porth.

August:

At the forty-first annual eisteddfod to be held at Tabernacl Chapel, Morriston, on 26 and 27 December, the test-piece for the second choral competition for choirs of a minimum of 60 voices was the composition ‘O llefara! addfwyn Iesu’ by Professor David Evans of Resolven. The music for this item, and for other items in the event, could be obtained from Rosser Evans, Beethoven House, Resolven, at a cost of three pence, and in sol-fa at one- and- a half pence.

George Reed, a collier of Resolven, was fined ten shillings and costs for abusive language. Police Constable Jones said “(…) the defendant came out of his house and threatened to knock his (the police constable’s) teeth out and double him up, and that, as he had to pay for his children, he would pay for himself as well.”

A second annual Sports’ Day was organised by Resolven Cricket Club at the village sports’ ground. The judges were: Colonel J. Edwards-Vaughan, T. Rees, J. Arnold, D. Jones, R. Howells and F. H. Beaman; the handicapper was Ted Lewis; the starters were R. Williams and W. Howells, and the secretary was T. W. Herbert. During the afternoon, musical selections were played by the Tonna Band. The main awards were as follows: E. Steele, Resolven (Boys 100 yards); J. Brooks, Brecon (one mile cycle race for novices); J. A. James, Morriston (120 yards for novices); C. F. Barker, Newport,  (half-mile cycle race open); Nat Edwards, Neath (120 yards open); C. F. Barker, Newport (one mile cycle race open); G. Jones, Neath (440 yards open); A. J. Thomas, Neath (obstacle race).

The death occurred in Resolven of Charles Palmer at the age of 82. Mr. Palmer, a resident of Resolven for many years, had had a distinguished army career. In 1852, he was one of the soldiers chosen to fire a volley over the grave at the funeral of the Duke Wellington. He had served with the 33rd (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment in both the Crimean War (1853-56) and in the Indian Mutiny (1857), winning medals for both campaigns: the Crimean medal  which he was awarded having three clasps indicating his participation in the battles of Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol. Mr. Palmer had managed to survive both wars unscathed, despite the fact that in Crimea he was lucky to escape with his life when a Russian bullet narrowly missed him and landed in his knapsack. He was buried with full military honours at St. David’s churchyard, Resolven, in the presence of Colonel J. Edwards-Vaughan, Rheola, and Colonel A. S. Gardner, Neath. In close proximity to his grave was that of Morgan Howell, a veteran of the Peninsular War (1807-14), who had himself served under the Duke of Wellington. 

The third annual show of the Resolven and District Cottage Gardening Society took place this month at Resolven Council School. In the vegetable category, prizes were awarded to W. Davies, Skewen; D. G. Jones, Clyne; J. B. Croft, Pentwyn; W. Jones, Penywern; and W.Howells, Resolven. For the best fruit, prizes were awarded to R. Morgan, W. Howells, Mrs. Fred Evans and, for the best flowers, to W. Howells, W. D. Thomas, William Jones, D. G. Jones, F. H. Beaman and R. O. Prosser. Mr. Hutchins’ string band of Neath played selections of music throughout the day.

At St. Helens, Swansea, Resolven Cricket Team played away to Swansea Thirds. The result: Resolven 61 and Swansea Thirds, 57 for 7 wickets. The Resolven team comprised J. Lloyd; 25 runs; W. Stephens, 9; D. Rees 0; H. Thomas 9; P. Bevan 1; T. W. Herbert 0; J. Clarke 0; T. H. Evans 0; D. J. Evans 0; G. Hay 0; E. Jenkins 5.

 

September:

At a meeting of Neath Rural District Council, discussions took place regarding the remedial work needed in Resolven after the substantial damage caused by the recent floods, seriously affecting the health of those living in the lower part of the village . The Clerk to the Council, however, was firm in stating that Council monies were only available for repairing public roads in the village and not for private property, as evidenced by the wall along Commercial Road currently being repaired and financed by Mr. Vaughan, Rheola.

 

Resolven Rugby Team, in their first season as members of the Welsh Rugby Union, travelled to Nantymoel, “(…) and their weakened team experienced a tough time in playing Nantymoel to a pointless draw. The team was disarranged, Jack Brown, the captain and one of Resolven’s best forwards, having to come in to the three-quarter line. Evan Evans, at full-back, played the game of his life, his kicking to touch being a notable feature of the game. The game was not free from regrettable incidents, the referee having to caution the home team on several occasions.”

 

At the Confectioners and Bakers’ Exhibition held at the Agricultural Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, in the class for Welsh bread made in Wales and Monmouthshire, the first prize for a 2lb tin loaf went to F. R. Parfitt, of Resolven.

 

Danygraig Rugby Team visited and played against Resolven, winning by one goal and one try to nil. The visiting team was better in all departments “(…) they were a sturdy lot and played a clean game, their forwards fairly carting the homesters about the field and their backs were smart, treating the spectators to some good handling.”

 

Resolven was one of the districts in which were wanted: “smart Agents and House Canvassers with good connections to sell a Patent Article (household necessity).Welsh essential. Can earn £1 weekly.”

The second annual show of the Resolven and Vale of Neath Poultry Society was held in a large marquee at Resolven on a Thursday this month. There was a good attendance with over 650 entries, including some from Yorkshire and Penzance. Over a hundred pigeons competed for the ‘flying homer’ prize, won by the Morgan brothers of Tenby, and for the best ‘homer’ prize. The judges were: J. E. Entwhistle, Wakefield, and R. G. Jenkins, of Swansea. The honorary secretaries were: Ben Jones and D. Kerswell, both of Resolven.

October:

Two Resolven men, Dai Parry and Edgar Thomas, were proving to be of invaluable help to the Neath Rugby club. “Both are clever, heady players. Parry is a fine centre in the making, and Thomas excels at either outside-half or three-quarter.”

An inquest was held on the death of a Resolven man, Daniel Llewellyn Richards, aged twenty-three, who died at the Cory Brothers’ colliery. “The deceased was employed as a haulier, and while tipping a tram of rubbish his foot caught in the wheel of the tram, which overturned and, together with the deceased, tumbled down the tip, a distance of seventy feet. He never recovered consciousness and died from laceration of the brain.” The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

At Resolven Tinplate Works, a labourer named William Morgan, “(…) employed with a gang of workmen, was knocked down by a wagon whose wheels passed over him, causing frightful injuries.” Dr Prell was called out to assist the injured man, who was subsequently taken to Swansea Hospital.

November:

At Neath Court, Mark Trott, a Resolven collier, accused both his brother, Francis George Trott, and his wife, of assault. The complainant stated that “(…) he and his brother had formerly lived together with their families, but a dispute had eventually arisen over the ownership of a house. On the day of the alleged assault, he had gone to this house to get some vegetables, but found that the lock of the house had been broken and that some of the vegetables had been taken away. He went to see his brother, they had a struggle and his brother struck him and held him by the throat. The defendant’s wife also struck him.” Both denied the assault and said that the complainant was the aggressor. The two brothers were each fined five shillings and costs.

At Court in Neath, William Claridge, a Resolven labourer, accused his work colleague, Frank Humphreys, of assault. Claridge stated that he and Humphreys had had some words of disagreement during which Humphreys said: “You are an old man and I won’t hit you, but I’ll strangle you,” and then pushed him down to the ground. Police Constable W. J. Jones confirmed that bruises were found on Claridge’s neck and back. Humphreys was fined thirty shillings or 21 days in prison. 

At Bethania Baptist Chapel, Resolven, Rev. D. C. Davies was presented with “an illuminated address and a purse of gold” in recognition of his twenty-one years’ service there as minister. D. C. Davies, the oldest deacon and member, spoke warm words in appreciation of their minister, and Mrs. Margaret Davies, the oldest female member in the church, formally presented the purse. Among those from Resolven who spoke at the event were Rev. D. Thomas, Vicar of Resolven; Rev. R. Towy Rees; Rev. R. E. Williams, and Dr R. D. Pritchard.

December:

W. T. Lloyd of Resolven had one of his poems published in the press: the poem’s title was ‘Merch yr Amaethwr’ and it first verse is as follows: “Cerddores gynta’r wawrddydd  fwyn,/ Yn canu mewn mwynhad,/ Heb adwaen twyll a phechod byd,/Yn nhyddyn gwyn ei thad;/ Mae’i chyrliog wallt yn disgyn dros/ Ei haeliau tyner, iach, / A swynion Natur sy’n ei gwedd/ Er pan yn faban bach.” Another of his poems, ‘Y Nadolig,’ appeared the following month and began: “Daw dydd Nadolig heibio’r drws/ A’i wleddoedd gydag ef, / Gan ddwyn bob tro fel hyn i’n cof/ Am Frenin dae’r a nef.”

I. Robins, of Resolven, played one of the characters in a mock trial performed by the members of the Aberdare and District Jewish Literary Society.

The following Resolven pupils of Neath County School received Junior Certificates awarded by the Central Welsh Board: A. M. Rhys (with one distinction), and C. R. Whereat (with five distinctions).

Resolven Rugby Team played at home to St. Mary’s, Aberafan. The game was a very even one, and, owing to the late arrival of the visitors, was played in semi-darkness, Resolven winning by eight points to nil. “Dai Davies scored in the first half, and another try followed in the second half. The Resolven men did not get the ball away from the scrum and the half-backs lacked combination. Had the three-quarters been given more of the ball, the result would have been different. George Davies played well at back, but his pace is at inside half. In that position he is a capital man, and the Resolven Committee should not lose sight of this point.” On the next four Saturdays, Resolven were to play Llanelli Seconds, Neath Seconds, Glynneath and Brynmawr.

Members of Tabernacl Chapel, Resolven, contributed one pound and five shillings to the Nonconformist League which assisted the Central Relief Committee in meeting the heavy expenses incurred by the soup kitchens which had been set up in south Wales “(…) as well as relieving cases of severe need  and sickness for which soup is not a suitable relief. It also helps to feed the children.”

A large storehouse situated near the Cory Brothers’ Colliery, Resolven, was destroyed by fire on a Thursday night this month. The storehouse, including a garage, was owned by Evan Williams, a commission agent, and contained “(…) two motor cars, an automatic piano, and a large number of other items which were ready for sale. The whole place was gutted, and the furniture and cars destroyed.” The loss was estimated to be in the region of £500, and was covered by insurance.

The last in a series of Christmas Eve gramophone concerts was held at Resolven Reading Room. Members were invited to bring a friend to the entertainment.

Month unknown:

On the site of the present Apostolic Church, at the bottom of Company Street, a small chapel, capable of seating some 100 people, was built this year for the use of English-speaking Calvinistic Methodists, leaving Tabernacle Chapel to be used primarily by Welsh-speaking members of that denomination. This new building was effectively a branch of Tabernacl chapel and the Rev. Towy Rhys had oversight of it as minister. Unfortunately, a dispute about this English-speaking congregation arose between Rev. Rhys and the deacons of Tabernacl, leading eventually to the minister’s resignation in 1911.

“The Scout movement started in Resolven in 1910, with the formation of the Woodpigeon Patrol at Rheola by Miss Elizabeth Vaughan (…). This early troop was very active, giving gymnastic displays in the old Mission Hall. They were also considered one of the fastest troops at pitching and striking camp in local competitions. They also helped to line the route when King George V came to open the Civic Centre at Cardiff in 1912.”

By the end of this year, John Cory’s collieries at Resolven included ‘Glyncastle’ (Four Feet and Six Feet Seams; ‘Rheola’ (No.2 Rhondda); ‘Ty’n-y-cwm’ (No.1 Resolven); and the ‘Tyra Levels’ (No.2 Rhondda). Respectively they employed 88, 338, 209 and 45 men.

This year, as if acting as a counterpoint to the ranks of the village’s musicians, historians and poets, a future writer of distinction moved to live and work in the village: this was a seventeen-year-old collier by the name of B. L. Coombes, or Bert Coombes, as he was better known. His full name was Bertie Louis Coombs Griffiths and he was born in Wolverhampton on 9 January 1893, and, prior to his arrival in Resolven, had lived with his family in Treharris and in Madley, Herefordshire. In Resolven, Coombs met, and subsequently married, Mary Rogers, whose father was the checkweigher and lodge secretary at Ynysarwed colliery, and they lived from 1919- 1937 at 10 New Inn Place. His main claim to fame is the autobiographical novel These Poor Hands published in 1939 in which he imaginatively records memories of his life working underground in Resolven, although in the book the name of the village is camouflaged under the name Treclwyd. The book has been described as   “(...) a source of unparalleled richness for all those interested in the rise and fall of the south Wales coalfield and particularly in the human journeys which accompanied that roller-coaster.” In 1963 he was honoured by the National Union of Mineworkers (South Wales Area) for outstanding contributions to working-class literature. He died on 4 June 1974 and was buried alongside his wife in the graveyard at St.David’s Church.

To witness the growth of the village at this time, in terms of new housing stock, employment and population, we need only fast-forward a few months to the ten-yearly census, taken on Sunday 2 April 1911. The following highly selective summary of the completed census draws out primarily those employed in the manufacturing and service sectors and/or those who were born outside of Wales.  (The vast majority of the working population was, of course, employed by the colliery.)

New Inn Place: (10 houses and public house): New Inn public house (twelve rooms): Jane Thomas, 65, widow, a hotelkeeper, her son Evan, 34, a cellar man, and her daughter, Annie, 26, a barmaid.

John Street (99 houses): No.6: Annie Hammond, 50, a widowed charwoman. No.11: John Reed, 17, a ‘hairdresser at home’ born in Gas City, U.S.A. No.17: Hannah Windsor, 20, a postal messenger with the G.P.O. No.30: Joseph Price, 23, a colliery hewer born in the U.S.A.  No. 34: William Glass, a shoemaker. No.37: Francis Aslett, 24, a ‘horse driver underground’ born in London, as were all his family and his two lodgers. Two rooms in this property were sub-let to Thomas Brayear, 22, and his family all born in London. No.38: Thomas Thomas, 47, a platelayer with the G.W.R. One of his lodgers was born in Plymouth, the other in Bath.  No.47: William Thomas, 60, a shopkeeper and grocer. His boarder, Peter Brunagil, 52, a colliery labourer, was born in France. No.48: William White, an insurance agent born in Durham. No.49: Josiah Munn, 62, a grocer. No.55: Richard Williams, 45, a blacksmith. All his family were born in Cornwall. No.56: William Funning, 34, a collier born in France and his wife, Catherine, 35, born in Italy.  No.58: Wilton Ford, 26, a colliery hewer born in Barbados. No.61: Harry Hodges, 32, a railway wagon repairer born in Surrey. No.94: Frederick Gardener, 49, a ‘colliery shoeing smith’ born in Somerset. No.97: Thomas Kirk, 28, a grocer’s assistant in the           Co-operative stores born in Cheshire. No.99: Walter Hadley, 86, a ‘carter for a builder’ born in Worcestershire. At the back of John Street was a showground occupied temporarily at the time of this Census by J.T. Danter and his troupe, which included individuals who were born in Birmingham, Lancaster, Bath, Manchester, London and Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Cross Street: No.15: Thomas Crofts, 38, a colliery horse-keeper born in Cambridge and his wife Annie born in London.

Company Street (46 houses): No.13: John Dunkritt, 37, a collier born in the West Indies and his wife Winifred, 49, born in Gloucester. No.14: James Harris, 38, a plasterer born in Somerset. Two of his lodgers were stonemasons: one was born in Ireland, the other in Cornwall. No. 30: Phoebe Ann Bevan, 17, a tinplate worker. No.31: Jenkin Lloyd, 29, a student for the ministry.

Yeo Street (42 houses): No.12: Gertrude Davies, 20, a ‘post-girl delivering letters’ employed by the Post Office. No.35: Thomas Serase, 38, a house painter born in Bristol.

Cory Street (38 houses): No.2:  Francis Beaman, 49, a colliery cashier born in Worcestershire. No.4: John Trevor Davies, 33, a barber and hairdresser, and his son, Myfryn Trevor Davies, aged 6. No.5: Emile Funning, 28, a collier born in France. No.7: William Thorne, 35, a colliery fireman examiner. No.8: William Hopkins, 34, a mine examiner. No.16: William Matthias, 57, a collier born in Cornwall. All his family were also born in Cornwall. No.22: Edmund Whereat, 57, a colliery engineman born in Gloucestershire, his wife born in Derbyshire, and his son born in Somerset. No.28: James Wiggin, 31, a collier born in Barbados, West Indies. No.30: Edward Williams, 70, a retired colliery under-manager. No.36: Catherine Morgan, 21, an assistant schoolteacher. No.38: Claudia John, 46, a shopkeeper.

Railway Terrace (22 houses and Daisy Cottage): No.4: Mary Ann Morgan, 45, a widowed sweet shopkeeper and her daughter, Catherine, 18, a dressmaker. No.6: John Charles Hill, 34, a collier born in Shropshire and his three daughters who were born in Lancashire. No.7: John Tucker, 38, a packer with G.W.R. born in Devon. No.14: Aquila Seymour, 51, a collier born in Somerset. Four out of his six children, Elmer, Elizabeth, Roy, and Blanche were born in the U.S.A. No.17: David Davies, 52, a caretaker of Resolven Council School. No.22: Tom Phillips, 13, a collier. Daisy Cottage: Daisy Cole, 21, a milliner.

Commercial Road (27 houses): Nos. 1 and 2 Commercial Road (Rose Cottages): No.2: Mr. Ushaw, 39, a watchmaker’s dealer and his wife, 35, a music-hall artiste. Nos. 3 and 4 (Aberclydach Cottages): No.4: Two sisters, Elizabeth and Edith Chugg, both dressmakers. Nos.7 and 8 (Laugharne House): Mary Davies, a shopkeeper and draper. No.10 (Supply Stores): Hannah Herbert, 54, a widowed grocer and greengrocer. No.13 (London House): Annie Williams, 58, and her son William, 22, grocers. No.17: William Morgan, 44, a hairdresser. His lodgers included Annie Evans and Selina Ascot, a captain and lieutenant respectively in the Salvation Army. No.18: Griffith Thomas, 38, a butcher and his son, Griffith John Thomas, aged 16. No.19 (Cloth Hall): Garfield Davies, 27, a draper and outfitter. His lodgers were Miriam Evans, 23, a milliner and Harriet Edwards, 22, a dressmaker. No. 20: (Maerdy House): Evan Evans, 37, a baker and vanman; his wife, Mary, and two assistants working in the shop and bakery. No. 21 (Resolven House): William Thomas, 63, a widowed grocer, assisted by his nephew Thomas, aged 28. No.22 (Belmont House): Thomas Hopkins, 55, a fishmonger and fruiterer, assisted by his wife and daughter. No. 23 (Leicester House): Jane Davies, 49, a widowed shopkeeper and general dealer. Her lodgers were John Shelby, 23, and his brother Edgar, 22, both boot retailers. No.24 (Waterloo House): Edward Jones, 42, a grocer and shopkeeper. No. 25: David Richards, 40, a fish dealer and shopkeeper. No.26: Morgan Evans, 39, a shopkeeper and butcher, and his wife Sarah, aged 38. No. 27: Sidney Charles Parsons, 37, a grocer and fruiterer, assisted by his two sons, Richard and Jesse.

Across the brook: Gwynfryn: Annie Evans, 28, an assistant schoolmistress, and her brother William, 24, a colliery clerk. Brynfro: Howel Rees, 28, ‘an assistant overseer of 408 poor people’. Arosfa: William Evans, 54, a colliery overman and his son Thomas, 29, a certificated schoolteacher. Ardwyn: Thomas Davies, 61, a retired boot dealer.

Tan-y-rhiw (ten houses): No.4: Amy Davies, single, 62, a ‘rural postwoman.’

Davies Terrace (six houses): No3: William Hull, 32, a colliery carpenter born in Somerset.

Lyons Place (eighteen houses):No.6: Annie Rees, a widow, 32, with her son and three daughters, one of whom was two weeks old. No.14: Fred Bailey, 50, a widowed G.W.R. ganger and platelayer born in Wiltshire. No.15: Thomas Scott, 68, a collier born in Yorkshire.

Vale Terrace: No.1: John Hutchinson, 56, a blacksmith born in Sunderland. No.2: George Palmer, 46, a collier born in Somerset and two lodgers born in Devon and Aberdeen respectively. No 4: Thomas Pick, 59, a colliery pumps-man born in Strathclyde, Scotland. No.5: Frank Windsor, 36, a collier born in Somerset.

New Road: Mayfield House: Thomas Reynolds, 37, a collier, and his boarder, Timothy O’Driscoll, 39, a surgeon and physician born in Cork, Ireland. Ithondale: David Colwyn Davies, 49, a Baptist minister, with his wife, daughter, and three sons, one of whom was a pupil teacher, the other a colliery clerk. Glenteifi: Christopher Reynolds, 30, a certificated assistant schoolteacher. Teifi House: Elizabeth Jones, a widow, 62, her daughter Ann, 28, a dressmaker and a second daughter, Lizzie, 20, described as ‘an imbecile, with weakness in speech since birth.’ Coedmor: John Ivor Edwards, 31, a superintendent with an assurance company.

Thomas Terrace: No.1: Reginald Jones, 37, a stationmaster, with his wife Charlotte, 41, and their four children. No.2: William Emlyn Jones, 26, a colliery manager, with his wife, Jane, aged 19. No.6: Albert Rowlands, 28, a colliery engineman, with his wife Mary, 23, and their two daughters.

Neath Road:  (The Census mostly records names of individual houses without registering house numbers). Manchester House: Mary Davies, single, 39, a draper. The Ton: Robert David Pritchard, 33, a widowed physician and surgeon, along with a groom and domestic servant. Post Office: Maria Agnes Davies, 43, a sub-postmistress, and her daughter, Emma, 16. Central Stores: John Davies, 46, a grocer. Gwernogle: Catherine Ann Roberts, 40, a widowed schoolteacher. Ael-y-bryn: William Stockden, a stonemason, born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire. Man-yr-allt: Morwood Toms, 32, an insurance agent born in Cornwall. Brooklands: Frederick Evans, 26, an elementary school teacher. Fair View: Ellen Jones, 50, a widow with one daughter, one son, and two lodgers both school teachers, one of whom was born in Aberdeen. Scranton House: Abraham Lloyd James, 44, a colliery fitter, with his wife, three daughters and two lodgers, one a baker born in Cornwall, the other a draper. Marston House: Frank Atchinson, 27, a colliery company secretary, born in Northumberland; his wife Lily, 25, born in Durham. Vaughan Arms: James Jenkins, 49, a publican, assisted by his wife Mary, 32, their two young sons and three servants, the latter described respectively as a pianist, a barmaid and a housemaid. Police Station: Percival Michael Marston, 49, a police sergeant born in Ireland, with his wife Elizabeth, 46, and their three children. No.11: Ellen Jones, 50, a widow, with one daughter, one son and two lodgers, both schoolteachers, one born in Aberdeen. No.14: Gwen Morris, a widow, 46, with her father, son, daughter and two lodgers, one a shoemaker born in Ireland and the other a carpenter born in London. No:16. Ann Evans, 57, a widow and retired grocer.

Nant-y-gleisiaid: No.2: James Alfred Tanner, 33, a collier born in Hereford, with his wife Mary, 29, born in Somerset. The Vicarage: David Thomas, 44, clergyman, his wife Sarah, 42, and their two daughters, May Maud, 5, and Sarah Phyllis, aged 10. Ffald-y-dre: William Williams, 37, a farmer and his wife, Hannah, 41. Heolhir: Llewellyn Rees, 48, a farmer; his wife Amy, 24; their two children and one domestic servant. Pantycrybach: Llewellyn Bowen, 30, a farmer, and his wife, May, 25. Llwyncoedwr: John Davies, 51, a farmer, and his wife Mary, 49; also Mary Jones, 77, a widowed retired farmer and her daughter Sarah, 46, a schoolmistress. Waterfall Terrace: No.2: Charlotte Cole, 40, a widowed charwoman born in Bristol, with her two sons and three daughters aged from 9 to 19.

 

 

 

This is the end of the Timeline, but it is, of course, only the beginning of the story of Resolven as a coal-mining village. To come shortly will be the traumas of the Great War; the abject poverty of the inter-war Depression; the tragedies of the Second World War; a twenty- year post-war period of relative optimism and growth, followed by the decline and eventual demise of almost all economic activity, a situation more recently compounded by the effects of a global pandemic. It is an on-going story of resilience, often in the face of considerable hardship and adversity.