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Aberavon

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"ABER AFAN, in the Cwmwd of Rhwng Nedd ac Afan, Cantref of Cron Nedd (now called the Hundred of Neath), County of GLAMORGAN, South Wales: a discharged Vicarage, with the Curacy of Baglan, valued in the King's Books at £9.4.9 1/2: Patron, Lord Vernon: Church dedicated to St. Mary. The Resident Population of this Parish, in 1801, was 275. The Money raised by the Parish Rates, in 1803, was £16.19.10 1/2. It is 6 m. S. b. E. from Neath. There is no Charter for a Market here, but one has been holden, for about a century past. The Fair is on the 30th of April. This is one of the contributary Boroughs with Caerdiff, which send one Member to Parliament. The Corporation consists of a Portrieve, who is elected annually, of Aldermen and Burgesses. This Parish contains about 1510 acres of land. The Castle is in ruins. It is situate at the entrance of the river Afan, upon the Bristol Channel: and has some great Copper-works in the neighborhood. According to the Diocesan Report, in 1809, the yearly value of this Benefice, arising from the great Tythes which are taken in kind, and Glebe, was £ 28.13.10." (From: A Topographical Dictionary of The Dominion of Wales by Nicholas Carlisle, London, 1811.)

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Bibliography

Here is a substantial reading list of books which relate to Glamorgan, either county or parish.

References to the town of Aberavon at

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Church History

Chapels Database - a list of all known non-conformist chapels or other non-Anglican religions in the parish

Aberavon, St Mary - see Welsh Chapels and Churches for a photograph

 Various items   - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • St Mary's Church, Aberavon
  • St Joseph's R.C. Church, Aberavon
  • St Dyfrig's, Aberavon, built in 1885 as a Mission Church to St Mary's
  • St Paul's Church, Sandfields, built in 1911
  • Salem Vestry Day and Sunday School, Aberavon, pre-1900
  • Christchurch, opened in 1973, provided a place of worship for the Welsh Congregationalists of Wern and the English Baptists of Bridge Street Chapels, which were demolished during the redevelopment of Aberavon town centre. It was sold to a car firm and later demolished in 1989.
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Church Records

For full and up-to-date details of their holdings see the sites of Glamorgan Record Office and/or West Glamorgan Archives

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on  FreeReg

The church is dedicated to St. Mary, is in the Benefice of Aberavon, and Diocese of Llandaff. Details of the present incumbent of this benefice can be found at the Church in Wales website. The church can be found at grid reference SS763903.

Anglican Parish Registers Held at the Glamorgan Record Office, Cardiff
BaptismsMarriagesBurialsBannsBishops Transcripts
1748-19481747-19471747-1955-1696, 1721-1837

Modern Parishes & Chapels of Ease :-

Non Conformist Registers Deposited
ChapelBaptismsMarriagesBurialsOS Map RefDeposited/
Copies
Zion, Bible Christian/
English Wesleyan
-1907-1963-SS 76449023WGAS
Water Street, Baptist
* not shown on current   WGAS online list
-1958-1975-SS 76339003WGAS
Carmel, Calvinistic Methodist1815-1837--SS 76479011WGAS
Tabernacle, Congregational1822-1837--SS 76669038WGAS
Bethel, Primitive Methodist-1932-1962-SS 76439037WGAS

WGAS - West Glamorgan Archive Service

The following Religious Institutions are covered in the Mormon International Genealogical Index (IGI) :-

  • Aberavon, St. Mary - Bishops Transcripts, 1696-1869
  • Aberavon, Carmel Calvinistic Methodist - Christenings, 1815-1837
  • Aberavon, Taibach St. Mary, Tabernacle Independent - Christenings 1822-1837
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Description & Travel

    Aberavon - on Wikipedia

    Various landscapes / seascapes  - on the People's Collection Wales site

    You can see pictures of Aberavon which are provided by:

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    Directories

    Transcript of complete name listing for Port Talbot and neighbourhood, from Slaters Directory for 1858-1859.

    Transcript for Aberavon and neighbourhood from Slaters Directory 1880

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    Gazetteers

    The transcription of the section for Aberavon from The National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

    Description of parish from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833) by Samuel Lewis.

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    Historical Geography

    Some of the hamlets, towns and villages within this parish

    • Blackwells
    • Corlannau
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    History

    Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

    • High Street, Aberavon  
    • Aberavon Railway Station
    • Water Street, Aberavon
    • The Opening of Aberavon Market
    • Earl and Countess of Jersey and the Mayor of Aberavon pictured outside the Municipal Offices in Aberavon.
    • Old Aberavon Market
    • The Aberavon Urban Sanitary Authority's new fire engine being proudly displayed at Pentyla, Aberavon. This appliance would have attended the fire at the Jersey Beach Hotel in December, 1908.
    • Daimler Bus operated by local businessman Richard Barry, c.1920s, that provided a service between the Market and Aberavon Beach.
    • Visit of the Prime Minister, J Ramsay Macdonald, MP to Aberavon Hospital in 1924.
    • A view of the Copper Works at Aberavon with a horse and cart in the foreground.
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    Maps

    This diagram shows the position of this parish within the county of Glamorgan - click on this to see a full size diagram of the county

     

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    Parish map(Kain/Oliver)

    Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales site

    • Extract from Kitchen's Map of Aberavon, c.1753, showing Aberavon Marsh, the site of the present Sandfields Estate.  
    • Map of the parish of Aberavon in the County of Glamorgan

    You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SS755902 (Lat/Lon: 51.596773, -3.799381), Aberavon which are provided by:

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    Merchant Marine

    The crew and committee of the Port Talbot RNLI outside the old lifeboat station at Aberavon Beach.   - on the People's Collection Wales site

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    Names, Geographical

    Places, villages, farms etc within Aberavon parish  as shown on the online parish map from the CD of   Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. (Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R.). (Extracted by Rina Callingham)

    • Aberavon [101] - Aberavon Burrows, Aberavon Moors, Aberavon Station (seaside), Golf Links, Great Western Railway, Hotel
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    Newspapers

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    Occupations

    A Mobile Photographic Studio, Aberavon   - on the People's Collection Wales site

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    Public Records

    Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

    • Aberavon Borough, records 1753-1860 & c.1307-1917     "Aberavon, Glamorgan, was a chartered town established by the Avene family during the 12th century. In 1372 Aberavon received a further charter from Edward Le Despenser, ................... Borough government was reformed under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, with the provision of elected councils and improved financial regulation. In 1921 the Borough of Aberavon merged with Margam Urban District Council to form the Borough of Port Talbot ......................."
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    Schools

    Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

    • Aberavon National School Log Books  1874-1922     "Aberavon National School was situated in Aberavon, Glamorgan and built in 1831. ............................."
    • Aberavon Unsectarian School log books   1885-1979       "Aberavon Unsectarian School was opened in 1885. It later became Aberavon Council School and was also known as Mountain School ......."  
    • Sandfields School [Aberavon] records  "Sandfields School records, 1885-1954, including log books, 1885-1954; HMI school reports, 1939-1948; records relating to school events, c.1950-c.1953"
    • Traethmelin School, Sandfields, records    "Records of Traethmelin School, Sandfields, 1961-1980, including admission registers, 1961-1980."

     

    Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales site

    • Ground floor plan for Aberavon Schools & Front and flank elevations for Aberavon School -  Thomas, Robert George  
    • Sandfields Infants School.
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    Social Life & Customs

    Various items   - on the People's Collection Wales site

    • Aberavon beach 
    • Mayor's Procession, Aberavon.
    • Aberavon Boys' Club International Youth Caps with their trophies.(rugby)
    • Aberavon Boys' Club under 14's soccer team at Vivian Park , Sandfields, 1963-64.
    • Scouts and Guides Parade, Aberavon 1964
    • Aberavon Harlequins RFC, League Champions and winners of the Hospital and League Cups and Medals 1922-23 season.
    • Competitors in the round the pier swim at Aberavon Beach, 1973
    • Aberavon Junior Schools Rugby Team
    • Aberavon RFC, 1919-1920 Season