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Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923

Pontardawe

 

This is an extract by Gareth Hicks (Sept 2007) from the CD of the same title with the kind permission of Archive CD Books

PONTARDAWE, a small town in the parishes of Rhyndwyely Docks [?], Cilybebyll and Llanguicke, Glamorgan, is very prettily seated in the valley of the Swansea, 7 1/2 miles north-east from the town of Swansea, and is the head of a union formed in 1875, and also of a petty sessional division, in the Neath division of the county of Glamorgan, and in the rural deanery of East Gower, archdeaconry of Carmarthen and diocese of St. David's.

The Swansea canal runs through, and the London, Midland and Scottish railway has a station here. The village is lighted by gas by the Pontardawe Gas Co. Limited.

The church of St. Peter (a chapel of ease to the parish church), erected in 1862, at a cost of nearly £20,000, is an edifice of Welsh sandstone, with Bath stone dressings, in the Gothic style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, and an embattled western tower, 200 feet in height and containing one bell ; at the outside corners of the tower are two rounded columns elaborately sculptured : the church was erected at the expense of the late W. Parsons esq. of Pontardawe : in July 1894, a reredos of Caen stone, marbles and mosaic, was erected; at a cost of about £200, as a memorial to the Rev. D. Jones, vicar 1859-92 and the Rev. T. E. Davies, curate 1883-92, who died within one month of each other in the early part of 1892 ; the stained east window was the gift of Mrs. Davies ; the chancel floor has been raised and laid with polished marble and new choir stalls erected, at a cost of £250, defrayed by A. Gilbertson esq. : a new screen and altar were given by Mrs. Griffiths, and sedilia by D. Hanbury Hopkins esq.; an English service is held in the morning and a Welsh service in the evening : the church has 650 sittings.

The church of All Saints (a chapel of ease to the parish church), erected in 1886, by Arthur Gilbertson esq. of Glanrhyd, as a memorial to his father, the late William Gilbertson, stands on. high ground overlooking Pontardawe, and is a building of stone consisting of chancel, nave, north porch and a belfry with a peal of. 8 tubular bells given by the inhabitants of Pontardawe as a testimonial to the founder : there are memorial brasses to William Gilbertson and to Lettice Mary, daughter of Arthur Gilbertson esq. and. two stained windows: there are 370 sittings. The register dates from the year 1887.

The Public Hall and Institute, in Herbert street, erected at a cost of £6,000, was opened in 1909.

There are steel and tinplate and chemical works here.

Parish Clerk, Griffith G. Evans.

Post, M. O., T. & T. E. D. Office (letters should have Swansea added). - George Hughes, postmaster

 

GLAMORGAN COUNTY MAGISTRATES FOR PONTARDAWE PETTY SESSIONAL DIVISION.

The chairman, for the time being, of the Pontardawe Rural District Council, is an ex-officio magistrate.

Clerk to the Magistrates, John W. Thorpe, Police Court buildings, Alexander road, Swansea.

Petty Sessions are held at the Police court every alternate friday at 12

The following places are included in the Petty Sessional division : - Alltwen, Brynamman, Cadoxton (part of), Clydach (part of), Glais, Llangyfelach (part of), Llanguicke, Llansamlet (part of), Pontardawe, Ynysmeudw & Ystalyfera

PONTARDAWE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The Committee was formed in 1901, & consists of six members.

Meetings are held monthly at the Council offices.

Chairman, David Thomas Williams J.P. Alltwen Hill, Pontardawe, Glamorganshire

Clerk, Wyndham Lewis, Pontardawe, Glamorganshire

 

PONTARDAWE RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL.

The parishes in the district are : - Kilybebyll or Cilybebyll, Llangiwg, Mawr, Rhyndwyglydach & Ynysymond.

The area is 34,969 acres ; population in 1911, 31,498, & in 1921, 34,623

Council meets at the Council offices on thursdays (fortnightly) at 2 p.m.

Chairman, J. A. Evans, Ystalyfera

Officials.

 

PONTARDAWE UNION.

Board day, alternate thursdays in the Board room, Holly street, Pontardawe, at 12.30 p.m.

The union comprises the following parishes : - Kilybebyll or Cilybebyll, Llanguicke, Mawr, Rhyndwyclydach, Ynysymond, Ystradgynlais Higher (Breconshire) & Ystradgynlais Lower (Breconshire).

The population of the union in 1921 was 157,858; area, 57,168 acres ; rateable value £159,662

Pontardawe Poor Law Institution, built of stone in 1879, at a cost of £8,890, to hold 130 inmates; E. Vincent Thomas, master ; William Owen Evans M. B. E. , J. P. , L.R. C. P. & S. E din. , L .R.F.P. S. Glas. medical officer ; Mrs. M. B. Thomas, matron

 

PONTARDAWE REGISTRATION DISTRICT.

 

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS.

 

PUBLIC OFFICERS.

 

PLACES OF WORSHIP.

 

SCHOOLS.

 

Midland Railway Station, William James Beebe, station master

 

PRIVATE RESIDENTS.

 

COMMERCIAL.

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[Last Updated : 26 Sept 2007- Gareth Hicks]

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