Album Seven of Photos you have sent in
Pen-y-bont brickworks taken in the early 1900's .....Photo supplied by Val Lord
Back Row...Reg Ponting (Fitter)...Bill Cullen (fitter/Turner)....Desmond Young......?
William (Bill) Davies, is in the second row extreme right.
On the second row from the top Arthur Ridge who is 2nd. from the left.
Behind Jim Stokes is Les Simmons? (Head Blacksmith 1963+)
On the front row left to right...Bill Owen, Jim Stokes (Blacksmith), Sam Cooper is 4th. from the right.
My grandfather Richard (Dick) Jones in the middle of the front
row. Richard was born in June 1877 at Pump Street Blaina and
trained as an engine fitter with John Lancaster and Co. starting
in 1889 and left when the enginnering shops closed in 1912.
Richard was the choirmaster at St. Peters Blaina and also played
rugby
at full back and was selected for Monmouthshire. I believe he
retired in about 1952 and died in December 1956. Regards Ron
Jones
Photo supplied by Idris Davies
They left to work at the Summit Pit at Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts during the early 1920's. A number of them walked all the way to obtain jobs. I believe the mine owners advertised in South Wales during this period, offering accommodation including inside baths, hot water and electricity from the pit. However, I think the 5 streets were not started until the early 1930's. My grandparents certainly lived in various rented accommodation near to the centre of the town. Anyway, on the second row left is my grandfather, Arthur Lewis Williams. They were living at 50 Clarence Place, Blaenau Gwent just before moving to Kirkby. The little boy is my father's cousin Ray Parsons. The man kneeling, wearing the tie and cap is his father. I am not sure of his name, however I do know he died because Ray's mother remarried and had two more boys, Idris and Kenneth Jones, who both still live locally your end.
Cwmtillery pit crew Early 1920's" Can anyone put names to faces please let me know"??
Middle Row - Second from the left Jim Blake
Front row - Third from left Percy Banks
The J.B. initials stand for Jim Blake, his mates painted his initials on the bell. Photo taken at Cwmtillery pit top
Demolition work Cwmtillery top, if you look close (top middle) you can make out what I think is the old West Bank houses?
J.B. (Jim Blake) is in the middle row, (top photo) second from the the left, sleeves rolled up arms folded in front. I know this picture was early 1920's at least because my grandfather still had hair in this picture and he lost his hair in his twenties. He is also smoking a cigarette and he gave them up after the big strike in 26. and when he smoked again after, it was a pipe which he carried on smoking until he was 93. My grandfather was an official at Cwmtillery Pit but after the strike, when he had stood by the other miners he was placed on to permanent nights by the colliery manager. ( When the CoalBoard took over he became a banksman and that is what he did until he retired.) Being an official he was not a member of the union and thus he lost his original job but my grandfather had very strong views on friendships and miners rights and always taught us to stand by our principals. He had two sons and one daughter, Jim, Tom and Emily my mother).
(Jan Dench)
Entrance road to colliery early 1960's
Early photo of the colliery
People stop to see the Pit head bath reduced to rubble