Cwmtillery

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Cwmtillery
Welsh: Cwmtyleri
Cwmtillery is located in Blaenau Gwent
Cwmtillery
Cwmtillery
 Cwmtillery shown within Blaenau Gwent
Population 4,703 
OS grid reference SO215055
Principal area Blaenau Gwent
Ceremonial county Gwent
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ABERTILLERY
Postcode district NP13
Dialling code 01495
Police Gwent
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament Blaenau Gwent
Welsh Assembly Blaenau Gwent
List of places
UK
Wales
Blaenau Gwent

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Cwmtillery (from Welsh Cwmtyleri, meaning "valley of Tyleri") (population 2011. 4703)[1] is a ward of Abertillery. Located within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it is part of the administrative area of the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, Wales.

File:Climb to 1900ft.JPG
Walking country
File:Cwmt.JPG
St Paul's overlooking lower Cwmtillery lake

History

Located within a narrow valley formed by the River Tyleri, the area now known as Cwmtillery was once wholly a picturesque woodland area based beneath the heights of the local hill 'Gwastad' (551m) to the east and Mynydd James (550m)to the north. The area was mentioned by English historian William Coxe as "Well peopled, richly wooded and highly cultivated, almost rivalling the fertile counties of England".[2]


During the 1840s, Thomas Brown acquired the rights to sink a mine shaft at the site of a farm known as Tir Nicholas, in the hope of reaching the 'Elled' coal seam. The shaft was sunk to a depth of 130 yards and the colliery set up was originally known as Tir Nicholas Colliery, and later the South Wales Colliery. The mine changed hands in 1852, with John Russell taking ownership. Russell increased the original shafts and deepened the mine to 240 yards. The mine had a long history, closing in 1982; but also suffered several disasters, with four underground explosions between the dates of 1857 and 1876. The two worst disasters were in 1857 which saw the deaths of 13 miners, and the 1876 explosion which killed 16 men and boys.[3]

The Church of St Paul was constructed in the Early English style during 1890 and opened for worship in January 1891, initially as a daughter church of the parish of Abertillery. A distinct parish of Cwmtillery was set up in 1923, and has been served by the following incumbents.

The Rev Thomas Madog Williams (1923–30) - Priest-in-Charge 1920-23.

The Rev William Carey Morton (1930–40).

The Rev Benjamin Penry Evans (Priest in-charge).

The Reverend William Clifford Ponton (1940–46).

The Rev William Daniel Phillips (1946–53).

The Rev Arthur Walter Sneyd (1953–55).

The Rev Thomas Arthur Foster (1956–59).

The Rev William Rhys Lewis (1959–62).

The Rev Frederick Sidney Ralph Bowden (1962–71).

The Rev Christopher Gwilliam (1972–75).

The Rev Brian Jeffrey Favell (1976–86). Also incumbent of Six Bells.

The Rev Richard Pain (Priest in charge 1986-88, incumbent 1988-91). Also incumbent of Six Bells.

The Rev Richard Walter Hugh Allen (1991–94). Last resident incumbent - also served Six Bells.

The parish has been served from Abertillery since 1995.[4]

Cwmtillery was the principal location for the cult experimental feature film The Other Side of the Underneath (1972) written and directed by Jane Arden.

File:Lakeside path.JPG
Walk by the lakes

Following the demise of the coal industry in the 1980s the natural beauty of the landscape is again highly regarded. There are many walking trails in the area ranging from gentle lakeside walks to more energetic hillside climbs to over 580m.

Notes

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Cwmtillery Colliery welshcoalmines.co.uk
  4. For incumbents up to 1976 the listings are largely taken from a privately printed parish history written by the then incumbent Christopher Gwilliam. Service registers held by the church have also been consulted, most notably the "Preacher's Book" for 1891 and subsequent registers of service up to 2010