So you Want to Buy an Aberdare Chapel …

One of Aberdare’s oldest Chapel is now on the market for sale.

Ebenezer Chapel in Trecynon – originally built in 1811 – is now on the market for sale.

The property comprises a large detached two storey Grade II listed Chapel Chapel constructed in the 19th century, with graveyard at the side.

The last burial at the premises was over 50 years ago, therefore, the graves may be exhumed, subject to necessary approval.

The sellers are asking for offers in excess of £30,000.

See more photos of the Chapel in the Gallery.

Have you got a story about this Chapel you would like to share ? Get in touch now. We would love to hear your story.


Journey to an Aberdare Chapel

The end of my story is this: the people of Aberdare are extraordinary, writes American Jane Powel Thomas.

The beginning lies in the very rich past of Aberdare when one (or possibly more) of my husband’s ancestors was the minister of the Ebenezer Chapel in Aberdare, now located in the Trecynon area. Both of us have a Welsh background, my husband’s family from North Wales and mine from the Brecon area. As a child, my husband was brought to Aberdare to see the church where his great, great grandfather was minister, and he was moved by the fascinating, still-operating chapel that included an interior plaque
commemorating his ancestor, the Rev. Edwards.

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First Blue Plaque Launched in Abercynon

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s first celebrated Blue Plaque has been officially unveiled on a building that was instrumental in opening the industrial valleys to the rest of the world.

Cllr Margaret Davies, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, joined local historians and guests for the event outside the Navigation Inn, Abercynon.

The building once housed the head office of the Glamorganshire Canal, a feat of engineering that would allow the coal and iron industries of Rhondda, Cynon and Merthyr an acceptable route to the docklands of Cardiff for transportation around the world.

The Glamorganshire Canal originally ran from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff. Construction started in 1790, and the 25 miles was fully opened by 1794. Its primary purpose was to enable the Merthyr iron industries to transport their goods, and it later served the coal industry of its neighbouring valleys.

It was due to the canal that the Brown Lenox Chainworks opened on its banks, an event which acted as a catalyst to the rapid growth of neighbouring Pontypridd.

Now a popular public house, the Navigation Inn is one of 30 locations throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf where the new Blue Plaques will be installed. The project celebrates the proud tradition of world-famous events, people, places, music and culture which originated in the county borough.

Due to £49,200 of Heritage Lottery funding, the project has set out to identify icons, events and buildings, culminating in the placing of blue plaques to commemorate their history and achievements.

Story via Aberdare News


The Annual Summer Outing with the Village

Barry Island PleasureRemember those Summer Outings when the whole village went by train or bus to Barry Island, Porthcawl, or Aberavon for the day ?

Perhaps you are too young to remember those bygone days when whole villages from the Valleys disappeared for the day.

Nowadays we are addicted to the package-holiday where we individually pick and choose our little stretch in the sun oblivious to what our neighbours will be doing.

Turn the clocks back thirty or so years to 1977 and it was a whole different universe… Here are two excerpts from the Aberdare Leader newspaper

Colliery Outing – front page of Aberdare Leader – 10th March 1977 – Sunday, July 3, is this year’s date for Penrikyber Colliery’s annual outing. It will be to Porthcawl this year.

About 1.800 people are expected to go on the trip, and, already, 35 buses have been provisionally booked.

Mr Des Lewis, secretary of the outing fund committee, said that 38 buses went last year.

He said he hoped the by naming the date well in advance they would avoid clashes with trips being run by other organisations locally.

And there was more …

Probably the Largest Day Trip in Wales – Aberdare Leader, page 2, 4th August 1977 – The Annual exodus of Penywaun Club Members and their families needed a convey of 42 buses playing follow-my-leader to Aberavon!

Other groups in the community organised summer outings too : Aberdare Chamber of Trade organised a special mystery summer outing during the same year 1977, and local Churches and Chapels organised their own outings.


Waste of an old Aberdare School

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Ynyslwyd, Aberdar The most popular photos on Aberdare Blog for the past week have been those of Tabernacle Chapel, Aberystwyth.

Sadly the Chapel was destroyed in a great fire and subsequently demolished last Saturday.

This is such a waste. But perhaps we can draw a useful lesson from Aberystwyth by looking at our own communities and considering the empty buildings on our own doorstep!

We draw your attention today to a magnificent building several times larger than Tabernacle Chapel, Aberystwyth… the old school on the outskirts of Aberdare.

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Adding to St Mary Magdalene Church, Cwmbach

St Mary Magdalene Church CwmbachLucky, lucky Cwmbach-ophiles… we make it our mission to spoil you.

Many more photographs of St Mary Magdalene Church, Cwmbach have been added to the Gallery.

Click here to see the full set of Photographs.

St Mary Magdalene’s Church was established in 1882. Quite late in the day to be frank.

According to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Heritage Trail on Cwmbach : “Religious buildings opened, with the Baptists opening a chapel in 1841, the independents opening a small chapel known as Capel Bricks in 1846 and the Calvinistic Methodists opening a chapel at Tir Bach in 1852.

In nearby Bridge Street, Wales’ first Co-Operative Store was opened on March 8th, 1860.


Gorsedd Circle at Aberdare Park

The National Eisteddfod was held in Aberdare Park in 1954.

A Gorsedd circle of stones was erected to commemorate the event.

See also


Remembering the Raglan Coach Crash

Memorial for Raglan Coach CrashTwelve years ago many families in Aberdare were devastated after a coach crash at Raglan claimed the lives of ten people from Aberdare. Thirty three other people were seriously injured. A memorial garden and benches were erected at Aberdare Park in memory of those who suffered and died in the Raglan Coach Crash, July 1995.

Photographs of the Raglan garden memorial are available in the Gallery.


Old Aberdare Town Hall

Old Aberdare Town HallIt looks like some one intends to develop the old Aberdare Town Hall building in the middle of Aberdare.

Location : The old Town Hall is situated opposite Aberdare Library, adjacent to Green Street Methodist Church, and on the road opposite Aberdare Constitutional Club.

Don’t forget …

There are thousands of Aberdare Photos in the Gallery


Makeover for 95 year old!

Aberdare Park Fountain and StatueThey are 95 years old and they’re having a special makeover in Aberdare Park.

The little cherubs that grace Aberdare Park’s historic fountain are currently being renovated and given a new lick of paint along with the whole fountain structure.

The grand fountain was donated to the people of Aberdare in 1911 by Lord Merthyr to commemorate the coronation of King George V

See the Full Set of Photos in the Gallery …