Newspaper extracts for the Michaelston super Avon area

There are many references to this area in the 15 million Welsh and English language articles from Welsh newspapers transcribed by the NLW and viewable on Welsh Newspapers Online
Below are English language articles that have been re-transcribed and extracted randomly to illustrate what is available, there are many that are not extracted here that include names of local people

Searches made on these names in this order; Cwmavon, Pontrhydyfen

•  From The Cardiff Times 12th July 1873

CWMAVON. FORMATION OF A TRADES' UNION.—A meeting was held at the Tinman's Arms, Pantdu, Cwmavon, on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of establishing a Trade Union amongst the following trades. Pattern makers, carpenters, millwrights, fitters, smiths, scrikers, moulders, boiler makers, engine drivers, stokers, roll turners, and sawyers. The room was crowded. The Chairman urged the necessity of the steps about to be taken. He also expressed himself sorry at the limited sphere which his fellow workmen in Britton Ferry had prescribed for themselves, and encouraging those who had been thus unwisely shut out, to be of good cheer.  ......(part extract).....

•  From The Cardiff Times 9th March 1872

CWMAVON. The Birmingham League Branch, lately established in this place, is working its way very successfully. All the Nonconformist churches in the valley, numbering about a dozen, have their representatives as members of the committee. They are actively performing their share in the great and good work. They have sent a petition to Parliament in favour of Mr. Dixon's motion, containing 2,717 signatures of the inhabitants, which is entrusted to Mr. C. R. M. Talbot, M. P., to be presented in the House. There are also, we understand, petitions in course of being signed, praying that the Scotch Education Bill be amended, so as to become unsectarian and truly national. A mighty current is going on, and_ still increasing in strength, in favour of perfect religious equality; and whatever clergymen of the State Church may say or do, time is on the other side, and a great work is rapidly going on towards the realisation of the objects which they endeavour to bring about.

•  From the South Wales Daily News (Third Edition) 6th September 1900

CWMAVON. Machinery Accident —A young girl named Sarah Davies, of Tyshin-row, Cwmavon, met with a severe accident on Wednesday morning. She was employed at the cold rolls, and by some means her hands were drawn into the machinery and badly crushed

• From the South Wales Daily News (Third Edition) 18th February 1896

CWMAVON. PARISH HALL.—Out of an electorate of 850,  not more than 350 parishioners came to the poll at the Boys' Schoolroom between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday on the following question :—" Whether the Parish Council should undertake to build a parish hall for Cwmavon." The presiding officer declared the result as follows at 9 p.m.For, 62; against, 288; majority, 226.

• From the Weekly Mail 25th June 1887

Cwmavon. The arrangements for celebrating the Jubilee, which had been under the consideration of the Organising Committee for the past fortnight, were ably carried out on Tuesday. Saivos of artillery heralded the day, and continued to re-echo through- out the Valley the whole of the day, and even as late as eleven o'clock at night firing was going on. A treat was given to the poor in the morning, 220 recipients having  ½ lb of tea, 1 lb. of sugar, a large loaf of bread, and 2s. in money.   ......(part extract).....

• From the Weekly Mail 28th July 1883

 CWMAVON. THE RECENT FLOOD.—The almost incessant rain that has fallen for some time past has culminated in a flood which has done a vast amount of damage to property in this neighbourhood. The ordinary watercourses becoming filled with debris torrents of water rushed down the hills and into the streets below. The River Avon rose to a considerable height, and threatened at one time to carry away the bridges. Two men in the employ of Mr. Thomas Williams' chemical works, Aberavon, attempted to ford it at a point near St. Michael's Church, but the force of the current was so great that the horse, cart, and occupants were precipitated into the river. Mr. John Cload, veterinarv agent, on hearing of the accident (although he had retired for the night) was soon on the spot, and mounting one of the company's horses faced the torrent and, at the risk of his life, succeeded in recovering the horse, which was in a most exhausted condition, having been carried with the cart a distance of about half a mile; but as nothing could be seen of the men the party returned home. On the following morning it was found that the men, who were supposed to be drowned, had miraculously escaped by reaching the bank soon after their immersion and appeared none the worse for the wetting.

• From the South Wales Daily News (Third Edition) 1st April 1896

PONTRHYDYFEN. COLLIERY FATALITY.—Mr Howel Cuthbertson (county coroner) held an inquest all the Police Station, Pontrhydyfen, on Tuesday, touching the death of Richard Davies, aged 34, who was crushed by a fall at the Cynon Colliery on Saturday. A verdict was found of "Accidental death." The Coroner and Mr Gray expressed their disapprobation of the lack of timbering.

• From the  Weekly Mail 5th August 1882

PONTRHYDYFEN. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Monday afternoon a fearful accident occurred at the Wenallt Colliery, to a youth named David Miles. It appears that the deceased had finished his day's toil as usual. It is customary for the workmen to ride on the trucks on this junction. Unfortunately when Miles was between the wagons, the train advanced and smashed him. so that he died instantaneously. This accident should be a warning to those who are in the habit of riding on the trucks.

• From the Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder 16th January 1915

PONTRHYDYFEN. Through a meeting of representatives of the masters and men connected with the Oakwood Colliery, Pontrhydyfen, near Port Talbot, on Saturday, a settlement was arrived at and the men returned to work this (Monday) morning. The strike has lasted over a week, and about 160 workmen have been affected. The strike occurred through the men demanding an advance of 5d. per day, and a concession of 3d. has been made and accepted

• From The South Wales Daily Post 19th August 1893

SCENES AT PONTRHYDYFEN. The colliers of the Pontrhydyfen district were prevented from resuming work this morning by the incursion of hundreds of colliers from the Rhondda. According to reports which reached Neath at noon to-day the miners- who had previously publicly expressed their determination to continue work no matter what pressure the strikers brought to bear to prevent them, were just about to descend into the pits at Argoed and Tewgoed, when they were surrounded by the invaders and, although no blows were used, the colliers were plainly told that if they attempted to continue operations they would be forcibly prevented. The Argoed men were indignant, and a few spectators of the scene, who were situate at a safe distance, yelled "Stone them and go for them with your tools" (meaning the Rhondda men) but the workmen, being in the minority,wisely refrained from using any violence

• From The Cardiff Times 21st September 1907

PONTRHYDYFEN NEW SCHOOL. Opened by Mrs Llewellyn. In opening a new Council School at Pontrhydyfen the county education authorities have supplied a long-felt want in the district and removed what was aptly described by the Mayor of Aberavon as "the worst school in the county." The old school had been in existence many years, as Councillor W. Matthews said at the opening, remarking that he had attended it 37 years ago, when he had to walk all the way from Glyncorrwg, a distance of about six miles.     ......(part extract).....

•  From The Glamorgan Gazette 7th December 1894

CONSERVATISM AT PONT- RHYDYFEN. ANNUAL DINNER. That secluded nook on the banks of the Afan, known as Pontrhydyfen, has always been known as a stronghold of Conservatism. None the less was it on Saturday last, when the local association which is connected with the Mid-Glamorgan Conservative Association, held its annual dinner at the King's Head Arms, when about 60 sat down to the capital repast provided by mine host and hostess, Mr and Mrs John Lewis. The tables had been most tastefully decorated, and nothing was wanting to make the gathering not only a pleasant, but a successful one. The tables having been cleared, "the duty was taken off tobacco," and the President, Mr T. J. Lewis, schoolmaster, was voted to the chair amidst cheers. The Chairman proposed the toast of "The: Queen," which was drunk with musical honours.    ......(part extract).....