Trefddyn / Trevethin

• A living in Torfaen : memories of life in Pontypool, Cwmbran and Blaenafon. Pontypool : Village Publishing, 1993. 92p.
• Abersychan & Garndiffaith Local History Group : [journal]. Issue No. 1 (spring 1996)-
• Colebrooke, Kim           A history of the British Ironworks, Abersychan          Gwent Local History vol 54 1983    Welsh Journals Online
• David, Jonathan. The GWR's neglected main line : [Pontypool to Neath]. Welsh Railway Archive 1 (1991), p. 99-102.
• Davies, John. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Pontnewydd : a sketch of its history from its formation in 1740 up to 1891. Newport [Gwent] : John E. Southall, 1908. 69p.
• Edwards, C B           It was like this....... Personal recollections of Gardiffaith in the 1930s          Gwent Local History 76 1994      Welsh Journals Online  & Part 2  Gwent Local History 77 1994     Welsh Journals Online
• Evans, J Daryll          The Trevethin yew          Gwent Local History vol 64 1988    Welsh Journals Online
• Foster, Brian.          Abersychan Ironworks 1827-1884.            Gwent Local History. No. 91 2001 Welsh Journals Online
• Foster, Brian            Prize fighting in the Eastern Valley        Gwent Local History. No. 96 2004   Welsh Journals Online
• Greene, W H. An extinct manufacture : the old Pontypool Japan-ware. St. Sampson : Toucan, 1986. 14p.
• John, W D. Pontypool and Usk japanned wares. Newport : Ceramic Book Company, 1966.
• Kenrick, G S. The population of Pontypool and the parish of Trevethin ... : a lecture delivered on Tuesday evening, March 17, 1840 at the Mechanics Institution, Pontypool. London : Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1840. 41p.
• Lewis, Jack          Crumlin Viaduct            Gwent Local History vol 45 1978         Welsh Journals Online
• Linnard, Bill          Charles Vaughan of Pontypool - Mystery clockmaker      Gwent Local History vol 86 1999    Welsh Journals Online   
• Madgin, Hugh. The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. Railway World (April 1994), p. 28-30.
• Nichols, Reginald        Hidden Fire - a very rare book indeed: Barnabas and Frances Brough of Pontypool, and the Chartists    Gwent Local History vol 55 1983        Welsh Journals Online
• Palmer, Marilyn. The steam engines at Glyn Pits Colliery, Pontypool : an archaeological investigation. Industrial Archaeology Review 13 (1990), p. 7-34.
• Pamely-Evans, Dilys        The Inns and Taverns of the Crumlin branch of the Monmouthshire Canal               Gwent Local History 75 1993      Welsh Journals Online
• Pontypool remembered : a pictorial collection. Cwmbran : Village Publishing, 1984. 62p.
• Pontypool's pride : the official history of Pontypool Rugby Football Club, 1868-1988. Abertillery : Old Bakehouse, 1988. 300p.
• Rattenbury, Gordon              The Cwm Frwd Rail Road          Gwent Local History vol 42 1977          Welsh Journals Online
• Roden, Bryan. Pictorial memories of old Abersychan : including Talywain, Garndiffaith and Varteg. Abertillery : Old Bakehouse Publications, 2000. 128p.
• Roden, Bryan. Pictorial memories of old Pontypool : including Pontnewydd, Griffithstown, New Inn and Sebastopol. Vol.1 . Abertillery : Old Bakehouse Publications, 1999. 128p. Also Vol 2, 2000.
• "See you in the park in August ..." : bygone scenes of Pontypool and the surrounding villages. Old Cwmbran : Village Publishing, c1986. 64p.
• Shaw, Marguerite. A scrapbook of Abersychan : Talywaun, Garndiffaith and Varteg 1832 to 1982. Tal-y-waun] : Marguerite Shaw, 1982. 46p.
• Shaw, Marguerite. A second scrapbook of Abersychan, Talywain, Garndiffaith, Varteg and Cwmavon. Tal-y-waun] : Marguerite Shaw, [1985] 48p.
• Shaw, Marguerite. A third scrapbook of Abersychan : Talywain, Garndiffaith, Varteg and Cwmavon. [Pontypool] : Marguerite Shaw, 1986. 52p.
• Stainer, K. The colliery fatality at Abersychan : a report from the Free Press of Monmouthshire August/September 1895. Gwent Family History Society Journal. No. 68 (Dec. 2002), p. 20.
• Takel, Ronald E.            The British Ironworks, Abersychan.            Gwent Local History vol 87 1999    Welsh Journals Online   
• Thorne, Dylis. Crane Street Baptist church, Pontypool, 1836-1986. Pontypool] : [Crane Street Baptist Church], [1986] 40p.
• Tutton, Michael              The Challenge of Crumlin Viaduct             Gwent Local History 78 1995  Welsh Journals Online
• Walkinshaw, David. Local register : or, chronology of Pontypool and the neighbourhood from the earliest period. 4th ed. Pontypool : David Walkinshaw, 1875.
• Wilson, Janet                Little Mill Reformatory              Gwent Local History vol 84 1998    Welsh Journals Online

• Various items   - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • PILKINGTON BROTHERS LIMITED, GLASSWORKS, PONTYPOOL 
  • DUPONT FACTORY, PONTYPOOL
  • AVONDALE TINPLATE WORKS, PONTNEWYDD

Church and chapel data from The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 1, South Wales. Ed. by I.G Jones, & D. Williams. UWP, Cardiff, 1976. The names given towards the end of each entry are those of the informants. Check with Gwent RO to see what extant records are held, and possible names of chapels/churches built after 1851.

Trevethin Parish (With Pontypool); Statistics; Area 11329 acres; Population 8720 males, 8144 females, total 16864

• St James' Chapel A Chapel of Ease consecrated 1821 in lieu of previously existing one.........." Attendance - morning 160, evening 320 2 services in English George Jones, Curate
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• Talywaun, Abersychan A Church or Chapel of Abersychan Consecrated 1832 as a new Church Attendance - morning 98 + 92 scholars, afternoon 146 scholars, evening c 300 ".....Yesterday's attendance at Church was less than usual [because of] ....... the Mid Lent Sunday custom of visiting parents etc ..... [also] many come from a distance, attendance not so large in winter ........ [also] the present depression in the Iron Trade. Not long since there were 12 Blast Furnaces working in this District, now there are only 7 and this according to the common computation would mean a difference from two to three thousand persons in the District, including workmen and their families." 2 services in English Thomas Bluett, BA., Perpetual Curate
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• Trevethin Parish Church ".... this church entirely rebuilt in 1847......" Attendance - morning 400 + 200 scholars, afternoon 250 scholars, evening 500 (in a licensed Schoolroom) 1 service in English "In the morning and afternoon Divine Services are performed at the Parish Church, but in the evening at a licensed schoolroom in the town of Pontypool, but all the Congregations are those of the Church of England....." Thomas Davies, M.A., Incumbent Minister
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• Pontnewynydd District Parish under provisions of 6 and 7 Victoria c37 An additional church consecrated 1844 Attendance - morning 300 + 70 scholars, evening 380 + 25 scholars 1 chapel, 2 services both in English Owen T H Phillips, Incumbent Minister [see below]
• Pontnewynydd, Church of England Erected in 1840 Attendance - morning 280 + 100 scholars, evening 360 + 30 scholars Informant ; Owen T H Phillips [Are these 2 entries for the same church ?]
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• School Room, High St, Pontypool Church of England Erected 1838 Accommodation for 500 "Always full to overflow ... " Informant; Thomas Davies, M.A. (officiating Minister of the Town School room which is not a church but only a licensed room for Divine Worship)
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• St Alban's Catholic Church, Pontypool Erected 1846 Attendance - morning 280, afternoon 50 William L Woollett, Catholic Priest
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• English Wesleyan Chapel Pontypool Erected 1814 Attendance - morning 160 + 50 scholars, evening 350 + 50 scholars George Burgess, Trustee and Steward
• Tabernacle Chapel, Penygarn, Pontypool Particular Baptist Erected 1835 Attendance - morning 200 + 40 scholars, afternoon 118 scholars, evening 320 "This church was formed in the C17th and in 1727 a chapel was built about half a mile out of Town called Penygarn. In consequence of the distance the present place was erected in Town, the old chapel still remaining with a large burying ground attached" Benjamin Jones, Senior Deacon, Grocer etc, Trosnant, Pontypool
• Sardis, Trosnant, Pontypool, Independent Chapel Erected before 1800, rebuilt 1823 Attendance - morning 160 + 30 scholars Herbert Daniel, Minister, Cefn-y-crib, near Pontypool
• Noddfa Chapel, Trefethin, Baptist. Erected 1846 Attendance - (average) morning 274 + 200 scholars, evening 274 + 200 scholars ".....disproportion between actual and average attendance - [reason is] the present stagnation of Abersychan Iron Works and the consequent poverty of the population andn the removal of others to their localities" Edward Roberts, Minister, Talywaen, near Pontypool
• Rehoboth, Cranes St, Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Erected c 1821 Attendance - morning 116, afternoon 105 scholars, evening 136 "The services are held in Welsh (except occasionally in English) .... with 2 services in the week...." William Brown, Minister, Penytranch, Pontypool
• Tabernacle, Garnddiffaeth, Calvinistic Methodist Erected 1827 Attendance - morning 138, evening 250 Thomas Jones, Trustee Stewart, Cwmfroodbaileg
• Sardis, Garndiffaeth, Independent Chapel Erected 1827 Attendance - morning 184 + 100 scholars, afternoon 126 scholars, evening 243 Morris Jones, Minister, Garndiffeth
• Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Pontnewynydd Erected 1850 Attendance - morning Sunday School, afternoon 100, evening 200 William Fleetwood, Trustee
• Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Abersychan Erected 1829 Attendance - morning 450 + 249 scholars, evening 560 James Morgan, Chapel Steward, Abersychan
• Garniffaith Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Erected 1840 Attendance - morning 300 + 200 scholars, evening 500 + 200 scholars Meshach Cook, Trustee and Steward, Garndiffaeth
• English Wesleyan Chapel Erected 1823 Attendance - morning 150, afternoon Sunday School, evening 270 John Vipond, Trustee and Steward, Varteg Hill
• Baptist Chapel, Crane St, Pontypool Erected 1847 Attendance - morning 110 + 30 scholars, evening 152 Charles Davies, Deacon, Ironmonger, Pontypool
• Welsh Wesleyan Methodist Church Erected 1839 Attendance - morning 16, afternoon 44 scholars, evening 69 William Rosser, Trustee and Steward
• Welsh Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Varteg Erected 1829 Attendance - morningn 57, afternoon 60 scholars, evening 40 David Williams, Steward, Garnddiffaeth
• Providence Chapel, George St, Pontypool, Independents Erected 1833 Attendance - morning 84 + 46 scholars, afternoon 97 scholars, evening 86 Jonas Reddle, Pastor, Glanant Cottage, Pontypool
• Salem Primitive Methodist Chapel, High St, Pontypool Erected 1849 Attendance - morning 80 + 35 scholars, afternoon 40 scholars, evening 200 William Harvey, Minister, Sow Hill, Pontypool
• Bethel Chapel, Garndiffaith, Primitive Methodists Erected 1849 Attendance - morning 110 scholars, afternoon 110 + 109 scholars, evening 200 William Harvey, Minister, Sow Hill, Pontypool
• Primitive Methodist Chapel, Abersychan Erected 1832 Attendance - morning 100 + 140 scholars, afternoon 151 scholars, evening 250 Thomas Giles, Minister, Abersychan, Pontypool
• Trosnant Chapel, Pontypool, Baptist Erected 1776 Attendance - morning 266 + 60 scholars, afternoon 103 scholars, evening 290 "There is another Sunday School in connection with this chapel held at the Race, in the parish of Panteague............." David Lloyd Isaac, Minister
• Zion Chapel, Trosnant, Baptist Erected 1844 Attendance - morning 250 + 80 scholars, afternoon 130 scholars, evening 350 "Believing the principles of Nonconformists to be in accordance with the New Testament we hail their progress and dissemination and cannot refrain expressing an opinion that the Union of Church and State forms a barrier thereto." Joseph Davies, Trustee, Albion Rd, Pontypool
• Capel-yr-Ynys Chapel, Independent Erected 1832 Attendance - morning 61, afternoon 63 scholars, evening 80 Herbert Daniel, Minister, Cefn y crib, near Pontypool
• Bible Christians, Pontnymynydd Attendance - morning 21, evening 40 William Gilbert, Minister, at Mr Hodges', Grocer, Pontypool
• Baptist Chapel Erected 'since 1800' Attendance - afternoon 64 + 92 scholars Llewellyn Thomas, Son of the Minister, Baptist College, Pontypool
• Ebenezer Chapel, Pontypool, Independent Erected 1742 Attendance - morning 202, afternoon 121 scholars, evening 205 Evan Rowlands, Minister
• Abersychan Chapel, English Baptist Erected 1827 Attendance - morning 147, evening 270 Stephen Price, Minister, Abersychan
• Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Abersychan Erected 1827 Attendance - morning 450 + 249 scholars, afternoon Sunday School, evening 560 James Morgan, Chapel Steward, Abersychan
• Siloh Independent Chapel, Abersychan Erected 1837 Attendance - morning 35 + 30 scholars, afternoon 40 scholars, evening 40 "Minister apsent" Thomas Williams, Deacon
• Independents Room, Abersychan Began 1850 Attendance - morning 30 scholars, afternoon 55 + 38 scholars, evening 70 scholars Benjamin Nicholas, Superintendant, British Iron Works
• Varteg Chapel, Wesleyan Methodist Erected 1829 Attendance - morning 57, evening 21 David Williams, Society Steward, Garnddifaith
• Pisgah, Particular Baptists Erected 18?7 Attendance - morning 314, afternoon 216 scholars, evening 480 "The reason of the falling off of our Congregation is the depression that has been (in) the Iron Trade. Four of the furnaces in the British Works going out of blast" William Thomas, Minister, Talywaun
• English Particular Baptist Chapel, Abersychan Erected 1827 Attendance - morning 150 + 120 scholars, evening 270 "A day school has been kept in the Vestry" Informant; Rev Stephen Price, Baptist Minister, Abersychan
• Providence Chapel, Pontypool, English Independents Erected 1833 Attendance - morning 60 + 60 scholars, evening 150 Informant; J Keddle, V.D.M
• English Wesleyans, Sowhill Erected 1814 Attendance - [morning?] 150 + 70 scholars, afternoon 100 scholars, evening 250 scholars Informant; George Kevern

• Various items   - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • S. E. View of Trevethin Church, Prior to the Alterations in 1846 
  • Mount Pleasant United Reformed Church, Pontypool
  • Baptist College, Pontypool
  • Ebenezer Chapel, Cwmffrwdoer, Pontypool

See the Monmouthshire county page for links to online records

• This list of parish records is intended as a rough guide to coverage only. Their location as stated should be confirmed with the appropriate Record Office prior to any visit.

  Trefddyn / Trevethin, St Cadocus's Church - records with the Gwent RO
  Baptisms	Marriages	Banns	Burials
  1665-1709, 1726-1939	1655-1709, 1726-1923	1823-55, 1891-1903, 1907-46	1655-1709, 1726-1933
  Bishops Transcripts	1696, 1725-1844 - records with the NLW (see also Blaenafon/Blaenavon)

  Abersychan, St Thomas's Church (formed from Trefddyn/Trevethin 1844) - records with the Gwent RO
  Baptisms	Marriages	Banns	Burials
  1835-1901	1844-1915	1889-1902, 1920-31 (Garndiffaith 1922-63)	1835-95
  Bishops Transcripts	see Trefddyn/Trevethin

  Crymlyn / Crumlin, Unknown Dedication (formed from Pen-maen + Llanhiledd/Llanhilleth + Trefddyn/Trevethin + Mynyddislwyn 1921) - records with the Gwent RO
  Baptisms	Marriages
  1845-1940	1904-40

  Pontnewynydd, St Luke's Church (formed from Trefddyn/Trevethin 1845) - records with the Gwent RO
  Baptisms	Marriages	Banns
  1845-1954	1845-1971	1936-47, 1957-71
  Bishops Transcripts	1857-63, 1866, 1868-9, 1871 - records with the NLW

  [Details as published in The Parish Registers of Wales, NLW 1986 - present location/availability may vary]

• Trevethin - on wikipedia
• Pontypool - on Vision of Britain
• Pontypool - on wikipedia
• Pontypool photographs - on geograph.org.uk
• Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.
• Abersychan - on Vision of Britain
• Abersychan - on wikipedia
• Abersychan photographs - on geograph.org.uk
• Talywain - on wikipedia
• Various landscapes   - on the People's Collection Wales site

• Geograph
• Flickr

• Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire 1901 - Abersychan.
• Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire 1901 - Pontypool.

• The transcription of the section for Trefddyn / Trevethin from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Trefddyn / Trevethin to another place.

• Various items   - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • George Street - The Cross, Pontypool 
  • Busy Pontypool Market
  • George Street, The Bank and Fowler's, Pontypool
  • George Street - The Old Bath Beer House, Pontypool
  • The fountain alongside the Town Hall became a traditional site for formal, group photographs. This one shows the the Pontypool Exhibition Committee in around 1872.
  • Pontypool Town Hall 1856
  • The Cross, Pontypool
  • Commercial Street and The Cross, Pontypool
  • This early drawing of The Corn Market with the Red Lion public house to the left, was used on Hughes & Son Ltd note paper. It shows how when first built, the lower floor was open and upstairs a separate unit - which was a theatre.

• Family Search have an interactive map called "England and Wales Jurisdictions 1851" showing parish (and other) boundaries with optional background maps such as Ordnance Survey. There is also a Search facility, do read the guidance notes to get maximum benefit from this useful resource. See here for further background information to assist in the interpretation of this data
• Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R., Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: History Data Service, UK Data Archive [distributor], 17 May 2001. SN: 4348. Here is a gazetteer/finding aid plus a set of overview maps to accurately identify the position of parishes within the county.
• Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • Part 1 2 and 3 of the parish of Trevethin in the County of Monmouth
  • Section of Pontypool surveyed in 1822
  • 1836 Plan of Pontypool

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SO261038 (Lat/Lon: 51.728042, -3.071151), Trefddyn / Trevethin which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• OpenStreetMap Cymru (Welsh counties only)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

• Various items   - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • Members of the Comrades of the Great War Pontpool Club 
  • Some of the dead men killed from Vasteg, Abersychan

Pontypool Free Press Jun 11 1859   - on the People's Collection Wales site

• Varteg Collieries; Lower Varteg Collieries; Vipond's Varteg Colliery - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Glyn Pits, near Pontypool  - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Blaenserchan Colliery, near Pontypool  - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Blaendare Drift, near Pontypool -  on Welsh Coal Mines
• Cwmburgwm Colliery, near Pontypool - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Cwmffrwdoer Colliery, near Pontypool - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Tir Pentwys Colliery, near Pontypool - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Navigation Colliery, Talywain - on Welsh Coal Mines
• Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • Abersychan police station, 1903  
  • Charcoal gathering, Pontepoole, C 18th century print
  • A small iron cross was placed on the graves of Llanerch Colliery Explosion victims who did not have a gravestone in St Cadocs churchyard, Trevethin, Pontypool. The Llanerch Explosion on Feb 6th 1890 killed 176 men and boys. More than 50 of the victims are buried in St Cadoc’s, Trevethin. Only a few of these crosses survive in the churchyard. 
  • GLYN PITS, PONTYPOOL
  • Abersychan Ironworks, 1866, run by the Ebbw Vale Co., 1852-83

Class photo at New Inn School Pontypool c1920.   - on the People's Collection Wales site

• Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales site
  • The Carnival has always been a highlight in the social calendar for Pontypool. To be crowned Carnival Queen was a huge honour and this image shows the queen and her court in the late 1920's/30's.  
  • This pictures clearly shows how popular the Eisteddfod was when staged in Pontypool Park in 1924
  • Jubilee Celebrations at Pontypool, 1887
  • The National Eisteddfod in Pontypool, 1924