Development

[magsvs]

I'm interested in how the Valley grew, the 1881 census (from what I can see) doesn't list any streets in Pontycymer or Blaengarw, I'd love to know which street was the first, second etc. Does anyone know if this info. is available anywhere?

[ctdavies]

I too am interested in when housing was first built. It seems that the Nanthir Hotel was in use by 1883 and the "First place of worship on Blaen Garw" was built 1885. The 1881 census does include Pontycymmer but not Blaengarw. The population of the latter in 1881 consisted of farms and few huts which totalled 36 persons (including Pwllcarn). It seems the valley population exploded during the mid 1870s. As late as 1911 Llangeinor as we know it today did not exist.

C T Davies

[ctdavies]

Having just viewed the 1881 census I have found that

1. A number of addresses were simply recorded in the returns for Llangeinor Parish as "Pontycymmer" without any qualification as to the actual address.

2. That Victoria Street, Pontycymmer is listed in the returns for Bettws Parish and not for those of Llangeinor Parish.

This may be the reason why member "magsvs" has been unable to find the information wanted.

Colin

[ctdavies]

The 1891 census enumeration districts (ED) appear to have been a rather random affair. Examples such as ED9 includes Blaengarw and then jumps to Llest & Pantygog.
ED8 jumps from Llewellyn St Nantymoel to Oxford St Pontycymmer! I have been unable to locate Victoria St Pontycymmer on either the Llangeinor or the Bettws Returns.

It would appear that although Victoria St is mentioned in 1881 for Bettws, it may appear in 1891 as Gwynfryn Road. There was no King Edward St at this time but Darren Villas may have been the beginning of it's development. Falda Cottages at the lower end of Victoria St are not mentioned either but two documents from 1906 mention them. So did Gwynfryn Rd & Falda Cotts amalgamate into Vic. St?

Colin

[magsvs]

Hi ctdavies - re 1881 census - I've just tried to look at the ED's on Ancestry.co.uk for both Llangeinor and Bettws and can see the full details for Llangeinor but Bettws has only one census page with no description page, can I ask where you are able to view Bettws? Only have membership of Ancestry so suppose I'm a bit limited.

Had a thought that the Victoria Street you have seen may be what is now Victoria Buildings in Coytrahen as Coytrahen does appear to be in the Bettws district.

1891 census - The Ed's do seem rather random I can't see ED 7 (Llangeinor) description page on Ancestry, have you been able to view that anywhere?

Mags

[ctdavies]

Hello Mags,

After I read your message I went into my Ancestry account and experienced the same problem as you. I had to close down the inter-net and re-open and then I was able to look for Bettws. It appears then that Ancestry were experiencing problems. 1881 census Bettws should have 42 images and you will find Victoria St starts with image 6 through to image 9. The official ref no for image 9 is RG11 piece No 5326 folio 5 page 11.

After looking at the 1891 to 1911 census returns I am beginning to wonder if there was a Victoria St on the Bettws side of the river. Then again the way the enumeration districts were laid out it may well have been where it is today but known as Gwynfryn Rd until the 1901 census.

As for Llangeinor ED7 desription page it seems to be missing, I can't find it either.

Colin.

[magsvs]

Hi Colin, thanks to your census ref. I managed to get into the Bettws pages and see Victoria Street, there are a few street names after that I coundn't make out, then Green Hill starts on page 18, the streets I did recognise are on the Braich y Cymmer side of the Valley, so I'm now wondering if what was Victoria Street in 1881 is now Bridgend Road?

Gwynfryn Road does seem like it is now Victoria Street, isn't the big house near the Half Way Gwynfryn House?

I would never have thought to look for Pontycymer under Bettws district tho', so thanks to you I've learned something.

What are your thoughts on Victoria Street being Bridgend Road?

Mags

[ctdavies]

Hello Mags. I have just had another look at the 1881 census. Gwynfryn Hse with 6 persons was the only reference to this name I could find. An Ordnance Survey Map date 1899 shows Gwynfryn Terrace with 18 houses below in the direction of Ffalda Square, with another 7 houses on the other side of the road which may have been Ffalda Cottages. In 1891 there numbered 253 persons listed in Gwynfryn Rd. No mention of Victoria St. or of Falda Cottages. In 1881 all those listed on the Bettws side seem to be around Garreg House and the beginnings of Braich-y-Cymmer Rd. Stiles Rd is listed but I cannot find it on a map. So it may be as you suggested that the Victoria St listed was the top of Bridgend Rd. With only the name "Pontycymmer" simply mentioned in 1881, I should imagine that this was the beginnings of Oxford St.

Colin