Abertillery, General View c.1955
Photo ref: A279024
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Photo ref: A279024
Photo of Abertillery, General View c.1955

More about this scene

This town was almost completely formed and defined by the production of coal. Like many of the towns in Wales that grew because of the extractive industries such as coal and slate, Abertillery expanded at an astonishing rate from 6,000 in 1881 to over 40,000 in 1921. This massive increase came from those seeking work in the town's coal mines, both from other parts of Wales, industrial and rural, and from the west of England, particularly Somerset and the Forest of Dean. The new housing built for the workers can be seen rising up the hill like a tide.

A Selection of Memories from Abertillery

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Abertillery

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

does anyone remember Howard's bakery at the bottom of tillery st. It was run by Jack (my dad) George and Frances. My name is John Howard and I left home in 1962 to join the Royal Air Force. Anyway I would like to hear from anyone who knew me all those many many years ago
After moving from birmingham to abertillery to live with my grandparents in chapel street we lived over the fire station the front of the station being in the street below.My grandfather a miner would give me a penny on Friday on his way home from work I would go around to the street below and next door to the fire station was a hotel in the door way was one of those very old square fridges with Mickey mouse ice lollipops for a. 1d happy days
I'm searching for my cousin from Abertillery her name is Val Statham (nee Regan) originally from Tirphil, new Tredegar. Can anyone help? My maiden name was Frances Jenkins.
I used to visit my grandmother - who lived on the aptly named Hill Street - throughout my childhood. My Gran was Ruth Robbins (nee James) who lived all her life in Hill Street, two of her daughters and their families also lived in the street so my brother and I always had someone to play with. My dad was Archie Robbins (born 1910) who trained as a carpenter with the local coffin maker before leaving the ...see more