Time Line, Llangiwg and neighbouring parishes

Items in this story:

Time Line

Llangiwg and neighbouring parishes

This Timeline was produced by reference to some of the books listed in the Book section of the original main page

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cwmgors/history/Waun.html#LocalBooks

C6th, Llangiwg Church founded by Ciwg
C12th, Cilybebyll Church founded
1136, Hywel ap Meredudd is said to have fought a battle with the Normans of Gower near Betws.
1217, Rhys Grug's army is reputed to have camped north of GCG during his battles against Gower's forces.
1250+, Penlle'r Castell built.
1493, first mention of Cefn Celfi farm, Pontardawe - known as 'Roos Kevn-Kel-Vie'
1494, it is said that the dwelling known as Brynlloi, Betws was built in 1494 and it still [1894] stands in its original style 'with its thick thatched roof kissing the lintel of the door'.
1494/5, early reference to Ynysderw Farm, Pontardawe - referred to as 'Enysddrow'
1504, early reference to Ynysgelynen farm, Pontardawe - referred to as 'Enys Kylenen'
1528, early reference to Penllwynteg farm, Pontardawe - known as 'Lloyn Tegey'
1578, four 'ancient houses' described by the topographer Rice Merrick are Ynyspenllwch, Llachard, Ynysderw and Alltyfanog
1583, first wooden bridge recorded at Pontardawe
1584/5, early reference to Cilhendre Fawr farm, Pontardawe - known as 'Kil yr Hendre'
1584/5, early reference to Alltycham House, Pontardawe - known as Alltdracham'
1584/5, early reference to Garth farm - one of the key properties in Llangiwg parish
1586, Tir Ynysgedwyn sold by the Herberts of Cilybebyll to Morgan Awbrey
1610, at the Baron Court of the Earl of Pembroke held at Noyadd Wen in 1610, in the reign of James I , the list of farms in the' Manor of Kaegurwen' and their annual rents were given. These would mostly still be recognised today and included Cwmnanthopkin , Wernbwll and Tir nant y gaseg.

It also provided evidence of early coal mining in the area with the adjucation that "the coal and seams below the ground in the possession of a tenant, were owned by the tenant and not by the landlord, and that the tenant could dig, excavate and sell the coal without the permission of the owner of the land."
1647, forge and iron works started at Ynyspenllwch
1650, Charles Awbrey occupied 'Gellyvowis mawr' (Gellyfowy Fawr)
1650, the 'Domesday Book of Gower' - a survey under the seal of Oliver Cromwell lists many local farms and their rents
1662, inhabitants of Llangiwg were hauled before the Archdeacon's Court at Carmarthen in the years from 1662 to answer charges of recusancy.
1677, Ynysmeudwy corn mill occupied by William Thomas
1692, on Gellionen Mountain there is on the wall of the Unitarian Chapel a record stating that " This place of worship for the use of Protestant Dissenters was first erected 1692 ..........." . Erected on Alltyfanog land.
1696, Richard Crowley had a lease to make iron at Ynysgedwyn, Ystradgynlais but a casting found on the site had the date 1612 on it.
1720, Crowley & Co, Ystradgynlais owned the Ynysgedwyn Works
1701, before, the nonconformist church [Independent] at Cwmllynfell was established
1727, the Nonconformists began to worship in Brynlloi, Betws
1729, Emmanuel Bowen's 'New and Accurate Map of South Wales' contains the names 'Pont Cledach', Pont-ar-Dawye', 'Gallt wen' and Killybebill'
1738/39 ,the first report of a school in Llangiwc parish. In the first list of charity schools in "Welch Piety", 1738-9, we have the note; "Llanguke, 56 [pupils].
1739-40, in a charity schools list we have the name of Llanguke again, with 84 pupils, and also"Waun-Cygurwen in Llanguke, 45". This was the first record in GCG of the Circulating schools initiated by the Rev.Griffith Jones, Llanddowror, following this Sunday schools began to be used as places of elementary education.
1741, by, evidence that there were attended preacher meetings in Blaenegel[Gwrhyd]
1745-6, we have a record relating to the exact location of early charity schools in this district; " Llanguick Parish Church, 24; Llwyn y celyn in Llanguick, 34; Another school in Llwyn celyn, 28".
1750, in this year came another interesting note re schools, namely "Neuadd in Llanguick, 43". Neuadd farmhouse is in the northerly corner of the district, on the edge of Cwmaman, and it is likely that the children of Cwmaman as well as those from the Waun went there. In 1750-1, we have "Cigerwen in the parish of Llanguick,49" [I wonder whether that was a continuation of Neuadd school ?]. Whatever, that is the last record in "Welch Piety" about a school in the place.
1757, the well known colliery on Brynlloi, Betws worked coal as far back as 1757. It was worked by means of a canal, the coal was brought out in a boat built of oak, the remains of which can still be seen in the loft of the cowshed at Brynlloi to this day[1894].
1757, first Alltwen Independent chapel built on Cilhendre Fawr land
1758-60, Thomas Pryce (Pryce Bach) was the owner of Ynysgedwyn Works which had a contract to supply the government with guns and shot in this period
1762, evidence that a number of small holders of the area were ardent dissenters by 1762, they built a school house on the land of Cwmbach farm , GCG as a place to preach in. That was the start of Carmel chapel , but a church was not formed in the school house for several years. A" house called Hewlhire in Kaegurwen was certified in 1767 as a proper place for Protestant dissenters".
1762, Noah Jones left two pounds a year towards teaching the children of the inhabitants of the district, and it is fairly certain that a school was held in the Cwmbach school house from 1762 onwards for some years at least. Early in the last century, there was a school in the stable loft of Old Carmel, although there are no further details on it.
1767, the County authorised the expenditure of £200 on building a stone bridge at Pontardawe
1773, (1778?), old Bethel Congregational chapel, Betws/Cwmamman, was built
1782, Gellimanwydd chapel, Ammanford [Congregational] built
1785-1787, Richard Parsons leased a forge at Clydach-on Tawe for 65 years from Sir H Mackworth so after this date no pig-iron was carried over the Common at Gwauncaegurwen being on the route between Llandyfan and Ynysgedwyn
1790, a turnpike trust was set up to build and control a new road which ran from the upper valley of the Towy over the Black Mountain to Cwmaman.
1795, Capel Seion chapel, Betws built, Methodist.
1795, the Llanguick (Friendly) Society formed
1796, Holly Street (Ynysgelynen) bridge, Pontardawe built across the newly built canal
1798, the Swansea Canal was completed - it was 16 miles from Swansea to Ystradgynlais.
1798, a lease granted for coal working under Cwmllynfell Farm
1798, colliery opened in Lower Cwmtwrch by Richard Gough Awbrey
1802, at Hendredladis Drift mine, a trip ran wild, 6 dead
1802, John Jones of Bryn-brain acquired the colliery at Blaengurwen
1802, a valuation entry in the Llangiwg Vestry during this year shows the following collieries within the parish ; Cwmtwrch Level ; William Arthur & Co [works of] ; Brin Morgan Level ; Gwaincaegurwen Level ; Plass Mount Level ; Mynydd Bach Level ; Coed y falde Level ; Richard Parsons Mines work.
1805, Baran Chapel was built at Nantymoel by the Independents, people went on foot and horseback over the mountains to the little lonely chapel. It had an attached school. When it was flourishing 50 members emigrated to Pennsylvania.
1806, Twrch Turnpike Trust improved road between Swansea and the Twrch river. The Ynysderw Gatehouse at Trebanos still survives
1808, Rev Fleming Gough leased land in Ystalyfera to a Daniel Harper for a stone coal and culm colliery.
1811, bridge over River Egel built at Rhydyfro by a Belgian, Ben wallace, originally a narrow, hump backed structure, later widened and flattened .
1812, explosion at Craig mine , Brynmorgan, Cwmtwrch, 5 dead.
1813, Ynisfechan colliery opens
1815, a Betws colliery that was quite well known for a while was Pwll Jonathan. This stood above Twllgwyn on Betws Mountain.
1817, the main road that connects the region through Pontardawe, Rhydaman and Brynamman was opened.The enabling Act has a part dealing with this area which contains the names of promoters and this includes the name of David Thomas of Pwllywrach [GCG] who was also a Turnpike Trustee.
1817, David Thomas appointed by Richard Parsons as superintendent of the blast furnaces and mineral mines at Ynysgedwyn
1819 , the road across the Black Mountain from Brynamman was built under supervision of John Jones, Brynbrain.This remains a lasting monument to a good engineer, bear in mind the Black Mountain reaches 2000 ft in height. Also, the bridge over River Amman near the Farmers was built by John Jones, also known as Pont Pwll y Cwar.
1819, Plasywaun school, Cilybebyll opened
1819, bridge over Cwm Du brook built at Ynysmeudwy
1821, the little old thatched roof school house at Cwmbach , GCG became too small and they raised a larger building. Before the end of 1822, some 50 members left Cwmllynfell and they were incorporated as a church in Cwmbach , thus began Carmel.
1822, the nearest tavern to Brynamman was either Cross Inn [Ammanford] or Llangiwg ; the Farmers, the first public house in the neighbourhood, was built the following year.
1823, George Crane took over the Ynysgedwyn Iron Works
1823, the Pontardawe Club first established at Maendy Inn, Llangiwg, moved to Dynefor Arms in 1836
1823/5, the Cwmtawe Highway (A4067 from Swansea to Ystalyfera) was straightened
1824, road over Black Mountain was continued southwards through Gwter Fawr, and Waunleision to GCG
1825, a school was kept in Twyn-y-cacwn, Brynamman by David Williams, Cwmgarw.
1825 & 1829, 'Coedffaldau and Pantybara' in Ystalyfera were leased by Rev Felming Gough to a John Reynolds, presumably for coal mining
1828, branch canal built on Ynysmeudwy Uchaf land to connect the Swansea Canal to Waunycoed Colliery
1828, Waun Coed colliery opens
1829, as a result perhaps of the revival of 1828 which strongly affected the district , the church [Carmel] again rebuilt the church house, and added a gallery to it. Services held here until 1877 when transferred to new chapel in the village
1829, Capel Seion chapel, Betws re-erected, Methodist. Services ceased here in 1899 when Capel Newydd built
1830, Cae'r Doc National School established, closed 1847
1830, Rev Fleming Gough grants deed to work the Cyfyng Colliery, Ystalyfera
1830, Cwmnantllwyd colliery opens - also in 1890
1831, the Hendreforgan or Cox's Colliery near Cwmllynfell offered for sale or let
1830, Carpenter's Row, Pontardawe established
1831, the first shop in the district is opened in Brynamman, by Twm o'r Gate.
1832/4, David Williams has a school in Dollgraig, Brynamman
1832, Roger Hopkin of GCG sank a pit near Caeglas Terrace, GCG, he made a tramway from the pit through Cwmgors towards Pontardawe.His idea was to take the coal in horse drawn drams to the Swansea Canal at Pontardawe.Cuttings and embankments can be traced through Derwydd and Beiliglas farms and passed Cwmgors School. However excessive water in the pit made the tramway redundant before any coal was raised.[He made a second attempt in 1837, see below]
1832, Hen Abraham' kept a day school in the stable loft of Old Carmel Chapel.
1833, the Red vein outcropping at Cwmgors was 4ft 3ins thick, worked by Jeffreys in 1833 and quite close by Joseph Thomas opened the small Llwynrhidiau colliery. Jeffreys employed 4 colliers and in 1835 Thomas had 2 colliers and 4 boys . Cawdor colliery on Mynydd y Bettws worked the Red Vein at the same time.
1835, about, Pont-y-clerc Colliery and Brick Works opened
1835, William Parsons establishes the Ynysderw Boilerplate and Tinplate Works near the river and canal (also called Primrose Works?)
1836, the new hot blast process to use anthracite in the smelting of iron ore was successfully introduced at the Ynysgedwyn ironworks in 1836 largely as a result of the work of David Thomas
1837, what became known as the Old Pit, GCG sunk by Richard Hopkin.and succeeded in hitting the Big Vein at 173 yds 1 foot , the pit bottom was exactly at the same depth as sea level. This might be said to be when the process of industrialisation started in the GCG area, before that, there were only a few cottages on the slopes and the edges of the Waun
1837, Pheasant Bush tinplate works, Trebanos opened. Closed 1893
1837, the new Nielson hot blast furnace system adapted to use anthracite was set up at Ynysgedwyn by Crane and David Thomas
1837/38, Pontardawe Brewery built next to the canal by John Jones, Ynysderw Farm
1838, the Llanelli Railway Dock Co built a railway to Garnant in 1838, this was extended along the narrow gorge of Garnant stream right up to Pwll y Wrach.
1838, a furnace was built at Ystalyfera and from this grew the iron and tinplate works which by 1863 was described as 'the largest tinplate manufactory in the world'.
1838, another tavern opens in Brynamman, the Colliers Arms at the Banwen, but as yet no place of worship
1839, Penyralltwen school, Cilybebyll opened
1839, Richard Gough grants indenture on land in Ystalyfera on which four new iron furnaces were being built in 1840, so started the world renowned Ystalyfera Iron Works of James P Budd who added a forge, tinplate mills and tin houses in 1851
1839, David Thomas leaves Ynysgedwyn for the USA
1840, recorded that a school existed in Cwmllynfell and one in Cwmtwrch
1840, Old Primrose colliery, Rhos opened by John Parsons
1841, a Sunday school is held at Cwmgarw-ganol, Brynamman.
1842, female labour underground was prohibited by the 1842 Mines regulation Act, women did not work underground at GCG, they did work on the surface at the Mountain Colliery, Cwmgors .Also prohibited was the employment of boys under 10 although evidently latter not enforced as boys under 10 continued to work underground until 1856 at most local collieries including GCG and Cwmgors.
1842, Bethesda Baptist chapel, Glanamman started
1842, Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Trebanos built
1842, Christ Church, Garnant built
1842/46, an exciting period in Brynamman, Gibea Independent chapel was built , before this they went once a month to Cwmllynfell for communion ; and the LRD extended the line from Garnant to Brynamman in 1846 to transport coal from Brynamman Colliery and iron from the Amman Iron Works in Brynamman down to the docks.
1843, Cwmamman ecclesiastical parish formed out of 5 adjacent parishes
1844, the first Saron, Congregational chapel erected in Rhydyfro
1844, the Ynysmeudwy Brick Works was established by Ebenezer Edwards on Ynysmeudwy Farm lane which brought into the parish a number of potters and clay workers from Staffordshire and Cornwall. Dismantled in 1877 and bought by a Llanelly firm
1844, Baptist chapel erected in Glanamman
1845, Ynysmeudwy brickworks and pottery established
1845, Holy Trinity Church, Ystalyfera built
1845, Adulum Baptist chapel, Pontardawe built
1845, Horeb Welsh Wesleyan Methodist chapel Pontardawe built
1846, by this year the Ystalyfera Iron Company alone was paying an annual £1,568. 8s. 8d. in tolls to the Swansea Canal Company.
1846, the railway (Llanelli Dock) was extended to Brynaman to serve the needs of the collieries owned by John Jones, Brynbrain in that area, and of the recently established Amman ironworks
1847, an accident in the Old Pit, GCG [ the worst accident in the history of the works] when the rope broke and six lives were lost.
1847, Pwll y Fan pit opened
1847, the Day National school at Cae'r Doc closes because William Parsons could no longer support it
1847, first blast furnace built in Brynamman, also the Crown tavern built, the fourth in the place.
1847, at Perkins Pit, Garnant--- an explosion, 1 killed, 23 injured
1848, James Budd at Ystalyfera Iron Works made a major technical improvement with his hot blast stoves
1848, Ynysmeudwy House built by Williams family, partly as the offices of Ynysmeudwy Brickworks and Pottery Co. Became Glanafon Country Hotel in 1971, and burnt down in 1991
1849, cholera was rampant in the district, particularly bad in Brynamman with many deaths, the same year that a powerful [religious] revival came to the country
1849/53, to illustrate local wage levels, at Cwmllynfell colliery a collier earned between 17 shillings and £2..4...3d per fortnight, an overman £1..8...0 per week, a labourer 1/10d a day and a boy with horse 1/0d a day.The official Sliding Scale operated locally from 1862.
1849, Buckley's Breweries build stables and storehouses near Cross Inn[Ammanford].
1850, Cae'r Doc boat-building yard, Pontardawe established
1850, the Company Shop , or Truck System, arrives in Brynamman
1850, opening of branch railway line from Tir-y-dail to Pen-y-groes
1851, chemical works at Pontardawe established by Jacob Lewis on Pontardawe Mills land - produced vitriol and sulphuric acid for the local tinplate works, closed 1931
1852, Pontyberem mine, water burst through, 28 dead
1853, William Griffiths (Ivander) founds one of the earliest Bands of Hope in Wales
1854, the parish could boast thirty-three places for the sale of intoxicants and seventeen shops of different kinds
1854 , George Borrow came over the Waun from the Farmer's Arms, Brynamman and his book [Wild Wales] has the comment " For the first two or three miles the country through which I passed did not at all prepossess me in favour of Glamorganshire". But let it be remembered that "the morning was wretched and drizzly"! See George Borrow on this site
1854, a day school recorded in Brynamman, run by William Prosser.
1854, Swansea Canal frozen for 3 weeks. Because the Ynysgeinon Colliery miners were unable to work they dug a new shaft on the other side of the valley - subsequently called Crimea Pit as that war was in progress at the time
1854, cholera outbreak in Ystalyfera
1854, the Raven Colliery, Garnant was working, employed 485 workers in 1924, closed 1936
1854, the Parish Rate Book for 1854 gives some indication of the scale of coal mining operations at this time. It records that together the coal£mines of the parish contributed a total of some £1,435 to the parish rate, varying from the Cwmllynfell Collieries' contribution of £380 to the Brynmorgan Colliery which was rated at £48, while the gross estimated rental of the Cyfyng Colliery at Ystalyfera was £260.
1855, the surveyor of the Neath District Highway Board in 1855 recommended the expenditure of a considerable sum on the road system of the parish, 'The Church roads in Llanguicke being very much out of repair'. Six years later he was able to report considerable improvement in three of the four hamlets of the parish --- Gaegurwen being the exception.
1855, Pwll y Gwter [pit] was sunk, Brynamman
1855, Ynysderw House built
1856, New Gibea, Brynamman was built, around 300 members.The old Gibea turned into a day school with a government grant and monthly contribution from the workers.
1856, new National School built in Brecon Rd, Pontardawe, became a mixed national school in 1863
1856, Gwrhyd chapel was built, and some fifty or more members of Carmel were lost to incorporate that church. The membership grew quickly, with some members coming from Panteg and Cwmllynfell as well.
1856, there was a turnpike house near the Old Star [Cwmgors] but in 1856 it was moved to GCG [where Gate shop used to be and initially kept by Dafydd Jones,Y Gat] because people avoided paying the tolls by walking up over Cwmnanthopkin farm and down the Nantygasseg track.
1857, St Peter's National school erected
1857/8, a man called Philip Rees [who lost his leg in the Crimea War, and came to keep the Caegurwen Inn] held a school in the loft of the inn. It seems there was scant approval for the old soldier's efforts to cram a bit of English and arithmetic into the heads of the children of the Waun, and the life of the school was brief.
1858, At a concert held at Soar Chapel, Ystalyfera, in 1858 to aid the funds of the recently built Caersalem Chapel four local choirs competed for a prize of £3 --- from Caersalem Chapel, Cwmtwrch, Gurnos and Pontardawe.
1860, Primrose Row, Pontardawe built
1860, the railway from Swansea to Pontardawe opened, it was extended in 1861 to Ystalyfera. The fastest means of transport through the Tawe valley before that was by horseback along a rough road.
1860, checkweighers were allowed locally, paid for by the miners themselves.
1860, Cwmclydach Colliery opened by Hills brothers
1861, Amman Iron Company builds a new forge at Brynamman works
1861, Swansea Vale Railway reaches Ystalyfera
1861, Wm.Parsons sold Pontardawe tinplate works to Wm. Gilbertson who lived at Ynysderw House
1861/2, Bethesda Independent chapel, Ynysmeudwy built
1862, St Peter's Church, Pontardawe founded by Wm Parsons - a chapel of ease to Llangiwg Parish Church
1862, British and Foreign School Society school built at Clydach, as was the first National school
1862, the scope of choral music was further widened when Ifander Griffiths formed a united choir of three hundred members from the villages of the Swansea Valley, the majority of whose members came from Ystalyfera, the largest of the villages at the time. During the first year of its existence the choir competed at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod of 1862 and was awarded second place to the older Aberdare choir.
1862, Swansea Vale Railway began to extend their railway from Ystalyfera to Brynamman, completed 2 years later.
1862, Brondeg House, Pontardawe built by David Smith (originally called Ty Tyler)
1863, National School in Brecon Rd, Pontardawe divided into upper and infant schools
1864, in the 1864 Act the maximum numbers of hours to be worked underground was reduced from 12 to 10 hours a day, again not vigorously enforced locally.
1864, Raven Pit, Garnant sunk, closed 1936
1864, Swansea Vale Railway line reaches Brynamman, first passenger train in 1868, became the Midland Railway Station in 1874, closed in 1950. Name of village changes from Gwter fawr to Brynamman because station so named.
1865, Gellimanwydd chapel, Ammanford [Congregational] rebuilt and name changed to Christian Temple
1865 ?, John Davies the weaver held a school in the old house at Pen-yr-inclein.
1865, Gosen Independent chapel, Trebanos built. Rebuilt 1891
1865, the Company Shop [Truck System] disappeared from Brynamman.
1865, Pontardawe foundry and fitting shop built by Thomas Howells and Thomas Stephens to manufacture iron rollers, bearings and partings which were used in collieries.
1866, Cholera again in the district, particularly in Ystalyfera, 119 people died, people flocked to the chapels for refuge and solace.
1866, the first Post Office came to Brynamman, known as the Brynamman PO which removed all doubts about the name of the place i.e Gwter Fawr previously.
1866, at Caegurwen Arms, miners and others held a meeting and decided to build a ' British' school and contribute 1/- a month for the school and it's maintenance. They accordingly built a one room school house at the bottom of the Waun, and by Dec 1867 there were 90 children at the school. In 1868, the teacher said;

"On the whole, I noticed that those who were always present were most successful in the examination; the others either copied or failed, Most of the children were exceedingly nervous".

Yes, poor things, no wonder, with the language of their homes banned from the school.
1866, Soar Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Pontardawe built on Ynysgelynen land
1866, the Rechabites Hall infants school , then in 1873 moved to the reading room
1866, James Budd's Ystalyfera Iron Works reputed to be the largest in the world employing 4000 persons as well as 1000 in the ore and coal mines belonging to the works
1867, police station built at Pontardawe
1868, the first passenger trains reached Brynamman along the Midland Railway
1868, Pontardawe Collegiate School, Alltwen established. Closed in 1896
1869 , the first steam train came up ' the incline' at GCG , superseding horses.
1868, Ynysgedwyn Iron Works still in operation, S H Blackmore as manager (see 1889)
1869, explosion at Hendreforgan drift mine, 6 dead.
1869, Reading Room built by Wm Gilbertson in Pontardawe, later became the Rechabite hall, then the Palace cinema in 1914, then the Lyric in 1930, finally closed late 1970s
1869, the Baptists started a cause in Brynamman, met in clubroom of the Farmers initially but built a chapel a year later on the Banwen.
1869/70, Gasworks, Pontardawe built next to Swansea Canal. New structure erected after 1910, decommissioned c 1987
1870, Education Act established School Boards with elected representatives
1870s, Danygraig House built on Ynysderw famland. Converted into flats in 1960s
1870, Tanyrallt House school, Cilybebyll opened
1871, Bryn Morgan Colliery opened by Thomas and Sheasby
1871, termination of Spencer of Swansea's contract to deliver mail in the Tawe valley
1871, Moriah chapel, Calvinistic Methodists, was built in Brynamman. Also, Siloam Baptist chapel.
1872, Brynhenllys pit in Cwmllynfell sunk, known as Gwaith y Poweliaid, closed 1955
1872, Great Western Railway Company buys the Swansea Canal
1872, Tin plate works built at Brynamman, followed by a great number of tin workers from elsewhere.
1872, the "Mines Regulations Act 1872" compelled children who worked in the coalmines to go to school for 10 hours a week.
1873, Ynys Colliery started in Brynamman by the Welsh Company.
1873/4, Cwmnantllici mine opened on the Gwrhyd.
1874, Gellinudd Board School, built on Ty'n y Graig Ganol land, opened, closed 1903
1874, miners at Brynamman on strike for nearly 6 months.
1874, Arthur Gilbertson helps to establish the '1874 List' which was the basis of all tinplate workers' wages
1874, At Ystalyfera there were twenty-one places serving the 'demon drink', thirty-three grocery and general dealers, fifteen tailors, drapers and milliners, as well as representatives of almost every other type of retail traders. Pontardawe, which was considerably smaller had a dozen inns, public houses and beer houses, eleven grocers and general dealers and rather fewer of other forms of retail business.
1874, Gwaun-cae-gurwen Colliery Co formed. the total amount of coal raised was almost 70 tons a day. This was more than they could carry off in carts on the road, and they started to make a railway from the Old Pit down to Cwmtawe in order to discharge the coal onto boats on the canal, and then to be carried to Swansea. It is easy to see the remains of this old way today coming past Pontbaraceirch, Cwmbach and Beiliglas to Cwmgors. As another company was building a railway from Llanelli to Garnant, they dropped the plan of taking the railway to Cwmtawe, and instead made a line to join the new railway in Cwmaman, and sent the coal over that one to Llanelli. It seems that that railway was one of the earliest in Wales
1875, references to establishing a Board School in Llangiwg parish and, after some disagreement about compensation, Carmel (GCG) did eventually transfer the school house to the Board
1875, the district stricken by two of the biggest floods in living memory
1875, Pontardawe Poor Law Union formed with Mawr and Rhyndwyglydach being ceded by Swansea Union and Llangiwg, Cilybebyll and Ynysymwn by Neath Union. Llangiw was divided into wards;- Caegurwen, Blaenegel and Mawr, Alltygrug, Gorde'rgraig, Cwmllynfell. Rhyndwyglydach into Gellionen and Clydach.
1875, there are now 56 friendly societies and lodges operating in the parish
1875, before the Llangiwg School Board was formed in this year, a British School was held at old Saron Chapel, Rhydyfro
1875, Sliding Scale introduced [coal mining wage scales], although adopted in 1862 in 5 local collieries
1876, the foundation stone for New Carmel was laid and, by Sunday, the 21st of October 1877, the new chapel was ready and that Sabbath morning the first sermon was preached there.
1876, a strike broke out in the Waun mine and it lasted longer than usual, and a word of its story is seen in the school log book ; " Commencement of third week of strike with the Waun colliers. Proprietors asking 12.5% reduction and the colliers refusing..."
1876, the Cooperative Society Ltd opened a shop in Brynamman.
1876, Swansea Vale Railway Co taken over by the Midland Railway Co becoming part of the LMS Railway Co in 1923
1876, Elementary Board school erected in Rhydyfro on Rhyd-y-fro Mill land
1877, an interesting note, " According to the census made lately for the parish, Caegurwen has 424 children of school age, of whom 283 attend school, 39 are working and 102 are at home.
1878, members of the Anglican Church started holding services in Brynamman, in the school building.
1879, Lewis & Co began tinplate manufacture in Lower Cwmtwrch, ended in 1882 - became the Phoenix Tinplate Co Ltd in 1898 with D W Davies, Tycoch involved - was very successful
1879, Pontardawe Workhouse built, had 107 beds
1879, Ynysmeudwy (Bryn) tinplate works established on former brickworks site next to canal. Closed 1901 although appears to have lived on from 1901 as the Bryn Works under new ownership - and from 1935 as part of RTB.
1879, Glantawe tinplate works established on Ynysmeudwy Isaf land - re-named Glanrhyd works in 1883 when acquired by Arthur Gilbertson
1880, a turbulent year for Brynamman miners, a strike in the Pwll and Cannon, lasted a whole year.
1880, Cwmnant Du colliery opens
1880, after a public meeting, Cross Inn changes its name to Ammanford, the Welsh Rhydaman came later.
1880, Watcyn Wyn opens a seminary for preachers at Gwynfryn School, Ammanford [closed 1914]
1880, The Fern's, Graig Rd, Cilybebyll school opened
1880/1, Tabernacle Independent chapel, Pontardawe opened
1881, St Catherine's Church, Brynamman erected
1882, about, with the church now settled in the new Carmel,GCG they started to restore the old chapel, and they put a roof of blue slate on it, in the place of the old mossy stones put there in 1822, and continued to hold burial services in it until the beginning of the present [20th] century.
1882, Ebenezer chapel built, on the Banwen, Brynamman, a branch of Gibea. Also St Catherines.
1883, Brynamman had 380 private houses, 8 taverns, 26 shops, 1 school, 4 places of worship, and the population was around 2000.
1883, Ebenezer Rees printing a weekly paper in a house near Wernfawr Hotel,Ystalyfera. Also printed Cwrs y Byd, a monthly magazine in Welsh which appeared first in 1891. (see also 1898)
1883, Arthur Gilbertson's company bought Glantawe Tinplate Works and changed the name to Glanrhyd Tinplate Co Ltd
1883, Alltwen Infants' School built on Dyffryn Rd
1884, Craig Trebanos school opened, replaced by infants and junior 1910/15
1884/5, Maerdy pit, GCG sunk to work the Big Vein [240 yds], brought up coal from it in 1886, this was the start of a new era in the industrial history of the district. In 1935 there were 782 men employed there, only 308 in 1945, closed down in 1948.
1884, Pwll y Gwter Pit, Brynamman, completely closed.
1884, Pwll y Garnant pit [Pwll Perkins], believed to be the oldest pit in the area and where occurred the worst accident in the district ever, when the rope broke at the end of the morning , January 16, 1884, and ten lives were lost. See photograph [entry 15] for list of names of the deceased.

See also Pwll Perkins on http://cwmammanhistory.co.uk/Amman_Valley_History/pages/Pwll_Perkins_Water_Wheel_c.1907.htm
1884, about, opened the mine works at Llwynrhydie, Cwmgors, known as Joseph's Works, as it was owned by Joseph Thomas, shopkeeper from Garnant. At that time , the "Truck Act System" was in vogue, through this the workers had to buy goods in the works company shop.
1884 , Ebenezer Rees's first , and shortlived, attempt in to set up a newspaper based in Cwm Tawe. He tried again in 1898, starting the newspaper entitled Llais Llafur.
1884, a Chair Eisteddfod held in Brynamman, the Chair prize of three guineas was won by the Rev T Cynfelin Benjamen of Pen/USA for his poem on the subject "Ymdrech".
1884, St Michaels and All Angels Church, Ammanford, foundation stone laid
1885, Llangiwg Board school opened in Brecon Rd, Pontardawe (which became the girl's school in 1914 ?)
1885/6, the 'water works' connected to the parish of Quarter Bach and the Llandeilo District was built, about 112 'private houses' have taps from it , at their own expense
1886, Ystalyfera Iron and Tinplate Works closed following J P Budd's death in 1883
1886, D W Davies re-opens Pwllbach Colliery
1886, Gyrnos Tinplate Co operated on the Glamorgan side of the Twrch, still going in 1932
1886, a drama company established on the Waun , and were very successful in adapting and acting a number of dramas
1886, the Great Western [Railway] Station [on the opposite side of the road to the Midland Railway Station] opened in Brynamman, [service withdrawn in 1958]
1886, a cause was started in Cwmgors by the Episcopal Church. Quickly followed by the Baptists, and then the Calvinistic Methodists built a schoolroom to worship in.
1886, Llanfair Church, Cwmgors opened.
1886, Pontardawe Telephone Exchange established
1886, All Saints Church, Pontardawe built by Arthur Gilbertson as a memorial to his father
1886, St John the Baptist church, Alltwen built
1886 Jenkin Mark, boot and shoe manufacturer, had the first PO in GCG, later moved to near Carmel chapel.
1886, Llanfair Church,Cwmgors was formed
1887/8, a new works opened on the ruins of Joseph's works, see 1884 above, and was known as Cwmgors Colliery, a slant was driven due south to work the Red Vein. In 1914 it employed 403 men, closed down in 1943
1887, Great Mountain pit, Ammanford sunk, closed 1961
1887, they raised a vestry behind New Carmel chapel, mainly for the use of the Sunday school, they also held a Sunday school in the New Star in Cwmgors
1887, first rugby game played in Amman Valley, at Ammanford
1888, a GCG school log note said "June 11---"Wombell's Menagerie passed by to exhibit at Brynaman. Allowed the children to go out and see the Elephants and Camels and the procession generally".
1888, about, the workers started to keep every first Monday in the month as a holiday, known as ' Mabon's day'.
1888, Pantycelyn Drift Mine opened , abandoned in 1932
1889, a school started in Gwrhyd chapel
1889, Ynysgedwyn tinplate works started up by D G Thomas on site of old iron works. Closed in 1892 (see 1905)
1890, Garnant Reading Room opened
1890, Daren Colliery, Trebanos opened
1890, Arthur Gilbertson pioneers the basic steel open hearth system at the Pontardawe Tinplate Works
1890, New Church Temple, Ynysmeudwy built. Closed 1997
1890, Cooperative building, Pontardawe built, extended 1911
1890, Glynbeudy Tinplate Works, Brynamman established by Arthur Gilbertson who also built the Pontardawe steel works in the same year
1890, Betws pit sunk, closed 1976.
1890, Mount pit, Ammanford sunk, closed 1959
1891, Celliceidrim pit, Amman Valley sunk, closed 1957
1891, Betws to Cross Inn bridge opened
1891, Ammanford Little Vein or No 2 Slant opened
1891, 62 members leave Cwmllynfell to form a new church at Rhiwfawr
1891, Amman Iron Works in Brynamman closes down, steel now used instead of iron in tinplate manufacture
1892, The GCG Silver Band was started in 1892 , in 1911 it won 1st prize 5 years out of 6 at the National [Eisteddfod] and in 1925 began a radio broadcasting 'career'.
1893, Emlyn Pit/Penygroes sunk, closed 1939
1893, Bethesda Independent chapel, Ynysmeudwy opened
1893, a strike at Gilbertson's Pontardawe Tinplate Works, collapsed through lack of unity. Gilbertson abandons tinplate manufacture temporarily owing to the McKinley tariff block on imports to the USA - he substituted sheet mills and galvanising equipment
1894, Capel y Graig Unitarian chapel, Trebanos opened
1894, they raised a vestry in Cwmgors to hold a Sunday school , and another in Tairgwaith the same year
1894, an unsuccessful attempt was made in Brynamman to buy the tithes from John Harries, Cwmllynfell.
1894, the Parish Council Act came into effect. Brynamman stands partly in three parishes--Quarter Bach, Llandeilo and Llangiwg - but the population of Quarter Bach could claim a full board of 15 members but those in that part in Llandeilo and Llangiwg only had 2 each.
1894, Seion Baptist Chapel, Cwmgors was formed
1894 a Report and Enquiry into Farming in Wales includes references to various local farms including Pentwyn, Garth Eithin, Cwmnanthopkin and Penhow
1894, a sub post office opened in Cwmllynfell, kept by Miss Ann Harris
1894, GCG, Elementary school enlarged
1895, New Primrose Colliery, Rhos opened
1896, Brynamman ---Elementary School opened
1896/7, Bryn Seion Independent chapel, Gellinudd opened. Closed 1993
1897, a Post Office opened at Thomas Howell's shop in Cwmgors.
1897, Brynamman Tinplate Works ceases operations
1897, Workmen's Compensation Act
1898, a GCG born man of some note was John James JP , he was a Miner's Agent but first worked as a checkweigher at Cwmgors where became a ' champion of the workers' during the 1898 strike. He was victimised by the mine owners but made checkweigher by the men at Cwmgors, for 13 yrs.
1898, Tir-y-dail Colliery opens, employed 522 men in 1921, closed down in 1927
1898, Y Llais, a weekly paper almost all in Welsh printed in Ystalyfera, became Llais Llafur, then Labour Voice, then South Wales Voice, then incorporated in Swansea Voice
1899, saw the creation of the Miners Federation of GB, there were previously 7 separate independent federations in South Wales. William Abraham[Mabon], became the Liberal MP for Rhondda in 1885 and was largely responsible for this.
1899, Capel Newydd chapel, Betws opened
1899, Evan Evans[chemist] commissions the design and building of the parade of shops and arcade in Ammanford
1899, new Pontardawe Infants School, Thomas St opened
1899, Daren Colliery, Trebanos re-opened and erected an aerial ropeway to take the coal across the valley to the Midland Railway
1900, Carmel bought a patch of land to enlarge the graveyard next to Old Carmel
1900, construction started of Mond Nickel Works, Clydach
1901, the railway serving Cwmgors Colliery and the brickworks opened.
1902, Pantyfynnon pit , Ammanford sunk, closed 1969
1903, Sliding Scale replaced by Conciliation Board System.
1903, Tarenni colliery, Godre'rgraig opened by the South Wales Primrose Coal Co Ltd. Closed 1948
1903, parish of Ammanford created out of Llandybie and Betws
1903, new Congregational chapel at Cwmllynfell built
1903, Alltwen Junior school opened - superceded Gellinudd school opened 1874
1903/4, Wernos pit, Ammanford sunk, employed 614 men in 1964 , closed down in 1965
1904, Pontardawe Steam Laundry established in Fuller St
1904, Graig Colliery Co formed to operate the Daren, Trebanos. Closed 1964
1904/5, the first wave of 'the revival', crowds poured into the churches week by week, until by the end of 1904, they numbered 755 in Carmel and in one communion in 1905, the minister received over a hundred new members.
1904/5, new Saron chapel erected in Rhydyfro on Rhyd-y-fro Mill land
1905, new Horeb Welsh Wesleyan chapel built in Pontardawe
1905, Carmel gave release letters to 215 of the members to start the new Tabernacle chapel in Cwmgors.
1905, new Ebenezer Independent chapel, Rhos opened
1905, Brynamman Choral Society wins at National Eisteddfod in Mountain Ash
1905, St Margaret's Church, Cwmllynfell erected
1905, Ynysgedwyn Tinplate Ltd registered, still going in 1932.
1906, Gwrhyd mixed infants' school closed (started 1890?)
1906, New colliery opened at Pont y Clerc
1906, English Wesleyan chapel, Holly St, Pontardawe opened. Closed 1995
1907, In his report relating to the GCG school said Mr J Evans, the inspector; "In this Welsh district, the upper division of the infants may have conversational lessons in English, in association with objects and pictures , but the rest of the work , including reading, ought to be in Welsh ." In 1910 Mr William Edwards the inspector said; "This is an intensely Welsh district , but there has been insufficient recognition of the fact. Much more systematic arrangements should be made for utilising and teaching the home language from the bottom of the school to the top." And again in 1915; "Recognition is now made of the fact that the district is typically Welsh, though some of the teachers are prone to teach Welsh through the medium of English as if Welsh were the foreign tongue"
1907, roads had loose stone surfaces which were very dusty, the practice of spraying with tar started in this year
1907, Brynamman Silver Band win at National Eisteddfod at Swansea
1907, a new school also opened in Tai'rgwaith
1907, foundation stone laid for new Moriah [Methodist] chapel, GCG
1907, Siloh, Calvinistic Methodist chapel erected in GCG
1907, RDC's offices opened in Pontardawe
1908, GWR passenger service to Gwaun-cae-gurwen opens
1908, Kier Hardie addresses the crowd at GCG Workingman's Hall

Jim Griffiths one of those who formed a branch of the Independent Labour Party at Ammanford
1908, Pantyffynnon Station opens, junction of the LNWR linking Llandeilo/Pontardulais, and the Amman Valley GWR line to Brynamman.
1908, explosion at Pantyfynnon Colliery, 2 miners killed , one was William Roberts of Ammanford, the other Gwilym, a brother of Jim and Amanwy Griffiths, latter among 6 men seriously injured.
1908, Rhos school opened
1909, Public Hall and Institute in Herbert St, Pontardawe erected
1909/10, Danygraig Independent chapel opened
1909. Cwmllynfell Railway Station opened to the public, previously opened in 1896 as Gwauncaegurwen Colliery Halt.
1909, GCG, Hermon Congregational chapel erected
1909, Trebanos Infants school built . Also the Zinc (Infants) school, Ynysmeudwy
1909, Gwylim Vaughan, who lived in Brynaman and ran a printing business in Ammanford, started the Amman Valley Times. This was not a great succes and folded after a few months. In 1913 he started up the weekly Amman Valley Chronicle.
1909, Tarenni pit flooding disaster, 5 men died
1910, East pit, GCG sunk, closed 1962
1910, Bryn Seion chapel, Glanamman, built, completed 1912.
1910, rolling skating popular in halls such as Pavilion and Palais de Dance in Pontardawe.
1910, Gellimanwydd chapel[Christian Temple], Ammanford, renovated.
1911, Post Office took over the National Telephone Company, installed one switch board at rear of present Post Office in Pontardawe. An automatic system introduced in 1939, then 800 subscribers in the area.
1911, Tawe Terrace, Pontardawe built on Ynysgelynen land
1912, St Michael & All Angels church, Trebanos built
1912, the new Tabernacl chapel in Cwmgors opened
1912, Frank Gilbertson succeeded his father Arthur as chairman of the Pontardawe Tinplate Works company
1912, Cwmgors primary school opened
1913, Pencae/Llandybie pit sunk, closed 1958
1913, Pontardawe Higher Elementary School opened, became a county secondary school in 1921
1913, St Mary's Church, Ynysmeudwy opened
1914, permission given for a county secondary school in the Amman Valley

Gwynfryn School, Ammanford closes
1914, Pavilion cinema, Pontardawe licensed
1914, Pontardawe Boy's School opened in Smithfield Rd
1915, Saron Pit sunk by Blaina Colliery Co Ltd, closed 1956
1916, Government takes over control of coal mines
1916, Graig Colliery, Trebanos re-opens (was Daren) following GWR reaching Trebanos from Clydach
1917, The Rev J Towyn Jones, formerly a minister at Cwmamman, now a Liberal Member of Parliament for East Carmarthenshire, becomes Welsh Whip and Junior Lord of the Treasury, he died at his home in Ammanford 3 years later
1918, Gilbertson & Co erect 6 sheet mills on the Alloy site, Pontardawe, known as New Sheet Works. Closed in 1958 becoming the Alloy Industrial Estate
1919, West Wales Observer launched in Pontardawe, a local weekly newspaper.
1919, Ammanford and District Choral Society wins at National Eisteddfod at Corwen
1920, Ammanford and District Choral Society wins at National Eisteddfod at Barry
1920, Saron pit , Ammanford was working, closed 1956
1920/21, Pantyffynnon rugby team won league championship
1921, it was decided to limit the Hen Garmel cemetery to burying members of Carmel and Tabernacl alone, and because of that, a new cemetery was opened nearby by the District Council.
1921, local collieries on strike
1921, Pontardawe sheetworks built on Ynysgelynen land known as the Alloy
1921, Gosen Apostolic church, Holly St, Pontardawe opened
1922, National Eisteddfod held in Ammanford
1922/4, Steer pit, GCG sunk, [closed 1959] making Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen an important centre in the anthracite coal industry.
1923, New Cwmgors pit working, closed 1964
1923, Cwmllynfell pit sunk, closed 1959
1923, Pen-y-banc quoit club were west Wales champions
1924, Pwll Starch/Rhosamman Colliery, Brynamman, explosion, 7 dead. See History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley [Photographs] for a list of names
1924, unveiling of Gwauncaegurwen War Memorial.

The film 'The Three Musketeers', with Douglas Fairbanks starring , was being shown that week at the Public Hall.
1924, Capitol Cinema, Ystalyfera opened
1924, Pontardawe Golf Club formed
1925, The 'Battle of Ammanford' [miners strike], great civil unrest, 191 miners were prosecuted with 58 receiving prison sentences which led to more token strikes in protest. The book History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley has a list of 35 names of sentenced miners [from Carmarthen Journal Dec 11th 1925]

Four colliers at Gelliceidrym sentenced to 14 days for unlawful assemblty and riot at the colliery

After the anthracite strike of this year Ammanford No 1 colliery was abandoned and never worked again.

Several dozen Glamorgan Constabulary members billeted at a GCG brewery
1926, in an attempt to streamline operations following the strikes, Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd was formed
1927, Strike at East Pit, GCG
1927, in a brochure printed by the GCG Colliery Co Ltd, on the occasion of the Foundation stone laying at Buckland Pit, Cwmgors, and the official opening of Steer Pit, it is stated ; " The GCG pits are situate at GCG a short distance south of Brynamman, and by virtue of connections with the GWR and the LM & SR are within easy access to the Ports of Swansea, Llanelli, Briton Ferry, and Port Talbot".
1927, Old Carmel chapel renovated
1928, old Public Hall, GCG burns down on 1st April
1928, Gwrhyd Smallpox Hospital established
1929, Poor Law Amendment Act transferred control of Workhouses from the Guardians of the Poor to the county councils.
1929, Gelliceidrim Colliery was flooded and the lives of 250 men were saved by the actions of 7 fellow workers, see their names in History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley
1931, GCG Welfare Hall built.
1931, 'talking pictures' screened at the Palace Cinema, Glanamman for first time
1931/2, Wil [Sgili] Davies from Cwmgors had 4 caps for Wales as a wing forward, against South Africa in 1931 and England, Scotland and Ireland in 1932 . He scored the Welsh try against the victorious Springboks at St Helen's in December 1931. He was one of 6 players for Amman United [as at Jan 1937] who played for his country, the others were Emrys Evans, Joe Rees, D B Evans, Jack E Evans and Claude Davey. The list of local men who played for their country also includes Clive Rowlands/Cwmtwrch , Clem Thomas/Brynamman and Edgar Morgan and Phil Hopkin/Pontardawe.
1932, first sod cut for erection of St Margaret's church, Glanamman
1932, Ynys Pit, Brynamman was working
1933, William Gilbertson & Co Ltd, Pontardawe sold to Richard Thomas and Baldwins Ltd.
1934, Pontardawe Technical College for Further Education opened
1935 , a new school opened for the older children on Waun common
1935, Brynamman Unemployed Welfare Committee established Castell Colliery to supply house coal to the members
1935/6, Amman United Rugby team won west Wales league championship
1936, Amman Valley Cottage Hospital in Glanamman opens
1937, Glanamman pit was working, closed 1948
1937, the Urdd's National Eisteddfod came to Gwaun-cae-gurwen and that was one of the most successful eisteddfods in every sense in its history
1937, the striking of the old "Federation Hall" by a thunderbolt was a major disaster, and it burned to ash in 1937, losing all the old record books , the earliest of which had the notes written in a robust Welsh, and according to those who read them contained an interesting and moving story about the early efforts of the workers to win a measure of freedom and improve the working conditions.
1938/39, they pulled down the old Waun school [containing the original room built in 1867]
1939, in Carmel's annual report is noted the membership number was 805, and that despite the host of youngsters who left the district to work in London and other places.
1939, auomatic telephone exchange at Pontardawe
1940, St Catherine's Church, Brynamman badly damaged by bombing
1940, Brynamman school destroyed by fire
1941, Bryn tinplate works, Ynysmeudwy close
1943, Bevin Boys scheme brought in, meant that one in ten men eligible for call up to the armed forces was chosen by ballot to work down the mines instead.
1946, Ystalyfera Tinplate works close
1946/7, Mining industry nationalised by post WW2 Labour Government, at least every pit employing over 30 men was.
1947, Field Marshall Montgomery visits Steer Pit during his tour of South Wales
1947, Steel Co of Wales acquires the Pontardawe tinplate works (not steel) from RTB
1948, automatic telephone exchange at Ystalyfera
1950, passenger services cease on railway at Pontardawe, and goods in 1964
1951, a file called 'David' was made for the Festival of Britain, based on the life of Amanwy [David Griffiths].
1953 Glanrhyd Tin Plate Co closed, the area now designated the Glanrhyd Riverside Park
1954, Dai Dower presents Pools cheque at Steer Pit to the representative of the winning syndicate of the Crown, Brynamman.
1956, Abernant pit sunk, [closed 1988]. One of the deepest shafts in the anthracite area, sinking of shafts finished in 1958. The first coal worked was from the Peacock Vein, but switched to the Red Vein in 1963.
1957, Gelliceidrim colliery closes
1957, Pontardawe tinplate works closed
1957, landslip at Mount Hill, Ystalyfera
1958, Qualiton Records first established at Works Lane, Pontardawe. Closed 1968
1959, Butchers [Mount] colliery closed.
1961, Berlei factory making corsets and brassieres opens in Pontardawe in the Palais de Dance on Cae'r Doc. Ceased production in 1982
1962, The Steel Company of Wales works at Pontardawe closed, Parc Ynysderw designated on the site in 1979
1964, Jim Griffiths [Betws] became first ever Secretary of State for Wales
1964, Daren colliery on Graig Trebanos closes
1967, Gareth Edwards of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen wins his first cap against France in Paris and starts a ten year rugby career playing for Wales and the British Lions.
1969, Cwmtawe Comprehensive School opened
1974, work on New Betws Drift Mine started
1976, Ammanford No 2 colliery closed.
1977, Pontardawe Festival first held
1979, Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe officially designated
1980s, Alltwen Industrial estate established by WDA
1984, Miner's Strike, countrywide, great suffering caused, ended in defeat for the workers who were up against the Thatcher government and its free market economy drive.
1988/9, Abernant Colliery closes and winding towers demolished.
1990, Last pit in the Rhondda closes, the Maerdy.
1992 Protest march at Betws Colliery against closure
1992, Swansea Valley Trunk Road completed - by-passes Pontardawe/Clydach/Ynysmeudwy town centres
1993, The South Wales coalfield now consists of just 1 mine, Tower Colliery.
1996, Pontardawe Arts Centre opened

See also a more general Timeline of genealogically interesting dates