Victorian Pontypool - extracts from my book

Available from www.amazon.co.uk or download to Kindle

February 1838

 “The sufferings of the poor of Pontypool and it's neighbourhood have been greatly alleviated, during this inclement season by the praiseworthy exertions of many benevolent individuals who have interested themselves in their behalf. The annual subscription of the inhabitants to the soup fund have been much increased, and the liberal donation of Mrs Hanbury Leigh, of Pontypool Park, has enabled the committee to distribute 950 quarts of nutritious food to the necessitous twice a week during the winter months. Mr E H Phillips has taken an active part in this charitable undertaking and in addition has liberally given a number of loaves of bread to many deserving families who feel thankful for the relief afforded them in time of need”

3 August 1839

The destruction of property owing to the late heavy rains in the vicinity of Pontypool has been truly awful and we we are very sorry to say that two unfortunate fellow creatures have been hurried into eternity. About 10 o clock on Tuesday night, the large pond at the British Works, Abersychan gave way, the water rushing with terrific violence, destroying everything in its way. We also hear the following effects from the storm:- Mr C H Leigh's park completely inundated. A large slip of the Darren mountain fell on a man from which he was fortunately extricated. Pontypool bridge almost down and the large iron bridge at the New Forge, destroyed with a large portion of the rail road. The mill house at Abersychan was partly carried away. A horse and donkey were observed going down with the stream, the donkey trying to reach the land but was soon dashed to pieces. The British Company's Forge had a very desolate appearance; not a man was at work, stones, coal, rubbish and timber blocking up the place. Several hundred tons of coal and heaps of mine were carried off. A small house was observed buried in sand to the upper windows. The engine house near the pits was quite filled with rubbish, the water having flowed through it, filling the pits, drowning, we are sorry to say, two men and seven horses. Nearly all the bridges and three houses at Varteg were washed away. At Trosnant, the people were obliged to be taken out of their bedroom windows, at twelve o clock at night: their screams being truly awful.

15 March 1856

“An inquest was held on Saturday last at the Cwmffrwd Inn before Thomas Hughes Esq, coroner, and a respectable jury on the body of William Jacob, who was, on the previous day found suspended from a hook in a beam at the top of the house, quite dead. The finding of the body having been proved by Mr E Evans, who lived next door to the deceased. P C Roberts stated that deceased had been deranged for a length of time and continued so to the day of his death. There being no doubt of the lunacy and that he had committed the act himself the jury found a verdict that 'the deceased had destroyed himself in a fit of insanity"

Torfaen at War Exhibition Launch

The 4th August was the centenary of Britain's entry into the First World War.  It was also the launch of a digital exhibition by Torfaen Heritage telling the story of local people who had fought in the war..
Last June I donated my book 'Tell Them of Us' to the exhibition by going along to their van at the Cwmbran Big Event.  I was also interviewed at the time and this interview was recorded for use in the project.
 Over the next few weeks I sent further information to be used in the exhibition, my ancestors service records and any photographs that I had though unfortunately I was later told my recording probably wouldn't be used because of all the background noise from recording outside.

Anyway, I was invited to the launch of the project on 4th August at the Blaenavon Heritage Centre.  It took place in a big old classroom in the former St Peter's School and the place was full of people who had contributed their stories.

The first part of the afternoon was taken up with talks about the project and then our first chance to see the film that had been created from all the stories collected.  I remembered that my recording wasn't going to be used so sat back to watch the dvd, feeling a bit disappointed.  

However this was not to be.  A few minutes in and one of my photographs was on the tv screen, one of my Great Great Uncle William and there was a voice, telling the story of his experience of the Christmas Day Truce, it was me!!  A strange moment, felt a bit shocked at first, but then I glanced around, people were listening, then I felt proud.  There are some moments money cant buy, that was one of them.

When the film ended all the contributors were called up one by one to collect a copy of the dvd.  My name was called out so I got up and went to collect mine, to lots of applause, just like everyone else.  Shook hands with the mayor and had my photograph taken with her.  

Then it was time for tea and cake and a look around at the display boards.  Each board tells the story of someone from Torfaen who took part in World War 1.  Only the story of one of my ancestors has been told at the moment, that of Great Great Uncle William, mainly because he took part in the Christmas Day Truce of 1914.  I believe the exhibition is following the timeline of the war for the next four years, so the book I donated may be referred to in future and other ancestors of mine included in the exhibition.

The Torfaen at War Exhibition is at Blaenavon Heritage Centre until 31 October then it will be travelling around the county for the next four years.