Editing Aberdare (section)

==Government==
As a small village in the upland valleys of Glamorgan, Aberdare did not play any significant part in political life until its development as an industrial settlement. It was part of the lordship of Miskin, and the ancient office of High Constable continued in ceremonial form until relatively recent times.

===Parliamentary elections===
In 1832, Aberdare was removed from the [[Glamorganshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Glamorgan county constituency]] and became part of the parliamentary borough (constituency) of [[Merthyr Tydfil (UK Parliament constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil]]. For much of the nineteenth century, the representation was initially controlled by the ironmasters of Merthyr, notably the Guest family. From 1852 until 1868 the seat was held by [[Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare|Henry Austen Bruce]] whose main industrial interests lay in the Aberdare valley. Bruce was a Liberal but was viewed with suspicion by the more [[Radicals (UK)|radical]] faction which became increasingly influential within Welsh Liberalism in the 1860s. The radicals supported such policies as the disestablishment of the Church of England and were closely allied to the [[Liberation Society]].

====1868 general election====
Nonconformist ministers played a prominent role in this new politics and, at Aberdare, they found an effective spokesman in the Rev [[Thomas Price (Baptist minister)|Thomas Price]] minister of [[Calfaria, Aberdare]]. Following the granting of a second parliamentary seat to the borough of Merthyr Tydfil in 1867, the Liberals of Aberdare sought to ensure that a candidate from their part of the constituency was returned alongside the sitting member, [[Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare|Henry Austen Bruce]]. Their choice fell upon [[Richard Fothergill (politician)|Richard Fothergill]], owner of the ironworks at Abernant, who was enthusiastically supported by the Rev Thomas Price. Shortly before the election, however, [[Henry Richard]] intervened as a radical Liberal candidate, invited by the radicals of Merthyr. To many people's surprise, Price was lukewarm about his candidature and continued to support Fothergill. Ultimately, [[Henry Richard]] won a celebrated victory with Fothergill in second place and Bruce losing his seat. Richard thus became one of the-first radical MPs from Wales.{{sfn|Morgan|1991|pp=23–5}}

====1874–1914====
At the 1874 General Election, both Richard and Fothergill were again returned, although the former was criticised for his apparent lack of sympathy towards the miners during the industrial disputes of the early 1870s. This led to the emergence of Thomas Halliday as the first [[Liberal-Labour (UK)|labour]] or working-class candidate to contest a Welsh constituency. Although he polled well, Halliday fell short of being elected. For the remainder of the nineteenth century, the constituency was represented by industrialists, most notably [[David Alfred Thomas]]. In 1900, however, Thomas was joined by [[Keir Hardie]], the [[Independent Labour Party|ILP]] candidate, who became the first labour representative to be returned for a Welsh constituency independent of the Liberal Party.

====20th century====
The [[Aberdare (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdare]] constituency came into being at the 1918 election. The first representative was [[Charles Butt Stanton]], who had been elected at a by-election following Hardie's death in 1915. However, in 1922, Stanton was defeated by a Labour candidate, and Labour has held the seat ever since. The only significant challenge came from [[Plaid Cymru]] at the 1970 and February 1974 General Elections, but these performances have not since been repeated. From 1984 until 2019 the parliamentary seat, now known as [[Cynon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Cynon Valley]], was held by [[Ann Clwyd]] of Labour.
[[File:Aberdare-View from road to Ferndale.jpg|thumb|View over Aberdare]]

===Local government===
[[File:High Street, Aberdare - geograph.org.uk - 1473546 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Old Town Hall, Aberdare|Old Town Hall]]]]
Aberdare was an [[ancient parish]] within Glamorgan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdare Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10155794 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> Until the mid-19th century the local government of Aberdare and its locality remained in the hands of traditional structures such as the parish [[vestry]] and the High Constable, who was chosen annually. However, with the rapid industrial development of the parish, these traditional bodies could not cope with the realities of an urbanised, industrial community which had developed without any planning or facilities. During the early decades of the 19th century the ironmasters gradually imposed their influence over local affairs, and this remained the case following the formation of the Merthyr [[Board of Guardians]] in 1836. During the 1850s and early 1860s, however, as coal displaced iron as the main industry in the valley, the ironmasters were displaced as the dominant group in local government and administration by an alliance between mostly indigenous coal owners, shopkeepers and tradesmen, professional men and dissenting ministers. A central figure in this development was the Rev [[Thomas Price (Baptist minister)|Thomas Price]]. The growth of this alliance was rooted in the reaction to the [[1847 Education Reports]] and the subsequent efforts to establish a British School at Aberdare.{{sfn|Jones|1964|pp=156–60}}

In the 1840s there were no adequate sanitary facilities or water supply, and mortality rates were high. Outbreaks of cholera and typhus were commonplace.{{sfn|Jones|1964|p=152}} Against this background, [[Thomas Webster Rammell]] prepared a report for the General Board of Health on the sanitary condition of the parish, which recommended that a [[local board of health]] be established.{{sfn|Rammell|1853|pp=28–9}} The whole parish of Aberdare was formally declared a local board district on 31 July 1854, to be governed by the [[Aberdare Local Board of Health]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bevan |first1=Charles Dacres |title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1855 |publisher=Eyre and Spottiswoode |location=London |pages=103–110 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=faBUAAAAcAAJ |access-date=19 October 2022 |quote=An Act to confirm Provisional Orders of the General Board of Health for the Districts of Plymouth, Howarth, Aberdare, Bishop Auckland, Willenhall, and Over Darwen (17 & 18 Vict. c. 53)}}</ref> Its first chairman was [[Richard Fothergill (politician)|Richard Fothergill]] and the members included [[David Davis, Blaengwawr (coal owner)|David Davis, Blaengwawr]], [[David Williams (coal owner)|David Williams (''Alaw Goch'')]], [[Rees Hopkin Rhys (industrialist and local politician)|Rees Hopkin Rhys]] and the [[Thomas Price (Baptist minister)|Rev. Thomas Price]].<ref name="CMG 54 B Health election">{{cite news|title=Aberdare Board of Health|url=http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3090874/ART17|access-date=22 November 2013|newspaper=Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian|date=22 September 1854}}</ref> It was followed by the [[Aberdare School Board]] in 1871. The [[Old Town Hall, Aberdare|Old Town Hall]] was erected in 1831 although it was not converted for municipal use until the second half of the century.<ref>{{cite news |title=£800,000 town hall revamp brings new jobs to Aberdare |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-26191876 |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=15 February 2014}}</ref>

By 1889, the Local Board of Health had initiated a number of developments: these included the purchase of local reservoirs from the Aberdare Waterworks Company for £97,000, a sewerage scheme costing £35,000, as well as the opening of [[Aberdare Park|Aberdare Public Park]] and a local fever hospital. The lack of a Free Library, however, remained a concern.<ref>{{citation|last=Parry|title=Labour Leaders and Local Politics|pages=400, 402}}</ref>

Later, the formation of the [[Glamorgan County Council]] (upon which Aberdare had five elected members) in 1889, followed by the [[Aberdare Urban District Council]], which replaced the Local Board in 1894, transformed the local politics of the Aberdare valley.
[[File:Aberdare January 2013 snow.jpg|thumb|Aberdare in January 2013]]
At the [[1889 Glamorgan County Council Elections]] most of the elected representatives were coalowners and industrialists, and the only exception in the earlier period was the miners' agent [[David Morgan (trade unionist)|David Morgan]] (Dai o'r Nant), elected in 1892 as a labour representative. From the early 1900s, however, Labour candidates began to gain ground and dominated local government from the 1920s onwards. The same pattern was seen on the Aberdare UDC.

Aberdare Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. The area became part of the borough of [[Cynon Valley]] within the new county of [[Mid Glamorgan]]. The area of the former urban district was made a [[community (Wales)|community]], later being subdivided in 1982 into five communities: [[Aberaman]], [[Cwmbach]], [[Llwydcoed]], [[Penywaun]], and a smaller Aberdare community.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Cynon Valley (Communities) Order 1981|year=1981|number=1738|access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> The Aberdare community was further divided in 2017 into two communities called [[Aberdare East]] and [[Aberdare West]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Rhondda Cynon Taf (Communities) Order 2016|year=2016|number=1156|access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> Aberdare East includes Aberdare town centre and the village of [[Abernant, Rhondda Cynon Taf|Abernant]]. Aberdare West includes [[Cwmdare]], Cwm Sian and [[Trecynon]]. No community council exists for either of the Aberdare communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Town Councils and Councillors |url=https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Council/CouncillorsCommitteesandMeetings/CommunityTownCouncilsandCouncillors.aspx |website=Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref>

Cynon Valley Borough Council and [[Mid Glamorgan County Council]] were both abolished in 1996, since when Aberdare has been governed by [[Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council]]. The town lies mainly in the [[Aberdare East]] ward, represented by two county councillors. Nearby [[Cwmdare]], [[Llwydcoed]] and [[Trecynon]] are represented by the [[Aberdare West/Llwydcoed]] ward. Both wards have been represented by the [[Welsh Labour Party|Labour Party]] since 2012.<ref>[http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rhondda-Cyon-Taff-1995-2012.pdf Rhondda Cyon Taff County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012], The Election Centre. Retrieved 2 April 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Council/Votingandelections/Electionresults/CountyBoroughCouncilElections2017.aspx County Borough Council Elections 2017], Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 2 April 2018.</ref>