Editing Abertillery

{{Short description|Town in Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                     = Wales
| welsh_name                  = Abertyleri
| static_image_name           = Tyleri.JPG
| static_image_caption        = The view towards Abertillery from the head of the Tyleri
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Blaenau Gwent (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Blaenau Gwent]]
| unitary_wales               = [[Blaenau Gwent]]
| lieutenancy_wales           = [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]
| coordinates                 = {{coord|51.73|-3.13|region:GB-MON_type:city(11,000)|display=inline,title}}
| constituency_westminster    = [[Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney (UK Parliament constituency)|Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney]]
| post_town                   = ABERTILLERY
| postcode_district           = NP13
| postcode_area               = NP
| dial_code                   = 01495
| os_grid_reference           = SO215045
| population                  = 11,601
| population_ref              = (2011 census)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11119796&c=NP13+1EL&d=16&e=62&g=6496050&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1446812731422&enc=1|title=Town population 2011|access-date=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102319/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11119796&c=NP13+1EL&d=16&e=62&g=6496050&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1446812731422&enc=1|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| module= [[File:2024 Wales Blaenau Gwent Community Abertillery map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}

'''Abertillery''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|b|ər|t|ᵻ|ˈ|l|ɛər|i|}}; {{langx|cy|Abertyleri}}) is a town and [[community (Wales)|community]] in [[Blaenau Gwent]] County Borough, [[Wales]]. It is located in the [[Ebbw Fach Valley|Ebbw Fach valley]], and the [[Monmouthshire (historic)|historic county of Monmouthshire]].

The surrounding landscape borders the [[Brecon Beacons National Park]] and the Blaenavon World heritage Site.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Heritage Site Status - Blaenavon World Heritage Site |url=http://www.visitblaenavon.co.uk/en/WorldHeritageSite/WorldHeritageSite.aspx |website=www.visitblaenavon.co.uk |access-date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805073751/https://www.visitblaenavon.co.uk/en/WorldHeritageSite/WorldHeritageSite.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Formerly a major coal mining centre the Abertillery area was transformed in the 1990s using EU and other funding to return to a greener environment.

Situated on the A467 the town is {{convert|15|mi|0}} north of the [[M4 motorway (Great Britain)|M4]] and {{convert|5|mi|0}} south of the [[A465 road|A465]] "Heads of the Valleys" trunk road. It is about {{convert|25|mi|0}} by road from [[Cardiff]] and {{convert|47|mi|0}} from Bristol.

According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]], 4.8% of the ward's 4,416 (212 residents) resident-population can speak, read, and write [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref name="statswales.gov.wales">[https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Welsh-Language/Census-Welsh-Language/welshlanguageskills-by-ediv-2011census Welsh language skills by electoral division, 2011 Census] Retrieved 13/12/21</ref> This is below the [[Blaenau Gwent|county]]'s figure of 5.5% of 67,348 (3,705 residents) who can speak, read, and write [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref name="statswales.gov.wales"/>

== Etymology ==
The name of the community means "the mouth of the [[Cwmtillery|River Tyleri]]", which flows into the town. The name ''{{lang|cy|Tyleri}}'' is probably derived from a personal name.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=A. D.|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=9780198527589|location=Oxford|pages=102}}</ref>

==Town centre==
[[File:BW Pontlottyn.JPG|thumbnail|left|Former "[[David Morgan (department store)|Pontlottyn]]" department store]]
Abertillery's traditional-style town centre mainly developed in the late 19th century and as such has some interesting [[Victorian architecture]]. Spread over 4 main streets the town in its heyday had two department stores and a covered Victorian arcade linking two of the main shopping areas. These were all included in a Blaenau Gwent Borough Council remodelling and modernisation project using European Union funding in a £13&nbsp;million programme spread over a 5-year period ending in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/15502.asp |title=Remodelling and modernisation project |access-date=21 June 2017 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529212053/http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/15502.asp |archive-date=29 May 2014 }}</ref>

The project included a new multi-storey car park, a revamp of public areas and the town's Metropole Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-met.co.uk/aboutthemet|title=Welcome to The Metropole – 01495 355945|website=www.the-met.co.uk|access-date=21 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214074301/http://www.the-met.co.uk/aboutthemet|archive-date=14 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> This building provides production, exhibition, conference and meeting facilities as well as housing Abertillery museum. In March 2014 [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex]], officiated at the launch of Jubilee Square, a public facility in the town centre next to St Michael's Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/15502.asp |title=Jubilee Square |access-date=21 June 2017 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529212053/http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/15502.asp |archive-date=29 May 2014 }}</ref>

== Coal mining ==
[[File:Towering.JPG|thumbnail|left|Guardian memorial at Parc Arael Griffin Six Bells.]]
Major industry came to the area in 1843 when the locality's first deep coal mine was sunk at Tir Nicholas Farm, [[Cwmtillery]]. The town developed rapidly thereafter and played a major part in the South Wales coalfield. Its population rose steeply, being 10,846 in the 1891 census and 21,945 ten years later. The population peaked just short of 40,000<ref name="visionofbritain.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10113611/cube/TOT_POP|title=Abertillery UD through time – Population Statistics – Total Population|website=www.visionofbritain.org.uk|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref> around the beginning of the 1930s. Eventually there were six deep coal mines, numerous small coal levels, a tin works, brick works, iron foundry and light engineering businesses in the area. Just one of the coal mines, [[Cwmtillery]], produced over 32 million tons of coal in its lifetime and at its height employed 2760 men and boys.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Gwent/CwmtilleryColliery.htm |title=Cwmtillery Colliery |website=welshcoalmines.co.uk |access-date=2 December 2014}}</ref>

In 1960 an underground explosion at [[Six Bells Colliery]] resulted in the loss of life of 45 local miners. Fifty years later the archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams officiated at the launch of the [[Guardian - mining memorial|''Guardian'' mining memorial]]. This artistically acclaimed monument standing at 20m tall overlooks Parc Arael Griffin, the now reclaimed and landscaped former colliery site. The adjoining Ty Ebbw Fach visitor centre provides conference facilities, a restaurant and a "mining valley" experience room. Not long after the disaster the renowned artist [[L. S. Lowry]] visited the area and recorded the scene. The resultant landscape painting now hangs in [[National Museum Cardiff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/art/online/?action=show_item&item=2192|title=Six Bells, Abertillery, South Wales – LOWRY, Laurence Stephen|website=National Museum Wales|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref>

The coal mines remained the predominant economic emphasis until the general run down of the industry in the 1980s.

== Abertillery Conurbation ==
[[File:Abertillery from NW 20100728.jpg|thumbnail|The western outskirts of Abertillery as seen from the hillside above "The Park".]]
Away from the town centre, the often steep sided nature of the landscape, imposes its own demands on development. Whilst this sounds limiting it has helped provide the almost amphitheatre nature of Abertillery Park, often described as one of the most attractive rugby grounds in world rugby.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thevalleys.co.uk/Details.aspx?Id=87681|title=The Valleys – great places to visit in South Wales|website=www.thevalleys.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031215113/http://www.thevalleys.co.uk/Details.aspx?Id=87681|access-date=21 June 2017|archive-date=31 October 2016}}</ref>

The street plan and housing stock flow uninterrupted from Cwmtillery in the north to [[Six Bells]] in the south, forming the town that is Abertillery. Prior to 1974 local government was provided by [[List of urban districts formed in England and Wales 1894–95|Abertillery Urban District]] Council (AUDC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?inst_id=36&coll_id=76750&expand=|title=Abertillery Urban District Council|access-date=21 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305134619/http://archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?coll_id=76750&expand=&inst_id=36|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref> Its area included the small neighbouring villages of [[Aberbeeg]], [[Llanhilleth]] and Brynithel. Historical data relating to Abertillery occasionally refers to this AUDC area meaning that it can be difficult to compare like with like. For example, the 2014 population for the wider conurbation area is around 20,000 rather than the 11,000 often quoted for Abertillery itself.

Whilst in the main the area has an older housing stock there are several developments of modern, often large homes, generally found on the outskirts of the town with views out over the surrounding area. These apart, terraced [[Council Tax|council tax band]] A and B properties predominate, meaning that average house prices are among the most affordable in the UK.

== Local history ==
===Early history===
There are very few written historical records relating to the area before the town developed in the middle of the 19th century. Nevertheless, there are facts that you can use to outline important events.

*Abertillery museum has locally discovered artefacts dating as far back as the Bronze Age.
*[[St Illtyd's Church, Llanhilleth|St Illtyd's Church]] overlooking the town dates to the 13th century – probably with 6th century origins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8034.asp |title=Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council – St Illtyd's Church |date=6 June 2014 |access-date=21 June 2017 |url-status = bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606230211/http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8034.asp |archive-date=6 June 2014 }}</ref>
*[[List of Scheduled Monuments in Blaenau Gwent|St Illtyd's Motte]] lies just to the south west of the church. A [[Norman architecture|Norman castle]] mound, it was probably destroyed in 1233.
*The ruins of two more recent, probably 14th century, castles lie on private land to the northeast of St Illtyd's Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8033.asp |title=Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council - Llanhilleth Castle |access-date=30 May 2014 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002827/http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8033.asp |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>
*There are several ruined [[mediaeval]] farmhouses in the Abertillery area.
*The Local Blaenau Gwent Baptist church can trace its roots back to Tŷ Nest Llewellyn, a ruined 17th-century dwelling place often used by [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|non-conformists]] to escape from the religious persecution of the times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8047.asp |title=Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council – Ty Nest Llywelyn |date=6 June 2014 |access-date=21 June 2017 |url-status = bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606232327/http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8047.asp |archive-date=6 June 2014 }}</ref>

Before the coming of major industry, Abertillery was little more than an area of scattered farms in the ancient parish of [[Aberystruth]]. In 1779 the parish minister Edmund Jones<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8039.asp |title=Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council – Rev. Edmund Jones |date=29 May 2014 |access-date=21 June 2017 |url-status = bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529191824/http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8039.asp |archive-date=29 May 2014 }}</ref> described the area thus: "The valley of Tyleri ... is the most delightful. The trees ... especially the beech trees, abounding about rivers great and small, the hedges and lanes make these places exceeding pleasant and the passing by them delightful and affecting ... in these warm valleys, with the prospect of the grand high mountains about them would make very delightful habitations." In 1799 clergyman and historian [[William Coxe (historian)|Archdeacon William Coxe]] toured the area and in writing a diary of his travels described it as "... richly wooded, and highly cultivated...we looked down with delight upon numerous valleys ... with romantic scenery". The entire population of Aberystruth parish at the turn of the 19th century was just a little over 800. It is not known what the population of Abertillery was at the time but it was probably in the very low hundreds, all of whom would have spoken Welsh only.

===From the mid-nineteenth century===
====Industrialisation====
The area's first deep coal mine was sunk in 1843.

=====Collieries in Abertillery=====
* [[Six Bells Colliery]]

====Abertillery Institute====
The first reading rooms were set up in Abertillery in 1856. However, when [[Thomas Wilde Powell|Thomas Powell]] took over the Tillery Colliery in 1882 he made a commitment to establish educational facilities for his workers.<ref name="OBA">{{cite web |title=Powell's Tillery Miner's Institute – A History |url=https://outoftheblueartifacts.com/powells-tillery-miners-institute-a-history/ |website=Out Of The Blue Artifacts |access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref>

====Local government====
Formed in 1877, Abertillery Urban District Council incorporated the adjoining smaller communities of Six Bells, Cwmtillery, Brynithel, Aberbeeg and Llanhilleth. The population of this conurbation climbed to almost 40,000 in 1931 making it the second largest town in Monmouthshire.<ref name="visionofbritain.org.uk"/> The council was abolished in 1974 as part of major UK wide local government reorganisation.

== Transport ==
The reopening of [[Abertillery railway station]] has been identified as a future development of the [[Ebbw Valley Railway]].

== Education ==
{{See also|List of schools in Blaenau Gwent}}

[[Abertillery Learning Community]] provides [[all-through school|all-through]] education for the town and neighbouring areas. Until the 1970s the town had its own local authority-run Grammar school providing education up to the age of eighteen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Artigos.wiki|title=Abertilharia (Abertillery) 2021 - Artigos.wiki|url=https://artigos.wiki/blog/en/Abertillery|access-date=2022-02-25|website=artigos.wiki|language=en}}</ref> Tertiary education is now provided by [[Coleg Gwent]] at Ebbw Vale – opened in 2013.

== Industry ==
There are several small and medium-sized business parks in the area offering a range of business premises. In 2014 the largest employer was Tyleri Valley Foods, which closed in 2023.{{Cn|date=October 2024}} Many local people commute outside the area to work.

==Sport, leisure and tourism==
Abertillery Town [[cricket]] club and [[Abertillery RFC|Abertillery Blaenau Gwent RFC]] formed in the 1880s. Both have their playing headquarters at "the Park" one of the most picturesque sporting complexes in the UK.

[[File:Climb to 1900ft.JPG|thumbnail|left|Walking country. Climb to over 550m on one of many routes in the Tyleri valley]]
The town supports two local Saturday [[Association football|football]] teams: [[Abertillery Bluebirds F.C.|Abertillery Bluebirds]] and Abertillery Excelsiors. There are numerous other sports activities running on an organized basis such as bowls, badminton, squash etc.

The surrounding landscape provides hill walking opportunities and walker led groups are thriving in the area.  One example is Ebbw Fach Trekkers walking group.

The local museum has displays showing what life was like in the area in its heyday. It also has its own "valleys" Italian café complete with original furnishings.

The Metropole theatre holds musical and drama events – from Blues to amateur dramatics and dance.

The {{convert|20|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} [[Guardian (sculpture)|''Guardian'' memorial]] is a destination for visitors to South Wales and amateur photographers. The visitor centre Tŷ Ebbw Fach stands nearby and provides cafe and visitor "mining valley" experience facilities.

==Notable people==
<!-- Please maintain list in alphabetical order -->
: ''See also [[:Category:People from Abertillery]]''. 
Local people of note in the fields of civil engineering, sport, science, medicine, religion and art:

* [[Beatrice Green]], labour activist and orator<ref>{{cite DWB|id=s14-GREE-BEA-1894|title=Green, Beatrice (1894 - 1927), Political Activist|year=2022|first=Bryan|last=Boots|author-link=|access-date=August 7, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Chris Hill (tennis)|Chris Hill]], professional tennis player
* [[Harold Jones (murderer)]], the 15-year old killer committed 2 murders in 1921.
* [[Jack Shore|Jack Shore (MMA fighter)]], competes in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]
* [[Thora Silverthorne]], leading activist within the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]], Labour Party MP for [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], veteran of the [[Spanish Civil War]], founder of the [[Association of Nurses]], and former president of the [[Socialist Medical Association]]
* [[Jake Blackmore]], international [[Rugby football|rugby]] forward who played [[rugby union]] for [[Abertillery RFC|Abertillery]] and represented his country in the [[Wales national rugby union team|rugby union]] and in the [[Wales national rugby league team|rugby league]].

==International relations==
Abertillery is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with [[Royat]] in France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abertilleryandllanhilleth-wcc.gov.uk/Core/Abertillery-Llanhilleth/Pages/Abertillery_-_Twinned_with_Royat_1.aspx|title=Abertillery – Twinned with Royat|publisher=Abertillery & Llanhilleth Community Council|date=31 January 2014|access-date=31 January 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Aber and Inver as place-name elements]]
* [[Abertillery and District Hospital]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.abertillery.net/ Abertillery Online]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/28/newsid_2520000/2520665.stm BBC On This Day item about Six Bells]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090605150438/http://www.abertillerybluebirds.co.uk/ Abertillery Bluebirds Football Club]
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=6631199 Photos of Abertillery and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk]

{{Blaenau Gwent}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Abertillery| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Blaenau Gwent]]