Notice Board

Message for Jenny Turner

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Anne Morgans

Jenny – you sent us an email inquiring about joining the Society; unfortunately you did not provide your email address so we could not reply. Please send us another email and include your email address.

Look forward to hearing from you.

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Replacing Sir S T Evans’s plaque on his childhood home Saturday, 11th September

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Anne Morgans

The plaque that commemorated the childhood home of Sir E T Evans at 40, New Road was replaced and unveiled by Leader of the Council, Arthur Davies, on Saturday 11th September in a short ceremony.

: Councillor Mike Harvey looks on as Leader of the Council Arthur Davies gives his speech

: Councillor Davies preparing to unveil the plaque

: Councillor Davies unveiling the plaque

: The Plaque revealed

: The plaque that had been on the wall of 40, New Road for many years is finally replaced

: Vice Chairman Virginia Jones gives a vote of thanks to Councillor Davies

: Councillor Davies and Virginia Jones

: Mike Harvery chats with Virginia Jones and Kitty Griffiths

: Treasurer Sandra Davies films the unveiling for the Society

Not sure where 40 New Road is located – next door to the old Barclays Bank, opposite the Bloom Inn.

Not sure who Sir S T Evans was and what was his claim to fame – read on –

SIR SAMUEL THOMAS EVANS 1859 – 1918

Samuel Thomas Evans was born in Skewen, May 1859, the only son of John Evans, a local
grocer, and Margaret Evans. After attending the Collegiate School at Swansea, he
proceeded to Aberystwyth College and took a London degree. He became articled at Neath
and qualified as a solicitor in 1883. He served on the town council at Neath and took an
active part in local politics. In 1890 he was returned to Parliament for Mid-Glamorgan,
which he represented continuously for the next twenty years. His abilities and his gifts as a
debater made him a prominent member of the Welsh Parliamentary Party. In 1891 he was
called to the Bar and he soon acquired a large practice on the South Wales circuit. He took
silk in 1901, being the last Q.C. to be created by Queen Victoria. In 1908 he was made
recorder of Swansea; in the same year he was appointed Solicitor-General. In 1910 he
became president of the Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division of the High Court. He was a G.C.B. and a member of the Privy Council. A modest man, he refused a peerage.
It was while presiding over the Prize Court during the First World War that Evans established his reputation as an international jurist of the first rank.

Through his wife Blanche’s friendship with Andrew Carnegie, Sir Samuel was able to secure the funding for the building of a library –Carnegie Hall on Evelyn Road – in Skewen.

S. T. Evans died 13 September 1918 and was buried at St John’s in Skewen. He was an
honorary Ll.D. (1909) of the University of Wales, and a freeman of Swansea and Neath.
There is a bust of him by Sir G. Frampton, R.A., in the Royal Courts of Justice and there are portraits at the Middle Temple and at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. After his death a fund was raised by public subscription to perpetuate his memory, and this was transferred to the University of Wales to establish the Sir Samuel Evans prize to be awarded annually to the best candidate in the faculty of law

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Society Social evening Friday, 26th November

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Anne Morgans

After the disappointing news that a limit of just thirty people using room 1 at the Carnegie Hall meant we were unable to re-start our programme of talks, we were delighted to be able to book provisionally Ty Santes Fair for Friday, 26th November at 7pm for a Social Evening – our first meeting since March 2020.

We hope all members will be able to attend but we need to confirm numbers, so please get in touch via our Society email address info@skewenhistoricalsociety.org.uk or telephone the Secretary Kitty Griffiths 01792 813651 or Chairman Anne Morgans 01792 813300.

We look forward to meeting again on Friday, 26th November.

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Mystery Photographs

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Anne Morgans

We have a number of photographs in our archive that lack vital information – dates, names of people or places. Please have a look at these photographs – more will be added each week – and if you can provide any information please get in touch with us – see our contact page for details.

: 148: Coedffranc Girls Scottish dancers appearing at the National Eisteddfod held in Neath 1934. We have most of the names for this photograph but not attached to a particular girl - we need to make sure the correct name is assigned to each number. So if you can identify anyone please let us know .

: 146: Coedffranc Infants class 1900. A rather poignant photograph as number 19 Mary Hughes died from Diphtheria within a year of the photo being taken.

: 147: Another unknown man - he appears to be a Mayor of Neath. Who is he?

: 144: Coedffranc Boys' School class 3 1931. We have no names for this group.

: 145: An unknown man - who is he?

: 142: Group outside the Queen's Public House (now the Curry Knight Restaurant). We have been given most of the names - but still need names for numbers 4, 9 & 10.

: 143: BP Choir 1950. We only have six names for this photograph.

: 140: Coedffranc Nursery pupils 1990. Names have been provided for most of the group, but who are numbers 3,4 and 5?

: 141: NOR (BP) Rugby team from the 1920's. We have no names for this photograph.

: 138: All Saints tea fete 1938. We have about a third of the names for this photograph - do you know anyone?

: 139: Skewen Music Lovers 1908 - 1909. We have no names for this photograph

: 136: An unknown group of ladies - possibly a W.I. group dating from the 1950's. We have names for numbers 2,3 and 10 but who are the others?

: 137: The only clue to these men's identities is that written on the back of the photograph is "To Mrs & Mrs Randall from George". Can you name them please and are they from Skewen?

: 134: Coedffranc Boys' 1963 class donated by John Richards. We have now named all pupils and teacher.

: 135: Gospel Hall Sunday School c1962. Only number one is named so far.

: 132: Opening of the tennis courts at Skewen Park, 1926. So far we can only name Tom Lloyd, number 3. Who are the others?

: 133: The Wedding of Leonard Llewellyn Evans. We have now been supplied with the names for numbers 1 - 4, can you help with numbers 5 - 8 please?

: 130: Neath magistrates on a visit to Westminster donated by Ann Davidson. We have only half the names for this photograph.

: 131: Coedffranc Girls' class from 1922 - we have no names for this class.

: 128: Holday group donated by Ann Davidson. Date and location not known.

: 129: St Mary's Church production "Mystic Mirrors". No names known.

: 126: Travellers' Wells outing. We have only six names for this photograph which has been donated by Jaki Charles.

: 127: No one has been named in this photograph of a Skewen NSPCC dance- donated by Ann Davidson.

: 124: Residents of Evelyn, Winifred & Christopher Roads celebrating the Festival of Britain 1951. We are missing names for numbers 2 to 7 in this photograph.

: 125: A Calfaria Chapel production. We are missing names for numbers 2,5,9,10, 16,19,31 and 36 to 38.

: 122: BP choir 1950

: 123: Coedffranc football team 1952 - 55.

: 120: BP apprentices donated by Craig Davies

: 121: Retired United Welsh staff 1997

: 118: Neath 9th (Skewen) Cubs c. 1976

: 119: Female staff at Skewen Lower c. 1930's

: 116: An unknown group of men donated by Maria Griffiths

: 117: Greyhound Whiplash and friends donated by Ann Doran

: 114: Neath Boys' Grammar School class c. 1953. We only have three names for this photograph nos. 6, 9 and 14. Can you help with the other names please? -

: 115: Coedffranc staff c. 1910. Once again we only have names for nos. 1, 15, 20 and 22. Do you know anyone else?

: 112: Unknown Girl Guide function. Still no names for nos. 9, 11 and 12 - can you help?

: 113: Coedffranc Girls' School St David's Day c. 1975 donated by Lisa Williams. All names have now been supplied apart from nos. 2, 6, 16 and 22.

: 110: An unknown event, possibly celebrating the Investiture in 1969. Can you name number 1 please?

: 111: World War 2 ARP wardens at Bryn Awel. We only have a name for number 10, Jack Badham, can you name anyone else?

: 108: A Boys' Night Out donated by Janet Thomas

: 109: A Mothers' Union Trip donated by Ann Davidson. Can you help us name numbers 6,7, 9 and 18 please?

: 106: Skewen Discussion group celebrating their 25th anniversary

: 107: NOR Rugby Team 1950

: 104 Skewen Co-operative Society staff dance at Burton's Hall, Neath, 1950

: 105: An All Saints Church trip. We still need names for numbers 2,3,4 and 8.

: 102: Coedffranc Girls' School 1951. We have been supplied with all the names apart from 16 and 17 - do you know who they are?

: 103: Skewen Carnival Queen. No. 2 is Joan Randall - can you name 1 and 3 please?

This week – 22nd March – we post the one hundredth photograph in our search for information on the photographs in our Archive. A big thank you to all those who have supplied the names, locations and dates for so many of the photographs and for giving us information on local history associated with the photographs as well. We are also grateful for the many photographs that have been donated to the Society over the past months.

: 100: Caewathan Trip to Blackpool donated by Annette Wingrave.

: 101: Ivor All church training at Tennant Park donated by Jeffrey Gould. Can you name the children?

: NO. 99: Rhydhir Secondary School Class 1959 donated by Frank Long

: NO. 98: Committee of the Skewen & District Co-operative Society 1951

: No. 97: Coedffranc Girls' School class 1961. We have been given all the names for this class - thank you.

: No. 96: Neath Abbey Home Guard (donated by Phyllis Griffiths) - we have no names for this photograph

: No. 95: Skewen ARPs 1940 - 41

: No. 94: Deacons of Tabernacle - we have now been supplied with all names.

: No.93: Madam Annie Davies and the Skewen Choir cup winners - who are nos. 1,2,4,6,12 and 16?

: No. 92: Crymlyn Primary School, Jersey Marine 1998 hockey team All now named - thank you.

: No. 91: Coedffranc Girls' School concert 1956 / 57 - we still have large gaps in the key for this photograph.

: No. 90: Group of United Welsh busmen circa early 1950's - so far we only have names for nos. 2 and 6. Can you supply the other names?

: No. 89: Coedffranc Boys' School class 1939. we only have only pupil identified so far.

: No 88: Salvation Army Sunday School trip 1937. We have no names for this photograph.

: No. 87: Skewen Division St John Ambulance Dance 1954

: No. 86: Coedffranc Girls' School class 1968

: No. 85: Coedffranc Girls' School concert 1960

: No. 84: Coedffranc Boys' School staff 1943

: No. 83: Rhydhir Secondary School 1960

: No. 82: Gorffwysfa Chapel unknown group

: No.81: Crymlyn Primary School, Jersey Marine sports group 1998 All names have now been supplied - thank you.

: No.80: United Welsh staff (Neath Abbey Depot) early 1950's

: No. 79: NOR (later BP) rugby team. What year is this and who are they - some names have been supplied

: No. 78: Crymlyn Primary School, Jersey Marine. All names have been supplied apart from nos. 52 - 54.

: No 77: Cook at Crymlyn Primary - name now supplied, Diane Copp

: No. 76: All Saints Church group (1949?) We have been supplied with most names but not all.

: No 75: A WW2 knitting group at Hermon Chapel. Can you name anyone?

: No. 74: NOR (later BP) rugby team we still need some names.

: No. 73: Staff and student teachers at Crymlyn Primary School - now named.

: No.72: "Bluebells in Slumberland" a Tabernacle Chapel production - who are they?

: No. 71: 1965 class at Rhydhir Secondary School - now all named.

: No.70: Santa arrives at Skewen Station - we only have two names for this photograph.

: No. 69: St John Ambulance, Skewen Division, diner dance c1955

: No.68: Skewen cricket team - names now supplied

: No. 67: "Bluebells in Slumberland" a concert at Tanernacle Chapel - who are the performers?

: No.66: St Mary's Church choir c 1947

: No. 65: Deacons of Calfaria Chapel

: No. 64: St John Ambulance Brigade, Skewen Division dance - still no names for nos. 1 and 13

: No.63: Hermon Chapel group - most names now supplied

: No. 62: 1975 Jersey Marine Carnival Queen float - names now supplied

: No.61: NOR (BP) Ladies' hockey team - we now have most names

: No.60: Unknown group - possibly Llandarcy W.I.

: No.59: NOR (BP) cricket team 1953

: No.58: Skewen Songster Brigade (Salvation Army) 1932

: No.57: Which football team is this?

: No. 56: NOR (BP) staff

: No.55: Skewen Ladies Choir 1939

: No. 54: NOR (BP) cricket team

: No. 53: Coedffranc staff 1950's - all now named

: No. 52: Coedffranc Primary School girls' class 1946

: No. 51: Scouts dinner

: No. 50 Coedffranc School percussion band

: No. 49: Skewen Parish Councillors

: No. 48: Possible unveiling of the Arts Weaving project tapestry in Carnegie Hall

: No. 47: nothing known about this photograph

: No. 46: Coedffranc Girls' School 1965

: No. 45: Possible workers from copper works

: No. 44: Children in costumes outside Llandarcy Institute c 1946

: No. 43: Skewen Pigeon Club social event

: No. 42: Skewen Angling Club 1949

: No. 41: Festival of Britain celebration Evelyn Road, 1951

: No. 40: BP workmen - all now named

: No. 39: Nothing known about this - was it taken on the BP sports' ground in Llandarcy?

: No. 38: Garden fete in aid of the national Institute for the Blind organised by the local committee

: No. 37: Skewen RFC 1936

: No. 36: Members of the Skewen Old Age Choir

: No. 35: Evelyn Road residents' outing to Porthcawl c. 1948

: No. 34: Invetiture for the Prince of Wales committee 1968-69

: No. 33: Skewen RFC 1951 - 52 Champions of West Wales and winners of the president's Cup

: No. 32: Evelyn Road residents' party 1936

: No. 31: Who are these ladies?

: No. 30 What as the occasion - who are they?

: No. 29: Jubilee Street party 1977

: No. 28: West Point Cadets Jazz Band, Caewathan c 1960's

: No. 27: Soup kitchen 1926

: No. 26: Llandarcy Institute production - when/who?

: No. 25: Unkown ladies' group - Llandarcy W.I.?

: No. 24: 1953 retirement presentation to G Jones at the BP Club

: No. 23: Local councillors - most now named but no date.

: No. 22: Who are these children looking for a swimming pool on a carnival float 1938?

: No. 21: Nothing known about this group

: No. 20 : Identified as Taillwyd Road

: No. 19: This is labelled as "old cinema dance" - which cinema and when?

: No. 18: Unknown soldier

: No. 17: Who are these women and children?

: No. 16: Is this the Sully family?

: No. 15: Skewen snooker group

: No. 14: Where / what is this building?

: No. 13: 1939 - who are these women / what was the occasion?

: No. 12: Possibly a group of Neath Abbey W.I. members celebrating St David's Day.

: No 11: An unknown group of women, possibly a committee in World War II taken in the grounds of Brynderwen House.

: No. 10: Plan for Lon Las House

: No. 9: Holiday group

: No 8: Now identified as Dalas Cottage in Llansamalet

: No. 7: What is the occasion and who are they?

: No. 6: Has been identified as a cottage in Llansmalet

: No. 5: All now identified

: No. 4: Who is this little boy? Photo taken outside what is now Zaffran Indian Restaurant - was Knoyle's Cafe

: No.3: Dance - was it held at All Saints Church Hall?

: No 2: Skewen Ladies' Choir setting off for a tour of Ireland - now named.

: No.1: Who is this soldier?

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VE Day 1945 and 2020 in Skewen

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Anne Morgans

The residents of Graham’s Terrace are shown celebrating VE Day in 1945.

Do you have any photographs of Skewen taken on May 8th, 1945? If so, please share them with us so that they may be archived for future generations to look at and use for research.

If there are any celebrations in your street this year to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, and it is safe to do so, please take some photos and send them to us.

Here are the first photographs we have received for VE Day in 2020 – showing how the residents of Pant y Sais, Jersey Marine celebrated, and how Picton Terrace, Wern and Winifred Roads decorated their houses. Do you have photographs to share?

: Wern Road

: Wern Road

: Wern Road

: Wern Road

: Wern Road

: Wern Road

: Winifred Road

: Winifred Road

: Picton Terrace May 8th, 2020

: Picton Terrace May 8th, 2020

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Thursday night clapping for the NHS

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Anne Morgans

Here are some photographs that were sent of the clapping on 9th April and 16th April. Residents of Pant y Sais, Jersey Marine managed to combine the Thursday night clap with Easter bonnets on the 9th and balloons on the 16th.

Here they are on the April 23rd clapping photos and a resident on Hill Road, Neath Abbey has a novel way of thanking the NHS and care workers.

More photographs from Pant y Sais for Thursday, May 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: 28th May

: May 21st

: May 21st

: May 21st

: May 21st

: May 21st

: May 21st

: May 14th a cold evening to be outside clapping

: May 14th

: May 14th

: May 14th

: May 14th

: Pant y Sais May 7th

: Pant y Sais May 7th

: Pant y Sais May 7th

: Pant y Sais on a cold 30th April out clapping

: Pant y Sais on a cold 30th April out clapping

: Pant y Sais clapping 23rd April

: Pant y Sais clapping 23rd April

: Pant Y said Clapping 23rd April

: Hill Road resident thanks the NHS

: Ann Davidson makes some noise on Hill Road

: 16th AprilResidents of Pant y Sais decorate with balloons before clapping

: 16th April Residents of Pant y Sais decorate with balloons before clapping

: 16th April Keeping social distancing

: 16th April Tony Griffiths gets in the mood

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Lockdown Skewen images

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Anne Morgans

The society asked you to send in your photographs of Skewen in Lockdown and here are the results:-

: Park gates 1st April at 13.15

: Notice on park gates 1st April at 13.15

: Skewen park 1st April at 13.15

: Skewen park 1st April at 13.15

: Wern Road 1st April at 12.45

: Wern Road 1st April at 12.15

: Wern Road 1st April at 12.45

: 2,4,20 Used by Sweet Dreams vans for loading beds 11am

: 2.4.20 Picton Terrace looking to wards juncction with New Road 11am (3)

: 2.4.20 link road from Picton Terrace to Caenant Terrace 11am (2)

: 2.4.20 link road from Picton Terrace to Caenant Terrace 11am

: 2.4.20 parking for Auto Electric Garage MOT and servicing 11am

: 30.3.20 NEW ROAD AT 3.45PM

: 30.3.20 NEW ROAD AT 15. 45

: 31.3.20 bridge near Teannant Park cropped

: 31.3.20 Crescis_

: 31.3.20 Mayers' corner with Christopher Road

: 31.3.20 New Road corner with Winifred Road

: 31.3.20 New Road top end

: New Road 25 March 8.30 am Ruth Davies

: Park Avenue Lonlas 31 March Evening Peak Time John Sgiwen Young

: 1.4.20 Charles Street at 15.00 school run time

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Award from Tesco

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Anne Morgans

We are delighted to confirm that the Society has been awarded a £1000 grant under the Tesco ‘Bags of Help ’ community funding scheme. Many thanks to all those who contributed to this success by choosing to vote for Skewen & District Historical Society with their blue shopping tokens.

The award will be used for the benefit of members – more details to follow.

The Society would like to thank Tesco for its inclusion in the scheme.

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What’s at the back of your drawer/cupboard?

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Anne Morgans

With many of us facing a long period at home, perhaps now is the time to sort through those little used drawers, cupboards and boxes to see if you find anything of interest for local historians. It may be a photograph, document, map etc. which you could scan and send to us now, or if you don’t have the capability to do that, just put the item to one side and pass it to any member of the Society when it is safe to make contact.

If sending photographs, please add as much information as you can – date, names of people shown, location, event.

Many people have traced their family history – do you have an interesting story you would like to share – we can publish it in our newsletter “Hanes”.

So search those drawers and cupboards and see what you find.

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