Catalogue of Archives (other than photographs) currently held.
Note: This is an ongoing project and this list will inevitably increase
1. Books
– Advertising Huwood Products (Undated)
– Annual Conference Agenda 1981-82 NUM
– Annual Conference Agenda 1975-76 NUM
– Back to the Land (2000) – Pictures by Young People of the Garw
– Blackmill – A Postcard History
– British Regional Geology 1948
– British Coal Mining Explosives – Jones Taylor, P.F.Gay 1938
– Church Records – English Congregational Church Pontycymer. Membership details from 1898 to 1962 (presented by Mrs Craider)
– Church accounts for above from 1952 to 1964
– Coal and the Coalfields of Wales by F.J.North 1926
– Coal Dust Research Committee 1940
– Coal Dust Research Committee (9th Report) 1943
-Coal Mining: Report of the Technical Advisory Committee 1945
– Coal Mines Act 1911
– Cym Garw – A collection of records from the last century – including the Collection receipts for the Noddfa Chapel; the story of the Rev John T. Griffiths and Cefn Gelli Farm; programmes for the Cor Cym Garw and much more.
– Explosives – Safe Storage and Conveyancing by Road – ICI 1966
– Explosion at Cambrian Colliery- HMSO 1965
– Face Support in Steel and Light Metal – De Fritz Spruth 1951
– Fuel : Solid, Liquid & Gaseous by J.S.Brame 1942
– Gases, Heat and Dust in Mines – K.Neville Moss 1927
– Geology of the South Wales Coalfield Part VI 1904
– Handbook of Track Laying for underground haulages 1953
– Handbook on Shotfiring in Coal Mines – NCB 1952
– Handbook of Electric Arc Welding- NCB 1958
– Haulage and Winding – Granville Parker 1935
– High Explosives and Propellants – S.Fordham 1966
– Home Office Report about the Lluest Colliery Explosion to the House of Commons – dated October 1899
— Garw Valley and its Collieries (presented by Mr E.J. Morgan)
– Guide to Health and Safety in Mines 1958
– Land Reclamation Report for Lluest Colliery site (A4 file)
– Land – Photographs by children from the Garw (1991)
– List of members of the Geological Society of London for the years 1949,1952 and 1983
– List of Standard Seam naming and equivalent Local Seam 1956
– Man Riding Underground by Rope and Locomotive 1954
– Mechanical Stokers for Shell Boilers 1952
– Memoirs of the Blue Bell Choir by Will Roberts (Conductor)
– Mine Atmosphere – W.Payman 1930
– Mining Explosives – R.McAdams & R.Westminster 1958
– Mine Gases and Gas Testing 1919
– Mining Law and the Deputy – NCB 1960
– Ogmore Valley and its Collieries (presented by Mr E.J.Morgan)
– Official Guide to the Ogmore & Garw Urban District circa 1951
– Official Lluest Colliery Explosion Report (1899)
– Organ Design Specifications & Quotes for English Congregational Church dated 1906.
– Pioneers of the Welsh Coalfield – Elizabeth Philps 1925
– Practical Coal Mining – Boulton – Volumes 1 – 6
– Proceedings S.Wales Institute of Engineers 1955
– Process Equipment Design – Herse & Rushton 1964
– Port Talbot Railway by S.Richards (Donated by P.Broadbent)
– Practical Shot Firing Training Manual No 6 – 1951
– Reminiscences of Life in the Garw Valley by Wyn Price and Rod Jones(1988)
– Rent Cards for 31 Heol Llangeinor for 1940 & 1954 (Maurice Gould)
– 32nd Report on Safety in Mines 1953
— Report of Coal Augers USA 1953
– Royal Commission on the Coal Industry 1925
– Safety Handbook for Mobile Cranes – NUM 1967
– Safety and Health in Mines – NUM 1950
– Safety in Mines Research Board 11th Annual Report 1932
– Safety in Mines Research Board Paper 61 (The support of underground Workings in the Coalface in the North of England) 1930
– Site Investigation Report for reclaiming the Lluest Colliery site (BCBC 2002)
– Schedule of (Coal) Prices for the Garw Valley District by Alderman John Thomas (dated October 1902)
– Shot Firing in Mines 1952
– South Wales Coalfield 1946
– South Wales Miners – R.Page Arnott 1967
– Steel Supports in Mines Updated
– Stemming Materials No 84 by J.Britson 1934
– Surface Air Compressors (Reciprocating type) 1955
– Text Book of Geology – Philip Lake 1919
– The control of Dust in Mines 1959
– The Installation and Moving over of a Face Belt Conveyor 1952
– The Miners – A History of the Miner;s Federation in GB 1889-1910 by R.Page Arnott dated 1949
– The Miners – R.Page Arnott 1953
– The Miners in Crisis and War – R.Page Arnott 1960
– The Miner’s Ready Reckoner (Belonged to Garibaldi Davies who worked at the Ocean Colliery, and was killed in WW1.) Presented by John Davies.
– The Operation of Longwall Cutting Machines Training Manual 1954
– The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 1955
– The Ropeman’s Handbook (thought to be 1952)
– The Support of the Roof at the Coal Face Training Manual 1953
– The Support of the Roof in the Roadway 1954
– The Vale of Neath Railway by S.Richards (Donated by the late P.Broadbent)
– Time Measurement Part 1, F.A.B.Ward 1936
– Track Layout Diagrams of the GWR and BR (Tondu and the three valleys Branches) Section 49A by R.A.Cooke (Donated by the late P.Broadbent)
– Transactions: Institute of Mining Engineers Sept 1951
– The Young Valley – A History of the Church in the Garw Valley by Rev M.M.Davies. This also gives an insight in to Richard Price’s origins. (Kindly donated by Mr Neil Sutton).
– Vertical Shaft Sinking – E.O. Forster Brown 1927
– Welsh Valleys – Maesteg & Tondu Lines. Details of all the local stations and railways in the Garw, Llynfi and Ogmore Valleys. Published by Middleton press in Oct 2011. (Kindly donated by Middleton Press).
2. Census Returns
-1891 Census returns for Blaengarw (A3 copies) & Analysis of inhabitants of Nos 1-21 Gwendoline Street
-1891 returns for Llangeinor (A3 copies) & analysis
-1891 Census returns for Bettws (A3 copies) & analysis
-1901 Census returns for Bettws
-1901 Census returns for Llangeinor
-1901 Census Returns for Meadow Street Pontycymer
-1901 Census Return for Blaengarw showing the Carpenter family living at 16 Marian Street Blaengarw.
-1911 Census Return showing the whole Carpenter family living at 16 Marian Street. (See Letters item below relating to Joseph E.Carpenter as a POW in Germany in 1944).
3. CDs
– Heritage Railway development pictures on CD (Brian Shears)
– Peter Blacklaw’s 3 songs recorded for the Garw Grammar School Reunion in Nov 1993. (I married a Garw Girl; Grandfather’s Lamp and I don’t want to be young again).
– Major Ben Duggan’s Memories of a child growing up in the Garw Valley recorded in 1984. (Kindly donated by Mr David Jordan).
4. DVDs / Videos
– An aerial tour of the Garw valley taken from a Helicopter
– Copies of Maps & Documents and Photos Incl Garw Collieries, Llangeinor Parish Records
-New Train delivery on 8/6/09 for the Garw Valley Railway Company.
-The “Garw Guru” charter train run up the valley – the last passenger train, on 5 April 1997.
-The Last Coal train to leave the valley dated 6 March 1997.
– Copies of all current pictures shown on the photographic archive index on separate DVDs
5. Letters
– Copies of letters from the NCB Chairman (Ian Macgregor) dated June, July and August 1984 to members of the NUM.
– 2 Envelopes for Original Letters (without the contents) sent to Welsh Guardsman Joseph E.Carpenter, a POW in Stalag 344. One original letter from Miss G. Allen to the same POW sent from Bridgend Hospital. Dated 1944. They are of interest because they are marked with the label of the Official Censor, and Miss Allen’s letter is written on the specific cover provided for sending letters to POWs and shows Carpenter’s Prisoner of War number.
– An original letter sent to the MP E.J.Williams from Duncan Sandys (Minister of Defence) concerning POW Joseph Carpenter’s incarceration in Stalag VIII.b dated 16 June 1942. This alludes to the difficulties being experienced in Germany of getting Red Cross Parcels to Prisoners of War. The letter refers to a request from Mr E.Carpenter (Joseph’s Father) who lived at 7, Queen Street, Blaengarw for information regarding his son.. (See also Newspaper cutting listed below).
– An original Airletter sent to Trevor Llewellyn of 32 Herbert St Blaengarw from E.I Llewellyn in Bahrein. The date is not known, but the stamp indicates a 3 Anna Indian Postal Service stamp showing King George VI and is over printed BAHREIN. The contents describe a parade of Arabs celebrating some particular event or religious ceremony involving sword beating and flagellation. It is a remarkable account but, unfortunately, the letter is only pages 4,5 & 6 of a larger letter.
6. Maps
– Banborough Main Colliery South Yorks 1943 (incl Photos)
- Manvers Main Colliery South Yorks 1945(Incl Photos)
-The Garw Valley (3 Tiff files on CD)
- Explosion at Louisa (inc Morrison Old) Colliery Durham Aug 1947
- Explosion at Gresford Colliery Report 1934-37
- Explosion at Barnsley Main Colliery Report 1947
- Explosion at Ingham Colliery Thornhill, Yorks, 1947
-1891 Map extracts showing Bettws (A3 copies)
-1891 Map extracts showing Llangeinor (A3 copies)
-1891 Map extracts showing Blaengarw (A3 copies)
-Large Scale maps of the area (A0 size) dated from 1940
-Old Plans of Blaengarw from the 1800s showing outline plans of holdings by the Dunraven Estate
-Whitehaven “ William” Colliery,Cumberland – Aug 1947
7. Newspaper Cuttings
-Copy of the Glamorgan Gazette article, dated 18 Feb 1898, which describes the opening of the Port Talbot branch of the Llynfi Railway from Pont-yr-hyl to Port Talbot.
-Copy of the South Wales Gazette dated 23 June 1990, in the series called “Valleys Picture Past” (Although there is no reference to the Garw Valley).
- Copy of “Heroes of Coal” South Wales Echo supplement dated March 1995.
- Copy of the pages from the Glamorgan Gazette, showing Huw Edwards opening the Calon Lan Park in Blaengarw. (1st May 2008)
- 2 off A4 Volumes of cuttings from local papers mainly “Valley Notes” articles and pictures.
- Copy of the Western Mail Special Edition dated 25 April 1989 – showing “South Wales Yesterday”
- Copies of Glamorgan Gazette cuttings from 1950 to 1964, describing various events concerning the Garw, Porthcawl and Llynfi railways. A fascinating account of their openings, closures, and sundry notable stories. (Donated by the late P.Broadbent).
- Cutting from the Glamorgan Gazette (thought to be dated June 1942) relating to Joseph Carpenter’s letter to his parents (who lived at 7 Queen Street, Blaengarw) regarding the problem of not receiving Red Cross Parcels in his Prisoner of War camp.
- Cutting from (presumably) the Glamorgan Gazette, undated, recalling the life and passing of Tom Williams of Blaengarw – a renowned singer – plus his medal from the 1911-12 Eisteddford. (N.Sutton)
-Cutting from the Western Mail dated 9 Dec 1985 on the closure of the International Colliery, Blaengarw.
- Transcript of an article from the Western Mail in Oct 1991 recalling Major Ben Duggan of Bettws and Pontyrhyl (29 Sept 1908 – 25 Oct 1991).
- Cutting describing Mrs Jessie Wile’s 100th Birthday
- Letter (original) from Wm Watkins to the Headmaster Garw Grammar School dated 1956, and sent from British Guyana.
- Cutting showing the Carn Rovers AFC 1933-34 Winners of the T.Farquerson Cup.
- Copy letter from W.C.Aston’s of Oxford Street, Pontycymer, dated 3 Sept 1929, as a reference for Hetty James.
- Copy of a poster advertising the First Annual Drama Competition Oct 1939.
- Copy of a poster publicising the New Mutuality Club of the Pontycymer Industrial Co-Operative Society in Oxford Street.
8. Other Paper Records and Certificates
– British Nylon Spinners Magazine Vol III No 2 1954
- Certificate of Appreciation for Doris John from the inhabitants of the Garw Valley Committee regarding her service in WW2.
- Certificate of Transfer to Army Reserve for Private Melwyn Thos. Williams RASC, dated 31 March 1946 (N.Sutton)
- Ffaldau Colliery Social Fund – Notification of 4th Annual Dinner 17 Oct 1964
- Four Figure Tables of Constants
- The Garw Valley Medical Aid Society (A history)
- Garw Secondary Grammar School – Unveiling and Dedication of the Memorial Tablet – Service Book. Dated 29 March 1950 (N.Sutton)
- Garw Valley Ratepayers Assoc. Poster for Beryl Williams’ re-election as Councillor. Dated 4 May 1972.plus cutting from the local paper describing the effects of her election in beating the incumbent Labour Councillor.
- Garw Ocean Benevolent Fund – Letter of assignment of monies to Mrs Winifred Morgan of Porthcawl from Alfred Bowden of Oxford Street Pontycymer. (N.Sutton)
- Guide to Accident Site Observers 1958
- Honours Certificate for the Oral Examination for Children under 10 for Ceinwen Harding from the English Baptist Sunday School Union Pontycymer Zion Chapel – dated 8 April 1910.
- Llangeinor Swimming Baths Opening – Invitation to Cllr Mrs Hamilton Williams. 10 May 1969 (N.Sutton)
- Maintenance of Intrinsically Safe Apparatus 1952
- Mining Educator Magazine 1925
- NEBO, Blaengarw – Memorial Service to J.Camwy Evans March 1948(N.Sutton)
– NUPE – Mid Glam Water Board branch Presentation Dinner Toast List for Mr G.E Sutton, dated 4 March 1955
- Official Opening of the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine (Australia) 1958
-Pitmans Electrical Educator Magazine 1926
- Report on HM Mines Inspectorate 1955
- Report No 16 on Coal Dust 1945
- Royal Charter of Incorporation ByeLaws and Regulations for the South Wales Institute of Engineers 1952
- Selection of booking letters and suppliers’ invoices for Fire Service Dinners at the Squirrel Hotel Pontycymer, and the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Bridgend between 1960 and 1964 (N.Sutton). Particularly interesting in view of the charges at the time.
- Selection of Miner’s weekly Pay checks – Day Wageman’s Tickets (presented by Mr P.John)
- Selection of Large Sketchbooks of Coursework for Mining & Mineralology (Beautiful drawings)
- Suppression of Dust by system of water infusion in coal seams 1943
- The Consolidisation of of Floor Dust on Mine Roadways 1951
- The Garw Washery 1950 (Pamphlet with pictures)
- The Miner Magazines for Mar/Apr 1956 and July/Aug 1954
- The Mining Engineer Magazine 1968
- Tynyrheol Primary School – Order of Service in memory of Mrs Beryl Williams. Dated 16 July 1992 (N.Sutton)
- Water Supplies for Firefighting , Dust Suppression and Machine Cooling at Collieries
- List of papers from Jack’s Cafe in Pontycymer (On permanent Loan from Creation Development).
Box of Tobacco Stamps for early 1958
Carreras Ltd Bonus for 2 Dec 1947. For Guiseppe Assirati.
Handwritten Notice from the Ffaldau & Garw Lodges advising on how to claim concessional coal dated Jan 1972.
Crypto Limited Sales card for servicing Food Preparation Machinery
Flyer for “Steamed Pork Pies” (Play)
Funeral Card for Giovanni Minetti posted from Bari in Italy Dec 1968
Ffaldau Council Boys School Report for Jack Assirati for Easter Term 1934.
Garw Valley Official Guide 1994
Garw Secondary School Report for Christmas Term 1943 for J.Assirati.
Glamorgan County Council Garw Secondary School Admission letter and list of fees for schooling, for Jack Assirati dated 17 June 1937.
Glamorgan County Council Milk Sale Licence dated 30 April 1964.
Glamorgan Gazette article on Community News.
History of Tondu House 1650 – 1963 by Gwilym J.Rees
Income Tax Relief Notification for Mr G. Assuarti dated 2 Jan 1940
Imperial Tobacco Co Ltd Bonus Certificates for 1936,1937,1938 and 1939
Jack Assirati’s Science Homework Exercise Book dated 10 May 1943
Jack Assirati’s Term School Reports for 1937,1938 and 1943.
Jack Assirati’s latin Exercise Book for 1962 for the Secondary School.
Lady’s NHS Pensions Insurance Card for 1945 / 46 for L.G.Assirati and one for E.Assirati for 1944 / 45.
Maintenance Service record for Cafe equipment dated 6 April 1952.
Maths Homework sheet dated 1937
Ministry of Labour Permit under the Aliens Order 1920, dated 18 Oct 1947, for Luiga Assirati and her arrival in Dover stamp on 14 Jan 1948.
Motor Fuel Ration Book with coupons – date unreadable
Notice card advertising a Cavalcade of Sport on Film at Pontycymer Cinema in aid of the 33 Boys Club.
Notice of the Dedication of the new War Memorial in Victoria Street dated 14 May 1989.
Ogmore and Garw Food Control Committee Licence for Retail of Foodstuffs 1948
Ogmore and Garw Urban District Council licence for Milk Distribution
Ogwr District Council Ice Cream Analysis report dated 24 May 1950
Pontycymer Co-Op Society Member’s Purchase Book
Programme for the Cor Meibion Cym Garw and Mid Rhondda Silver Band concert given at the Garw Valley Centre on 19 September 1992.
Receipt from William Sumner Pontycymer for a Paxette Camera for £24.16.2d dated 22 Aug 1953.
Rupert Pugh Family Butcher Oxford Street Pontycymer – Blank Order form
School Report Card for Mary Assirati dated Xmas Term 1934
School Application Form for Jack Assirati for the Ffaldau Secondary School dated 23 June 1937
Singer Sewing Machine Company Instruction booklet for Model 15K80
Third Prize award to Jack Assirati from the Ogmore & Garw Hunt for his Working Terrier – dated 28 June 1969.
Travel Identity Card for Mr Alexander Hamilton for travel between Great Britain and Ireland. Date unreadable but thought to be 1932.
Welsh Central Board School Certificates for Jack Assirati dated July 1943 & 1944.
Western Mail Supplement, dated 5 June 2004, as a souvenir of the D Day Landings in France.
W & T Avery Ltd order for Automatic Scales priced £27.0.0d dated 6 Nov 1950.
List of papers kindly donated by Cllr R.Jenkins (copies):
Letter from Mr Peter John concerning the military awards to Sgt Morgan Wile
Marriage Cert for Cllr Jenkins’ parents.
List of fatal accidents in the pits of Glamorgan.
Pictures of the Wiles family.
Picture of the Coronation Party at Ffaldau Junior School
Picture of R.Jenkins aged 4 or 5-
Copies of Y Garw (Garw Grammar School) Magazine
1951, 1955 and the Jubilee Issue 1909 – 1959.
Incl:- Associations with the Woodwork Room, School Memories of the early Thirties (by Jennet Bevan neé Davies) and a speech by Sir Daniel Davies,
- Garw Valley Community Council brochure celebrating a Millenium of Sporting Achievement, Dec 2000.
- Original Call up Papers for John Reginald Jenkins.
- Original Medical Grading card for Percival Chas Jenkins of 91 Oxford Street.
- Zion English Baptist Church Pontycymer – Final Service sheet July 1996.
- Description of the Garw Valley Doctors’ Practice.
9. Plans
– Old plan of Blaengarw from the 1800’s showing outline plans of holdings by the Dunraven Estate.
- Indenture (Original) relating to the lease of land from Blaengarw Farm for the construction of the Blaengarw Workman’s Hall dated 1/12/1917.
10. School Records
– Further Selection of School records from the ex-Garw Grammar School
All Fire and smoke damaged. These will be renovated and the more interesting (and readable) components copied to the archives.
- Exercise Book on Analytical Geometry of Jack Assirati (Dated Sept 1943)
- Exercise Book on Mathematics of Dillwyn Harris (dated Oct 1938)
- Mid Glamorgan Education Authority – School Regulations & Information Handbook (Jan 1980)
Copies of articles can be supplied. Please contact us for more details.