Open doors event – Tabernacle

The Garw Valley Heritage Society, in conjunction with CADW’s Open Doors events, will be holding an exhibition of Garw Life through the ages. Photographs, maps, articles and artefacts will be on display, together with a non-stop projection show of people and places. VENUE: Tabernacle chapel vestry in Meadow Street Pontycymer, CF328HG TIME:   10am- 4pm FREE…

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Llewellyn Jones: N.H.S.

Llewellyn Jones was not originally from the Garw Valley he was actually born in Llantwit Fadre in 1868. His parents Elias and Mary moved to Pontycymmer when he was 12 years old. Elias Jones was following his trade as a coal miner/shaft sinker and this was the period of the Garw’s history when coal mining…

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Poisoned by Wild Carrots

Poisoned by Wild Carrots Seven Garw Children Affected All the children were poisoned by eating ‘Wild Carrots’ (Daucus Carota,Queen Ann’s Lace.) which they found on the mountainside whilst playing. Four of the children, two boys and two girls belonging to Mr.William Griffiths. The elder boy partook lavishly of the roots, eating between eight or nine…

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Colliery Offices Destroyed in Avalanche

20 members of the clerical staff  at the International Coal Company Ltd, at Blaengarw, had a miraculous escape on Tuesday 4th November, when a substantial portion of  the 100 foot high colliery waste tip behind the office came down and fell right on top of the buildings, which were completely destroyed. Mr. Evan Jones, a…

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A Walk In The Garw: 1908

  A farmhouse stands high above the Garw Valley, right on the edge of the steep hillside – with thick walls and comfortable low built rooms. In front of the house a clump of fir trees stand, as a bold landmark for the neighbourhood. It has been the home of many generations of yeoman farmers,…

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