Hello Dave,
Please see my reply to Rita. If you can give the list details perhaps we
can help.
Tredegar prior to 1800 was purely a farming area of course. Nothing
broke the silence of the district except the sound of the crystal
streams of Nant-y-Melin and the voice of the shepherd calling his dog:))
So it reads from a history that I once read.
The peace was broken in 1802 by the Tredegar Company establishing the
Iron Works!
Tredegar was a thriving town even in the 1960's. I remember when I
travelled to London in 1960's by Coach from my hometown of Merthyr
Tydfil. The main route was via Tredegar Town and I remember it as a very
popular Town even then.
Of course everyone came to Trevethin, Aberystruth, Bedwellty,
Mynyddislwyn, etc. and each had their own identity. Tredegar was part of
Bedwellty in it's day and immigrants from all over the UK came there for
the Iron and Coal and also Tailors, Shoemakers and other trades who
could make money from their professions.
Tredegar may have been the greatest place on Earth to them but the
depression probably stemmed from all the smoke, dust noise which
emanated from all the Iron and mining activities.
Tredegar today has no Iron or mining whatsoever, some industries of
course but none of particular interest. The Town is a mere shadow of
it's former self. The railway to Newport ceased to exist from 1960's.
Tredegar and Ebbw Vale are practically dormitory Towns with workers
having to commute to Newport, Cardiff, etc. for any decent jobs.
Your " depressing little place" reflects the Tredegar of today
unfortunately. I have showed quite a few people from abroad around the
Town in the last few months and although there is an improvement,
Blaenau Gwent Council have a lot to answer for.
all the best
Barrie Jones, Gwent
In message SILX404(a)aol.com writes:-
Hi,
I live in Shillington Pa. My g. gm, Ann (Morgan) Roberts was born in
Tredegar in 1831. I would like to be able to check out the Congregational
records also or any records from Tredegar for her birth or baptism. Can
anyone help me? The family talked about Tredegar as being the greatest place
on earth, but I am told it was a very depressing little place...which I guess
is true of all old coal towns.
Dave
-Visit Gwent FHS at :-
http://www.gwentfhs.info/
(comprises, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Chepstow, Newport, Abergavenny, Blackwood.
Of interest to anyone who has ancestral connections with the old county of
Monmouthshire.--
Visit Blaenavon Ironworks website:-
www.blaenavontic.com