Following on from the 'Dowling' thread, I have been encouraged to put this up.
Its not a geneology puzzle but concerns my research into Nonconformist chapels. Yet since
some listers could well have some connections, here goes.
It concerns Saron, Congregational Chapel.
Now when I visit these, long gone, locations I rely on quite old maps yet even then, the
eye-sight not being how it should, I sometimes miss crucial detail first time round.
Now a contact of mine, had told me that the chapel was not in existance long (closed in
the 1920s) and the building was converted into a cinema.
On my visit to the location, I asked some locals of where the cinema was and was directed
to the location. Even the householder of the property now standing could confirm that a
cinema had been there before his bungalow had been built.
So far so good.
But in the cold light of day, on my return, I looked again at that reference OS Map for
1919/1920 and now it clearly showed 'Picture House' exactly where I had been.
Except that the Congregational Year Book for 1922 (data for 1920/21) still showed the
chapel to be in existance.
Now, I have lately come to accept that some of the info in these years is suspect and that
entry was due for deletion - by the 1928 Year Book it certainly was.
So here is the mystery:
1. Was there at some time maybe 2 cinemas in Cwm Clydach/ Clydach Vale.?
2. If there really was one, can anyone confirm that the cinema had before been a chapel.
To location really does look right from the one photograph od it in existence (but maybe
someone has a photograph of the Picture house so that I could compare ?)
Bet you are sorry now you asked ;))