Neath History - Neath Antiquarian Society

Neath History - Neath Antiquarian Society The page for the Neath Antiquarian Society, covering the history of Neath and District since 1923. For all queries, contact [email protected].

President: Mr David Michael
Chairman: Mr Keith Tucker
Secretary: Mrs Mary Walker
Treasurer: Dr Paul Richards

The Neath Antiquarian Society (NAS) was founded in 1923 as a natural successor to the Neath Philosophical and Antiquarian Society which had its origins in 1834. The badge of the former Society, depicting the great seal of Neath Abbey, was adopted by the new NAS as its emblem. The NAS was

formed to maintain and restore ancient monuments of Neath and District; to study history, manners, customs, art and literature; to visit places of archaeological and architectural interest; to arrange lectures and meetings; to collate all available information that shall be of interest and value to the Society and to publish transactions; to set-up and maintain and, when possible, add to the Society's library, manuscripts, records, books and objects of interest; to maintain a Museum and Repository of records; and to pursue such other activities as are incidental to, or conducive of the attainments of these objects. Soon after its foundation the Society was involved in the major excavation of Neath Abbey ruins. This took many years and involved the removal of over 7,000 tons of industrial waste. Later excavations took place at St. Margaret's Chapel and at Neath Castle. The Society has had a number of different homes in the town but in 2001 it moved to its present accommodation at the Neath Mechanics' Institute in Church Place. In a joint venture with the West Glamorgan Archive Service the extensive archives of the Society were properly catalogued and made accessible to a wider readership. The Society shares the building with the West Glamorgan Archive Service. The Mechanics' Institute is only five minutes' walk from the railway station or the bus station and is alongside St. Thomas' Church in the middle of the town.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: On 8th June 1951, Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins) was born in Skewen.Far better known internationally as B...
08/06/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: On 8th June 1951, Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins) was born in Skewen.

Far better known internationally as Bonnie Tyler, today she remains among the most famous Welsh singers of all time. Her father Glyndŵr Hopkins was a coalminer and Second World War serviceman, while her mother Elsie Hopkins (née Lewis) was a former homemaker. She attended Rhydhir Comprehensive School, leaving at 16 with no qualifications.

In 1969, Tyler came second in a local talent contest. Inspired, she pursued singing, first serving as a back-up singer to Bobby Wayne & the Dixies before forming her own band, Imagination. She changed her name to Sherene Davis, to avoid being confused with Welsh folk singer Mary Hopkin, but became Bonnie Tyler in 1975 after RCA Records offered her a recording contract.

Her first hit, Lost in France, reached number 9 in the charts and resulted in her first appearance on Top of the Pops. While her first album, The World Starts Tonight, did not chart in the UK, it reached number 2 in Sweden. In 1977, It's a Heartache became her biggest 70s success, reaching number 4 in the UK and number 3 on the Billboard Top 100.

Her success skyrocketed in the 1980s with a move to CBS/Columbia. Moving into rock music at this time, the two hits she would become most famous for even today would soon follow. First was Total Eclipse of the Heart, which has sold over 6 million units and is one of the best-selling singles of all time. The following year, Holding Out For a Hero, from the soundtrack to the hit movie Footloose, didn't quite achieve the same commercial success but has also stood the test of time.
She was named freeman of Neath Port Talbot in 2011 and represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013.

Tyler was awarded an MBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours for her services to music.

She has been suffered ill health this year - we wish her a speedy recovery.
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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

ON THIS DAY: On 5th June 1897, the Cardiff Times announced that Neath’s Jubilee Committee had approved plans for the lay...
05/06/2026

ON THIS DAY: On 5th June 1897, the Cardiff Times announced that Neath’s Jubilee Committee had approved plans for the laying out of the Corporation Field as ‘pleasure gardens’ to be known as Victoria Gardens to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

The plans included planting, laying out of walks, constructions of four fountains, a band stand and a greenhouse.

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3431310/3431315/138/
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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

ON THIS DAY: On 4th June 1974, the author Bert Lewis Coombes died.Born in Wolverhampton in 1893, Coombes' family moved t...
04/06/2026

ON THIS DAY: On 4th June 1974, the author Bert Lewis Coombes died.

Born in Wolverhampton in 1893, Coombes' family moved to Treharris when he was young, his father taking employment in the colliery there. He moved back to England again for his schooling; after time working on a farm and as groom to a local vicar, he longed for something new.

His choice to move to the Vale of Neath came quite literally as a result of drawing places out of a hat. He set up home in Resolven, where he quickly married Mary Rogers and had two children ten years apart.

It was not until his forties that he started to write. Against the background of miners' strikes and his father's hard-working history, he submitted pieces on colliery life to publishers. He was first successful with his piece The Flame, before an astounding positive reaction to his 1939 work These Poor Hands saw that book become an international bestseller.

He continued writing and working in the colliery despite this success, and kept to the same close-to-his-heart subject, with Miner's Day proving an excellent snapshot as to the life of a Neath Valley miner of his time. In later life he submitted voluntary articles to the Neath Guardian.

He would remain in the area for the rest of his life, moving to Nant-y-Fedwen, between Coelbren and Banwen. He passed away at Adelina Patti Hospital three years after Mary's death. They are both buried in a shared grave at St David's New Cemetery, Resolven. They were married at the nearby church over sixty years earlier. The gravestone, marked 'author', is shaped like a book.
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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Happy birthday to television producer Julie Gardner, who was born in Neath on 4th June 1969. Gardner gre...
03/06/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Happy birthday to television producer Julie Gardner, who was born in Neath on 4th June 1969.

Gardner grew up in Pont Walby, where her parents owned a local shop, and attended Llangatwg Comprehensive and then Neath Port Talbot College. After studying at Queen Mary University of London, she went into teaching, but made the switch to television in the 1990s.

In 2005, Gardner became well-known globally as a result of her key role in the revival of Doctor Who alongside showrunner Russell T. Davies and Phil Collinson. The success of Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's turns as The Doctor prompted numerous spin-off series which Gardner also worked on, such as Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

She would also commission the hugely popular Life on Mars, starring John Simm and Philip Glenister.

In 2009, she moved to Los Angeles to work for BBC Worldwide. In 2015, she co-founded the Bad Wolf production company, which has since produced the likes of His Dark Materials and Doctor Who.

The Cardiff-born writer Andrew Davies called her "the best thing to happen to Welsh drama. Ever."
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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

HISTORY IN BRIEF: The following article was taken from the Evening Express and Evening Mail, dated 12th May 1909."The a...
03/06/2026

HISTORY IN BRIEF: The following article was taken from the Evening Express and Evening Mail, dated 12th May 1909.

"The ancient Parish Church of St. Thomas, Neath, was on Tuesday re-opened, and beautiful stained-glass windows were unveiled by the bishop of the diocese.

"The Rev. W. E. Jenkins, soon after his advent to the parish, set about beautifying the sanctuary and succeeded in getting the communicants to give a new altar and a member of the Church to give a valuable and handsome altar cover, including frontal and super-frontal.

"Twelve months ago a committee was elected, since when over £750 has been raised. The Church has now been completely restored. The roof has been repaired, the tower pointed, the walls out- side plastered, the walls inside coloured and beautified, new gas fittings installed, the seat varnished, and the organ repaired. Also, the boundary walls have been restored.

"The Rev. W. E. Jenkins was authorised by the special committee to appeal by means of circulars for £100 to erect a memorial window to the late Archdeacon. The response was prompt, and within a very short time the sum of £120 was raised.

"The Church has been enriched with many handsome gifts, such as Litany desk, Litany desk frontal, linen cloths, prayer-books for the use of the clergy, hymnbooks and prayer-books for the use of the congregation. One of the most important improvements is the filling of three aisle windows with Munich stained-glass.

"The central window is placed by the members and friends of St. Thomas's Church to the memory of the late Ven. John Griffiths, B.D., rector of Neath from 1855 to 1897, and Archdeacon of Llandaff from 1877 to 1897. It illustrates St. Paul preaching at Athens. In the circle an angel holds a shield with the arms of the Diocese of Llandaff.

"The window on the left is placed by the various members of the family to the memory of the late Pendrill Charles, of Plasnewydd, treasurer of St. Thomas's Church for many years. It represents the Resurrection.

2The window on the right is placed by Mr. Howell Cuthbertson to the memory of his late father, Mr. Alexander Cuthbertson, Penrhiewtyn, churchwarden of Neath for a considerable time. It depicts the Lord Shepherd."

HISTORY IN BRIEF: This cross, in the crypt museum at All Hallows by the Tower Church in London, is in memory of George C...
02/06/2026

HISTORY IN BRIEF: This cross, in the crypt museum at All Hallows by the Tower Church in London, is in memory of George Christopher Serocold Tennant, son of Charles and Winifred Coombe Tennant of Cadoxton Lodge.

George was killed near Langemark, Belgium on September 3rd 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres and buried at Canada Farm Cemetery. He was 19 years old.

His final letter to his mother was found, unposted, in his pocket on his body after his death.

In it, he said he was "fine", and that by the time she reads the letter, "will be through all right [sic]".

He was killed later that night at 4am.

From 1922 to 1962 the vicar of All Hallows by the Tower was Philip "Tubby" Clayton, founder of Talbot House, a rest house for soldiers at Poperinge, Belgium. It became known as Toc H, signal terminology for Talbot House. Toc H continues to do good works in the community to this day.

The Toc H lamp is a symbolic oil lamp introduced in 1922 to honour those who died in World War I. Christopher Tennant had a lamp dedicated to his memory in Neath.

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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

TOUR: Neath Antiquarian Society member Stephen Aldred is an accredited Commonwealth War Graves guide and will take an up...
30/05/2026

TOUR: Neath Antiquarian Society member Stephen Aldred is an accredited Commonwealth War Graves guide and will take an upcoming tour of the war graves in Llantwit cemetery.

The free tour takes place at 2pm on Sunday 28th June and again on Sunday 19th July. Head to the link below to book your place!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cwgc-tours-2026-neath-llantwit-cemetery-tickets-1988818305088?aff=oddtdtcreator

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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

ON THIS DAY: On 30th May 1923, the Neath Philosophical & Antiquarian Society was revived as the Neath Antiquarian Societ...
30/05/2026

ON THIS DAY: On 30th May 1923, the Neath Philosophical & Antiquarian Society was revived as the Neath Antiquarian Society by Glen A. Taylor & C.S. Thomas - making today the Neath Antiquarian Society's 103rd birthday.

Soon after its foundation, the Society was involved in the major excavation of Neath Abbey ruins. This took many years and involved the removal of over 7,000 tons of industrial waste. Later excavations took place at St. Margaret's Chapel and at Neath Castle.

The Society has had a number of different homes in the town, but in 2001 it moved to its present accommodation at the Neath Mechanics' Institute in Church Place. Over the years we have produced many publications on the history of our local area, including the The Neath Antiquarian series, while we also have a fantastic collection of books, photographs and other items in our archives.
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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS: In April, Hans-George Sigel (Burgermeister Engineering), Nuru Debora Thie (Head of Twinning) and...
29/05/2026

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS: In April, Hans-George Sigel (Burgermeister Engineering), Nuru Debora Thie (Head of Twinning) and Eida Haile (Chair of Youth Council) of Esslingen am Neckar in Germany, accompanied by Councillors Bob and Sara Price of Neath Town Council, visited Neath Mechanics' Institute.

The visit was intended to build friendship links between Esslingen and Neath; we explained something of the history of Neath and looked at previous links between the two towns. The visit also led into a further visit to Neath by two choirs from Esslingen.

A team of volunteers from Neath Antiquarians led by Phil John arranged a walk for the choirs around historic Neath on 28th May in the warm late Spring weather. The visitors tried out the acoustics of St. David’s Church during their tour. Everyone agreed that it was a pleasure to meet such attentive and interested visitors.

The two visiting choirs were the Esslinger Liederkranz Choir and the Sing Uni Choir.
A concert by the choirs was arranged for the evening of 28th May at St Thomas’s Church, Neath supported by the Tonmawr Male Choir with friends from Cwmbach and Cwmdare.

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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

ON THIS DAY: On 29th May 1901, the foundation stone for Briton Ferry Library was laid by the Countess and Earl Jersey. B...
29/05/2026

ON THIS DAY: On 29th May 1901, the foundation stone for Briton Ferry Library was laid by the Countess and Earl Jersey.

Built at a cost of £3,000, the Earl provided the land and £500 towards the cost of furnishings. Designed by the Borough surveyor, H Alex Clarke, the building consisted of a ground floor reading room and library, first floor offices for Briton Ferry Council and an adjoining caretaker’s house.

With 30 public houses in the town, the library was seen as a ‘means of stemming the intemperance of the people.’

The Cambrian newspaper carried an extensive report on 31st May 1901.

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3345861/3345866
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💻To view more local history and see what the Neath Antiquarian Society is all about, click here: https://bit.ly/47H4lie

We are open at Neath Mechanics' Institute every Monday and Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45.

Address

Neath Mechanics' Institute, 4 Church Place
Neath
SA113LL

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 12:30pm
1:30pm - 4:45pm
Thursday 9:30am - 12:30pm
1:30pm - 4:45pm

Telephone

+441639620139

Website

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