I am interested in family history and I have in my possession several sheets of family records showing many of the events took place in Hirwain, Aberdare. My question
is was Hirwaun ever written Hirwain and if so when was it changed or was/is Hirwain a district in Aberdare.

My second question is was there any sort of disaster in March 1876, perhaps in a local mine?

Needless to say I am not Welsh although I believe my grandmother and great-grand parents were.

Thank you to anyone who can help me.

To contact Dave via email use dave@bmwr8.fsnet.co.uk

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I'm french and Looking for an old friend from HIRWAUN in WALES his family lived 5 cross street, Hirwaun but don't now.

Their Name REYNOLDS PAT, BILL. Their children Chris, Andy, Steve, Frances.

I would like an adress, or some help if you can tell me something about this very nice family : what they become; I will be very happy.

Thanks for any answer you can give me.

Thank you very much.

Pasquier Botte

Email sylvie.pasquierCATfree.fr (to use this email address remove the word ‘cat’ and use @ instead).

I have been researching my wife’s family history.One side of the family included the Havard family.

I have gone back as far as Morgan Havard born 1808 at Hirwaun. His son Thomas Havard was also born at Hirwaun in 1840. Address on birth certificate is given as Arches Row – does it still exist ?

Morgan Havard and his wife Mary(nee Knoyle) both died in 1845 in their 30s and I believe are buried at Ystradfellte. I am not sure but Morgan’s father may have been a John Havard born circa1780. Has anyone any information on the Havard family in this area ?

I would be grateful for any information. Thank you, Dewi Lewis

To contact Mr Lewis his email address is dewi.lewis1CAT@btinternet.com

Please note : Take the ‘cat’ out of the email address and replace with @ sign

My Great Grandfather Olive Hugh Thomas was born in Hirwaun on 10th January 1855 and his father was David Thomas Station Master. His Mother was Martha Lewis who may have been born in Merthyr Tydfil on 31 January 1824.

I am keen to research further and would like to know if there are railway records or anyone knows that would be able to tell if the station was at Hirwaun or Aberdare.

To contact Mr Baxter his email address is Baxter540CATmsn.com

Please note : Take the ‘cat’ out of the email address and replace with @ sign

We have published Hirwaun news for the Community since 2005 and we are proud to print a contribution from the Plaid Cymru Candidate for the Local Council Elections, Karen Morgan, a candidate who will stand up for Hirwaun…

May 1st 2008 is council election day and your chance to shape Hirwaun’s future in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

As Plaid’s candidate in this election, I am asking for your support to help bring about a change for the better in Hirwaun.

Being Hirwaun born and bred, I am passionate about our community’s future. That is why I and others came together to form the Action for Hirwaun Group. The Action Group has focussed on a wide range of issues affecting our community and we have taken up the fight to make Hirwaun a better place to live.

Like many of you I am disgusted that Labour councillors in RCT decided to sell off the old nursery school site to the highest bidder for development instead of setting it aside for a new Health Centre as they should have done.

There are many important issues facing Hirwaun in the next few years : the future of the Tower Colliery land, the Gloucesters and Ironworks site and the proposed duelling of the Heads of the Valleys road which could potentially turn our narrow village roads into a rat run. Many of you have already raised with me your own concerns also.

Hirwaun Primary School

Our Primary School provides our children with an excellent education and has received glowing reports from government inspections. I will strive to ensure that the upgrading of buildings is continued and improved facilities for our children remains high on council agendas.

Increasing Development

As Hirwaun experiences increasing development, particularly housing, this is not being supported adequately by improved infrastructure i.e. better roads to deal with the increased traffic, improved amenities, including play areas for children.

Thoughtless development will only make Hirwaun LESS of a community. Existing roads, not changed for decades, have to cope with ever increasing traffic. Unfortunately, Labour abandoned Plaid’s successful rolling programme for roads soon after the last elections.

Our open spaces need protection and Hirwaun needs improved facilities for all ages.

Priorities for Hirwaun Ward

1. Protecting our open spaces and improving play and recreational facilities for all ages.

2. Working to ensure investment in infrastructure that supports regeneration of the village

3. Working with residents and local groups to build a vision for Hirwaun’s future which recognizes and capitalises on our rich industrial heritage and natural beauty on our doorstep.

4. Improving facilities and access to education and development for all ages

We need a bold and imaginative vision for Hirwaun and I and my Plaid colleagues are willing to turn that vision into reality.

Whatever the plans for Hirwaun, Hirwaun needs a strong voice to speak up for the interests of the WHOLE community.

Rest assured, I will speak up AND stand up for Hirwaun at all times.

I want to work with everyone in our community who wants a better future for Hirwaun.

Please join with me and give me your support at this election.

Thank you.

Karen Morgan

Llais a Nerth i Hirwaun

Ar Fai 1af fe fydd gyda chi gyfle i newid Hirwaun er gwell.

Mae pedair blynedd o Lafur yn Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi bod yn drychineb. Wedi i Blaid Cymru adfer sefyllfa ariannol y cyngor, mae Llafur wedi gwastraffu cyfle eto. Mae Llafur yn RhCT nawr wrthi yn gwerthu tir ac eiddo cyhoeddus. Dyma hefyd y rheswm pam y mae Llafur yn RhCT wedi codi treth y cyngor gymaint eto… yr ail godiad uchaf yng Nghymru.

Mae angen llais cryf a phenderfynnol ar Hirwaun a fydd yn fodlon gwynebu’r her yn Rhondda Cynon Taf

Fel un sydd wedi byw yn lleol ar hyd ei hoes mae Karen Morgan yn daer dros ddyfodol Hirwaun.

Os yw dyfodol ein pentref mor bwysig i chi ag y mae’n bwysig i Karen Morgan, yna rhowch bleidlais i Karen Morgan ar Fai 1af

Diolch yn fawr

“The village is going nowhere if the people of Hirwaun dont shape up and start using what we have here instead of going out of the village.”

“Five years ago i would have never thought that Hirwaun would ever get this bad that the people would go else where just too have a pint. Its just not the pubs and clubs that are suffering its the shops as well.”

“All I’m saying is that we need to use what we have and not go else where which is about 4-5 miles away. Hirwaun. . .think about it!!!”

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What do you think of Hirwaun’s future ? Send your views, opinions or a story today.

Related articles

Lets Get Hirwaun back on its Feet by Kevin Addiscott.

The Story of Tower Colliery reaches far beyond the village of Hirwaun and beyond the borders of Wales. Many people have family connections and memories of Tower Colliery

My uncle Danny Jones died as a result of the 1962 Tower Colliery accident and some of my other uncles worked at Tower Colliery, writes June Withers.

I was born and brought up in England but am very proud of my Welsh origins and of the story of Tower.

The determination that kept the mine working for so long was true Welsh grit and spirit.

Congratulations to everyone who was involved, your story reached out beyond the valleys, beyond the borders and into every heart that read about you.

- June Withers lives in Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight. She has family from Merthyr and Aberdare.

Rosemary from Devon writes

My ancestor’s name was Henry Day born 1813, he was married to Amelia with 7 children ages 1-16. The youngest child was born in Monmouthshire, otherwise they were all born in Somerset.

I am keen to know how long the family were in Hirwaun, where he lived, worked and attended church and the school the children were likely to have attended. He originated in Worle, Somerset, moved to Newport, Monmouthshire and then came up to Hirwain by the 1851 Census. Someone in the Aberdare Library, told me that there was a ‘Tower’ associated with the Ironworks, that used to be called the Castle? I know he had left by the 1861 Census.

My husband and I live in Devon, and have just returned from a trip to the Rhondda and Hirwain, to look at our ancestors’ homes. When I visited the library at Hirwain, they told me about the Ironworks… I am a member of the Glamorgan Family History Society too. It was a beautiful drive from the Rhondda over the mountains to Hirwain.

Karen Jones is writing a dissertation on sustainable development for her degree. If you would like to help please get in touch directly with Karen. Click here for her message.

Another Karen wrote in a few months ago… Karen Williams with a family history enquiry.

i’m trying to trace the family of a Cyril Norton Allen, who lived at Brynfynnon House on Penderyn Road, he had two sisters by the names of Innis and Evelyn, and brothers by the names of Percy and Archie, Cyril himself was killed in 1935 in an aircrash in Messina, i’d be grateful for any information as i have items i would like to return to the family.

Wayne England writes

I was born at 4c High Street Hirwaun. The house no longer exists, does anyone have or know of any photographs of this part of Hirwaun?

Ben Williams of Keep Wales Tidy hopes to organise a ‘litterpick’ event in HIrwaun, some place suitable along the banks of the River Cynon.

If you can help answer any of these ‘Hirwaun Enquiries’ please get in touch. We will forward your email address to the people above.