The first Aberdare Constitutional Club
was founded at premises in Commercial Place (Victoria
Square) in 1884. In 1885 the Club moved to larger premises
at 28 Canon Street, but as the club continued to prosper
attempts were made to secure a new site for development.
In 1888 Lord Merthyr purchased the land on which the Aberdare Constitutional
Club was to be erected. The plans of the building were approved and work
had been completed by July 1893. The Constitutional Club contained 3 shops,
a bar and the Constitutional Hall on the first floor; on the second floor
a billiards room, card room, reading room, library and committee room;
and the third floor contained the kitchens with a lift to the ground floor.
The Club was officially opened on 15th March 1894, when the opening ceremony
was performed by J M Maclean, the Conservative candidate for Cardiff.
When originally constructed the architecture of the Constitutional Club
was more ornate than it is now. This photograph shows the balustrade
that ran along the roof, the clock tower and the rather imposing ornamental
porch.
The Constitutional hall became an important place of entertainment for
the population of Aberdare, being used in a number of different ways as
the tastes of the inhabitants changed. In 1905 the Hall became the 'Palace
Theatre of Varieties', and in 1909 reopened as the 'New Empire Theatre'.
After the Theatre closed down the 'Empire Hall' became a ballroom and concert
hall. In the 1960's the Hall was converted into the 'Go-Go Bar' and its
last incarnation was as the 'Decker's Nightclub'.
