The village of Gelli, similar to many of the villages
of the Rhondda, takes its name from a farm that existed in
the area. The English translation of Gelli could be taken
as meaning a small wood, grove or copse. The 1847 tithe map
of the area shows a rural area comprising scattered farmsteads
such as Ty Isaf, Ynisgoy (Ynys Coy), and Bwllfa owned by
landowners such as Crawshay Bailey and the Earl of Dunraven.
However archaeological excavations on the hillside above Gelli, particularly
at Hen Dre'r Gelli, such as in May 1921 when three bronze age axes were discovered,
indicate that this area of the Rhondda had inhabitants from the earliest times
of Britain's history. Remains suggest Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British,
as well as medieval activity associated with this area of the Rhondda.
Gelli's origins as the mining village we know today
date back to the sinking of the first pit in the area by
Edmund Thomas and George Griffiths in the 1870s. John and
Richard Cory, who traded as Messrs' Cory Brothers and Company
then purchased Gelli Colliery in 1874, deepening it to
the steam coal measures in 1877. A gas explosion at the
colliery in 1883 killed five and seriously injured twenty
other miners at the pit. The colliery was subsequently
sold to the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company one of the
foremost colliery combines in Britain, who retained ownership
until Nationalisation of Britain's mines after the Second
World War
Nantygwyddon Road prior to 'making up', circa 1910
It was at Gelli Colliery that the first Miners Federation
of Great Britain Lodge was formed in the Rhondda. The first
meeting of the lodge at the Gelli Hotel attracted less
than fifty miners, but its popularity soon grew with many
more joining the fledgling union despite strong opposition
from the Cory Brothers. David Davies of Llandinam also
sunk the Eastern Colliery at Gelli in 1877, which closed
sixty years later in 1937.
Although not one of the Rhondda's main shopping centres such as Pentre, Tonypandy
or Treorchy the 1926 Kelly's Industrial Directory of South Wales of Gelli gives
an image of a busy, thriving mining community. As well as the usual shops, chapels
etc. Gelli had its own County police Station where a sergeant and three constables
were based, a public elementary school built in 1893 and subsequently expanded
in 1894 and 1903, and its own park officially opened in 1919.
Left: Gelli Colliery and surrounding area, circa 1930.
In the shot you can make out Ystrad Road with Ystrad Library,
Shady Road, Dorothy Street with old Gelli School, Princess
Street, Ynysgau Street, Gelli Crossing, William Street
with Nebo Chapel
Gelli's low-lying position alongside the River
Rhondda made it particularly susceptible to flooding. In
both 1960 and 1970 particularly severe weather led to many
of the streets being inundated with several feet of water,
leading the local authority to spend large amounts of money
on a flood prevention scheme to prevent any further occurrences
in the future.
St.Mark's Church- Gelli
In researching the history of St. Mark's we are fortunate
to have a book written by Mrs. Muriel Evans in November 1959
that covers in depth .the founding and history of the church.
In this work Mrs. Evans explains that unlike the nearby church of St.David's,
St.Mark's was not fortunate enough to have a benefactor such as Crawshay Bailey
to bear the cost of building the church. As such, ‘The story of the rise of
St. Mark's Church is one of hard struggle', and if it was not for the determination
of its founder, the Rev. Canon Lewis it's unlikely the church would ever have
been built. The Rev. Lewis was vastly experienced in church building, and St.
Mark's would have been his twenty-first such project, however, ‘never throughout
his career in Ystradyfodwg did Canon Lewis meet more opposition than when putting
forward his project for a new church in Gelli'. As early as 1893 Canon Lewis
had begun enquiries about leasing a plot of land for a Mission room at Gelli,
and in January 1895 he actually acquired a plot in a side
street off Gelli Road. Expecting support from the Crawshay
Bailey Estate he applied for additional land and commissioned
an architect, Mr. Jacob Rees, to prepare plans for a new
church. However, in the first of many setbacks, the hoped
for support was not forthcoming forcing him to abandon his
plans.
Then in 1896 the Vicar purchased a mission
room in Ystrad Terrace, which were vacated by the Welsh Calvinistic
Methodists who were themselves moving to new premises on
Tyisaf Road. This building became the Mission Church of St.
Mark's Gelli and Captain J.R. Davies of the Church Army was
placed in charge. In 1900 Canon Lewis had plans drawn up
for extending this mission room into a church. He subsequently
abandoned these plans, as he wanted a larger church than
these would make possible, one that could accommodate 350
people.
Later in 1903 Canon Lewis purchased the end house in Union Street (which was
put into use as a Sunday School and to hold church meetings) with the intention
of building a church on the site of the mission room and the house. Legal problem
meant that the existing leases on these two sites had to be surrendered and a
license for building a church on the sites had to be obtained. Canon Lewis requested
the help of the Crawshay Bailey estate in making these arrangements. However
the Trustees of The Estate first had to be satisfied of the need for a new church
in the area and the ability of Canon Lewis to acquire the financial means to
build and maintain the building. As such it was not until July 1905 a license
for 99 years was granted. Jacob Ress again prepared plans for the new church
and tenders for the new building were advertised in the press. Quotations for
the building were received ranging between £1,342 and £2,172. However
Canon Lewis's plans once again were beset by setbacks. Donations were not as
high as he had hoped with at least one possible donor wondering about the need
for another church in the district already served by St. David's and St. Peter's.
Additionally his application for a grant from the Incorporated Society for promoting
the Enlargement and Repairing of Churches and Chapels was rejected in May 1905
because of the terms of the lease on the church. His application to the Bailey
estate to purchase the freehold of the land being turned down he finally accepted
that he would have to settle for a smaller and cheaper alternative to his hoped
for church. Again the plans were abandoned and new plans drawn up for the enlargement
and extension of the existing Mission room. A tender of £310 from Messrs'
Blacker Brothers, Cardiff was accepted, with the eventual cost rising to £360.
When the work was finally completed the congregation returned from their temporary
home in the schools in Dorothy Street to their new church, which had a capacity
of 120.
Later in 1920 St. Mark's joined with Saint David's, Ton Pentre, to form a single
parish. St. Mark's eventually closed in 1987.
