Porth known as 'The gateway to the Rhondda'
derives its name from its position at the entrance to the
two Rhondda Valleys, the Rhondda Fach and The Rhondda Fawr.
Similarly Cymmer, which is now seen as a 'suburb' of Porth,
derives its name from the old Welsh word that describes
a spot where two rivers of the same name converge. Early
sources show that originally the positions were reversed
and that the district was more commonly known as Cymmer.
It was only with the development of the mining operations
on the Porth Estate, and the coming of the Taff Vale Railway
to Porth, that the name Porth for the area came to prominence.
In common with most of the Rhondda, prior to the emergence
of coal mining Porth was very much a 'rural idyll', sparsely
populated and of great natural beauty. Porth however was
one of the first districts within the Rhondda to see industrialisation
on a large scale, changing its nature from one of pastoral
tranquillity to one that that 'assumed the dreary, God-forsaken
aspects of colliery districts in general'. Prior to its development
in Porth mining on any scale, in the Rhondda, had only been
undertaken at Dinas. However major development really began
with the penetration of the Taff Vale Railway into the area
alongside an upsurge in demand for coal leading to a shortage
in supplies.
General view of Porth circa 1900
This coupled with improved mining techniques meant that
conditions were ripe for the development of the industry
within the Rhondda Valleys. This attracted mining speculators
to the area, and the one of most significance to the development
of Porth was George Insole.
Insole was the owner of a shipping company in Cardiff that had specialised in
coal. Seeing an increasing demand for bituminous coal he decided to become a
producer rather than just a supplier. To this end he opened Maesmawr Colliery,
but production was lower than he had hoped. Also the coal produced was of inferior
quality to 'Coffin's Coal' as that produced at Dinas had become known.
Cymmer Bridge
Thus in 1844 he leased the mineral rights
to 375 acres of land at Cymmer from Evan Morgan of Tyn-Y-Cymmer
Farm, opening the South Cymmer Level in the December of the
year. At first progress was slow and output, from the No.2
Rhondda seam, disappointing. Thus Insole decided in 1847
to sink a pit, the No.1 Pit or Old Cymmer Pit, to the No.3
Rhondda. Seam. This was struck some eighty yards below the
No.2 seam and quickly gained a reputation as a coking coal,
an in 1848 36 coke ovens were constructed at Cymmer. To meet
ever increasing demand the operations at Cymmer were extended
and in 1851 the Upper Cymmer Colliery was sunk. Also in 1855
the New Cymmer Colliery was opened near the Cymmer Old Pit.
Thus began the mining industry in the Rhondda, which was to dominate the landscape
and lives of the people of the Valley for the next hundred and fifty years.
THE CYMMER COLLIERY EXPLOSION 1856
On the morning of Tuesday 15th July 1856 at
the 'Old Pit' in Cymmer, there occurred as stated in the
Mines Inspector's report, 'The most fearful and destructive
explosion, resulting in a sacrifice of human life unparalleled
in the history of Britain at that time'. At 6.00 a.m. one
hundred and sixty men and boys descended the shaft to begin
their shift and were on their way to their working places
when the explosion took place. The ferocity of the explosion
led rescuers to believe that all lives below ground would
be lost. However some miners had only descended a short way
into the pit and were able to make their way back to the
shaft and safety. Rescuers took measures to clear the mine
of afterdamp, and descended into the mine some three hours
after the initial explosion took place. By that Tuesday evening
some 112 bodies had been brought to the surface of the mine,
another was recovered on the Wednesday and one severe burns
victim died on the Thursday.
At the pithead relatives and friends searched to identify victims, few of whom
were not badly burnt, dying instead of suffocation caused by the afterdamp. Temporary
mortuaries were set up in the Colliery's carpenters shop and also Cymmer Independent
Chapel.
The scale of the disaster devastated the small communities of Cymmer and surrounding
areas, with no household left untouched and virtually all working age men and
boys having perished. One household alone saw a father and his three sons aged
10, 13, and 16 all perish. Thirty graves were opened at Cymmer Independent Chapel's
graveyard, and a mass internment of victims took place on Thursday 17th July.
The first inquest into the disaster was held at the Ty Newydd Hotel, Porth on
the 16th July, which was subsequently adjourned until Monday 27th July at the
Butchers Arms in Pontypridd. The inquest lasted 13 days and twenty-nine witnesses
were called. At the inquest it became clear that safety precautions at the colliery
were woefully inadequate, and mines safety regulations were ignored. It was seen
that the mine was poorly ventilated, and that pockets of gas were an everyday
feature of life below ground, additionally the carrying of naked flames in the
mine was commonplace. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter on the colliery
manager, Jabez Thomas, and four senior officials at the mine. This verdict was
overturned at the Glamorgan assizes at Swansea, the following March, leading
to a great deal of resentment among colliery workers.
DISASTER AT TYNEWYDD COLLIERY PORTH APRIL
1877
On the 11th April 1877, at about 4p.m.., the
Tynewydd pit of the Troedyrhiw colliery became inundated
with water. At the time of the disaster the pit employed
about 100 men, but when the accident occurred only 14 men
were underground. The accident was caused by a breakthrough
from the mine's workings through to the abandoned, and flooded,
workings of the old Cymmer Pit. Immediately rescue attempts
were begun to find the fourteen missing miners. Five survivors
were found when a knocking was heard, and rescuers cutting
through a 12 yards thick pillar of coal reached them the
following morning. Unfortunately the force of compressed
air released when the first small hole was cut to the pocket
where the man were, led to one of the survivors (William
Morgan) being crushed to death. It was assumed that the remaining
nine men had been drowned in the flooded mine. However further
knocking was heard coming from the stall of Thomas Morgan,
which was below the level of the floodwater, leading rescuers
to assume that some survivors had been trapped in an air
pocket. An unusual rescue attempt using two divers from London
was attempted, but the amount of debris in the mine made
it impossible. As such the only means of reaching the trapped
miners was to cut through over 38 yards of coal. Working
day and night it took the rescuers ten days to reach the
five trapped men, during which time the plight of the miners
captured the attention of the world's press with even Queen
Victoria sending telegrams asking for the latest news. At
2.30 p.m. on Friday April 20th the rescue team finally reached
the five trapped men, who had been without food and had only
the filthy flood waters to drink for ten days. The miners
were all found to be suffering from 'the bends' due to rapid
decompression and spent eighteen days in hospital, but otherwise
made full recoveries from their ordeal. Four other miners
missing after the flooding had drowned in the workings. Afterwards
Queen Victoria awarded twenty-four first and second class
Albert medals to the rescuers.
The beginings of education in Porth
Education, alongside religion, has traditionally,
played a major role in the lives of the people of the Rhondda.
Among working people it was seen as a 'way out of the pit'
and the route to a better life for your children than the
life yourself had. However to keep your children in school
was a sacrifice, in times when money and work was scarce
another breadwinner was often essential, and when work was
plentiful the lure of another wage to large working class
households was similarly tempting. Despite this the Rhondda
became famed for its attitude to education and self-improvement.
However up until 1859 the only educational facilities
in the Porth area, in the main, belonged to the Sunday Schools.
Then in 1859 the National Society opened the Cymmer National
School for the purposes of, 'inculcating Church of England
doctrines in addition to the usual secular subjects'. Soon
after a 'British School' was opened at Porth for those whose
parents objected to Church of England doctrines. This was
held for many years at Bethlehem Chapel, eventually becoming
Porth Boys School. Changes in the law meant that attendance
at school became compulsory and School Boards came into existence
in order to raise money from local rates and supply school
accommodation. Thus in the late 1870's Cymmer National school
was transferred to the Llantrisant School Board, and Porth
British School to that of Llanwonno. However the rapid growth
of the area meant that more new schools were needed, thus
a new school was built at Cymmer and opened in 1881. Eventually
in the 1890's all schools in the Porth area came under the
newly formed Ystradyfodwg School Board. The old National
School at Cymmer became a Pupil Teacher's Centre for the
training of aspiring student teachers in 1893, operating
on a part time basis.
This itself was incorporated into the
new secondary school buildings. Following the Welsh Intermediate
Schools Act of 1889, The Rhondda Intermediate School was
built at Porth, where both boys and girls received advanced
education 'fitting them to take degree courses at any university'.
This was built on three acres of land above Mount Pleasant
given free by Colonel Picton Turberville and was opened on
September 22nd 1896, later evolving into Porth County School.
In 1913 the Girl's County School was opened. Later on the
School Board established a Higher Elementary School at Mount
Pleasant, which was raised to the status of a Secondary school
in the late 1920s. The Higher Grade schools were limited
in function, being seen as providing for the son of the miner
vocationally oriented training. However the Intermediate
School was expected to cater for the fee paying middle class
minority as well as those gifted enough to receive scholarships,
and had a more varied classically based syllabus. Also within
Porth were two private schools that flourished for a number
of years in the early twentieth century, the Cambrian Mining
School and the Commercial School both based in Cemetery Road.
Finally in the Tynycymmer Hall was set up The South Wales
Bible Institute where men and women were trained 'in Bible
knowledge...for all kinds of Christian work at home and abroad'.
Early religious history of Porth
Religion in general and non-conformity in
particular is synonymous with the Rhondda, and the religious
and social importance of 'the chapel' cannot be overstated.
The development of the villages of the Rhondda followed a
familiar pattern upon the opening of a local mine, and the
influx of workers to an area. Invariably the religious needs
of this burgeoning community were one of the first to be
met. Thus in Porth at the end of the nineteenth century,
the residents had a large number of options in terms of sects
and places of worship, some of which are detailed below:
The Primitive Methodists
Records show that Porth was 'missioned' by the Aberdare Primitive Methodist
circuit in 1867 and in 1868 a Sunday school was formed with the 'infant church'
then assembling at 9 Mary Street. By 1870 the Porth Church had a membership
of fifteen and was part of the Pontypridd circuit. By 1877 Porth became a
separate 'station' with the Rev. C.T. Harris as its first superintendent,
a chapel was erected in 1879.
The English Congregationalists.
The history of the English Congregationalists at Porth dates back to 1881,
when services were held at the 'Old Chapel' Cymmer. In 1882 the Church was
incorporated and in 1883 a Vestry was built at Pontypridd Road where worship
was carried out for some years. In 1885 a new chapel was built, with a large
hall and classrooms added later, and in 1912 the chapel was extended and
a pipe organ installed.
The Welsh Wesleyans
The early 1880's witnessed a depression in the slate industry in North Wales,
and the lead mining industry in Cardiganshire resulting in a number of workers
from these areas migrating towards the industrial areas of South Wales. As
there was no established Wesleyan Church at Porth for them to worship at,
permission was sought to erect a vestry here. This was erected in 1882, but
with the continued influx of population a larger building was needed to accommodate
worshippers, thus 'Ebenezer' was erected in 1903 at a cost of £2,000.
The Welsh Baptists
The beginnings of the cause at Salem can be traced back to 1852, when the Rev.
W. Lewis from Zoar Ffrwdamos preached to the residents of Porth. The few
Baptists were at that time members of Zoar, later associating themselves
with Carmel (renamed Tabernacle) Pontypridd. However in 1853, 22 members
of Carmel were released to form a branch church at Porth, the members meeting
in a house at 'America Fach'. In 1855 the first chapel was formally opened
and the church incorporated, this was subsequently replaced by a larger building,
opened in 1879. In the latter years of the nineteenth century the Baptist
cause flourished in Porth leading to new chapels being built at Ainon, Ynyshir,
Pisgah, Cymmer, and Seion, Birchgrove Porth.
The Tabernacle, Porth - English Baptist
In 1872 the few English Baptists at Porth attended Wesleyan services, the language
barrier making it impossible for them to join the Welsh Baptist services.
By 1874, with the increase in their numbers they were able to form their
own English Baptist Church that met at the Llanwonno Board schoolroom. A
vestry was built later in Hannah Street and formally opened in July 1875,a
new chapel later being opened in 1877. In the 1890's new churches were inaugurated
at Bethany, Ynyshir and Penuel, Trehafod. The chapel was enlarged, and a
new wing added in 1903 at a cost of £1,800.
The Welsh Congregationalists
The Welsh Congregational Church at Cymmer was founded in the year 1738 and
can therefore claim to be the parent church of Nonconformity in the Rhondda.
In 1740 there was an enrolled membership of 63, and in 1743 the old Cymmer
Chapel was erected. This was rebuilt on its current site in 1834, with branch
churches erected at Ynyshir and Porth in 1879. In 1855 Cymmer Chapel was
extended with space for a thousand worshippers. Nine branches were formed
from Cymmer Church at Castellau, Dinas, Gilfach, Porth, Sardis in Pontypridd,
Tonyrefail, Saron in Williamstown, Bethel in Hafod, and Saron in Ynyshir.
Pugh Memorial Church
The Pugh Memorial Church belonged to a section of the Welsh Presbyterians known
as The Forward Movement, founded in 1891 by the Revs. Dr. John Pugh and Seth
Joshua. A number of members were released from the mother church at Bethlehem,
Pontypridd Road in 1892 to inaugurate the cause and met at Wilke's hall on
the corner of Cymmer Road. Dr. Pugh sent the first pastor to the church in
1893. A permanent site for the church was acquired and a hall built to cater
for 700 people near 'The Old Pit' in Pontypridd Road. During its erection
the Church worshipped at the Old Town Hall. Subsequently in 1908 a new building
was erected and opened, and officially named 'The Pugh Memorial Church'.
The English Wesleyan Church
The original building appears to have been opened in 1867, the certificate
of its registration as a place of worship bearing that date. It was further
enlarged in 1880 with land being acquired from Messrs. Idris Williams and
others.
The Church in Wales
Originally Cymmer was in the Parish of Llantrisant and Porth in the Parish
of Llanwonno. When the National Schools were built at Cymmer in 1857 the
Rev. Morgan, the Vicar of Llantrisant began to hold services in the schoolroom.
This served as a place of worship for the districts of Ynyshir, Dinas and
Trehafod as well as Cymmer and Porth. In 1874 a committee was founded to
look into building a Church at Cymmer, however a number of prospective sites
had to be abandoned leading to considerable delay in the church's building.
However in 1886 the Rev. Moses Lewis, the then vicar of Llanwonno, succeeded
in having built and consecrated St. Paul's Church at Porth. Later in 1887
the difficulties involved in the site for a church in Cymmer were finally
solved. A piece of land on the Bedw Estate was gifted to the Church, and
St. John's Church was built and consecrated in 1889. In 1894 Cymmer and Porth
were made a separate parish with the Rev. William Thomas appointed as its
first incumbent.
Thomas and Evans
The name Thomas and Evans and the Welsh Hill
Works, and subsequently Corona pop are synonymous with the
town of Porth. This business was primarily the driving force
of one man, William Evans businessman and philanthropist.
He was born near Fishguard in 1864, one of fourteen children.
After successfully completing his apprenticeship to a grocer
in Haverfordwest, he worked for Alderman William Thomas as
a junior in his grocery stores. Then at the age of nineteen,
in 1883, he became manager of the Porth branch of Peglar's
Stores. Two years later William Evans, with the financial
assistance of Alderman Thomas set up his first provision
store named Thomas and Evans in Hannah Street Porth
In 1888 at the age of twenty-four, William Evans had paid
back, with profits, Alderman Thomas' investment, and was
in business for himself for the first time. By 1895 he had
expanded, owning four grocery stores and had been joined
in the enterprise by his brother Frank. It was when from
his factory in Porth, under the name of Welsh Hill Mineral
Waters, he began to manufacture his hop bitters, ginger beer
and lemonade his fortune and fame really took off. These
proved so popular that William Evans was forced to open factories
all over South Wales to cater for the demand. In the early
1920's the brand was changed to that of Corona, and the business
saw an expansion that saw Corona pop 'exported' all over
Britain. Eventually eighty-seven factories and depots were
opened throughout England and Wales, including in 1934 one
in Willesden, London.
Porth Square with the Corona factory in
the background
After Williams' death in 1934, his brother
Frank continued this expansion opening up a number of overseas
markets. After periods of being owned by both Beechams and
Britvic, the company finally closed the doors of its Porth
factory for the last time in September 1987. The legacy of
William Evans is still to be seen today in Porth, chiefly
in Bronwydd Park, and also the Public Library both of which
he gave to the people of Porth.
