Bywyd Dinesig

Roedd gan nifer o bobl oedd yn berchen ar siop ym Mlaenafon, rôl flaenllaw ym mywyd cyhoeddus. Roeddent yn gwasanaethu mewn llywodraeth leol a helpu i reoli materion y dref a oedd yn ehangu. Gwasanaetha rhai fel Ynadon gan wrando ar achosion yn Llys Heddlu Blaenafon.

Roedd dynion busnes hefyd yn sbardun i sefydlu amwynderau pwysig fel y gwaith dŵr, y gwaith nwy, goleuadau stryd a’r gwasanaeth tân – yr oedd angen pob un ohonynt ar fusnesau lleol. Ffurfiwyd hefyd siambr masnach i ymladd dros fuddion masnachwyr lleol.

“Pan gyrhaeddais Blaenafon ym 1830, nid oedd yr un heol yn addas i unrhyw gerbyd, y cyfan oedd yma oedd pum capel, pedair siop, pum tŷ tafarn ac ychydig iawn o fythynnod [tua’r de ddwyrain] o’r gwaith.”(Cyfieithiad)

John Griffith Williams, arloeswr lleol, ar achlysur agor neuadd tref newydd ym 1862.

Henry Morgan Davies, a chemist and dentist, was the first Chairman of Blaenavon Urban District Council, a magistrate, a trustee of the English Baptist Chapel, a founding member of the Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall and the Chairman of the Blaenavon Chamber of T Proclamations or announcements were made from the balcony of the Council Offices in Lion Street (Acknowledgment: Pat Morgan Collection) Crowds would gather in Lion Street to hear announcements from the balcony of the Council Offices (Acknowledgment: Pat Morgan Collection) The Blaenavon Municipal Offices were rebuilt in 1930 to a design by John Morgan, a local architect, builder and surveyor, who was responsible for several of the town’s most important buildings An example of a Blaenavon Urban District Council Report (1911) (Acknowledgment: Blaenavon Community Museum) The Blaenavon Urban District Council replaced the Blaenavon Local Board in 1894. It met in offices in Lion Street. It was responsible for issues such as public health and urban planning (Acknowledgment: Pat Morgan Collection) John Thomas, a local school teacher, became Clerk to the Blaenavon Local Board and the first Clerk to Blaenavon Urban District Council. He was succeeded by his son Iltyd G. Gwyn Thomas (pictured centre) in 1912 (Acknowledgment: Pat Morgan Collection) A police court was built on Church Road, next to the Police Station, in 1894 (Acknowledgment: Pat Morgan Collection) The grave of John Thomas can be seen in St. Peter’s Churchyard (Acknowledgment: N.A. Matthews) A fire brigade was formed in Blaenavon in the 1870s and several shopkeepers and innkeepers served as firemen. The ‘John Worton’ fire engine (named after the general manager of the works) was purchased in 1887. In addition to fighting fires, it was used in The original police station or ‘lock-up’ was located in North Street, near the Ironworks. It was opened in 1838. The first policeman was Mr John Hodder (Acknowledgment: Pat Morgan Collection) A new police station opened on Church Road in 1871 (Acknowledgment: N.A. Matthews)