Author: WHH

12 July (1888) A medal for William Niles

  • 12 1900 (Thurs.) Burial of John Turner Mathias, Feidrfair, 43, Boot & Shoe Dealer
  • 12 1888 (Thurs.) Silver medal awarded to William Niles, coxswain of lifeboat for 29 years who saved 85 lives.
  • 12 1853 (Tues.) Death of Isaac Thomas (1820–53), publisher of Almanac y Cymro. It was printed by D.Leary & Co., Dublin to avoid printing tax. He was buried at the Baptist Chapel, Penybryn.

10 July (1953) Who’s that? – Wally Barnes, of course!

  • 10 1953 (Fri.) Wally Barnes, Arsenal and Wales, was on holiday in Cardigan with his friend Aneurin James, Stepside Farm.
  • 10 1888 (Tues.) Foundation stone of the Brecon Old Bank was laid by Mrs. Lewis, wife of Mr. W. Lewis, J.P., the manager, in the presence of a large number of spectators.“The new building, when completed, will be very stately, and will form a very handsome addition to the business premises of the town.” The stone having been well and truly laid, the workmen, to the number of 44, were invited by the manager to a sumptuous dinner at the Coffee Tavern, prepared and served in first-class style by Mr. J. Carpenter.

8 July (1858) The Guildhall is coming

Laying the Foundation Stone of the Guildhall, 1858
Laying the Foundation Stone of the Guildhall, 1858
  • 8 1858 (Thurs.) Foundation stone of the Guildhall laid by the then Mayor, Ald R. D. Jenkins, of Cardigan Priory at 2.00pm. Bells of St Mary’s rung; town cannon fired three rounds on the Netpool; 2 old soldiers Stevens and Macdonald were in charge of the cannon; police maintained good order; town crier announced the route of the procession on the eve of the event at about 6.00 pm.

3 July (1927) Going, going…

 

The Brickworks chimney
The Brickworks chimney
  • 3 1927 (Sun.) Brickworks Chimney felled. It was due to be felled on the previous Saturday night but attempts were unsuccessful. It was brought down on the Sunday morning (!). Built in 1874 under the supervision of Mr William Woodward JP. The Brickworks were very successful for many years but the end came in the 1920s.

30 June (1950) Councillor resigns – ‘no boxing here’

  • 30 1950 (Fri.) Clr Rosina Davies resigns from the Town Council because the Cardigan Boxing Club wished to use the Council’s Meat Market. Revd  Rosina Davies was born at St. Dogmaels, and later moved to the Rhondda Valleys. She was baptised  on 27 August  1911 and began preaching that evening. She was pastor at Bryn Seion, Cwmtwrch, 1926–8, where she was ordained. She returned to St Dogmaels in 1930 with her widowed mother. She was assistant minister Blaenwaun 1930–40, and similarly at Bethania, 1941–60. In 1933 she married David Evan Davies, who kept a  butcher’s shop (opposite Shire Hall) . She was the first woman member of the Town Council, and in 1943 the first female mayor. She died on 3 July 1983, aged 87 years.
  • 30 1921 (Thurs.) Cardigan Liberal Club Company Ltd formed.

18 June (1880) Revd John Williams begins his ministry at Bethania

  • 18 1760 (Sat) 1st official meeting of the Sea Sarjants, in the Long Room, Black Lion.
Revd John Williams (1850–1929)
Revd John Williams  (1850–1929)
  • 18 1880 (Fri.) Revd John Williams begins his ministry in Bethania. He arrived in Bethania from Birkenhead. A native of Llansadwrn, he was a popular minister and a prominent individual in the political life of the town and county. He became a member of the Cardigan School Board in 1882, and a chairman of that body ten years later. In 1895 – a year before the new school opened – he became a chairman of the Board of Governers of the Secondary School and he remianed so until his resignation in 1913. He was elected again in 1929. He became a county councillor shortly after the establishment of the County Council in 1889 and he was a chairman twice, in 1894–5 and again in 1914–15. He was elected alderman in 1916.  He served on almost every committee on the County Council and he was chairman of the education committee for three consecutive years and a chairman of the police committee twice. He was also a member of the Court of Aberystwyth and Cardiff colleges for many years. In 1903 he became a member of the Board of Guardians and from 1911 onwards was the chairman. He was also chairman of the Cardigan and District Education Committee and a chairman of the local Pension committee. He served as a JP for many years.

He also climbed the ranks within the Baptists and achieved presidency of the Baptist Union of Wales in 1905. He was a staunch Liberal and when he died in 1929 the officials of Bethania received a telegram from the former Prime Minister David Lloyd George:

‘Deeply regret to hear of the death of my old friend, Rev. John Williams … It will be a real loss not only to Cardiganshire but to Liberalism throughout Wales.’

Revd John Williams was probably one of the most influential person in Cardigan during the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 2oth century.

13 June (1951) Cardigan Musical Festival

  • 13 1951 (Wed.) Cardigan Musical Festival: Elijah in Bethania. Soprano Joan Alexander; Bass John Dethwick; Contralto Kathleen Joyce; Tenor Ritchie Thomas. Organist Prof. Edward Morgan. Admission 5/- and 3/6
  • 13 1936 (Sat.) Visit of Chapman’s Circus.
  • 13 1825 (Mon.) Performance of The Honey Moon or How to Rule a Wife! performed by Mr and Mrs Horsman, Mr and Mrs Frimbley, Mr and Mrs Colwell, Mr, Mrs and Master Potter, Mr Nickson, Mr Martin, and Mr Jones 12 in all – at the Theatre, Cardigan.