This drawing of Aberaman, dated 16 August 1827 by one of the Bacon sisters, Emma and Lucy, who were the granddaughters of Anthony Bacon the ironmaster, depicts the rural tranquility of the area. They produced many drawings of the Cynon Valley during the period 1820-1830.

Before the modern settlement of Aberaman developed with the industrialisation of the Cynon Valley, Aberaman was best known as the seat of the local gentry, the Mathew Family. A branch of a landowning family with interests throughout Glamorgan, the family rose to prominence in the Seventeenth century when three members served as High Sheriff of Glamorgan. The family lived at Aberaman Isha, which was later better known as Aberaman House and still exists in a much-modified form today. When the last male heir Edward Mathew died in 1788, Aberaman Estate was divided between his three daughters and their husbands, ending 200 years of influence in the locality. In 1806 the Merthyr Ironmaster Anthony Bacon bought Aberaman House and following his death the property came into the possession of Crawshay Bailey, the owner of Nant-y-Glo and Beaufort Ironworks.

It is a consequence of Crawshay Bailey's desire to exploit the mineral resources of the Estate that the settlement of Aberaman developed in the second half of the 19th century. By 1845 Crawshay Bailey had acquired all of the Estate and, after constructing the Aberdare Railway in partnership with J J Guest, he opened the Aberaman Ironworks and associated collieries. Along with Blaengwawr Colliery that David Davis had opened in 1843, these new industrial concerns were the catalyst for the development of Aberaman, to satisfy the need for housing and services that the influx of new workers created.

Lewis Street c.1890

In the later 19th century, Aberaman continued to grow southwards until by the time Godreaman was developed in the early years of the 20th century, Aberaman and Cwmaman had become joined. By the beginning of the 20th century, Lewis Street had evolved into an important commercial centre and when the imposing Aberaman Hall and Institute was opened in 1910 it was clear evidence of the strong civic pride held by the inhabitants of Aberaman.

The movement to build a Public Hall and Institute in Aberaman began with a public meeting at Saron Chapel in 1892. However, following a number of setbacks, it was fully fifteen years later on 2nd October 1907 that the ceremony to lay the foundation stone took place. And it was not until 14th June 1909 that the hall was officially opened by Keir Hardie MP.

During the 1880s and 1890s, following the invention of the chain driven safety bicycle, the sport of cycling became extremely popular with people from all walks of life. The sport was as popular in the Cynon Valley as elsewhere. In 1884 the Aberdare Bicycle Club was formed and by 1890 it had developed into a racing club. Extraordinarily, during this golden age of cycling, Aberaman produced no less than four world class cyclists: the Linton Brothers, Arthur, Tom and Samuel; and Jimmy Michael. Of these four, Arthur Linton and Jimmy Michael became World Champions.

Arthur Linton began to race locally and by 1892 was well known throughout South Wales. During the 1893 season he began to establish himself nationally and he was signed as a professional to ride a 'Gladiator' cycle under the tutelage of the trainer 'Choppy' Warburton. In 1894, Arthur defeated Dubois, the French Champion, in Paris and was narrowly defeated by the Italian Champion Bonnic, who thereafter refused to race him again. He was given the title of 'Champion Cyclist of the World' and when he returned to Aberaman in December he was given a hero's welcome. A public banquet was held in the Lamb and Flag public house, and he was presented with an illuminated address in the form of an oiled manuscript.

Arthur Linton pictured with just some of the prizes he won during his short but successful career of 3 years as a professional cyclist.

Jimmy Michael with his trainer, 'Choppy' Warburton

1895 was a less successful year for Arthur. He suffered a knee injury and split from his trainer 'Choppy' Warburton. However, it was during the 1896 season that Arthur won his greatest race, the Bordeaux to Paris Race, in which he defeated Riviere. Tragically, it seems that this race took too much of a toll on his body and Arthur Linton died of Typhoid Fever in June 1896, only some six weeks after the race. He was just 24 years old when he died.

A protégé of Arthur Linton, Jimmy Michael, came to public attention in 1894 when he won the Herne Hill race in record time. He too was signed by 'Gladiator' and taken under the wing of 'Choppy' Warburton. In 1895 he continued his run of success, beating the French champion Lesna and later tied with Arthur Linton's record for 50km. At the end of the year he became the World Middle Distance Champion at Cologne. As a result of Jimmy's meteoric rise and the poor year suffered by Arthur Linton, an element of rivalry appeared between Jimmy and the Linton's, especially Tom.

Aberaman Ironworks were the last of the four ironworks in the Cynon Valley to be built. Founded by Crawshay Bailey in 1845, the first iron was puddled at Aberaman Colliery in May 1847. In 1848, the works had one working blast furnace, three engines, a forge, rolling and boring mills, brickworks and limekilns.

The works did not, however, prove successful in the long term. By 1854, they were out of blast although they were started again in 1855. A first attempt had been made to sell the works in 1862 for £250,000, but this appears to have been unsuccessful as the works were again put up for sale in 1864 following the retirement of Crawshay Bailey. The works were bought by the Aberaman Iron Company, although this company was wound up in 1867 when the whole concern was bought by the Powell Duffryn Company. The works had stopped in 1866 and were never again put into blast. Click here for a more detailed map.

Aberaman Mines Rescue Team c.1914

During the second half of the 19th century, the Aberaman area developed as one of the most important centres of the coal industry in the Cynon Valley. With the development of the Aberaman Ironworks by Crawshay Bailey acting as a catalyst, by 1850 four major collieries had developed in the vicinity.

Aberaman Colliery was opened by Crawshay Bailey in 1845 and was taken over by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in 1866 when they bought the Aberaman Estate. The first Mines Rescue Station in South Wales was opened at this colliery in 1909, when over a thousand men were employed there. Powell Duffryn retained control of the colliery until nationalisation in 1947 when ownership was transferred to the National Coal Board. The colliery was closed in 1965.

Blaengwawr Colliery was opened in 1843 by David Davis. Following his death in 1866 control passed to his sons until the colliery was closed in 1885. The colliery did not reopen until the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company bought it in 1914. The colliery was closed for good in 1926. Abergwawr Colliery (Plough Pit, Powell's Pit) was the shortest lived of these early collieries. Opened in 1849 by Powell and Protheroe, it too was bought by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in 1864, although following a legal dispute the colliery was closed in 1875.

Blaengwawr Level c.1910

By 1910, the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company was the predominant force in the coal industry of Aberaman. The miners' ideas were becoming increasingly radical at that time, and the masters united in groups of powerful companies or 'combines' to rationalize the work by removing the miners' traditional working practices and rights. At the end of 1910, events came to a head and two strikes erupted as miners attempted to defend their working rights and customs from the changes being wrought by the combines in a process of 'rationalisation'. In the Rhondda Fawr the Cambrian Combine dispute would eventually lead to the Tonypandy Riots, whilst in the Cynon Valley the 'Block' strike led to civil unrest in Aberaman that had a significant impact on the community.

The spark that ignited the 'Block' dispute was the withdrawal by the management at Lower Duffryn Colliery of the miner's right to take home scrap wood for firewood, a custom that had been in operation for at least 40 years. On 20th October 1910, when the night shift came up and heard of this policy, they marched to Llety Shenkin Colliery and brought out the colliers there, unrest then spread to five other Powell Duffryn Collieries.

Cwmbach Relief Committee during the 1910 Strike

Middle Duffryn Washery and Power Station c1920. Attacked by rioters on 8th November 1910

At a mass meeting held at Aberdare on 21st October a list of 18 grievances were drawn up, which put the issue of firewood and the use of machinery to the fore. Another important issue was the payment for abnormal places where a collier may encounter difficult working conditions.

The relationship between Charles Stanton, the Miners’ Agent, and the Powell Duffryn Management became increasingly strained and by 30th October negotiations had broken down. On 31st October only four collieries were still working in the Aberdare Valley and as hardship began to bite tension inevitably increased.

On 2nd November the first violent incidents occurred at Aberaman, when a train carrying labourers who were still working, was attacked at Tonllwyd Crossing and the houses of colliery officials were stoned.

On 8 November, the violence took a dramatic turn when a large crowd attacked the Powell Duffryn Power Station and Washery at Cwmbach. Following a meeting at Aberaman Public Hall and Institute, a large crowd of about 2,000 people assembled. A diversionary attack by 1,500 on Aberaman Colliery was repulsed using fire hoses but the remainder of the crowd marched to the Power Station.