Neath Antiquarian Society

www.neathantiquariansociety.co.uk

neathhistory.co.uk

NEATH ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY

PRESERVING OUR LOCAL HISTORICAL HERITAGE

FOR OVER A CENTURY

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

The latest NAS publication launched on 1st Sept and is a fascinating description of what existed at Aberdulais Falls before the days of the iron and tinplate works, described by an art expert. A full colour quality production of 55 pages, it is on sale at the Neath Mechanics' Institute at £12 a copy.

THE ROWLAND FOUNTAIN

Phil John

reveals the story behind this public artefact

News & Members Articles

If you have a possible article to offer, get in touch

Thank you all for the fantastic response to our offer to help you research your house history - we hope that those we have assisted to-date have found it very rewarding.
There is currently quite a waiting list so we will pause applications for now and will advise towards the end of the year when we will once again be in a position to assist your research.
While we have responded to all enquiries there remain some people who have applied via email to whom we have replied with the next steps but they have then not got back to us - if this is you can you please check your spam folder in your emails in case you have not seen our reply. We don't want you to be disappointed.
Thanks again and watch this space for future opportunities

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THIS MONTH'S MYSTERY IMAGES

Image B128 - A national boot store, where might this village/town branch have been?

Image B070 - Where might these 'spillways' be found?

Image C867 - A pair of old lock-ups, in what part of town are they?

SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS/SUGGESTIONS USING THE CONTACT US TAB OR THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

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Answers to the previous mystery images:

Penwyllt/Craig y Nos train station, with one suggesting this might be the last passenger train to Brecon from Neath Riverside. (If you can verify this, please contact us).

South Pit Glyncorrwg.

The dismantling of a blast furnace or iron smelter, showing half of the outer casing already removed revealing the refractory brickwork lining inside.

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Please be aware that our days of opening are

Monday and Thursday

Mondays - For the public & NAS members - (09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45) providing access to the NAS archive and access to computer resources for Family History researchers. This service is supervised by staff of the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

Thursdays - For the public & NAS members (09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:45) providing access to the NAS archive with access to computer resources for Family History researchers with assistance/guidance available from a dedicated staff member of the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

PLEASE BE ADVISED - IF YOU KNOW WHAT ITEMS YOU WISH TO VIEW AND HAVE THE CATALOGUE NUMBER(S), THEN TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS YOU CAN PRE-ORDER (EIGHT DAYS IN ADVANCE) USING THE CONTACT US FORM.

NOTE - For researchers requiring access to the NAS Archive ONLY and who are unable to attend on the days above (e.g. distance/foreign visitors) then it may be possible to arrange a personal appointment. Please apply through the CONTACT US button.

Neath Mechanics' Institute, Church Place, Neath, home of the Society

Formed in 1923 (from the earlier Neath Philosophical Society of 1834), the Neath Antiquarian Society has taken a leading role in recording, preserving and safeguarding Neath's historical heritage. Therefore, the Society began to collect archives relating to the local area and further afield.

Over the decades a considerable amount of material was amassed, dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries, but this was not available to the general public and lacked a proper catalogue. The year 2001 saw the launch of the project 'Unlocking Neath's Archival Heritage', a joint venture between the Neath Antiquarian Society and the West Glamorgan Archive Service: with Heritage Lottery Funding, the entire archive collection was catalogued in detail by staff from the West Glamorgan Archive Service to make it fully available to the public for the first time in 2003.

Where can the documents be seen?

The Neath Antiquarian Society archive collections are held at the Neath Mechanics' Institute. Click here for details of opening hours.

What archives are available?

Records of the Neath Antiquarian Society

Research papers of prominent local historians connected with the Society.

Borough of Neath & Neath Corporation records.

Records of manors and estates, including Gnoll, Eaglesbush, Briton Ferry, Bach-y-gwreiddyn, Little Hill, etc.

Coytrahen and Neath Abbey Estate records.

Collections of documents regarding local events, businesses, chapels and industry.

Maps and plans of the local area.

Advertising material & other related ephemera.

The Neath Antiquarian Society claims overall copyright on material posted on this website under the Copyright Acts and the restrictions imposed by those Acts. The copyright of certain articles on this website remains the exclusive property of the individual authors. If in doubt, please ask. Ignorance of copyright rules is no excuse for violation.

All information is presented in good faith and no responsibility can be accepted for any omissions or errors that may occur from time to time.

Aknowledgements

1. Thanks to the County & City of Swansea and their officials for providing information pages relating to the Neath Antiquarian Society within their website and for their continued support of the Society's objectives.

2. Additionally, a thank you to all of our fellow Societies and individuals who have linked our website into their domains and social media outlets.

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