The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to Newbridge

History of Newbridge

About halfway between Newport and Brynmawr along the A467 is a small town called Newbridge (Trecelyn). It is a typical Welsh valley town that is linked to the late 19^th and early 20^th century growth of coal mining. At its peak between 1910 and 1921, the mining industry in south Wales employed over 250,000 men and produced over 50 million tons of coal per year.  Welsh mines attracted workers from England, Scotland, Mid Wales and further afield.

The coal industry brought with it huge social and economic changes, not just to Newbridge but across the whole of south Wales. Newbridge had two nearby in operation, Celynen North Colliery and Celynen South Colliery . The South Colliery was opened in 1876 and the North Colliery opened between 1913 and 1924. Both mines had closed by the end of the 1980s.

Before the late 19^th century when coal mining came to Newbridge, it had been a farming hamlet with farmsteads spread across the landscape. The mines brought with them workers who needed houses, chapels, pubs and shops. A walk along High Street shows the wealth of building from this time. The most iconic being Celynen Collieries’ Institute and Memorial Hall a runner up for the 2004 BBC Restoration Series.

The town is easily accessible via train and there is free parking at the station near the town center. There are plenty of small cafes for some food and refreshment.

Newbridge Celynen Collieries’ Institute and Memorial Hall

(Newbridge ‘stute and Newbridge Memo)

Celynen Collieries’ Institute

By the late 19^th century mine owners had become conscious of their responsibilities for the education and intellectual welfare of their workers and the worker’s families. The original Celynen Collieries’ Institute was built using funds from a private mortgage. Its function and facilities were typical of other Miners’ Institutes. The reason that the Celynen Collieries Institute is special is that the mine workers built and paid for it themselves. The Celynen Collieries’ Workingmen’s Institute formally opened in August 1908, it had a Library, Reading and Billiard Room, from the 1960’s it was used as a social and drinking club.

It is now home to the local library which is a great place to go to gather information on the local area.

Newbridge Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall was built to commemorate the 75 men from the small town of Newbridge who died in the Great War (WWI) of 1914-18. The decision to form the Welcome Home Committee to honour those Newbridge soldiers and sailors who had fought in the War was made at a meeting at the Celynen Collieries’ Institute on 21st November 1918.  During a Special General Meeting on June 9th 1923 the decision was made to create the “Celynen Collieries Workmen’s Memorial Hall”. The Memorial Hall  opened in March 1925.

Inside the building you will find an impressive Art Deco auditorium and a ballroom. A real tardis, as from outside you would not realise that such a rich history lay within. Before its 21^st century restoration it made a haunting filming location which attracted Dr Who and ‘Very Annie Mary’ to name a few.

Famous Visitors to Newbridge Memo

Probably even more surprising is the link to music. Music has always played a major role in the Memo Ballroom, in the early years some first class artists such as Mrs. Clara Novello Davies (mother of Ivor Novello), John Hargreaves and accompanist Gerald Moore plus many more, graced the stage on a Sunday night to raise money for local charities.  From the mid-1970s and through the 1980s, the Memo became famous for its Sunday night music gigs attracting many well-known names to perform on the ballroom stages: Iron Maiden, Dire Straits, The Stranglers, The Cars, Motorhead, Whitesnake, Shakin’ Stevens, Marillion and many more. Since its restoration James Dean Bradfield, Buck and Evans, Wyn Evans and Catrin Finch have all played in the auditorium above.

The Institute is open during the week in normal circumstances and the Memorial Hall is open for events/tours in unrestricted times. Do check the website for their latest updates on accessibility.

Newbridge Celynen Collieries’ Institute and Memorial Hall Restoration

By 1972 the Auditorium had closed, although dances with live music and discos continued to be held every week in the Ballroom below. The closure of the collieries in the 1980s led to a huge loss of income from miners’ subscriptions. By 2003 financial difficulties led to the Institute becoming bankrupt and the further closure of both the Ballroom and the Institute. Local people were deeply concerned about this; the centre of their community had spiralled into decline, and faced possible demolition or being turned into a car park or a trendy pub.

The then Don Touhig MP (later Lord Touhig) spearheaded the campaign to save the Institute & Memorial Hall and worked with the last remaining Trustee Mel Spiers to call a public meeting to judge community interest and participation. The campaign began with 400 people attending a public meeting in 2003.  As a result the support group Friends of the Newbridge Memo was formed to restore the building and return it back to community use. In a little over twelve months, the campaign gained significant press coverage and was included in the BBC2 television programme Restoration. The Institute & Memorial Hall didn’t win but it was the start of big changes.

The drive forward following the Restoration appearance led to an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Project Planning Grant to enable significant restoration work to take place and the rest is history. The Institute reopened in 2013 and the Memorial Hall reopened in late 2014. For a comprehensive article on the buildings history please click here.

Newbridge Remembrance

The decision to form the Welcome Home Committee to honour those Newbridge soldiers and sailors who had fought in the Great War (WWI) was made at a public meeting at the Celynen Collieries’ Institute on 21st November 1918. The committee produced commemorative medals for all those who returned from the conflict and to the next of kin of those who did not.

The Memorial Hall was built to remember those members who died in the Great War (WWI). Through its front entrance doors is a white marble tablet is placed high on the wall. This is the original memorial tablet withtThe words ‘Gwell Angau Na Gwarth’ (Death before Disgrace) engraved into it. The words are flanked by a Welsh dragon the symbol of the South Wales Borderers (now part of the Royal Regiment of Wales).

Currently held in the Institute next door are three illuminated rolls of honour, two commemorating WWI and one commemorating WWII. One lists the 75 names of those members who died in service during WWI from Celynen Collieries Institute. One lists those who served and died in WWI linked to Zion Chapel. The largest of the three rolls of honour is for the members who served and died in WWII.

Newbridge War Memorial

The people of Newbridge also funded the Newbridge War Memorial which was unveiled in October 1936. The Newbridge War Memorial was once situated at the top of the hill in Caetwmpyn Park. It was a visible reminder to the people of the sacrifice made by the people of the town. In 1995 the Newbridge War Memorial was removed and placed next to the Oakdale Institute in the grounds of St Fagan’s, National Museum of Wales. St Fagan’s is a free, open air site just outside of Cardiff for anyone interested in the cultural history of Wales. Please check the website for current accessibility and any restrictions. A replacement was built in the carpark next to the Insitute.

For more information on the soldiers affiliated to Newbridge click here.

Newbridge born Angus McBean and other well known locals

Angus McBean was born in Newbridge on 8th June 1904. His father, Clement McBean, was a mine surveyor and the family frequently moved around Wales with his job. McBean attended Monmouth Grammar School and Newport Technical College and it is here he developed an interest in photography.

In 1924, after his father’s early death, McBean moved with his mother and younger sister Rowena to West Acton, London. For the next seven years he worked for Liberty’s department store in the antiques department. McBean spent his free time mask-making, exploring photography and watching plays in the West End. McBean left Liberty’s in 1932 and by 1942 he was living in Bath. In 1945, McBean set up a new studio in Covent Garden, London. In 1990 McBean fell ill whilst on holiday in Morocco. After returning to England he died at Ipswich Heath Road Hospital on his 86^th birthday.

Known for his slightly tongue-in-cheek surrealist images, McBean was technically a brilliant photographer. He had the ability to capture his subject in a very flattering light and soon became the preferred photographer for stars. It is said Vivien Leigh wouldn’t be photographed by anyone else.

The National Portrait Gallery put together a touring exhibition in 2006 from the photographs it holds in its collection. For further examples of his work please click here

Newbridge Links to Fame

James Dean Bradfield    

James Dean Bradfield was born 21st February 1969. He is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band The Manic Street Preachers.  James worked behind the bar in the Celynen Collieries’ Memorial Hall Ballroom (Memo). Here he saw some of the most important bands of the 1980’s play.  He played at the Memo reopening concert in 2015.

Steve Strange 

Steve Strange (Steven John Harrington) was born on 28th May 1959. He moved with his mother to Newbridge and attended Newbridge Comprehensive School. He was best known as the lead singer and front man of the 1980’s pop group Visage. 

Kim Simmonds

Kim Simmonds was born on 5th December 1947 in Newbridge. He is best known as a member of the blues band Brown. In the 1960’s he founded the British blues band Savoy Brown (then called the Savoy Brown Blues Band). 

For articles related to Newbridge see Pontypool and Caerphilly