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Timeline

10,000 BC

Nomadic groups of hunter gatherers, following the animal herds, gathering shell-fish and berries along the shore

4,000 BC

Arrival of Neolithic (New Stone Age) farmers, who grow crops and keep animals. They live in settled groups, make pottery, and learn to weave cloth. They build stone circles, communal stone tombs, etc

2,000 BC

Bronze Age: first use of metals for weapons, tools and ornaments

600 BC

Iron Age: arrival of Celts. Local evidence: Hill forts at Margam and Baglan, Hut circles and remains of Celtic fields        

43 AD

The Romans arrive in Britain

43-69 AD

Resistance to the Romans is lead in South Wales by the Silures under Caradco/Caratucus

500-1050

Raids by Irish slavers, Danes and Vikings. St Baglan, a Breton prince who studied at St. Illtyd’s school at Llantwit Major and was then sent to work as Christian missionary in west Wales, founded a church at Baglan. St. Sawel, who founded the church at Briton Ferry also came from this time. Local chieftains set up mini kingdoms and built fortified homes like the one destroyed when the most recent Briton Ferry Bridge was built. The first Aberavon probably dates from this period – it may have been nearer the sea where the docks are now. When the docks were being excavated c1836 various things were found – Roman coins, shoes, cattle horns, fences, walls and cultivation ridges from fields. A field in this area was known as “Platch yr Hen Eglwys” – The field of the old church – which might have been the long vanished church of St Thomas.

1066

The Normans conquer England

c.1090

Normans arrive in South Wales. Rhys ap Tudur the King of South Wales was killed in battle. Iestyn ap Gwrgan is defeated by a combined Welsh-Norman army but his son Caradoc is allowed the keep the land between the Neath and the Ffrwdwyllt, and becomes the first Lord of Afan, the only Welsh ruled area in Norman South Wales. Caradoc builds a wooden motte and bailey castle next to what is now St. Mary’s church, Aberavon.

1137

Robert, Earl of Gloucester founds Margam Abbey, partly for the good of his soul, partly as a buffer between the Welsh in Afan and the uplands of Glamorgan and the Normans in Coity, Bridgend and the Vale.

1147

Margam Abbey was founded

1153

Caradoc’s castle is burnt down by his brothers-in-law, Maredudd and Rhys ap Grutrydd. The castle is rebuilt in stone. Small settlements began to grow up around the castle and the Abbey

1170
 
Great Eisteddfod at Llanfihangel Afan
 
1171
 
Henry II passed through on his way to Ireland
 
1188

Gerald of Wales visits Margam, Aberavon and Baglan with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is recruiting soldiers for a crusade in the Holy Land both Aberavon and Margam continue to grow and Aberavon becomes a small market town. The Lords of Afan slowly become more and more Normanised, marry Norman wives, take Norman-style names. Archbishop Baldwin visits the Abbey with Giraldus Cambrensis.

12 Cent

St Mary’s Church

1210

King John visited the Abbey at Margam

1232

Morgan Gam, Lord of Afan attacked Kenfig

1249
 
Monks of Margam start mining coal at Bryn

1304

Sir Leisan de Avene grants Aberavon its first charter

1326

Edward II stops at Margam Abbey

1336

Monks at Margam complained that “no small part of the land adjacent to the shore is subject to inundation by the sea”.

1347

Outbreak of the Black Death. 

1350

Aberavon Borough Charter re-issued by Thomas d’ Avene. By now the family of the Lords of Afan has become more Norman then Welsh, and in the next twenty years they disappear, possibly to England. Afan becomes part of the lands of Edward le Despenser, English Lord of Glamorgan.

C.1373

Edward Le Despenser grants new charter to Aberavon

1384

The Abbot of Margam appropriates St Mary’s Church at Margam

1394

Richard II at the Abbey. He was there again five years later

1399
 
Richard II visited Margam

c.1400

The Lords of Afan have disappeared, no-one lives in the castle but the town/village still exists. The town is run mainly by the burgesses. Ieuan Gethin, descendant of a younger branch of the Afan lords, lives at Plas Baglan. Inland, Llanfihangel Ynys Afan/Michaelstone Super Avon (now Cwmavon) is mostly small farms with a church and inn as its centre. The road down to Aberavon is very bad, so people tend to head for the markets and fairs at Neath. 

1427

Serious flooding in the Swansea Bay area

c.1470
 
Hen Eglwys (Capel Mair) constructed
 
1491-1492

Serious flooding at Aberavon

1509
 
First fishing lease issued by Abbot David of Margam Abbey

1528

John Lougher murdered at Margam Abbey
1535

Dissolution of Margam Abbey 

1537

The monks are thrown out

1540-1547

Sir Rice Mansel of Oxwich buys the abbey and its lands at a cost of £2494/13/5 The nave of the abbey church is turned into a parish church. Sir Rice converts the monks’ living quarters into a house for his family.

John Leland, Henry VIII’s “King’s Antiquary” visits the area as part of a survey of the whole of England and Wales. “Margam is the best village in the area. There is a poor village on the west bank of the Afan about two miles from the river mouth which is called Aberavon. The land about it is barren and sour. 

1540-1546

Mansels developed coal levels at Bryndu and Croeswen

1543

The records of a tax collected this year give us information about the inhabitants of Aberavon. There are 29 households in the borough.

1552

Sir Rice Mansel, purchaser of the Abbey estates, builds a new house at Margam

1558

Margam Park was developed

1583

Ann Francis wrecked on Margam Sands

1600
 
Baglan Hall constructed

1601

First act for public assistance and poor law system

1607

Area struck by tidal wave that affected the Bristol Channel with much repair needed to the sea walls and drainage ditches at Aberavon

1648

Oliver Cromwell at Aberavon, town charter hidden in chopping block

1650

Coal mined near Tyn y Twr Farm

1652

Collieries working at Margam

1657

Baptists held 3 monthly services at Baglan

1684
 
The Duke of Beaufort visits Margam House. Thomas Dinely who accompanying him draws the first picture of Margam House
 
1695
 
Cwm Cottage (Margam) constructed

1717

Afan Forge built at site which is now Ynys Y Gored

1726

Aberavon Forge in operation

1735
 
Famous Eiseddfod at Cymmer, attended by Dafydd Nicholas, Will Hopcin and Lewis Hopcin
 
1746
 
Jenkin Penhydd born (Siencyn Penhydd)
 
1747
 
Thomas Mansel Talbot born

1748

Waunlas coal level opened at Cwm Bychan

1750

Mansel line becomes extinct and land passes to Rev. Thomas Talbot of Lacock

1755

Classes of charity held at Cwmavon

1757

Cartwright and Mansel lease land in and around Taibach and open Craigafan Colliery

1758

Collieries opened at Lletty Harry and Mynydd Bychan by Drake

Rev. Thomas Talbot dies / Thomas Mansel Talbot inherits Margam Estate
 
1760 – 1765
 
Baglan House constructed
 
1762

Ty Mawr constructed

1764

First tollgate in Margam Parish built near railway crossing at Bethany Square

1765

Calvinistic Methodists hold services at Upper Dyffryn Farm

1768

St Mary’s Church severely damaged by flood water and Aberavon Bridge swept away. (25th July)

William Edwards builds single span bridge over Afan.

Thomas Mansel Talbot visits coal works at Lletty Harry prior to embarking on the Grand Tour.

1770-1774

Local Methodists meet in the Old Barn (Field Terrace) 

Construction of Copper works at Taibach

1774

Tir Caradog constructed
 
Taibach Copper Works begins production

Underhill House built, later became home of Major Thomas Gray

Somersetshire Hotel built, later renamed Somerset Arms
 
Building of Constant
 
1776
 
Gyfylchi built for non conformist worship

1777-80

Collieries opened at Cwm Brombil and Cwm Geifr

1780

Coal mined from Rock Vien

Calvinistic Methodists hold services at Upper Dyffryn Farm

1782
 
Thomas Mansel Talbot demolishes Margam House, leaving only the Chapter House and St Marys Church intact
 
1784

Royal mail coaches begin to travel along the main road through Taibach

1787-1793

Margam Orangery built

1790

Upper Forge canal and Weir constructed

1795
 
More houses built at The Constant and Water Street, at Taibach.

1799

Chapter House roof collapses

1800

Taibach Copper Mill built
 
Margam Citrus House constructed

1801

Population of Aberavon 2175

1802

Admiral Nelson, Sir William and Lady Hamilton visit Aberavon. They appear to have called at the Globe Inn and met the Portreeve before continuing to Margam Park

1803

Goytre Colliery opened
 
CRM Talbot born

1804

Edward Donovan visited and described Aberavon as “a poor little village”

Steam powered Mills installed at Taibach Copper Works
 
1805 – 1809
 
Margam Abbey Church restored
 
1807
 
Death of Shenkin Penhydd

1808

Construction of Brombil Tramway

Goytre to Taibach Tramway constructed

Richard Lewis (Dic Penderyn) born

1810

Carmel Chapel Founded

Classes held at Round House, Coed Parc, Cwmavon

1812

Baglan Hall rebuilt
 
Level y Wern (Cwmavon) opened up
 
1813
 
Death of Thomas Mansel Talbot / CRM Talbot inherits the Margam Estate

Bread famine hits the area
 
1816
 
Glanavon House constructed

1819

First Cwmavon blast furnace erected by S F Lettsom on land leased the Earl of Jersey

Construction of feeder canal with sluice gate along Foel from the weir in River Afan near Pontrhydyfen 

1820

Construction of cottages at Quakers Yard at Cwmavon

Messrs Vigurs and Smith commenced operations at Cwmavon

1821

Sion Chapel constructed at Cwmavon
 
Capel Moriah constructed

1822

Robert Smith built Margam tinworks at upper end of Forge Road which absorbed the original Afan Forge

1824

Horse drawn trams operating between Aberavon and Cwmavon

Graigavon House constructed

1825

First blast furnace at Pontrhydyfen erected

John Vigurs and Co. build Tinworks at Cwmavon

John Reynolds builds Pontrhydyfen Aqueduct. Completed in 1827

Construction of chemical plant at Cwmavon

1826

Construction started on Aberavon Town Hall in Green Park
 
Construction of Jerusalem Chapel at Pontrhydyfen

1827

“Holy Cross” Chapel of Ease opened

1829

Charity School at Taibach is constructed

Educational classes held at Twll yn y wal and Pant y Moch Farm by teachers sponsored by Rev. Griffith Jones 

1829-1831

Eastern School built on Margam Road

1830-1835

Margam Castle built by C.R.M. Talbot

1831

National School built at Aberavon

Dic Penderyn buried at St Mary’s Churchyard

Taibach Tollhouse constructed

Construction of Bar Mill and Tinplate Mills at Cwmavon. Blackplate produced

1832

First cholera epidemic. Others in 1849, 1855 and 1866

1834

Thomas Roscoe travelling from Margam to Baglan wrote “I hastened my steps as rapidly as possible through the dirty village of Aberavon, choosing not even to stop and examine the scant remains of its castle.

1835

Coed Parc House, Cwmavon built for Vigurs family
 
Cwmavon Copper Works erected

1835-1838

Stac y Foel and culvert constructed on Foel

1836

River Afan diverted and first docks built.

1837

The name of Port Talbot first adopted

1838

Discovery of the foundations of buildings, spearhead, Roman coins, leather shoes and other artefacts in excavation for docks

J H Vivian & Sons take over the Taibach Copper Works from the English Copper Co.

Construction of Beulah Chapel (Round Chapel) at Groes

New tramway laid from Cwmavon to Aberavon
 
Old Harbour Masters House constructed
 
1839
 
Theodore Mansel Talbot born

1840

Margam Castle largely complete

Coal mines opened at Bryn

Charity School at St Agnes Church constructed 

Taibach Market constructed

Taibach Gas Works constructed

Rock Chapel established, services first held at Rock and Fountain Inn

Margam Tinplate Works School opened
 
Margam Village demolished to make way for a kitchen garden

1841 

Governor and Company of English Copper Mines came to Cwmavon

Construction of Duffryn Chapel
 
Eglwys Nunydd Farm built

1842

Three arched bridge built at Aberavon by William Kirkhouse
 
William Abraham (Mabon) born

1844 

Closure of Cwmavon Company shop

Penuel Chapel constructed at Cwmavon 

1844-1850

Construction of Cwmavon Depot engineering workshops

Construction of Cwmavon Gas Works, Mechanics Hall, Market, Post Office, Reading Room

Construction of many cottages at Cwmavon

1845

Coming of first locomotive to Cwmavon

Coins produced at Taibach Copper Works for Singapore and India
 
Disease set into potato crops

1847

Sinking of Morfa Pit

Construction of Rail Mill at Cwmavon

Wesley Chapel constructed at Cwmavon

1848

Bank of England took over Company undertakings at Cwmavon

1849

Epidemic of Cholera in South Wales. Very severe at Taibach

Fever Hospital on Mynydd Emroch constructed

1850

Opening of the South Wales Railway (later part of the GWR) 

Explosion at Morfa pit

Company resumed control of their undertakings at Cwmavon from Bank of England

Population of Cwmavon is 5000

St Michaels Church rebuilt

Bethania Chapel constructed at Cwmavon
 
Catholic population of Aberavon is 200
 
Margam Tinplate Infants School opened
 
Original Market at Water Street built

1851

Coal mines opened at Glyncorrwg

62ft 5in rail made at Cwmavon for Crystal Palace exhibition

Wern Chapel constructed

1855

All Saints Church built at Ynys Afan, Cwmavon

Cholera epidemic
Construction of Gibeon Chapel

Construction of School at Tymaen, Cwmavon

1856

13 men killed in explosion at Pwll Ynys Dafydd, Cwmavon

1856 – 57
 
Aberavons first Police Station and Court Room at Talbot Square built
 
1857

Railway crash between 2 trains at Margam, 3 killed and 21 seriously injured

1858

12 men killed in explosion at Bryndu Pit

1859

Rebuilding of St Mary’s Church completed

Bible Christians build a Chapel at Cwmavon (Pelly Street)
 
South Wales Mineral Line opened

c.1860s
 
Eagle House built, was Eagle Inn (built by Rees Roderick)
 
1860

New town charter granted to Aberavon.

Vernon (Ferry) Tinworks begins production
 
Old St Josephs Church Consecrated

1861

New charter granted to Aberavon

Zion Church, Cwmavon constructed

1862

Capel Moriah built on the Causeway

1863

39 men killed in the 4th explosion at Morfa Colliery

4 men killed in an explosion at the Park Pit, Baglan
 
1864
 
First steam hammer at Taibach
 
Vivian Square constructed

1866

Cholera and typhoid outbreaks

Afon Vale tin works erected
 
Groes School constructed at a cost of £667 which was paid by CRM Talbot

1867

Construction of Smyrna Chapel

Construction of Saron Chapel

1868-9

New Drainage systems installed at Aberavon, New Road systems Built and existing roads widened

1870

30 men killed in an explosion at Morfa pit

1872

Wesleyans founded cause at Taibach

Taibach Workingmen’s Hall constructed
 
Picturedrome constructed by The Welsh Regiment, later to become Royal Horse Artillery

1873
 
Cwmavon Tabernacle Chapel constructed
 
1874

Mansel tinworks opens. Owned by Messrs Byass

Shovel Works, Upper Forge opens

Old Public Hall at Water Street constructed

1875

Building of new Baglan Church (construction started)

1876

Building in Richard Street adapted for the use of the Aberavon Company of Volunteers, a unit of the 2nd brigade of the Welsh volunteers funded in 1859

for a period also used for storage of the arms of the Cwmavon Company of Volunteers

Aberavon RFC formed
 
Theodore Mansel Talbot dies in a riding accident (Sunday June 18th)

1877

James Shaw and Co purchase Cwmavon Works

1878
 
Port Talbot Steam Saw Mills and Joinery Mills built
 
1878-9

Ynysygwas Reservoir built
 
1879

Construction of Bethany Chapel

1880

New rolling mills built at Taibach Copper Works

Taibach Tinplate Works and Ffrwdwyllt Works built

1864

Vivian & Sons built gasworks at Taibach

1880

D R David’s Tinplate Works established at Taibach

Brombil Colliery closed

1881

Edward Davies’ Tinplate Works built at Taibach

1882

St Catherine’s Church constructed at Baglan by Robert Llewellyn (Construction completed)

Bryn School altered by Mr Talbot at a cost of £100

1883

Sir Arthur Vivian installed a gate on the road to the beach to stop people accessing the beach, which was soon destroyed by residents 
 
Zion Chapel Cwmavon enlarged

1884

Rio Tinto purchase Cwmavon Copper Works

1885

Widening of Velindre Railway Bridge

First passenger service from Aberavon to Pontrhydyfen on Swansea Bay Railway

Viaduct at Pontrhydyfen partially collapses when a train passes over. Wagons fell into the river below, sending a young lad with them. He somehow survives
 
St Dyfrigs Church constructed

1886

The old Dyffryn Chapel (Dyffryn Isaf Barn) demolished

Mountain School Unsectarian School (Clifton Terrace) opens
 
CRM Talbot has a successful crop of Tobacco processed at Water Street Tobacco Factory

1887

Opening of the new road to the beach

Mission Church opposite Cwrt Ucha opened 

Construction of Victoria Institute and Reading Rooms

1888
 
Death of Griffith Llewellyn of Baglan Hall
 
1889
 
Bryn Navigation Colliery opened
 
Ty Canol Farm Baglan constructed
 
1890

Worst of six explosions at Morfa Colliery. 87 men and one rescuer were killed on March 10th

C.R.M. Talbot, MP of Margam dies / Miss Emily Charlotte Talbot inherits Margam Estate
 
Billy Beynon (Boxer) born (8th April)
 
1891
 
Construction of the Bandstand at Aberavon Beach
 
Percy Hunt (The Great Marvelo) born 5th August 1891
 
Water Supply installed by Miss Talbot at Penycae and Groes

1892

With cholera threatening the district, two temporary buildings to serve as an Isolation Hospital were constructed on Aberavon marsh

Construction of Constitutional Club

1893

Beach Hill (Jubilee Hill) constructed

In August 24 visitors from the Rhondda Valley drowned in a boating accident at Aberavon Beach

Taibach Wesley Chapel opened

Work on Glanafan School begun

Miner’s Arms Inn closed in Taibach
 
Cottage Hospital built
 
Cwmgwina Reservoir constructed

1894

New docks built

Port Talbot Railway Co formed

Talbot Arms Hotel built at Taibach

Margam Urban District Council established

Construction starts on Port Talbot Intermediate School (County / Glanafan), cost £3000

1895

Sandfields Infant School opens

Site of Aberavon Castle cleared
 
Trissent domestic water supply by Miss Talbot
 
Taibach Schools extended

1896

Port Talbot County Intermediate School (Glanafan) opened 28th September

Roman Catholic Infant’s School built

Isolation Hospital built on Mynydd Emroch

Urban District Sanatorium built at a cost of £3000
 
Construction of Wesley Chapel at Tydraw Street

1897

St Theodore’s Church consecrated

Dan Jones of Balaclava Row first Aberavon player to win Welsh Senior Rugby International Cap

Construction of Railway and Docks Offices
 
‘Evening Post’ Bridge constructed
 
Public Park supplied by Miss Talbot

1896 – 1897
 
Dry Dock excavated

1898

Copper Smelting Works at Taibach ceased production

Margam Park gamekeeper Robert Scott murdered (shot) by Joseph Lewis
 
County Police Station constructed
 
Royal Oak Hotel (Bryn) constructed
 
Bryn Brickworks built
 
Mansel Tinplate Works extended
 
1899
 
Port Talbot Central mixed school built at a cost of £6000

1891-1901

Cwmwernderi Reservoir constructed

1900

Building of Jersey Beach Hotel

Crown Patent Fuel Works started
 
Public Baths built by Miss Talbot
 
Bryn mixed Schools built at a cost of £1800

Bethel Primitive Methodist Chapel, High Street constructed

The Grand Hotel opened (31st March)

1901-1902

English Celluloid Co erect works at Goytre

1901-1905

Port Talbot steelworks built by Messrs. Gilbertson

1902
 
North pier opened
 
Taibach Coop founded
 
Aberavon Workingmens Club formed

1903

Express Steelworks, Cwmavon, closed
 
Newbridge opened
 
Customs House constructed
 
6 crew of Mumbles Lifeboat James Stevens lost going to the aid of The Christina which ran aground

1904

Construction of Grove Place Chapel

Mountain Infants (Causway) constructed

1905 

Building of Vivian Hotel

1906 

English Celluloid Works at Goytre closes

Rio Tinto Copper Co leaves Cwmavon for new site at the Docks

1907

Central Athletic Ground opened by Aberavon RFC

Old Market destroyed by fire on January 16th
 
Margam Urban District offices built
 
Eagle Brickworks built
 
Local rifle volunteer units dissolved
 
Pontrhydyfen Boys and Girls School built at a cost of £6000

1908

Wreck of the Amazon with 21 deaths

St Agnes Church constructed
 
The Trafalgar ran aground on Aberavon Beach

Jersey Beach Hotel destroyed by fire (14th / 15th December)

1909

Large scale flooding of lower Aberavon (Canister Bridge swept away) (29th September)

Railway Tavern constructed

Tabernacl Newydd Church constructed

Bryn Library erected by local subscription (£346)
 
Aberavon Gas Works on Victoria Road constructed
 
Wesley Church Hall at Taibach constructed
 
1910 

St Agnes’ Church consecrated

Grange Street Chapel constructed
 
New Bryn Brickworks built

St Michaels Church rebuilt and enlarged

1911

St Paul’s Church consecrated

SS Ethelwalda grounded on Aberavon Beach

Calfaria Chapel constructed
 
Vints “Palace” on Water Street opened as a live theatre
 
Picturedrome opens as a cinema

Bridge Street Baptist Chapel constructed

Construction of Central Elementary School
 
Royal Horse Artillery Riding School built at Ynys Street
 
Central Boys School built at a cost of £14.000
 
Taibach Infants School built at a cost of £5000
 
Port Talbot Golf Club opened (12th August)

1912

Constantinople Row demolished

Port Talbot Higher Elementary School opened (Now Dyffryn Lower) 

Cottage Hospital (Penycae) extended
 
Ffrwdwyllt Tinplate Works extended
 
General Post Office at Station Road constructed
 
Colliers minimum wage adopted
 
1911 – 1912
 
Combined drainage system for Afan Valley and Port Talbot constructed at a cost of £21.000, Miss Talbot contributes £5000

1913

Morfa Colliery closes

Construction begins on the Municipal buildings 

Worker’s Hall in Taibach becomes the Picturedrome

SS Broadlands grounded on Aberavon Beach
 
Cwrt Ucha (Upper Court) Farm demolished

Avonvale (High Street) constructed

1914

Taibach Carnegie Library built

Trefelin School, Velindre opens
 
Cwrt Isaf (Lower Court) Farm demolished

Old celluloid works at Goytre used as a Prisoner of War Works Camp until 1918

New Theatre opened (2nd March)

1915

St Peter’s Church opens. Church building had been removed from Morfa and rebuilt

St Joseph’s R.C. School opens

Municipal Buildings, Aberavon, completed
 
Lieutenant Rupert Price Hallowes VC killed at Loos
 
Bryn Seion Chapel constructed

Work on Goytre Cemetery began.

1916

Port Talbot Hospital built

Preliminary work began on Margam Steelworks
 
Construction of Taibach Library completed
 
Taibach Coop officially opened (July 21st)

1918

Miss E.C. Talbot, owner of the Margam Estate, died / Captain Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun inherits Margam Estate

Goytre burial ground made available by Margam Urban District Council
 
1919

Glanavon House demolished
 
Taibach Workingmens Club formed
 
Cwmgwinau Colliery (Goytre) opened

1921

Creation of Borough of Port Talbot incorporating Taibach, Bryn, Margam, Aberavon, Baglan 

Rhondda and Swansea bay railway and Docks Company acquired by Great Western Railway Company

Cwmavon coke ovens cease production

Margam Urban District Council terminated

Population of Cwmavon is 6200
 
Talbot Athletic Ground reopened following closure for WW1
 
1922
 
Death of William Abraham (Mabon)

1924

Gospel Hall at Ynys Street constructed

1925

Taibach Copper Mill closes converted in the following year into a tinplate works by Briton Ferry Steel Co.

First publication of Port Talbot Guardian

Memorial Park at Taibach opens
 
Taibach Tollhouse demolished
 
Richard Burton (Richard Walter Jenkins) born 10th November
 
Catholic population of Aberavon is 3300

1926

Underhill House demolished

Sir Arthur P. Vivian died at Bosahan, Cornwall

Taibach Memorial Park opened.

Taibach Copper Works sold to the Briton Ferry Steel Co. And converted into Blackplate Rolling

Margam Road, Presbyterian Chapel opened.

Cwmgwinau Colliery (Goytre) closed

1927

Pugh and Co constructed (High Street, next to Avonvale) 

Destroyer Sylphi grounded on Aberavon Beach

Ebleys Cinema Cwmavon constructed

1928

Major General Sir Robert Baden-Powell and Lady Powell were guests of the Fletchers at Margam Castle for the Welsh Scout Jamboree in the park.

Fire at Tavern Y Bwlch 
 
Death of David John ‘Afan’ Thomas

1931

St Joseph’s Church completed.

Vivian Park and bowling green laid out

Population of Port Talbot is 40,672

1932

National Eisteddfod held at Taibach Park

Groeswen Hospital built.
 
Old Isolation Hospital on Mynydd Emroch closed

In August, four young boys examining the wrecks of the Ethelwalda and Broadland drowned Aberavon beach

2 buses collide near Ty'n y Caeau, Margam killing 4 Taibach residents
 
Death of Boxer Billy Beynon by a mining accident at Bryn Colliery on 20th July

1933
 
The gas holder behind Port Talbot Railway Station constructed
 
1934

Aberavon Town Hall in Green Park demolished

1935

Water Street, Taibach demolished

Charlotte Street demolished

1936

Cotton Row demolished

1937

Regent Cinema opens in Taibach

Former Colliery Manager, Mr Richards murdered (shot) at Theordore Road

1939

Noddfa Independent Chapel built

1940

Stac Y Foel demolished (July 4th)

1941

Six civilians killed by a bomb at Corporation Road

Margam Estate sold by Captain Andrew Fletcher / Sir David Evans Bevans purchases Margam Park

Taibach Youth Centre set up in Eastern School

1944

HMCS Chebogue enters Port Talbot Dock following a German U boat (U-1227) torpedo attack, 7 men killed  
 
General Dwight Eisenhower visits American Troops at Margam Castle

1945
 
Death of Photographer Newark Lewis
 
1946

Formation of Steel Co. of Wales
 
Coed Parc House, Cwmavon demolished

 1947 

Last competition at Port Talbot Golf Club

1948
 
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery visits Steel Works (June 23rd)
 
1949
 
Westgate Cottages on High Street demolished
 
Cottages at Brombil demolished
 
Carreg y Rhew Farm (Margam) demolished
 
1950

Park School opened

1951

Closure of Borrows tinworks.

Abbey steelworks strip mill begins production

Large areas of dunes cleared at Sandfields for housing.

Glanymor first school built on Sandfields Estate

Twll Yn Y Wal cottage demolished
 
Baglan House purchased by Port Talbot Corporation and demolished

1951-1952

Nine hundred houses built at Sandfields including “prefabs”. Building would continue for the next twenty five years.

British Oxygen Co. erect works at Longlands Lane

1952

17 acre Harvey’s Lake filled in.

RAFA Club opened

A Creosote spill from Nantewlaeth coal washery on the river Corrwg wiped out the Afans fish stocks.

1953

Taibach (Vivian Sheet and Blackplate Works) Ffrwydwyllt Tinplate Works and Burrows Works all close

Last tollgate in Port Talbot at junction of Tollgate Road and Morfa Road demolished

Margam College of Further Education opened
 
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation on SCOW field (June 2nd)
 
Ynysygwas Bridge, Cwmavon collapses due to flooding

1954

Old Baglan Church gutted by fire

December, Death of Rees Oates, 5 Balaclava Row, Taibach. He was the youngest - and last - survivor of the Morfa Pit Explosion 10th March, 1890

1955

Tywyn School opens

Red Dragon opens

Dock Street demolished
 
Margam Tollgate demolished
Briton Ferry Bridge officially opened (October 31st)
 
Afan Charter (14th Century) presented back to Council
 
Port Talbot Gas Welfare Club officially opened (December 12th)

1956

George VI Memorial Hall opened by Princess Margaret.

Princess Margaret inspects new sea defence wall and unveils plaque.

Princess Margaret visits Abbey Works (April 26th)

Regent Cinema in Taibach closes

MV Maria Pompei grounded on Aberavon Beach
 
Aberavon Sea Walls constructed

1957

Tir Morfa School opens

Twelve Knights Hotel opens

MV Michel Swenden grounded at Aberavon Beach

1958

Sandfields Comprehensive school opens

Baglan hall demolished
 
Margam Abbey Pilot Boat delivered to Port Talbot

The Dunes Pub opened 

1959

New road alongside promenade named Princess Margaret Way

Glenhafod, Aberbaiden and Pentre Collieries closed by NCB

Children killed at the wrecks on Aberavon Beach

1960 

St Therese's school and church opens

Train Crash at Pwllyglaw (November 24th)

Mill Row demolished
 
The Marine Hotel (The Four Winds) opened

1961

The construction of a petrochemical factory at Baglan Bay was first announced on 31st January when Glamorgan County Council gave outline planning permission to BRITISH HYDROCARBON CHEMICALS (BHC) and FORTH CHEMICALS LTD.

Morrison road Library opens

Port Talbot Steelworks melting shop closed

Removal of S S Ethelwalda and S S Broadlands

Traethmelyn School (Strauss Road) constructed

Scott’s Shop (Formerly Prestons) Taibach demolished
 
1962
 
The Greenstars Clubhouse opened

1963

Traffic ceased on the Rhondda and Swansea Bay railway. (December 1st 1962 for passengers)

Port Talbot Steelworks demolished.

Construction of Miami Beach Funfair on the Little Warren

Traethmelyn School opens
 
Capel Moriah demolished
 
Groeswen Farm (Bella Farm) demolished

British Hydrocarbon Plant at Baglan (later BP Chemicals) came into production, Sir Keith Joseph, Minister for Welsh Affairs, officially opened the Baglan site, on 16th October 

Bryn Navigation Colliery closes

Lord Mayor of London visits Port Talbot

Goytre Railway Yards closed

Town by-pass begun

Balaclava and Inkerman Row East demolished

The Steel Company’s reservoir at Margam built

Ty Mawr demolished
 
Ros a Mar function room opened (Victoria Road)
 
Bethel Primitive Methodist Church demolished
 
Lord Mayor of London procession (31st May) (Sir Ralph Perring)

1964

Dyffryn Railway Sheds closed

Dyffryn Upper School opened

The “Amazon” public house opened taking its name from the wreck on Morfa Beach 1908 when 21 people lost their lives.
 
Tir Caradog demolished
 
Tetrapods placed at North Pier
 
Railway crossing gates on Station Road / High Street removed

1965

The Afan Lido opened by the Queen

First Catholic comprehensive “St Joseph’s” opens

“The Star” and the “Welcome to Town” public houses closed

Population of Port Talbot is 51,322

Inkerman Row West demolished
 
Engine Row (Cwmavon) demolished
 
Ty Canol Farm (Baglan) demolished
 
1966

Sports Centre completed

Port Talbot by-pass opened (July 22nd)

National Eisteddfod held at Port Talbot
New Fire Station opened at Taibach

Sandfields Methodist opened
 
Baglan Social Club (Now Baglan Community Church) constructed
 
Naval Club opened in November. Official opening on December 2nd
 
Dyffryn Comprehensive School officially opened 3rd May
 
Pentwyn Estate constructed
 
New headstone laid on Dic Penderyn’s grave (May 15th)
 
Large part of Taibach Copper Works demolished for new Steelworks access road and Glamorgan Fire Station

1967

Steel Company of Wales absorbed into British Steel Corporation

Mount View Club opened

BP fully acquired the British Hydrocarbon Plant site at Baglan and its businesses

1968

Newlands, the last local colliery, closed

28th October BP announced what, at the time, was “the largest single investment in new plant made, so far in the BP Group” – estimated at over £125million (1968). Baglan Bay became one of the biggest petrochemical manufacturing sites in Europe

1969

Talbot Arms Hotel becomes the Taibach RFC Club

Trinity Hall Consecrated 
 
The first around the pier swim is organised by the Greenstars. 22 entrants. Robbie Phillips is the first winner
 
Baglan Moors foundations completed
 
The Mansel War Memorial is moved from the Mansel Tinplate Works to Vivian Park.

1970

Neolithic axe found on beach by Mr T H Morris of Aberavon

New tidal harbour and BOS plant opened by the Queen

Coastal Tanker Winsdale H grounded on Aberavon Beach

1971

Port Talbot dock closed on December 31st

The “Crown Hotel” and the “Prince of Wales’” Inns demolished
 
Station Road Police Station demolished
 
St Dyfrigs Church demolished
 
Plas Newydd constructed

Cwmavon Library opened

Zion Church (Clarence Street) demolished
 
1970 – 1971
 
Bus Station at town opened
 
1971-1976

Most of old Aberavon in the upper Water Street and High Street area demolished

1972 

River Afan burst its banks, some 500 homes flooded in Aberavon

Following a fire the “Walnut Tree” hotel was demolished

Carmel Chapel demolished

The following pubs / inns / hotels - The Angel, Avonvale, Globe, Hong Kong, Lamb and flag, Oddfellows, Red House, Castle Hotel, Red Lion, Welcome to Town, Royal Exchange are demolished

Municipal Buildings demolished

1972-1974

Construction of temporary Council Offices at Bevin Avenue

1973

Hotel Executive opened, renamed Aberavon Hotel in 1980, later renamed Aberavon Beach Hotel

Christchurch opened on the moors, later sold to a car firm in 1989. Now demolished

Church of Our Lady of Margan opened

Groes Primary School built

Sir David Evans Bevans died

Margam Castle and Park purchased by Glamorgan County Council for £400.000

Demolition of Evening Post Bridge at Taibach in May

​Port Talbot Police Station officially opened (was operational end of 1972)

1974

Afan Borough formed

The town's name was changed to Avan but for various reasons the decision was reversed a few years later

Employment at the BP site reached almost 2500 with some 5000 contractors employed during the major expansion period

Railway Tavern demolished

Water Street Baptist Church demolished

Vints Palace demolished
 
Aberavon Gas Works closed (10th June)

1975

Groes Village and chapel demolished to make way for M4

Morfa Mawr Farm demolished (6th – 7th December)
 
General Post Offices at Station Road demolished

1976

Princess Anne opens new Town Centre. (20th February)
 
St Teilo’s Church demolished
 
National School demolished
 
New Hall demolished

Aberavon Workingmen’s Club demolished Relocated at Baglan Moors. Taken into receivership in 1977

Groes Chapel re-opened at Tollgate Road
 
Carmel Chapel opened (2nd October)

1977

Demolition of old town market

Margam Castle gutted by fire (August 4th)
 
Tabor Chapel (Cwmavon) demolished

Margam Park and restored Orangery opened by the Queen
 
Gareth Edwards opened the Baglan Shopping Centre (6th February)
 
Percy Hunt (The Great Marvelo) dies

1978

First performances of “Behold The Man” held at Margam Park, next performance in 1979 and then biannually for 20 years

The first of the fires at the Afan Lido

1979

The Old Vic constructed

1980
 
All Saints Church Cwmavon demolished
 
1984

The “Port Talbot Hotel” in lower Water Street demolished

New Mount Surgery built
 
Death of Richard Burton (Richard Walter Jenkins)
 
1986
 
Prince Charles and Princess Diana visit the British Steel Company
 
1987
 
Tirmorfa Primary School is changed to Rhosafan Welsh speaking School
 
1988
 
Halfpenny Bridge at Greenpark is replaced
 
The first Salmon is caught in the River Afan for 150 years by Colin Walton (4th September)

1987-1988

Dock Hotel demolished
 
1989

Civic Centre opened by Princess Anne

Cwmcerwin Tunnel entrance is bricked up

1990

RAFA club closes. Reopens as the Grove in 1992
 
Death of Llewellyn Heycock C.B.E.
 
Smyrna Chapel (Taibach) closed
 
Morfa Colliery memorial (At the Steel Works) unveiled

1991

Opening of Port Talbot Indoor Bowls Centre

In January a violent storm breaches the sea wall near the Jersey Beach Hotel

Afan Lido refurbished, later to be named “The Aquadome”
 
Forge Road Baths demolished (24th September)

1992

Traethmelyn School (Strauss Road) demolished
 
Morfa Colliery memorial (At Taibach Library) unveiled
 
The Drill Hall at Ynys Street demolished

1993
 
Zion Chapel (Cwmavon) closed
 
1994

BP Chemicals announced the closure of the Ethylene Cracker and its associated plants at Baglan Bay. This resulted in 600 job losses (350 BP/ 250 contractors) and brought the BP workforce down to 350
 
Freemans Cigar Factory closed (March 31st)

1995

Majestic Cinema (Odeon) demolished

1996
 
Harbour deepened to 16.5 Mtrs
 
Death of Historian / Teacher A. Leslie Evans
 
Death of Photographer Viv Knowles

1998
 
Port Talbot Library officially opened (14th August)
 
1999

Final performances of “Behold the Man” held at Margam Park

BP Ethanol plant and Styrene plant closed and dismantled in 1999

Plaza cinema closes for the final time on January 4th
 
Jersey Beach Hotel closed
 
New bridge at Velindre officially opened (28th October)
 
2001

The Jersey Beach hotel destroyed by fire for a second time.
 
2002
 
Port Talbot General Hospital closed

2003

Neath Port Talbot Hospital opened

Bronze Age spear found on Aberavon Beach

Cooling Towers and stack at BP demolished

2004

Closure of BP Chemical site at Baglan Bay

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power station built on site of former BP Chemical plant.

2005
 
Cafe Remos opened
 
Death of D. Bryn Thomas B.E.M. (Uncle Bryn)

2006

Aberavon Hospital demolished 

Beach Hill demolished
 
Groeswen Hospital demolished

2007 

Peripheral ring road from the River Afan to Baglan completed

April 2007 Tata’s buy-out of the steelworks completed. The works continues to be operated by Corus.

Official opening of Intertissue paper mill at NPT Energy Park (Italian company) 
 
Death of Ivor Emmanuel

2008

Sandfields Comprehensive 50th Anniversary

New Years Eve party at Margam Abbey for Sir Anthony Hopkins 70th birthday.

Construction begins on new Welsh Miners Museum at Afan Argoed Park.

Report of £60m investment in Port Talbot Steelworks.

Mini tornado hits centre of town.

Demolition of King George VI Memorial Hall in Taibach.

Opening of new Holy Trinity Church at Sandfields.

Centenary of the wreck of the “Amazon” Plaque unveiled at Port Talbot RNLI Station.

Closure of Holy Cross Church.

2009

Borough Council purchases Plaza Cinema

September – Official opening of Wales’ first commercial-scale biomass power plant at Longlands Lane, Margam

Demolition of Vivian Hotel, Victoria Road

October 1st last publication of Port Talbot Guardian newspaper.

November – Official opening of the Port Talbot Medical resource Centre by Edwina Hart AM Minister of Health and Social Services

December 19th, Fire at Afan Lido. Complex to be pulled down

March, TyreGenics fire, Baglan industrial estate
 
4000 tons of stone is laid at the western and eastern ends of Aberavon Beach for coastal defence
 
Margam Discovery Centre constructed

2010

June 20th Centenary of St Agnes Church

August Centenary of Gibeon Chapel

Centenary of Cwmavon Junior School

Construction of Ty Jubilee on site of old Vivian Park Hotel

Construction of New Justice Centre

Deconsecration of Holy Cross Church

Start of work on second phase of peripheral road.

Closure of Arts Centre at Theodore Road

2011

Closure of Methodist Chapel at Cwmavon

Centenary of St Pauls Church

Closure of Baglan Social Club later purchased by a community church group

Michael Sheen's 72-hour Passion Play
 
Death of Photographer Peter Knowles

2012

Afan Lido demolished

Custom House and Royal Buildings and Port Talbot Railway and Docks Offices demolished

2013

Opening of new road – Harbour Way

Closure of St. Paul’s Church, October 27th

Glan Y mor school demolished

Awel Y mor opened

The new blast furnace in Tata was fired up in February
 
Tirmorfa Primary School closed

2014

St Pauls Hall demolished

Work started on Train Station refurbishment 

Sandfields Girls School demolished

Building Supplies industrial units at Greenpark demolished

Construction started on St Pauls new community centre 

Margam Abbey ruins consolidated

2015

Outer lock gates replaced
 
Train Station refurbishment (Large lifts of metalwork carried out)
 
St Pauls Hall construction started
 
Police Station vacated
 
Old WC block in Water Street demolished (Next to Fire Station)
 
Capel Mair ruin consolidated
 
2016
 
Sandfields Comprehensive School closed
 
Traethmelyn School closed
 
Glanafan Comprehensive School closed
 
New Train Station opened
 
Bae Baglan School opened
 
Green Stars Clubhouse closed
 
Houses on Greenpark built
 
Weir at Greenpark renovations started
 
Last publication of Magnet newspaper
 
Holy Cross Church opened as Chapel of Rest

2017

Weir at Greenpark renovations completed
​
Sandfields Comprehensive School demolished 

Craddock Arms demolished (March)

New Halfpenny Bridge constructed

WW2 Gunnery tower at Morfa Beach demolished by Tata Steel (March) 

Port Talbot Police Station demolished (Aug)

Train Station Transport Hub constructed


​Glanafan School / County School demolished

Green Stars Club House demolished

Construction started on building on site of old Port Talbot Police Station

2018

New Train Station Transport Hub opened

Bansky painted artwork on garage in Taibach

2019

To be updated soon

2020

To be updated soon
​
2021

To be updated soon
​
2022

Banksy artwork removed from Port Talbot by owner John Brandler
​
2023

Plaza re-opened (Operated by YMCA)

Eagle House demolished