1919-45 Aberdare Urban District Council elections

1910–1914 Aberdare Urban District Council elections The Aberdare Urban District Council was established in 1894 and consisted of the ancient parish of Aberdare. It took over the former responsibilities of the Aberdare Local Board of Health which had been in place since the 1850s. The responsibilities of the new authority included public health, sanitation, roads and public works generally. The authority consisted of the five wards of Aberaman (also known as No. 5 Ward), Blaengwawr (also known as No. 4 Ward), Gadlys (also known as No. 2 Ward), Llwydcoed (also known as No. 1 Ward), and the Town Ward (also known as No. 3 Ward). Initially, each ward had three members, with one member was elected from each ward on an annual basis after the initial election of 1894. In 1904 an additional member was granted to each ward, resulting in the election of ten members, out of a total of 27. As the population of the Urban District continued to grow, an additional seven seats were created. Three of these were in the Aberaman Ward and one each in the other four wards.Aberdare District Council Elections. Every Ward to be Contested. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19140718/006/0006?browse=False 9 April 2025 Aberdare Leader 18 July 1914 6 1919 Aberdare Urban District Council election At the first election held following the Great War, two candidates were elected from each of the five wards. There were contests in four of the five wards.Nominations https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003610/19190322/004/0004 1 May 2025 Aberdare Leader 22 March 1919 4 There were no changes to the political complexion of the council following the results.Aberdare Council Elections https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19190412/007/0007?browse=False 1 May 2025 Aberdare Leader 12 April 1919 7 Aberaman Ward (two seats) Aberaman Ward 1919 Independent (politician) Edmund Mills Hann* 1,968 Labour Party (UK) Illtyd Hopkins* 1,499 Independent (politician) Gomer Thomas 721 Blaengwawr Ward (two seats) Blaengwawr Ward 1919 Labour Party (UK) David Davies* 632 Liberal Party (UK) Evan Jones* 822 Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1919 Liberal Party (UK) E. Ogwen Williams* 1,285 Labour Party (UK) Edmund Stonelake* 1,236 Independent (politician) D. Morris Powell 782 Llwydcoed Ward (two seats) Llwydcoed Ward 1919 Independent (politician) D.R. Llewellyn* 2,133 Independent (politician) Mrs A.N. Jenkins 1,501 Labour Party (UK) Isaac Edwards 707 Town Ward (two seats) Town Ward 1919 Independent (politician) Abel P. Thomas 862 Independent (politician) David James 790 Independent (politician) R.L. Berry 720 Labour Party (UK) Mrs F. Rose Davies 569 Labour Party (UK) Ben Brace 383 Independent (politician) John Davies 359 1920 Aberdare Urban District Council election A total of twelve candidates were to be elected; four in the Aberaman ward and two in each of the other wards. Llwydcoed ward was uncontested and the retiring members returned unopposed.Aberdare Council. Twenty-One Candidates for Ten Seats. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19200320/007/0007?browse=False 28 May 2025 Aberdare Leader 20 March 1920 7 Labour won two setas at Gadlys; the successful candidates included Rose Davies who became the first woman member of the council. In contrast, the party lost a seat in Aberaman.District Council Election (Aberdare). https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19200403/005/0005?browse=False 28 May 2025 Aberdare Leader 3 April 1920 5 Aberaman Ward (four seats) Aberaman Ward 1920 Independent (politician) Joseph Martin* 2,176 Labour Party (UK) Owen Powell* 1,845 Labour Party (UK) E. Jones* 1,819 Independent (politician) Augustus Davies 1,541 Labour Party (UK) John Evans* 1,371 Independent (politician) W. Thomas 1,325 Blaengwawr Ward (two seats) Blaengwawr Ward 1920 Discharged Soldiers Rees Williams 1,230 Labour Party (UK) S. Davies 894 Labour Party (UK) D.E. Davies* 891 Independent (politician) James Jenkins 703 Independent (politician) Dan Hughes 409 Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1920 Labour Party (UK) Ben Brace 1,114 Labour Party (UK) Mrs Rose Davies 1,097 Independent (politician) W.K. Thomas 809 Independent (politician) George Powell* 799 Llwydcoed Ward (two seats) Llwydcoed Ward 1920 Labour Party (UK) John Griffiths* 1,501 Independent (politician) W.M. Llewellyn* 2,133 Town Ward (two seats) Town Ward 1920 Independent (politician) R.D. Williams* 1,190 Independent (politician) R.L. Berry 1,137 Independent (politician) Rev J.A. Lewis 820 Discharged Soldiers J. Edwards 769 Labour Party (UK) Fred Davies 490 Labour Party (UK) W.T. James 369 1921 Aberdare Urban District Council election One member was to be returned for each ward; this was the first election for the retiring members to contest given that the 1915 and 1918 elections had not been held. All members were returned unoppposed.No Election at Aberdare https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003610/19210326/003/0003 1 June 2025 Aberdare Leader 26 March 1921 3 Aberaman Ward Aberaman Ward 1921 Labour Party (UK) William Rees* unopposed Blaengwawr Ward Blaengwawr Ward 1921 Labour Party (UK) William Lawrence* unopposed Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1921 Labour Party (UK) Idwal Thomas* 709 Llwydcoed Ward Llwydcoed Ward 1921 Independent (politician) J.O. George* unopposed Town Ward Town Ward 1921 Independent (politician) William Thomas* unopposed 1922 Aberdare Urban District Council election Four of the five wards were contested; the exception being the Llwydcoed ward where two Independents were returned unopposed.Aberdare Council Nominations https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19220325/004/0004?browse=False 28 October 2025 Aberdare Leader 25 March 1922 4 Labour lost two seats as prominent local figure Edmund Stonelake and the long-serving Illtyd Hopkins lost their seats. Prominent coalowner E.M. Hann did not seek re-election.Municipal Elections https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19220408/002/0002?browse=False 1 May 2025 Aberdare Leader 8 April 1922 2 Aberaman Ward (two seats) Aberaman Ward 1922 Independent (politician) Daniel Jones 2,034 Independent (politician) Major E.I. David 2,013 Independent (politician) Jonah Lewis 1,455 Labour Party (UK) Illtyd Hopkins* 1,397 Blaengwawr Ward (two seats) Blaengwawr Ward 1922 Independent (politician) Evan Jones* 1,248 Labour Party (UK) David Davies* 1,096 British Legion Shapland 1,064 Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1922 Independent (politician) E. Ogwen Williams* 1,504 Independent (politician) D. Morris Powell 1,460 Labour Party (UK) Edmund Stonelake* 969 Llwydcoed Ward (two seats) Llwydcoed Ward 1922 Independent (politician) W.J. Hodges 2,133 Independent (politician) Mrs A.N. Jenkins* 1,501 Town Ward (two seats) Town Ward 1922 Independent (politician) Abel P. Thomas 1,563 Independent (politician) David James 1,449 Labour Party (UK) Fred Davies 705 1923 Aberdare Urban District Council election All five wards were contested with Labour losing a total of four seats.Aberdare Council Elections https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19230331/001/0001?browse=False 28 October 2025 Aberdare Leader 31 March 1923 1 Labour's defeats consisted of two seats in Gadlys, and one each in Llwydcoed and Aberaman. In Llwydcoed, prominent local builder D. Tyssul Davies, a native of Llandysul who had lived in Aberdare for 38 years, and had recently purchased the Llwydcoed estate, ousted Labour councillor John Griffiths. Two sitting members were defeated in Gadlys including serving county councillor Rose Davies. It was stated that a factor in the campaign had been her confinement at Aberdare General Hospital, with the Aberdare Leader commenting that "it is remarkable the indignation showed by so many towards this comparatively trivial incident". Glen George, one of the successful candidates in Gadlys, was the son of the late former councillor Griffith George. The other winning candidate, James Evans, was described as a fluent speaker but rather stiff in English. Aberaman Ward (four seats) Aberaman Ward 1923 Independent (politician) Harry Cohen 2,327 Labour Party (UK) Evan Jones* 1,848 Independent (politician) John Davies 1,591 Independent (politician) Augustus Davies* 1,589 Labour Party (UK) Owen Powell* 1,515 Labour Party (UK) J.T. Norman 1,407 Independent (politician) John James 916 Independent (politician) W.R. Morgan 792 Blaengwawr Ward (two seats) Blaengwawr Ward 1923 Labour Party (UK) D. Ezer Davies 1.044 Independent (politician) Tom Howells 1,027 Independent (politician) John Jenkins 987 Labour Party (UK) W.J. Rees 876 Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1923 Independent (politician) Glen George 1,621 Independent (politician) James Evans 1,187 Labour Party (UK) Ben Brace* 1,108 Labour Party (UK) Mrs Rose Davies* 1,094 Llwydcoed Ward (two seats) Llwydcoed Ward 1923 Independent (politician) W.M. Llewellyn* 2,499 Independent (politician) D. Tyssul Davies 1,585 Labour Party (UK) John Griffiths* 1,096 Town Ward (two seats) Town Ward 1923 Independent (politician) Tom M. Miles 2.002 Independent (politician) R.L. Berry* 1,606 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Williams 817 1924 Aberdare Urban District Council election Five members were to be elected, one in each ward, and three wards were uncontested.The Local Elections. Two Old Members Retire from the Fray. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19240329/004/0004?browse=False 23 December 2025 Aberdare Leader 29 March 1924 4 The two contested wards saw no change in the political composition of the council.Local Elections. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19240412/001/0001?browse=False 23 December 2025 Aberdare Leader 12 April 1924 1 Aberaman Ward Aberaman Ward 1924 Labour Party (UK) John Lewis unopposed Blaengwawr Ward Blaengwawr Ward 1924 Labour Party (UK) William Lawrence* unopposed Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1924 Labour Party (UK) Idwal Thomas* 1,220 Independent (politician) Richard Morgan 900 Llwydcoed Ward Llwydcoed Ward 1924 Independent (politician) George Jones 1,114 Labour Party (UK) W. Smith 741 Town Ward Town Ward 1924 Independent (politician) William Thomas* unopposed 1925 Aberdare Urban District Council election All five wards were contested, resulting in four Labour gains and the defeat of several long-serving Independent members.Local Elections. Four Labour Gains on the Council. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19250411/008/0008?browse=False 31 March 2026 Aberdare Leader 11 April 1925 8 Aberaman Ward (two seats) Aberaman Ward 1925 Labour Party (UK) Evan Edwin Jones 2,398 Labour Party (UK) William Yeoman 2,165 Independent (politician) Daniel Jones* 1,961 Independent (politician) Major E.I. David * 1,733 Blaengwawr Ward (two seats) Blaengwawr Ward 1925 Labour Party (UK) T. Meredith* 1,316 Labour Party (UK) John Morgan 1,182 Independent (politician) Evan Jones* 1,136 Independent (politician) Cliff Thomas 976 Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1925 Labour Party (UK) Ben J. Brace 1,349 Independent (politician) D. Morris Powell 1,181 Independent (politician) E. Ogwen Williams* 979 Llwydcoed Ward (two seats) Llwydcoed Ward 1925 Independent (politician) Mrs A.N. Jenkins* 1,492 Independent (politician) W.J. Hodges 1,471 Labour Party (UK) John Davies 708 Town Ward (two seats) Town Ward 1925 Independent (politician) David James 1,553 Independent (politician) Abel P. Thomas 1,542 Labour Party (UK) Simon Probert 710 1926 Aberdare Urban District Council election Four of the five wards were contested and, in contrast to three years previously when Labour lost four seats, they gained a further three seats, having made a similar advance in 1925.Aberdare Council Elections https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003610/19260403/003/0003?browse=False 1 April 2026 Aberdare Leader 3 April 1926 3 Labour gained a seat in Aberaman, Blengwawr and Gadlys. Aberaman Ward (four seats) Aberaman Ward 1926 Independent (politician) Harry Cohen* 2,271 Labour Party (UK) D.H. Jones 2,237 Labour Party (UK) D.J. Jones 2,050 Labour Party (UK) W.G. Morton 1,997 Labour Party (UK) James Lynch 1,984 Independent (politician) Daniel Jones 1,939 Independent (politician) Augustus Davies* 1,694 Independent (politician) James Roberts 1,613 Blaengwawr Ward (two seats) Blaengwawr Ward 1923 Labour Party (UK) D. Ezer Davies* 1.511 Labour Party (UK) Martin James 1.216 Independent (politician) Tom Howells* 1,081 Independent (politician) Clifford Thomas 866 Gadlys Ward Gadlys Ward 1926 Independent (politician) Glen George* 1,195 Labour Party (UK) John R. James 1,190 Independent (politician) James Evans* 1,168 Labour Party (UK) Mrs Matt Lewis 1,042 Llwydcoed Ward (two seats) Llwydcoed Ward 1923 Independent (politician) D. Tyssul Davies 1,585 Independent (politician) W.M. Llewellyn* 2,499 Town Ward (two seats) Town Ward 1926 Independent (politician) E.J. Lewis 1,512 Independent (politician) R.L. Berry* 1,500 Labour Party (UK) Edmund Stonelake 1,026 Labour Party (UK) S. Probert 812 References Category:Aberdare Urban District Council elections