1896 Aberdare Urban District Council election

1896 Welsh local government election November 2019 The Aberdare Urban District Council was established in 1894 and covered the parish of Aberdare. Its responsibilities included public health, sanitation, roads and public works generally. There were five wards, namely 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). At this time, one member was elected from each ward on an annual basis. In contrast to the inaugural contest, the election of 1896 created little excitement, with three of the five seats being uncontested.Aberdare Council Elections http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3099193/ART58 12 May 2014 Merthyr Times 2 April 1896 Of the two contested sets, it was the Gadlys Ward that attracted most coverage in the local press.Aberdare Urban District Council Elections http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3099182/ART21 23 October 2013 Merthyr Times 26 March 1896 The election provides evidence of the way in which the nonconformist middle-classes of Aberdare, closely allied to the Liberal Party were increasingly dominating the public life of what was an important political centre in Wales.October 2013Jones Communities 263–321 At this time, also the working classes were beginning to become organised through the miners' union and, to a lesser extent, the Independent Labour Party.Parry Labour Leaders 410–15 The election is interesting and relevant because it demonstrates the nature of social interaction between the middle- and working-classes in the industrial south Wales of the 1890s. It was a time of industrial disputes and conflicts but also of concern about lack of educational opportunities for working-class children and the state of housing. It would appear that the miners and other workmen, once a set of middle-class councillors had been elected, were willing to allow those members to represent the community.Parry Labour Leaders 415 (*) denotes sitting member Aberaman Ward Thomas Rees, landlord of the Swan Inn, Aberaman, had run unsuccessfully for the county council the previous year but had been defeated by the sitting member, Thomas Davies of Abercwmboi. Hr narrowly held his seat against another Liberal candidate.Parish Council Elections http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3426080 11 May 2014 Cardiff Times 4 April 1896 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221541/http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3426080 12 May 2014 Aberaman Ward Liberal Party (UK) Thomas Rees* 583 Liberal Party (UK) Dr D. Davies Jones 561 Blaengwawr Ward Blaengwawr Ward 1896 John Howell* unopposed Gadlys Ward Griffith George held on against an unsuccessful candidate at the previous election. Gadlys Ward Liberal Party (UK) Griffith George* 636 Liberal Party (UK) Daniel Tudor Williams 555 Llwydcoed Ward Llwydcoed Ward Owen Harries* unopposed Town Ward Thomas Thomas, the sitting member and a former county councillor was said to have been removed as candidate by the Liberal and Labour Association in favour of Lewis Noah Williams, a prominent local businessman and son of William Williams (Carw Coch).Aberdar. Etholiadau am Seddau ar y Cyngor Dosbarthol http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3117946/ART16 12 May 2014 Tarian y Gweithiwr 12 March 1896 John William Evans, who had ousted Thomas from the seat at the 1895 election was also nominated but also withdrew before the poll. Town Ward Lewis Noah Williams unopposed References Bibliography Jones Ieuan Gwynedd Explorations & Explanations. Essays in the Social History of Victorian Wales 1981 Gomer Llandysul 0-85088-644-9 Jones Ieuan Gwynedd Communities. Essays in the Social History of Victorian Wales 1987 Gomer Llandysul 0-86383-223-7 Morgan Kenneth O Kenneth O. Morgan Wales in British Politics 1868-1922 1991 University of Wales Press Cardiff 0708311245 Parry Jon Labour Leaders and Local Politics 1888-1902: The Example of Aberdare Welsh History Review 1989 14 3 399–416 http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewobject/llgc-id:1080171/article/000016672 24 October 2013 uncollapsed 1896 Category:1896 Welsh local elections