Aberdare Urban District Council election, 1896

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.^[1] Of the two contested sets, it was the Gadlys Ward that attracted most coverage in the local press^[2] 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 politicale centre in Wales.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

(*) 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 hid seat against another Liberal candidate.^[6]

Blaengwawr Ward

Gadlys Ward

Griffith George held on against an unsuccessful candidate at the previous election.^[6]

Llwydcoed Ward

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).^[7] John William Evans, who had ousted Thomas from the seat at the 1895 election was also nominated but also withdrew before the poll.^[2]

References

Bibliography

• Jones, Ieuan Gwynedd (1981). Explorations & Explanations. Essays in the Social History of Victorian Wales. Llandysul: Gomer. ISBN 0 85088 644 9. 
• Jones, Ieuan Gwynedd (1987). Communities. Essays in the Social History of Victorian Wales. Llandysul: Gomer. ISBN 0 86383 223 7. 
• Morgan, Kenneth O (1991). Wales in British Politics 1868-1922. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0708311245. 
• Parry, Jon (1989). "Labour Leaders and Local Politics 1888-1902: The Example of Aberdare". Welsh History Review 14 (3): 399–416. Retrieved 24 October 2013. 

Council elections in the preserved county of Mid Glamorgan Bridgend County Borough Council 1995 1999 2004 2008 2012 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council 1995 1999 2004 2008 2012 Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council 1995 1999 2004 2008 2012 Mid Glamorgan County Council 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 Abolished Cynon Valley Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished Ogwr Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished Rhondda Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished Rhymney Valley District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished Taff-Ely Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished Glamorgan County Council 1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 Abolished Aberdare Urban District Council 1894 1896 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 Abolished Ogmore and Garw Urban District Council 1894 Abolished Rhondda Urban District Council 1894 Abolished