Llwydcoed (electoral ward)

The community of Llwydcoed, Rhondda Cynon Taf was, for much of the twentieth century, and electoral ward for the purposes of electing members to Glamorgan County Council and the Aberdare Urban District Council. Llwydcoed is no longer an electoral ward but forms part of Aberdare West and Llwydcoed electoral ward for the purposes of Rhondda Cynon Taf unitary authority elections

Llwydcoed first became an electoral ward in the late nineteenth century with the formation of Glamorgan County Council. Llwydcoed was also an electoral ward of the Aberdare Urban District Council from its formation in 1894.

History 1889-1914

The first representative was the venerable Rees Hopkin Rhys who was succeeded by the Liberal industrialist Rees Llewellyn

Glamorgan County Council

In 1889, Rees Hopkin Rhys was elected as member for Llwydcoed, defeating Griffith George.

Llwydcoed 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rees Hopkin Rhys 317
Liberal Griffith George 258
Majority 59

Rhys was re-elected unopposed in 1892 and although described as a Liberal this was unlikely.

Llwydcoed
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Hopkin Rhys unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Boundary changes in 1895 saw Rhys, now 75 years of age opposed by Richard Morgan, whose Hirwaun seat had been abolished.

Llwydcoed 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Hopkin Rhys* 577
Liberal Rev Richard Morgan* 561

Rhys was again elected unopposed in 1898

Llwydcoed 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rees Hopkin Rhys unopposed

Rhys died in 1899 and was succeeded by Rees Llewellyn.

In 1901, Llewellyn was re-elected.[1]

Llwydcoed 1901
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Llewellyn 759
T. Lewis 289

He was again re-elected in 1904.

Llwydcoed 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Llewellyn* unopposed

Llewellyn was again re-elected unopposed in 1907

Llwydcoed 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Llewellyn* unopposed

Despite occasional challenges by the Labour Party at district council level (see below), labour did not challenge for the county seat in this period.

Aberdare Urban District Council

Llwydcoed was also an electoral ward of the Aberdare Urban District Council from its formation in 1894.

Llwydcoed Ward 1894
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Rees Hopkin Rhys 684
Rees Llewellyn 640
Owen Harris 623
John William Evans 525
Labour David Morgan 198
Llwydcoed Ward 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Owen Harries* unopposed

In 1899, Owen Harries was again returned unopposed.

Llwydcoed Ward 1899
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Owen Harris* unopposed

In 1900, two members were elected owing to the vacant seat following the death of Rees Hopkin Rhys. John William Evans, whip had failed to be elected at the initial election in 1894 but who subsequently became a county councillor and a county alderman, was seventeen votes ahead of sitting councillor Rees Llewellyn.

Llwydcoed Ward 1900
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
John William Evans 734
Rees Llewellyn* 717
Thomas Lewis 427

In 1901, Llewellyn was re-elected by a large majority.

Llwydcoed Ward 1901
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Rees Llewellyn* 825
W. Williams 291

In 1902, Owen Harris was once again returned unopposed.

Llwydcoed Ward 1902
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Owen Harris* unopposed

In 1903, J.W. Evans was re-elected unopposed.

Llwydcoed Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
John William Evans* unopposed

In 1904 an additional seat was created, allowing T. Walter Williams to be returned alongside Rees Llewellyn.

Llwydcoed Ward 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Rees Llewellyn* 872
T. Walter Williams 866
William Williams 238
Joseph Morgan 177
James Berry 125

In 1905, following the death of Owen Harris, his son, Morgan J. Harris, was elected in his place after defeating a Labour candidate.

Llwydcoed Ward 1905
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
M.J. Harries 852
Labour John Teague 424

In 1906, John William Evans stood down due to ill-health an died shortly afterwards. He was succeeded by J.O. George who defeated a Labour candidate.

Llwydcoed Ward 1906
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
J.O. George 746
Labour Edward Davies 484

1907 saw the return of the sitting members by a comfortable majority.

Llwydcoed Ward 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Rees Llewellyn* 1,034
T. Walter Williams* 795
D. Jenkins 456

21st Century

Llwydcoed is no longer an electoral ward but forms part of Aberdare West and Llwydcoed for the purposes of Rhondda Cynon Taf unitary authority elections. Since 1995 it has been represented by Plaid Cymru and Labour councillors.

References

  1. "Etholiad Cynghor Sirol Morgannwg. Aberdar .". Tarian y Gweithiwr. 2 May 1901. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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