Blaengwawr (electoral ward)

Blaengwawr was, for much of the twentieth century, an electoral ward for the purposes of electing members to Glamorgan County Council and the Aberdare Urban District Council. Blaengwawr no longer forms an electoral ward and is part of Aberaman.

Gadlys first became an electoral ward in the late nineteenth century with the formation of Glamorgan County Council. Gadlys was also one of the five electoral wards of the Aberdare Urban District Council from its formation in 1894. The other wards were Aberaman, Aberdare Town, Gadlys and Llwydcoed.

History 1889-1914

Blaengwawr first became an electoral ward in the late nineteenth century with the formation of Aberdare Urban District Council. From 1895, Blaengwawr was also an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Glamorgan County Council following reorganisation of wards in the Aberdare area.

Glamorgan County Council

In 1895, John Howell, who was already a district councillor, became the first member to represent the ward.

Blaengwawr 1895

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Howell	unopposed

Howell was again elected unopposed in 1898

Blaengwawr 1898

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Howell*	unopposed

In 1901, Howell appears to have been again returned without opposition although the result cannot be traced.

Blaengwawr 1901

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Howell*	unopposed

At the 1904 election, Howell was opposed by another Liberal candidate, Gwilym Treharne, who came within 71 votes of victory.

Blaengwawr 1904

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Howell*	610
	Liberal	Gwilym Alexander Treharne	539
Majority			71
	Liberal hold		Swing

Treharne intended to oppose Howell again in 1907 but withdrew before the poll.

Blaengwawr 1907

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Howell*	unopposed
	Liberal hold		Swing

In 1910, however, Treharne finally succeeded in ousting Howell, who lost his seat after fifteen years.

Blaengwawr 1910

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Gwilym Alexander Treharne	696
	Liberal	John Howell*	624
Majority			72
	Liberal hold		Swing

It can be seen, therefore, that Labour made no challenge for this seat at county level. The position in district election was, however, a different one.

Aberdare Urban District Council

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

Blaengwawr Ward 1894

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		Morgan John	767
		David Price Davies	600
		John Howell	549
		John Simon	422

Blaengwawr Ward 1896

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Howell*	unopposed

In 1899, John Howell was again returned unopposed.

Blaengwawr Ward

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		John Howell*	unopposed

In 1900, David Price Davies was returned without opposition.

Blaengwawr Ward 1900

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
		David Price Davies*	unopposed

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

Llwydcoed Ward 1901

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

The 1902 result cannot be traced but 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