| Old
Neath Registrar`s Office
Wind Street, Neath This building housed the Neath Registrar`s office in the mid 1900`s. It saw a change of use about 1970 when the office transferred to a building behind the Parade. It was later moved to its present site in London Road. Was it always the Registrar`s Office? The structure which protrudes above the roof carries the words : Rebuilt in 1868, so it seems there was a previous building here. An 1858/9 Trade Directory gives a list of : REGISTRARS of Births, Deaths, & Marriages Superintendent - Mr. Alexander Cuthbertson, Wind street Registrar of Marriages - James Kempthorne, Wind st Registrars of Births and Deaths :- Neath District - David Arthur, Neath Ystradvellte District - Philip Davies, Rheola Cadoxton District - Wm. Morgan Jones, Skewen Margam District - Geo. Jones, Aberavon Ystradgynlais District - Richard Lewis, Ystradgynlais Llansamlet District - William Rees, Llansamlet |
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Alexander Cuthbertson was a well known solicitor in Neath at this time and he had his offices in Water Street. His address as Superintendent of Registar`s is given as Wind Street so this could very well have been the site of the original Registrar`s Office. Other Registrars Certificates I have of the 1840`s show a W. P. Rees as Registrar. This is him in the 1851 census : Address: WATER STREET REES WILLIAM RICHARD HD M 62 PARISH CLERK & REGISTRAR GLA NEATH (c1789) In the 1850`s the name of James Kempthorne comes in : KEMPTHORNE JAMES HD M 24 SOL.GEN.CK/REG.MRGS,NEATH CON St IVES c1827) |
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| Church Place - North Side
These are the backs of buildings which face onto Old Market Street. St. Thomas` Church railings are in the left foreground. |
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