Ystalyfera - South Wales
History of Alltygrug Cemetery, Ystalyfera
As can seen by the extracts from the Llais newspaper below, the building of Alltygrug Cemetery had something of a fraught birth. Holy Trinity cemetery, the Church in Wales graveyard, was nearing capacity, whilst Pantteg cemetery, open to all for burial, was nevertheless relatively small, and owned by Pantteg Chapel.
There was quite a push for the local council to build a non-denominational civic cemetery, but the council's arguments against this were two-fold:- 1) that they had already done so, elsewhere in the area administered by the council, and 2) that Pantteg cemetery was open to all for burial.
In the end, it seems, the decisions of the council not to go ahead with a civic cemetery forced the Church in Wales hand, and they bought Alltygrug to be their own cemetery, replacing Holy Trinity which was now pretty much full.
From from The Labour Voice of July 8th 1922
A CEMETERY FOR YSTALYFERA
The refusal of the Pontardawe Rural District Council to take steps to provide Ystalyfera with a cemetery will cause a widespread feeling of disappointment in the town. It will be remembered that the Rev. J. Secundus Jones, Vicar of Ystalyfera, wrote to the Council urging upon them the necessity of providing a cemetery in consequence of the fact that the burial ground at Holy Trinity Church is full and is about to be closed to further burials. The matter was referred to the Sanitary Committee, who reported to the last meeting of the Council in the following terms:-
'Your committee considered the question of providing Ystalyfera and Godre'rgraig Wards with a new cemetery, and in view of the fact that Godre'rgraig burial ground, belonging to Pantteg Chapel, is available for all residents of those wards, your committee do not feel justified at the present time in suggesting a new cemetery scheme.'
That is all very well as far as it goes, but there are several points to which the sanitary committee do not appear to have attached sufficient importance. In these matters, for example, sentiment plays a very important part. Large numbers of Ystalyfera residents view with disfavour the necessity of burying their dead outside the immediate area in which they reside. There is also to be considered the objection of persons to burying their dead in a graveyard belonging to a particular denomination or chapel. It may be argued that these are purely sentimental objections; but as we have already suggested this is essentially a question in which sentiment is a very important factor, and should receive sympathetic consideration; and so long as the popular method of disposing of the dead is by burial, public sentiment must remain the chief factor.
Moreover, on other grounds than those of pure sentiment it is most desirable, when a new cemetery is to be provided in such a district as Ystalyfera, that it should be under public control; and we feel certain that this option would be endorsed by all sections of the community, including the District Council. Unfortunately, however, as a result of this action of the Sanitary Committee, there is reason to believe that a new cemetery will in the near future be provided, in spite of, or because of, the attitude of the Council; but it will be under denominational control. The office bearers of Saint David's and Holy Trinity Churches have decided to obtain a new burial ground, and have received from Colonel Gough a promise of the very plot the Council are relinquishing. They are taking this action not because they desire a cemetery for their own churches, but simplyy because there is no further accommodation at Holy Trinity Churchyard. Obviously people of other denominations, or of no denomination, wishing to bury their dear ones in this most desirable spot, will have to pay the high fees which it will be necessary to fix. In view of this it is to be hoped that the District Council will reconsider the matter. The members of the Council were elected to carry out the wishes of the public, and in this question they have failed to do so.
From The Labour Voice of Saturday October 7th 1922
PUBLIC CEMETERY FOR YSTALYFERA
Lengthy Discussion at Llanguicke Parish Council
The important question of the provision of a public cemetery for Ystalyfera was discussed at some length at the meeting of Llanguicke Parish Council on Saturday.
A letter was read from the secretary of the Ystalyfera Free Church Council, asking the Parish Council if it was in their power to convene a public meeting of the ratepayers for the purpose of ascertaining whether they (the ratepayers) desired a public cemetery at Ystalyfera.
The Clerk explained that the Council did have the power to hold such a meeting, but he was afraid that as the Pontardawe District Council had already established cemeteries at Clydach and Gwauncaegurwen, they (the Parish Council) would not get the consent of the Ministry of Health to take action.
It was explained that the Church of Wales at Ystalyfera had obtained about two acres of land at Alltygrug for the purpose of providing a cemetery.
After further similar discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the Pontardawe District Council.