In the course of my research, I often discover that the husbands and wives buried in the local cemeteries were married at the Pontardawe Register Office but according to a report in the South Wales Voice of 5th January 1935 the last wedding to take place at this Register Office was on a Monday morning.

WEDDINGS NOW IN SWANSEA

There will be no more weddings in the Pontardawe Register Office. The office was closed down on Monday 31st December 1934 and the last couple to be married there were Mr Erwyn Joseph, son of Mr D David Joseph and of the late Mrs D Joseph, Woodfield House Trebanos and Miss Catherine Thomas, Kelvin Road Clydach, daughter of the late Mrs J G Carrick, formerly of Plasmarl.
The bride was attended by Mrs May Joseph Trebanos, who also gave the bride away. Mr Cynlais Joseph, Quarr Road Clydach, was best man and Mr Verdun Davies, Pleasant Street Morriston was groomsman.
The wedding was delayed for a short time owing to the fact that the car containing the best man, who had the ring in his pocket, broke down, one of the wheels of the vehicle coming off as he was on his way to the Register Office.
A second car was sent to fetch him.

FIRST REGISTRAR

The Pontardawe Registration Department was started in 1875, although registration first came into force in 1837.
Until the office was opened at Pontardawe, the Pontardawe area was covered partly by Neath and partly by Swansea, but the growth of the district made the opening of an office at Pontardawe desirable.
The first superintendent registrar was Mr D V Tuberville, who was also clerk of the Pontardawe Council and of the Pontardawe Board of Guardians. He lived at that time at Ynisderw House, Pontardawe.
After his resignation, Mr C B Jenkins was appointed and when he resigned in 1910, Mr Wyndham Lewis became superintendent registrar, a post he resigned on Monday.
The office was then in Herbert Street, where Mr J C Davies's outfitters premises are now situated and it was subsequently transferred to Herbert Chambers on the other side of the road.
When the new offices were opened in Holly Street, the office was once more transferred.

MARRIAGES AT SWANSEA

In future the West Glamorgan Area for Registration will consist of the Pontardawe R.D.C., Llwcher R.D.C., and Gower R.D.C., and marriages previously celebrated within the Pontardawe area at the Pontardawe Register Office will take place at the Swansea Register Office.
Pontardawe Council made repeated efforts to retain the office at Pontardawe, appealing to the County Council and to the Minister of Health.
While Pontardawe loses its office, Ystradgynlais has just had a new one, with Mr Roger E L Thomas as registrar. Formerly residents of the two parishes of Ystradgynlais Higher and Lower were obliged to come to Pontardawe for register office marriages.

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