Secrets of Queen Street Neath
Facts that many councillors don't know
Last month on 17th February we told you about the website of Keith Reed the Neath Historian who lives in Caewern.
It includes facts about Neath's Queen Street. Keith writes:
"Queen Street Neath, was built in 1850 and named because of Queen Victoria. It was planned as a middle class street of terraced houses of the period. They probably had small walled front gardens with rough iron railings and a gate. The main thoroughfare was for horse-drawn traffic.
Starting at Green Street end, opposite the town market, which was adjacent to the cattle market. and standing at Marks and Spencers autobank, looking across to Shoe Zone we can make out three or four Georgian Houses built around 1790.On Marks and Spencers side there was previously an Independent Chapel with a cemetery. The chapel has long gone, but the cemetery remains are under the top half of the floor of Marks and Spencer, which also holds a crypt and has to be inspected once a year. Rumour has it that none of the staff will go down into the storeroom on their own - I wonder why?"
We can now reveal that Jason Reynolds, a researcher for Heritage Scene (Neath), has discovered Victorian kitchens in the sealed basements of several shops.
It appears to go back to times when servants lived downstairs and those they served lived upstairs.
Just imagine what an attraction it would be to recapture a Victorian setting for visitors. It would be a tremendous attraction and revitalize a street that currently has many empty shops.
Something has to been done to attract people to this street - and this may be the answer.
Victorian Neath - a video by Mike Davies
