Demolition has commenced in Water Street

Pictured below is a Google aerial view of Water Street showing part of the Civic Centre car park.   The arrow points to the approximate spot where demolition machines have moved in to do their work.

Below is another Google picture at street level.  Note that the houses, built prior to 1870, had basements.   It is thought that the basements were for storing coal, delivered by the pavement covers marked with arrows.

Some of the pavement 'covers' were in the form of grills (pictured right).  Keith Reed, Neath historian said that a stream, from which the street has its name, ran down the centre of the street - this was the same stream as at the memorial gates, being the overflow outlet from the Gnoll ponds, which at one time were the water reservoirs for the town.

A picture not seen before and likely to to be seen again - a demolition machine moving into the backs of the houses ready to start work.