Neath Road is the main road through Rhos. Over the years it has changed significantly. In 1900, you will see that there were no pedestrian paths.

In 1908 a pedestrian path was made on the right side of Neath Road.

In 1937 the road was widened to accommodate pedestrian paths both sides. The photo on the left shows workers taking a well earned rest from widening the road.

Milestone Cottage at number 48 Neath Road, Rhos, takes it's name from the turnpike milestone built into the boundary wall of the property. The stone carries the legend IV (4) miles to Neath. It was built by the turnpike trust in around 1800 on the road running from Pontardawe to Neath.

(Around Pontardawe Third Edition - Jeff Childs)

The first photo dates from 1900. The house to the centre left in the first photo, Ty Mawr, became the Rhos branch of the Alltwen and Pontardawe Co-operative society Ltd. It is shown in the second picture in 1920. The building still remains and today it is a Premier Grocery Store. It remains the main commercial outlet of the village, now also providing a post office service to the community.

(Around Pontardawe - Jeff Childs)

In 1930 this building was a butcher's shop owned at the time by David John, whose family came from Cefn Celfi Farm, Rhos. The shop then became a general store and haberdashery in the 1940s and 1950s run by Elwyn Griffiths. In more recent times it sold bread and cakes but is now currently a hairdressers, run by Janet Lewis.

Ebenezer Independent Chapel was built in 1860, rebuilt in 1883 and rebuilt again in 1904.

With the opening of the New Primrose Colliery in 1895, Alltwen chapel allowed Rhos to go on it's own, as an independent chapel. With membership increasing, a new chapel built on Cefn Celfi land, was completed and opened in 1905. Revd David Jenkins, Alltwen, was ordained as minister in 1897. He worked energetically during his 55 year ministry.

A Sunday school opened in the chapel, with an average attendance of 80.

The Smiths Arms pub was built in 1847. It was then used as a blacksmiths workshop and later developed into a pub. Thomas Williams was the blacksmith there for part of the 19th century. He was born in the parish of Llangiwg in 1826. He married Margaret Hopkin of Rhos at Cilybebyll church on June 16, 1849 and the 1851 census records them living in Rhos. His occupation was a blacksmith. In the 1851 census they were living at the Smiths Arms. Thomas and Margaret had five children. They continued to live at the Smiths Arms until Thomas died in 1884. His wife carried on running the pub until her death in 1899.

Thomas’s son-in-law, Evan Francis, who had married his daughter Margaret, was the next publican at the Smiths. He and Margaret were still there in 1911.

Today, The Smiths Arms remains an important part of the community, welcoming residents and families in and around the village. It hosts a number of social events throughout the year for all ages.