History
Aberffrwd Cemetery, in Caegarw, was the first public cemetery in Mountain Ash with the first burial taking place there on 29 August 1866. When this burial ground became full, a new cemetery was opened in 1906 known as Maes yr Arian in nearby Glenboi. It was officially closed in 1991, meaning that no new plots were available – but it remained open for burials in family plots.
Aberffrwd Cemetery is no longer open to the public. Around a decade ago, Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) Council locked and closed the site, citing safety risks posed by unstable private graves. Since its closure, the cemetery has not been maintained, and over time, dense undergrowth has taken over, obscuring many of the gravestones from view.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday 8th July 2025 - Link
Mountain Ash Library - 7pm
The first meeting of the Friends of Aberffrwd Cemetery will be held at 19:00 on the 8th of July at Mountain Ash Library.
We will discuss the general aims and objectives of the group and elect people to key officer roles. We will require, a Secretary, a Chairperson and a Treasurer as a minimum to satisfy potential funding bodies. Anyone who wishes to stand for any of these positions, please get in touch either on Facebook or you can email us on aberffrwdcemetery@gmail.com
We are hoping to welcome some special guests, with details to follow.
Notable people buried at the cemetery
There are several notable people buried at the cemetery including:
James William Ap Valant - a well known poet from the Cynon Valley
Henry Austin Bruce - First Lord Aberdare
Philip Henry Burton - acclaimed radio producer and theatre director
For more information, visit our Notable People page.
Commonwealth War Graves
There are six Commonwealth War Graves in Aberffrwd cemetery:
Private Isaac J Beecham - Died 03 Nov 1918, Age 28 years old
Driver Ebenezer Williams - Died 28 Mar 1916
Gunner John Francis Davies - Died 28 Nov 1918, Age 29 years old
Sapper Thomas A Gibbon - Died 12 Apr 1918, Age 36 years old
Private David Morgan - Died 28 Feb 1917, Age 33 years old
Driver Harry Pillinger - Died 14 Nov 1918, Age 28 years old
For more information, visit our War Graves page.
A section of a large map depicting the Dyffryn Estate, including Aberffrwd Cemetery.
A plan of the cemetery, before building commenced.