It is a common misconception in Resolfen that there exists a body known as the Historical Society, in fact, since its inception in 1983, it has always been a history society.

Resolven History Society was established in October 1983, in a meeting at Resolfen School. The first Chairman was Phylip Jones, the late Bill Downing served as Secretary and John Mc Mahon was the initial Treasurer. The first speaker to address the History Society was Mr Phylip Jones, who spoke on the topic of Resolven Reading Room in November 1983.

Membership stood at 39 by 1985, and reached a high point in 1992 when the Society had 59 full members, remarkable for such a small community. It should be also noted that meetings are frequently attended by significant numbers of non-members, and current membership is still in the mid thirties.

Early meetings were held at the school, however rising hire fees caused meetings to be held at the Park Pavilion in 1984. In 1985 the Society used the Canon Lewis Memorial Hall and then utilised the Adult Centre in 1987 for a short while before returning to the Church Hall where the History Society has been made very welcome ever since.

The Society's initial aim was the study of history in all its forms. Over the years, lectures have included local topics and reminiscences and have also encompassed talks from such leading modern historians as Professors Glanmor Williams, Hywel Teifi Edwards and Hywel Francis. In 1996, following the death of Society stalwart Noel Thomas, it was decided to hold one lecture every year in his memory with a topic dedicated to a Welsh literary theme.

The History Society has also enjoyed many trips and historical visits over the years. These visits have included numerous castles and grand houses such as Cydweli and Powis Castle, museums at St. Fagans and Carmarthen, the futuristic Celtica exhibition and a visit to Bristol. The social side of the History Society has been reinforced by the annual dinner, which is now held to celebrate St.David's Day.

The second decade of the Society's existence has been extremely interesting. The Society entered the political arena in 1995 when at the instigation of members who objected to the buying of the Churchill Papers by the National Lottery; letters were exchanged with government ministers on the topic. In 1994, as 'Cymdeithas Hanes Resolfen', the Society sponsored a prize in the male voice choir competition in the National Eisteddfod at Pentreclwyda. In addition the Society agreed to make a donation to the National Trust appeal to buy Snowdon for the nation.

The Society published a booklet on The Resolven Reading Room in 1996, written by Phylip Jones and illustrated by John Rees. The success of this venture shows a real demand for local history. In 2000, in conjunction with Resolven Millennium Committee, a "people's history" of Resolfen was published entitled 'Resolfen Recalled'. This proved an instant success and 800 copies were snapped up in a few days and weeks.

The new millennium will inevitably change Resolfen as a society as it enters a post heavy-industrial era. The History Society continues to thrive and new menbers are always welcome. Hopefully we'll continue to flourish in the coming decades.

If you would like further information on the Resolfen History Society you can contact the Secretary Trefor Jones by telephone on 01639 710855 or by email - trefjon@hotmail.com.