# 1949 Glamorgan County Council election

The eighteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in April 1949. It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed by the 1952 election.

## Overview

Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Candidates

Many candidates were returned unopposed.
Among the Labour candidates returned unopposed was John Shea (Briton Ferry) who had been selected in a 'referendum' to succeed George Gethin, who had died some months before the election.

## Outcome

Labour retained their majority as comfortably as in all previous elections, and captured both the Garw Valley ward and the Coedffranc ward from the Communists.

## Results
### Aberaman

Aberaman 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Florence Rose Davies** | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Aberavon

Aberavon 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Abercynon

Abercynon 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Dicks** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Alwyn John | 1,292 |
| | Labour | Tom Williams | 977 |
| | Independent | Henry Cohen | 242 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Bargoed

Bargoed 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William John Kedward* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Barry

Dudley Howe had previously represented Cadoxton and gained the neighbouring Barry ward from Labour. However, Labour won Cadoxton for the first time against the new candidate.
Barry 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Dudley Thomas Howe* | 2,304 |
| | Labour | W. East* | 2,004 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Barry Dock

Barry Dock 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Dorothy Rees** | 1,965 |
| | Independent | G. Edward Smith | 1,762 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 203 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William J. Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bridgend

Bridgend 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | H.P. Williams | 1,808 |
| | Labour | W.T. Ellis | 1,344 |
| | Conservative | H.D. Bellew | 945 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 464 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Shea | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cadoxton

Cadoxton 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Digby Smith | 1,499 |
| | Independent | A.L. Davies | 1,158 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 341 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Castell Coch

Castell Coch 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Sir Lewis Lougher* | 1,458 |
| | Labour | Edward Harry Follis | 606 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 852 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Edryd Lewis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D.T. Jenkins | 3,278 |
| | Communist | Alun Thomas* | 1,456 |
| | Independent | Bessie Davies | 908 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,822 |
| | Labour gain from Communist | Labour gain from Communist | Swing |

### Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D.I. Morgan | 2,770 |
| | Independent | D.H. Hopkin | 2,410 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 360 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev David M. Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Jones Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cymmer

Cymmer 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John James Garwood* | 1,167 |
| | Independent | Evan Thomas | 485 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 682 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ivor Broadbent Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Adams* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ferndale

Ferndale 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gadlys

Gadlys 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Phillips* | 1,802 |
| | Labour | David Idris Bruton | 796 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,006 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Garw Valley

Garw Valley 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Gunter* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Glyncorrwg

Glyncorrwg 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sir William Jenkins** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gower

Gower 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Fredrick William Davies | 2,083 |
| | Labour | Stanley Jones | 1,480 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 603 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Loveday* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hopkinstown

Hopkinstown 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Waite | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kibbor

Kibbor 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Edgar L. Chappell | 1,769 |
| | Independent | John Kane | 1,400 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 369 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Caradoc Jones** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Bowen** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Martha Emma Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llwynypia

Llwynypia 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Haines Rowlands* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Loughor

Loughor 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Davies | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E.D. Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Justin Lewis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W.K. Owen* | 2,072 |
| | Labour | J.W. Morgan | 1,462 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 610 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Reg Francis* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Newcastle

Newcastle 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Philip Squire* | 3,081 |
| | Conservative | W.T. Baker | 530 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,551 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Communist | Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* | 1,963 |
| | Labour | Stanley James Moore | 833 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,130 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing |

### Penarth North

Penarth North 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | H.J. Cook | 1,001 |
| | Independent | F.R. Cratchley | 801 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Penarth South

Penarth South 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.B. Jones | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pencoed

Pencoed 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mervyn W. Paine* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John William Bath* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pentre

Pentre 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Glyn L. Wales | 2,530 |
| | Labour | Glyn Evans | 978 |
| | Communist | Thomas Evans | 414 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,552 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Penygraig

Penygraig 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Churchill* | 2,148 |
| | Independent | William John Gribble | 981 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,267 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Daniel Davies** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontlottyn

Pontlottyn 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.A. Hancock* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontyclun

Pontyclun 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Johnson Miles** | 2,483 |
| | Independent | Annie Mary Russell | 1,554 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 929 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Pontypridd Town

Pontypridd Town 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Ivor M. Jenkins | 1,458 |
| | Independent | Cyril R. Morgan | 1,450 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 308 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Thomas** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rees L. Matthews | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Porth

Porth 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Griffiths | 976 |
| | Independent | Daniel Jones* | 974 |
| | Communist | Murray Williams | 868 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Jenkin Francis John* | 3,634 |
| | Independent | Bruce Cameron | 2,287 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,347 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jenkins* | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Rogers* | 1,484 |
| | Communist | David John Griffiths | 711 |
| | Independent | Harold Whitton Davies | 584 |
| | Independent | Evan Jones | 97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 773 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Trealaw

Trealaw 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Communist | Lewis Jones | 1,945 |
| | Labour | Richard Jones | 1,315 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 630 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing |

### Treforest

Treforest 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Arthur W. Harris | 2,507 |
| | Independent | Ceiriog Williams | 1,029 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,478 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Treherbert

Treherbert 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William Llewellyn* | 3,345 |
| | Communist | George Thomas | 1,964 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,391 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Treorchy

Treorchy 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Rhys Evans** | 4,401 |
| | Communist | Ivor Williams | 1,077 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,324 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Tylorstown

Tylorstown 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Llewellyn Jones | 1,984 |
| | Communist | Frederick J. Morton | 942 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,042 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Vale of Neath

Vale of Neath 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frances Handy* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ynyshir

Ynyshir 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Ivor Jones | 1,855 |
| | Independent | Morgan Benjamin | 1,418 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 437 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Alice Williams* | 2,051 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 873 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,176 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ystrad

Ystrad 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Sidney Cadogan** | 1,931 |
| | Communist | Annie Powell | 1,189 |
| | Independent | Thomas Aldridge | 853 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 742 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

## Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1928 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents.
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
* Sidney Cadogan (Lab, Rhondda)
* W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower)
* Alfred Evans (Lab, Rhondda)
* Rhys Evans (Lab, Treorchy)
* Tom Evans (Lab, Pengam)
* Daniel T. Jones (Lab, Ystalyfera)
* W. Arthur Jones (Lab, Tonyrefail)
* Evan Phillips (Lab, Caerphilly)
* Rev W. Degwel Thomas (Lab, Neath)
The following new aldermen were elected:
* H.J. Cook (Lab, Penarth)
* Mervyn Payne (Lab, Pencoed)

## By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

### Aberaman by-election

Aberaman by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sydney Herbert Stephens* | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Abercynon by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Barry Dock by-election

Labour lost the by-election held following the re-election of Dorothy Rees to the aldermanic bench. The Labour candidate had been elected following Rees's original election as alderman three years previously and at the recent election had unsuccessfully contested the neighbouring Barry ward.
Barry Dock by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | J. Edward Smith | 2,080 |
| | Labour | W. East* | 1,783 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Glyncorrwg by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Hopkinstown by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llandeilo Talybont by-election

Llandeilo Talybont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Llewellyn Davies | 1,501 |
| | Labour | J. Powell | 1,378 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llanfabon by-election

Llanfabon by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Charles Herbert Davies | 1,387 |
| | Independent | Rev. Henry Withers | 798 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 589 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Maesteg by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Pontardawe by-election

Pontardawe by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Tylorstown by-election

Tylorstown by-election 1947 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Mardy Evans* | 1,977 |
| | Communist | George Edward Maslin | 584 |
| | Independent | David John | 284 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,393 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |