Cory Band

The Cory Band, one of the most successful brass bands in the world, began in 1884 in the Rhondda as the Ton Temperance Band and became the Cory Workmen's Band after Sir Clifford Cory of the colliery owners Cory Brothers heard it at the opening of the Gelli Colliery library in 1895.

The mining history in this record

The band was formed in 1884 at Ton Pentre in the Rhondda as the Ton Temperance Band, a competing brass band named for the temperance movement. In 1895 it was invited to play at the official opening of the Gelli Colliery library at Ystrad, where Sir Clifford Cory, chairman of Cory Brothers, the coal owners, heard it and offered to support it; it took his name, becoming the Cory Workmen's Band, the band of Cory Brothers' men.

It reached championship status in 1920, and three years later played in what is believed to have been the first radio broadcast by a brass band. Over its life it has also been known as the Cory Workmen's Club and Cory Workmen's Silver Band.

People

Sir Clifford Cory, chairman of Cory Brothers, the band's patron.

Legacy today

Now based at Treorchy, the band has been ranked the world's leading brass band for more than a decade and in 2016 became the first to hold the British Open, National and European titles at once, the banding grand slam. It has been resident ensemble at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and after a spell under the name of its sponsor Buy As You View it reverted to the Cory Band in 2007.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each tagged with how solidly it's grounded and attached to the source(s) that support it. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The band was formed in 1884 in the Rhondda as the Ton Temperance Band. (documented fact) ^1,2
• In 1895 it played at the official opening of the Gelli Colliery library in Ystrad, where Sir Clifford Cory, chairman of Cory Brothers, heard it and offered financial help; it became the Cory Workmen's Band. (documented fact) ¹
• The band has also been known as the Cory Workmen's Band, Cory Workmen's Club and Cory Workmen's Silver Band. (documented fact) ²
• It gained championship status in 1920 and in 1923 played in what is believed to have been the first radio broadcast by a brass band. (documented fact) ¹
• In 2016 the Cory Band won the British Open, National and European championships, the first band to hold all the major titles at once. (documented fact) ¹

Mines

• Gelli Colliery — Rhondda Cynon Taf
  The band took the Cory name after playing at the opening of the Gelli Colliery library in 1895, when Sir Clifford Cory of Cory Brothers, the colliery's owners, offered it support; it became the band of Cory Brothers' workmen.

Real-world mining concepts used here

Coal, Colliery

Sources

1. (secondary) Cory Band — Wikipedia
2. (secondary) Cory Band (band record, with former names) — Brass Band Results

Record created: 5 October 2026 · Last researched: 5 October 2026