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South Wales Miners Federation (SWMF) Register of Deaths in the South Wales coalfield between 5 January 1934 and 17 January 1941.
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This is a letter written by Dr Glen Jenkins to the Editor of the Glamorgan Family History Society's journal in March 2006
It relates to an index of the above Register of Deaths compiled by him and now held by the Library and Information Services, University of Wales Swansea
I noted in the March 2006 Journal (No. 81) that you have recently published 'Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Mining Accidents 1933-34'. I have been interested in mining deaths for some time particularly since my wife's grandfather John Talfryn Lewis died at 33 years of age in an accident at Cwmaman Colliery on 17 May 1933. His elder brother Lewis Lewis having previously been killed on 1 October 1910 aged 19 at the same colliery. The statistics, while important, do not reflect the horror of the mining industry experienced by our ancestors. While the official records give one picture, in Lewis Lewis' case, for example, his body was brought home to his mother and placed unceremoniously on the kitchen table. Many families experienced this slaughter of the innocence in the mining industry in the South Wales valleys. Few were compensated for these accidents, many of which were avoidable.
It was with these thought in mind that some years ago with the permission of the Archivist at Swansea University I indexed the South Wales Miners Federation (SWMF) Register of Deaths in the South Wales coalfield between the 5 January 1934 and 17 January 1941. The Register was commenced in 1934 at the time of the reorganisation of the SWMF when eight new numbered Areas replaced the previous nineteen Districts. The Areas were:
- Anthracite and Western Districts
- Afan Valley District and British Rhondda Lodge
- Garw, Ogmore and Gilfach, and Maesteg Districts
- Rhondda No. 1 and Pontypridd Districts (exc. Abercynon Lodge)
- Aberdare (exc. British Rhondda Lodge), Taff and Cynon, Merthyr and Dowlais District, and Abercynon Lodge
- Rhymney Valley and East Glamorgan Districts
- Tredegar Valley and Ebbw Vale Districts
- Monmouthshire Western Valleys, Blaina and Eastern Valleys Districts
The Register is likely to have come from the Compensation Department that was set up under Evan Williams at the time of reorganisation to seek compensation for those injured or killed in the coal mining industry. It is not clear why the Register finishes in January 1941 but it may have something to do with Evan Williams becoming General Secretary of the SWMF in 1941 on the death of Oliver Harris and new procedures were introduced at that time.
The Register includes 769 deaths in total, a large number of which are death by accident in the coalmines of South Wales during this period and further information on these can be found elsewhere such as the GFHS publication. However, the register includes the names of 103 miners who died of silicosis. Silicosis became compensatable in 1929 but obtaining compensation was difficult until the Silicosis Orders in 1934. Francis and Smith (1980:439) state;
Obtaining compensation remained difficult until the 1934 Silicosis Orders provided compensation for any workman who was certified as suffering from silicosis and had been working underground within three years of certification. The struggle for compensation continued to be a problem, owing to the legalistic resistance by coal owners (notably that of Tirbach Colliery in the Swansea Valley, a case which the SWMF lost in the House of Lords in 1934). To highlight this a 'Silicosis Pageant' was organised by the SWMF in the Amman Valley on May Day 1939.
The continuing difficulties of obtaining compensation for workmen afflicted with the disease is recorded in the Register and reflects the success or not of the SWMF's Compensation Department during this period.
All attempts have been made to record as accurately as possible the names of the deceased and the collieries in which they worked but as with all indexing errors may occur. It is therefore recommended that this index be used only as a finding aid and that the original Register be consulted. Where difficulties have arisen in reading the hand-written register a '?' is placed at the end. Where necessary the names of the collieries have been corrected to provide a uniform spelling in the index e.g. PD becomes Powell Dyffryn. Certain numbers in the series are missing and where names have been crossed out, these have not been included. In some cases, errors arose in the Register itself (a) the information was illogical and were therefore noted e.g. date of accident coming after date of death, or (b) information was placed in the wrong column where it has been left as recorded. It should also be noted that the detail of information varies from one individual to another and in some cases only the name is recorded.
References
- Francis, H. and Smith, D. (1980) The Fed: a history of the South Wales Miners in the twentieth century, London: Lawrence and Wishart.
Details in the index includes No, Date Recorded, Area, Name, Address, Company and Colliery, Date of Accident, Cause of Accident, Nature of Injury, Date of death, Cause of Death, Notes. There is also an additional column on the amount of compensation awarded but relatives will have to consult the original documents to find this information.
For those readers who have interest in the index and would like further information, please contact the Archivist, Elisabeth Bennett, at:
Library and Information Services
University of Wales Swansea
Singleton Park
Swansea SA2 8PP
Yours sincerely
Dr Glen Jenkins
17 March 2006
Wales status report
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Wales
As at April 2019
Maintainers
There are 13 counties of which 10 are maintained by the same maintainer, 8 are on an Active basis and 5 on a Care & maintenance basis
All gazetteer sections are maintained by the same maintainer as with the main county/parish pages
Twelve church databases are maintained by the same 1 maintainer, only 1 by a different county maintainer.
All counties have well developed parish pages with content additional to auto generated content, 4 of the 8 active counties are more highly developed as can be seen on the main Projects page
External link errors are generally under active control
Gazetteers
All locations on gazetteer nodes are exact and fully connected to the relevant prime place node
Kain map overlays have now been added to all parish pages and used to verify that gazetteer nodes are connected to the correct/same parishes as shown within the overlays.
Church Databases
These generally have minimal data, few embedded photographs apart from in CGN where Ken Greenslade is active locally
There are 4 active counties (CGN/CMN/PEM/GLA) where a feature of the parish pages is the well developed church/chapel content, which development preceded that of the separate church databases, and the current maintainer doesn’t consider it appropriate to transfer that data to the church database nodes
Further future possible enhancements
- Assign graveyard indicators
- Assign open/closed dates where known
- Provide photographs eg geograph or insert links to same
- Assign link to church's own website, where applicable
- Check / assign denomination, where applicable
Problem areas
The fact that one maintainer looks after 10 of the 13 counties is a concern for the future.
In 2018 an attempt was made to find maintainers via both the Dyfed and Glamorgan mailing lists with no response.
Recent new county maintainers have not been allocated the county’s relevant church database as a matter of policy, we have no current plan in place to hand them over in due course so they remain in the care of the original caretaker, not ideal.
Schools and education in Wales
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Swansea and its hinterland.......3
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This is a series of substantial extracts from "The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921". By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea ; Pamphlet 4. 1940.
After the initial general introduction I will generally confine extracts to factual data and will try not to duplicate subjects existing already on Swansea, its Port and Trade and their Development.
There is a list of Contents of this book here
Preface
"The economic development of the Swansea District reflects the interplay of a number of factors; there are periods of slow and gradual progress, of stagnation and retardation, and times of remarkable industrial acceleration and progressive expansion. In the following account, an attempt has been made to trace the stages in the economic history of Swansea and its geographic hinterland, to recognise and assess the contribution of complex factors --natural resources and human effort, native and external to the region--and to furnish evidence and documentation in so far as the prescribed limits of this publication would allow.
There is a lack of suitable material for the period before AD 1400. Progress was gradual and intermittent during the C15 and C16 when, although coal-mining , the smelting of mineral ores, and some amount of maritime trade had been established, the region must have remained largely self sufficing and agricultural in character. The foundations of metallurgical industries were well and truly laid in the C18, and were accompanied by extensive exploitation of the coal reserves of the entire region. Maritime trade expanded. Adjustments were necessary to cope with the industrial revolution rapidly taking place ; harbour improvements, new modes of transport by road, canal, and rail resulted ; suitable locations were found for new works ; factories were reconstructed to deal with changing industries, copper, lead, zinc, iron, steel, and tinplates ; the influx of capital and labour had far reaching effects upon settlement, housing, social and cultural amenities etc.
The author regrets that he has not been able to deal more fully with the lives of those "big men" of industry and inventive skill to whose initial efforts and courage, sometimes unrewarded financially, a great deal of the industrial prosperity of the region during the past 150 years is due. Economic conditions are not static but, given a favourable geographical location, a wealth of natural resources, and a virile and adaptable people, the adjustments and readjustments, which have to be made to meet changing conditions, are always possible.
The lessons and experiences of the past enlighten the present ; even wars reveal errors and maladjustments, and may teach the urgent need for decentralization and redistribution of industries unfavourably located under modern state and world conditions.............."
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940 Gareth]
Pre C19 Developments
The military conquests of South Wales from the close of the C11 onwards had resulted in the creation of several lordships-marcher directly related to the many strategic castles. Swansea became the chief borough town in the lordship of Gower whose limits were, broadly the rivers Loughor and Tawe on west and east, the Bristol Channel on the south, and the Cathan, Twrch and Amman rivers on the north. East of the lower Tawe was the lordship of Kilvey.
Swansea became a regional frontier town. It commanded the most vulnerable approach from the east and north into the peninsula of Gower ; it controlled the ferry route across the Tawe; and was situated upon the boundary of two distinct and contrasting regions both agriculturally and humanly at this period.
Early shipping ;
During the years 1709-12 the following Swansea ships are recorded in the port books
- Mary and Susannah-40 tons
- John and Mary-72 tons
- Mary and Ann-56 tons
- Philip and Mary-56 tons
- John and Sarah-60 tons
- William-84 tons
- Peace of Swansea-87 tons
Their captains bore the familiar Welsh names of Harry, Bevan, Maddocks, and Vaughan.
The total tonnage of coasting vessels belonging to the port of Swansea in 1709 was 2148 tons.
The colliers trading in the Bristol Channel ports generally carried additional cargoes of pastoral products including live animals, wool, stockings, hats, gloves, bacon, butter, oatmeal etc.
Some extracts from the Bridgwater [SOM] port book illustrates this;
- 11 June 1682, landed from a Swansea boat;- 40 chaldrons coal London measure, 20 gallons butter, 2 bags nails, 60 Welsh pigs, and 40 sheep.
- 29th June 1682, in the Thomas and Elizabeth from Neath, Thomas Morgan master, 36 chaldrons coal London measure, 4 dickers leather, 34 1/2 gallons butter in pots, 200 bags oatmeal, 1 bag wool, 5 flitches bacon, thousand[?] eggs, 1 piece gray flannel, 1piece blanket, 2 dozen stockings, 2 gross Welsh gartering.
- Other ships mentioned ; the Speedwell of Bridgwater ; the Richard and Jane of Swansea, master Morgan Harrison.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940. Gareth 8 Dec 2000 G]
Smelting;
The history of the smelting industries in this general locality takes us back to 1584 when Ulricke Frosse, representing the Mines Royal Society, was on the local scene in Neath.
The copper ore imported from Cornwall was mined in the region from St Just to St Ives and was sent to Neath from the port of St Ives and in Neath boats, some owned by the Mines Royal Company. Timber from Neath formed the return cargo of at least one vessel.
The Neath Abbey area , where the remains of first copper furnace in the Swansea District was located, had the advantages over Cornwall itself, for smelting purposes, of sea coals and local forests for wood for charcoal, both of which were lacking in Cornwall.Plus the accessibility of the Neath River to the furnaces.
It is also in Neath that the nest recorded smelting works was erected, this time on the eastern bank of the river at Melincrythan, about a mile from the town on the Briton Ferry road. This works was started by Sir Humphrey Mackworth in 1695, eventually being owned by the Mine Adventurers Company.
Snippets re this works;
- c 1695 fuel was the biggest cost item, 18 tons of coal being needed to produce 1 ton of copper
- New furnaces for smelting of lead ore were built in 1703 on Gnoll Hill by men sent from Cardiganshire.
- Labour for the mines may have been difficult to obtain for, on one occasion, criminals from Aylesbury and Bedford jails were sent by boat from London to Neath.
- It seems the extraction of lead and silver were the main activities here at this time, the lead ores coming from the Cardiganshire mines of Cwmsymlog, Goginan, and Cwmystwyth by sea from the Dovey estuary. Copper ores for Neath came from both Cardiganshire and Cornwall.
- At Bristol in 1703, 1200 tons of lead from Neath were sold at £8 a ton.
- The Company paid one William Williams the annual sum of £30 for the education of the poor workmen's children of Neath.
Two other Neath locality copper works are mentioned during this century[C17];
- The copper battery mill at Cwm-y-Felin [1694-1790], became an iron mill in 1792.
- Roe & Company's Copper Works [the Cheadle Works] erected some time in the 1790s but abandoned in 1821.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940. Gareth. 8 Dec 2000 G]
In Swansea itself, the recorded copper /lead smelting works were those at;
- Landore, in Llangyfelach parish, built by Dr Lane of Bristol in 1717 and taken over by Morris Lockwood & Co in 1726. The ore was brought up the River Tawe in 60 ton boats to the quay at Landore.
- The Old Copper Works [ at the Burlaisbrook junction with the Tawe], built by James Griffiths ' and some other Quakers' in 1720. Griffiths & Co c1728 bought a half share in an Irish copper mine at Ballymurtagh,Wicklow to secure a new source of copper ore. But by 1764 it seems to have become a 'stone ware manufactory'.
- White Rock Copper Works in 1720, built by Percival of Bristol.
- Forest, pre 1747, built by Morris Lockwood & Co
- Middle Bank, in 1755, by Alderman Chansey Townsend of London
- Upper Bank, in 1777, previously a lead works
- Birmingham, in 1791, by Birmingham Mining and Copper Co
- Rose, in 1795, by a Birmingham Company
- There was also the Taibach Copper works in Port Talbot, built 1727, by 'The Governor and Company of the Copper Mines in England'[ who also rented the Melincrythan Works in 1720]
- Penclawdd Copper Works, pre 1798, which brought the Vivian family to South Wales
These smelters came to Swansea and Neath from Cornwall, Bristol, London, Shropshire, the Midlands and other older established smelting areas. A great debt is owed to such men as Sir Humphrey Mackworth, Robert Morris of Shropshire, Dr Lane and Percival of Bristol, Alderman Chansey Townsend of London, the Vivians of Cornwall, and the various Quaker families that came to the Swansea area.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940. Gareth 9 Dec 2000 G]
Towards the end of the C18 the Welsh process of copper smelting in reverberatory furnaces of two kinds--calciners and melting furnaces-- had been evolved. It consisted of at least six operations, generally more, towards the extraction by the joint agency of air and heat of copper from cupriferous ores in a quartz gangue. The process is described in detail in the book.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940. Gareth ]
Coal-mining and coal trade in the C18;
It was the coastal location and supplies of easily mined suitable coal that attracted ore miners and smelters to the Swansea/Neath area.The general use of coal in the C18 supplanted the earlier use of charcoal as a fuel. 18 tons of coal were needed to smelt about 4 tons of rich copper ore to produce 1 ton of copper.
Coal for smelting and export was obtained locally, there were mines at Clyne, Cwmbwrla, Cwmbach, Penvilia and Trewyddfa west of the Tawe, and at Llansamlet and Kilvey to the east. Exploitation towards Mynyddbach, Waunarlwydd, and Loughor had taken place by 1728-30, probably much earlier.
It was from the Cwmbach and Penvilia pits of Mr Popkin, the Trewyddfa [copper bank] pit of Mr Thomas Price, and the Trewyddfa [Treboeth] pit of Mr Mackworth that the earlier copper works on the west side of the river [Swansea, Landore, Forest] obtained their coal. Those on the eastern side were supplied by the Llansamlet [South, Little, Middle, Pydew and Keven] and Kilvey pits.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940. 10 Dec 2000G Gareth ]
Conflict between coal-owners and ore-smelters frequently took place forcing the latter to develop their own mines, such as, for example, Morris, Lockwood & Co at Landore, where they took over Mr Mackworth's colliery at Trewyddfa in 1728 [ Mackworth retaining half profits].
In addition to opening new pits, vast improvements took place in facilitating deeper mining and haulage underground. The heavy consumption of coal by the copper smelters is indicated by the monthly payment of about £111 by Morris, Lockwood & Co in 1728 to the two coal proprietors, Popkin & Mackworth.
At the Pentre Pit, Landore in 1788 there were 240 tons of cast iron tram plates underground and before the close of the C18 a Boulton and Watt steam-engine had been installed at a cost of £5000, which was described in the following terms in 1802;
"This machine throws up from a vast depth 100 gallons of water each stroke, which is repeated twelve times a minute, making 78,000 galls of water per hour."
Vertical shafts linked up the several adits or levels, and along the tramways low wagons, each of a chaldron capacity, brought the coal to the surface. An iron tramway, with horse drawn wagons, linked the colliery with the quay at Landore.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Foreign shipments of coal continued throughout the C18. Boats took in cargoes upstream, alongside the quay at Landore[ Trewyddfa collieries], at White Rock and Middle Banks [Llansamlet collieries], and along the several corporation banks downstream.
The port books of the Swansea area giving coastal shipments are not extant but these entries from other British ports which maintained reciprocal trade with Swansea, Neath and Llanelly are indicative of an expanding trade;
Bridgewater imported during the 12 months to June 1731, 3,889 tons of coal and culm from Neath, 1472 tons from Swansea, and 141 tons from Llanelly.
At Exeter, south Wales coal entered into competition with Newcastle and Sunderland coal but managed to get a fair proportion of the market, and at the close of the century Neath sent 1584 tons and Swansea 1100 tons into the port of Exeter in the first 6 months of 1800 ; compared with only 205 tons from Swansea and 624 tons from Llanelly in the 12 months to June 1734.
In this century[C18], the inter-trade of Swansea and Bristol became important, indeed in the year 1734/5 one in twelve of the coastal steamers leaving Bristol was bound for Swansea[40 out of 477 cargoes].
The extant port books [pre 1719] give full details of the shipment of cargoes to Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the continent from central south wales ports. Swansea's export of coal to south Irish ports increased from 2532 tons [66 cargoes] in 1709 to 7528 tons[208 cargoes] in 1719, but it was ships of north Devon and Ireland which practically monopolised this coal trade from Swansea. The Breton and west coast ports of France also sent ships for Welsh coal, numbering 26 ships with total cargoes of 833 tons of coal in 1719.The coal market also extended into Spain and Portugal during this decade and Swansea ships took an active interest.
Besides coal, the Swansea vessels also carried fair quantities of additional cargo, much of which was derived from the immediate hinterland of Swansea and Neath--grain from the arable area, woollen goods, herrings cured at the ports, and lead from the Neath smelting works.
The import trade of the two ports from foreign countries was quite small; normally from 3 to 6 ships per quarter brought inward cargoes liable to taxation.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
One can envisage the rapid expansion of coal exportation following the improved navigation of the river and harbour by the statement that , in 1799, 139,486 chaldrons [each chaldron of 2000 lb] of bituminous and 13,319 chaldrons of stone coal were exported as compared with an annual export of 12,000 chaldrons [chaldron of 28 cwt] during the first decade of the C18.
The growth of shipping, [only partly due to the coal trade for we must allow for copper, lead and iron and their ores] may be expressed in another way; in 1800, 2590 vessels of 154,264 total tonnage entered Swansea. In 1768, 690 vessels of 30,631 tons had entered the port.
Navigational problems were however beginning to become serious deterrents to the future development of the port unless constructively tackled by the Corporation who were undecided whether Swansea should develop as a tourist and health resort or a commercial and industrial port.
The first Harbour Act became law in 1791, titled "An Act for repairing, enlarging and preserving the Harbour of Swansea...".
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Canals in the C18
Until almost the end of the C18 the growth of industry in Swansea district was related mainly to the ease of maritime communications and transport, road transport playing only a minor part.
Associated with the rapid expansion of the smelting industry in the Llanelly-Swansea-Neath-Aberavon zone towards the close of the C18 is the linkage of the coastal towns with the interior by canal waterways as the demand for coal, lime and iron ore increased. The expanding industries could no longer be adequately supplied from the immediate hinterlands of the ports.
New collieries further inland were developed, quantities of limestone, fireclay, and iron ore from the northern rim of the coal basin supplemented the insufficient supplies of the south crop. Transport of heavy raw materials was much cheaper than either road or rail.
Although, in 1780, William Padley had proposed a canal from Swansea to Ynyscedwyn, it was from Neath that the first canal in the area was constructed. Indeed a navigable cut, dating from 1740-51, had linked Ynys-y-gerwn Rolling and Tin Mills to the old ironworks at Aberdulais. Then in 1790, the Crymlyn Canal of Edward Elton transported the rich bituminous coals of Glan-y-wern Colliery, on the eastern flank of Kilvey Hill across the marsh and bog to the wharves and quays at Trowman's Hole on the Neath River[ just over 3 miles].
A few years later a shorter canal [ just over a mile long] joined Raby's Iron Furnace to the river at Giant's Grave[Briton Ferry] and this formed part of the extension of the Vale of Neath Canal to Briton Ferry in 1798.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
These earlier minor efforts were overshadowed by the Vale of Neath Canal which received royal assent in 1791 and construction started the same year. According to this Act the canal was to extend from the Brickfield, Neath to Abernant, Glyn-neath. The southern section between Neath and Briton Ferry was sanctioned by Parliament in 1798. The entire 13 miles length was finished in 1799.
Its purpose was dominantly industrial although passengers were carried on the barges. It served the works en route i.e Melincrythan, Aberdulais, Ynys-y-gerwn, and Melincwrt, but its repercussions were felt over a much wider area.
New collieries were opened in the valley and tramways brought more distant areas within reach of the canal head at Glyn-neath. The Penderyn Limestone Quarries had been linked by tram-road with the ironworks at Hirwaun since 1780; about 1808-10 this trackway was extended along an incline plain to the head of the Neath Canal. Competition soon resulted between the Neath Canal and the Aberdare branch of the Glamorganshire Canal from Cardiff which opened in 1811, and which served the Abernant-Aberdare ironworks and the collieries of the Cynon Valley.
This tram-road brought in one direction the finished wrought iron of the Hirwaun and Aberdare works, which was sent down the canal to Giant's Grave for export. In the reverse direction, the ironstone, scoured from the Penrhiw-Cwm Gwrelych area of the Upper Neath valley, was taken to Hirwaun and Aberdare.
Another tram-road, in 1806/7, linked the canal head at Glyn-neath with Dinas Rock, rich in limestone, fire and pottery clays, marble, iron, and lead ores. A year later estimates were required for the transport of 30,000 tons of limestone and 5,000 tons of fireclay along this tram-road. The success of the canal may be gauged by the fact that the £100 shares of the canal company were valued in 1845 at £345. In 1856/60 the annual quantity of coal brought by the canal to Giant's Grave for export in 80-200 ton vessels was 200,000 tons.
In 1812 a court case decreed that the working of iron-mines by scouring to be illegal, the practice was creating an accumulation of silt at the head waters of the canal, brought by the feeder of the Neath River.
The town of Neath feared that the southward extension to Giant's Grave at Briton Ferry would detract from its own prosperity. The 1798 Act therefore had a clause which prohibited the building of dwelling houses on the east side of the river on the lands of Lord Vernon ...... "........within half a mile of the termination of the Canal, and if so built shall be deemed to be a common nuisance and be persecuted as such."
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Similar controversies followed the proposal to build a canal along the Swansea Valley. Eventually, the canal bill passed in 1794 stipultaed that the canal was to be " from a certain place called the Brewery Bank with the Borough of Swansea to Hen Noyadd in the Parish of Ystradgynlais in the county of Brecon".
It was to be built beyond the reach of the floods of the Tawe River and 30ft wide and 5ft deep, narrower where impracticable. Barges of 20 tons, 70ft long by 7-7 1/2 ft wide were to navigate the waterway. The Duke of Beaufort was empowered to construct that part passing through his fee of Trewyddfa [between Nantfelin Brook and Nantrhydyvilast] and this section he contolled until 1872, the year the entire canal became the property of the Great Western Railway. The terminus of the canal , completed 1798, enabled the cargoes of the barges to be unloaded along the embankment, whence tramways ran down the slope to the wharves between the Pottery and Hafod Isha Copperworks and their loads were tipped direct into the holds of the vessels in the river.
There were branch canals at Clydach to Ynyspenllwch, at Pontardawe to Gilbertson's Works, and to the Primrose Colliery and Ynyscedwyn Tinplate Works. The main cargoes comprised coal, ironstone, limestone and castings.
The Swansea Canal's success can be gauged by the fact that the £11 shares of the company were priced at £250 in 1824.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Two other canals remain to be mentioned ;
Smith's Canal, from Foxhole to Llansamlet dates from 1790-1803 ; it followed the line of an old wagon-way and was designed to transport coal from the Llansamlet collieries to the shipping tips bordering the east side of the Tawe at Foxhole.
The purpose of the Tennant Canal , completed in 1824, was to link the port of Swansea with the Vale of Neath Canal. Its route from Port Tennant, St Thomas followed the lowland along the foot of Kilvey Hill, crossed the Crymlyn Marsh, and by a difficult feat of engineering, reached Neath Abbey, and surmounted the Neath River by an aqueduct to join the Neath Canal. The canal made Swansea the most important outlet of the rich Vale of Neath. Raw materials, particularly coal, castings and metals from the Neath valley and Neath Abbey districts were brought Swansea for export.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Evolution 1800+
The economic evolution of the Swansea region during the C19 and C20 will be analysed as follows;
- Coal mining, 1800-1921 [extraction complete]
- The Smelting Industries [extraction complete]
- Port developments [not extracted]
- Population changes [not extracted]
Coal-Mining, 1800-1921
The tremendous expansion in coal-mining activities must of course be correlated with the concomitant developments in matallurgical industries in the region, the new transport facilities, and the new requirements of coal for domestic, factory and steam raising purposes, as well as the ever increasing demands from home and foreign markets for the coal of the South Wales Coalfield.
Within the half circle with its centre at Swansea and a radius of 15 miles, there were to be found the bituminous and highly incandescent coals of the Llynfi-Garw-Ogwr valleys, and , along the perimeter of the semi-circle from the Gwendraeth Valley to the Amman and upper Tawe and upper Neath valleys, the valuable and restricted supplies [as far as the coalfields of Great Britain are concerned] of anthracite.
The extraction of coal gave employment to thousands of workmen attracted to this flourishing industrial area.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
In 1815 , c108, 000 tons of coal and c114,000 tons of culm were shipped coastwise from Swansea, plus 38,000 tons of coal and 9,000 tons of culm which were exported, total c269,000 tons.
Nine years later , the total exported was much the same, more than 3000 vessels cleared the port annually with coal. The major coal market was the ports of Cornwall, the colliers returning with cargoes of copper ore and tin. There was also reciprocal trade with the Baltic ports and the New England ports of North America, from both these timber and ores were obtained.
It is possible to depict fairly accurately the extent of coal-mining in the region mid-way in the C19 from published statistics contained in Hunt's Mineral Statistics of the UK. There were 41 anthracite collieries recorded in 1854, and 76 bituminous and free-burning collieries in the Swansea region.
In the anthracite region the chief colliery proprietors at this date were;
- J Strick [Twrch Valley]
- Thomas Walters [Abercrave and Ystalyfera]
- Charles Morgan [Amman Valley]
- Penrose and Starbuck [Neath Valley]
- Llewllyn & Sons [Onllwyn]
- Petto & betts [Pontyclerc]
- Watney & Co[Gwendraeth Valley]
- The various ironworks all had their own collieries
- Ystalyfera
- Ynysgeinon
- Ynyscedwyn
- Cwmamman
Coal-owners in the coastal belt included;
- Richard & Glassbrook
- W F Brown
- Major Phillips
- Struve
- Gregor
- Smith
- Swansea area
- Padley & Williams
- Neath area
- Penrose
- Parsons
- Lyons
- Llanelly area
- Sims
- Willyams
- Nevill & Co
- J Stanley & Co
- Wm Clement & Co
- Loder & Arthur
- Llangennech Coal Co
- Mason & Elkington at Pembrey
- Starling Benson at Penclawdd
- Neath Abbey Coal Co at Bryncoch and Neath Abbey
- Governor & Company of Copper Mines at Cwmavon and Bryn
- Vivian & Sons at Margam
The association of copper-smelting and coal-mining is most marked in the above list of names.
The mines in the neighbourhood of Swansea were owned as follows;
- Swansea Coal Company ; Cwm, Mynydd Newydd , Pentrefelin, and Tyrcenol
- Richard & Glassbrook ; Weeg, Gorse, and Landore
- Davey & Pegg ; Birchgrove
- Jones & Davis ; Clase
- C H Smith ; Llansamlet
- Major C Phillips ; Millwood
- Padley & Williams ; Gorwydd
- W P Struve ; Mynydd-bach-y-glo
- D H Rees ; Townhill
- William Jones ; Trewyddfa
- William Gregor ; Tregwyn
- Gregor & Co ; Weegfach
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
An approximate assessment for the production of anthracite in 1854 is 750,000 tons, and bituminous c 3 million tons. Of this output c 900,000 tons was shipped coastwise and foreign from the ports of Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Porthcawl, and Llanelly.
The Great Western Railway carried 5350 tons of Llanegennech coal and 12,951 of anthracite to London from the Swansea district , out of a total of 84,592 tons of Welsh coal brought by rail to the capital.
Coastwise shipping took to the Thames ; 3151 tons of anthracite, 7318 tons of Birchgrove Graigola, 4927 tons Resolven, 3079 tons Llangenenech, 1467 tons Nevill's Llanelly steam and 1326 tons Neath Abbey coal[out of a total of 86,144 tons of Welsh coal sent coastwise to London in 1854].
Swansea more than doubled its exports of coal over the next 2 years, exporting to foreign destinations in 1856 a total of 184,967 tons compared with 88,410 tons in 1854.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Here are figures for coal production figures within the area in 1865;
- Llanelly ; part used at Copper and Iron Works and shipped at Llanelly and Pembrey--463,123 tons
- Neath ; part used at Copper and Iron Works and shipped at Neath, Briton Ferry and Swansea--641,179 tons
- Swansea ; part used at Copper and Iron Works and shipped at Briton Ferry and Swansea--671,862 tons
- Briton Ferry ; part used at Copper and Iron Works and shipped at Briton Ferry and Swansea--115,000 tons
- Bridgend ; a little shipped at Port Talbot; remainder for Iron Works--997,711 tons
The output of the anthracite field[excluding Pembrokeshire] was given as 363,475 tons, two thirds of which was exported.
It is interesting to note the importance of rail transport in coal distribution , the Swansea Vale Railway carried 375,477 tons, Vale of Neath Railway 384,876 tons for export and 316,076 tons inland, the Llanelly Railway 478,131 tons [of which 186,900 was exported].
Exploitation of coal reserves continued unabated throughout the C19. The actual production figures for the region we have called Swansea District are unavailable but here are county based figures for anthracite alone which are indicative of the growth seen over the turn of the century ;
| County | 1895 | 1900 | 1905 | 1913 |
| Brecon | tons
258,747 |
tons
402,351 |
tons
406,836 |
tons
706,629 |
| Glamorgan | 748,520 | 909, 320 | 1,186,394 | 1,995,730 |
| Carmarthen | 668,861 | 843,657 | 1,143,590 | 2,075,755 |
It is fairly obvious that the exploitation of the anthracite zone of the north crop really began in the last quarter of the C19. Output increased by 461% in the 30 years 1865-1895 and by 285% in the following 18 years to a total of 4.7million tons. Serious attempts to exploit the continental market were not made until c1883 when the total exported was 509 tons reaching 1,999,687 tons by 1907 of which 1,761,687 was shipped from the port of Swansea alone.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Unlike the bituminous fields of the coastal districts of central South Wales, the anthracite area has shown a steady increase since 1913 reaching 5.5 million tons by 1930.
In 1940 the Canadian market was an important one for Welsh anthracite taking about 1 million tons annually compared with only c 48,000 in 1913.
Also in 1940 about two thirds of anthracite production is exported, to Europe, Argentina and USA[with the greater part through Swansea]
The continued importance of Port Talbot as a coal exporting port is due to the fact that , in place of steam and bituminous coals of the Afan-Ogwr-Llynfi valleys, it has substituted the anthracite of the upper Neath.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The use of anthracite is somewhat restricted; it is a coal that burns with tremendous heat, does not coke, and requires a powerful blast of air for combustion. The difference between the anthracite region of the north crop and the good coking coals along the eastern section of the north crop from Hirwaun and Aberdare to Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney, Tredegar, Ebbw Vale, Blaina, and Pontypool is well shown in the contrasting economic developments of the two areas during the C19.
In the eastern zone, a prosperous iron-smelting industry arose, whereas in the west, iron-smelting based upon the use of anthracite never really reached large dimensions.
The iron industry of Ystalyfera, Ynyscedwyn and Cwmamman was based upon charcoal or neighbouring bituminous coals.The introduction of the "Hot blast", first utilised in the upper Tawe Valley about 1838, did allow the use of anthracite in the smelting furnaces, but it was then too late as the district could not compete against the eastern ironworks and the coastal metallurgical centres arising at Llanelly, Swansea, Briton Ferry and Port Talbot.
It is clear that the prosperity of the northern section of the Swansea area depends upon the maintenance of overseas markets, and therein lies the grave danger of the dependence of a large area/population on one solitary and highly fluctuating industry.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The article has two maps for 1906 and 1914 which bring out the pre WW1 importance of coal-mining within the Swansea district.
Three clearly defined zones of exploitation and production are evident, namely;
- 1.The anthracite belt of the north, separated by the hilly, somewhat barren, Pennant sandstone country of the centre from;
- 2.The coastal, bituminous region of the Llanelly syncline and of the south crop from Penclawdd to Killay and Clyne Valley ; and
- 3.The steam and house coal districts of Afan, Llynfi, Garw, and Ogwr Valleys and of the south crop between Margam, Pyle and Aberkenfig.
During the first decade of the C20 all three zones were in the hey day of their mining prosperity. New and larger pits were being opened.
The anthracite area exported most of its coal to the Continent and the Americas.
The coastal region produced for its own matallurgical, factory, and domestic needs.
The south east region[Region 3] participated in the , then, seemingly insatiable demand for Welsh steam coal in foreign markets, on railways at home and abroad, and , above all, as bunker coals in the merchant and naval fleets of the World.
The changes of the post-WW1 era were, at the time, forseen by few ; the age of oil--the diesel engine and the petrol driven car--was in its infancy, and a political world dominated by economic nationalism and self-sufficiency in place of World free trade had not been envisaged.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The Smelting Industries
Copper
The beginnings of the copper industry in the Swansea district have already been outlined. The factors favourable to its location included;
- the ease of importation of ores from the mines of Cornwall
- the availability of abundant and suitable supplies of coal for smelting.
The financial benefits arising were fully recognised by local landlords who retained their mineral rights when selling any property. For instance, the lease of the Middle Bank granted to Chansey Townsend in 1755 by the Hon. Louis Barbara Mansell for the establishment of a works for the smelting and refining of copper contained a clause to the effect that the said copper works........
"....shall burn and use such coals as shall be raised under the lands of the said Louisa Barbara Mansell only, and no other coals, so long as such coals can be raised from the said Louisa Mansell's lands, in the parish of Llansamlet..."
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The accessibility of fuel undoubtedly contributed to the building of most of the copper works in the coastal belt between Pembrey and Margam during the C19, it partly explains the siting of works along canals and waterways , for example, the following where coal could easily be conveyed and discharged at the works;
- Neath Canal [Crown copperworks at Giant's Grave]
- Tennant Canal [Red Jacket and Briton Ferry copper works]
- Smith Canal [ Upper and Middle Bank, White Rock etc]
- Swansea Canal and Tawe River [Hafod, Morfa, Landore, Rose, Birmingham, Forest copper works]
Many works were located virtually alongside the coal-pits, for example
- Neath Abbey[ the earlier works and the Cheadle Copperworks]
- Margam
- Penclawdd
- Loughor[Spitty]
- Llanelly
- Pembrey
The miners and producers of ores believed that the smelters were making vast profits at their expense which may explain the frequent participation of ore producers in the erection of copper works in this area, we find the following examples of this;
- The Vivians, from Cornwall, entering the smelting trade at Penclawdd and at the Hafod
- Thomas Williams MP, and son Owen, from Anglesey, at Upper Bank
- Charles Lambert, an extensive mine owner in Chile, at Port Tennant[1852]
- Messrs Roe & Co, importers of Irish Wicklow ores, at Neath Abbey
- The Cape Copper Company from South Africa, at Briton Ferry
Then there were, at different times, copper manufacturing firms from;
- Bristol [ Messrs Daniel or John Freeman], at White Rock
- Birmingham, at the Rose and Birmingham copper works
- Swansea, at the Crown Copperworks,Giants's Grave and at Pembrey Copperworks[Messrs Mason & Elkington]
- Firms from Liverpool at Roe and Cheadle works, Neath Abbey
- Firms from London, at Middle Bank etc.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The article has a map showing the location of the various copper works during the C19, their distribution falls into four major groups;
- A. The Burry estuary
- Penclawdd Copperworks, pre 1797
- Llanelly Copperworks, 1805. Messrs Daniel, Nevill & Co., and Sims, Willyams, Nevill & Co
- Spitty, 1809. Bought by Williams and Vivians in 1858 and dismantled
- Cambrian, Llanelly, 1830. Messrs Mary Glascott & Sons, English Copper Company. Works did not prosper and were taken over by Messrs Nevill & Co, and converted by them to lead and silver refining in 1847.
- Pembrey, 1846-7. Mason & Elkington of Birmingham and London
- B. The Neath River
- Mines Royal Works, Neath Abbey. Working until 1860, if not later than this.
- Roe & Co. [1793-1809], later Cheadle Copperworks[1809-21], at Neath Abbey. Dismantled and parts sold to Messrs Vivians, 1821.
- Crown, c 1797, Giant's Grave. Birmingham firm. Made copper ore purchases in 1856 and still producing copper c 1870[?]. Part of these works converted into a spelter-works in 1866-7 [Laxey Neath Co].
- Red Jacket, Jersey Marine, 1849. Messrs Bankart & Sons. Firm purchasing copper ore in 1870
- Briton Ferry, 1853. Sweetland, Tuttle & Co. Sold later to Cape Copper Mining Company[in the 1870s]
- C. Port Talbot and Afan Valley
- Taibach, 1727. Owned by the English Copper Company early in the C19 and sold to Messrs Vivians c 1839.
- Cwmavon, 1837. Messrs Vigors & Co. Acquired by Governor and Company of Copper Miners in England in 1840. Transferred and new works built at Port talbot-Rio Tinto[1906].
- D. Swansea
- White Rock, 1720. Passed into ownership of the Bristol firm, Messrs Daniel or John Freeman Copper Company.Purchased by Williams and Vivians, and the Vivians later concerted part of the works into a silver-lead works.
- Forest, pre 1747. Messrs Morris, Lockwood & Co, who transferred their Llangyfelach Works at Landore to Morriston. Passed through different ownerships [e.g owned by Messrs Harford & Co in 1811] and ceased production in 1845 when they came into the ownership of English Copper Company. Absorbed later into the Morriston Spelter-works of Messrs Vivians.
- Middle Bank, 1755. Alderman Chansey Townsend of London
- Upper Bank, 1777. Previous to this date a lead works. Late in the C18 owned by Thomas Williams, MP, Anglesey; 1803, in joint ownership of his son Owen Williams and Pascoe Grenfell. In 1825-6 this works and the adjoining Middle Bank works were in the single ownership of the Grenfell family. It was in the Grenfell works that George F Muntz, MP, for Birmingham, carried out his important invention of yellow metal[ or Muntz metal], used in the manufacture of brass sheathing, bolts, ships' brass etc. Best yellow metal was an alloy of 60 parts best selected copper and 40 parts zinc.
- Birmingham, 1791. Birmingham Mining & Copper Co. Purchased by Williams and Vivians and ultimately owned entirely by the latter and became a spelter works.
- Rose, 1795. Birmingham firm. In 1820s were owned by Grenfell, Williams & Fox; later, firm became Williams, Foster & Co., whose first introduction into copper smelting occurred at the Rose works.
- Landore, pre 1811. In 1811 owned by the British Copper Company [a title used by Messrs Williams, Foster & Co in 1869]; 1825-6, owned by Messrs Henry Bath and RJ Nevill [ Henry Bath & Co] and later, post 1834, purchased by Messrs Williams, Foster & Co.
- Hafod, 1810. Messrs Richard Hussey and John Henry Vivian, sons of John Vivian of Truro, who first entered the copper smelting industry at Penclawdd Copperworks. J H Vivian had been trained in the mining schools of Germany, and to these works, throughout their existence, came many brilliant German chemists. The works were possibly the most up to date and largest undertaking of their time ; the furnaces and methods of smelting and working were continually being improved. It was at these works that the first serious and practical efforts [ in which Sir Humphrey Davy took a keen personal interest] were made to abate the sulphur nuisance and to diminish its deleterious effects upon the landscape and agriculture of the neighbourhood. At the Hafod Works, the Gerstenhofer furnaces, which converted the sulphur 'smoke' into sulphuric acid, were installed, replacing all but four of the thirty five old calciner furnaces. The magnitude of these works, with their adjoining alkali and phosphate plants in the same ownership, may easily be imagined.
- Nant-rhyd-y-vilais, Landore, 1814. Founded by Messrs Bevan, of Morriston, to extract copper and iron from the slag of the pre-existing works. The company failed, for it was found that the iron obtained by the re-smelting would not weld. Efforts of other companies to obtain metal from the incompletely smelted slag of the older works have met with a similar unsuccessful result.
- Morfa, 1834, of Messrs Williams, Foster & Co, adjoining the Hafod Works of Messrs Vivians. A silver works was added in 1840, and the Company also absorbed the Old Landore Copperworks. Messrs Williams [John, Michael, and William] were merchants from Cornwall. Other Cornish gentlemen-Rodd, Stephens, and Harry-were original partners in the firm, as well as a Devon gentleman, John Sampson, of Plymouth.The Fosters came from Middlesex.
- Port Tennant, 1852. Built by Charles Lambert, who had important interests in Chilean mines and smelting works. Works destroyed when the east side docks were constructed.
- Black Vale, 1852, at Cwmbwrla, owned by James Stephens. A small works for the reduction of copper dross and old metal, to which were added later some furnaces for the smelting of copper ores.
- Danygraig, 1860. Primarily a works for the extraction of arsenic and sulphur. Ores rich in arsenic and sulphur were smelted and copper was a secondary consideration. Built by Mr Jennings, who transferred from the Clyne Wood Arsenic and Chemical Works. Later owned and managed by Hadland, who purchased the works when its sale to Messrs Williams, Foster & Co was cancelled.
- Little Landore Copperworks, 1862, owned by the Landore Arsenic and Copper Company and adjacent to the much larger and more famous Landore works of Messrs Williams, Foster & Co.
- Llansamlet, 186-7. Alongside the Smith Canal and smelted ores rich in arsenic and sulphur, with copper as a secondary product only. Built by Jennings of Clyne and Danygraig works.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The growth of Swansea as a metallurgical centre was founded on copper. The multiplicity of smelting industries of various kinds--lead, silver, zinc, tin, gold, arsenic, sulphur etc- is a natural outcome from the basic smelting of copper ores.
Although individual and independent works continued to be built throughout the C19 , it is apparent from the above summary that the larger units tended to buy out, or absorb, the smaller undertakings, and indeed the policy of amalgamation ultimately combined the two powerful firms of Messrs Williams, Foster & Co and Messrs Vivians.
Not only did Swansea become the centre of the actual smelting operations but it also attracted a large proportion of the commercial transactions relating to the buying and selling of the ores. Copper ores were sold at the Cornish and Swansea Ticketings and by private sales. The article has figures for these sales which illustrate the tremendous importance of copper in the industrial prosperity of the Swansea District during the C19.
At the middle of the century practically all Cornish Ticketings were bought by the Swansea smelters and imported coastwise to Swansea and Llanelly. At this period, Cornwall was still the major World producer of copper ores.
In 1865, at the Swansea Ticketings, in addition to Irish ores, the chief foreign ores came from the West Indies, the Cobre and other Cuba mines, and from the Cape of South Africa. In time increased private sales made the Swansea Ticketings unnecessary.
Apart from Cornwall and Devon as. the major source of supply, other areas within the British Isles which sent their ores in fair quantities to the Swansea District for smelting were;
- Angelsey [ Parys Mountain near Amwlch]
- Caernarvon [Abersoch and Llandudno]
- Cardiganshire[ Taliesin, Talybont and Gogigan ]
- Berehaven [Co. Cork]
- Knockmahon [Co. Waterford]
- Ballymurtagh [Co. Wicklow]
- Holyford [Co. Tipperary]
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
The most prosperous period of the copper industry in the Swansea District lasted until about 1880-90, and then the decadence of the industry really set in. In 1880, Swansea smelted more than two thirds of the copper ores imported into the British Isles from abroad, from that date Swansea's predominance declined.
The actual stamping and manufacturing was allowed to gravitate towards Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and London, the centres of machinery construction for marine engineering, armaments, textiles, factory, dyeing, printing, and electrical ware. These large towns imported their copper in bars and pigs direct from the producing fields and established their own rolling and sheet works for their manufacturing requirements.
The very monopoly held by Swansea smelters worked against them, their attempts to maintain low prices for the raw material led the mine owners to decide to do their own smelting at or near the mines, exporting metal instead of ore. So, with the disappearance of actual smelting and refining, the copper trade in the Swansea District became restricted to two or three works in which sheet and wire production took the place of smelting and in which brass and yellow metal continued to be manufactured. several works were closed down, others combined, and ssme converted to smelting of other metallic ores.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Non-Ferrous Industries other than copper
I will extract pertinent comments/facts under this heading as they relate to particular sites;
Melincrythan Works
- Owned by Sir Humphrey Mackworth, the smelting of lead ores was probably far more important here than copper in c 1700. Cardiganshire ores were smelted for lead, silver, litharge, and red lead.
Neath Abbey
- The Mines Royal Company works here are described as zinc smelters in 1870 although they ceased smelting operations here before the year end.
Neath
- Tin smelting was carried on at the Midlands and Bower St Works, Neath of T S Sutton & Sons, c 1900
Skewen
- Tin smelting was carried on at the Pontycoron Works, Skewen of T S Sutton & Sons, c 1900
Cambrian Copper Works, Llanelly
- Was converted into a lead and silver works by Nevill & Co in 1847.
- Still operational in 1890 under Nevill, Druce & Co
Penclawdd
- Messrs Stock & Co were lead smelters here in 1870.
Pembrey
- The Burry Port Smelting Company were treating lead ores here in the 1870s.
- Messrs Elliotts attempted to revive the lead smelting industry here c1905 but it only lasted a few years.
Landore-Llangyfelach Works
- In the early C18 smelted both copper and lead ores.
Landore Works of Dr Lane of Bristol
- Attempts at zinc smelting appear to have been made here between 1717 and 1726.
Landore works of Messrs Dillwyn Richards
- Spelter manufacture flourished here before it became the Siemens Steelworks in 1867.
Landore, Cuba Rd Works
- New spelter works built here 1870-1913 by John Down & Co
White Rock Works, Swansea
- In 1890, Messrs Vivian were using these works for lead extraction
Black Vale Works[Cwmbwrla]
- Owned by Messrs James Stephens, were smelting lead, as well as tin and copper, c 1900 and up to WW1.
- Arsenic was a by product of the copper ores smelted here.
- Tin smelting was carried out at the Black Vale works c 1900-WW1
Middle Bank
- Swansea's first spelter works in 1777, managed by Mr Brazel.
Upper Bank Works
- Was a lead smelting works before becoming a copperworks in 1777.
Upper Bank
- In the smelting of zinc ores, suitable refractory material and good fire clays are required for the making of the retorts in which the reduction and distillation of the ores are effected. Catherall, a Flintshire gentleman, who became the owner of the Upper Bank works, manufactured fire-bricks at the works in addition to spelter.
Upper Bank works of Grenfell & Sons
- In the 1860s converted from copper to spelter
Old Forest, Morriston, Messrs Vivian
- In the 1860s converted from copper to spelter
Port Tennant
- Swansea Zinc Company built new spelter works here in 1869.
- The Crown Works here, [ successively owned by Messrs Shackleford & Ford, Messrs Richardson & Co, and the English Crown Spelter Co Ltd], saw a new spelter works built between 1870-1913.
- William Bevan manufactured arsenic at Port Tennant from 1895 until WW1 at least.
Llansamlet district
- New spelter works built between 1870-1913, the Villiers Spelter Works; and also the Swansea Vale .
- In 1940, the modern methods of smelting zinc employed at the reorganised Swansea Vale works supplied all the local needs , and all the other spelter works still operating in 1913 have since closed down.
Llansamlet Smelting Works[Six Pits Junction]
- In 1890 being used for treating lead ores
Clyne Wood Chemical Works
- Arsenic was manufactured here in the early C19, also and naptha wasextracted from timber
Danygraig Copperworks
- The arsenic industry continued here and ores rich in arsenic and sulphur were smelted. Messrs Hadland were described as arsenic refiners in 1890, Hadland had become the owner of the Danygraig Works and transferred them to Landore.
Clydach
- Three miles from the heart of Swansea is the village of Clydach where, in 1940, was the largest Nickel Works in the World, the Mond Nickel Co Ltd. This was built in 1902 to put into operation the process evolved by Dr Ludwig Mond FRS and Dr Carl Langer in 1889, and which has been perfected at Clydach. It was only the refining process carried out in Clydach, the actual smelting of the ores was done at the mines in Ontario, Canada. Mond chose this location because of the traditional smelting skills in the area, anthracite fuel availability, abundant water, low transport costs swansea/Canada, the local supply of sulphuric acid, and finally the proximity to British and European markets by rail and sea.
General comments/data
- In 1913 a list of of lead smelting establishments in the Swansea District gave three works only ; James Stephens ; Vivians at White Rock; and John R Down & Co at Cuba Rd, Swansea[site of former Landore Steelworks]
- At its peak in 1890, Swansea [port]imported 11,400 tons of lead ores plus 2149 tons of sheet and pig lead, but only 5921 tons by 1913. In 1890, Algeiria and Chile were significant sources.
- At Llanelly[port], 6001 tons of lead ore were discharged in 1870, but only 604 tons in 1890.
- Spelter, or zinc, featured far more prominently in the district than lead, at least after the coppper declined.
- There seems to have been a continuous prosperity in the zinc trade right up to WW1 when there were seven zinc smelting works in active production. The location of four of the smelting works along side the old Smith Canal is instructive as it was from this canal that the necessary supply of water to the works was first obtained ; and a similar type of location applies to the other three works.
- In the spelter works of the C18/19 there were technical difficulties in preventing the formation of sulphates in place of oxides and skilled and experienced workmen were needed whose skill was almost hereditary.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
Iron[ including Steel and Tinplate]
After a general introduction I will extract pertinent comments/facts under this heading as they relate to particular sites;
The Swansea area did not possess advantages in mineral reserves, fuel supplies, and transport facilities superior to those in the eastern part of the coalfield and the latter established both its iron and tinplate industries earlier than the west.
There are three main aspects to the historical sequence, namely;
- The production of charcoal and coke iron
- The production of steel by the Siemens-Martin process, using pig-iron and scrap in the furnaces, and
- The production of tin-plates together with terneplates and galvanised sheets by coating rolled iron and steel sheets, or backplates, with tin, or zinc, respectively
Iron, as distinct from steel, formed the basis of the tinplate sheet in West Wales until 1880-90, and in some works, until the close of the century.
Three stages in the manufacture of the iron-bar in operation in the iron works of west Wales during the C18 can be distinguished ;
- The actual smelting of the iron ore in the blast furnace, to produce pig-iron
- The conversion of this pig-iron in a "finery" furnace into malleable wrought iron, and in a "chafery", or reheating furnace, into a long rod by hammering under a tilt hammer in the forge
- The rolling of the malleable rod of iron in a mill into plates and sheets suitable for tinning and coating.
Most frequently they were carried out in distinct and separate works, the products being taken from one to the other in the process of manufacture.
The two main requisites, besides labour and capital, were iron ore and fuel.
- Along the north of the coal basin outcropped thin bands and nodules of iron ore in fair quantities, whilst elsewhere in the coalfield similar deposits of iron ore were found, especially in the lower coal measures.
- Charcoal was used throughout the manufacturing process. It was used in the hearth of the blast furnace together with iron-ore and limestone; in the remelting in the finery the blast of air operated upon the heated charcoal; it was used also in the chafery to give the required welding heat in the repeated hammerings.
- Another important need was a flow of water to drive the wheels that worked the bellows supplying the air draught to the various furnaces.
So, blast furnaces were located nearer the supply of ores and timber for charcoal and forges and rolling mills along river valleys where water power, charcoal, and , if necessary, imported pig-iron could more easily be obtained. Actually , in west Wales, blast furnaces were few and smelting of iron-ore never reached the dimensions characteristic of the ore areas and bituminous coalfields of the eastern region.
The development in second half of the C18 of the use of coke instead of charcoal in blast furnace smelting had the effect of iron smelting migrating to suitable coalfields , such as the iron fields of the north and eastern rims of the South Wales Coalfields, where excellent coking coals were in situ. The prosperity of Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale and Blaenavon etc dates from the 1760-1800 period. Similar developments did not occur in the west , where the anthracite coals of the north crop were not suitable for coking and indeed such coals were only to be found in the south crop in Gower and east of Port Talbot.
Thus the Swansea District lagged behind the eastern districts of South Wales in iron smelting. The advancement in tinplate production during the 100 years 1750-1850 took place east of Port Talbot. Indeed the forges and rolling mills of the west had to import increasing supplies of pig-iron from outside to supplement the totally inadequate supplies of the local blast furnaces and to satisfy the demands for suitable iron bars made by the tin plate works of the locality.
The west was saved from total eclipse in the ferrous metal industry by three important factors;
- Firstly, the introduction of the puddling-furnace[Henry Cort & Peter Onions] in the early C19 which allowed the substitution of bituminous coal for charcoal.
- Secondly, the successful experiments at Ynyscedwyn and Ystalyfera Ironworks [1836-8] in the efficacy of the "hot-blast" -pre heated air- passing into the blast furnace in which the mixture of anthracite coal and coke replaced charcoal in the smelting furnace. Attributed to Crane of Ynyscedwyn and J P Budd and Thomas of Ystalyfera.
- Thirdly, there took place at Landore Steelworks the first successful commercial manufacture of steel in the Siemens open-hearth furnace [1868-75]. The Bessemer Converter [1856] for making steel bars never found favour in West Wales.
The next section consists of groups of types of works to which any relevant data from the text has been added ;
See also the chronological list of works in Appendix A .
Around 1720, there were just five blast furnaces in South Wales, three of these were probably at ;
- Ynyscedwyn, near Ystradgynlais, in the upper Tawe Valley.
- Roger Thomas of Cwmtwrch wrote in 1857 ," the best iron ore is obtained in Mynydd Bach and Gelly......brought to the works on horse back....at first only wood[charcoal] was used for smelting...obtained from from any place...such as Trecastle, Llandovery, Llandilo....all on horseback....before Mr Parsons built his new forge at Clydach the pig iron of Ynyscedwyn was sent 6 mls across the Black Mountains to the forge at Llandyfan but this costly transport has ceased for at least 70 years[i.e since 1787].
- Might have been still working intermittently in 1800.
- Neath Abbey[with Bryncoch furnace]. Two blast furnaces still working here in 1800.
- Kidwelly, CMN. Might have been still working intermittently in 1800.
Twenty years later, [c 1740] a blast furnace had appeared at
- Melincwrt, opposite Abergarwed, remained in blast until 1808.
- Described by Rev Richard Warner in his Second Walk through Wales 1798 as ,"another large works of Mr Miers's, consisting of a blast furnace, a finery, and a foundry ; the whole apparatus of which is upon an improved and stupendous plan".
There were forges during the C18 at ;
- Neath Abbey. In 1854 there were 3 furnaces, only one in blast.In 1870 there were 2, none in blast.
- Ynyspenllwch [ near Clydach], dating from the mid C17 and recorded again in 1753.
- Had a rolling mill as well as tinplates, see below
- Clydach Forge , 1785
- Forest Landore, pre 1728
- Described as "old and unprofitable" in 1728
- Ynys-y-gerwn, 1753
- Dulais New Forge, 1785
- Dulais forge was producing tinplate bars from 1768
- Aberavon
Rolling mills are mentioned at ;
- Ynys-y-gerwn, from c 1768. see also tinplates below
There were engineering works and foundries at ;
- Neath Abbey
- Wern, Llanelli, 1784
A few tin-plate works were built in the western area during the C18, such were ;
- Kidwelly, CMN, 1719
- Carmarthen, CMN , 1748
- Ynyspenllwch, 1740-50
- Ynys-y-gerwn, c 1768
These tin-plate works came into being within the anthracite zone ;
- Ystalyfera, 1851
- Amman, 1872
- Pheonix, Cwmtwrch, 1879
- Resolven, 1879?
- Dynevor, Pantyffynnon, 1880
- Gurnos, Cwmtwrch, 1880
- Raven, Glanamman, 1881
- Garnant, 1882
- Aberlash, Tirydail, 1889
- Glynbeudy, Brynamman, 1890
- Ynyscedwyn, Ystradgynlais, 1905
Other works of all types randomly mentioned in text [see also Appendix A below] ;
- Pontardawe.
- A new tinplate works started here in 1835.
- Gilbertsons's Works, Pontardawe. In 1880 it had 12 puddling furnaces and 6 rolling mills.
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces
- Ystalyfera Ironworks, 1838. Eleven furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1890, no record in 1895
- In 1860 a contemporary description states that the Ystalyfera Forge and Tinworks[associated with the blast furnaces] obtained their supplies of bituminous coals by canal from Pontardawe ' and the blast furnaces cannot remain long without it in the shape of coke'.
- Ystalyfera , between 1860-1880 was one of only two works in the anthracite belt with puddling furnaces and rolling mills
- Ynyscedwyn and Ystalyfera Ironworks , see also general notes above.
- With reference to Ynyscedwyn only ; seven furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1865, none in blast 1870, no record after that
- Neath, Penrhiwtyn. Mentioned in 1798 by Rev Richard Warner in his Second Walk through Wales as " a blast furnace and foundry owned by Raby & Co but it was standing idle at the time of his visit[Aug 1798]. Elsewhere it is noted that "Alexander Raby attempted to establish ironworks at Neath and Llanelly during the period 1795-1810 but, in both efforts, he met with disaster".
- Neath. Tinplate works started here in 1864 [ is this same place as melyn below ?]
- Neath Steel, Sheet and Galvanising works. New works in 1896, embodying steel, sheet and tinplate.
- Melyn Works, Melincrythan, Neath. Tinplate works started here in 1864
- Possessed a charcoal forge which was dismantled in 1883 when two steel furnaces were added that year, these in turn being dismantled twenty years later.
- Landore, see general notes above.
- There might have been a blast furnace working intermittently at Landore in 1800
- Tinplate works started at Landore in 1851, closed down 1892.
- The Siemens open-hearth furnace introduced here [1868-75] re-smelted pig-iron into steel suitable for the rolling of sheets which could be tinned in the tinworks and did away with the use of coke, coal and charcoal in the re-smelting. Gas, together with an air blast, provided the heat and flame in the open-hearth furnace.
- The Landore Siemens Steel Works, 1874, situated at Landore, covered about 100 acres of land, on both sides of the navigable River Tawe.The Great Western and Swansea Vale[Midland] railways ran through the company's land, and a system of railways connected this to all parts of the works. In 1874 the works contained ; 2 blast furnaces with Cowper's patent stoves ; 24 Siemens regenerative steel smelting furnaces ; 6 steam hammers ; 2 rail mills ; tyre mill complete ; bar mill ; wire-mill, ; 33 Siemen's gas heated furnaces ; 100 coke ovens ; brickworks . Has a total of 64 steam engines on site. The company have purchased several coal properties in the immediate neighbourhood, comprising steam coal, coking coal and anthracite. When in full work the steel works employ over 2000 men, independent of colliers etc.
- In 1880, Landore was one of only 3 works in the Swansea District turning out steel in open-hearth furnaces, with 24 furnaces.
- The success of the Siemens-Martin process here led to a specialisation of steel production in the coastal sub-division and to the supremacy of West Wales in the manufacture of backplates, tinplates, terneplates and galvanised sheets.
- Landore steelworks was closed down in 1888.
- Millwood and Landore. Two furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1913, but no furnaces shown in the 1860-1880 statistics. Smelting at Landore continued until c 1914.
- Amman Ironworks at Brynamman, 1848. Three furnaces built, all in blast 1854-1870, variable 1880-1890, no record in 1895.
- Probably needed bituminous coal as well as anthracite for smelting [1865-1890]
- Between 1860-1880 was one of only two works in the anthracite belt with puddling furnaces and rolling mills
- Banwen . Joined by tramway to Swansea Canal.
- Two furnaces built, none in blast 1854-1870, no record after that.
- When sold in 1850 were capable of producing 90 tons pig-iron a week
- There were 2 blast furnaces but intermittant production and no record of it after 1880
- Onllwyn Ironworks. Joined by tramway to Swansea Canal.Two furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1865, none in blast 1870, no record after that
- Probably needed bituminous coal as well as anthracite for smelting[1855-60]
- Abernant Ironworks, located at head of the Neath Valley. Three furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1860, none in blast 1865, no record after that
- Trimsaron works, two blast furnaces built, not in blast 1855-60, no record after that
- Aberdulais. A new tinplate works started here in 1830, it was in close proximity to blast furnaces and forges from which they could obtain their bars and sheets.
- Abercrave, one furnace built, in blast 1854-1860, not in blast 1865 and no record after that
- Glynneath, one furnace built but not in blast 1855, no further record after that
- Port Talbot. Tinplate works started here in 1866
- Avon Vale, Aberavon/Port Talbot. Tinplate works started here in 1866, closed down 1899
- Taibach, Cwmavon. Known to be ironworks here as early as 1750
- Coal for these works was conveyed on a wooden tramway from Cwmbychan, a little valley branching off from Cwmavon. Further supplies of both coal and iron-stone were brought on the backs of mules from Wernlaes Level, near Merthyr.
- Cwmavon. Suitable coal existed here and iron ore was found associated with some of the coal seams worked in the C19.
- A new blast furnace was built here in 1811, and although changing hands fairly frequently, continued smelting for several decades. Five furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1865, none in blast 1900, no record after that. These figures were combined with Oakwood [where there were 2 blast furnaces built] from 1865. Smelting ceased at Cwmavon in about 1895
- A new tinplate works started in Cwmavon in 1825 , it was in close proximity to blast furnaces and forges from which they could obtain their bars and sheets.
- In 1860, the Cwmavon & Oakwood works had 36 puddling furnaces and 3 rolling mills, in 1865 it had increased to 42 and 5.
- In 1880, Cwmavon smelting works stood idle.
- Baldwins, Margam.New steel works here in 1915, with blast furnaces , steel, rolling mills and coke ovens.
- Margam.
- A new tinplate works started here in 1822.
- Margam Works of Robt. Byass & Co. In 1870 it possessed 6 rolling mills
- In 1880, Margam smelting works stood idle.
- Beaufort, Morriston. New tinplate works started here in1860
- Dyffryn, Morriston.New works in 1874, embodying steel , sheet and tinplate.
- Birchgrove, Llansamlet. New steel works here in 1880, closed down in 1895
- Worcester Works, Morriston.Opened in 1868 in association with the Llansamlet Tinworks.
- Here they transferred pig-iron in puddling furnaces and forges into bars, had no blast furnaces for smelting iron ore.
- It is probable that the Worcester Works used puddled iron even in 1880-they had 10 puddling furnaces, 4 balling furnaces, and a steam hammer, plus 10 tinmills.
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces
- Upper Forest, Morriston, tinplate works started in 1845, added its own puddling furnaces and balling furnaces.
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces
- Cwmbwrla Tinplate Works, Swansea . New tinplate works started here in 1863
- New works in 1882, embodying steel , sheet and tinplate, built two open-hearth furnaces when they became the property of Messrs e Morewood & Co. Closed steel department in 1898?
- Cwmfelin, Swansea. Tinplate works started here in 1858
- Became a steel and tinplate works in 1905
- Bryngwyn, Gorseinon. New steel works here in 1899, six sheet mills and galvanising plant added in 1908.
- Pontardulias[Glynhir]. Tinplate and sheet works, started 1910.
- Grovesend Steel. New works in 1900, embodying steel sheet and tinplate, in association with a tinworks erected in 1886.
- Elba Steel, Gowerton, started 1878.
- In 1880, this works was one of only 3 works in the Swansea District turning out steel in open-hearth furnaces, with 4 furnaces. No tinplate works.
- Hendy. Tinplate works started here in 1866
- An independent works which entered into working arrangements with Grovesend Steel in 1909
- Gwendraeth Kidwelly Ironworks, CMN, rebuilt 1801. Three furnaces built, variable number in blast 1854-1860, none in blast 1865/1870, no record after that
- Llangennech. Tinplate works started here in 1867, closed down 1908
- St David's,Ysbitty Tinworks, started 1869.
- An independent works which entered into working arrangements with Bynea Steel in 1912.
- Bynea, Llanelly. New steel works built 1912, to supply bars for the neighbouring St David's Tinworks, and the more distant tinworks at Dafen and Pontardulias[Glynhir], and the galvanising works also at Dafen.
- Morewood's Works, Llanelly
- In 1880, this works was one of only 3 works in the Swansea District turning out steel in open-hearth furnaces, with 2 furnaces.
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces. [South Wales Steel]
- Llanelly. Elsewhere it is noted that "Alexander Raby attempted to establish ironworks at Neath and Llanelly during the period 1795-1810 but, in both efforts, he met with disaster".
- Dafen Tinplate works , Llanelly, started in 1846, added its own puddling furnaces and balling furnaces.
- Llanelly Steel. New works in 1898, embodying steel, sheet and tinplate, in close association with adjoining Old Castle Iron and Tinplate works and the Western Tinplate Works, Llanelly.
- Old Lodge Ironworks, Llanelly.Started in 1852
- These Llanelly works transferred pig-iron in their puddling furnaces and forges into bars, they had no blast furnaces for smelting iron ore.
- Tregoning's Forge, Llanelly. Started in 1857
- These Llanelly works transferred pig-iron in their puddling furnaces and forges into bars, they had no blast furnaces for smelting iron ore.
- It is probable that Tregoning's used puddled iron even in 1880--they had 2 charcoal forges
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces
- Tregoning's Works, at Morfa, Llanelly. Tinplate works started at in 1851with 2 mills and a tinning plant
- A charcoal forge was built in 1857 and another forge, with two additional tinplate mills, in 1872.
- In 1885, 2 open-hearth furnaces were built but steel production ceased in 1895.
- They became associated with the Bynea Steelworks in 1913 when 3 members of the Tregonning family joined the board of directors of the latter works
- Marshfield Ironworks, Llanelly, for backplate. Started in 1863
- These Llanelly works transferred pig-iron in their puddling furnaces and forges into bars, they had no blast furnaces for smelting iron ore.
- Old Castle works, Llanelly, started in 1866.
- These Llanelly works transferred pig-iron in their puddling furnaces and forges into bars, they had no blast furnaces for smelting iron ore.
- It is probable that Old Castle works used puddled iron even in 1880 - at least until they erected steel furnaces in c 1885
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces
- Tinplate works started here in 1867
- Briton Ferry.
- In the 1840s blast furnaces were built here.Two furnaces built, variable number in blast 1856-1913, smelting continuing until c 1914.
- In 1860, the Briton Ferry Ironworks had 27 puddling furnaces and 3 rolling mills, in 1865 it had increased to 40 and 3.
- In 1880, Briton Ferry maintained 43 puddling furnaces and 4 rolling mills working.
- One of several ironworks that were renovated and became a steelworks, erecting Siemens-Martin open hearth furnaces, had its own tinworks in situ.
- Albion, Briton Ferry.New steel works here in 1893, acquired by Briton Ferry Steel Co Ltd in 1914.
- Ferry. Tinplate works started here in 1860
- An independent works which entered into working arrangements with Briton Ferry Steel in 1921
There is a section of the book which deals with the Maesteg-Bridgend area which is covered in more detail in Appendix A, see below.
This area is defined as consisting of the valleys of the Llynfi, Garw, Ogwr Fawr, and Ogwr Fach which unite at Tondu-Aberkenfig and cut through the Cefn Cribbwr-Cefn Hirgoed ridge in a narrow vale to Bridgend, and thence to the sea in a silted estuary at Merthyr Mawr some three miles east of Porthcawl.
- Cefn Cwsc Ironworks. Had none of its 2/3 blast furnaces in operation during 1854-6 and 1860.
- Maesteg Ironworks Company. Formed in 1826 by William Jones, followed a year later by the construction of a tramway to link up Maesteg with its first port, Porthcawl.
- Became the Cambrian Iron Company a few years later, but not until 1839 did iron smelting on a large scale start. It was associated with large scale coal exploitation.
- The Maesteg furnaces were in full blast in 1855[3], 1856 [3] and 1860 [4].
- The Maesteg blast furnaces produced pig-iron for their own puddling furnaces and rolling mills
- Llynfi works. Had 4 blast furnaces , 2 of which were in blast in 1854, 3 in 1855/6 and 1860. After that date the statistics are for the combined Llynfi and Maesteg ironworks, 4 furnaces being in blast in 1865 and 1870, only 1 1/2 in 1880.
- The combined Maesteg/Llynfi ironworks had 31 puddling furnaces, and 5 rolling mills in 1860 ; 53 and 7 in 1865 ; 36 and 4 in 1870 ; and 33 and 4 in 1880
- They continued until 1880 and then gave way to the steelworks of the coastal belt.
- Tondu works. Had its 2 furnaces in blast between 1855 and 1870 but only 1 in 1880 and 1890, and 1 in 1895. No furnaces shown in blast in 1900, 1905, 1913.
- First owned by Sir Robert Price, but the Brogden family from Manchester acquired a controlling interest in c 1850/60
- Their blast furnaces produced pig-iron for their own puddling furnaces and rolling mills.
- In 1860 they had 15 puddling furnaces and 2 rolling mills ; 20 and 3 in 1865; 23 and 3 in 1870 and 1880
- Continued for about 15 years after 1880, they possessed up to date coke ovens and were associated with engineering works[rails etc] and large collieries.
- Pyle. Had 2 furnaces , 1 in blast in 1890, none in 1900
- The attempt to re-establish iron smelting here and Cefn Cribbwr between 1890 and 1900 failed.
- Cefn Cribbwr. One furnace in blast in 1900. See Pyle above.
- Porthcawl Iron and Coal Company. Started in 1839.
- Had 6 furnaces in blast at one time.
- Llwydarth Tinplate works. Started in 1868 as the Garth Sheet Iron Company, closed in 1889.
Appendix A
a chronological list of works under type groupings;1. Iron and Steel Works
[based mainly on Brooks, Monograph on the Tinplate Works of Gt Britain and omitting Maesteg-Pyle region]
- 1800-19
- Cwmavon Blast Furnaces, 1810
- 1830-9
- Ystalyfera, 1838
- 1840-9
- Upper Forest, Morriston, 1845
- Dafen-puddling and ball furnaces, and hammer, 1846
- Brynamman, 1848
- 1850-9
- Old Lodge Ironworks, Llanelly, 1852
- Tregoning's Forge, Llanelly - charcoal iron manufacture-1857
- 1860-9
- Marshfield Ironworks, Llanelly, 1863
- Old Castle, Llanelly, 1866
- Ynyspenllwch, Clydach, restarted 1867
- Landore Siemens Steel, 1868
- Worcester Ironworks, Morriston, 1868 -puddling furnaces - eight Siemens open-hearth furnaces erected in 1886 and new furnaces in 1924
- 1870-9
- South Wales Steel, Llanelly, 1872
- Dyffryn Steel and Tinplate, Morriston, 1874 or 1880
- Elba Steel, Gowerton, 1878
- 1880-9
- Birchgrove Steel. Llansamlet, 1880
- Cwmbwrla Steel, Swansea, 1882
- Melyn, Neath, 1883 - two steel furnaces
- Tregoning's, Llanelly, 1885 - two steel furnaces
- Briton Ferry Steel, 1889
- 1890-9
- Gilbertsons, Pontardawe, 1890
- Albion, Briton Ferry, 1893
- Neath Steel, 1896
- Llanelly Steel, 1898
- Bryngwyn Steel, Gorseinon, 1899
- 1900-9
- Grovesend Steel, 1900
- 1910-19
- Bynea Steel, 1912
- Baldwins, Margam, 1915 - blast furnaces, steel, rolling mills, and coke ovens
2. Tinplate and Sheet Works
- pre 1800
- Kidwelly, 1719
- Carmarthen, 1748
- Ynyspenllwch, 1740-50
- Ynys-y-gerwn, Aberdulais, 1753-72
- 1820-9
- Margam, 1822
- Cwmavon, 1825
- 1830-9
- Aberdulais, 1830
- Gilbertsons, Pontardawe - formerly Parsons- 1835
- 1840-9
- Upper Forest, Morriston, 1845
- Dafen, Llanelly, 1846
- 1850-9
- Landore, 1851
- Tregoning, Llanelly, 1851
- Ystalyfera, 1851
- Cwmfelin, Swansea, 1858
- 1860-9
- Briton Ferry, 1860
- Beaufort, Morriston, 1860
- Cwmbwrla, Swansea, 1863
- Melyn, Neath, 1864
- Hendy, 1866
- Avon Vale, Port Talbot, 1866
- Old Castle, Llanelly, 1867
- Llangennech, 1867
- Llwydarth, Maesteg, 1868
- Worcester, Morriston, 1868
- Ysbitty, Loughor, 1869
- 1870-9
- Morriston, 1872
- South Wales, Llanelly, 1872
- Glamorgan, Pontardulais, 1872
- Penclawdd, 1872
- Amman, 1872
- Morlais, Llangennech, 1873
- Players, Clydach, 1874
- Cambria, Pontadulais, 1874
- Dyffryn, Morriston, 1874
- Burry, Llanelly, 1875
- Clayton, Pontardulais, 1875
- Boro, Aberavon, 1875
- Cilfrew, 1878
- Glanrhyd, Pontardawe, 1879
- Midland, Morriston, 1879
- Park, Clydach, 1879
- Phoenix, Cwmtrwch, 1879
- Resolven, 1879
- Western, Llanelly, 1879
- 1880-9
- Aber, Llansamlet- formerly Foxhole, 1880
- Ynysmeudwy, 1880
- D R David & Son, Port Talbot, 1880
- Dynevor, Pantyffynnon, 1880
- Gurnos, Cwmtwrch, 1880
- Old Lodge, Llanelly, 1880
- Teilo, Pontardulais, 1880
- Ffrwdwyllt, Port Talbot, 1881
- Gorseinon, 1881
- Raven, Glanamman, 1881
- Amman, Garnant, 1882
- Fairwood, Gowerton, 1886
- Grovesend, 1886
- Villiers, Briton Ferry, 1888
- Aberlash, Tirydail, 1889
- 1890-9
- Ashburnham, Burry Port, 1890
- Glynbeudy, Brynamman, 1890
- Baglan Bay, Briton Ferry, 1891
- Eagle, Neath, 1891
- Cardonnel, Skewen, 1891
- Wern, Briton Ferry - formerly Jersey, 1891
- Gwynne & Co, Briton Ferry, 1892
- Neath, 1896
- Aberavon Tinplate and Stamping, 1899 ?
- 1900-9
- Ynyscedwyn, Ystradgynlais, 1905
- Wellfield Galvanising, Llanelly, 1908
- Bryngwyn Sheet and Galvanising, 1908
- Whitford, Briton Ferry, sheet mills, 1909
- King's Dock, Swansea, 1909
- Worcester, Morriston, sheet and galvanising plant, 1909
- 1910-19
- Dulais, Pontardulais, 1910
- Glynhir, Pontardulais, 1910
- Mardy, Gorseinon, 1910
- Pemberton, Llanelly, 1911
- Gorse Galvanising, Dafen, Llanelly, 1911
- 1920-9
- Elba, Swansea, 1925
- Vivians Sheet and Blackplate - old Margam copperworks, 1926
- Llanelly Steel, new sheet and galvanising plant, 1928
- Pencoed, Bynea, 1928
There is a separate section in Appendix A covering ;
- The Ironworks of the Maesteg-Pyle Sub-district ; and this is essentially based on James Borrow "The Llynfi Valley Mineral District", Transactions South Wales Inst of Engineers, vol xiii, 1872-3 ; and T C Evans " History of Llangynwyd Parish, 1887
Works mentioned in text ;
- Cefn Cribbwr Mineral property, near Pyle,worked in1770 by Mr John Bedford of Birmingham
- He erected a blast furnace worked by water power. Also a brickworks and colliery which were abandoned in 1824.
- Bought by Mr Bryant of Merthyr Tydfil who repaired the works, erected a blast engine and made a small quantity of iron. His son followed him, shipped Cribbwr coal and pig-iron at Porthcawl using the tramroad from the Llynfi Valley .
- Maesteg, 1826. Two blast furnaces .
- In 1833/4 occurred a series of disastrous strikes
- In 1836, the Maesteg Ironworks made the iron pillars used in the building of the Bridgend Market Place.
- Third blast furnace built in 1844
- In 1846, a foundry was added to make railway chairs
- Some years later produced large quantities of pig-iron for the Margam Tinplate works.
- In 1856, they had in full operation 3 blast furnaces, 15 levels and 81 coke ovens, employing 5-600 men
- Trading conditions worsened and after some years of idleness the Maesteg Ironworksit went into liquidation before being bought out by Llynfi, Tondu and Ogmore Coal and Iron Company.
- Coegnant Estate [Maesteg]. Leased by J H Allen, Neath, in 1830, who erected a smelter works consisting of 4 furnaces and a calciner, and opened a colliery.
- Became the Cambrian Iron Co in 1837, which began the erection of 4 blast furnaces [ first blown in 1839] on the west side of the valley above Maesteg with a forge [1845/6] and rolling, slit, and rail mills [1846/55]
- Large colliery sunk, valuable seams of blackband ironstone were discovered and extensively worked.
- Became known as the Llynfi Vale Iron Company, period 1855/68 most successful in its history, 4 blast furnaces in full work with about 30 puddling furnaces, 2 squeezers, 2 pairs of muck rolls, and 4 mills, the whole works supplied with motive power by 10 engines. About 110 coke ovens provided fuel, over 100 horses employed together with about 1500 men between the works and the collieries.
- Changed its name to Llynfi Vale Coal and Iron Company, but in 1872 became the Llynfi, Tondu and Ogmore Coal and Iron Co Ltd [ see below] to run the Maesteg[Cambrian]Ironworks and those at Tondu and the Ogmore Valley. Soon went into liquidation and succeeded by Llynfi and Tondu Coal and iron Company which caried on the Cambrian works for some time. In 1886 the company's ironworks at Maesteg came to a total stop.[the year T C Evans the author of the source book wrote it].
- Tondu. About 1836 the Glamorgan Iron and Coal Company erected 2 blast furnaces here, with forges and mills being added sometime afterwards by Sir Robert Price, M.P. The company exploited the blackband iron ore at Bryndefaid which was carried on mules to the tramway, 3 miles away, and on to Tondu.
- They also made a tram-road to serve their collieries at Bettws .
- The iron trade about this time became very depressed and they ceased production for several years.
- In 1853/4, Messrs John Brogden & Son bought the Tondu Iron Works and Collieries and greatly developed the neighbourhood. It was this company which eventually absorbed most of the iron works of the Maesteg district.
- The mineral property of the Llynfi, Tondu and Ogmore Coal and Iron Co Ltd in 1872 consisted of some 14,000 acres and included 2 blast furnaces, forges and mills at Tondu ; 3 blast furnaces at Maesteg ; and 4 blast furnaces , forges , and mills at Llynfi ; and the Ogmore collieries.
- Bryndu, near Pyle. In 1834, a Mr O'Neil formed a company to work a colliery on Mr Talbot's property at Bryndu, upon which were erected 2 blast furnaces [cupolas].
- The company failed and the works were purchased by a London solicitor called Ford who, with his two sons, carried on the colliery and coke works on an extensive scale.
- In 1872 the works reverted to Mr Talbot who was then working them.
- Cefncws. Messrs Malins & Rawlinson [Porthcawl Iron and Coal Company] bought the old grist mill from Mr Bryant, at Cefncws in 1839.
- A colliery was started and they erected 3 blast furnaces there and 3 at Garth between Llangynwyd Station and Maesteg, which they carried on under the title 'The Patent Galvanised Iron Company'[formed 1844].
- The company took a lease in the following year of 650 acres in Llangynwyd parish for the construction of Garth furnaces but in 1846 several trustees were operating for the company which now traded under the name of Malins and Rawlinson.
- They were leases of the Park, or Park Tyrgunter, mineral property, from which they worked the Cribbwr Fawr seam of coal. The company was wound up in 1850.
There is a separate section in Appendix A covering ;
- The Landore Siemens Steel Works, 1874 [ see Transactions South Wales Inst of Engineers, vol ix, 1874/5]. See above for some extracts from this section.
[Based on The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921. By D Trevor Williams. University College of Swansea Pamphlet 4. 1940.
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- Clydach
- Craigcefnparc
- Landore, copper works
- Llansamlet
- Llangiwg
- Llanmorlais
- Llangyfelach
- Llandeilo Tal-y-bont
- Morriston
- Oystermouth/Mumbles
- Ystradgynlais
- Various name extracts re Gower parishes
ClydachYnyspenllwch According to " The History of Clydach" by Christy Davies, the name Ynyspenllwch means "the island at the head of the lake" (deriving "llwch" from the Irish "lough", rather than the Welsh "llwch", which means dust; there are a number of other place names in the area which show Irish origins from the Dark Ages). On pages 46 and 47 he says: "Into this farming community the first plant of power industry was introduced in 1647, a water driven iron foundry at Ynyspenllwch. There was most probably a corn mill already at Ynyspenllwch, for two hundred years earlier, in 1449, John ap Griffith ap Howell had paid the Lord 12d for a weir "in the water of Tawe near Enespenllogh". Before 1753 tinplate was being manufactured here, using the rolling process developed by John Hanbury at Pontypool. Ynyspenllwch was the first tinplate works in the Swansea district, which during the next century became the major tinplate centre in the world. There were several changes at Ynyspenllwch as steam power became available, and tinplate was manufactured here until 1897. An interesting local peculiarity is that even after the works was changed to a Canister Works, it was still known as the Japan works: early tinplate was made into ornamental boxes which were painted to imitate Japanese lacquer, and were known as Japan ware. Today the great works of the International Nickel Company covers the site: the only remnant of the early works is the dried up feeder from "the water of Tawe", which runs alonside the present Recreation Ground." He also mentions that before 1800 there was another water powered works in Clydach - the forge at Forge Uchaf, which used to send iron bars to Ynyspenllwch for further treatment. He goes on to say that a coal mine was opened at Cnapydicod, opposite the present Roman Catholic church - "Later a shaft was sunk to it at Ynyspenllwch, and the coal used for the works there." An article in the Winter 1999 newlsetter of the Clydach Historical Society says "The tinworks [at Ynyspenllwch] (one of the first to be built in Wales) possessed three rolling mills, annealing house, tin house, sorting room and pay office. It was then owned by a Mr Gibbons from Neath." He also says "The first two houses on Ynysymond Road, Glais was initially built as a school for the children of Ynyspenllwch Tinworks employees." [The houses are still there.] An article in the Society's Summer 1996 newsletter refers to a dissertation on Ynyspenllwch hamlet and tinplate works by Mrs Wendy A Howard. I don't know where to obtain this - possibly the Miners' Library in Swansea. [Peter 25.5.2000 G] Follow on ; The following extracts are taken from The Chronology of the Tinplate Works of Great Britain YNISPENLLWCH TIN PLATE WORKS 1647 A lease dated 29th March , 1647 granted to Robt. CHALLONER and Wm SANDY - both merchants of Bristol - includes, "One forge or ironmill lately built or erected" 1656 A lease dated 5th December from Herbert EVANS to David EVANS & John LLEWELLYN includes " All that forge, ironwork, messuages, lands and tenements called Ynyspennllwch in the parish of Llangevelach aforesaid , in the tenure of Thomas FOORD, Gent." 1726 Sir Humphrey MACKWORTH mentions in a letter dated 29th May 1726 " Only three good men required to carry on the Rolling, Slitting and Wire Mills at Ynyspenllwch." 1741 Lease granted 22nd May 1741 to John MORRIS and Thomas LEWIS 1747 On surrender of the 1741 lease a new lease was granted to Rowland PYTT of Gloucester, J MORSE and T LEWIS. In the will of Mr Rowland PYTT dated 1753 mention is made of the "The Rolling Mill and Tinworks at Ynyspenllwch" . Rowland PYTT (of Raglan) was High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1758 1769 Lease granted to COLES, LEWIS & Co. by Sir Herbert MACKWORTH of the Ynyspenllwch Rolling Mill " To roll or slit one ton of iron yearly into hoops or rods" William COLES of Cadoxton was the son in law of Mr Rowland PYTT and he died prior to February 1783 c1780 John MIERS & Co were the lessees of the works and in 1799 the executors of Mr John MIERS purchased the property from the Gnoll Estate. The MIERS family associated themselves with Ynysygerwen shortly after 1770. John MIERS was a London Merchant and an importer of German Tinplates. In 1752 he held the office of Master of the Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers and his son and grandson also both occupied the Chair. The familys connection with Ynysygerwn and Aberdulais continued for about 50 years. 1791 "In the plan of the intended Swansea Canal the only tin mills shown were those at Ynyspenllwch." Oct 1813 Advertisement in the "Cambrian" : "Clydach Tinplate works to be sold containing 2 Blast Furnaces, Fineries, and Forges , a capital rolling mill and other necessary appendages for carrying on the business to great advantage" Ynispenllwch was the only Tinplate Works in Swansea Valley at that date. 1825 Property leased for a term of 60 years to Messrs William LLEWELLYN & John COOK (trading under the title of Wm LLEWELLYN & Son) 1850 Proprieters : Messrs Wm LLEWELLYN & Co. Mr Llewellyn Llewellyn , manager . Mr Wm Llewellyn died 1857. 1860 On the death of Mr Llewellyn LLEWELLYN (son of Mr William Llewellyn) his brother in law, Mr Henry Strick assumed the management of the works. Mr John PLAYER married a niece of Mr Henry STRICK, which establishes an interesting connection between Mr W J Percy PLAYER and Mr William LLEWELLYN. 1860 Messrs STRICK & FRANCIS proprietors.(The STRICK & LLEWELLYN families also acquired the AMMAN IRON Co , Amman Works , Brynamman, GLam 1867 The Ynyspenllwch Iron & Tinplate Co Ltd formed by Messrs Richard THOMAS, ? JONES (of the Clydach Post Office) , W GETHING, and others. One of the first Limited Liability Companies to make tinplates. Mr THOMAS left in 1871 (when he leased the Lydbrook Works) 1875 The Ynyspenllwch Iron & Tinplate Co Ltd ceased trading. 1876 Proprietors, The Tawe Tinplate Co. which ceased trading in 1879. 1884 Works acquired by the Birchgrove Steel & Tinplate Co Ltd. Mr (later Sir) Richard MARTIN, Managing Director, H A CHAPMAN and Mr F W GIBBINS Manager. Mr GIBBINS left to build the Eagle Works at Neath in 1890 1893 The plant comprised 5 mills. 1897 The plant was dismantled and premises converted into a Canister Works by Mr David JOHN. [Pat 27.5.2000 G] |
Landore, copper worksRobert Morris The early 1720s saw the name of Robert Morris of Swansea becoming more prominent. He had aquired form Dr John Lane, a chemist of Bristol, possibly in payment of debt, a copper works at Landore. By all accounts he was a man of native shrewdness and cunning and one who was very familiar with the copper industry. In June 1727 he went to Cornwall to purchase ores which he did to a considerable quantity at great advantage making the essay himself. The profits of his transactions there in ore purchases over about two months was not far short of £2000. This trip to Cornwall was the groundwork for all their future profits. At that time he bought upwards of 900 tons . [Robert Morris letters " History of the Copper Concern and matters incidental thereto."] The book accredited below shows a letter written by Robert Morris in Dec 1728 in which he expounds his theory that the conventional wisdom of " rich ores are worked cheaper than poor ones" was mistaken. He also had an awareness of the varying costs in different markets. ' He calculated in 1726 that in copper making he could do as much in Swansea for £100 as in Hayle [Cornwall] for £160; this he wrote to Sir William Pendarvis near Truro, which Sir William had great mines and smelted there some of his own ores.' [Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 8 June 2000] From the Morris MSS , re copper smelting. Price lists were on hand to enable calculations to be made of values of materials used, thus, in the Morris MSS for the year 1727 several articles are priced viz; Stowbridge clay and bricks 25/- qr.ton, 55sh qr. thousand, 50/- qr. thousand. Foot note; bones were used in the smelting of copper. [Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks 12 July 2000 G ] |
Llangyfelach" Llanguvelack Copper Works, Swansea" The Balance Account for the above business as at 31 Dec 1745 show a capital utilised of c £50,000. The partners in the business were; The list of people owed money by the business included the names of; The list of people who owed money to the business included the names of; There is also a separate list of the business's debtors which are "deemed dubious or desperate" and this includes the following names; [Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks 8 June 2000 G] |
Llandeilo Tal-y-bontThe parish of Llandeilo Tal-y-bont is within the boundaries of the new county of Swansea and contains the village of Pontarddulais. It is an old parish mentioned in the book of Llandaf c1150 AD when the parish boundaries extended over the westerrn banks of the river Llwchwr into present day Carmarthenshire. In the 1861 census there were five named hamlets, Glynllwchwr [Llwchwr valley], Ynysllwchwr [Llwchwr river meadow], Gwenlais [prob. white or wild stream], Pryscedwin [Cedwin's copse]and Tirybrenin [the king's land]. The old parish church [c14th cent.] is being rebuilt at Saint Ffagan's Museum while the parish registers , usually kept at the vicarage, are at present with the Archive Service in County Hall, Swansea. [Deric John 13.6.2000 G] |
Llangiwg
See Cwmgors a'r Waun for links relating to online material for the wider area centred on those two villages. See Genuki for other material re this parish |
YstradgynlaisWhat was the connection between Llandyfan[in Llandybie parish, CMN] and the furnace in Ynyscedwyn, Ystradgynlais ? An inhabitant of Ynyscedwyn said this; "Mr Parsons, the owner of Ynyscedwyn, only made crude iron, which was melted into pig-iron at Ynyscedwyn. He hired the forge in Llandyfan, along with six mules owned by the owner of the forge to haul the iron over Mynydd Du. After this, a lot of pig-iron went to Llandyfan, and all the remainder to Neath....It was not long before Mr Parsons set up a new forge in Clydach, and when it was ready, he gave up the one in Llandyfan completely. I am certain that no iron has gone from Ynyscedwyn to Llandyfan for 70 years except for one hammer for the forge, which was sent about 67 years ago." It appears therefore that the sending of iron from Ynyscedwyn to Llandyfan stopped c 1789 [Based on The History of Llandybie by Gomer Roberts 1939[Translated by Ivor Griffiths]. Gareth] |
CraigcefnparcESSAY COMPETITION - PANTYCRWYS - FEB 1ST 1930 ADJUDICATOR :- REV. WALTER BOWEN B.A. ESSAY :- THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUS SERVICES IN CRAIGCEFNPARC Our story date as far back as 1924 when the little coal-mining village of Craigcefnparc knew no buses. The country folk peacefully went about their daily tasks, never dreaming about a bus service for the village nor anything of the like. It was then that one, William Griffiths, a blacksmith in the Graigola Merthyr colliery bought a Ford car. A little later, the same William Griffiths opened a shop, and he purchased a Ford lorry to take out the goods. Here, on a very small scale, the bus service commenced its rapid development. Seats were made to fit into the lorry by one David John Morgan, the village carpenter, and when not in use for shop purposes, the lorry, which was able to carry fourteen seated passengers, was used for making trips or running a service now and again to Clydach. This proved successful, and at the beginning of 1925 Wiliam Griffiths purchased a real bus which held twenty passengers. It was a Lancia Saloon Bus, painted red, and was called the Parc Eclipse. This was an important step in the development of a 'bus service for Craigcefnparc. Every Saturday a 'bus left Craigcefnparc at 12 noon and at 2.00 p.m. respectively "en route" for Swansea via Rhydypandy, Pontlasse, Morriston. The Lancia was a very good machine, but it had to run under all conditions, and was rapidly wearing away. Many months later the Lancia chassis was sent away, and a new bus, a Spa, painted a green and yellow, was bought. The Griffiths' Garage is situated on the 'Bank' and mainly consists of zinc. By this time William Griffiths had secured to run his buses to Swansea via Clydach and Morriston, but was not allowed to pick up passengers in the Borough of Swansea. The people of the village and of Upper Clydach gave their whole hearted support to the "Eclipse" Company. Another 'bus was now soon purchased, as the business was thriving. It was a twenty six seater "Dubros W & G. London!", a machine which gave the company a great deal of trouble. In 1926 a real time-table was set up, buses running week-days as well as Saturdays from the village to Swansea. In the latter part of the year, a thirty two seater Albion bus was purchased. This was the first of its type for Griffiths to own as the driver was seated above the bonnet. There are five sons, and by now all are working on the buses. By this time a manager was essential, and the Rev. Walter Bowen B.A. a son-in-law of Wm Griffiths was given the post. Another Albion bus of the same design quickly followed, a third coming in July 1927. By this time the W & G had been disposed of, as the engine was not up to much good, especially for the extremely steep hills around the village. At this period the Eclipse company, with two other companies bought the Fairwood Garage, Swansea: later came into full possession of it, and renamed it Northampton Place, and an office was established there-in. The Spa then parted from the company, the most efficient and most powerful machine that the company had seen, and a second-hand Dodge fourteen-seater 'bus was purchased. At the time when the eclipse first used it, it had terrific acceleration, and could shoot up even the Lone Hill, with passengers on 2nd gear! As time was wearing on the Company was employing more hands, and soon after, a Dennis 20-seater 'bus was bought. At this period, another company, the "Leyland Saloon Sevice commenced to run buses to Craigcefnparc as far up as Graig-Cwm. They did not succeed to much extent, and soon gave it up. It was then that Griffiths started to run a 'bus up to Graig Cwm, and also over to Salem every Friday evening and on Saturdays. With the coming of the Dennis, an Eclipse service commenced to run over to Glais, and soon the Eclipse Saloon Service was well known throughout the district. Another Albion twenty-five seater arrived not long after, but in August 1928 the company, with all other small bus companies had to hear a case in London, brought against them because of the picking up of passengers in the Borough of Swansea. They had been warned on previous occasions, but the case was decided in their favour, and they were still allowed to run their service, although they did not have the privilege of picking up passengers in the Borough. The service to Graig-Cwm, Salem and Glais, was rapidly declining as the company needed its buses for the main highways. The company secured licenses to run buses up to Swansea Valley as far as Ystalyfera, and thus more buses were again needed. The Dodge met with a tragic end over in Glais. One day while being driven on Glais Road by the Eclipse Mechanic, the engine burst into flames, and the well-known Dodge was destroyed. Two 'buses, a Leyland Lion, and a Leyland Tiger were soon added to the Eclipse 'buses, and the services up the valley prospered to a very great extent. The Dennis was now disposed of as the engine was giving the company continual trouble, mainly from the magneto. Nevertheless. Another Leyland bus, a lion, arrived during the winter of 1929. All the Leyland are thirty-six seaters, and at the present time, the Eclipse have seven buses on the road, and they employ approximately twenty-eight men. Hence a colliery blacksmith gave a boon to his native village, and the Eclipse Saloon Service is very well known today. J. R. [Deric John] |
LlansamletSpelter, what is it ? The town of Llansamlet , about 2 miles north east of Swansea, and in that county borough, overlooks the wide lower valley of the river Tawe. There are collieries, copper and tinplate works here, but the place is noted chiefly for its spelter undertaking, which is said to be the greatest in the country. To the vast majority of people, spelter is a puzzle; they have no idea what it is, or what is done with it. It is really zinc, and originally one of its chief uses was for galvanising , by providing a coating impervious to weather conditions on any sheet iron dipped in a molten bath of it. It has now a myriad uses ; zinc ozide for paint, zinc chloride, sulphide, peroxide etc. Concentrates, or spelter ore, which looks like a brown dust, is imported from Australia, and the first process is to draw off the sulphur, resulting in the making of concentrated sulphuric acid. The desulpherated ore, mixed with coal and salt, becomes blende , which, passed through retort process, pours out like a silvery or bluish-white liquid, the actual spelter. This solidifies in square moulds and is zinc. [Glamorgan, Its History and Topography by C J O Evans, 1938. Gareth 4 June 2001 G] |
MorristonDUFFRYN STEEL & TIN PLATE WORKS Morriston Swansea In 1874 a three mill Tinplate works driven by steam power was erected by Daniel Edwards & J Davies trading as Daniel Edwards & Co. In Feb 1895 Daniel Edwards ceased trading and the now 8 mill works were aquired by his son Mr W H Edwards, who was also proprietor of the Ely Tinplate Works at Llantrisant and the Llwydarth Tinplate Works at Maesteg Mr Daniel Edwards died 30 Dec 1915 and Mr W H Edwards died 28 May 1919 In Jan 1920 Sir John Bryn Edwards Bt son of Mr W H Edwards sold the works to Messrs LLewellyn Davies, Frank R Phillips, David Richards, R Tilden Smith , and Leon Vermont for £793,919 and in Feb 1920 the Duffryn Works Ltd were registered with £1,000.000 . They ceased trading in September 1923 Aug 1923 Works aquired by Messrs The Grovesend Steel & Tinplate Co Ltd and ceased to trade as a separate company. Mar 1946 11 mills operating May 1947 The tinplate & machinery were acquired by The Steel Company of Wales , the steelworks remaining the property of Richard Thomas & Baldwins. [Extract taken from the Chronology of the Tinplate works of Great Britain] [Pat 8 Dec 2000 G] |
Oystermouth[Mumbles]People who died there In the churchyard at Oystermouth [ Mumbles] is the grave of Thomas Bowdler [d.1825], who, in 1818, published an edition of Shakespeare specially prepared for the use of boys and girls and thus became the father of all who "bowdlerize" a literary work. Not far from Oystermouth is Caswell Bay, the home for the last months of her life of Frances Ridley Havergal. [Based on the Ward Lock Guide Book [Cardiff and South Wales],1928-29. Gareth Hicks 1.6.2000 G] Follow on: At the top of Caswell hill is 'Havergal', a house named after Frances Ridley HAVERGAL, the hymnwriter, who spent her last years there, 1878-1879. A plaque on the garden wall commemorates her. [Based on The Story of the Village of Mumbles', G Gabb, 1986 . Diana Davies, 2.6.2000] The chancel [of St. Peter's Newton] was built to honour the memory of Frances Ridley HAVERGAL (d.1879) who lived nearby. She was an assiduous church worker and contributed seven hymns to Hymns Ancient and Modern (nos. 186, 203, 212, 259, 307, 356, and 485) [From A History of All Saints' Church Oystermouth by Geoffrey R. Orrin and Dr. F.G. Cowley. First impression 1990. ISBN 0 86383 705 0. Diana Davies 8 June 2000 G] Another follow on; I have an interesting full-page article from the "Christian Herald" of 25th October 1984 called "The Singer of the Sanctuary". I cut it out and kept it then as, many years before, there was in the possession of the family a black-edged memorial card, now unfortunately lost, for Frances Ridley Havergal. There was some religious connection between this famous hymnwriter and my great grandfather when they attended churches on Gower. Frances Ridley Havergal was born at Astley, Worcs on 14 December 1836 and she died on 3rd June 1879 at Park Villa, Mumbles, where she had lived since October the previous year. She was buried on 9th June at Astley, near Bewdley, Worcs in the family grave. Fanny, as Frances was known, was the daughter of Canon Havergal, rector at Astley, the first modern authority on ecclesiastical music and psalmody, who refused the Professorial Chair of Music at Oxford University as he was so devoted to the ministry of the Gospel. She was known to be a good linguist, fluent in French and German as well as reading Greek. She had a beautiful singing voice and wrote religious poems and hymns which were printed and circulated widely. Her best-known hymn is probably the one that begins:- "Take my life, and let it be, Consecrated, Lord, to Thee". She held a temperance meeting with sailors and village people in Mumbles on 17th May, but caught a chill there which later led to inflammation of the lungs and death. [Mary Jane Stephenson 2.6.2000 G] Murder most foul Speaking of Oystermouth Churchyard and Inquest records, I bet not everyone knows this either: 2nd July 1734 John Maddocks and his wife of the Elms were murdered by their son, John, 'in a dredfull manner'. [Diana Davies 2.6.2000] Victorian stinks "Victorian Mumbles was attractive - from a distance. Some of the household rubbish was collected by David ELEY who had a butcher's shop in the Dunns. All he did was to put offal, blood and refuse in a pit on the beach, so that when the tide was low and the sun was hot..... Nobody minded dumping rubbish along the shore and those drains that existed did not take sewage far out on to the beach. The M.O.H. often had to spread disinfectant to reduce what he called the 'stinks'. " From: The Story of the Village of Mumbles by Gerald Gabb M.A. [1986] [Diana Davies 12 May 2001] |
LlanmorlaisFrom the Maybery papers at the NLW; The journal or day book records shows details of coals sold from Thomas Mansel Talbot's land at Llanmorlais in 1768 to the following ; David Williams of Landeloi, Sam Morris of Lanmorlais. The records also show that "money arising" on 30 weys of coal, at 8/6 per wey, was £12.15.0, this covered the period 7th August 1767 to 30 Sept 1769, not necessarily all to the above two men since the names are only a part extract from the records. Similar records exist for "coal sold from under John Lucas Esq . Land at Llanmorlais" around this period [Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks 14 June 2000 G] |
Wales - Genealogy Help Pages - Not everyone knows this .... (13)
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Swansea and its hinterland.......1
This page is the menu page to a set of pages that contain an assortment of historical facts & anecdotes about Swansea's past and that of its wider industrial hinterland.
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- General (mainly extracts from Swansea, its Port and Trade and their Development"
- Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District to 1921
- Swansea Timeline
- Clydach
- Craigcefnparc
- Landore, copper works
- Llanmorlais
- Llansamlet
- Llangiwg
- Llangyfelach
- Llandeilo Tal-y-bont
- Morriston
- Oystermouth/Mumbles
- Ystradgynlais
Wales - Genealogy Help Pages - Not everyone knows this .... (12)
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Pembrokeshire
County and parishes
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Whitchurch
For more information about Whitchurch parish, see Genuki
Solva
The Smalls Lighthouse
"......in 1856 the "almost stagnant trade" of the town was revived by the building of the second Smalls Lighthouse under the direction of Sir James Douglass. This was completed in 1861 at a cost of £50,125, although the Corporation of Trinity House had to pay £170,468 for the proprietorship of the first Smalls Lighthouse.
It was built of 3,696 tons of granite, the stones being brought by steam tugs, whaleboats and barges from the De Lank Quarries near Bodmin in Cornwall. The stones were dressed in Solva and shipped from Trinity Quay, which was built for this purpose and named after the Corporation of Trinity House."
[ Based on "The History of Solva" by F.W. Warburton 1944 . Gerry 15.6.2000 D]
Steynton
For more information about Steynton parish, see Genuki
Steynton Parish Church
In 1851 Sir Stephen Glynne described this church as " of coarse and rude architecture, with the ordinary amount of mutilation and destruction of original windows" . A restoration in 1882 made matters worse, the body of the building being "almost swept out of historical existence by a tornado of change. Excepting mutilated remnants of the main walls and the tower, itself in part falsified, there have survived out of the past only three small windows in the side walls of the chancel. Every other feature has been wiped out." ( Notes on the Architectural History of Steynton Church W D Caroe F.S.A. 1916 p3)
The main structure (including the first 20 feet of the tower or thereabouts and the font ) may date from the early 13 th century. The plain font bowl ( a square of 26 inches externally, and 20 inches internally, and a depth of 12 1/2 inches) stands upon a circular shaft 52 inches in circumference.
The restoration, however unfortunate, revealed interesting relics, which are thus described ( Arch Camb 1896 V xiii 354):-
1] A human skull, three horse skulls and a pike head, found under the second chancel step. The present location of the iron pike-head is unknown.
[ Edward Laws ( The History of Little England Beyond Wales 1888) records ;
"In the year 1883 the stone steps leading into the chancel of Steynton Church were taken up. Not more than a foot beneath the surface and immediately beneath the chancel arch were found a human skeleton, three horses' skulls and an iron pike head".]2] In each pillar of the arcade was found a cavity, and in each cavity a human thigh bone. These were remains, as much probably of Viking warriors as of British saints. The cavities were about 4 feet from the ground.
3] A handsome C13 window was disclosed in the south wall ; also broken pieces of a font of the same period, which has been repaired.
4] The foundation of a smaller church consiting only of the nave was uncovered.
5] The stones of "two large cromlechs" in the centre of the nave about 4 feet from the surface; they were more than 5 feet in length.
Ogam Inscribed Stone
This stone, now in the church, formerly stood in the middle of the burial ground , not far from the south-east end of the building. The Hiberno-Saxon minuscules , slightly injured by the subsequent cutting of a wheel cross, can be traced along the perpendicular line of the cross, both they and the Ogam read GENDILI . In 1876 the stone was again used as a memorial and an inscription cut beneath the cross. Arch Camb 1880 IV xi 292 ill xii 217
Taken from the Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments;
Also, when building the new Vicarage about 8 years ago the skeleton of a Cromwellian soldier minus his head was discovered in the grounds -- outside the cemetary boundaries to the north. The remains were re-buried in the Churchyard with a stone marker with the inscription M O W ( Man of War)
[Basil Hughes 10 Sept 2000 D]
The Wreck of the "Felicita" in Sandy Haven on the 20 Fbruary 1833
Extract from the Cambrian 1833
"The Neapolitan brig Felicity, G G D'Amon, master from Glasgow, laden with coals and bale goods, bound for Palermo and Leghorn, in returning to Milford Haven in the night of Tuesday, ran on shore in Sandy Haven Bay, opposite the Stack Rock, within the harbour; when she was discovered at daylight a complete wreck, and was finally knocked all to boards. The crew, 18 in number, were sticking by the wreck, 6 of whom were drowned in attempting to swim on shore or washed off into the sea. Great praise is justly due to Mr William Field (brother of the late Mr Richard Field of Milford, shipbuilder), who dashed under the breakers, and swam to the brig, and succeeded in bringing 9 of the crew on shore alive. - The Boatswain, a stout man of 6 feet, died in his arms whilst being conveyed on shore, also a boy about 12 years of age, after being carried safe to land. The Master, a good swimmer, in attempting to reach the shore was seen to buffet the waves and go down. - Four of the bodies have been brought on shore, viz. the master, mate, boatswain, and a boy; two not yet found. A part of the bale goods has been saved in a damaged state. It must be observed, that not one of the many spectators would venture to the wreck but Mr Field, who had two or three narrow escapes for his life in his perilous exertions."
Extract from the Annual Report of the RNLI for 1835
William FIELD. Former master mariner.
SILVER MEDAL 132
20 February 1833
Voted 12 June 1833In passage from the Clyde to Leghorn, Italy the Sicilian brig Felicita was wrecked in Sandy Haven Bay, west of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire during the night of the 19/20th her master and six seamen being washed off and drowned. About 7 a.m. Mr. Field saw the wreck on the sands near his house, the hull broken in two, all her masts gone, surf breaking over her and the survivors in the lower rigging. Obtaining the services of two volunteers he went over the reef and swam to the wreck and, with one of the men, brought two seamen safely ashore in two journeys. With the other volunteer assisting them they brought the remaining survivors (including two passengers) ashore but one seaman and a boy died later. All the survivors were so exhausted as to be helpless and the passengers all became badly cut by being thrown against the rocks.
The RNLI lists the names of persons saved as:
- Ludovico lavico, passenger
- Pietro Savarell, passenger
- Giovanni Liberto, carpenter
- and nine seamen.
Whose who died are as follows:
- Guiseppa D'Anno
- Stafano Pegano
- Francisco Griscaolo
- Vicenzo Digenaro
- Cosimo Viole
- and boy Gaspari
For his bravery William Feild was awarded a Silver Medal & £5 from the RNLI and a cup awarded locally for his bravery along with the other two volunteers William Evans and Rees Jones each receiving £3 or £2 respectively.
[Rosemary May 11 Sept 2000 D]
Monkton
For more information about Monkton parish, see Genuki
Monkton church and churchyard
Up to the year 1834, the inhabitants of what is now Pembroke Dock had the "right" of burial in St Mary's Churchyard, Pembroke, but that place being very limited Monkton Churchyard (with the exception of a few buried at Bethany Chapel) became the burial ground.
Monkton Churchyard contains by far the greater number of the 'honoured ''dead of the early dockyard. On the west side of the churchyard they were laid side by side from the Churchyard gate up to the Church door, close alongside that pathway.
His Majesty King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, on the 23rd Aug, 1902 visited Monkton Church and scanned some of the headstones whilst passing through this path.It may be interesting to record some of' the inscriptions:
- To the memory of Mary the wife of Thomas Roberts,' master' shipwright of His Majesty's Yard; Pembroke, who departed this life, 24th January 1824, aged 52 years
- Sacred to the memory of William Calder, Esq., of H.M.Dockyard, Pembroke, who departed this life, 4th May, 1826 , aged 62.
- To the memory of Elinor Burch, daughter of Thomas and Anne Burch, of Plymouth , who departed this life, April 3rd 1819.
One who was buried there in 1829 was Joseph King. He had served on the " Boreas" the Agamemnon and the "Captain" as Boatswain under Nelson and was recommended by him and the Earl of St Vincent to the post of Boatswain to the Dockyard of Gibralter from December 9th 1796 to 1808. The then came to the Haven, first as Boatswain to the Dockyard at Milford then on its transfer to the Dockyard at Paterchurch. He had a son John Nesbit King who married Ann Gale.
[12 Sept 2000 D]
When the Rev David Bowen, who was also an architect, was appointed Vicar in 1877 the church was partly in ruins and had been for some time. At that time the congregation worshipped in the nave, a photograph of which shows that the chancel and side chapel were in ruins with no roof or windows and covered in vegetation. The first entry into the bank pass book for the Restoration fund was dated May 17th 1878 and the first faculty was granted in 1882 (2 Aug) for the restoration of the then Church.
During the restoration the floor level was lowered and levelled. This revealed that, like in many other churches, there had been numerous burials below the floor one of which, if the terms of his will of 1500 were carried out, was Richard Newton. The remains were collected ind interned in a large grave by the north wall of the Churchyard. Two effigies were uncovered in the floor of the porch and these were later placed in recesses in the chancel and sanctuary, While work was proceeding in the porch, the fine Norman arch was uncovered and a room above the porch was found and opened. This was found to contain the skeleton it was alleged of a woman in the kneeling position In 1939 , Rev Ivor Daniels , the Roman Catholic priest , in a series of vitriolic correspondence in the West Wales Guardian strongly denied the story , stating it was a monk.
The first part of the restored building was reopened on 8th December 1882 to a large congregation by the Lord Bishop of St David's who took as his text Coll III., 3-4. He was accompanied by the Venerable Archdeacon Lewis. The collection of £21 14s 5d was given to the Restoration fund and after the service many paid 2s for lunch in the crypt of the Old Hall.(this would have been soon after its restoration by Mr Cobb). The Bishop also baptised the son Walter Mark, of Captain Walter Hoare and his wife Edith Mary.
There was once, according to legend, a passage from the priory to the castle, but the sites entrance and exit have been lost. According to one very reliable early Church history of the area the entrance site is where a large bush stands in the vicarage garden and the passage was last partly walked in the late 1800's by the Davies brothers, one of whom later helped with the exploration of the Priory Cave. The history states that they got part way along the passage and could hear the sound of the water above their heads and decided to go no further.
[Basil Hughes ]
Priory Farm Cave Monkton.
This cave was described by Professor W F Grimes as " the most westerly outpost of Upper Palaeolithic culture in this country" and as adding " something to our knowledge of the upper Palaeolithic period in Wales ".
Amongst the Bronze Age remains that were found was a saw.
This he described as " the only one of its type at present known in Britain"
[Basil Hughes ]
Names in the History of Orielton
The information on this listing was taken from Pemb Hist Vol 5 Owen of Orielton
Compiled by Basil Hughes.
From A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (S. Lewis, 1833).
"In this parish is Orielton, an ancient mansion supposed to have been originally built by one of the followers of Arnulph de Montgomery, called Oriel, from whom it derived its name, and now the property of Sir John Owen, Bart. In the reign of Henry II. it belonged to the family of the Wyrriotts, in whose possession it continued till the reign of Elizabeth, when it passed by marriage with the heiress of that family to Sir Hugh Owen, Bart., who, dying in 1809, left his large estates to his kinsman, John Lord, Esq., who, assuming the name of Owen, was created a baronet, and is now lord-lieutenant of the county. It has been greatly improved by the present proprietor, and is a handsome mansion, occupying an elevated situation, finely sheltered by thick woods, and ornamented with thriving plantations. "
The name listing is on Orielton
Haverfordwest
For more information about Haverfordwest parish, see Genuki
Waldo Williams [1904-1971]
One of Wales's most gifted C20 poets, born in Haverfordwest to an English speaking mother and a Welsh speaking father. When he was aged 7 the family moved to the village of Mynachlog-ddu, he quickly learnt Welsh and fell in love with the language. One of his best remembered poems is Y Tangnefeddwyr which he composed one night during WWII as he watched German bombers destroying the town centre of Swansea.
[ Based on "A Helping Hand "by W J Jones 1996. Gareth Hicks]
Haverfordwest Pirates
1577 letter from the Privy Council of Elizabeth 1 to Sir John Perrot cataloguing the misdeeds of John Callice;
"Whereas their Lordships are given to understand that one John Callice, a notable pirate frequenting that country and arriving lately at Milford was lodged and housed at Haverfordwest, and being there known was suffered to escape, their Lordships do not a little marvel at the negligence of such as are Justces in those parts"
[Introducing West Wales .Maxwell Frazer 1956. Basil Hughes 12 Sept 2000 D]
Haverfordwest in the early 1700s
Whilst some may hanker for the olden days perhaps this extract from a Western Telegraph Almanac of 1956, price 1/6d may really make us think. (revision of John Browns Book, "History of Haverfordwest)
There would be some things about the place at which one would be fairly shocked. We will, however, imagine ourselves strolling of a Saturday down Shut Street, (Dew Street as it now is) and make our observations as we proceed. Almost all of the houses on this part are miserable thatched hovels, with manure heaps at the front. Pavements are a long way in the future, for there is not even a raised causeway. Our progress, as we keep to the line of houses, is constantly interrupted by a horse bench outside every public house. These latter are very numerous, and from their doors streams forth an everlasting smell of new drink, for the inmates are constantly brewing... Observe too how frequently we are met by people with horribly disfigured countenances, faces ploughed with small pox and eyes terribly bleared, for vaccination was unknown and the dreadful disease spread like a pest as indeed it was. Moping idiots and madmen gay too constantly cross our path, troops of neglected children with bare legs and no shoes, these would have grown up into heathens had it not been for the Sunday Schools that had been introduced to which these poor children are brought and religious instruction given.
Dew Street is but a few hundred yards long and at its junction with Tower Hill was a Grammar School originally at St Thomas Lane, where future "gentlemen" were schooled.
What a contrast. [Tony James 21 Feb 2002 D ]
" Scarlet Waistcoats of Taskers Scholars"
The following is taken from the Western Telegraph Almanac 1956, re Haverfordwest.
The quaint costumes of the recipients of the bounty of Mary Tasker, who founded Tasker's School for poor children of both sexes were:
....the boys had old fashioned hats, long tailed blue coats turned up, with scarlet waistcoats, corduroy knee-breeches, yarn hose, and shoes with buckles:
....the girls wore hats, white caps, white neckerchiefs, white aprons, blue jackets turned up, with scralet cotton skirts, yarn hose and shoes with buckles.
The recipients of Wavers Charity (still called black coats) were required to, and formerly did, walk in black coats or gowns before the Mayor to and from St.Marys Church on every Lords Day"
[Tony James 24 Feb 2002 D ]
Little Newcastle
For more information about Little Newcastle parish, see Genuki
An extract from "The Maritime Heritage of Dyfed" . National Museum of Wales ISBN 0 7200 0268 0
"............ The smuggling activities of the men of New Quay and Penbryn pale into insignificance however when compared with the exploits of Dyfed's most famous pirate - Barti Ddu or Black Bart.
Born in 1682 in the village of Little Newcastle, Bartholemew Roberts was perhaps one of the most successful pirates of all time, and is reputed to have been first to hoist the Skull and Crossbones flag, universally recognised as the dreaded hall-mark of pirate vessels.
He first went to sea at the age of thirteen, serving in naval vessels during the war of the Spanish Succession, and after a number of years on board slaving vessels, he joined the crew of the Royal Rover, a pirate vessel in 1719. Within a few months, the captain of this vessel was killed in an engagement, and such was the esteem with which the crew already regarded Roberts, that he was made captain. Within a short period of time he sailed down to Brazil, and in the sight of forty Portugese men o'war, captured the prize vessel, Sagrada Familia, bearing a cargo worth about Two and a half million pounds in present day terms.
This was to be the first in a series of daring raids and actions that returned a fortune in excess of eighty million pounds for Roberts and his crew by 1721. Despite his fierce reputation, Bartholomew Roberts had a number of beliefs and habits not usually associated with the accepted image of a pirate captain. He was a strict tee-totaller and Sabbatarian, and allowed no gambling nor prostitution on board his vessels. When engaging his intended prize, he appeared on deck dressed in a crimson coat and breeches to the accompianment of a band that sailed everywhere with him.
This flamoyant character ultimately met his end however off St Lopez in January 1722, where he was confronted by H.M.S. Swallow commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle. Ogle, who had been given a particular commission to seek out and destroy pirate vessels, hoisted the flag of a Portugese merchantman, and Roberts moved in for the prize. As he came alongside, Ogle opened fire, and the pirate captain, conspicuous in all his finery, was killed in the first exchange. His crew, utterly demoralised by the death of their captain,surrendered, and many were later hanged.
So ended Black Barty's life as a pirate, a life that he is said to have described as he lay dying a '..... a merry life, and a short one' " See below also.
[Pat Sewell 19.4.2000 D ]
Black Bart--a follow up.
For those who want to have extensive details about Black Barts demise should read the letters of Capt Ogle in ADM1/2242 held at the PRO, Kew. The record of the trial of the surviving pirates can be seen in HCA1/99. It's a very thick book full of marvellous details. As far as I can recall few were Welsh born.
Those captured by Capt Ogle included 187 white men and 75 black men who were to be sold. Of the white men, 77 were aquitted, 52 hanged, 20 who were sentenced to be hanged had their sentence changed to seven years servitude in the mines at Cape Coast. 2 had their execution respited until the King's pleasure be further known. 17 were sent to the Marshallsea and 19 died before coming to the trial.
For those who cannot get to the PRO at Kew, the names and details of many of the pirates involved can be found in The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse, published by Dulau & Co Ltd, London, 1924.
[Reg Davies 20.4.2000 D ]
Fishguard
For more information about Fishguard parish, see Genuki
Jemima Nicholas
In 1797 the French invaded Wales when 1400 soldiers landed near Strumble Head in PEM. The story goes that they surrendered unconditionally because of the wiles of one woman, Jemima Nicholas. When she saw the invaders she rounded up her friends , clad in red shawls and marched them round the headland carrying mattocks and spades. The French apparently thought they were the British Army in strength and took fright. There is a monument in Fishguard Church to " Jemima Nicholas, a tall, stout, masculine female" who captured a dozen Frenchmen singlehanded and marched them off to the Fishguard guard-house.
[ Based on "A Helping Hand "by W J Jones 1996. Gareth Hicks 18.5.2000 D]
Follow on;
Jemima Nicholas died 16 July 1832 aged 82. The notice of burial in Fishguard PR, the Rev Saml Fenton [Vicar Fishguard 1825-1852] wrote 'The woman was called Jemima Vawr, i.e. Jemima the Great, from her heroic acts, she having marched against the French who landed hereabout in 1897, and being of such personal powers as to be able to overcome most men in a fight. I recollect her well. Se followed the trade or a shoemaker and made me when a little boy several pairs of shoes'.
'The Last Invasion of Britain' Commander E.H.Stuart Jones R.N.
Research has been done into this family by Mr Gwynne Lloyd of Beaconsfield, Bucks. Last in contact with me 1985.
[Jill Muir 20.5.2000 D]
Gwaun valley new year
The Welsh word for the first day of the new year is "calan". For centuries, up to 1752, the Church had been celebrating "calan" on the 25th March , but the Gwaun Valley in PEM still celebrates another "calan" which is called "Hen Galan" and takes place on the 12th of January each year.
[ Based on "A Helping Hand "by W J Jones 1996. Gareth Hicks]
Footnote; I am advised that the actual date of Hen Galan is January 13th not the 12th.
Freystrop
For more information about Freystrop parish, see Genuki
Freystrop school report for 1847
A room in a cottage is the school room. The walls, floor, roof and partition were not in good repair.
The supporters of the school pay £3 a year for the rent of this hut, and £12 to the master, viz. Thomas Henry Davies, Esq £3, J H Phillipps Esq £2., the Rector £2., James Higgins Esq £2., Lady Matthias £1., Mr Every ( farmer) £2., and Mr Davies £1. The instruction is gratuitious to the scholars, except what they pay for coal in the winter. The furniture consisted only of 3 Tables and 7 benches.
The master is an elderly person, and could not speak English correctly. Farmers, colliers and labourers children composed the scholars. A part of the 10th chapter of St Matthew was read. could answer questions from this chapter tolerably well - 7 days in a week - 12 months in a year - 4 seasons in a year -- it is winter now - spring next - then summer - did not know the next season, nor how many ounces in a pound of cheese.- Lady Day was on the 25th of March - did not know when the other Quarter days are . Haverfordwest market is on Saturday. Victoria is our Queen - William IV reigned before her - George IV before him -- did not know of any other kings of england.
Non present were learning arithmetic.
January 20th 1847 Wm Morris Assistant
[Basil Hughes 13 Sept 2000 D ]
A Religious Gentleman associated with Freystrop
Rev Perigrine Phillips
According to J T Rees " History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales" (1861) the Oxford-educated Phillips, the son of a vicar of Amroth, was appointed to the Llangwm living after briefly serving as his uncles curate at Kidwelly.
Pluralism was very common, and with the backing of such gentlemen as Sir Hugh Owen, Sir Roger Lort and Sir John Meyrick, he was soon preferred first to Monkton and then to Pembroke St Mary's. When he preached before Oliver Cromwell and his troops during the siege of Pembroke (1648) he so impressed the future Protector that he was invited aboard the men-of-war about to undertake the Irish campaign.
During the Protectorate, Phillips became widely known as a committed advocate of the government's religious policy. A very accomplished orator, hailed by many as the best in the county , he preached in almost every church English and Welsh, and before the Justices of the Assizes at Cardigan, Haverfordwest and Carmarthen. He must have relinquished his Pembroke incumbency when the parishes of Llanwn, Freystrop and Rosemarket were united (July 1656). On one occasion, the intrepid rector had an experience which convinced many of his admirers that Providence had a special affection for him. When riding homeward late at night, both he and his horse plunged into a deep coal-pit at Freysrop and were firmly wedged in the narrow mouth a few feet from the surface. He was rescued by the proprietor Captain Longmans, who had been appraised of his perilous predicament by an un-named deaf woman and her alert grandson.
Peregrine Phillips continued to be very active as an open-air preacher and public evangelist until soon after the restoration he fell foul of the Act of Uniformity (1662) which banned all acts of worship not conducted in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer. Ejected from the Established Church, this amiable but unrepentant non-conformist withdrew to Dredgeman Hill Farm which he held from Sir Herbert Perrot, of Haroldston, and which he converted into an Independent house church (1665). Thereafter he became the accredited pastor of the Green Meeting, a non-conformist group of 50/60 which assembled in a little room on St Thomas's Green and which was to develop into Albany Congregation ( now United Reformed) Church Haverfordwest.
Upon his death at 68 years of age in September 1692, this unforgetteble former rector of Llangwm was buried near the pulpit at Haroldston church.
[Basil Hughes ]
Carew
For more information about Carew parish, see Genuki
St Deniol
In 1602 Thomas Wiliems copied what he described as a very ancient manuscript. This manuscript had been part of the library of Bangor Cathedral till the Reformation. His copy is in the Peniarth collection. This manuscript contained Lessons and a Collect commemorating St Deiniol .The lessons were used on the Saint's day, but do not describe the life and work of the Saint at Bangor .
It seems very unusual for lessons on a saint's day especially a saint who spent most of his life in the area to commemorate his work elsewhere. It seems to predate the Norman conquest by a good margin. If the Norman bishops could have changed these lessons they would probably have done so.
Well what do these lessons have to do with Carew ? The lessons describe St Deniol 's life on the hill above what is now Pembroke at his hermitage between 516AD and 535 AD and one of them refers to his well and the healing
Again a certain woman from the district of Caerw (Carew), in the diocese of Mynyw, was so swollen beyond measure that she could find no relief by any advice of physicians. At last, coming to the church of St Deniol, and afterwards to the aforementioned well, and imploring the Saint's help, she drank of that water so as to regain health and, before leaving came to the entrance of the Church, and cast forth from her mouth, while many stood by and observed, three horrible worms, each with four feet, and the woman was made whole from that very hour.
[I wonder whether the original said with four feet or whether it described the worms as being 4 ft long?]
[Basil Hughes]
Carew Castle
Carew Castle is justly celebrated as one of the most magnificent castles of south Wales. Its position is low-lying, but still prominent in the flat land around the tidal reaches of the Carew river. The castle stands at the end of a ridge at a strategically excellent site commanding a crossing point of the then still navigable river.
Little now remains of the earth and timber castle that was built here by the Norman Gerald of Windsor around 1100. It is first mentioned in 1212, when for some reason, King John seized it for a short time when passing through Pembroke on his Irish expedition. By this time it is probable that the first stone structure, the Old Tower, had been built to protect the original castle entrance.
In 1212 described as " the house of Carrio" [ Rot Lit Pat 92b]
The son of Nesta ,William adopted the name Carew. he died at the age of 70 and was succeeded by his son Raymond de Carew who had been taking part in the invasion of Ireland . His descendant Sir Nicholas de Carew , held high office in Ireland between 1284 and 1310 and accompanied Edward 1 into Scotland. He ravaged Galloway, and was present at the siege of Caerlaverock (Dumfries). The Roll Of Caerlaverock speaks of him as "a valiant man of great fame". His son John also did good service against the Irish and the Scots, and when he died in 1324, Edward III granted his widow , Joan, "six tuns of wine a year during the King's pleasure" .
The son and namesake of Sir John fought in the French Wars, and in recognition of the prowess of his Welsh archers at Crecy, the black lion of the Carew crest carried a golden arrow. His great-grandson another Sir Nicholas, who died in 1447 was succeeded at Carew by his son , Sir Thomas, whilst his fifth son, William married the heiress of Sir Hugh Courtney of Haccombe beginning the long connection of the Carews with the west country holding lands in Devon and at Camerton and Crowcombe in Somerset and were the ancestors of the present owners of Carew Castle.
The last of the older line to hold Carew was Sir Edmund, who mortgaged the estates to Sir Rhys ap Thomas in 1480.. Five years later both fought for Henry VII at Bosworth and both were Knighted on the field of battle. Sir Edmund was slain by a "gonne"at the siege of Touraine on June 28 1513 and was buried at Calais. Sir Rhys ap Thomas entertained Henry at Carew after he landed at Dale but it was twenty seven years later that he held the most spectacular event at Carew -a tournament to celebrate his admission into the Order of the Garter. After the death of Sir Rhys various people held Carew with little good luck
In 1601 Sir George Carew, son of Dr George Carew, Dean of Windsor , and afterwards Earl of Totnes wrote to Lord Burleigh that his -
"grandfather ,Sir Edmund mortgaged Carew Castle to Sir Rees ap Thomas, whose grandson Sir Griffith ap Rees, Sir John Perrot, and the Earl of Essex possessed it since. They all died attainted and two were executed, so I think that land will prove unlucky to all men that shall enjoy it, except it be a Carew"
In 1607 Sir John Carew of Crowcombe took up residence at Carew and eventually bought back the estate. His descendants have remained in possession ever since although they ceased to live at Carew in 1687. the present descendants and owners are the Trollope-Bellews of Crowcombe Court.
[Basil Hughes]
Landlords and tenants in 1836
According to the Tithe Survey under the Commutation of Tithes Act 1836
The Landowners and tenants of Carew were :--
George Henry Carew owned 1304 acres covering parts of the whole parish, non resident.
Tenants
- James Allen
- George Allen
- George Bevan
- George Bowen
- John Codd
- John Copp
- James Edwards
- Elizabeth Griffiths
- John Harries
- Thomas Heir
- Thomas John
- Richard Llewellin
- George Llewellin
- Sarah Llewellin
- Mrs Morgan
- Henry Nutting
- William Richards
- John Rowe
- Rebecca Rogers
- William Shear
- Isaac Vaughan
- Martha Rowe
- James Macken
- James Rogers
- Thomas Davies
- John Beynon
- John Gwyther
- Margaret Allen
- Hugh Lloyd
- Michael Llewellin
- Esther Rogers
- Benjamin John
- Richard Rowe
- Thomas Moody
- Thomas Griffiths.
Edward Laws owned 1167 acres in parts of the whole parish, non resident.
Tenants
- Mrs Mary Davies
- Isaac Eynon
- Elizabeth Griffiths
- John Griffiths
- Elizabeth Hooke
- George Knight
- William Morris
- William Ormond
- Mary Palmer
- John Priest
- Henry Phillips
- John Phillips
- Thomas Roberts
- Thomas Rowe
- John Rowe
- John Prickett
- James Stratton
- John Sinnett
- John Thomas
- William Morris
- William Lewis
John Hensleigh Allen owned 819 acres mainly located at Cresswell and Llandigwynett, resident
Tenants
- Martha Arthur
- George Bowen
- John Codd
- Thomas Davies
- Thomas Evans
- Mrs Anne Ormond
- Thomas Ormond
- Mrs Elizabeth Palmer
- James Picton
- James Smith
- Richard Thomas
- Mrs Wilson
- Benjamin Davies
- Benjamin Hitchings
- James Parcil
John Harcourt Powell owned 536 acres mainly at Carew Newton, non resident
Tenants
- Thomas Adams
- Robert Brinn
- Thomas Griffiths
- Hugh Lloyd
- John Lewis
- William Morris
- Anne Ormond
- James Rees
- Thomas Ormond
- John Rowe
- James Teague
Mrs Martha Phelps owned 227 acres around Stephen's Green, resident
William Ormond owned 210 acres around Cardeeth, resident
Tenant
- Hugh Edwards
William Bowen owned 207 acres around Milton, resident
Tenants
- Mrs Mary Davies
- Thomas Thomas
Jeremiah Lear owned 192 acres at Poyerston, non resident
Tenant
- George Dunn
Rev F George Leach owned 190 acres at Ford, resident
Tenant
- John Morgan
George Dunn owned 175 acres at Welston, resident
Mrs Lettie Llewellin owned 73 acres at Carew Newton, resident
Tenant
- Thomas Adams
George Llewellin owned 72 acres at Williamston, resident
Tenants
- Willaim Lewis
- John Phillips
- Thomas Griffiths
Lord Bishop Of St Davids owned the rectorial glebe and parsonage, non resident.
Tenant
- Jane Francis
Rev William Paynter Evans owned 8 acres at Milton , non resident
Tenant
- William Rogers
Rev Gustavus L Hamilton ( vicar) owned 6 acres (glebe), resident .
[Basil Hughes]
Castlemartin
For more information about Castlemartin parish, see Genuki
Can anyone trace there ancestry back to these tenants?
1324 December 6
Mary, the widow of Aymer de Valence as assigned , as dower, on December 6th 1324, the manor of St Florence and part of the manor of Castlemartin
The Manor of St Florence, which was assigned to her in the king's chancery in which there are:
- a capital messuage, worth 12d yearly;
- 1 carucate,3 bovates and 4 acres of land, worth altogether 60s yearly;
- 30 acres several pasture, worth per acre 4d yearly;
- 4 acres marshland (marisci) worth 8d per acre yearly;
- a water mill worth 26s 8d yearly;
- a certain park, the yearly profit of which is nothing beyond the keep of the wild stock (ferar')
- a customary rent of assize of £ 28 yearly in equal sums at Easter and Michaelmas;
- the rent of the cottagers there 6s 8d yearly, payable as above;
- the pleas and the perquisites of the courts there worth 5s yearly.
- Sum £ 33 14s
The Manor of Castle Martin as follows ;
- a moiety of the capital messuage, to wit, a moiety of the grange on the south with a certain adjacent plot for the "Daeria integra",
- and a moiety of the oxhouse ( Boverie ) in the east, the easements of which are valued at 6d yearly;
- also 1 carucate of land extended at 40s yearly,
- 5a of meadow 5s,
- 100a pasture 16s 8d,
- 33 1/3a. of marsh land 3s 4d
- the rents and services of ;
- John de Luny,
- John Fitz Henry Dawe,
- David Meyler and Joan his wife, free tenants 34s 7d
- the rents and services of ;
- David Swayn,
- Alice Bede,
- Henry Milot,
- Richard de Cruce,
- Henry Moriz,
- Richard Moriz,
- Robert Moriz,
- David Moriz,
- Rose Ermegard,
- John Goldeburgh,
- John Heylyn,
- John Robert
- Thomas Richard,
- Philip Haye,
- Rees Thomas,
- Hugh Joyl,
- Philip Rys,
- William le Yunge,
- Philip le Yunge,
- Res Penkaron,
- William Rou,
- Philip Rou,
- John Knethill,
- Elen Gilbert,
- Ade de Leffery,
- William de Landfey,
- Walter Seys,
- John de Hibernia,
- John de la Haye,
- Matilda Prikker,
- Mable Prikker,
- John le Prikker,
- John son of Philip Rys,
- John Rys,
- Richard Philip Joye and Mable his wife,
- John Griffith,
- Henry Milot,
- Ade de Slade,
- Richard Adam,
- John Lewlyn,
- Ralph le Machon,
- David Eynon,
- John Ffiret, junior,
- John Blethery,
- Alice Warynot,
- John Kayoc,
- John Kedyvor,
- John Streyt,
- John Bolour,
- Robert textor,
- Mable le gras,
- Robert Rys(?),
- Robert le Longe,
- Philip de la More,
- elen, dau. of Philip Brounyng,
- Suetilde of Castle Martin,
- Henery Hobbekyn,
- and Walter Lide;
bond tenants which are extended at £ 33 9s 11d yearly.
And the perquisites of the courts for the said tenants free and bond at 30s yearly.
Sum Total of the Assignment of the said Mary's dower in the manor of Castle Martin £ 40
[Basil Hughes]
Cosheston
For more information about Cosheston parish, see Genuki
1847 Report on the State of Education in Wales
PARISH OF COSHESTON,-on the 18th of December I Visited the above parish.
The only School at that time in it was a dame-school in Cosheston village. This school has been closed for the week previous on account of the severe weather. It was held in a room, part of a dwelling house. The furniture consisted of two square tables,which (the mistress told me) were exchanged when the scholars were in attendance, for benches, and four chairs. There was a bed in the room, which took up a great part of it.
There had been another school in the parish at a place called Lawrenny Ferry, but it had been discontinued for a week; previous to the time of my visit. The master of this latter school was not considered to be in his right mind. Indeed, from what I saw of him, and the conversation I had with him, I should say that he was certainly very strange. He told me that his scholars had all deserted him lately and that he was looking out for a situation ; what he would like to have was a situation as private tutor in a gentleman's family. He would be satisfied with 6s. per week and his board and lodgings. He said he could teach grammar in right well; and when I asked him what he taught beside, the answer was " oh, I teaches Latin, plane and spherical trigonometry, navigation and the Lunars."
There was one Dissenting chapel, but no Sunday-school held in it.
The average of wages for labourers in this parish was 9s. per week on their own finding Such children as went to any school went to Pater, DAVID LEWIS.
I was favoured with the following letter by M. A. Roche, Esq-, which contains many remarks of great practical value:-
Pashiston, Pembroke, January 5, 1847
Sir
I am sorry not to have seen your Assistant when he visited this parish, I should like to have had with him some conversation. I must, therefore, take the liberty of troubling you with this letter.
Ten years ago, when my father came to reside in this Parish, where he possesses an estate - and is the only resident landowner, I was anxious to get establish, at least, a Sunday-school; which was effected by the co-operation of others and of the family of the Rev. Mr. Holcombe the late rector.
The population of this parish is under 600 souls; we average between 40 and 50 children between the ages of 5 and 16 years, principally between the ages of 7 and 14 years, at the school; the whole number of children between 5 and 16 years of age, in the parish being I should guess, about 70 or 80. The teachers at present are the Rev. Mr. Bowling the rector, Mrs. Bowling, another lady, and myself, besides a paid schoolmaster.
The fortune of the school has continued almost the same, though with a little variation. At first it was a novelty, then it was treated with indifference, but now I fancy in some instances I perceive the indifference wearing off. But still the parents seem to consider education-or, I should rather say, the mere prelude to education, such as reading and writing are-rather as as an accomplishment, as a rich person would regard German or Italian, than as a necessary thing so that very little excuse is sufficient for their negligence in not sending their children and a very little affront sufficient for their withdrawing them. On one or two occasions, one has had to exert all one's influence and management to keep the affair together. The parents however are always very particular in sending their children neat and clean and want of shoes and clothes is the most fertile cause of occasional absense .
I need scarcely say, that during a couple of hours once a-week it is impossible to impart more than the merest pittance of knowledge. I have myself been most anxious to get my Pupils to understand what they read and learn, and for that Purpose I have discarded all explanatory books, and use only the Bible and the Church Catechism, for I have never yet seen an explanatory book that, for such as Sunday-school children, did not require more explanation than what it professed to explain; and the consequence is, that the children learn by rote the explanation as well as the thing to be explained. Indeed, I have sometimes found that a viva voca explanation has been remembered by rote; and though the difficulty of making them understand is certainly not insuperable, yet it is much greater than any one would suppose that had not had some years' experience in it, in fact, I am sure that this great difficulty forms a very great characteristic difference between the schools of the poor and of the rich. I have found much advantage in giving questions in writings to be answered in writings taking care that they shall be different for each child. I also have lately made some of them learn Watts's Hymns, which they do with great pleasure , we do not teach writing
Besides our school, there is another Sunday School attached to a Dissenting chapel; it is not, I understand, largely attended, and was, I believe, set up for the convenience of a few residents, about it, which is at the end of the parish. For I am most happy to say. we are free from almost all, if not altogether all, religious animosity; we are not yet sufficiently en-lightened for that.
Some few parents have managed to get their children taught to write and there has been generally some day-school in the parish. At present there happen to be two, but the worst that I ever recollect. These schools are undertaken by persons for their livelihoods or to assist it by such scanty earnings. And this is a point which cannot be too much insisted on-the incapacity of the schoolmasters or schoolmistresses in this neighbourhood.
Nothing will ever be effected until a complete change is made in these, but that will require far greater funds A teacher never thinks of explaining anything; and though children are sometime taught to read; yet they learn with so much carelessness that it is often on Sundays my chief employ-ment to get my pupils out of the slovenly habits of pronounciation, omitting in reading all the little words, &c., acquired during the week.
I scarcely know whether our school is worth the trouble that I have imposed on you in read-ing this long letter; but so far as such a trifling institution can extend it has not been without benefit, were it only that by the attention of one of the lady-teachers some children have, by going there only, been taught to read very well, and I was anxious to attempt to afford you some notion of a little Welsh Sunday-school in an agricultural district, and the disposition entertained by the inhabitants towards being instructed,
I have, &c.
M. A. ROCHE.
[Basil Hughes]
Gumfreston
For more information about Gumfreston parish, see Genuki
State of Education in Wales 1847
PARISH OF GUMFRESTON.-The Rev. G. N. Smith, Rector, informed me that there are only three farm-houses and twelve cottages in this Parish. He had erected a school-room adjoining the churchyard, in 1836, at his own expense, which cost him £26. A schoolmaster cannot be supported here by the scholars' fees.
Some from the parish go to the day-schools at Redberth and Tenby; and several from the outskirts of Tenby attend the Sunday-school in this parish. From 100 to 200 have learnt to read the Scriptures well here during the last ten years. Farm-servants do not attend the Sunday-school. There are many of this class utterly without secular or religious knowledge. Farmers can read and write; but there was only one in the parish that could do that well. Labourers are lamentably ignorant. Wages are professed to be 8s. a-week; but they get only 4s. or 4s. 6d. in money; the rest in kind, such as cottages and the run of a cow. In harvest-time they get their food too; but they work so early and so late, that, taking the number of hours into consideration, they are but little better paid than in winter. Farm-servants on an average get £6., and female servants from 50s. to £3. per year. The people are not drunken, and upon the whole are moral and steady.
Was MORRIS, Assistant.
December 29th, 1846.
Population
1563 number of households 19
1670 numbers on of hearth tax records 23
1801 number of families 24
[Basil Hughes]
Hodgeston
For more information about Hodgeston parish, see Genuki
1407 February
Guy, Bishop of St David's etc., to John, prior of the priory of St. Thomas the Martyr, Haverford, greeting, etc.
Order, - Although all and singular who hinder or disturb, cause others to hinder or disturb, or ratify these things done in their name, any persons whatsoever holding ecclesiastical benefices and any one of them from being able to dispose freely in respect of such their benefices of the tithes, profits, rents, fruits and oblations of the same, or who lightly withdraw, carry away or take away, cause or procure to be withdrawn, carried away or taken away, tithes, fruits, rents, profits and oblations, beyond and contrary to the will of rectors and vicars and other ecclesiastics, or ratify such withdrawal, carrying away and taking away, done in their name, are in the constitutions of the holy father, in the condemnation of the sentenced the greater excommunication, nevertheless some sons of iniquity, satellites of Satans unmindful of their own salvation, have hindered and disturbed and still disturb Master John Cole, rector or warden of the free chapel of Ogiston, from being able to dispose freely in respect of his said chapel of the tithes, profits, fruits, rents and oblations of the same free chapel, as of right he should, and have ratified and still ratify such impediment and disturbance done in their name; and such his tithes, fruits, rents, profits and oblations, beyond and against his will, they have withdrawn, carried and taken away, caused or procured to be withdrawn, carried and taken away, and have ratified the withdrawal, carrying and taking away, done in their name, and still illegally detain such tithes etc. withdrawn, carried away and taken away, incurring the condemnation of the said sentence of the greater excommunication under which they still remain to the grave peril of the souls of themselves and of others Willing to have dealings with the same, and the great prejudice of the said Master John and his chapel aforesaid. Wherefore we commit unto [and] firmly enjoining in virtue of obedience and under pain of the greater excommunication command you that you solemnly pronounce in your churches during the solemnisation of mass when the number of people present is largest, with ringing of bells, with the cross Uplifted, with candles lighted and thrown to the ground for their Condemnation, and the other solemnity usual in such denunciation, you denounce all and singular such malefactors as having been so excommunicated generally, and as being excommunicated, not ceasing from such denunciation until you have other mandate from us. Dated on the day and in the year and place above said.
And like mandates went out to the rector and the vicar of Carrew; the rector and the vicar of Manerbeere; and the rector of St. Giles; and to all curates of the same deaneries.
[Basil Hughes]
Llamphey
For more information about Lamphey parish, see Genuki
Extract from the Black Book of St David's 1326
Lantefey
Profits
David King, John Kyft, Cadogy Gogh, David Swetemon, Thomas Fort, Peter de la Lake, Ralph le Porter, John le Webbe, David Llewelyn, David Robert, David Fort and Robert le Hayward, the jurors, ......................
Free Tenants
They also present that Wyot de Lawrenny holds by deed from the Lord in capite half a carucate of land and pays yearly in equal portions at Easter and Michaelmas 2s., and the Lord has wardship and relief when it occurs.
Item,
.....the heirs of Richard de Stakepol hold one carucate of land adjoining the court of Lantefey for which they do suit of Court three times at Lawhaden.
Item ,
.....William Harald holds 2 carucates of land at Woveran and pays in every third year on the Kalends of May 2s., or 2 sheep at the option of the Lord and does suit of Court at Lawhaden from 15 days to 15 days Total 4s
Sanctuary
They also present that Thomas Walter de Porthllu holds one bovate of land from the Sanctuary and pays yearly at Easter and Michaelmas 6s
Item,
......Isaute le Proute holds one bovate of land, and pays yearly at the aforesaid times 6s.
Also David Mayo holds one plot with the curtilage and one bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 6s 8d.
Item
......Richard Swetemon holds a plot and curtilage with a bovate of land, and pays yearly at the same times 6s 8d.
Item,
......John Russell holds one plot and a curtilage, with 2 bovates and 1 1/2 acres of land , and pays yearly at the same times 17d
Item,
.......David Fort holds 1 plot and curtilage with 8 acres of land, and pays yearly at the same times 4s 8d
Item,
.....Thomas Gwyn holds 4 acres of land and pays yearly at the same times 2s
Item ,
......Johanna Page holds 1/2 bovate of land, and pays yearly at the same times 3s
Item ,
...........John Cole holds 1 plot and curtilage with 1/2 bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 3s 8d
Item,
..........Wyot de Laurenny holds 1 plot and curtilage with a bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 6s 8d.
Item,
.......Walter Thomas holds 6 acres of land and pays yearly at the same times 3s
Item ,
........Robert Swetemon holds 6 acres of land and pays yearly at the same times 3s
Item ,
......Elena Row holds 1/2 bovate of land, and pays yearly at the same times 3s
Item,
....... John le Proute holds 1/2 a bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 3s.
Item ,
.........Philip Henry holds 1 plot and curtilage with 8 acres of land, and pays yearly at the same times 7s 8d
Item,
....... Master Gregory the Chaplain holds 2 acres of land and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item ,
..........David Fenil holds 1plot and a curtilage, and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item,
........ Roys Swynnog holds 1 curtilage, and pays yearly at the same time 4d
Farmers at Porthellan
They also present that Johanna Kyft holds one bovate and pays yearly at Easter and Michaelmas 21d
Item ,
Johanna Page holds a bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 21d
Item,
...... John Wallens holds 2 acres without services, and one bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 2s 5d
Item,
Peter de la Lake holds one and a half bovates and four acres of land without services and one bovate with services, and pays yearly at the same times 9s 1d
Item ,
........Henry Kyft holds one bovate with services and one bovate without services and pays yearly at the same times 5s 9d
Item ,
.......David Kyng holds one and a half bovates without services and pays yearly at the same times 9s 9d
Item,
...... Alice , widow of David Iowan holds one bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 2s 5d
Item,
........John le Proute holds half a bovate of land without services and a bovate with services, and pays yearly at the same times 3s 9d
Item,
..... Elena Eynon holds 1 acre of land without services and one plot and a curtilage with services, and pays yearly at the same times 16d
Item ,
......David Iewan holds 4 acres without services and i bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 4s
Item,
John Cras holds one and a half bovates of land without services and one bovate with services, and pays yearly at the same times 9s 9d
Item,
........Isabella Huet holds 1 bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 21d
Item,
......... Res Wiston holds 1 acre of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 7d
Item,
........ Thomas Fort holds 1 acre of land without services and one bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 2s 1d
Item,
....... Thomas Whiting holds 6 acres of land without services and 1 bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 3s 9d
Item,
.....David Robert holds 2 acres without services and i bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 2s 7d
Item,
.......David Fort holds 1 bovate of land without services and one bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 5s 9d
Farmers of Lantefey
Item,
.....they present that John Merlyng holds one plot and 1 curtilage with one bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at Easter and Michaelmas 2s
Item,
........ John Stedemon holds 1 bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 14d
Item,
...... Richard Page holds 1 bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item,
......... Maiota la White holds 1 plot and curtilage with 1 bovate of land and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item,
........... William Swetemon holds 1 bovate and 4 acres of land without services and 1 bovate of land with services, and holds by deed, and pays yearly at the same times 5s 10d
Item ,
..........Amabella la Ferour holds three acres without services, and 1 bovate of land by deed with services, and pays yearly at the same times 2s 6d
Item,
........ Sara la White holds 1 bovatre of land without services and 1 bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 7s 6d.
Item ,
...........David Swetemon holds 1 plot and 1 curtilage with 1 bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item,
.......... Johanna, the widow of Philip Henry, holds a plot and curtilage with 1 bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item,
......... David Moris holds 1 plot and 1 curtilage, with 1 bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item ,
............Thomas Res holds 1 plot and curtilage, with 1 bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 18d
Item,
.......... David Russell holds 1 plot and curtilage with 1/2 bovate of land with services and pays yearly at the same times 6d
Item,
......... Thomas Page holds 1 1/2 acres of land without services and pays yearly at the same time 18d
Item,
......... Amabilla Swetemon holds 1 plot and curtilage with 1 bovate of land , and pays yearly at the same time 13d
Item,
........... John Miller holds 1 plot with a bovate of land, and pays yearly at the same times 12d
Item ,
.........Cadogy Gouth holds 1 croft, 1 plot, and curtilage, with one bovate of land with services, and pays yearly at the same times 4s
[Basil Hughes--who has reduced the above considerably to concentrate on names]
Manorbier
For more information about Manorbier parish, see Genuki
Some snippets
1762
........a yeoman from Manorbier parish appeared before the Great Sessions of Pembrokeshire for stealing from the sloop "Two Partners" wrecked in Lydstep bay , the property of Llewelin Evan , mariner , of Newport parish.
1804 April
..........47 ankers of Brandy were seized at Manorbier by the Tide-surveyor of Tenby and his crew.
1811 July
...........Rev Sir Thomas Gery Cullum Bart in his diary, records -- " of late years the Castle ( of Manorbier) has been appropriated to smuggling, on a most daring scale. The person concerned having hired the castle of the farmer, and having built a house contiguous , used to fill the subterranean appartments and towers with spirits. A number of casks were soon discovered floating in the reservoir. At last, after several seizures, this illicit trade was put a stop to by Lord Cawdor, who was nearly killed in the attempt."
[Basil Hughes 1 Oct 2000 D]
Pembroke
For more information about Pembroke parish, see Genuki
Pembroke Education 1847 -- Two schools
BOROUGH OF PEMBROKE.
Union Workhouse School
.---I visited this school on the l6th of December. The master had at one time been a soldier, and his whole regime and phraseology were of a military character. I was introduced to the school by Captain Leach, the Vice-Chairman of the Board.
As soon as the schoolmaster had been apprised of our object he tolled a great bell, and when the summons had been answered by the appearance of a boy or two in the yard, called out lustily, "Come, turn out there-fall in." This was very readily done. To the right-face-march. Each boy in passing gave a military salute. One of the file had neither shoe nor stocking; scarcely any of them had stockings.
There was a deep snow on the ground thawing at the time.The schoolroom is well lighted and ventilated, boarded, and in excellent repair. Everything about it was very neat and clean. Along one side was a line of desks, and opposite to them a stove with a good fire of culm. By the door there was a cupboard for books on the left hand and a small square table for the master on the right. he appeared a very respectable old man, kind and intelligent, with a good-natured sharpness of manner, such as children would soon understand and be kept alert by, without being cowed or frightened.
He gave the order, "Fall in with your Testaments." I heard 19 children read to him the l4th chapter of St. Matthew. He paid great attention to them and corrected any mistakes made, except desert for desert, which he did not notice. He then put questions, He spoke clearly and distinctly. The children for the most part answered. The master then gave the children a word apiece to spell from the passage read; most of them spelt correctly.... A boy pointed out to me the river Jordan, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea (after a little puzzling) on the map of Palestine, which hung upon the walls.
The master then took the boys and gave them a lesson in arithmetic. They wrote down correctly in figures from his dictation three thousand four hundred and twenty-five, they added, rapidly and correctly. His best pupil then worked £ 61 14s. 2d. x 34 in a very clear and steady manner without making a mistake, under my inspection. Only 3 of the 19 children in the first class had been in any other day-school. The matron instructs the girls in sewing.
I heard from Captain Leach that the old master takes great delight in drilling his boys, and that they are tolerably expert in manoeuvring. At the time of my visit the snow had choked up the boys' yard, and so spoilt his parade-ground. The effects of discipline appear to have been good both on master and pupils. I was much pleased with the school.
Mr. William Abram's School:
This school is kept in a room of the master's dwelling house, which is in tolerably good repair, except parts of the floor and walls. It contained 9 benches and 1 table, with some of the arithmetical tables of the Infant School Society hanging on the walls. They are in verse, and are sung occasionally by the scholars. The master was in school himself until he was 9 years of age, and learnt spelling and reading well. At this time he was afflicted with a fever which derived him totally of the use of his eyes. Shortly afterwards he learnt the trade of weaving sedge-mats, by which trade, and by playing musical instruments at weddings and in public-houses, he got his livelihood.
About 10 years ago some benevolent gentlemen bought for him the Elementary Book for the Blind, Literacy for the Blind, the Psalms, and the Four Gospels (all published in Glasgow). He soon learnt to read by the embossed characters, and his neighbours recommended him to open a school, which is well attended. At first he taught the alphabet by the embossed characters to his pupils, but as soon as a sufficient number had learnt to spell and read, he made these act as monitors for the alphabet classes, and confined himself to the classes in spelling and reading. Spelling is taught simultaneously by him in this manner:- he directs one of the best scholars to give out a word, which is spelt at first by one pupil, then he and all the rest spell it together and so on with a column or page, giving the meaning of the word also after it is spelt correctly.
He appears to be a shrewd man, and possesses a retentive memory. His wife assists him in school. Most of his scholars are labourers and mechanics and (a few of them) tradesmen's children. The inclement state of the weather permitted very few to attend.... The master said his object was to teach spelling and reading to his scholars, and that he does not ask them many questions on any subject.
Before leaving the school the master read parts of the 7th and 8th chapters of St. John, very correctly. He could also turn to any chapter.He cannot write, and does not profess to teach anything beyond spelling and reading.
( I gave a talk and asked those present to do the sum, the answers caused much amusement)[Basil Hughes]
Forged baptism entry
Held at the National Library of Wales is a poster advertising a reward for information leading to the identify of the person or persons who forged an entry (viz. the baptism of JOHN son of JENKIN FERRIOR by MARY his wife on 22nd October 1766) in the Pembroke parish records with a photograph of part of the leaf tampered with. Ref: IB(?) 12439-40.
[Rose 28 May 2002]
Nash
For more information about Nash parish, see Genuki
According to the Land Tax Records 1791
- Nash Bank Lewis Rev Owen (owner)
- Nash Bank Thomas George (tenant)
- Nash Blackberry Roch Nicholas (owner)
- Nash Bush Park Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Cart House Croft Bowen Rev (owner)
- Nash Cart House Croft Thomas George (tenant)
- Nash Church Hills Holcombe Rev William (tenant)
- Nash Church Hills King Rev (owner)
- Nash Colliers Croft Gwyther Thos (tenant)
- Nash Colliers Croft Hicks Rev Philomon (owner)
- Nash Common Lays Leach Abraham (owner)
- Nash Common Lays Roch John (tenant)
- Nash Crafty Corner Leach Abraham (owner)
- Nash Crafty Corner Roch John (tenant)
- Nash East Ashwell Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash East Croft Holcombe Rev William (tenant)
- Nash East Croft Lewis Rev (owner)
- Nash Glebe & Tythe Rees Rev John (owner)
- Nash Green Hill Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Green Hill Jarmain ? Thomas (tenant)
- Nash Little Croft Hicks Rev James (owner)
- Nash Little Croft Thomas George (tenant)
- Nash Lodge Gwyther Henry (tenant)
- Nash Lodge Hicks Hannah (owner)
- Nash Lower Nash Leach Abraham (owner)
- Nash Lower Nash Roch John (tenant)
- Nash Meadows Davies Mary (tenant)
- Nash Meadows Mears Hugh (owner)
- Nash Middle Farm Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Middle Farm Lloyd John (tenant)
- Nash North Park John Ansolm (tenant)
- Nash North Park Roch Nicholas (owner)
- Nash Old Park George Thomas (tenant)
- Nash Old Park Walters Rev (owner)
- Nash Petty Lands Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Rock Roberts Rev Nicholas (owner)
- Nash Rock Williams William (tenant)
- Nash South Pit Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash South Pit Lewis Henry (tenant)
- Nash Stoops Lake Hicks Hannah (owner)
- Nash Stoops Lake John David (tenant)
- Nash Strawberry Hill Hancock Rev Thomas (owner)
- Nash Tanzoy Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Two Hills Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Two Mountains Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Upper Nash Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash West Ashwell Hancock Rev Thomas (owner)
- Nash West Croft Davies Rev (owner)
- Nash West Croft Holcombe Rev William (tenant)
- Nash West Hill Barger Philip (tenant)
- Nash West Hill Holcombe Rev William (owner)
- Nash Winters Hall Evans Rev William (owner)
- Nash Winters Hall Gwyther Thomas (tenant)
[Basil Hughes]
Pembroke Dock
For more information about Pembroke, St Mary parish, see Genuki
Pennar/Pembroke Dock/St Florence burials
One problem I have encountered is people being buried quite a distance from the parish in which they lived.
Here are an example of one family who lived in Pennar before Pembroke Dock was thought of, and were buried at St Florence.
Extracts from St Florence Church Records...
1763-1812
Jan 24 1772 Margaret Dr. of John Price Buried
Feb 8th 1803 John Price from Pennar interned Aug 18th 1803
Ann Price of Pennar interned { acc/to the memorial stone on the outer west wall of St Florence Church he was 102 and she was 104 } -- {was this the longest marriage on Record
28th Nov 1804 George son of Richard Price of Pennar interned
From register of 1813 -
12 Oct 1826 John Price of East Pennar Buried age 40
3 March 1833 Elizabeth Thomas of Pennar Buried age 16
13 Aug 1839 Elizabeth Thomas of Pennar Buried age 56
15 July 1839 James Price of Pennar buried age 42
13 Apr 1842 Richard Price buried age 99
12 April 1843 Elizabeth Price buried age 56
[The early burials of Pembroke Dock residents were either at St Mary's Pembroke, Monkton or from about 1818 to 1834-5 at Bethany Chapel [halted by Admiralty because of contamination of the water supply to the Dockyard.]
[Basil Hughes]
Question ; does anyone know whether records were kept of ships constructed in Pembroke Dock in the middle years of the 19th century? What I'd like to know is whether there's any way of finding out what ships were being constructed c. 1858-60,............
Response;
This is the list for the H M Dockyard Pembroke Dock -- dates are of launch
- Doris, 32 Guns 25th March 1857
- Melpomene, 50 guns 8 Aug 1857
- Gannet, 11 guns, 20 Dec 1857
- Orlando, 50 guns, screw frigate, 12 June 1858
- Windsor castle, 116 guns, screw, 16 april 1859
- Revenge, 90 guns, screw, 16 April 1859,
- Greyhound, 16 guns, screw, 15 june 1859,
- Immortalite, 50 guns, screw, 25 Oct 1859,
- Espoir, 5 guns, screw, 7 jan 1860
- Howe, 121 guns, screw, 7 mar 1860,
- Pelican 17 guns, screw, 19th July 1860
- Nimble, 5 guns, screw, 15 jSept, 1860
- Pandora, 5 guns, screw, 7 Feb 1861,
- Defiance, 91 guns, screw, 27 mar 1861,
- Aurora, 50 guns, screw, 22 june 1861,
- Perseus, 6 guns,screw, 21 aug 1861,
- Shearwater, 4 guns, screw, 17 Oct 1861
There was also small shipbuilding firms dotted arround the area including one at Front St but the major employer was the Dockyard.
[Basil Hughes 9 Jan 2001]
Herbrandston
For more information about Herbrandston parish, see Genuki
HERBRANDSTON - THE PARISH THAT WAS BLESSED
People say that the Parish of Herbrandston was so lucky to see all its sons return from the First World War, but 'blessed' rather than 'lucky' would be a more appropriate word. It seemed to be not only the men who lived in the parish but anyone who worshipped in the little parish church of St. Mary the Virgin. This included Major Stokes from St. Botolph's, who was the Squire of the Parish who owned a great deal of property in it. Leonard and Cecil, the two sons of the Rector, the Rev. George Hughes, also served and returned safely, so did many village folk, and others of the flock who really belonged to the next parish of Hubberston.
Of course no War Memorial needed to be erected, so instead a beautiful reredos was put in the chancel as a mark of thanksgiving. So grateful was a local man by the name of James that he pointed the whole chancel free of charge. He had intended to point the whole of the church, but unfortunately he died before he could undertake this task.
When the Second World War came no one ever dreamed that this miracle could happen again but it did and once again all who had worshipped at St. Mary's returned safely. Major Stokes, now a Colonel, returned unscathed. The Rev. George Hughes had died between the two wars and so had his second son Cecil, but Leonard, now a Colonel, served again and returned safely.
There is a grave of a young soldier in Herbrandston churchyard but he was killed, not in action, but by the hand of a fellow officer. After drinking at a nearby port, they had a quarrel and the older man stabbed his young friend. The murder trial caused quite a stir locally, especially when the accused was pronounced 'Not guilty'. A marble cross was put on the young officer's grave and after a very short while, a hand and a dagger appeared on the stonework. Superstitious people interpreted this as a supernatural sign of retribution and many people still visit Herbrandston churchyard just to see 'the hand'.
(Taken from "I Remember, I Remember... Life in around Milford in the early 1900's by Freda James)
[Rosemary May]
HERBRANDSTON - THE VILLAGE FAIR
Herbrandston Fair was a much loved fair, and there was great excitement when the 10th October came around. Older folk called it Harbeson Fair and that is the way the little village is spelt on very old maps. The village is only about four or five miles from Milford Haven and people thought nothing of walking that distance in those days, though there was a short cut through some fields.
There was a much bigger fair on the 5th of October in Haverfordwest, known as Portfield Fair, but it was Herbrandston Fair that we enjoyed. It was originally a hiring fair, but later known as a runaway fair; often a man or a maid who had been hired in Haverfordwest was not pleased with the job concerned, and would run away to Herbrandston to be re-hired.
The fun of the fair usually started in the afternoon when the music of Tommy Hill's roundabout of galloping horses would be heard. This was quite a tame affair when one compares it with the roundabouts of today, but it was not dangerous and one never heard of any tragic accidents. There was also a small roundabout for the smaller children, which was worked by turning a handle.
In my mind's eve I can still see the stalls piled high with pears, ginger nuts or attractive pink and white nougat rich in nuts. There were of course the usual chip and ice cream carts, hoopla and Poor Aunt Sally.
The greatest fun for the young folk, and indeed for some of the older ones, was the 'teasers'; these were large metal tubes very like a tube of toothpaste, but filled with water. Folk would squirt at each other as they passed, and the tubes would be refilled at the village pump.
At night there was the sizzling sound of the naptha burners, which lit the place up before the advent of electricity.
We were never allowed to stay late at the fair, but always went to the farm of a great aunt and uncle nearby for a supper of cold beef, pickles and potatoes. Every house would have plenty of food ready for that day, because relations and friends come from near and far. Indeed it might be another year before they all met again for the fun of Herbrandston Fair.
(Taken from "I Remember, I Remember... Life in around Milford in the early 1900's by Freda James)
[Rosemary May]
St Ishmaels
For more information about St Ishmaels parish, see Genuki
On the lawn at Great Hoaten Farm (now called Anchor Hoaten House), St. Ishmaels is an enormous anchor, over seventeen feet in length and with flukes measuring fourteen feet across, which is locally held to be a relic of the Spanish Armada.
Another theory said it was Viking. But both theories have been proved to be wrong as it is in fact eighteenth century. It was found on the beach at St. Bride's Haven, though no one can say how it got there, and was dragged by teams of horses to its present site. Its wood is now petrified.
[Rose May 12 Jan 2001 D]
St Issells
St Issells Church, Saundersfoot
Here is a list of vicars of St Issells Church at Saundersfoot from a photograph that I took early in 2000. The names are listed on a very swish board just inside the church. The names are:
- 1492 John Lamb
- 1492 John David
- 1534 Henry Storbow
- 1554 John Howell
- 1556 John Emlot
- 1559 Thomas Crane
- 1560 Maurice Wolcoke
- 1564 Rhesen Morris
- 1613 Griffith Johns
- 1625 Rice Thomas
- 1625 Henry Griffiths
- Nicholas White (no date)
- 1686 David Rees
- 1696 Thomas Nash
- 1721 David Lewis
- 1751 James Beynon
- 1782 Thomas Dalton
- 1839 James Dalton
- 1888 John Jones M.A.
- 1912 Howell Rosser B.A.
- 1924 E Owen Jones M.A.
- 1936 William j Williams B.A.
- 1955 Glyn Evans B.A.
- 1980 Michael Butler
[Ray Morris 6 Feb 2001 D]
Landsker
We must not forget the significance of the Landsker or dividing line between the Welsh speaking north of the county and the English speaking south. This line started in Roch and went eastwards through Camrose, Haverfordwest, Wiston and finished up in the Lampeter Velfrey/Crunwear area.
Here is some information concerning language speaking gleaned from my 1891 census database of north west Pembrokeshire and concerns 5 parishes from Mathry in the north to Lambston south of the Landsker:
Parish (no.) Welsh Both English
No % No % No %
Mathry (674) 524 78 110 16 40 6
St.Lawrence (180) 92 51 70 39 18 10
Hayscastle (259) 104 40 134 51 21 8
Camrose (804) 15 2 110 14 679 84
Lambston (174) 0 0 17 10 157 90
This shows, (not quite) graphically, the rapid change between the Welsh speaking north and the English speaking south. The distance between Hayscastle and Lambston is about 4 to 5 miles. Mathry is about 10 miles from Lambston.
The best information on this subject is in "The Pembrokeshire Historian" No 4 of 1972 in an article by Brian S.John called "The Linguistic Significance of the Pembrokeshire Landsker"
[Gerry Lewis 6 July 2001 D]
Jeffreston
A useful list ..............is the Subsidy Roll for 1661 (amongst Francis Green's records - Volume 5, pages 353-381). The subsidy was essentially a tax to raise money for Charles II after the restoration of the monarchy. It gives names of those who paid the levy, by parish, for the whole of Pembrokeshire. Below is the list for Jeffreston parish:
- Rowland Woogan, Esquire 7/-
- John Bartlett, gent. 5/-
- Thomas Nash 4/-
- Richard Smith 2/6
- William Robertts 2/-
- Thomas Rowe 2/-
- Stephen Bartlett 2/6
- Henry Phees' 1/-
- Thomas Owens 1/-
- John Istance 1/-
- Griffith Hitching 1/-
- John Taskan 2/-
- Stephen Rogers 1/-
- John Priday 1/-
- Widd' Smith 1/-
- Dauid Jones 1/-
- William Elliott 1/-
- Georg Morth 1/-
- Thomas Prowne 1/-
- Thomas Reece 1/-
Total 39/-
[Jonathan Pike Pem 7 Oct 2001]
Roch
Pembrokeshire Gaol File 21 March, 1692.
The Grand Jury present John STOAKES of the Parish of Roch, Gent, for keeping a greyhound not having an estate of £100 per annum.
[Tony James D 19 May 2002]
Slate Quarrying in Pembrokeshire
There follows a series of comments/facts based on the article ; The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988.
What slate industry ?
To most people "the Welsh slate industry" naturally implies north west Wales, within the former counties of Caernarfon and Merioneth. After all, in the period 1780 to date , these areas produced 80-90% of the UK's total output of roofing slate with quarries such as Penrhyn and Dinorwig producing at least 100,000 tons of finished roofing slates annually at their peak, and employing up to 3,500 men each.
However, this obscures the fact that viable slate quarrying industries existed elsewhere in Wales, and for the purpose of this exercise, in north Pembrokeshire, namely, along the north facing coast of the county, in the Preselau mountains, along the border with Carmarthenshire, and in the Cilgerran area of the lower Teifi valley.
Reference can be found to the existence , at various times, of about a hundred slate quarries in Pembrokeshire, and to a labour force totalling perhaps several hundred during the second half of the C19.
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 19 Jan 2001 D/P]
The evidence for a north west Wales link
The port facilities at Porth-gain, between Fishguard and St Davids were constructed initially to deal with exports of slate from that area.
The Maenclochog Railway, constructed in the southern foothills of the Preseli mountains was for the purpose of carrying away slates from the Rosebush quarry.
However, most of the quarries were little more than scratchings on the surface of the land and worked only for a few months at a time when demand was high. Neither did the villages which depended, to varying degrees, on quarrying, really ever begin to compare with their counterparts in north west Wales. Porth-gain, Cilgerran and Rosebush were small by comparison with northern villages such as Rhosgadfan, Penmachno, or Aberllefenni.
Whilst the slate industry in Pembrokeshire must have had some significance locally , evidence in the shape of formal archive sources is slim. Pem Archives holds very little such material, neither does the NLW. Snippets of information can be gleaned from local newspapers, notably the quaintly named Dewsland and Kemes Guardian, and from port books.
The Museum of Welsh Life has an useful collection of taped interviews with former Pembrokeshire slate quarrymen.It also has documents containing extracts of correspondence, written in 1894, between John G.Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog, and his brother in Pembrokeshire. Apart from family matters, these letters embrace a slate quarry operated by the brother ; a letter of commendation relating to the Trwynllwyd quarry, prepared by a Robert Richards ; a memo regarding a quarry in Scotland ; again addressed to Robert Richards; a memo from a Haverfordwest slate merchant about slates produced by Robert Richards ; and finally, a price list relating to the Cilgwyn slate quarry Caernarfon.
It was this apparent link to north west Wales which became the author's eventual main pre-occupation, and his findings which form the basis for this article.
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 19 Jan 2001 D/P]
Llanrhian parish
Richards wrote from an address at Cwm-yr-eglwys, Dinas Cross, near Fishguard, and delivered his opinions regarding the Trwynllwyd slate quarry, some miles south and west, near the village of Llanrhian. The letters between John Roberts and his brother [somewhere in Pembrokeshire] seem to suggest that the quarry being discussed was on the north western coast of the county. The quality of the slates was discussed and it should be noted that Pembrokeshire slate, because of its geological nature, is rather inferior to the older, harder, slate of north Wales.
Inspection of the Enumerator's Schedules for the parish of Llanrhian, which contains the slate quarries of Trwynllwyd, Abereiddi and Porthgain reveals that there were a number of families and individuals from north Wales living within the parish and probably working at the quarries. The word probably is used because the occupations of the persons enumerated are a little confused being variously described as ; Slate Quarrymen ; Slate Quarry Man ; Labourer ; Slater ; Quarryboy ; or Slate Cutter. Censuses in north Wales show a definite 'Slate Quarryman' description without fail. In Llanrhian a 'Slater' may of course have been someone who put slates on roofs.
The census of 1841 shows people in Llanrhian parish who were born outside the parish, one example of someone probably working at the quarry is ;
At Trefin ; Evan Jones, aged 30, and his wife Mary, aged 30, with children Elizabeth 10, John 4, Evan 2 months. Mary and the children were natives of PEM but Evan was not. Was Evan perhaps one of the first persons from north Wales to work at the local quarries ?
In 1841, only 7 'Slaters' and a 'Superintendent' worked at the Llanrhian quarries, but this was a time of rapid development with a soaring demand for roofing slates..
By 1851 the following occupations were recorded ;
- Mineral Agent - 1
- Quarryman/Slate Quarryman - 30 ; chiefly at Abereiddi
- Slater - 15
- Tipper - 3
- Miner - 2
- Railway labourer - 5
- Stone cutter - 1
- Pump maker - 1
- Horsekeeper - 1
- Clerk - 1
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 20 Jan 2001 D/P]
Llanrhian - 1851 census examples of the north Wales link
The 1851 return shows that there were many families and individuals living within the parish whose roots were in north Wales.
Some , like Samuel Hughes, living at Abereiddi, aged 25 and born in Anglesey, had obviously arrived as single men and then married local women, and had all their children born locally.
There was William Hughes, probably a brother to Samuel, also at Abereiddi, aged18, born in Llanrug, Caernarfonshire. With the Hughes family lodged 16 year old Henry Roberts born in the parish of Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfonshire[CAE], and already a slate quarryman.
Some brought their families, William Hughes, labourer, aged 51, born in Llanddeiniol parish Anglesey, had brought his wife and two children with him ; Elinor Hughes, her daughter Elinor 10; son Richard 8; were all natives of Bethesda, CAE, and one wonders why this family left such a booming town in the 1840s.
Some families showed complex preceding moves ; William Jones at Abereiddi was a slate quarryman born at Portsmouth, his wife and four of their children were natives of Llanllechid parish, CAE , but their eldest son William was born in Llanwrin parish , Montgomeryshire. Morris Jones, at Trefin, quarryman, was a native of Llandwrog, CAE, and he had brought with him his wife Jane and their five children, one born in CAE, three somewhere in Ireland, and the last at Trefin.
The final group from north Wales consisted of those who had no obvious family links locally , but who chose to lodge with a family in the vicinity of the quarries. In Trefin lodged Hugh Grey Williams, 'Slater', aged 28, a native of CAE, and a young man aged 23, Price Roberts, again from CAE, whose career and life can be followed in Llanrhian for at least the next 40 years.
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 20 Jan 2001 D/P]
1861/71
By 1861 the slate industry was in decline in this locality, and the census records far fewer quarrymen and slate workers. There is at least one "Slater's wife" recorded as head, implying that her husband had moved away looking for work. Not all the sons were now tempted by the slate industry ; Robert Roberts , aged 18, son of Henry Roberts of Trevacoon, was shown as a "Mariner", not surprising in a part of Wales where a connection with the sea had always been important in people's lives.
By 1871 the number of Llanrhian quarrymen recorded as having some connection with north Wales had further dwindled, the industry in north Wales was in good heart so perhaps some were tempted to return there. Two families were doing well enough out of the local slate industry, namely ; William Pritchard , of Cwmwdig Water, a native of Beddgelert, CAE, a "Slate Quarry Agent" ; and Thomas Williams, of Norma Terrace[?], a native of Bangor, CAE, and a "Slate Quarry Manager".
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 24 Jan 2001 D/P]
Difficult times
The late 1870s were to prove a difficult time for the slate industry in Wales as a whole, and there followed in the early 1880s significant emigration from north Wales, especially, to the slate belt of the USA.
But the 1881 census shows that there were still significant numbers of north Welsh quarrymen living and working in Llanrhian parish. Some of the names are by now familiar, having appeared in the 1861/71 censuses.Almost all had now married local women and seen their children born and brought up in Pembrokeshire. Significantly too, there were no longer unmarried young men from north Wales living in the parish and lodging with local families. Llanrhian was obviously no longer a focus or attraction for these. The area though had proved an attraction for the Rev Richard Rowlands, aged 32, born CAE, along with his wife Laura, a native of Llanberis, CAE, but who now lived in Park Court, Tre-fin.
Price Roberts and family
Price Roberts, "Slater" from CAE, was noted in the 1851 census, an unmarried lodger in Tre-fin village. From the census and parish registers his subsequent life can be portrayed. He succeeded in attracting the attention of a young local woman, Lettice Thomas, of Tre-fin, who on 3 Nov 1853, whilst they were still unmarried, bore him a son, William. Price must have acknowledged his obligations even at this point though as Jacob Hughes, vicar of the parish, broke his usual practice in the case of bastard children, namely entering either a christian name only, or coupling the child's name with its mother's surname, by entering Lettice's child as William Roberts. The couple must have soon married and by Oct 1855 had another son, John. The 1861 census shows no further children, the two sons shown as "scholars", with the family living with John Thomas, Lettice's father, a widower who farmed 6 acres of land near Tre-fin.
By 1871, although John Thomas was still alive, his place as "head" was taken by Price Roberts . William and John no longer appeared on the census suggesting they had moved away for work, but the family had a young daughter, Martha, aged 1 year. Martha Roberts, aged 11, and her sister Margaret, aged 6, appear on the 1881 census too. By this time their father is a "Stone Quarry Manager" and their rising status is reflected by the fact that they now employ Anne Harries, a local girl, as a maid servant. No further records were available for the family.
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 24 Jan 2001 D/P]
Competition, industrial unrest and the end of an era
Links between north-west and south-west Wales, even in the C19 , were by no means as tenuous as some commentators would like to suppose. Those who earned their living on the sailing vessels which traded at the creeks and harbours of Cardigan Bay were quite familiar with the slate ports of north-west Wales, the coal exporting harbours of Pembrokeshire, and the herring fleets of Aber-porth and Nefyn. But to find men from north-west Wales settling in Pembrokeshire is another matter, and one wonders what their linguistic, religious or political impact might have been.
Precious little evidence is available to permit a discussion on this although one theme may be looked at, namely that of industrial unrest in the Llanrhian district quarries. It should be remembered that the North Wales Quarrymen's Union was in existence from 1874 and well established in Gwynedd by the late 1870s. Consequently it can be supposed that these men from north Wales might have brought with them at least a smattering of interest in Union matters since the only known instances of quarrymen protesting against owners in the coastal belt quarries of Pembrokeshire took place in Llanrhian.
Discontent surfaced at Tre-fin in January 1878, monthly wages had not been paid at the three nearby quarries in the previous two months and the men, not unreasonably, became worried. Local shopkeepers complained at the amount of money owed to them by quarrymen's families. The quarrymen had a meeting in that January and resolved to cease work until arrears of wages were paid. The quarries remained at a standstill for several weeks, attempts at reconciliation continued, a few men were persuaded to return to work. John Fraser, manager, of the St Brides Quarries proved particularly "unhelpful" in his responses. There was much distress in the area, some men moved elsewhere for work, more returned to work. But in March 1879 the men were suddenly locked out by the owners and dismissed without explanation. Somehow matters were resolved in late March when the men were paid one of the four months oustanding wages.
The problems which led to the suspension of the men at the Trwyn-llwyd, Abereiddi and Porthgain quarries were the same as those that sent so many men from the Gwynedd quarries across the Atlantic to seek employment in the quarries in the USA, namely the sudden drop in demand for Welsh roofing-slates.
By the early C20, most Pembrokeshire quarries had closed, after giving up against the intense competition from Gwynedd quarries. Meanwhile, the local labour force, with some northern families amongst them, were forced to look elsewhere for work, as their industry became little more than a folk memory in the quiet villages of south-west Wales.
[Based on The Pembrokeshire Slate Quarrymen by Dafydd Roberts, in Llafur [Journal of Welsh Labour History] Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth, 28 Jan 2001 D/P]
Censuses, 1841/51, Enumeration Districts
For both the 1841 and 1851 Census the heading names for each Dyfed FHS index fiche are the district names. They are not quite the same as those within the hundreds which are used for the headings of the Baptisms, Marriages and Burials fiche.
1841
I list below the parishes covered under each Census district. On each fiche are the names in alphabetical order of all those resident on the night of 6/7June 1841, with their ages, parish and reference nos to enable you to go straight to them on the original census. Note that in 1841 there is a book number as well as a folio and page.
Fishguard Enumeration District - Parishes included
Ambleston, Castlebythe, Fishguard, Henry's Moat, Jordanston, Letterston, Little Newcastle, Llanfairnantygof, Llanllawer, Llanstinan, Llanwnda, Llanychaer, Manorowen, Morvil, Pontfaen, Puncheston, Spittal, St. Dogwells, St. Nicholas, Walton East
Haverfordwest Enumeration District - Parishes included
Boulston, Camrose, Haroldston, Haroldston West, Haverfordwest St. Martin, Haverfordwest St. Mary, Haverfordwest St. Thomas, Lambston, Nolton, Prendergast, Redbaxton, Roch, St. Issells's , Treffgarne, Uzmaston, Wiston
Milford Enumeration District - Parishes included
Dale, Freystrop, Hasguard, Herbrandston, Hubbertson, Johnston, Llangwm, Marloes, Robeston West, St. Brides, Steynton, St. Ishmael's, Talbenny, Walwyn's Castle, Walton West
Narberth Enumeration District - Parishes included
Amroth, Begelly, Bletherston, Clarbeston, Coedcanlas, Crinow, Crunwear, Grondre Hamlet, Jeffreston, Lampeter Velfrey, Llanddewi Velfrey, Llandilo, Llandissilio (West), Llangolman, Llanycefyn, Llawhaden, Llysyfran, Loveston, Ludchurch, Maenclochog, Martletwy, Minwear, Mounton, Mynachlogddu, Narberth, New Moat, Newton, Reynoldston, Robeston Wathen, St. Issells, Slebech, Vorlan Hamlet, Williamston Hamlet, Yerbeston
NB. The following Part Parish indexes have been added to the above; Llanfallteg (West), Llangan (West)
Newport Enumeration District - Parishes included
Bayvil, Bridell , Cilgerran, Dinas, Eglwyswrw, Llanfairnantgwyn, Llanfihangel Penbedw, Llantood, Llanychllwydog, Manordeifi, Meline, Monington, Moylegrove, Nevern, Newport, St. Dogmaels, Whitechurch
Pembroke Enumeration District - Parishes included
Angle, Bosherston, Burton, Carew, Castlemartin, Cosheston, Gumfreston, Hodgeston, Lamphey, Lawrenny, Llanstadwell, Manorbier, Monkton, Nash and Upton, Pembroke St. Mary's, Pembroke St. Michael's, Penally, Pwllcrochan, Redberth, Rhoscrowther, Rosemarket, St. Florence, St. Petrox , St. Twynells, Stackpole, Tenby in Liberty, Tenby out Liberty, Warren,
St. David's Enumeration District - Parishes included
Brawdy, Granston, Hayscastle, Llandeloy, Llanhowel, Llanreithan, Llanrian, Mathry, St. David's, St. Edrin's, St. Elvis, St. Lawrence, Whitchurch
1851 [It differs slightly from 1841 in some parishes]
Cenarth Enumeration District - Parishes included
Capel Colman, Castellan, Cilrhedyn, Clydey, Llanfrynach, Penrith
Fishguard Enumeration District - Parishes included
Ambleston, Castlebythe, Fishguard, Henry's Moat, Jordanston, Letterston, Little Newcastle, Llanfairnantygof, Llanllawer, Llanstinan, Llanwnda, Llanychaer, Manorowen, Morvil, Pontfane, Puncheston, Spittal, St. Dogwells, St. Nicholas, Walton East
Haverfordwest Enumeration District - Parishes included
Boulston, Camrose, Haroldston West, Lambston, Nolton, Roch, Rudbaxton, Treffgarne, Wiston
The following parishes are available as a complete transcript on the separate set of fiche HO107/2478 Haverfordwest and are not included in this index
- Haroldston St. Issells's,
- Haverfordwest Furzey Park and Portfield
- Haverfordwest St. Thomas
- Haverfordwest St. Martin Prendergast
- Haverfordwest St. Martin Hamlet Uzmaston
- Haverfordwest St. Mary
Narberth Enumeration District - Parishes included
Amroth, Begelly, Bletherston, Castledwyran, Clarbeston, Coedcanlas, Crinow, Crunwear, Cyffig, Eglwyscummin, Egremont, Grondre Hamlet, Henllan Amgoed, Jeffreston, Lampeter Velfrey, Llanddewi Velfrey, Llandilo, Llandissilio, Llangan, Llangan Hamlet, Llangolman, Llanycefyn, Llawhaden, Llysyfran, Loveston, Ludchurch, Maenclochog, Marros, Martletwy, Mounton, Minwear, Mynachlogddu, Narberth, New Moat, Newton , Pendine, Reynoldston, Robeston Wathen, Slebech, St. Issells, Vorlan Hamlet, Williamston Hamlet, Yerbeston
Newport Enumeration District - Parishes included
Bayvil, Bridell, Cilgerran, Dinas, Eglwyswrw, Llanfairnantgwyn, Llanfihangel Penbedw, Llantood, Llantood, Llanychllwydog, Manordivy, Meline, Monington, Moylegrove, Nevern, Newport, St. Dogmaels, Whitechurch
Pembroke Enumeration District - Parishes included
Angle, Bosherston, Burton, Caldy Island, Carew, Castlemartin, Cosheston, Gumfreston, Hodgeston, Lamphey, Lawrenny, Llanstadwell, Manorbier, Monkton, Nash and Upton, Penally, Pembroke St. Mary's, Pembroke St. Michael's, Pwllcrochan, Redberth, Rhoscrowther, Rosemarket, Stackpole Elidor, St. Florence, St. Petrox, St. Twynells, Tenby in Liberty, Tenby out Liberty, Warren
The following parish is available as a complete transcript on the separate set of fiche HO107/2476 Pembroke Dock ( St. Mary's) and is not included in this index
- St. Mary's Pembroke
St. David's Enumeration District - Parishes included
Brawdy, Granston, Hayscastle, Llandeloy, Llanhowell, Llanreithan, Llanrian, Mathry, St. David's. St. Edrin's, St. Elvis, St. Lawrence, Whitchurch
N.B. Folio 354, Page 6, which holds schedules 16 and 17, is missing from the Census Return of Mathry parish
Steynton Enumeration District - Parishes included
Dale, Freystrop, Hasguard, Herbrandston, Hubbertson (inc Hakin), Johnston, Llangwm, Marloes, Robeston West, St. Brides, Steynton, St. Ishmael's, Talbenny, Walwyn's Castle, Walton West
[Joy Cozens 31 Dec 2000 D]
Pembrokeshire county
Man of Pembrokeshire
Giraldus Cambrensis [Gerallt Gymro] [c 1147-1223]
Giraldus was born at Manorbier Castle. His father, William de Barri was a Norman nobleman, his mother was Angharad, daughter of Gerald de Windsor, the Norman castellan of Pembroke and of the famous "Helen of Wales", Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last independent prince of Deheubarth. Although considerably more Norman than Welsh by blood he called himself a Welshman although he could be as arrogant as any Norman. His cousins were the Fitz-Geralds, Fitz-Stephens and Fitz-Henries[all descendents of Nest], the Lord Rhys and other Welsh princes were his kinsmen.
He became a distinguished scholar , lectured in church law and theology, became the royal chaplian to Henry II, yet, his claim to appear on any list of famous Welshmen must lie more in his authorship of his famous Itinerarium Kambriae [ Itinerary through Wales] and Discriptio Kambriae [ Description of Wales], the first books to describe Wales, they were written in Latin. The first one is available in a Welsh translation and offers many interesting, albeit exaggerated, descriptions of how our forbears lived.He gathered the material for these writings in 1188 when he accompanied Archbishop Baldwin on his tour through Wales.
His greatest ambition was to become Bishop of St David's and secure the independence of the Welsh Church from Canterbury, he went to Rome three times to plead his case, in vain, and he declined both Bangor and Llandaff . He is considered one of the most remarkable and versatile of the great personalities of the Middle Ages, he is buried in St David's Cathedral.
He was known as Gerallt Gymro.
His advice to the people of Wales in the last chapter of the Description is perhaps as valid now as it was then;
" If therefore they would be inseparable, they would become insuperable".
[ Partly based on Famous Welshmen Welsh Dept of Board of Education, 1944. Gareth Hicks 28.4.2000 D/G]
T E Nicholas
One of the founders of the Communist Party in Great Britain was T E Nicholas, a Welsh speaking poet preacher from north Pembrokeshire. He trained for the ministry and ministered in various chapels in Wales. He was unpopular with many because of his strong political, pro Russian views. He and his wife learnt the craft of dentistry and practised for years in Aberystwyth but Niclas y Glais, as he was known, continued to travel to preach in various chapels. It is said he carried his dental equipment in the car with him on his Sunday preaching trips, in case a member of the congregation had a painful tooth during a painful sermon.......
[ Based on "A Helping Hand "by W J Jones 1996. Gareth Hicks 15.6.2000 D]
Coal mining
The windlass or jack-roll , powered by manual labour, was a device for getting men and materials in and out of shallow pits that were worked in the C17.
George Owen , writing in the first decade of the C17, described how Pembrokeshire colliers ;
"sink their pits down right four square about six or seven feet square and with a windlass turned by four men they draw up the coals by rope, a barrelfull at once"
A typical pit might have sixteen workers , three of whom were miners hewing the coal with pickaxes, and 80 to 100 barrels a day were raised up the shaft.
[Based on Collieries of Wales by the RCAHMW. Gareth Hicks 5.June 2000 D]
The Pembrokeshire Collier
Sanitary Condition of Pembrokeshire from State of Mines Reports by Sir Hubert Mackworth.
In this county the seams of coal are thin, exceedingly contorted and uncertain, consisting for the most part of culme. For this reason the coal has been usually worked only by very shallow and temporary pits, affording occasional employment to the collier, who therefore often applies himself to agricultural and other labour. The number of hands at these pits is usually small, sometimes consisting of members of a family, of whom the women wind up and unload the coal, whilst man and boys are at work underground. The result of these circumstances is, that the Pembrokeshire collier differs but little in any respect from the agricultural labourer, and his gains but little exceed the payment for work on the surface off the ground. He is too poor to move to other localities, such as the valleys of Glamorganshire, where wages are much higher; and he has frequently a freehold or other interest in his cottage or hovel...thus keeping him tied..
From the Sir Herbert Mackworth Reports on conditions in mines. 31 January 1854 PRO POWE7/1
Mackworth's opinions may have been the exception rather than the rule. And people from Pembroke came into Glamorgan industries just as they did from other surounding counties.
As an example to show how many people from Pembrokshire there were in the industrial areas the 1851 Census for Merthyr Tydfil shows that the percentages of Pembrokeshire born individuals in the following districts were as follows
- N. Georgetown 13.2%. Those born Glam. & Mon. 14.8%
- Dowlas, New South Wales 13.9%. Those born Glam. & Mon. 8.7%
- Pentrebach 7.0%. Those born Glam. & Mon. 14.1%
[Steve Keates 2 April 2001 G]
Emigration to South Africa
Question;
>From the latest Francis Jones book "Historic Pembrokeshire Houses...." (page 132 - Lampeter House) I have ascertained that the Rev. Edward Philipps, Rector of Lampeter Velfrey lived 1736 - 1793 and there is confirmation that "one son emigrated to South Africa". The book states that this was a brother of the Rev., but I suspect this may be wrong.
Response;
On a visit to "Settler Country" (Port Alfred/Grahamstown area) in South Africa about 25 years ago I noticed on a tourist/history map that 30 members of "Philipp's party" came from Pembrokeshire (the only Welsh party of 60 listed). All the party settled in the same area south of a place called Martindale, about 20/25 kilometres north of Port Alfred.
I visited the 1820 Settlers Monument complex and was shown a book containing an alphabetical list of the 1820 settlers.
I didn't have much time as far as I can remember, so by looking just for Welsh names I was able to identify 27 of the 30 members of "Philipps's party" who emigrated to Cape Province in the sailing ship "Kennersley Castle".
They were as follows:
- Leader Thomas Philipps aged 44, a banker son of the Reverend Edward Phillipps of Lampeter Velfrey, his wife Charlotte (nee Arboin) aged 43 and their 7 children
- Benjamin James aged 27
- David James, 18
- John James, 21
- Ann John, 25
- Charles Jones, 21, a joiner
- William Jones, 26
- Thomas Matthias, 22
- Mary Owen, 20
- Robert Owen, 23
- Henry Phillip, 25
- James Phillip, 23
- William Phillip, 21
- David Pugh, 23
- Philip Richards, 25 and his wife
- Mary Richards, 22
- William Rickards, 21 ( I must have found him by accident!)
- Martha Thomas, 18
- Peter Williams, 25
It seems possible that most of these people came from the same area. Perhaps Thomas Philipps advertised in one of the local papers. Does any lister know any more?
[Gerry Lewis D 22 Jan 2002]
Follow up;
There is an article "Tom's letters to his kinsfolk" in NLW Journal 1984..beginning page 357.......Charles Allen-Phillips and Thomas were partners in a failed Bank , and Thomas, probably to evade irate creditors, took his family off to South Africa.
[Bettye Kirkwood D 22 Jan 2002]
Whaling
There was a Whaling industry operating out of Milford Haven
The Whalers were mainly Quakers who had come over from Nantucky in 1792. It is probable that about 50 came - but some had left Milford by 1806.
In the little booklet by Stephen Griffiths -- A history of Quakers in Pembrokeshire there is mention of this.
[Basil Hughes 6 Oct 2000]
Some quotations from "Milford Haven: waterway & town" by Ken McKay & George Springer (Tempus, 1999 0-7524-1589-1)
"The first American Quaker whalemen arrived in Milford in August1792.....The original settlement comprised about 100 people and 5 whaling ships."
They were joined by a cousin, William Rotch who had set up in Dunkirk but was forced to move from France after the Revolution.
"This provided a much-needed boost to the Milford whaling industry".
"The whale ship Aurora carried the Starbuck & Folger families to Milford before setting off on a one-and-a-half year whaling trip to the southern oceans".
[Mary 6 Oct 2000 D]
I recently visited the excellent Milford Haven Museum on the harbour front.
It is housed in what was the whale oil factory into which barrels of the oil were offloaded from the whalers to be stored and processed into lamp oil. It was not used for this purpose after about 1820 when Milford developed into an important fishing port. Whaling is one of the many interesting subject covered by the exhibits which have been put together and is run by a very enthusiastic band of volunteers. With its audio visual displays it covers Milford's history and it's previous importance as the main port of the Haven. Very well worth a visit if you are holidaying in Pembrokeshire.
[Joy 7 Oct 2000 D]
The Irish ferry service
Question;
> Does anyone know anything about the Irish Ferry service circa 1840's? Also known as the Milford Haven & Waterford shipping service, ran by a Mr. Jackson of Neyland and his partner a Mr. Ford of London?
Answer;
The only reference I can find is in a book called "The Railways of Pembrokeshire" by John Morris (SBN 901906204)
"..... a mail packet service having been established by 1824.. Pembroke Dock, Milford and Dunmore...
Meanwhile, Captain Thomas Jackson started a steamer service between Milford and Waterford, entering into partnership with Captain Robert Ford.
"On completion of the South Wales Railway [SWR] to Neyland, Jackson and Ford would operate their service from that port in connection with boat trains from Paddington [the London terminus]. The first sailing in connection with the SWR was in August 1856."
The book is mainly about the railways, but there is mention of the various steamers built for the route.
A later mention is this:
"...Ford and Jackson acquired their last steamer, the 793 ton Vulture....arrived on 12th July 1870. ...Ford and Jackson's fleet as it existed before the concern was taken over was thus a somewhat mixed bag. It seems likely that the problems of keeping the Waterford service going contributed greatly to the eventual decision of the Great Western [Railway] board [successors to the SWR] to take over the service themselves."
and in a later chapter:
"Ford & Jackson were therefore taken over on 1st February 1872, the purchase price being £36,500, for which the GWR got the Malakhoff, South of Ireland and Great Western. The Vulture was not purchased until April, when the GWR bought her for £9,000. Thus ended Captain Jackson's long career as owner of the cross-channel service, though by mutual agreement he remained at New Milford [Neyland] on a teporary basis as "Manager" .... until July 1873."
[Gerry Lewis 20 Jun 2001 P]
Orielton
Names in the History of Orielton
The information on this listing was taken from Pemb Hist Vol 5 Owen of Orielton
Compiled by Basil Hughes
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Wyrriott David (Sir) 1300 Orielton
Wyrriot Richard 1314 Orielton Sheriff of Carmarthen
Wyrriot Richard 1317 Orielton Sheriff of Carmarthen
Wyrriot Richard (Sir) 1323 Orielton
Wyrriot Richard/Manorbier 1384 Orielton spouse:- Elen Huscard
Huscard Elen 1384 Orielton spouse:- Richard Wyrriot
Wyrriot Thomas 1459 OrieltonSheriff of Pembroke
Wyrriot Thomas 1482 Orielton
Wyrriot Henry 1526 Orielton Lord of the moiety of Cosheston
Wyrriot Henry 1530 Orielton spouse:- Margaret ap Thomas
ap Thomas\Wyrriot /Dynevor Margaret 1530 Orielton nat dau. of Sir Rhys ap Thomas spouse:- Henry Wyrriot
Wyrriot Henry 1542-44 OrieltonCommissioner lay subsidies Pem & Tenby
ap Hugh Owen 1545 Bodeon MP for Newborough-High Sheriff & JP 1563 spouse:- 1 Elizabeth 2 Isabel
Wyrriot Henry 1549 & 59 Orielton High Sheriff
Wyrriot Henry 1551 Orielton Escheator of Pembrokeshire
Owen Hugh /Orielton 1571 marr Bodeon second son of Owen ab Hugh of Bodeon spouse:- Elizabeth Wyrriot
Owen Hugh 1574 Orielton Recorder of Carmarthen spouse:- Elizabeth Wyrriot
Wyrriot George 1587 Orielton JP (supporter of the Earl of Essex)
Owen Morris 1588 dead Orielton son of Hugh Owen and Elizabeth
Phillips John 1590c Picton Castle dau.Jane mar. George Wyrriot spouse:- Elizabeth Gruffydd
Gruffydd Elizabeth /Picton Castle 1590c Penrhyn spouse:- John Phillips
Phillips Jane/Orielton 1590c Picton Castle daughter of John Phillips,Picton Castle spouse:- George Wyrriot
Lloyd David/Pengwernoleu 1597-8 Forest Brechfa son and heir of Griffith Lloyd spouse:- Jane Owen -very unhappy
Wyrriot George 1599 Orielton co-lord of several manors spouse:- Jane Philipps
Wyrriot Elizabeth 1599c Orielton dau & heiress of George Wyrriot spouse:- Hugh Owen
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Wogan Morris 1603 Apr 21 Boulston date of marriage spouse:- Francis Wogan
Owen Hugh, Colonel 1610 born Bodeon eldest son of William and Jane Owen
Owen John 1612 Orielton eldest son Hugh and Elizabeth spouse:- Dorothy Laugharne
Owen / Barlow/Creswell & Lawrenny Mary 1612 Orielton dau of John and Dorothy spouse:- Lewis Barlow
Owen Anne/Stone Hall & Trecwn 1612 Oct 8 Orielton dau of John and Dorothy spouse:- 1 Wogan 2 Owen
Owen John 1612 Oct 8 Orielton 2nd son John and Dorothy
Owen Arthur /Newmoat 1612 Oct 8 Orielton 3rd son of John and Dorothy spouse:- Mary Philipps (wdw)
Phillips Mary /Newmoat 1612? Picton Castle dau of Sir John Philipps Picton Castle spouse:- 1Scourfield 2 Owen
Phillips/Scourfield Mary /Newmoat 1612? Picton Castle dau of Sir John Phillips wdw of John Scourfield
Scourfield John 1612? Newmoat widow mar Arthur Owen spouse:- Mary Philipps
Owen Richard 1613 Orielton son of Hugh & Lucy Owen?
Owen Jane /Forest Brechfa 1613 Orielton dau of Hugh Owen and Elizabeth spouse:- David Lloyd
Owen William /Bodeon 1613 Orielton second son of Hugh and Elizabeth spouse:- Jane Williams
Williams Jane/Vaynol 1610c Orielton daughter of William Williams of Vaynol spouse:- William Owen
Owen Ann /Presaddfed Anglesey 1613 Orielton dau of Hugh and Elizabeth spouse:- John Lewis
Owen Percy 1613 Orielton son of Hugh and Lucy?
Owen Francis/Boulston 1613 Orielton married 1603 Nov 10 dau.Hugh\Elizabeth spouse:- Morris Wogan
Owen Sibyl /Wiston 1613 Orielton dau of Hugh Owen and Elizabeth spouse:- William Wogan
Wyrriot Hugh/Bodowen 1613-14 Feb 8 Orielton died buried Monkton spouse:- 1 Elizabeth 2 Lucy?
Laugharne John 1613c St Brides son was Major General Rowland Laugharne spouse:- Janet Owen
Owen Janet/St Brides 1613c Orielton dau of Hugh and Elizabeth spouse:- John Laugharne
Lewis John 1613c Presaddfed Anglesey kinsman of his wife spouse:- Ann Owen
Owen Lucy 1613c Orielton Widow of Sir James Wotton spouse:- Hugh Owen
Wogan William 1625 died Wiston had 12 children died at Lawrenny spouse:- Sibyl Owen
Owen Hugh Sir 1629 Orielton 1629 1st wife died spouse:- Frances Philipps
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Owen Elizabeth/Carnarvonshire 1629 Orielton dau of Sir Hugh and Frances spouse:- John Glynne
Owen Dorothy 1629 Orielton dau of Sir Hugh and Frances unmarried alive 1670
Owen Mary /Moat 1629 Orielton dau of Sir Hugh and Katherine spouse:- William Scourfield
Lewis \ Owen Katherine /Prescoed 1629(after)mar Orielton widow of John Lewis of Prescoed spouse:- Sir Hugh Owen
Owen Hugh Sir 1629(after)mar Orielton spouse:- 2 Katherine Lewis
Philipps/Owen Francis/Orielton 1629 died Picton Castle dau of Sir John Philipps Picton Castle spouse:- Sir Hugh Owen
Owen William/Bodoen 1631 Orielton spouse:- Jane Williams
Owen Anne/Stone Hall 1631 marr. (1) Orielton dau of John & Dorothy spouse:- William Wogan
Wogan William 1631m 1645 died Stone Hall St Lawrence parish had a son and two daughters spouse:- Anne Owen
Owen Arthur 1633 Orielton called to the Bar
Wogan Morris 1640 Apr 21 died Boulston spouse:- Francis Owen
Laugharne Rowland Mjr Gen. 1640s St Brides son of John Laugharne and Janet Owen
Barlow Lewis 1641 & 1668 Cresswell & Lawrenny High Sheriff spouse:- Mary Owen
Owen Arthur 1643 Orielton Mjr in Laugharne's Army afterwards Colonel
Owen Arthur 1645-48 & 54-5 Orielton M.P also from 1660 till his death
Owen (2nd Baronet) Sir Hugh 1645? born Orielton son of Sir Hugh and Katherine
Owen Arthur 1647 baptised Richmond Surrey son of Sir Hugh and Katherine
Wogan nee Owen Anne (wdw) /Trecwn 1648 marr Orielton Stone Hall
Owen nee Laugharne Dorothy/(St Brides) 1652-3 died 70yr Orielton widow of John Owen who died in 1612 spouse:- John Owen
Lewis/Owen Anne/Orielton 1655 Presaddfed her mother married her father in law spouse:- John Owen
Lewis\Owen\Trevor Anne 1655 after Orielton after death of John Owen married spouse:- Colonel Trevor
Owen John 1655 Dec 21died Orielton eldest son of Sir Hugh and Frances 21yrs spouse:- Anne Lewis
Owen Wyrriot 1657 died pre Orielton son of Sir Hugh and Frances
Owen/Wogan Francis /Philbeach 1658-9 died Boulston dau. Hugh\Elizabeth -widow of Morris spouse:- Morris Wogan
Owen Henry 1659 Oct 21 Bodeon second son of William and Jane Owen spouse:- Elizabeth Gwyn
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Owen Hugh, Colonel 1659 Oct 21 died Bodeon eldest son of William and Jane Owen
Gwyn Elizabeth/Maesoglen 1659c Bodoen dau.& heiress of Hugh Gwyn of Maesoglen spouse:- Henry Owen
Owen (2nd Baronet) Sir Hugh 1660 & 1678-81 Orielton MP - also from 1689-91 High Sheriff 64 spouse:- Anne Owen
Owen John 1662 Newmoat son of Arthur and Mary spouse:- Dorothy Owen
Scourfield William 1663 Moat High Sheriff spouse:- Mary Owen
Owen Anne/Orielton 1664 Bodoen & Maesoglen dau. heiress of Henry and Elizabeth Owen spouse:- Hugh Owen
Owen Henry (1) 1664 (after) Orielton son of Anne and Sir Hugh - died young
Owen Henry (2) 1664 (after) Orielton son of Anne and Sir Hugh - died young
Owen Dorothy 1664 after Orielton dau of Anne and Sir Hugh - died young
Owen John 1664 after Orielton son of Anne and Sir Hugh - died young
Owen William 1664 after Orielton son of Anne and Sir Hugh - died young
Owen (2nd Baronet) Sir Hugh/Orielton 1664 marr Landshipping son of Sir Hugh and Katherine spouse:- Anne Owen
Owen Dorothy/Newmoat 1666 Trecwn dau and heiress of Thomas Owen - Trecwn spouse:- John Owen
Owen John 1666 married Newmoat wife dau and heiress of Thomas Owen spouse:- Dorothy Owen
Owen Arthur /Johnston Hall 1668 marr Orielton son of Sir Hugh and Katherine spouse:- Elizabeth Horsey
Owen Sir Hugh 1670 died 66yrs Orielton spouse:- Katherine Owen
Owen Elizabeth /Park, Merioneth 1670c Orielton dau of Anne and Sir Hugh spouse:- 1 William L Annwyl
Owen Katherine/Orielton (widow) 1671 Landshipping granted six farms by her son Sir Hugh spouse:- Sir Hugh Owen
Wogan Edward 1674 born Boulston son of Lewis Wogan of Boulston spouse:- Mary Owen
Owen Arthur /Orielton 1678 died Newmoat spouse:- Mary Philipps (wdw)
Owen Arthur 1678-81,85-95 Pembroke MP spouse:- Mary Powell
Owen John 1678-9 Newmoat MP spouse:- Dorothy Owen
Barlow Lewis 1681 Aug 6 died Cresswell & Lawrenny left issue spouse:- Mary Owen
Horsey/Owen Elizabeth 1681 died Johnson Hall dau of Cpt John Horsey/Elizabeth spouse:- Arthur Owen
Powell/Owen Mary 1683 Aug 4 marr Pembroke and Tamworth dau of Morgan Powell of Pembroke spouse:- Arthur Owen
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Owen Arthur 1683 Jan 8 marr2 Kensington spouse:- Mary Powell
Owen/ Wogan Mary /Llanstinan 1686? Newmoat - Trecwn dau & heiress John & Dorothy spouse:- Hugh Wogan
Owen John 1686? died Newmoat dau and heiress Mary Owen spouse:- Dorothy Owen
Owen Charles 1686c born Orielton son of Anne and Sir Hugh Owen spouse:- Dorothy Corbett
Owen/Annwyl Elizabeth 1689 pre Orielton dau of Anne & Sir Hugh spouse:- 2 Mr Brereton
Owen/Scourfield Mary /Orielton 1693 Mar 19 diedMoat dau of Sir Hugh and Katherine aged 50 spouse:- William Scourfield
Scourfield William 1695 died Moat had issue spouse:- Mary Owen
Owen (3rd Baronet) Sir Arthur 1695,1701-11,14 Orielton MP-Mayor Pemb. 1704-6, 24,High Sheriff 07 spouse:- Emma Williams
Owen (4th Baronet) Sir William 1697 born approx Orielton
Owen Wyrriot 1697 Feb 1 Orielton son of Anne and Hugh - admit Grays Inn
Owen John 1698 born Orielton younger brother of Sir William (4th Bar) spouse:- Anne Owen
Owen Colonel John 1698 born approxOrielton
Owen Arthur 1698 died Pembroke no surviving issue spouse:- Mary Powell
Owen (2nd Baronet) Sir Hugh 1698-9 died Orielton spouse:- Katherine Annwyl
Owen (3rd Baronet) Sir Arthur 1699 Orielton inherited spouse:- Emma Williams
Annwyl\Owen Katherine 1699 died Orielton spouse:- Sir Hugh Owen
Owen (2nd Baronet) Sir Hugh 1699(pre)m2 Orielton marr 2nd time - widow of Lewis Annywyl spouse:- Katherine Annywyl
Owen Mary /Boulston 1700 marr Orielton dau of Anne & Sir Hugh spouse:- Edward Wogan
Owen Catherine/Chester 1700c Orielton dau of Anne and Sir Hugh spouse:- John Williams
Owen Wyrriot/Talbenny 1700c marr Robeston House marr widow of Sackville Crow died 1700 spouse:- Dorothy Crow
Owen Arthur/Chelsea 1701 born approx Orielton son of Sir Arthur and Emma spouse:- Martha Smale/Shewen
Williams John 1702 Chester Attorney General of Denbigh & Montgomery spouse:- Catherine Owen
Wogan Edward 1702 pre died Orielton age approx 27 spouse:- Mary Owen
Owen\Crow Dorothy/Roberston House 1704 died Johnston wdw of Sackville Crow spouse:- Wyrriot Owen
Owen Wyrriot/Talbenny 1715 died Roberston House son of Anne and Sir Hugh spouse:- Dorothy Crow wdw
Owen Charles died age 30 1716 Nash, Langum parish had issue spouse:- Dorothy Corbett
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Corbett\Owen Dorothy 1716 pre Nash, Langum parish spouse:- Wyrriot Owen
Colby Lawrence 1716 Feb 7 Bangeston nr Pembroke appointed by Sir Arthur -cornet-militia
Owen\Barlow Anne wdw 1718 after Lawrenny spouse:- Thomas Cornwallis
Barlow Hugh 1718 pre Lawrenny son of John Barlow and Anne Owen spouse:- 1 Anne Skyrme
Owen Anne/Lawrenny 1718 pre Orielton dau of Anne and Sir Hugh spouse:- John Barlow
Barlow John 1718 died Lawrenny High Sheriff 1705 Anne was second wife. spouse:- Anne Owen
Barlow Anne /Nash,Langum parish 1718c Lawrenny dau of John Barlow and Anne Owen spouse:- Wyrriot Owen (cousin
Barlow Dorothy/Pricaston 1718c Lawrenny dau of John Barlow and Anne Owen spouse:- John Lort.
Barlow Hugh 1718c? Lawrenny son of John Barlow and Anne Owen spouse:- 2 Elizabeth Owen
Williams Anne 1720c Chester dau and heiress of John and Catherine spouse:- Sir William Owen
Owen (4th Baronet) Sir William 1722 Orielton MP served for 51 years spouse:- Elizabeth Lloyd
Owen Margaret 1724 Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma unmarried
Owen Wyrriot 1724 pre Orielton son of Sir Arthur and Emma died young
Owen Anne 1724 pre died Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma died young
Owen Dorothy 1724 pre died Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma died young
Owen Hugh 1 1724 pre died Orielton son of Sir Arthur and Emma died young
Owen Catherine 1724 pre died Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma died young
Owen Hugh 2 1724 pre died Orielton son of Sir Arthur and Emma died young
Williams/Owen Emma/Orielton 1724 Sep 17died Lanforda Denbighshire only daughter of Sir William Williams spouse:- Sir Arthur Owen
Lloyd Thomas 1725 Grove dau Elizabeth marr Sir William Owen spouse:- Mary Gwyn
Lloyd \Owen Elizabeth/Orielton 1725 Dec 12marr Grove dau & coheiress Thomas Lloyd of Grove spouse:- Sir William Owen
Owen (4th Baronet) Sir William 1725 Dec 12 marrOrielton spouse:- Elizabeth Lloyd
Owen (5th Baronet) Sir Hugh/Orielton 1729 Chester son of Anne and Sir William spouse:- Anne Colby
Owen Anne 1729 after Orielton dau of Anne & Sir William died unmarried.
Owen Arthur/Apsley Bedfordshire 1729 after Orielton Lt Col 3rd Foot Guards spouse:- Anne Thursby
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Owen Elizabeth /Penrhos Anglesey 1731 marr 1 Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma spouse:- William Owen
Cornwallis Hon. Thomas 1732 died spouse:- Anne Owen\Barlow
Willaims \ Owen Anne/Orielton 1734 after marr Chester dau of John Williams\Catherine Owen spouse:- Sir William Owen
Owen Elizabeth /Lawrenny 1736 marr 2 Orielton dau of Sir Arthur & Emma wdw W. Owen spouse:- Hugh Barlow
Owen John (Colonel) 1736 Nov 5 marr Orielton bro of Sir William (4th Baronet) spouse:- Anne Owen
Owen\Owen Anne/Ireland 1736 Nov 5 marr Nash dau of Charles Owen and Dorothy Corbet spouse:- John Owen (Col)
Owen ( 7th Baronet) Arthur/Orielton 1740 Sep 29 Covent Garden son of Col John Owen and Anne Owen unmarried
Owen (4th Baronet) Sir William 1743 after marr2Orielton she was his cousin spouse:- Anne Williams
Lloyd \Owen Elizabeth /Orielton 1743 approx died Grove dau of Thomas Lloyd spouse:- Sir William Owen
Owen William 1746 Sep 30 born Rotterdam son of Col John Owen and Anne Owen
Owen Hugh Michael (Rev)/Aberffraw 1748 Sep 29 born Frith St Soho son of Col John Owen and Anne Owen spouse:- 1 ? Lyon,2A.Griffith
Owen Emma/Lawrenny 1749 Dec 30 Dublin dau of Col John Owen and Anne Owen spouse:- Hugh Owen\Barlow
Owen Charles Lt 59th Foot 1750 c son of Col John Owen and Anne Owen unmarried
Owen\Lord Corbetta /Pembroke 1750-1 Feb 17 bn Dublin dau of Col John Owen and Anne Owen spouse:- Joseph Lord
Owen\Owen Anne/Nash 1750-1 Feb 21 d Dublin died after birth of dau Corbetta spouse:- John Owen (Col)
Owen John (Colonel) 1750-61 Ireland became Lt Gov. bro Sir William (4th Bar) spouse:- Anne Owen
Owen Emma/Williamston 1751 Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma spouse:- William Bowen
Owen (3rd Baronet) Sir Arthur 1754 Jun 6 died Orielton spouse:- Emma Williams
Owen Arthur/Paddington 1757 born approx Chelsea 1801 son of Arthur and Martha- became parson unmarried
Bowen William 1762 died Williamston spouse:- Emma Owen
Barlow Hugh 1763 died Lawrenny spouse:- Elizabeth Owen
Willaims\Owen Anne 1764 Dec 21 died Orielton spouse:- Sir William Owen
Owen Elizabeth/Dyffryn 1764 marr Orielton dau of Anne & Sir William spouse:- Thomas Price
Owen (5th Baronet) Sir Hugh 1770-86 Orielton MP also Colonel of Pemb. Militia spouse:- Anne Colby
Owen William (Brig Gen)/Marinique 1771 Jun 11 marr Dublin son of Col John Owen and Anne spouse:- Anne Tripp
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Thursby \Owen Anne /Apsley 1774 Jul 8 Abingdon dau of John Harvey Thursby spouse:- Arthur Owen
Owen Arthur /Apsley Bedfordshire 1774 Jul 8 marr Orielton son of Anne & Sir William spouse:- Anne Thursby
Owen\Lord Corbetta /Dublin 1774 marr Pembroke dau of Col John and Anne Owen spouse:- Joseph Lord
Owen William/Lawrenny 1775 Apr 11born Port Mahon Minorca son of William Owen (B.Gen)\Anne Tripp unmarried
Colby\Owen Anne/Orielton 1775 Sep 16 marr Bletherston dau of Grace and John Colby spouse:- Sir Hugh Owen
Owen (5th Baronet) Sir Hugh 1775 Sep 16 marr Orielton son of Anne And Sir William spouse:- Anne Colby
Owen\Bowen Emma/Williamston 1777 approx died Orielton dau of Sir Arthur and Emma -no issue spouse:- William Bowen
Lord \Owen John 1777 born Pembroke son of Joseph Lord and Corbetta Owen spouse:- 1Charlotte 2 Mary
Owen\Price Elizabeth /Orielton 1777 Feb 20 died Dyffryn dau of Anne & Sir William spouse:- Thomas Price
Shewen\Smale\Owen Martha/Chelsea 1781 Swansea dau of Mjr Shewen, wdw Alexander Smale spouse:- Arthur Owen
Owen (4th Baronet) Sir William 1781 May 7 died Orielton age 84 spouse:- Anne Williams
Owen (6th Baronet) Sir Hugh 1782 Sep 12 brn Orielton only child of Sir Hugh and Anne Colby unmarried
Owen (5th Baronet) Sir Hugh 1786 Jan 15 died Orielton age 57 spouse:- Anne Colby
Owen\Owen\Barlow Elizabeth 1788 Nov died Lawrenny dau of Sir Arthur and Emma twice widowed spouse:- Hugh Barlow
Owen\Barlow Emma /Lawrenny, Dublin 1788 Oct died Bath dau of Col John Owen and Anne Owen spouse:- Hugh Owen\Barlow
Owen\Barlow Hugh 1789 Lawrenny son of Wyrriot Owen and Anne Barlow spouse:- 1Emma, 2 Anne
Owen Arthur 1790 died Apsley son of Anne and Sir William spouse:- Anne Thursby
Owen William (Brig Gen) 1795 died Fort St George Martinique (yellow fever) son of Col John Owen and Anne Owen spouse:- Anne Tripp
Owen Hugh (Royal Navy) 1801 drowned Aberffraw son of Rev Hugh M Owen and Anne unmarried
Owen Arthur Rev 1805 died ? Paddington son of Martha and Arthur
Lord\Owen John /Orielton 1809 Pembroke inherited the Orielton Estates-changed name spouse:- 1 Charlotte 2 Mary
Owen (6th Baronet) Sir Hugh 1809 Orielton MP also was High Sheriff of Pemb 1804 unmarried
Owen (7th Baronet) Sir Arthur /India 1809 Orielton succeded to the title unmarried
Owen (6th Baronet) Sir Hugh 1809 Aug 8 died Orielton age 27 unmarried
Owen\Barlow Hugh 1809 Jan 23 died Lawrenny age 79 spouse:- 2 Anne Barlow
Surname forename/2nd Res. Date Main Residence Info
Tripp\Owen Anne/Martinique 1809 Sep 20 died Huntspill and Taunton dau of John Tripp, Huntspill and Taunton spouse:- William Owen (B.Gen)
Griffiths\Owen Anne /Bangor 1810 c Aberffraw dau of William Edwards of Bangor spouse:- Rev Hugh M Owen
Thursby\Owen\Hart Anne/Abingdon 1810 Jun died Bath\ Apsley remarried after Arthur Owen died spouse:- Colonel Hart of Bath
Owen Hugh Michael (Rev) 1810 Mar died Aberffrawson of Col John and Anne Owen spouse:- 2 Anne Griffiths wdw
Owen Sir John 1810-41 Orielton MP spouse:- 1 Charlotte 2 Mary
Owen Charles 1812 died Aberffraw son of Rev Hugh M Owen and Anne unmarried
Lord\Owen John 1813 Jan 12 Orielton created Baronet spouse:- 1 Charlotte 2 Mary
Owen ( 8th Baronet) William/Lawrenny 1817 Middle Temple inherited title on death of his uncle unmarried
Owen (7th Baronet) Sir Arthur /India 1817 Jan 4 died Orielton had been Adjutant General in E.India unmarried
Owen John /Aberffraw Mjr 61st Foot 1820 died Jamaica son of Rev Hugh M. Owen and Anne unmarried
Colby\Owen Anne/Bath, London. 1823 Apr 11 died Orielton, Lawrenny spouse:- Sir Hugh Owen
Owen Elizabeth Anne/Aberffraw 1828 died Weston nr Bath dau of Rev Hugh M Owen and Anne unmarried
Owen Arthur /Aberffraw Mjr 1835 died Bengal son of Rev Hugh M Owen and Anne unmarried
Owen (8th Baronet) Sir William/Lawrenny 1844 Aug 5 Middle Temple changed name to Owen Barlow unmarried
Barlow Anne /Aldeburgh 1844 died Lawrenny dau of Philip Champion de Crespigny MP spouse:- Hugh Owen Barlow
Owen Barlow (8.Bar) William/Lawrenny 1851 Feb 25 died5 Fig Tree Court Temple London last baronet of the 1641 creation unmarried
Owen Sir John 1861 Feb 6 Taynton Orielton estate had been sold 1857 to pay debts spouse:- 1 Charlotte 2 Mary
[Basil Hughes]
The Secret Diary of Orielton School Aged 121 1/2
Today I have loaned from the library in Pembroke "The Secret Diary of Orielton School Aged 121 1/2", it contains extracts from the school log 1873-1901, attendance, sicknesses, punishments etc.
The teachers were ;
HEADMASTERS
- John CRISP, Dec 1873-Oct 1877
- Walter COOPER, Nov 1877-Nov 1882
- Arthur STEPHENS, Nov 1882-Jun 1889
- John HITCHINGS, Jun 1889-July 1898
- Joseph MASON, Aug 1898-May 1918
OTHER TEACHERS
- Emily CRISP (Pupil teacher) -Dec 1873-Sep 1875
- John ADAMS (Pupil teacher) - Jun 1874-Oct 1877
- David MORRIS (pt) - Sep 1875-Oct 1879
- Eliza COOPER (sewing) - 1877-Nov 1882
- George WILLIAMS (pt) - Oct 1879-Dec 1885
- Ellen STEPHENS (sewing) - Nov 1882-1889
- Herbert MAJOR (pt) - Oct 1885-Feb 1890
- E A WILLIAMS (pt) - 1889-Oct 1891
- Mrs HITCHINGS (sewing) - 1889-1898
- Oswald HITCHINGS ( Asst.) - Feb 1890-1895
- Louis ANDREWS (pt) - Oct 1891-Mar 1893
- Sarah JONES - Mar 1893-Apr 1894
- Winnifred HITCHINGS (pt) - Apr 1894-July 1898
- Louisa MORRIS (monitress) - 1st part 1896
- Clara ROBLIN (pt) - Aug 1898-Dec 1898
- William THACKER - Oct 1898-Dec 1898
- Elinor MASON (sewing) - 1898-May 1909 & Aug 1918-May 1919
- Miss BUNSELL (pt) - Jan 1899-July 1919
- Miss WEBB (pt) - Jan 1900-July 1900
- Miss M LAWRENCE (uncertified) - Aug 1900-Mar 1941
[Sandra Davies D 30 Nov 2001]
Angle
For more information about Angle parish, see Genuki
Bangeston
[According to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales]
The 'mere shell of a mansion " seen by Fenton (Tour, 1810 p. 404} has practically vanished, and in its grounds immediately to the north-east now stands a coast-guard station. The site of what was once the fishpond is easily found.-Visited, 8th June 1922
The earliest record of the Benegers of Bangeston appears to be in 1172, when a branch of the family took part with Strongbow in the Irish Invasion. There is an Irish saying that anything very astounding 'beats Banagher.' Could that have arisen from any feats performed by the Benegers ?
One Ralph Beneger of Bangeston rebuilt Pwllcrochan Church in 1342. It contains two inscriptions recording his name, and an effigy of him in his canonical habit, as Rector.
Griffith Dawes of Bangeston is the next owner of whom we hear, though how it became his does not appear, possibly by marriage with a Beneger heiress. He was the son of Henry Dawes, by Lettice, daughter of William Walters of Roch (her brother's daughter, the famous Lucy Walters, went to France and there met Charles II., by whom she became the mother of the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth). Henry Dawes was the son of Griffith Dawes, whose widow Joan, daughter of Richard Fletcher, married Henry White of Henllan, near Pwllcrochan (now a ruin), who was Sheriff in 1592. Griffith was the son of Nicholas Dawes, by Katherine Butler of Johnston .Griffith Dawes of Bangeston was Sheriff in 1665. His only daughter and heiress, Ann, married Griffith White, son of Henry White of Henllan, who was Sheriff in 1658. The Whites were a very old Tenby family, and acquired Henllan through Jestina Eynon, daughter and heiress of John Eynon of Henllan, who married John White.
One Griffith White of Henllan, three times Sheriff, was buried in Rhoscrowther Church in 1589. Henry, or Harry Dawes, father of Griffith Dawes of Bangeston, appears, according to Lewis Dwnn, to have lived at Castlemartin. This fits in with the theory that Bangeston came into the family by Griffith's marriage; but it is also possible that Henry lived at Castlemartin during his father's lifetime, if his father was at Bangeston.
On June I6, 1686, Griffith Dawes of Bangeston, or, as it is put, ' of Banaston in the Parishe of Nangle, Esqre.,' Thomas Lort, of Eastmoor, Manorbier, and Francis Dawes of Pembroke, gent., with Devereux Hammond, James Lloyd and Francis Smith of ' Tenbie,' gents., as representatives of Alice Bowen of Gloucester spinster bought from Thomas Williams of St. Florence, for £290 10s., the land of Carswell (at St. Florence), then occupied by Richard Rowe, ' for the relief of the poor and aged of Tenbie.' The farm, to this day, belongs half to the Trustees of the Tenby Charities, and half to the Rector and Church-wardens of St. Mary's, Tenby .
Griffith Dawes of Bangeston, as before stated, had an only daughter, Ann, who married Griffith, son of Henry White of Henllan. Griffith died before his father, leaving an only child, Elizabeth, who thus inherited Bangeston from her grandfather. Griffith Dawes of Bangeston died January 16, 1692, aged seventy, his monument, with a small marble coat of arms bearing the three ' Daws was one of three monuments which were rescued from destruction when the south transept of Angle Church became ruinous, and was pulled down They were replaced a few years ago, pieced together as far as broken fragments would allow, in the north transept. One of the other two is a plain grey marble tablet to Mrs. Elizabeth Pritchard, sister of Mrs. Alice Dawes (probably Griffith's wife), who died January 17, 1725, aged eighty-six; the other, a hand-some marble monument surmounted by a coat of arms, to Brigadier-General Thomas Ferrers, the third husband of Elizabeth White, grand-daughter of Griffith Dawes of Bangeston, who died October 26, 1722.
Elizabeth White married four times. First, Thomas Lort, son of Sampson Lort of Eastmoor, Manorbier (Sampson Lort, John Lort of Prickeston, and Sir Roger Lort of Stackpole were brothers; sons of Henry Lort of Stackpole, Sheriff in 1619). Grandfather Dawes is said to have disapproved of the match, and to have hurried across the fields from Bangeston to Angle Church to stop the wedding; but Thomas (a sailor) and the wily Elizabeth had got a chaplain with a special licence at the boat-house at the foot of Bangeston Hill, and so outwitted the irate old gentleman, crossing the Haven afterwards in a boat.
EIizabeth's second husband was Richard, Viscount Bulkeley; then came Brigadier-General Thomas Ferrers, to whom she erected the marble monument already mentioned, on which she describes him as her ' truely mourned and dearly beloved husband,' Lastly, she married John Hook, who was Sheriff in 1755, and who survived her. She left no children by any of her husbands, and John Hook therefore bequeathed Bangeston to his godson and namesake, John Hook Campbell, Lyon King at Arms; he was a grandson of Sir Alexander, who married Miss Lort of Stackpole, brother of Sir Plyse Campbell, and uncle of John, first. Baron Cawdor; he died in 1795. His son Matthew married. Ellstacia, daughter of Francis Basset, of Heanton Court Devon, and had a son, also Matthew (who married Anne, daughter of William Adams of Holyland, and died without issue), and three daughters, co-heiresses; of whom Eustacia married her cousin Sir George Campbell, G.C.B., brother of John, First Baron Cawdor; he died in 1821, leaving no issue.
Matthew Campbell appears to have got into money difficulties which obliged him to sell Bangeston; the valuable lead roof was stripped off, and everything removed that could be turned into money, and the bare walls soon assumed the look of ruin and decay. This must have happened after 1789, as Richard Gough, in an Addendum to Camden, mentions Bangeston as then occupied, and Fenton in 1811 laments its ruined state and recalls its remembered hospitality, therefore the dismantling must have occurred some time between these two dates.
Fenton also mentions its 'Norman founder'; if this is correct he must have founded an older house than the ruin we now see, whose long, unfortified facade, large oblong windows and general sumptuous style point to much later and less troubled times, when the fear of the enemy was not constantly before men's eyes. The walled enclosure immediately in front of the house, now overgrown with trees, and a carpet of daffodils in spring, called the Bowling Green. There is a large kitchen garden with magnificently high walls, an artificial pond in the wood adjoining, and traces of an old water-mill; also an avenue of beeches, leading away to the westward, still recalls the glories of the old house . Matthew Campbell was a great friend of Fenton's, and entertained him at his house in Pembroke on his Tour in 1811.
Bangeston, with Hall, Angle, and the bulk of the Angle property, was bought in 1805 by John Mirehouse, Esq., as already stated, from Lord Cawdor, and remains in his family to the present day. Bangeston being a ruin, Hall became the dwelling-house, but at the time of purchase the family resided (as Lord Cawdor's tenants) at Brownslade, and did not take up their residence at Hall until 1864.
[Basil Hughes]
According to "On the State of Education in Wales" 1847
PARISH OF ANGLE.-on the 26th of December I visited the above parish, which is served by the same clergyman as Warren. He resides at Angle. There is a small school in the village kept by a person who is also a baker and keeps one or two cows. The school had been broken up for the Christmas holidays, and would not be open for the next three weeks. The master receives annually from the sinecure Rector, the Reverend W. North, Professor of Latin Literature at St. David's College, Lampeter, £5. for educating eight poor children of the Parish; and an additional £5. from Mrs. Mirehouse, the lady of the principal resident proprietor of the parish for educating 10 others.
The inhabitants of the village are chiefly fishermen. The labourers who live in the parish are very poor. Wages are 8d. per day with food, or ls. on their own finding. Mr. Dalton informed me that there had not to his knowledge been any wrecking for the last four or five years. Wrecking was not confined to the labouring class, but extended also to the farmers, who would not scruple to take possession of any articles which might be thrown ashore.
The school-room was open-roofed, rendered, and in good repair. It was part of a dwelling-house. The schoolmaster's mother lived in the other part. The proprietor of the parish is paid £3. lOs. per annum for the house. There was a garden belonging to it.( In 1935 Angle -- a report of county school inspections singled this school out as being the worst in the county as far as vulnerability to disease and epidemic because of primitive hygiene facilities.)
The Loch Sheil wreck
1894 January. Loch Sheil a ship with a cargo of whisky went down of Thorn Island much was alleged to have been smuggled ashore by Angle residents
According to Mason writing in 1905
"On the night of the 30th January, 1894, a large merchant ship named the "Loch Shiel," laden chiefly with cases of Scotch whisky for Australia, on making the Haven for shelter, ran aground on the rocks at the back of Thorn Island, practically the northern boundary of West Angle Bay. On this occasion Mr. Mirehouse, of Angle, and the crew of the lifeboat, did some brave work in rescuing the crew of the unfortunate ship, which ultimately became a total wreck. The cargo and wreckage floated about the harbour for weeks after, the Salvage of which did not all find its way to the Receiver of Wrecks."
Perhaps the following sidelights will demonstrate:-
Some Cottages not very far from the scene underwent rapid internal alterations smooth walls freshly papered where cup-boards appeared before.
On an occasion of a villager's marriage at Dale, which took place shortly after the wreck, a yacht laden with a visiting party from Pembroke Dock, fired a salute from two cannon on board, Which, by the way, disturbed all the crows in the surrounding woods, not a few which, if not very musical, added fresh interest to the event of the happy couple and procession returning from the church . The visitors from the yacht were duly invited to partake of supper on shore, and on sitting down to a well-provided table, each yachtsman faced a bottle of whisky, manufactured on the premises, no doubt. However, it tasted Scotch; and contributed to the making of much joy during the evening, finally rendering beds and blankets superfluous articles to the yachting guests that night.
[Basil Hughes]
Mariners from Pembrokeshire on the Cardiff 1871 census
This list is not complete in any sense . It is a list of mariners or those in maritime trades showing Pembrokeshire roots that has been extracted from an index being compiled by Phil Roderick for the Cardiff 1871 census which is being transcribed by Jennie Newman and Lynn John. At this date [Oct 2001] only some 5000 of the c 50,000 entries for Cardiff have been so transcribed.
- EVANS WILLIAM HD M 29 FIREMAN IN STEAMER HAVERFORDWEST PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIS WILLIAM HU M 49 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- BRADLEY BENJAMIN SO U 14 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- PHILLIPS DAVID VR M 30 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- LEWIS DAVID LG M 36 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- EVANS THOMAS SO M 29 MARINER ST. DOGMAELS PEMBROKESHIRE
- JAMES WILLIAM BO U 54 MARINER ST. DAVID'S PEMBROKESHIRE
- BOWEN JOHN HD M 30 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- JONES THOMAS HD M 44 MARINER MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- PHILPIN BENJAMIN HD M 50 MARINER MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- JONES DANIEL HD M 33 MARINER FISHGUARD PEMBROKESHIRE
- MORTIMER DAVID HD M 58 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIES THOMAS LG M 29 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- LEWIS GEORGE LG U 25 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- SYMMONDS JOHN BO U 26 MARINER PEMBROKESHIRE
- MORGAN DAVID HD M 33 MARINER NEWQUAY PEMBROKESHIRE
- CUNNINGHAM GEORGE LG U 48 MARINER MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- YOUNG DAVID HD M 49 PILOT NEWPORT PEMBROKESHIRE
- GRIFFITHS SAMUEL HD M 52 PILOT PEMBROKESHIRE
- THOMAS THOMAS HD M 48 PILOT PEMBROKESHIRE
- EVANS WILLIAM LG M 45 PILOT PEMBROKESHIRE
- SAMUEL DAVID HD M 51 PILOT PEMBROKESHIRE
- MORGAN BENJAMIN HD M 49 PILOT NEWPORT PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIES JOHN HD M 62 PILOT ST. DOGMAELS PEMBROKESHIRE
- EDWARDS JOHN HD M 82 RETIRED SEAMAN ST. DOGMAELS PEMBROKESHIRE
- JAMES EDWARD HD M 42 SAIL MAKER MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- JAMES ARTHUR SO U 19 SAIL MAKER MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- FOSTER(?) BENJAMIN LG M 42 SAILOR MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- BEAVEN ALEXANDER HD M 28 SAILOR ST.DOGMAELS PEMBROKESHIRE
- THOMAS DANIEL LG U 42 SEAMAN NEWPORT PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIS HENRY BO U 44 SEAMAN ST. DAVIDS PEMBROKESHIRE
- MORRIS JOHN HD M 49 SEAMAN CHIEF OFFICER ST. DOGMAELS PEMBROKESHIRE
- ROWLAND JOHN HD M 51 SHIP BROKER NEWPORT PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIS GEORGE HD M 53 SHIP BUILDER EMP.60 M&B PEMBROKESHIRE
- PLAIN THOMAS W.H. HD M 44 SHIP BUILDER EMP.60 M&B PEMBROKESHIRE
- BECK(?) MATTHEW LG U 26 SHIP CARPENTER PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIS JOHN HD M 66 SHIP CARPENTER NEWPORT PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIS WILLIAM SO M 34 SHIP CARPENTER NEWPORT PEMBROKESHIRE
- BLAKE JOSHUA HD M 20 SHIP CARPENTER PEMBROKE DOCK PEMBROKESHIRE
- CHOWN(?) WILLIAM LG U 20 SHIP CARPENTER PEMBROKESHIRE
- ALLEN GEORGE LG M 27 SHIP CARPENTER PEMBROKESHIRE
- POWELL JAMES BO U 23 SHIP CARPENTER PEMBROKESHIRE
- PHILLIPS JOHN HD M 40 SHIP RIGGER PEMBROKESHIRE
- VAUGHAN GEORGE BO U 21 SHIP SMITH PEMBROKE PEMBROKESHIRE
- DAVIS JOSHUA HD M 45 SHIP WRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
- EDWARDS JOHN HD M 32 SHIP WRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
- JENKINS REUBEN LG M 23 SHIP'S CARPENTER PEMBROKESHIRE
- EVANS BENJAMIN HD M 42 SHIP'S CARPENTER PEMBROKESHIRE
- GREEN GEORGE HD M 40 SHIPWRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
- GREEN THOMAS SO U 21 SHIPWRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
- MORRIS DANIEL LG M 48 SHIPWRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
- SMITH JAMES HD M 27 SHIPWRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
- CHAPPEL HENRY HD M 39 SHIPWRIGHT PEMBROKE DOCK PEMBROKESHIRE
- COLE JAMES HD M 39 SHIPWRIGHT MILFORD PEMBROKESHIRE
- EDWARDS THOMAS BR U 27 SHIPWRIGHT PEMBROKESHIRE
[Phil Roderick 24 Oct 2001]
Wales - Genealogy Help Pages - Not everyone knows this .... (11)
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Neath
Sir Humphrey Mackworth
By 1686, the coal interests in Neath came under the control of Humphrey Mackworth through marriage, and he was right up to his death in 1727 to play a large and controversial part in the development of coal , and copper smelting and silver refining as well. He had interests too in the lead mines of Cardiganshire.
At that time his coal works were regarded as the best in Wales both in output and quality, and he revived the smelting of copper and lead. He also interested himself in the manufacture of litharge [ lead oxide] useful in the manufacture of glass and pottery; and in the newly profitable adventure of brass making.
By 1720 it was said that ; " Such variety of excellent and most profitable works were now to be seen at Neath as cannot be equalled in any part of Gt Britain, especially when his intended additions there shall be completed."
Sir Humphrey died in 1727.
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks ]
Earliest records of copper smeltingThe earliest surviving written account of smelting and refining copper in Wales seems to be that dated 12 Feb 1702 and is captioned;
"Thomas Williams: Account of ye Smolting and refining at Neath from 2 January to 23 January 1702 [Mackworth Papers]The object of the weekly accounts was to report what had transpired in terms of individual direct wages payments , the amount of material used and the result of the week's work.The account made up locally would have been sent off to Sir Humphrey Mackworth's agent. The company concerned was that of the Mine Adventurers. The maximum number of men employed in the smelting and refining works was 26 with weekly wages ranging from 3/- to 16/- so the fact that each workman's names was recorded is not surprising.
Family Historians may be interested in the following list of names appearing in these accounts;
Saturday 9th January;
Morning Watch; Samuel Ackroyd, John Jennings, Charles Evans
Evening Watch; John Parry, Thomas Forrest, Michael Parker, John David.
John Parry --4 days sick
Richard Nelmes--for 6 days making Brick
Thomas Forrest--for 2 days making Brick
Edwd Simon--6 days repairing refinery furnaces
Evan William--6 days attending refinery furnace
Richard Gascoyne--6 days Lime being scaled at what to be allowed him [no wages amount shown for him]
Samuel Holton--6 days at ye Stamps
Howell Jenkins--5 days making Brick, 2 1/2 days mending Tools
Richard Manering,William Morgan and Benjm Mathew--3 1/2 days on Sir Humphreys Account[I note that the accounts for the following week show the very same group of men, John Parry had been sick for 6 days this time and received 6/- instead of the previous week's 4/-.]
Apart from the Wages amounts the accounts include detailed items of materials manufactured and consumed
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 8 June 2000]
The Case of Sir Humphrey Mackworth and the Mine Adventurers
A pamphlet of 1705 referred to by Grant-Francis; Smelting was carried on day and night in shifts of eight hours. In addition to copper, Neath concentrated on the production of lead. It was being reported in 1702 that production of silver, both at Neath and in Cardiganshire was running at 80 ozs a week but the 23 January 1702 account refers to the fine silver produced as being 28 ozs.......
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s ]
Herbert Evans Mackworth of the Gnoll, Neath
[ Mackworth Estate Accounts 1759-60.]
He was the son of Sir Humphrey. Together with his Steward and 'accomptant' William Cross, he was 'keeping and maintaining distinct accounts' of his landed estates which comprised freehold and leasehold lands, iron mines, collieries, brickworks and sundry other establishments. He died in 1765.
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s ]
Wages systems at Neath[Mackworth Papers]
The records of the early C18 do not contain many examples of Wages sheets. There is evidence that wages were paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly. In some cases the wages were signed for by one man, generally the senior artisan or chargehand.
The weekly Wages records include payments to the following for the week ended 26 July 1755;"Amount paid to sundry Smiths, Carpenters and Sawyers for Wages;
Roger Price; Thomas Lewis, Rees Morgan, Huw Edwards, Rees Lewis etc."The wages were signed for by one man, Thomas Lewis, who made his mark.The agent for Herbert Mackworth was one William Cross.
Some workers would have agreed to be paid monthly and for the month ended 26 July 1755 is recorded
" Cash paid to sundry companys of Colliers in full to Ballance their Accompts for the month ending July 26 1755[ a list of 18 names followed on the original records]- cash paid total £72.6.4 1/2. "The words " Ballance their Accompts" is interesting as it was the practice to advance payments to colliers[ and others] during the month in question and before they had completed their agreement to dig out and produce a given amount of coal. Separate records were kept of these advance payments, in this case there was an entry " the Cash Subce on Accompt £38.3.6."
Where workers could write they signed their names thereby acknowledging receipt of wages. A Labourers' Wages sheet for January 1774 includes the names Thomas Jones, old John Morris, Thomas David.
Thomas Jones signed his name, and witnessed the others making their mark.[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 14 June 2000 G]
Coals to Bridgewater
There is plenty of evidence that all aspects of the operation were being considered in deciding on the siting of copper works , here or there , in the early C18. For example, in the book is a detailed calculation of the costs involved in making a ton of copper [ Mackworth Papers c 1740?] and this includes this commentary;
"The Profit in the Coal would be very considerable in this way of proceeding for there would be 520 Wheys of Coal spent every year at home which being valued at 25s a Wey would be at least half of it neat Profit as there would be near 1000 Tun of Oare brought to melted [ from Cornwall] the Ships which bring it would take off a great quantity of Coale so that it is probable there would be much more Profit from the Coal than from the Coppar."
It is clear that the wider implication on the total profitability of the concern are being considered here, in that more coal can be exported when these ships make the return journey to Cornwall. In fact it appears that the Coals were shipped to the port of Bridgewater[Somerset], and other parts.
[Note-In 1713 in Neath , a way [or wey or wheye] of 5 1/2 tons was stipulated, but amounts varied]
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 15 July 2000G]
Another early Neath Copper man
The book refers to a Mr Costar, who was Mr Costaria John Coster, a Cornish mineworker who hailed from the Forest of Dean. He became manager and later owner of Copper Works at Upper Redbrook. He died in 1718 and was succeeded by his son , Thomas, who took up a lease of copper works in Neath, and was working there in 1733.
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 3 Aug 2000 G]
Brick works in Neath
[Mackworth Estate]
A Brick Account in the records of the Mackworth Estate in 1737 includes the names David Thomas David, John Griffiths, chandler, and Mr Cralph.
Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 3 Aug 2000 G]
Imported pioneers at Neath
In 1697 the burgesses let the coal to Sir Humphrey Mackworth for 31 years, and he attempted to work it with local colliers, but without much success. Nothing daunted, he went to seek for experienced men from the coalfields of Shropshire and Derbyshire. He brought a number of them, with their wives and families, into Neath, and they settled in a district known as the "Mera".' In the passage Phillips describes that these men became known as ...'good and competent workers'. .....'Many of their descendants afterwards found their way over the hills to Merthyr and the great ironworks. The women used to trade around the country districts of the hinterland with crockery, baskets, small drapery, and other articles of the pedlar's stock-in-trade.
From The Pioneers of the Welsh Coalfield (pp11-12) Elizabeth Phillips, Cardiff, Western Mail 1925.
[Steve Keates 4 July 2000 G]
A Glass Works at Neath ?
[Mackworth MSS]
In the 1740s a case was made for the setting up of a Glass Works at Neath, the factors considered included;
- The site proposed was contiguous to the river[Neath], and a quay where ships of 100 or 150 tons lie very commodiously.
- Adjoining this is the coal yard ..........
- Adjoining to the wall of the coal yard ....lie vast heaps of sea sand ....brought by ships for ballast from all parts of the west of England.and more is continually coming...............
- About 40 feet from the said wall.....is a lime kiln.....and as the ships from several places are ballasted with lime-stone they sell it for about 14 a ton, and stores are had directly from the Mumbles for very little more so that lime is very cheap, and very good bricks are made in the field where the Glass House is to be built.
- A great quantity of kelp and fern ashes may be had in that neighbourhood, and also copper and iron slagg very near.........and a Salt work near.
- There are above 500 ships loaded every year in that river with coal, bound to all parts of the west of England, to Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, France; and some likewise to Gloucester and Chepstow, so that bottles may be conveyed from Neath to any of these places as cheap or cheaper than from Bristol.
- There are several sorts of strong coking coal; ....it is believed the latter[smaller] will be found as good coal as ever was used in a Glass House.............the best coal for Smiths, Dyers and Brewers that is known anywhere on that coast........
- The place is situated in a pleasant , healthy country where there is great plenty of all manner of Conveniences of life to be had very cheap, so that it is supposed common workmen would be had there at as low rates as anywhere, and much lower than either at Bristol or London, and the superior workmen would be supplied with houses etc at much less expense.
Note; The export of coal from Neath alone at that time was c 3000 tons a year. By 1750 considerable quantities of foreign copper ores were being brought to Neath. The story of the development of Neath and area in the C18 is "closely linked with the Bristol ventures, the influence of that city on the development of the South Wales coastal areas being close and considerable".
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hick s 2 Aug 2000 G]
The Eaglesbush Colliery Explosion 1848
Extracts adapted from an article written by Harry Green and published in the " Neath Antiquarian Society - Transactions of 1979. " It gives an idea of the working methods and conditions of the day as well as the background to how and by whom the inquest was conducted. There are also names of witnesses and some of those who died.
THE EAGLESBUSH COLLIERY :
Worked seams on the Briton Ferry Estate and was about one mile and a half south of Neath and was one of the oldest and most fiery mines in the district. The seam of coal worked - it was bituminous and very `binding`- was four feet thick. Extraction was on the `pillar and stall system`. Entrance to the main heading was by a drift six feet high by five and a half feet wide, dipping with the coal for about 880 yards. The coal was drawn up this inclined plane by a stationary engine, in trams about 25 cwt, on a railway three feet two inches gauge. Cross-headings were at right angles, rising only enough to drain water. They were the same size as the drift and one hundred yards apart. Stalls were driven at right angles to the cross-headings, they were six yards wide and 50 to 80 yards long. Horses were used to draw coal from the stalls to the engine incline.
VENTILATION :
Was effected by having down-cast and up-cast shafts. The former was above the dip of the drift and was also used to extract water using a water wheel and a steam engine. Air passed down this shaft, through all the workings, old and new, to another shaft which ascended to a culvert leading to a stack or chimney. A furnace was located at the bottom of the chimney; its purpose being to create an up-draught of air when air movement underground became sluggish. In warm, windy or foggy weather, natural ventilation did not work effectively but the furnace was never used and was in a very dilapidated state. Air was passed to the stalls by digging bolt-holes from one stall to the next. The number of bolt-holes varied with the air quality and the amount of fire-damp given out but it was estimated that they added 2d to the price of a ton of coal. As stalls moved forward the older bolt-holes were "gobbed up" using dry stone walls built without mortar and a similar process was used to block up abandoned stalls. The process was not efficient and some of the fire-damp which continued to hiss out of the abandoned coal face found its way into the working stalls. No air was directed beyond the line of bolt-holes to the working face. Gas accumulated here and the men used fans (wooden frames up to 2 ft square) to drive the fire-damp towards the bolt-holes .
THE INQUEST :
Was on the body of one man, Thomas Christmas, a native of Cornwall. He was one of twenty men and boys who were killed by an explosion of fire-damp (methane) on March 30th (1848) at the Eaglesbush Colliery, also known as the Esgyn , at Melincryddan, Neath , Glamorgan.
The jury were described as being of "respectable tradesmen" but included : George Dods, a former Portreeve and agent to the Gnoll Estate; Henry Simmons Coke the Town Clerk; David Randall , a councillor , who would later become Mayor and other borough councillors.
Witness Rosser Thomas was not cutting coal when the explosion took place at 2 p.m. on the 29th March. He and his mates John Parker and Tom Thomas were in dispute with the overman about the price for cutting coal and had been put to work cutting an air-way after complaining about fire-damp in their stall. Although only 28, had been a collier for 20 years and conceded that this meant he started underground at 8 years of age. He had finished in the colliery after a previous incident in 1845 when a number of men had been burnt but had returned. He had remarked to Thomas Hill that morning that there was fear of danger. His own lamp was in good repair and he did not think that any of the other men were negligent of their lamps. Although their lamps were blown out by the explosion he and his mates had escaped through an old stall in which a wall had given way. On the way out they assisted another man David Hill.
John Parker had worked in the mine for 10 years. He did not consider the mine well ventilated. He had almost suffocated on a previous occasion when working in John Hill`s stall.
Witness David Griffiths, agent for the owners Penrose and Evans for four years, thought that an initial explosion in present workings must have knocked down partitions then igniting the large mass of gas in the abandoned workings. In his opinion the explosion occurred between the 16th and 24th stalls. Thomas Jenkins` was the 18th stall and with him Thomas John Morris was filling trams. Twenty men had died, eighteen in the initial explosion. Thomas P. Hill, Thomas Note, Rosser Thomas, John Thomas, Thomas Parker, John Hill, Charles Note and Thomas Thomas had escaped. All those working beyond the 16th stall had died. On the morning of the accident he had seen John Grey, William Grey, William Mosely, Leyshon Protheroe, John Davies, Solomon Mainwaring and John Hill sitting down near stall 24. Some of them were smoking. All had died. He had found Henry Davies` lamp after the explosion without the cap on. His body had been found in Leyson Reynold`s stall.
Witness Thomas Philip Hill, assistant overman, had worked for Mr. Penrose for twenty years. He had found a little "fire" in Rosser Thomas` stall that morning but did not think it a danger. He had found "fire" in Thomas Jenkins stall and thought it too dangerous to work there with a naked lamp. Following the explosion he had brought out the body of his own son who had been working in No. 19. He was unable to say where he was found because he had been crawling on his hands and knees.
Witness David Rees was on his way out of the level when the explosion occurred. Robert Thomas and his son had been working with him- both were now dead. The son had had a naked lamp.
The inquest was adjourned to await a surveyors inspection report. The necessity for an objective report was reinforced by Rosser Thomas` account that he and his mates had been turned away by George Penrose on the Monday after the explosion. They had gone to the mine to recover their lamps fearing that Penrose might damage them so that he could make them responsible for the explosion.
When the surveyors examined the colliery it had been cleared of wreckage. Air-ways were being rebuilt and walls were rebuilt - this time with mortared stone. They had not found fire-damp in one stall they checked with a safety lamp although they could hear it hissing from the walls. They found that the air flow through the workings was only about a third of what was required and concluded that artificial means should have been used - the overman should have made use of the furnace.
Further evidence about previous accidents was given by a Neath surgeon W.G.Jones who reported that some of those he had treated for burns had complained to him about lack of ventilation. The civil engineer William Price Struve had been consulted by the owners in 1845 and had made the recommendations which had seen the building of the chimney and furnace.
The jury of respectable tradesmen returned a verdict of `Accidental death` , one which was not well received by the local magistrates and other inhabitants.
[Brian Wagstaffe 15 Sept 2000 G]
Melincryddan Chemical Works
My ancestor William Griffiths (1795-1869) is living at Rotten Row, Melincryddan in the 1841,51 and 61 census. He was a cooper by trade and it took me some time to realise that barrels were not only made to hold the "amber nectar". In 1851 one of his sons is recorded as a chemist and it struck me that he and his father were probably employed at the Melincryddan Chemical Works.
At Swansea Archives I found a map of the Chemical Works ( by Samuel Hosgood - 1835); this gave a plan of the works with each section being "lettered" and the attached key giving the function of each building in the works. The building labelled "H" was the Cooperage giving further evidence that this was where W G worked.
THE HISTORY
....of the Chemical Works is outlined in " History of the Vale of Neath-D.Rhys Phillips ". It was started in 1797 and continued in production until the early 1900`s. when the "Galv." Sheet steel coating works was built on the site. The first owners were Messrs. Bewick and Horne; the lease was passed to a Samuel Thornton in 1809 and he in turn assigned it to a Dr. Plumbe and Joseph Gibbins in 1813. This was the start of the Gibbins family`s association with the Company. Dr. Plumbe assigned his share to his partner in 1816 and Joseph Gibbins assigned his interest to his brother Bevington Gibbins in 1818. On his death in 1835 the works carried on under his widow until 1859 when she assigned them to her sons, Henry Bevington Gibbins and Frederick Joseph Gibbins who took Mr W.J.Player into partnership. Following the retirement of H. B. Gibbins in 1883 and then Mr Player in 1886, F. J. Gibbins became the sole partner. He was to die in 1907 and the company was run by his widow until 1913 when , on her death, it passed to her four sons.
WHAT DID THEY PRODUCE :
...Samuel Hosgood`s plan gives names to the various parts of the Works and from this we can deduce what they made.
1. Oil of Vitriol : This was the name given to Sulphuric Acid. The early alchemists prepared it by heating naturally occuring sulphates to a high temperature and dissolving in water the sulphur trioxide thus formed. In the 15th Century a method was developed for obtaining the acid by distilling hydrated ferrous sulphate,or iron vitriol, with sand. In 1740 the acid was produced successfully on a commercial scale by burning sulphur and potassium nitrate in a ladle suspended in a large glass globe partially filled with water. It is probable that a method similar to this was in use at Melincryddan. The Sulphuric Acid would have been supplied to the Tinplate Industry and D. R. Phillips quotes a letter from the Ynysygerwn Tinplate Works in 1819 which refers to the return of empty carboys - which would have been used to store the acid.
2.Roman Vitriol : Vitriols was the name given to metallic sulphates. Roman Vitriol, or blue vitriol, was Copper Sulphate and was produced by reacting Copper with Sulphuric Acid.
3.Verdigris : This was the green or greenish blue substance obtained artificially by the reaction of dilute Acetic Acid on thin plates of Copper. It was used as a pigment, in dyeing, the arts, and medicine; it was a basic acetate of Copper. Verdigris is also the name used to describe the corrosion products which appear on copper alloys such as brass and bronze, as well as on pure copper.
4.Sugar of Lead : This is Lead Acetate, a white crystalline substance called sugar of lead because of its sweet taste. It was prepared by dissolving litharge ( Lead Oxide ) in acetic acid. It was used as a mordant in dyeing, as a paint and varnish drier, and in making otherlead compounds.
5. It was also noted in 1798 that the works produced : "the best and purest alum in the kingdom".
Alum or Potassium Alum is a combination of Potassium and Aluminium Sulphates. It was widely used as an astringent.
The Works was built on the side of the Neath Canal at Melincryddan.
The canal would have been used to transport acid to Ynysygerwn. The canal bridge at this point gave access to a wharf on the River Neath which gave the Works easy access to shipping. The canal bridge is all that is left today and even the road which linked the Works with the main Neath/ Briton Ferry road and was called "Chemical Works Road" has now sadly been renamed.
[Brian Wagstaffe 16 Sept 2000 G]
George Borrow on Neath Abbey
Little bit on Neath Abbey from one of my favourite books Wild Wales by George Borrow, first published in 1862 it gives a picture of Wales in 1854. He was able to speak Welsh to a degree.
.....I had surmounted a hill and had nearly descended that side of it which looked towards the east, having on my left, that is to the north, a wooded height, when an extraordinary scene presented itself to my eyes. Somewhat to the south rose immense stacks of chimneys surrounded by grimy diabolical-looking buildings, in the neighbourhood of which were huge heaps of cinders and black rubbish. From the chimneys, notwithstanding it was Sunday, smoke was proceeding in volumes, choking the atmosphere all round.
From this pandemonium, at the distance of about a quarter of a mile to the south-west, upon a green meadow, stood, looking darkly grey, a ruin of vast size with window holes, towers, spires, and arches. Between it and the accursed pandemonium, lay a horrid filthy place, part of which was swamp and part pool: the pool black as soot, and the swamp of a disgusting leaden colour. Across this place of filth stretched a tramway lading seemingly from the abominable mansions to the ruin. So strange a scene I had never beheld in nature. Had it been on canvas, with the addition of a number of diabolical figures, preceding along the tramway, it might have stood for Sabbath in Hell - devils proceeding to afternoon worship, and would have formed a picture worthy of the powerful but insane painter Jerome Bros. [Hieronymus Bosch][Steve Keates 6 Oct 2000 G]
Oliver Cromwell and Neath
Oliver Cromwell did have Welsh blood. It seems that one Morgan Williams married a sister of Thomas Lord Cromwell. His son Sir Richard Williams seems to have taken the name Cromwell and was given large parts of the Neath Abbey lands on the Dissolution of the Abbey.
Robert Cromwell a grandson of Sir Richard married Elizabeth, a daughter of Sir Thomas Stuart of Ely and in 1599 they had a son - Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector.
When Oliver Cromwell came to Glamorgan [Civil War]he tried to get the cooperation of some of his Williams cousins. He wrote to the Williams family of Aberpergwm reminding him of their relationship.
This placed the Williams family in a difficult position because they were also connected through marriage to some of the great estates of Glamorgan ( Williams was married to a sister of one of the Bassetts, who was Sheriff at that time) who were all Royalists.
In 1648 a group of Cromwells troups passed through the Vale of Neath and fired cannon shot at Aberpergwm and it seems that as Williams was mounting his horse a cannonball carried off his leg.
Adapted from History of the Vale of Neath by D.Rhys Phillips
[Brian Wagstaffe 20 Oct 2000 G]
School visits in 1856---Neath Abbey
"I had paid a short visit to these schools when Mr Baxter inspected the Neath B.[British] School. This institution is the oldest, I think, in Wales, as an unsectarian school. It was established in 1802 by the late respected Joseph Price, Esq. who was the Manager of Neath Abbey Works for a great many years. The schools are now chiefly under the management of his sister Miss C A Price. I visited the place now at her request with a view to furnish them with a Teacher for the Boys' School. It was necessary to have one acquainted with the Welsh language. I recommended Mr Jno Phillips who was at the Boro' Road last year ; he has been unsuccessful in trying for a Certificate but he is determined to have one at Xmas if alive and well. I went to see the state of the Boys' School. Mr Phillips is to commence next Monday week. "
School visits in 1856--Neath
"I visited this Town & school chiefly with a view to see the Rev D Davies, who was from home when Mr Baxter and myself visited the school. He is a strong opposer of Gov. aid and he is a very active and influential member of the Committee. Miss Evans the Teacher had also objections to being under inspection of Gov. I think that the Rev Davies and Miss Evans will give in gradually, and I rather think that the school will be under inspection this year. They were thankful for the grant of books they had rec'd of the Society."
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth 17 Nov 2000 G]
School visits in 1856--Cwm Nedd
"Some friends in this place are wishful to have a BS erected and invited me there in order to render them some assistance in order to proceed, and to obtain Govt aid towards the same. I advised them[ as I do with others] first of all to ascertain whether they could get the site on the terms approved by the Com. of C. and afterwards to apply for aid, and then their course will be successful provided the neighbourhood will contribute the half. There are, it seems, not less than from 100 to 150 children without a convenient school to go to."
Glyn Neath
June 17th ;
"This school was built by Mr Williams of Aberpergwm some years ago, and is now connected with the Abernant Works, under the same Company of proprietors as the Neath Abbey Works. But the room is too small for the number now in attendance, and the teaching power is not adequate to the requirement. It is to be hoped that it be put under inspection so that Pupil Teachers may be granted. Mr Jones holds a Certificate, but he labours under great disadvantages, the Children are so young, and so numerous that it will be impossible to do much good during the present organisation."
Pont Walby
June 18th ;
"This is a very good little school considering the disadvantages. The room is small to contain 60 children. There is a project to have a new room erected. To give information on this matter was the chief object of my visit. The prospect is not strong as yet we might anticipate."
Aberavon
June 19th ;
"This school is in connection with the works of Messrs Lewellyn , and conducted on liberal principles, although the same proprietors have three schools in connection with the Church under their Management in other localities. "
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth ]
School visits in 1856--Neath Abbey, Boy's School
April 16th ;
"At the request of Miss C a Price I visited this school in order to confer with the newly appointed master John Phillips as to the requirements of the school. I was glad to find the number on the books to be 90, and an average attendance of 70, which is about 30 more than were there when I had visited it before. I found the S. very deficient in books and advised them to lose no time in getting some ; and as to the alterations and refittings of the room, to let them remain in obeyance until Mr Bowstead for the first time will visit them in Aug or Sep."
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth ]
School visits in 1856--Neath Abbey, Girls' and Infants School
April 17th ;
"I paid a short visit to these schools , and was sorry to find that they were not in a satisfactory state. As to the Girls' school it was customary, [on acct of the incompetence of the Mistress] for the girls in the afternoon to be instructed in Arithmetic and some other branches by the master, and John Phillips expressed a wish to get free from submission to that rule on acct of number of scholars under his care, the want of teaching power in his school, and the shortness of time before Mr Bowstead's visit. That has greatly diminished the number of Girls in the school. Miss Price has in view to have a more competent Mistress, although unwilling to change suddenly from pity for the present mistress. The Infant school containing about 60 children seemed to be in a more satisfactory state. Conversed with Mr Price & Agents."
June 12th & 13th ;
"Attended at the request of the Managers of these schools in order to make arrangements to have a qualified female Teacher for the Girls' school so as to have it [ as well as the Boys' school] under Inspection and increase its efficiency. They had been giving only £26 pa of salary, but I had to persuade them that they could not get any competent Teacher for that amt. Therefore I proposed a plan to make up £40 for the Mistress, and I applied to Mr Dunn for a Teacher. I have every reason to believe that Miss Hunter of Bacup will be engaged there."
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth ]
Smuggling goings on at Neath
" By August 1719, the Customs authorities had discovered that hardly a ship, carrying coal from Neath to other countries, returned without having concealed under false bulkheads, or stowed amongst non-dutiable material, articles of foreign manufacture, particularly brandy ........
Dec. 1719 : An artifice used in "running " brandy " was to put the liquid in large baskets on board fishing vessels, covered with herrings and other fish, " Ye better to conceal ye Fraud". Coffee was frequently found hidden in the sacks of shavings used for "hatts".
April 1723 : Ten bottles of wine seized by Jacob Davis, tidewaiter at Neath.
Nov. 27, 1723 ; Two tierces of wine were clandestinely run out of the "Two Sisters", under the noses of two Briton Ferry officers who were on board. As they were "either drunk or asleep" at the time they were penalised to the amount of the duty, or, in default , to be dismissed"
From the "History of the Vale of Neath " by D.Rhys Phillips :
[Brian Wagstaffe 17 Jan 2001 G]
More :
The Women Smugglers of Briton Ferry :
Oct. 8, 1726 ... :
" Henry Davies, Sitter in ye Boat att Britton ffery, being obstructed in ye Execution of his Duty . . . there is Sufficient proof to prosecute CATHERIN LOYD, CATHERIN MORGAN, ELIZABETH CHANDLER and MARY SHAW for abusing . . . the said Davies . . . and rescuing from him some brandy and wine after he had seized it . . Davies had no authority to break into ye out-house, where the goods were, without a writ of assistance and a peace officer."
On Jan. 31, 1728, one Christopher Vaughan, forwarded to the authorities an affidavit relative to the clandestine practices of a certain " p'cell of women." Vaughan, however, had " but an Indifferent Character, we therefore Dont think it adviseable to Comence a prosecution on his evidence."
In 1734, after a long career of smuggling strategy, robbing revenue officers of their booty, and acting as an agent between importers of illegal goods and their customers throughout the Vale of Neath, the leader of the Briton Ferry group was definitely unmasked.
Writing to the Board on July 29, 1734, the port officers said :
" We have likewise sent your Honrs inclos'd patterns of ye India stuff that was seiz'd by an officer under ye Collection of Mr. Edw. Dalton, Collr of Llanelly upon his Return from his journey on his private affairs by leafe of his Collr with another man, Stop'd at a Publick house Called Bretton ferry to drink a Pint of ale, the woman of ye house, one CATHERINE LLOYD a widdow not suspecting him to be an officer bro't out the s'd goods & Offer'd the same to sale as India Goods, moreover told they were RUN GOODs she had secured the night before & wd be glad to dispose of them, upon w'ch made a seizure of ye same & Brought them to our Warehouse, being the nearest Customho. May your Honrs be pleased to observe yt Said Widdow is very well to pass in ye world & Suppos'd to have All Her Riches by Running of Goods for SHE is an old offender and a NOTED SMUGGLER to, wch we humbly refer & are your most faithfull & obedt Servants. WM. SHEWEN, Collr, Edw. LLOYD Comptr."
Whether the smuggling career of the redoubtable Landlady of the Ferry Inn was actually brought to a close by the prosecution that followed, the records do not say. She was evidently caught unawares, the engaging manners of the Llanelly visitor having dethroned her usual caution.
In any case, her operations as the leader of "female runners" seem to have aroused the authorities, for an order of the Board of Cutoms, dated Sept 19, 1739, directed the local Collector "to appear before the Justices of the Peace, requesting them not to renew the licenses of public -house keepers, who are known to have harboured smugglers in the past.
From the "History of the Vale of Neath " by D.Rhys Phillips :
[Brian Wagstaffe 18 Jan 2001 G]
Evans-Bevan family of brewers
You will find lots of information about the Evans Bevan Family in Keith Tuckers book : "Chronicle of Cadoxton"
Short adapted extracts :
The Vale of Neath Brewery was started by Mssrs . Stancombe, Buckland and Rusher in 1836 at the Cadoxton site. It was dissolved in 1847 following a major fire which caused financial difficulties. It was purchased at a knock down price by Evan Evans (1794-1871) a Neath businessman who was born in Briton Ferry. Evan`s eldest daughter Mary Standert Bevan ( 1823-1889) married David Bevan (d. 14/7/1888 aged 63 ). Evan had no sons and formed a partnership with his son in law; this is where the name of Evans-Bevan started . This company was to become very successful with its interest in Brewing, Coal Mining and Landowning. The book goes on to give information on the "Seven Sisters " - the children of David & Mary Bevan after whom the village of Seven Sisters is named.
[Brian Wagstaffe 23 Jan 2001 G]
Reformatory School, Neath
Here is a list of those who were "in attendance" at the Reformatory school in Neath during the 1891 census.
- George Evans -head - mar - 49 - Superintendenat - Tarrington, Hanks
- Sarah Evans - Matron - mar - 50 - Matron, Worwickshire, Berkcony(sp)
- George Ashton - schoolmaster - sing - 30 - school master - York
- William Probert - tailor - sing - 38 - tailor - Salop
- Julia Rees - serv - sing - 28 - domestic servant - Neath
All the following shown as Inmates - "Under detention".
- John Williams - 17 - Cardiff
- William Roberts - 14 - Ystrad
- George Harries - 13 - Llandly
- George Pook - 16 - Cardiff
- David Rosser - 15 - Pontypridd
- Arthur Geo. Court - 17 - Warwickshire, Aston
- Owen Richards - 14 - Cardiff
- William J. Ash - 16 - Cardiff
- William Powells - 15 - Cardiff
- Sydney Heartlle(sp) - 13 - Swansea
- Wm.Thos. Simbett - 13 - Aberdare
- Wm. Thos. Wallace - 12 - Aberdare
- Wm Birchall - 12 - Penarth
- William Couch - 12 - Swansea
- Dvd. Wm. Davies - 15 - Pontypridd
- Reynold Reynolds - 12 - Neath
- Morgan Mainwaring - 17 - Neath
- Evan Nile Smith - 14 - Aberavon
- Thomas Emmanuel - 16 - Ystrad
- Robert Evans - 12 - Aberdare
- Sydney Squires - 14 - Swansea
- William Thomas - 16 - Aberdare
- Anthony B. Howells - 14 - Aberdare
- Evan Isaac Williams - 14 - Cardiff
- William Watkins - 16 - Neath
- Henry Gibbins - 16 - Herefordshire, Ross
- Alfred Ernest Cook - 11 - Herefordshire, Ross
- George Gibbs - 14 - Cardiff
- Henry Thomson - 15 - Breconshire, Crickhowell
- Lewis John Jenkins - 12 - Pontypridd
- James Thomas - 12 - Swansea
- Wm. Hy Heardony(sp) - 16 - Cardiff
- Joseph Bensamit(sp) - 15 - Breconshire, Hay
- Francis Parterdige - 14 - Cardiff
- Michael Carroll - 13 - Cardiff
- Joseph Griffiths - 11 - Bridgend
- John Harris Davies - 9 - Pontypridd
- Patrick Ridey - 10 - Swansea
- William Moppet - 13 - Cardiff
- Morgan Evans - 11 - Swansea
- William Browning - 14 - Bridgend
- William Fisher - 13 - Swansea
- Arnold Alexander - 14 - Cardiff
- Thomas Jones - 11 - Neath
- Wm. Cls. Rees - 9 - Ystrad
- Henry Bendall - 13 - Cardiff
- Wm. Llewellyn - 13 - Swansea
- Wm. Jenkins - 15 - Cardiff
- Harry Powell - 13 - Cardiff
- Evan Davies -11 - Carmarthenshire, Llandilo
- Howell Davies - 11 - Pontypridd
- William Judd - 15 - Cardiff
- John Evans - 16 - Cardiff
- Joseph Chas. Coles - 15 - Cardiff
- Albert J. Pengelly - 14 - Swansea
- Thomas Jas. Thomas - 13 - Swansea
[Sue Martin]
People in Neath workhouse - 1891
This is a list of people in residence on census night 1891.
- John King Bells(sp) - hd - mar - 51 - master of workhouse - Mont. Llandiloe - Eng/Welsh
- Anne Jane Bells(sp) - wife - mar - 51 - Matron - Leicesher, Sanderly - English
- Edith Myfwny Bells(sp) - dau - sing - 21 - assistant Matron - Fling, Caerorn(sp) English
- Bard(sp) Elaine Bells(sp) - dau - sing - 19 - student nurse - London, St.Georges - English
- Mary Marjorey Linde(sp) - adopted - sing - 26 - Cardiff, Glam - English
- Mary Morgan - serv - sing - 40 - Nurse - Pembroke, Welsh Rock(sp) - Eng/Welsh
All the following listed as "Inmate"
- Edward Edwards - widr - 78 - gardner - Herefordshire, Hampon(sp) - English
- John Heavin(sp) -sing-widr - 70 - Shipwright - Devonshire, Barnstable - Eng/Welsh
- Elizabeth Jones - sing - 58 - Glamorgan (.....) - Imbecile - both
- John Lock - mar - 45 - seaman - Devonshire, Barnstable - English
- John McDonald - widr - 58 - Hawker - Ireland, Cork - English
- David Roberts - sing - 40 - Carpenter - Bridgend, Glamorgan - Eng/Welsh
- Patrick Sabrian (sp) - sing - 67 - Rag gatherer - Ireland, Cork - English
- John Thomas - sing - 68 - gen lab - Aberavon, Glamorgan - Eng/Welsh
- William Thomas - widr - 66 - Plasterer - Pembroke, Tenby - English
- Michael Shea - mar - 50 - gen lab - Waterford, Ireland - English
- John Welch - sing - 46 - gen lab - Cardiff, Glamorgan - English
- Samuel Hopkins - sing - 77 - retired ag lab - Yorkshire - English
- John(sp) Hughes - sing - 46 - Skewen, Glamorgan - Idiot
- John Bedford - mar - 55 - driver in iron works - Neath, Glamorgan - both
- Constance Ouberg Staeton(sp) - sing - 75 - London - English
- John Beacesp(sp) - sing - 67 - ag lab ret - Devonshire - both
- William Richards - sing - 53 - Neath, Glamorgan - Imbecile - both
- Ruth Williams - sing - 74 - gen ser. domestic - Neath, Glamorgan - Welsh
- Ann Cornibear(sp) - sing - 18 - dom serv - Resolven, Glamorgan - both
- Elizabeth Lewis - sing - 18 - dom ser - Pembrokshire, Haverford - English
- Alfred Cardiff - widr - 45 - mason - Isle of White - English
- Thomas Jeffries - sing - 50 - gen lab - Wilts - English
- Sarah Ann Reynolds - sing - 50 - Monmouth - imbecile - English
- Daniel Cousins - widr - 61 - gen porter - ret - Ireland, Cork - English
- Robert Richards - sing - 30 - gen lab - Glamorgan, (......) - both
- Jane Thomas - sing - 79 - dom ser - glamorgan, Llantrissant - Welsh
- Daniel John - widr - 68 - Carpenter - Breconshire, Ishadgyden(sp) - Welsh
- John Brown - sing - 72 - gen lab - Neath, Glamorgan - welsh
- David Davies - sing - 45 - flannel weaver -Cardiganshire, Llandyssul - Welsh
- David Davies - mar - 66 - gen porter - Neath, Glamorgan - Welsh
- Elizabeth Davies - mar - 55 - Hawker - Yorkshire (.....) - English
- Phillip Davies - sing - 65 - tin plate worker - Neath, Glamorgan -Lunatic - English
- William Davies - mar - 68 - ...Painter - ret - London, Shoreditch - English
- William Davies - mar - 53 - shoemaker - Cardiff, Glamorgan - English
- Ellen Dee - mar - 65 - Cork, Ireland - English
- Patrick Dunn - widr - 35 - gen lab - Ireland, Kingscourt - English
- Joshua Cox - mar - 52 - iron moulder - Leicester - English
- William Edwards - mar - 65 - Baker, Neath, Glamorgan - English
- Rachel Frances - sing - 45 - Llansamlet, Glamorgan - Imbecile - both
- Samuel Griffiths - widr - 68 - Stone mason - Neath, Glamorgan - both
- John Hill - sing - 48 - lead miner - Neath, Glamorgan - Imbecile - Welsh
- William Heoard(sp) - mar - 64 - gasfitter - Devonshire (.....) - Welsh
- Jane Jones - sing - 56 - Mounmouthshire, sikorn(sp) - English
- Thomas Jones - sing - 61 - lime burner - Neath, Glamorgan - English
- Ann Kitchener - wid - 63 - London, Malborn - Welsh
- John Lake - sing - 58 - Neath, Glamorgan - Imbecile - Welsh
- Charles Meredith - sing - 74(?) - Blacksmith - ret - Neath, Glamorgan - both
- Mary Morgan - mar - 65 - Skewen, Glamorgan - Welsh
- Myriam Moore - wid - 67 - now known - English
- Thomas Nicolas - sing - 48 - Baker - Builth, Breconshire - English
- Thomas Page - mar - 66 - gen lab - Devon, Pinlave(sp) - English
- Mary Ann Parker - sing - 73 - dom. serv. ret - Neath, Glamorgan - Lunatic - both
- Griffith Rees - mar - 64 - engine fitter - ret - Neath, Glamorgan - Imbecile - both
- Martha Rees - mar - 62 - Neath, Glamorgan - both
- William Rees - sing - 44 - gen porter - Carmarthen - both
- Thomas Richards - widr - 75 - lab - Neath, Glamorgan - both
- Catherine Shea - wid - 68 - Ireland, County Kerry - English
- Edward Timothy Shea - sing - 40(60) - genlab - Ireland, County Kerry - English
- William Shildrick(sp) - widr - 74 - Cambridge - English
- Ann Thomas - wid - 76 - Neath, Glamorgan - welsh
- Thomas Thomas - sing - 65 - Ship carpenter - ret - Neath, Glamorgan - both
- William Thomas - widr - 71 - hammerman tinplate works - ret - Whitechurch, Glamorgan - both
- Eliza Mathais - sing - 31 - factory works - Glamorgan, BlaenP.... - Welsh
- Margaret Thomas - sing - 32 - dom. serv - Pembrokshire (.....) - welsh
- Annah Thomas - sing - 29 - dom ser - Glamorgan, Blaen..... - Welsh
- Harriet Brooks - mar - 29 - gen ser. dom - Glamorgan, Abe.... - both
- John Kelly - sing - 29 - lab - Ireland, County Cork - english
- Thomas Jones - sing - 23 - lab - Monmouthshisre, Beaufort(sp) - English
- John Welsh - sing - 44 - lab - Nors Deslex, Kralifax(???????) english
- Joseph Chambers - sing - 21 -lab - Essex, Bigalon(sp) - English
- James Roberts - sing - 48 - lab - Glamorgan, Cardiff - English
- Lori Sparks - widr - 50 - lab - Cardiganshire - English
- William Wright - sing - 21 -lab - Suffolk - English
- James Clark - sing - 48 - Lab - Monmouthshire, Tredegar - English
[Sue Martin]
This adaptation from " History of the Vale of Neath " by D. Rhys Phillips is of interest to me because while the William Leyson mentioned was probably the brother of my ancestor Elizabeth Leyson, among the coppermen and colliers could have been some of my Poley and Owen and Jenkins ancestors.
William Leyson was one of the "Leisionaidd Nedd " an ancient Neath Valley family reputed to be descended from the 12th century Morgan ap Caradoc. Several of the family were customs officers and William had been appointed Deputy Searcher in the River of Neath in April 1770.
In October 1784, Richard Gough was sworn in as "coast waiter" at Neath in place of George Hutton , deceased, and in August 1786 he and William Leyson were involved in a riot at Neath Abbey about which they wrote this report :
" On Sunday the 20th of August, 1786, being waiting the Tyde and on the look out, we observed the Polly of Guernsey, John Brehent master, coming into the River and followed her to her moorings at the Abbey Copper Works near Neath, when we boarded her at about 4 o'clock in the Evening and upon examination finding in her Cabbin more than the customary allowance for sea Stock, we took possession of her but were prevented from making further search by the appearance of a LARGE MOB of Copper Men and Colliers who assembled round her and violently assaulting with Stones and other missile weapons threatened a rescue, our whole attention was now taken up in her defence and our own preservation; and finding their attempts at this time ineffectual we were kept upon the alarm till about 12 o'clock at night, when the Mob made a second attack and attempted to board her, but being provided with Fire Arms we were compelled to Us them in our defence and having with small shot fir'd amongst and wounded some of them, the assailants were dispersed and theattempt thereby frustrated"
[Brian Wagstaffe 25 Jan 2001 G]
Neath Abbey Iron Company , an extract from the 1842 Commisioners Report into Child labour:
The Neath Abbey Iron Company is an engine manufactory and contains a department for iron ship building . Our works have no special provisions for ventilation but they are sufficiently airy and the usual temperature of some 50 to 70 degrees nor is any great degree of heat required in those circumstances where the children are employed. Indeed, unless under particular circumstance, such as the inability of parents to support their children through sickness or any other cause, children are never employed at these works under 14 years of age nor is it indispensable that children should be employed at all.
There are three schools connected with the works. One for infants, one for boys of from 5 to 14 years of age and one for girls, conducted on the Lancastrian plan. To these schools each of the workmen contribute 1d. per week and they generally avail themselves of them by sending those of their children who are not old enough for work. The workmen have a reading society among themselves and the fines taken from some for bad behavior are applied as a sick fund for the use of others.
Of those children who are in work you will not find more than six who cannot read and write. Indeed in this particular quarter instruction is much more generally diffused and more interest is taken in the education of the working people and their children, than in many other parts of South Wales where there is a manufacturing population. We have about 170 adults at work now but when we are full of work we employ 260 to 300. Our two blast furnaces are not at work.
Number of person employed:
- Adults 175
- Under 18 years of age 47
- Under 13 years of age 11
There are Interviews in the Report with following people:
- Mr Charles Waring, Agent
- Phillip Jones, aged 14, fetter tender
- William Rees, aged 12, Moulder's attendant
- John Jenkins, aged 13 general attendant
- Thomas Morgan, aged 13, attendant at the furnace
- John Howell,. aged 15
- Thomas Davis, aged 12, attendant at the furnaces
- William Davis, aged 11
[Sonia 12 March 2001 G]
Tin plate works in the Briton Ferry area
The old tinplate workers were not shy of walking so your ancestor may have travelled about a bit. One of our local villagers died last year aged 90 and he was a tinplate worker in the 1930`s. Work was difficult to come by at that time and he had his name down with lots of local tinworks. He recalled to me just before he died that he had worked in about 6 different tinplate works ranging in distance from Clyne ( about 2 miles North of his home) to Port Talbot ( about 7 miles in the other direction).
These are some of the likely Tinworks close to Briton Ferry area which were working in the 1870/80 period :
- 1) Ferry Tinplate Works - founded 1860 ; closed 1882; reopened 1884 as the Vernon Tinplate Co.
- 2) Melincryddan Tinplate Co. - founded 1864; also managed the tinplate decorating Works - founded 1872 & known as the "Japan".
In the late 1880`s /early 1890`s there was a considerable expansion with the opening of :
- 3) Baglan Bay tinplate Co. ( 1891)
- 4) Eagle Tinplate Co. (1891)
- 5)Gwynne & Co. (1892)
- 6) Villiers tinplate Co. (1888)
- 7) Jersey Tinplate Co./ later The Wern Tinplate Co. ( 1891)
[Brian Wagstaffe 23 Feb 2002 G]
Follow up;
Clyne Tinplate Works
It was known as the Clyne (or Clun) Tinplate Works and was in the village of the same name. It operated from the 1880`s until the 1930`s. My wife`s grandmother worked there in the 1920`s. She would walk from the village of Abergarwed on the other side of the valley, crossing the River Neath at the old canal aquaduct. Nothing now remains of the works; the area has now been returned to fields.
If you go to a map site such as Bing then enter the postcode SA11 4ES .This is the postcode for the row of houses known as Cyd Terrace, which was built to house the Tinplate workers.
The road between Tonna and Resolven and the Neath Canal run immediately in front of these houses (towards the River) and the Neath Valley railway line runs behind them. The Tinplate Works was located next to the railway line and to the South of it in one of those fields shown (not sure exactly where),
[Brian Wagstaffe 23 Feb 2002 G]
Railways in Glamorgan
Taff Vale Railway staff rules
The 1856 rule book of the Taff Vale Railway stipulated that .....staff should keep their hair cut, were not to sing or whistle on duty, and should attend a place of worship on Sunday, 'as it will be the means of promotion when vacancies occur' ....and if you had a free pass, you had to ride 'in a sitting position on the floor of the fourth wagon from the rear of the train'.
From A Regional History of Railways Vol 12 South Wales D S M Barrie David & Charles 1980
[Steve Keates 9.4.2000 G]
Taff Vale Railway withdraws "staff perks" !
From PRO RAIL 1014/4/21 Taff Vale Railway Company
Letter regarding diarrheoa [sic] medicine
Taff Vale Railway Company, General Managers Office, Cardiff
19 July 1892
Dear Sir
It has been the practice, I believe for this Company to supply a medicine or Diarrhoea mixture to the men engaged in the various departments, but, as I find that this is not so in the case of the G.W.R. Co., nor the Rhymney and Barry Companies, I do not see why we should continue to supply such a medicine in future.
Kindly note, Yours truly, A. Beasley
To J. Brewer Esq. Engineer
From 'Railway Ancestors' David Hawkins Alan Sutton Publishing for PRO
[Steve Keates 10.4.2000 G]
The mobility of labour and the railway
'Whatever improvement in communication will enable the poor man.....to carry his labour, perhaps the only valuble property he possesses, to the best market, and where it is most wanted, must be a decided advantage, not only to him but to the community at large.'
Speech by Peel at Tamworth 1835 (Staffordshire Advertiser 19/12/1835)
[Steve Keates 13.4.2000 G]
Taff Vale Railway and congestion at Cardiff Docks causing difficult working hours....
'...it is not an infrequent thing for a train of coal coming from Pontypridd down to Cardiff, a distance of 12 or 13 miles, to be 8 or 9 hours on the journey.........simply from the congestion of traffic. It is no infrquent thing, I believe, for the enginemen to be 7 or 8 hours without moving a yard, waiting untill the line can be cleared.'
A quote from parliamentary papers of 1883
From The Taff Vale Railway D. S. Barrie Oakwood Press 1950
[Steve Keates 18.4.2000 G]
More from the Taff Vale rule book or 'local instructions'
94 All the Servants of the Company, are to place sand or gravel upon the rails, when they perceive, or hear that an Engine is slipping.
241 It is strictly forbidden that any Officer or Servant shall at anytime interfere in the least with matters of a political nature.
428 No person can become a Station Master..........unless he is married.
The most strange is that, given the way Welsh surnames developed, the Taff Vale Company in its wisdom states that .....'.no gang of men must include two of the same surname'
From The Taff Vale Railway D S Barrie Oakwood 1950
[Steve Keates 19.4.2000 G]
Slightly odd entries in the Taff Vale Railway Company accident book.
PRO RAIL 684/116
From the Register of Accidents to Company's Servants:
27/4/1904, Aberdare Goods Yard, Thos Ed Brimmell a guard employed at Cathays. Injured a finger (slight). Placing scotch under wheel of coach and his finger was caught between scotch and rail.
Waste of a good drink?
6/5/1904, Station Terrace Maerdy, Edgar Edmund Phillips a carriage cleaner at Maerdy Station. Sprain. Wheeling barrow load of parcels up a hill his nose began to bleed, he having sprained himself.
Slave driving?
From Railway Ancestors, David Hawkins, Alan Sutton 1995
[Steve Keates 19.4.2000 G]
Two fatal accidents on the Taff Vale Railway at Pontypridd
The Rhondda Cutting branch line was used to ease the working at Pontypridd passenger station, it.......'was used for reversing branch passenger trains. It was in the course of one such operation on 19 October 1878 that an empty passenger train which was backing on the wrong road from the North Junction to Rhondda Cutting Junction.......collided at the Cutting Junction with a Down Rhondda passenger train, causing thirteen fatal casualties. (The North Curve was finally closed on 5 August 1968)'.
'Only half a-mile or so north of Rhondda Cutting Junction there occurred another serious collision, at Coke Ovens on 23 January 1911, when a Down passenger train ran into the rear of a loaded coal train, and eleven people where killed'.
A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Vol 12 South Wales D S M Barrie David St John 1994.
[Steve Keates 3.5.2000 G]
Taff Vale Railway-- Short extract from the payments book to various contractors.
Part of PRO doc ref RAIL 747/37 Whitlan and Taff Vale Railway Company Voucher Book
Maintenance Permanent Way
PAY BILL for the fortnight ending Friday 28th day of July 1876
Name Occupation Days Rate Amount Paid
Benjamin Jones Ganger 12 * 3s 4d = £2
Thomas Rowlands Repairer 8 * 2s 10d = £1 2s 8d
James Beynon " 11 1/2 *2s 10d = £1 12s 7d
Thomas Thomas " 11 1/2 *2s 10d = £1 12s 7d
Stephen Lewis " 4 * 2s 10d =11s 4d
John Gibbon Carpenter 12 * 4s 2d = £2 10s -
Daniel Rees Smith 12 * 4s = £2 8s -
Railway Ancestors David Hawkins Alen Sutton/PRO 1995
To try and put these wages into perspective I have used a price list of 1900, and the cost of living index for 1850 to 1914. Thus I have attempted to find the price of a loaf of bread in 1876.
By about 1900 to 1914 the cost of living index was down by about 18% from 1876 prices. So the price of bread in 1876 was I think about 10d for a large loaf. Tea about 1s 3d a lb.
These are only approx someone may have the real prices. I leave those interested to convert the wages and prices into todays money.[Steve Keates 3.5.2000 G]
On early locomotive power in South Wales
Following a commission from Samuel Homfrey, an original partner in the Pen-y-darren Tramroad project of 1799, Richard Trevithick was given facilities to develop and build his experimental steam locomotive.........
'Homfrey.......had sufficient confidence in him, (Trevithick) to lay a bet of 500 guineas with Anthony Hill, the proprietor of the Plymouth Iron Works, that the locomotive would haul 10 tons of iron from Pen-y-darren to Abercynon. A successful trial trip was run on the 21 February 1804, thus securing for South Wales the distinction of staging the first occasion which a steam locomotive hauled a load (10 tons of iron and 70 men, all in or on 5 wagons) on rails'.
The Taff Vale Railway. D S Barrie. Oakwood 1950
[Steve Keates 3.5.2000 G]
In the beginning....
The Taff Vale Railway Company's Act received the Royal Assent on 21 June 1836, so incorporating the first public railway of any commercial importance in South Wales.
The Act....listing the Ironworks of Pen-y-darren, Dowlais and Plymouth, the Collieries of Lancaiach<sic> and the Tramroad to the Collieries at Dinas, also Cogan Pill on the Ely....all in the County of Glamorgan.....the railway....would be of great public convenience by opening an expeditious Means of Conveyance to the sea for extensive Mineral and other Produce of the places and Works above mentioned .....also for the carriage of the said Works from the Port of Cardiff of Iron Ore used in the Fabrication of Iron, and for the Conveyance of Passengers and Goods to and from the said Towns of Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff, and the several and immediate and adjacent Towns and Districts......
Under the Act of 1836 passenger fares were not to exceed 1 1/2d per mile.
Maximum speed was fixed at 12 mph. (repealed by the Taff Vale Amendment Act of 23 July 1840)
First stone was laid on the 16 August 1837 at Pontypridd by Lady Charlotte Guest, wife of the company chairman.
First section opened was 16 miles between Cardiff and Navigation House (Aberavon) on 9 October 1840.
[Steve Keates 5.5.2000 G]
Life before steam
Quoting from 'Pioneers of the Welsh Coal-Field' (1925) Dendy Marshall writes about Walter Coffin's railway built just after 1806:
..............'in a short time he constructed three miles of tramway, connecting Dinas with Dr Griffith's tramway at Gyfeillon, and thus was gained access to the canal at Treforest. For many years this tramway was the only communication link between the villages of the lower Rhondda and Pontypridd. It was a great convenience to the country folk and miners, and was the means of bringing much trade to Pontypridd. Up to that time Llantrisant had been the chief market-town within reach, but it was a weary way to tramp over the hills and return at night heavy laden, and the colliers wives welcomed the appearance of the tramway, which provided them with many a lift homewards'.
A History of British Railways down to the year 1830 Dendy C F Marshall, Oxford University Press 1938
[Steve Keates 8.5.2000 G]
From a flyer put out in November 1921
Saturday December 10th 1921
Northern Union International Rugby Match
WALES V AUSTRALIA
at Pontypridd. Kick Off 2:30p.m.
Cheap Tickets will be issued to PONTYPRIDD
There follows a list of prices, Cardiff to Pontypridd costs 2s 6d
Children three and under twelve , half price. No luggage allowed.
The ultimate get out clause;
The Company do not undertake that the Trains shall start or arrive at the times specified, nor will they be accountable for any loss, inconvenience, injury which may arise in consequence of the wilful misconduct of the companies servants.
E. A. Prosser, General Manager.
Details thanks to The Taff Vale Miscellany John Hutton Oxford Publishing 1988
[Steve Keates 16.5.2000 G]
Mr Brunell himself
There was nothing Mr I. K. Brunell liked better than a good night out with the lads along with a fine cigar. He then had time to nip into the County Office where the clerks clearly worked all night (and that was a good week) as this extract from the Taff Vale Miscellany shows[ Steve]
' Mr I.K. Brunell, FRS engineer, deposited on the night, at the time of half past eleven, on the 30th of November in the year of 1835, with the Clerk of the Peace, of the county of Glamorgan, the completed, surveyed plans for the directors of the Taff Vale Railway Company, eventually resulting in the Royal Assent by his Gracious Majesty, King William IV, to the Act of Parliament, of 21st of June 1836.'
This extract is not credited by John Hutton in the above book but is used as part of the introduction.
[Steve Keates 25.5.2000 G]
Cardiff
Ebenezer Congregational church Grangetown Cardiff.
Here is a potted extract taken from a booklet on the 100 year history of the Ebenezer Congregational church Grangetown Cardiff.
<In the late 1800s in the West Dock of Cardiff, an old wooden war ship, called HMS Thisbe, was moored and used as a Church of England mission ship for dockworkers, pilots and boatmen etc. As a result of evangelical work carried on by the superintendent of the ship, Mr Gale, several channel pilots, boatmen and others connected with dock work were converted, and their lives completely changed. They were so full of this new found faith that their one desire was that others should share this conversion experience, so they gave their friends and colleagues no rest until they too came under the sound of the gospel. Blessing spread, and among those changed were a number of prominent men associated with the docks. Every Sunday evening an open air service was held on the old Pier Head which drew great crowds of people and as a result many were converted.
As the numbers of folk with the new found faith increased, Mr Gale left the Thisbe and hired a room in Stuart Street where the original group met, who later were to become Ebenezer assembly. A short while afterwards, two rooms were rented in Eleanor Place which were to become known as the "Seamen's Bethel". The larger room was situated above a stable, and as can be imagined during the summers months, with the animals housed beneath, the smell, noise and heat made the search for more congenial premises very urgent. In the other smaller room downstairs, various services were held and also a day school was commenced by Mr James Buck. In this building a good Sunday school was held, and a number of children and young people were also converted.
Mr Peter Evans commenced a Sunday School in Harrowby Street which was situated near the "old sea lock" near the entrance to the Glamorganshire Canal and this effort became known as "Auntie Ann's" because it was originally built as a shop and locally known as that. The room was regularly filled, and many persons were converted.
It was in "Auntie Ann's" that the first "mother's meeting" ever to be held by the Assemblies of Cardiff was commenced by Mrs Peter Evans. The services were held in the evenings, and Mrs Evans purchased material for the women to cut out clothes, and taught them to sew for their families. Before the ladies left, she always had reading from the Bible and prayer with them.
Soon another outreach effort was commenced at the docks. The assembly at Eleanor Place had two houses in Evelyn Street knocked into one, and from there they carried on a fine Gospel and Sunday school work. In addition, open air services were held in the streets of the docks area and many as a result were brought into the regular indoor services. At both Eleanor Place and Evelyn Street throughout the winter, a number of special services were held, and as a result of these, the number in the fellowship became greater. After 25 years or so, the old meeting room fell into a bad state of repair, and the church members considered it advisable to search for new premises.
At about this time the Grangetown area was rapidly developing as a residential area, and it was felt that this could be the possible location of a new building. A new bridge , to be known as Clarence Road Bridge over the River Taff, to replace the old ferryboat crossing, was planned, a proposal which gave further impetus to the suggestion that the new hall should be located in the Grangetown area.
The main thoroughfare from the docks through Grangetown to the Town centre was Corporation Road. In the late 1800s the tide came right up to the east side of Corporation Road, (in front of the present building) and there were only a few houses built on the end of Corporation Road. There was a good site available on the west side of Corporation Road (where Ebenezer is now). In the late 1800s the area located behind Ebenezer was ear-marked for approximately 600 houses. Furthermore, there was a scheme to reclaim much of the low lying tide field in front of Corporation Road on which a large number of houses would be built.
Also, on the area between the Glamorgan Canal and the River Taff, a considerable number of houses were to be erected. These facts reinforced the conviction that Ebenezer should be sited where it stands at present.
The original architect's drawing showed a large single storey building able to accommodate approximately 500 people in the main area. Work soon commenced, but during the early days, after the foundations of the original building were constructed, a number of members of Ebenezer went up into the town centre to attend some conference meetings. Here they were very impressed with the fact that the building in which these meetings were accommodated, had a large basement which was extremely useful as an area for providing teas etc. Resulting from this, and after much discussion, it was agreed to include a basement in Ebenezer similar in size to the main hall. The architects drawings were altered for the sum of 15 shillings (75 pence) and the building work revised to include the basement, (this is the reason there are wide ledges running around the sides of the present basement as they were the original foundations of the intended single storey building.)
Ebenezer Hall was opened on 5th October 1899 at a cost of £1,250.00 which was no mean sum in those days (a week's wage then was probably in the order of £1.50). When the hall was opened, one of the speakers noting the large structure and the absence of houses in the front and the rear, reckoned that it would be a "white elephant". One year after the building was opened, the register of those in fellowship at Ebenezer was 61.>
[Phil T.C.M G 26 Oct 2001]
CARDIFF COOPERATION ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT
This is a copy of the details of a brass plaque witch is now in the Western Power offices in Church Village must have originally been in Cardiff?
TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEMBERS OF CARDIFF COOPERATION ELECTRICITY
DEPARTMENT WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE WORLD WAR 1939_1945
NAVY
- K.HOLBROOK
- K.T.G.PRICE
ARMY
- C.LITTLEWOOD
- G.H.WILLIAMS
- W.MAZZIE
R.A.F.
- N.J.JONES
- R.W.MORGAN
- S.T.PARNALL
- N.A.READMAN
W.A.A.F.
- MISS DELMA GRIFFITHS
M.N.
- H.T.STEWART
CIVILIANS
- F.C.BAKER
- A.R.BRYANT W.GLOVER
- W.T.GRAINGER
[Doug G 1 Nov 2001]
Loughor
A hint of what matters exercised religious minds in 1756.
At an annual meeting of ministers held at Rhydymaerdy [Independent chapel] , parish of Loughor, in 1756 it was resolved
"1.To have a day of fasting and prayer in the various churches every 3 months on account of the erronious times, the religious sluggishness among the nonconformists; to wish the blessing of the Lord on the arms of England in the present war with France, our common enemy [The Seven Year War 1756-63]; to request the influence of the Spirit in the conversion of the black men in the West Indies, and to thank God for those already converted.
2.To keep to the correct teaching in our churches and be more diligent to questioning our people."
[From The History of Brynteg, Gorseinon [Independent chapel] By John Ceri Williams and D. Tom Davies Translated by Ivor Griffiths Gareth G/D 6 Nov 2001]
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Aberdare and Cynon Valley
Quality coal
In the 1850's Aberdare was the most dynamic place in Wales. The quality of coal from the four foot seam at Aberdare was acknowledged by the Admiralty that it was the ideal fuel for the British Navy. The long established coalfield of Newcastle on Tyne reacted angrily that the Admiralty were showing great interest in the coal from Aberdare. However, after a long dispute, the Admiralty chose in favour of Welsh steam coal. Such was the reputation of the British Navy in the 19th century, that its seal of approval opened up new markets world wide for the produce of the Welsh pits.
Based on A History of Wales by John Davies
[Debbie Jones 19.4.2000 G]
Statistics, bloody awful statistics.....
From a Medical Officer of Health's view point ".............in 1911 in Aberdare 213 children per 1,000 births died. The average for the whole of England and Wales was 122 per 1,000 births".
Coal Society A history of the South Wales Mining Valleys 1840 - 1980 David Egan. Gomer Press 1987.
[Steve Keats 3.5.2000 G]
Chapels in Aberdare Valley
Howel Harris was a principal leader in the Methodist Revival in C18 Wales. When he visited the village of Aberdare in 1759 there were only two places of worship in the area; the parish church itself , and the Unitarian Church at Hen-Dy-Cwrdd, Trecynon which was started in 1751.
In 1798, apart from Hen-Dy-Cwrdd, although there were still no Nonconformist causes in the Valley, visiting preachers /revivalists preached in the open air. The Nonconformist movement then developed through informal meetings being held in people's homes , as shown in this excerpt for 1799 from Methodistiaeth Cymru by J Hughes, 1856;
"...a man called Evan Sion from Glynneath, came to work at Aberdare, and he lodged at Ty'r Hewl. About the same time, at least within the year, a Lewis Lawrence, a carpenter, a native of Llandovery and a Congregationalist, also moved to the locality. These friends used to hold prayer meetings , for a period, in the house of William Jenkins, the Shop...."
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 8.5.2000]
Chapels in Aberdare Valley [continued]
In the period 1810-1813 the Congregationalists had 3 meeting houses licensed; New Chapel in 1810, Ebenezer in 1811 and " a building near Hirwaun common " in 1813 [ Hanes Morgannwg, 1874]. Although industrial depression c 1818 slowed things down a bit, the relative prosperity and increase in population from the early 1820s saw an increase in the numbers of chapels across the denominations in Aberdare Valley.
Baptists; in 1837 they had 3 chapels, by 1897 there were 20, 17 being Welsh.
Unitarians; in 1837 they still only had Hen-Dy-Cwrdd but 50 years later there was also an English church in Aberdare and a Welsh church at Cwmbach.
Wesleyan Methodists; in 1837 they had just the one cause, at Hirwaun, by 1897 they had 14 ,of which 6 were English.
Congregationalist; they increased from 2 chapels in 1837 to 25 in 1897, of which 4 were English.
Calvinistic Methodists; they had 2 in 1837, and 16 by 1897.
The Established Anglican Church; not to be out done had increeased from 2 in 1837 to 20 by 1897.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 9.5.2000]
Other religious denominations/groups
In 1837 there were no members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Mormon missionaries began to arrive in Wales from the United States in the early 1840s. In a remarkably short period of time they had succeeded in gaining many converts and two meeting places were established in Aberdare, one in 1848, and the other two years later.
There were no places of worship for Roman Catholics in 1835 but by 1897 there were three in Aberdare Valley.
The Salvation Army, under General Booth, did not come into existence until 1865 but was represented by three halls in 1897.
Jews also wandered into the valley and met regularly for worship every Saturday in Dean St, Aberdare
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 10.5.2000]
How the valley developed
The population of the Cynon Valley increased by a factor of 15 between 1750 and 1850.
In 1801, the number of houses in Aberdare was 218 in which lived some 224 families.Out of the total population of 1486 there were 1000 employed in agriculture; 70 in trade, manufactures or handicrafts; leaving 416 not employed in either agriculture or trade. There were 831 males and 655 females.
The parish of Llanwynno, comprising the lower reaches of the valley, had only 104 houses with a population of 426.
By 1821 the hundred of Miskin had 1548 houses with 676 families in agricultural labouring; 551 in trade, manufactures & handicrafts; and 408 in other work.The population was 4352.
In 1831 the population of the valley was 6393, by 1841 it was 9322 and in 1851 had reached 18,774.
This period saw the opening of the seam coal industry, it was also the era that Welsh Nonconformity attained its greatest influence.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 23.5.2000]
Hirwaun takes sides in the American War of Independence
In 1780, the Hirwaun Iron Works, previously a small scale undertaking, was leased to Anthony Bacon of Cyfarthfa, Merthyr. Bacon had initiative and skill and decided to manufacture heavy cannon for the American War. There was one snag, he was the Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, so he was forbidden by law from engaging in armaments. He got over his problem by producing them in the name of his partner, Francis Homfray, and it was under the latter's name that the finished product was taken over rough bridle paths by mules and pack horses from Hirwaun to Cardiff.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 2.6.2000]
Hirwaun Iron Works
The manufacture of iron at Hirwaun, the only centre for the whole of the valley, continued throughout the difficult Napoleonic era. It was not so booming as in the 1780s although lines of communication did improve. The Aberdare Canal was built in 1811 when the Glamorgan Canal [Merthyr - Cardiff 1794] was extended from Navigation, as Abercynon was then called , up the Aberdare Valley.
When peace came in 1815 there was a decline in the demand for iron and Hirwaun suffered a severe slump. William Crawshay, the second, the "Iron King" had no difficulty in 1818 in buying out Bacon's interest in the Hirwaun Iron Works. This gave it a new lease of life culminating in 1830 in the purchase from the Gurney works of the first railway locomotive steam engine to be seen in the Aberdare Valley. In that year 9,035 tons of iron were produced at Hirwaun, and 35,715 tons of coal were consumed in the process. Nearly 900 men were in employment and two thirds of them were employed at the iron works.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 3.6.2000]
Shakers and movers in the infant Aberdare iron industry
In 1800 Jeremiah Homfray and James Birch took a lease on land at Abernant for sinking mines and setting up iron works and were joined 2 years later by the Tappenden brothers from Kent who brought in £40,000 fresh capital.
In 1804 the Tappendens built a tramroad which passed by and served another new iron works opened in 1800 at Llwydcoed by John and George Scale.These two new iron works in Aberdare were confronted with prohibitive toll duties on the Glamorgan Canal which prompted the Tappendens to build the tramroad which connected to the Neath Canal.
In 1815, Richard Fothergill of Kendal, took over the iron works at Abernant from the Tappendens, Homfray and Birch having pulled out.
In 1827, Mathew Wayne , who had been the furnace manager at Cyfarthfa set up an iron works at Gadlys, this was a small works with one furnace but in less than a year he was sending down the canal to Cardiff 450 tons of iron.
In 1837 Crawshay Bailey, the iron master of Nantyglo bought 1500 acres of land in Aberdare which were not near the canal, he didn't develop the site for another 9 years but , with the support of Sir J J Guest MP., he initiated the movement for the construction of a railway from Aberdare to Abercynon, to link up with the new Merthyr-Cardiff line. The branch was opened in 1846, and in 1851 the Valley of Neath railway extended its line to the "High Level Station" at Aberdare.
The Railway Age had arrived in Aberdare and the future of the iron industry must have looked bright enough ...........
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 5.6.2000]
The end of the second Iron Age
The Railway Age had arrived in Aberdare and the future of the iron industry must have looked bright enough, it seemed that the industry had nothing to fear but unending prosperity. However, early in the second half of the C19 it received its death blow.
The local supply of iron ore was quite inadequate to meet the ever increasing demand created by the discovery of steel, the Bessemer process in particular. The iron masters generally found it more profitable to import ore from Spain and to set up their works nearer the ports to save extra freight costs for taking ore up the valley.
One by one the local furnaces were extinguished, Hirwaun closed in 1859 and by 1875 there was not a single blast furnace left working in Aberdare Valley.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 6.6.2000]
The beginning of coal in Aberdare
As the iron industry faded away, the coal industry was set to take over as the principal trade and occupation of the Aberdare valley.
Mining had been carried out on a small scale for centuries, the first evidence of this is seen in the Survey of Miskin in 1638 when a Thomas Griffith " houldeth a coale mynes in Aberdare. There are coale mynes upon the Lords demeane Lands called ' Gwayn-y-Person and Tir-y-lloyn Bedw' within the parish of Aberdare." In 1653 it was granted to John Thomas for 21 years at an annual rent of ten shillings, and there are similar records up to 1697. By 1757 we find " All mines of iron ore or coal upon Ty'n Wain Wrgan [ Hirwaun] being leased by Lord Windsor to John Mayberry of Brecon for a rent of twenty three pounds ".
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 18 July 2000 G]
Coal comes into its own in Aberdare
1837 is an important milestone as that is the year that Thomas Wayne of Gadlys , to become one of the first great coal owners, persuaded his father to sink a coal pit at Abernant-y-Groes, Cwmbach, and to sell the produce on the open market.
The venture was a huge success and created a demand for steam coal for domestic and industrial purposes. The demand increased with the transition from sail to steam, the Admiralty being persuaded of the effectiveness of this change by John Nixon of Werfa Colliery, Aberdare.
In 1841 the output of coal from the Aberdare Valley was 12,000 tons, by 1852 it was 500,000 and by 1870 it had increased to 2 million tons.
Among the colourful personalities who dominated the industry were the following;
William Thomas, Llety Shenkin, who started to drill for coal at the beginning of 1843, and by the end of March that year coal was being extracted.
Samuel Thomas, Ysguborwen , who sank a pit in 1849, and in 1856 at Bwllfa.
David Davies, of Hirwaun, who began at Blaengwawr, and by October 1844 coal was sent away for the first time.
David Davies, Maesyffynnon, [ chiefly associated with collieries at Ferndale in the Rhondda Fach].
David Williams at Ynyscynon in 1843, and later at Deep Duffryn in Mountain Ash[ better known by his bardic name Alaw Goch].
Mordecai Jones at Nantymelyn in 1866 [ a staunch Methodist--- although he owned a brewery at Brecon!]
Thomas Powell of the Gaer, near Newport and the owner of Cwmdare---the Upper, Lower and Middle Duffryn were all Powell pits.
The boom in the upper reaches of the Valley took place from about 1840 to 1852 .
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 19 July 2000 G ]
Deep mining
Mountain Ash was the first town to obtain coal from deep cuttings in the lower reaches. Deep Duffryn pit was in production by 1855, while the lower and middle pits were sunk by Thomas Powell to produce coal after 4 years; these were later sold to Sir George Elliot Nixon's Navigation Colliery was started in 1855, the first sods being cut in the middle of an oat field; coal was raised 5 years later.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 20 July 2000 G ]
On down the valley to Abercynon
Development of the coal industry proceeded apace down the valley towards Abercynon[ then known as the Basin, Navigation or Aberdare Colliery], pits being sunk at Penrhiwceibr and Cwmcynon in 1873 and finally at Abercynon in 1889, although engineers had wanted this last site for sinking 3 years earlier. The Lady Windsor Colliery, Ynysybwl was sunk in 1884 and coal brought up within 2 years.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 20 July 2000 G]
Welsh/English pioneers and nonconformity
The names associated with the sinking of the coal mines invite comparison with the earlier pioneers of the iron industry. Bacon, Crawshay, Scale, Birch, Tappenden, Homfray were all of English extraction, whereas the leaders of the coal industry, as their surnames indicate, were rooted in the Welsh soil. This accounts for the prominent part which the latter took in the social and religious activities of the district.
David Davies, Blaengwawr, was continually inspiring the people who built a Wesleyan chapel in Mountain Ash c 1861. Other notable examples are Samuel Thomas, Ysguborwen, and David Williams[Alaw Goch]. Congregations had no need to depend on their own resources for building their chapels unaided , for prominent Nonconformists came forward to assist them.
The Davies family of Llandinam, owners of the Ocean Collieries, helped generously in building Welsh Methodist Chapels in those areas where their pits were.
D A Thomas MP., [later Lord Rhondda], son of Samuel Thomas, reputedly an agnostic, gave much support to Nonconformity in his constituency, which included Aberdare. He laid the foundation stone of Soar Welsh Calvinistic Church, Cwmaman, and many others.
These men entered and influenced the lives of their employees much more fully than the early iron masters had done and this ensured a happier relationship between Capital and Labour.
Another slant on this aspect of the relationship of the management of the mining industry and Nonconformity is seen with the biographer of Lewis Davis, an Aberdare Valley-born colliery owner, maintaining that " The Englishmen who came to reside in Wales, with few exceptions, were bigoted Churchmen, or, if they were not originally so, they soon went over to the Church ". [ .....at least he allowed for exceptions !]
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 22 July 2000 G]
A time of immigration into Aberdare
The period 1840 to 1870 represents the Golden Age in the relationship between Nonconformist and industry in Aberdare. The ever increasing demand for labour led to a vast immigration , and during this particular period most of the immigrants came from the Welsh counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke and Cardigan. These immigrants came into this valley, and elsewhere, tempted by the better financial rewards than they had had as farm labourers.
In 1851 Aberdare parish had 14,999 inhabitants, while the lower end of the valley , which would come into the parish of Llanwynno, had 3253 inhabitants. Within ten years the population had more than doubled and the vast majority of the immigrants were Welsh speaking. But there was a change, during the decade 1871-81 immigration went on and an increasing number of people came from the English border counties of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire and the south west English counties.In the following ten years the majority were from non English border counties. It is a fact that after 1881 these English migrants substantially outnumbered the Welsh migrants.
The Irish also came to work in the mines of the Aberdare Valley, and it is a son of one of these Irish immigrants, Joseph Keating, who has given us a description of mining life and conditions in Mountain Ash. [ My Struggle for Life. 1916]. He started work , aged 12, in 1883 at the Navigation pit.
They came in to the new Eldorado, Merthyr had experienced it 40 years before, now it was the turn of Aberdare and the Rhondda valleys. The population grew, the English migrants were in the majority, and naturally the Welsh chapels were suspicious of these English people with their English ideas and customs. Dr Thomas Rees, a leading Congregationalist, maintained that it was these English migrants who were the agitators in the industrial unrests.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 23 July 2000 G]
The declining Welsh language and Nonconformity link
One consequence of this migration was a decline in the number of people who spoke Welsh.
In the 1901 census, the population of Aberdare RDC was 39,932, with 23,067 Welsh speaking, of these 5,382 could only speak Welsh, while there were 11,307 English only speakers. This meant that 59% could speak Welsh. By 1911, the population was 46,040, with 26,984 Welsh speaking, 3,068 Welsh only, and 15,988 English only. So, 59% still spoke Welsh.
It was after the 1914-18 War that a decline in Welsh speaking was felt in the Aberdare valley.
By 1961, Welsh speakers totalled 12,511 compared to 26,984 fifty years earlier. The decline in the language meant a similar decline in Welsh Nonconformity. The Welsh chapels are confined in their missionary activities to the Welsh speaking population, which leaves them in a most difficult situation. The book contains a list of Aberdare Valley towns and villages with individual statistics for Welsh speakers , the conclusion to be drawn from these is that Welsh chapels which depend for their existence on Welsh speakers have a bleak future. As a Presbyterian Church minister wrote in the chapel report for1935 ;" If the members are not going to teach their children the language there will be no Welsh Church".
The language "problem" had not helped Nonconformity to resist the decline in membership.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 25 July 2000 G]
Nonconformity in crisis
Whatever the influence of the language decline in Aberdare or anywhere else, Nonconformity was facing a crisis at the beginning of the C20.
Its supremacy in the life of the people was being challenged, emotionalism was being thrown out for learning within the "Nonconformist Culture". " Origin of Species" was taking over from the "Origin of Sin" and heathen forces were tempting the Welsh people to follow suit.
It can be argued then that the Welsh Revival of 1904 was " a reaction to a new set of circumstances which was drawing the people of Wales from the old allegiance". It was a remarkable example of popular religion; it came from the people, the ordinary folk of the mining valleys and the villages of the countryside; their emotions and their religious aspirations shaped it, and they consciously repudiated professional ministerial guidance or other attempts to guide and control it along lines traditional to revivals in the past.
The leadership passed into the hands of the young people.
The most lasting influence of the Revival was that it gave Nonconformist chapels a new lease of life, a breath of fresh air swept through all the denominations, revitalising them. Chapels with their way of life were preserved for a longer period.
But within a few years chapel membership was declining once more. In 1909, according to an observer, "The Aberdare Valley chapels are very poorly attended in the mornings, although a bit better in the evenings ".
One specific example ; the Chapel in Penrhiwceibr peaked at 112 members during the Revival, but " now has only 50 members" , [ Tarian y Gweithwr 1908].
It can fairly be said that had it not been for the Revival the Chapels would have ceased to be as important in the life of the people in the 1920s, and many would have been forced to close their doors before the 50s and 60s.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 28 July 2000 G]
Calvinistic Methodists at Cwmbach
It was in 1837 that Thomas Wayne sunk and opened a pit at Abernant-y-Groes.When the Calvinistic Methodists decided to start a Sunday School cause at Cwmbach it began in the house of Dafydd Sims , chief overseer in the Hen-Lety-Siencyn pit. His home became too small for the Sunday School and it was decided to build a chapel; this was done in 1851. One of its leaders in this period was David Evans, from Dowlais, who became chief director in the mining company of David Davies , in the Rhondda and Aberdare Valleys; he moved to Bodringallt and became one of the respected leaders of the Rhonda valley.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 29 Jul 2000 G]
The Presbyterians in the Cynon Valley
In the history of the centenary of the Bethlehem Welsh Calvinistic Church[1954] is written;
" The beginning of Presbyterianism in the Cynon Valley is connected with the beginning of the coal industry at Duffryn, Mountain Ash."
The historian of the Wesleyan Movement in Wales , makes the same point as regards the building of the Wesleyan Chapel in Mountain Ash in 1861. It was the sinking of the mines at Penrhiwceibr ten years later which gave impetus to the building at Hermon of the Calvinistic Methodist Church in 1883. Again , in 1889 , it was the sinking of the mine at Abercynon which brought the immigrants, many of them from Dowlais, who were responsible for starting Tabernacle Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church in 1892.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 31 July 2000 G]
Workers beginning to think for themselves
The Rev Rhys Morgan, a Calvinistic Methodist of Llanddewi Brefi in Cardiganshire, wrote in the Drysorfa in 1893 that a decline [in Nonconformity] had set in. He traced it to the rationalist thought ; and the work of Darwin, Huxley, Spencer and others.
It is true to say that Wales did see the foundation of a Welsh University, Welsh Intermediate Education Act, and general Education Act of 1871, by the last third of the century. The Welsh working class were beginning to read the works of some of the Socialist thinkers , and a new Welsh newspaper made its appearance in Aberdare. Tarian y Gweithiwr [the Worker's Shield] was the organ of the ILP in South Wales. This newspaper was unhampered by the C19 traditions of Welsh newspapers , which had kept Y Faner and other papers tied to Nonconformist thought and attitude.
In his autobiography, W J Edwards [ From the Valley I Came, 1956] tells of the discussions between workers down the mines at Aberdare, on art, science, religion, philosophy, and books---as good as any university lecture room. After a meeting with Kier Hardie, the symbols of Welsh Nonconformity---Pilgrims Progress and the Bible--- became replaced in the parlour of his home by the Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital, and the Origin of Species.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks 1 August 2000 G]
Aneurin Bevan
Howard Williams, the present [ 1975] minister at Bloomsbury Baptist Church, London, remembers , as a boy in Abercynon in the twenties, the vast difference between the religious service conducted by his father at Moriah Baptist Chapel and the meeting he attended after chapel, in the nearby Workmen's Hall, addressed by Aneurin Bevan.
Bevan was one of the new leaders in the mining areas; a secular Puritan who had discarded the trappings of religion. Brought up in a Sunday school, he had been expelled for his unorthodox views....Bevan embodied the new influence in the mining valleys of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan.....his sympathy with the Nonconformist way of life was nearly non-existent. It was perhaps no great surprise that in the first Welsh Day debate in the Commons in 1944 he argued that there was no special solution for Welsh economic difficulties..........." There is no Welsh problem" he insisted flatly in the same debate.
[Based on Chapels in the Valley by D Ben Rees 1975. Gareth Hicks ]
School visit to Aberaman and Aberdare in 1856
Feb 28th ;
"I paid a short visit to these places, with a view to establish a school in the former and to see how things were going in the latter. The prospects are not very promising in Aberaman. Aberdare School is proceeding in the right direction, they are going to have a female teacher, and to separate the boys and girls immediately. They are very thankful for the grant of Books from the Society."
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth ]
Hirwaun--school visit in 1856.
March 11th;
I reached this place in the afternoon of this day, and made enquiries as to the state of the BS[British School] and found that the miserable schools connected with the works in this place are still great obstacles in the way of the BS so that it is kept entirely inefficient. The workmen are obliged to pay out of their wages towards the support of schools, one superintended by a drunken man, who is in the habit of cursing & swearing the children, the other by a man who became unable to work and does not possess the most common branches of information.
The population of this place being almost entirely under the influence of the Manager of these works, who is quite careless about the education of the people, causes the few individuals who went to £300 expense in 1849 of building a BS [£230 of which is now unpaid] to be in great trouble and difficulties. The room is now given to a schoolmaster free to do his best with it. But it cannot be expected that they can, under those circumstances, get a 3rd or even a 4th rate Teacher, and therefore the school is kept down. I met some of the members of the Committee, and they gave me the above information.
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth 27 Nov 2000 G]
Rhigos--school visit 1856
Apr 3rd ;
"This is a new school opened not many months ago, in connection with and for the benefit of the Colliers & Miners under R. Crawshay Esq of Hirwaun, whose preparation towards educating the Children of his Fire-workmen and Mechanics of Hirwaun is so miserably attended to [ as I reported to you lately] that it is even worse than if it was neglected altogether, because his schools [if worthy to be called so] retard almost entirely the operations of the BS in the place.
This Rhigos School is about a mile and a half distance, where the Colliers and Miners dwell. The movement originated entirely among themselves. They were afterwards aided in their efforts by the Committee of Hirwaun BS. They obtained a suitable room to commence from R Crawshay Esq and also his consent to apply 1d per £1 of their own wages towards the support of this instead of supporting those that are in Hirwaun. They have obtained an untrained young man as a master in whom some of the leaders have much confidence. We had no teachers to offer to them from the Boro' Road., neither would the salary they can give at present be acceptable to a competent one, being only £40. There are from 60 to 70 children already in the school. My next visit will give you some idea of their progress."
June 4th;
"This little school was established for a portion of the workmen of Hirwaun Works. There were 35 scholars present, and they were receiving good elementary education, some of them read very well, and writing was good, and so was the spelling. There were but a few of that [?]had been there long enough to go through the first simple tests of Arithmetic. Mr D Jones the Teacher seems to give general satisfaction to the parents. This is a school established by the working men themselves for their own children."
[From the Journal of William Roberts ['Nefydd'] in The National Library of Wales Journal Vol lX/1, 1955. Gareth 27 Nov 2000 G]
Aberdare Industrial School, Mill Street, Trecynon, Aberdare -1891 census
This a list of people resident at the School on the night of the 1891 census, unless otherwise stated all born Aberdare:
- PEARCEY, Peter, Head, M, 40, Superintendent of School/Institut - Schoolmaster, LANCS Westleigh
- PEARCEY, Eliza Adelaide, Wife, 32, Matron of School, GLOS Stroud
- EYNON, Sara Anne, Officer, U, 30, Schoolmistress, GLA Aberdare
- FRANCIS, Margaret, Officer, U, 28, Industrial Trainer - Domestic "
- MISKELL, Ellen, Servant, U, 23, Servant Dom Cook, GLA Pontlottyn
- GRICE, Henry, Tailor, U, 37, Trainer - Tailor, CHESHIRE, Frodsham
PUPILS:
- WILLIAMS, Daniel, 12
- WATTERS, Samuel, 14
- DANDO, William James, 11
- DANDO, Rebecca, 9
- DANDO, Mary Jane, 14 (these DANDOs noted as siblings)
- DAVIES, Florence, 10
- WILLIAMS, Thomas, 11
- HARRIS, James, 13
- MORGAN, James John, 10
- HARRIS, Jane, 14
- BOWEN, Mary Ann, 8
- EVANS, John, 12
- RICHARDS, Elizabeth Ann, 12
- WATTS, William, 9
- TODD, Robert, 7
- GILLINGHAM, Lydia, 8
- GOULD, Margaret, 10
- PRICE, William Ernest, 10
- EVANS, Elizabeth, 8
- DAVIES, Rebecca, 14
- CAREY, Honora, 14, GLA Gelligaer
- LOYNS, Daniel, 12 "
- CASEY, Dennis, 13, "
- TODD, William, 12, "
- TODD, John, 10 (brother) "
- EDWARDS, Elizabeth, 12, "
- PHILLIPS, John, 12, GLA Rhigos
- JONES, Sarah Ann, 13, GLA Merthyr Lower
- MAHONEY, Kate, 14, "
- SAUNDERS, Thomas, 10, "
- WILLIAMS, Nathaniel, 8, "
- COCHRANE, Honora, 14 "
- HARRISON, J Ellen, 13, "
- HARRISON, Elizabeth, 10, Sister "
- HARRISON, David John, 12 Brother "
- THOMAS, George, 8, "
- JONES, Thomas, 11 "
- GRAY, Rosina, 14, "
- GRAY, Meshack, 11 Brother "
- EVANS, Minnie, 14, "
- WILLIAMS, Ebenezer, 10 "
- WILLIAMS, Rachel, 8 "
- EVANS, Samuel, 13, "
- REES, Catherine Ann, 14, "
NB.There must be 2 pages missing from the enumerator's book, as his notes state 84 pupils and 6 staff.
[Pam Thornbury 25 Jan 2001 G]
Abernant
Q. Could SKS please tell which churches would have been used by someone living in the Abernant area of Aberdare in the 1840's ?
A. In Old Aberdare Vol 1, an article titled 'Aberdare in 1837', lists the following places of worship:-
The Established Church-
- St. John's Parish church
- Penderyn Parish church
Baptists-
- Siloam, Penderyn
- Ramoth, Hirwain
- Salem, Penpound (bottom of Monk St.), now Calfaria
Calvinistic Methodists-
- Bethel Hirwain
- Carmel, Trecynon (Heol-y-felin)
Congregationalists-
- Nebo Hirwain
- Ebenezer Trecynon (Heol-y-felin)
Unitarians-
- Hen-Dy-cwrdd (Heol-y-felin)
Wesleyans--
- Hirwain
- Pentwyn Bach (Trecynon)
Salem Chapel, Tresalem, Robertstown was erected in 1841
T.J.Evans writing about Abernant in the 1840s [schools environmental studies publication] states:-
'Abernant in the 1840s was purely and simply a mining camp, large enough to qualify for village status but almost completely lacking in a social focus, service functions and amenities for its inhabitants. There were two public houses, The Star ( later named The Star and Railway) in the trap, and another poss. Halfway House in Blaennant. Facilities for education and religious observance was meagre. The 1841 census records a school mistress living in Moss Row while a Report on the State of Education in Wales (1847) notes that the Baptists had established a Sunday School in Abernant in the same year , and that a Mr J. Jones had a school in Moss Row in 1844. Both were in private houses'.
It would seem therefore that anyone wishing to attend a religious service in Abernant in the 1840s would either visit a private house locally or attend one of the religious places, situated outside the settlement, as recorded in 1837.
These chapels in Abernant itself were built later:-
- Bethesda 1860, Nazareth 1861, Bethel 1862, (all Welsh language chapels).
[Deric John 1 Feb 2001 G]
Glamorgan county
No wonder we can't find anyone !
Census totals population for Glamorgan
1801 =70,879
1851 =231,849
1911 =1,130,668
Compare to Breconshire
1801 =32,325
1851 =61,474
1911 =56,370
Migrations
Throughout the period 1851 to 1911 in Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire and Glamorgan some 366,000 people moved into these areas between these dates. The peak of this migration occurred between 1901 and 1911 when 129,000 people moved into the area.
Figures from 'Coal Society' David Egan Gomer Press 1987
[Steve Keates 9.5.2000 G]
More numbers from census details for Glamorgan 1851 - 1901 showing the dramatic rise in workers in the coalfields.
| Year
1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 |
Agriculture
13,139 12,753 11,394 10,015 10,109 8,990 |
Mines & Quarries
22,520 30,257 37,364 48,380 82,160 107,859 |
Metals, Machines, Implements & Conveyances
13,670 20,030 24,460 24,709 31,205 36,096 |
Figures from 'Coal Society' David Egan Gomer Press 1987
[Steve Keates 10.5.2000 G]
Public Health in South Wales
School days and children suffering bad health:
I have edited some of this extract which is quoted in Coal Society by David Egan
"Scabies, ringworm and tuberculosis also affected large numbers of children. I can clearly remember one boy whose head was almost covered with scab...........One boy of my own age, flatfooted, like a very old man, his face pale yellow, his large eyes protuding from their sockets......he died young......"
Edmund Stonelake describing his school days at Pontlottyn in the Rhymney Valley at the end of the 19thC taken from his autobiography published 1981.
[Steve Keates 17.5.2000 G]
Defoe's Journey
......and turned away to Glamorganshire.
Entering this shire, from Radnor and Brecknock, we were saluted with Monuchdenny-Hill on our left, and the Black Mountain on the right, and all a ridge of horrid rocks and precipices between, over which, if we had not had trusty guides, we should never have found our way; and indeed, we began to repent our curiosity, as not having met with any thing worth the trouble; and a country looking so full of horror, that we thought to have given over the enterprise, and have left Wales out of our circuit. But after a day and a night conversing thus with rocks and mountains, our guide brought us down into a most agreeable vale, opening to the south, and a pleasant river running through it, called the Taaffe; and following the course of this river, we came in the evening to the ancient city of Landaff, and Caerdiff, standing almost together.
Daniel Defoe. A Journey Through the Whole Island of Britain Published between 1724 - 1726
[Steve Keates 17.5.2000 G]
Cromwell and Welsh Coal
'In the time of Oliver Cromwell a survey was made of the peninsula of Gower, and we find the following entry:
"Swanzey Parish. There is a coal worke in Morwa Lligw which the tenant holds by lease of the Lord of the Manor, dated 26th September 1639"
In the Cardiff Records for 1636, also it is stated that no coal should be carried to England from Wales without a bond being given that it should not be sold to foreign countries.'
A History of the Pioneers of the Welsh Coalfields Elizabeth Philips 1925 Western Mail Ltd
[Steve Keates 24.5.2000 G ]
Follow on;
This particular piece of legislation was still causing problems well over a century later. It appears that Newport could export coal to England free of this bond but Cardiff had to bide by the bond and also pay a tax that Newport didn't. The Marquis of Bute was not a happy man at this time especially after just building his new docks with coal export in mind. There are papers regarding this amongst the Bute Pilotage papers held at Cardiff library. Included in there are maps of the Monmouth, Gloucester and West country canals dated about 1810.
[Phil Roderick 24.5.2000 G]
Early coal and mineral activity in the county, an overview.
It was the vale of Neath and Gower areas that were central to coal mining advancement in South Wales in the C16.
By 1686, the coal interests in Neath came under the control of Humphrey Mackworth through marriage, and he was right up to his death in 1727 to play a large and controversial part in the development of coal , and copper smelting and silver refining too.
Parallel with the expansion of the coal industry, there was considerable development in the mining and smelting of metals.
Henry VIII had been instrumental in developing native ores and in Wales the search for minerals was extended to the Crown Estates, this was particularly evident in Llantrisant. The Act of Union of 1536 was a landmark in mineral extraction activity as previously the Crown was only able to exercise its right over minerals within its own lordships, now that right was extended over mines royal--gold, silver, copper etc-- for all of Wales. There was now greater opportunity for the investment of [English] capital and soon, in 1541, the Sidney family from Sussex arrived in South Wales with their iron working interests.
The disruptions of the Civil War did hold progress back for a generation, production of native iron fell to a low ebb and there was an absence of finance for development. However, changes in mercantile law coupled with revised methods of joint stock financing brought considerable reorganisation. By the turn of the C17, the iron industry was passing from the stage of isolated furnaces or forges , individually owned, to small groups of partners , some of whom were to develop into quite large partnerships.
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks 7 June 2000 G ]
Continued---The Welsh/Cornish /Cumberland/German connection
The start of the C17 saw the coal and iron industries well set for expansion. Progress was so rapid that by 1636 the Crown created the office of Surveyor of Iron Works, previous to this date the rights of the Crown had been limited to precious metals which excluded iron and coal.
The Company of Mines Royal had been formed following an association with German metallurgists and mining interests in 1564 and was given rights to search for and smelt all ores of gold, silver, copper and quicksilver in most counties of the western half of the country, including Wales. Keswick in Cumberland was the first scene of concentrated activity but by 1583 considerable sums had been lost there and the Company turned its attention to its other interests, especially in Devon and Cornwall. Some key German workmen in Keswick were transferred to the south west of England and they in turn, in particular Ulrich Fross, were to form the Welsh connection.
In 1584 proposals were made to transfer Cornish copper ore to Neath for smelting with Fross as manager. Two furnaces had been erected together with a smelting house capable of dealing with 560 tons of ore in 40 weeks.
" Various collieries were worked, leases were procured on extensive lead mines in Cardiganshire and work-houses in the counties of Glamorgan and Cardiganshire consisted of 17 furnaces for smelting lead, 2 for copper, 8 for refining and 2 for making red lead, and that there was room for 15 more" [ History of Copper Smelting from the Time of Elizabeth to the present day in Swansea. G Grant Francis , 1861.].
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks 10 June 2000 G ]
Continued---An awareness of profitability
In a letter dated 7 March 1586, Ulrich Fross writing from Neath says;
"We look daily for the copper refiner from Keswick, and have in readiness as much copper roast and black copper as will make a 20 ton lot of good fine copper...................We have done nothing all this winter for lack of ore. We are able to melt it with two furnaces in the space of 40 weeks the quantity of 560 tons of ore if we might have it, and if ore be clean and well sorted the more copper it will yield . I do not doubt but to bring out all that is in the ore ....and with as little charges.......................We will melt in the space of 7 hours the quantity of 24 cwt of ore and spend not above 8 or 9 sacks of char-coals, and 3 horse load of sea-coals, and if the ore be well and clean sorted the more copper stone will it yield: melting many sorts of ores together is the most profit, and will melt a great deal sooner."
[Based on "Accounting, Costing and Cost Estimation[Welsh Industry 1700-1830]" by Haydn Jones 1985, Gareth Hicks 4 August 2000 G ]
The Cornish/S.Wales connection
"In the early 1780' s Cornish mining was in difficulty, mainly because of the flooding of the copper market by cheaper copper ore from the newly developed opencast deposits in Anglesey.
But it soon became clear that, with the output from the mines not restricted, the fall in copper prices could not easily be stopped. Some mines had to suspend working and there was a demonstration by unemployed miners who marched into Truro in 1787. "
"Although Vivians were not living and working in South Wales until the early years of the 19th century , there had been regular contact between Cornwall and Wales, especially the Swansea area, for a very long period of time.
Carew, in his Survey of Cornwall, noted that in the mid-sixteenth century copper ore from the mines of St. Just had been sent first by sea to St. Ives and then to Neath for smelting. In return the ships brought timber for the Cornish mines. A certain Thomas Smith, who had interests in Cornish mines during this period, and who had William Carnsewe of Bokelly near Wadebridge as his Cornish agent, appears to have decided against copper smelting in Cornwall. Instead he built a new smelting furnace at Neath, close to the coal, and also close to the port of Swansea to which the Cornish ores could be shipped."
Stanley Vivian in "The Story of The Vivians", Mid-Cornwall Printing, 2nd ed, 1989
[Tony Vivian 5.7.2000 G]
Absentee Militiamen-1815
The following notice appeared in " The Cambrian "Return of Militiamen" who have not joined in pursuance of an Order from the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan for embodying the said Militia on the 7th July, 1815.
Name - Age - County - Occupation - Attested at - Date (// = no entry)
- William JOHN - 23 - Glamorgan - Labourer - Swansea - 23 May 1810
- Jacob JONES - 18 - Mon (Langstone) Labourer - // - 1 May 1815
- David LEWIS-27-Pembroke-Labourer-//-3 May 1815
- Patrick WELSH - 18 - Monaghan (Danmoine) Tailor - Cardiff - 3 May 1815
- Walter DAVID - 34 - Carm. (St.Clears) - labourer - // - 11 May 1815
- John SWAIN - 24 - Dublin (St.Catherine) - Labourer - Cardiff - 20 May 1815
- David JONES-//- Pembroke (Rossether) -Labourer -Swansea - 3 May 1815
- John GRIFFITHS-// -Glam.(Bishopton)-Labourer-Swansea-29 May 1815
- Llewelyn JOHN-29-Glamorgan(Bettws) Butcher - // - 4 April-1814
- Daniel WILLIAMS-16-Kent (Ashford) - Shoemaker - Bridgend - 9 Dec 1813
- Abraham LEWIS-23 -Monmouth(Wenallt) - // - Newport - 5 May 1815
- William RICHARD- 23-Carm. (Llandybie)-Labourer-Cardiff-6 May 1815
- William MATHEW-24-Glam. (Llantrisant)-Collier-Dyffryn-22 May 1815
- John LLEWELYN-26-Pemb.(Redboxton)-Labourer-Aberdare- 23 May 1815
- Thomas REES - 30- Carm. (Llandyfeiliog)-//- Swansea- 31 June 1815
- Rees PARRY - 18 - Brecon (Brecond) - Labourer-Cardiff- 19- Nov 1811
- Griffith WILLIAM-25- Galm. (Lougher)-Labourer-Swansea - 24 Feb 1815
- Lot MAGGS - 20 - Gloucester(Frenchay) -Smith-Newport - 21 May 1815
- Issac PROSSER - //- Monmouth (Goytre)-Labourer-Cardiff - 9 Jan 1814
- William HOWELL-23-Carm. (Laugharne)- Labourer - Merthyr- 11 May 1815
- David MORGAN - 18- Monmouth (Goytre)-Labourer-Cardiff- 9 Jan 1814
- Jacob THOMAS - 18-Carm. (Lanfihangel)-Labourer-Aberdare- 22 May 1815
- Thomas RICHARD-20-Glam. (Swansea)-Labourer- Newport - 20 May 1815
- Rosser REES - // - Monmouth (llanddewi)-Labourer - Newport -9 June 1815
- John CHILD - 23 - Hereford (Labrey) - Labourer - Newport - 5 May - 1815
- William DAVIES - 18 - Glam. (Llangyfelach) - Labourer-Neath- 25 Jan 1814
- John GRIFFITHS-19-Carm. (Llandarrog) - Labourer - Cardiff - 31 May 1815
- David RICHARD-23-Glam (Tythegston)-Tailor - Cardiff - 28 Sep 1813
- Samuel THOMAS-18-Monmouth (Bedwelty)-Shoemaker-Cardiff- 7 Jan 1814
- Thomas WILLIAMS-20-Glam. (Llangynfyd)-Labouer-Swansea- 6 June 1815
- Cadogan EVANS-20 Glam (Llantrisant) - //- Cardiff - 4 May 1815
- James DOWLAN-//- Cumberland -(St.Mary)-Hatter- Aberdare - 25 May 1815
- Henry HARRIS-21-Pembroke(St.Wynals) Labourer- Cowbridge - 1 Jun 1815
- Tom THOMAS-15- Monmouth(Liswene)-Labourer-Cardiff- 6 Sep 1813
- Tom JONES-20-Glam. (Neath) - Weaver - Neath - 6 Dec 1814
- Lewis JONES-25 - Carm. (Llandyfeiliog)-Labourer-Cardiff- 1 Feb 1814
- Thomas JONES-15-Carm. (Llandeilo)-Labourer-Cardiff - 1 Feb 1814
- William BEVAN-26-Monouth(Bishton)-Labourer-Newport - 19 May 1814
- Patrick BREAN - // - Carlow(Birkarry) - Tailor - Newport - 19 May 1814
- William DAVID-19- Carm. (Conwyl)-Labourer - Swansea - 6 May 1814
- John EATON-34- Glam. (Bridgend)- Cordwainer - Cardiff - 25 Mar 1815
- Thomas LEWIS - 29 - Glam. (Cowbridge) -Cordwainer-Cardiff-17 May 1815
- Evan MORGAN - 15 - Glamorgan - cordwainer - Swansea - 30 Mar 1813
- John REES - 17 - Glam. (Neath) - Copperman - Neath - 24 Jan 1814
- Thomas THOMAS-23-Cardigan.(Llandysul)-Saddler -// - 24 May 1814
[Sue Martin]
Seasonal movement from Cardiganshire to Glamorgan
A large number of seasonal and 'casual workers' worked along side skilled miners and ironworkers in Glamorgan.
One example ;
"There are many" said a south Wales ironmaster in 1837, " who come from Cardiganshire to the ironworks for five or seven months in the winter season, live economically here and take home £15 or £20 to their families which pays the rent of their farm, and purchases for them clothing and a few luxuries. "
[Quoted from an article by G S Kenrick cited by A H John in The Industrial Development of South Wales, 1750-1850.UWP, 1950 Gareth 4 Feb 2001 G/D]
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Culture, Sport and Entertainment
Extracted from an essay by Gareth Williams titled " How's the tenors in Dowlais ? [Hegemony, Harmony and Popular Culture in England and Wales 1600-1900]
" Despite attacks from moral reformers, Methodists, market-orientated farmers, capitalistic employers, magistrates and the 'plague of blue locusts ', age-old sports and pastimes survived even when aristocratic patronage was withdrawn. They might, like the 5th November celebrations , acquire new meanings, but the rise of industrial capitalism did not sign their death warrant. On the contrary, new economic conditions provided new opportunities and a reshaped environment for their continuation.
The coming of the railways provides us with an obvious example. The train boosted demeaning entertainments like public hangings and created respectable ones like seaside excursions. It revolutionised the Turf by enabling owners to transport their thoroughbreds rapidly from one venue to another. More races and larger cash prizes transformed the Turf from being the preserve of the Quality to becoming a spectator sport. Thus was one sport diffused downwards ; others, like cricket and pugilism were common among the lower orders but with the onset of industrialisation moved socially upwards. In sum, what were once class specific sports were by the mid C19 well on the way to becoming the entertainment of the masses, for there were now more people to participate and spectate and better means of communication to transport them.
Many other customs survived not in spite of but because of the railways............................in mid century Oxford's St Giles Fair was pulling in rail excursions from as far afield as London, Birmingham and Cardiff. And in Wales a particular beneficiary was the eisteddfod, a classic illustration of the way ' in which a chapel orientated working class culture appropriated an essentially aristocratic...tradition and transformed it into something very different'.
In 1863 seventeen carriages carried 1300 passengers from Aberdare to a Sunday School eisteddfod in Swansea.
Continuity was agreeably personified by those 'traditional ' dispensers of sociability, publicans, to whom the provision of popular amusements had for centuries been a commercial activity. In the C19 many of them diversified into circus management , movable theatres, pantomime and eventually the music hall. We have only to think of the well attested eager anticipation there was across south Wales for the visits of travelling fairs with their side shows, naphtha flares and shouting showmen ; Bostock and Wombell's menagerie, Ebley's travelling theatre, Leon Vint's conjuring show, Poole's myriorama.
It was the travelling fairs of Studt, Dooner, Haggar and Walbrook with their Bioscope and Vitagraph that introduced Welsh audiences to 'living pictures'. The palace of varieties supplanted the fair, just as in time, it, and that other centre of entertainment , the chapel, were supplanted by the cinema. By the 1930s there were more cinema seats per head in north Wales than in London ..........."
[From Llafur, journal of Welsh Labour History, Vol 5/1, 1988. Gareth 8 Nov 2000 D/G]
Corn Riots in Wales, 1793-1801
This summary of events based on the most informative book Before Rebecca, Popular Protests in Wales 1793-1835, by DJV Jones, Allen Lane, 1973 is in the form of a chronological timeline running throughout the counties of Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Glamorganshire as randomly seen. The many references in the book to events in other parts of Wales have not been included however.
There is an introduction and contents listing from the book here
1793
Corn Riots began in 1793, after a poor harvest in 1792.
In Swansea, with a population of c 6000 at the 1801 census, there were frequent gatherings of hundreds of people demanding corn. On 2 February, a market day, a great crowd of people terrified farmers, merchants and maltsters as they went to their houses seeking corn.
Two days later, an army of copper workers and others from the area of Llangyfelach marched in protest on Swansea. They raided farm houses on the way and even took some farmers as hostages. They put their greivances to the portreeve and magistrates in front of the Guildhall. An appeal for help from the military by the civil authorities was sent to William Pitt, the prime minister, and a detachment of the Second Regiment of Dragoons was quickly despatched to the area.
1795
Following a succession of poor grain harvests there was an acute shortage of corn in 1795, especially in south Wales. In the first 4 months of the year disturbances broke out in many parts of Wales. By Sept of that year wheat and barley had at least doubled in price since the previous September, this hit heavily those classes which depended on corn for their daily subsidence.
The Cardiganshire magistrates spoke for the authorities of most Welsh counties when they declared that the working classes were 'much discontented and restless at the present exorbitant Price of all grain in the County '.
At Aberystwyth, lead miners entered the town at night and broke open store houses and took away the corn.
Corn riots broke out at Narberth in Pem, and Bridgend in Gla, and troops were rushed to these places, and also to Carmarthen..
There was also trouble in the south over the new standard corn measure called the 'Winchester', at Fishguard, the small farmers, stoutly resisting this perceived imposition, defied the clerk of the market and a magistrate, and rioting also broke out in Bridgend and Carmarthen early in the year. At Carmarthen, a large mob led by small farmers dragged the brass Winchester measure from the market place to the Dark Gate and destroyed it.
During the summer there were food riots proper in the counties of Pembrokeshire[ Pem ] and Mon, in Pem colliers supplied themselves with corn at reduced prices.
One of the most notable disturbances took place at Haverfordwest in August when a great crowd of colliers, women and children from Hook came marching down the High St shouting 'One and All - One and All'. They fixed their attention on a ship loaded with butter in the harbour, but found their way blocked by firstly men of importance in the town, and secondly by 50 men of the Carmarthenshire Milita.The Riot Act was read and the milita ordered to load with ball upon which the colliers turned and ran out of the town. Some were seized, the following day the Fishguard Fencibles were called in to replace the Milita. The colliers were reported to be frightened and would not stir again.
There were also dangerous corn riots in north east Wales which overshadowed those seen in the south.
1796
The high price of corn continued until the summer of 1796 before falling gradually to a low level where it remained until the end of the century before rising sharply again. In February 1796, the Pembrokeshire magistrates denounced the activities of engrossers and regraters. The poorer classes wanted ' no buying corn but in Market and at the usual reasonable price'. They claimed, for instance , that agents shipped corn from Gower farms direct to Swansea breweries under the pretence that it was 'English corn'.
Even without this deception, the use of grain by the malsters and distillers was a constant source of trouble.
Perhaps the most hated men in the corn trade were the 'badgers', who were corn dealers who bought the corn from the farmer and shipped much of it away from the rural areas , partly for exporting.
Such was the opposition of the working classes to the export of corn in years of scarcity and high prices that in Cardiganshire, for example, magistrates late in 1795 , passed a resolution ' that no Exportation of any Grain from this County should be permitted till the next Harvest, if it is , such in all probability will cause Riots'.
1800/1
So severe were the corn riots of 1800 and 1801 that people feared widespread disaffection and revolt. In local newspapers it was pointed out that an "artificial scarcity of wheat " had been one of the main instruments in bringing about the French Revolution.
One of the most spectacular corn riots of 1800 was at Llangattock in Bre involving a load of barley-meal and bran from Abergavenny being taken to Dowlais iron works in Gla which was stopped by a large crowd of miners and colliers intent on preventing it leaving the county, although they were eventually unsuccessful in that attempt.
This was followed some months later, in the area of Dowlais, by the most serious of the corn riots in Wales in the 1793-1801 period.
The first disturbances took place at Merthyr Tydfil in September, a report at the time talked of 'Morgan Lewis Shop is totally demolished ' and 'I fancy 2000 people are at present doing all the mischief they can', and 'Immediate assistance must be had' and ' They have stopped everything at Cyfarthfa & Pendaran but the Furnace' etc etc. Simon Homfray, the iron master and magistrate, had left the town that morning at there was no military force within miles. The damage done to property was estimated at thousands of pounds with bakers and shopkeepers being targetted. The end result was that the panic stricken shopkeepers came to terms with the rioters and agreed to price regulation.
The following day, Homfray envisaged a wave of rioting spreading through Neath and Swansea until it reached the Pembrokeshire coast, but for the moment attention still centred on Merthyr Tydfil. Industrial workers were pouring into the town from neighbouring works to join the 'Merthyr mob', local furnaces were stopped and rioting was at its height.
The defences of the propertied class were gradually marshalled, troops began to arrive and within a few days they had a sufficient presence to put the town under curfew. Fifty odd prisoners were taken and escorted to Cardiff gaol.
Throughout 1800, there had been much unrest in Pem. Magistrates and others recived anonymous letters threatening to destroy their property.
Working class people in the Haverfordwest area were in a very agitated state over the price of barley, their staple diet. To relieve their suffering, corn was bought and sold to them at half price, but this alarmed the merchants who then stopped importing corn. The workers started to burn the property of farmers, and late in 1800 the Carmarthen Milita were called out when riots took place all over the county[Pem]. A report in the Spring said " the People are upon the Eve of rising in Mass " and were waiting for the landing of French troops.
The workers from Newport, [Pem], who complained of the high price of bread in January 1801, stated that barley had risen at Cardigan to eleven shillings and ninepence a quarter and oats to thirty shillings a teal, whereas they were not able to pay for the barley and oats more than ten shillings and fourteen shillings respectively. The Newport rioters suspected the work of men as well as nature behind such excessive prices since the harvests of 1799 and 1800 were not catastrophic failures leaving the working classes to doubt whether a natural scarcity existed.
A mob led by John Ladd, mayor of Newport, set off for Llwyn-gwair, home of the Bowen family, where two justices lived, but they were not there. A plan was made to gather again the following day at Newport market and force the sale of corn cheaply but John Ladd was arrested and kept in gaol for the following 3 market days, the plan was never carried out.
At Carmarthen, where wheat was 20s per Winchester bushel and barley 11s to 14s, soldiers were called out to stop the colliers causing a riot.
In April 1801 , at Swansea, a crowd of women and children paraded the streets and forced open the doors of a warehouse demanding corn at reasonable prices. The military were called, and the Riot Act was read, two ringleaders were taken but were allowed to escape. Theer were further disturbances that evening and fearing the participation of a large number of colliers, a request was made to Cardiff for military assistance who arrived the next day when matters had quietened down anyway.
Summary
The Corn Riots 1793-1801 did not represent a conflict between capital and labour, and were not generally over wages or working conditions despite disputes in Swansea and Merthyr that did also involve wage claims. The main cause of unrest was the high cost of provisions, and the main enemies of the rioters were farmers, 'a very fine Tongued Gentry', bakers, and 'petty merchants'.
In other words, supplier-consumer conflicts rather than employee-employer conflicts, it would not be incorrect to refer to them as "hunger disturbances by desperate men".
They were not overtly political, although there were hints of political motives on occasion such as with the 'Patriots' of Swansea who spoke of France as "a warning". There was some disaffection of constables and military; two examples--it was reported that the Fishguard Fencibles actually helped a rioting mob unload butter from a ship in Fishguard harbour ; and Samuel Homfray stated that the Glamorgan Milita " would be of little service as there are a great many merthyr people amongst them".
In the wider British context, the disturbances were a factor behind the prohibition on grain export in 1795-97 and 1800, and also behind the suspension of import duties for some protected grains in 1795-97.
[Based on Before Rebecca, Popular Protests in Wales 1793-1835, by DJV Jones, Allen Lane, 1973.]