|
Beirdd eisteddfodol Cwmaman a Cwmtawe by T
J Morgan Journal of the Welsh Bibliographical
Society vol 9/4 1965 Welsh
Journals Online
|
Extract from the article re Ebenezer Independent Chapel, Swansea taken from
Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru. By Thomas Rees and John Thomas; published in 1871+.
Referring to Mr Davies, Llangeler, the minister there;
"The moral attitude in Swansea was utterly wretched when Mr. Davies started his ministry here. ........................ He had such an influence over the common people within a few years, that just his appearance was enough to quieten the most arrogant ungodly people. Take these facts as examples: - There were
several butchers from the area of
Cwmaman and Llangiwc who held a market in Swansea. Every Saturday evening some of them, when they'd finished selling their meat, would go to the public houses, and would drink there until Sunday morning, when they started for home on their little horses. As they went out of the town, if they happened to meet Mr. Davies coming towards them on the road, they would go back until they found a crossroads to turn into....................."
Full article on Genuki |
| From the Amman Valley to Kansas By Rina Callingham "Daniel Thomas Morgan was born on Tuesday 28th April 1835. He was the 5th known child of David and Mary Morgan (nee Griffiths) of Brynhynydd farm in the Carmarthenshire parish of Betws.............................." |
|
On the American Frontiers: Amman Valley Emigrants in Texas, 1879-1880. By Jones, Bill & Dr Huw Walters.
The Carmarthenshire Antiquary, 37/2001. This article describes the background of the emigration to Texas of Hopkin Hopkin and his family from Gwauncaegurwen, a journey that started at Brynaman Station. Hopkin had links to Carmel, GCG; Bethesda, Cwmamman; and the famous Swansea Valley based choral society of Ivander Griffiths. They went to New Philadelphia under the scheme known as the Texas Freehold Farm and Emigration Company Ltd., one of whose key promoters was Mabon. They were in the first group from
South Wales, the other family being that of George and Catherine Davies from Ton Pentre, Rhondda.There are quotations from letters from Hopkin home to GCG, published in
Tarian y Gweithiwr; people they met in Texas included; in Dallas, Elias Thomas of Neath; in McAlaster(now in Oklahoma), John Williams of Glynbeudy, Brynaman; and in New Cambria (near Jacksboro), Morgan and Mary Hughes who had links to Ty'nywern Farm, Glanaman.
Includes biographical notes on Hopkin Hopkin by Rina Callingham |
| David Henry Rees or 'D.H.'
".............. as he was often known was born in 1895. From 1917-1918 he was colliery checkweigher at Bettws Colliery. During the 1920s and 1930s he was politically active and in 1936 he was imprisoned in Swansea Gaol following disturbances in Crynant when the Anthracite Combine used blackleg labour to defeat the strike. His health began to declined dramatically from 1937 due to emphesema and he died in 1940 aged just 45.
The archive includes David Henry Rees' diary which records a Miners' Delegation visit to Russia in November 1934. Visits during the trip included factories, schools, hospitals and rest homes, sanatoria, collective farms, workers' flats and a colliery. The delegation visited Leningrad and Moscow and they were in Red Square for the 17th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution" [From Archives Network Wales] |
|
THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND EARLY HISTORY OF AMMANFORD "...a brief summary of the archaeology of Llandybie, the Amman Valley, and Betws taken from the Amman Valley Heritage Audit prepared by Cambria Archeology in January 2003 (Report No: 2003/5), by Paul Sambrook and Jenny Hall). The study area encompasses the modern parishes of Llandybie, Llanfiangel Aberbythych (Carmel), Cyngor Bro Dyffryn Cennen, Cwmamman, Llandadog and Quarter Bach (Brynamman)
to the north of Ammanford and Llanedi, Betws and Gwaun Cae Gurwen to the south.."- on Terry Norman's site |
|
Place Names in the Amman Valley - on Terry Norman's site |
|
There is data for Llandybie, Ammanford, Betws, Garnant, Glanaman and area on The Carmarthenshire Roll of Honour site |
|
Bettws 1841 census transcription - on Genuki |
|
Making hay when the sun shone. Reminiscences by Margaret Crittenden of life on a local smallholding in the middle of the C20th - Glynderi on the slopes of Mynydd Ddu between Garnant and Brynamman |
| "Glo-man is the
papur bro (local Welsh language newspaper) for Ammanford and the Amman Valley, first published in September 1977. Issues 1-49 of 'Glo-man', 1977-1982; and calendars printed with reproductions of old photographs of the Aman Valley, 1981-1984 are held at Carmarthenshire Archives Services." [From Archives Network Wales] |
| "The
Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News was established in 1913 in Ammanford. It was absorbed by the South Wales Guardian Group, publishers of the
South Wales Guardian, in 1959, which then became the
South Wales Guardian and Amman Valley Chronicle. The newspaper is now part of the Newsquest Media Group. Copies of
South Wales Guardian, 1983, and bound copies, 1969-1971; and copy of
Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News, 12 October 1950 are held at Carmarthenshire Archives Services" [From Archives Network Wales] |
|
The history of Osbourne House in
Garnant illustrates the way many small businesses struggled into existence and eventually faded away; the owner Mrs Margaret Evans was known as Mrs Evans Siop y Lamb
See also brief details of Gwaith Y Lamb mine
See the
Garnant Collection 1 in the Picture Gallery |
|
Cwmamman Auxiliary of the British & Foreign Bible Society
- on Genuki. Subscribers' List from the 1931-1932 report, compiled by Rina Callingham |
|
Cwmamman snippets from
The Centenary History of Amman United Rugby Football Club, 1903-2003
"At the
WWI reunion parade on the 20th September 1919, all discharged volunteers from Cwmamman attended, and it is recorded that 400 men from the villages did volunteer for service, of whom 54 paid the supreme sacrifice.
There was one Military Cross, five Military Medals, and one Distinguished Service Cross Medal, and one Cross of Saint Stanislau awarded during this period to men of Cwmamman."
"
Moving pictures were being developed and December 1930 saw them introduced in the Workman's Hall and in January 1931 in the Palace."
"(1933)...was the year that
Cwmamman Silver Band became West Wales Champions....."
"In the 1950s, three people closely associated with the (Amman United) club were killed in the
Llandow Air Disaster where the plane returning supporters from the international match in Ireland crashed on landing, killing over 80 people, at the time the world's worst air disaster. The three local men were; Gomer Griffiths, Freddie Schofield, and Elwyn Davies. " |
|
Glanamman - an extract from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Wales 1833;-
"GLYN-AMAN (GLYN-AMWYN), a hamlet in that part of the parish of LLANDILO-VAWR which is in the upper division of the hundred of ISCENNEN, county of CARMARTHEN, SOUTH WALES, 8 3/4 miles (S. E.) from Llandilo-Vawr, containing 227 inhabitants. It is situated among the Black mountains; and the river Aman flows through it, forming in one part of its course the boundary line between Carmarthenshire and Glamorganshire. The poor are maintained by a separate assessment, the average annual expenditure amounting to
£ 40.2." |
|
A notable local entry from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site;
- HERMAS
LLEWELLYN
MM Lance Corporal 2136378 275 Field Coy., Royal Engineers who died on Monday 15 February 1943 . Age 29 . Son of John and Martha Llewellyn, of
Garnant.
Cemetery: TRIPOLI WAR CEMETERY Libya. Grave or Reference Panel Number: 11. E. 18.
|
|
Ammanford Terry Norman's site, full of local history and photographs |
|
Coal mining in Gwauncaegurwen and Cwmgors [Extracts from History of Pontardawe book] has details of an accident at
Garnant Colliery on Wednesday, January 16, 1884 |
|
The Raven Tinplate Works, Glanamman.
Paul Jenkins book "Twenty Four by Fourteen" (ISBN 1-85902-203-0) makes only a few references to The Raven Works at Glanamman.
It was in operation from 1881 to 1940.(pp 245) By the middle of 1939 the Raven Works, along with The Amman and the Glynbeudy Works, were requisitioned by the Government (Ministry of Supply?) for the storage of War materials.(pp. 221). At about this time the Llangenech Works was taken over by the Admiralty for use as a storage depot.It would appear however, that The Raven Works didn't actually produce tinplate. It, along with the Whitford Works at Briton Ferry, are described as Steel Sheet Works, not tinplate
works.
The Grovesend Steel & Tinplate Works purchased the Raven Works in 1913. (pp. 47). The Raven Works figures in none of the tinplate production statistics in the book, again pointing to the fact it produced only steel sheet. [Peter Thomas 19 Feb 2002]. |
|
Raven Tin Plate Works - Glanamman. Extract from "
Chronology of Tinplate Works of Great Britain"
- Proprietors :- The Grovesend Steel Tinplate Company Ltd.
Plant :- 5 sheet mills and a Galvanising Plant. Weekly capacity 350 tons.
- Feb 1881 Concern started by Messrs. H Rees, D Morris and others as the Glanamman Tin Plate Co. The works having been erected by a Mr David Richards (who, in partnership with Mr James Jones, purchased the Dynevor Tinplate Works in August 1881)
- They ceased trading in August 1895 at which time the plant comprised four mills.
- Oct 1895 Raven Tin Plate Company Ltd registered with £20,000 Capital and converted into a galvanised sheet works.1913 Share capital purchased by Messrs. The Grovesend Steel & Tinplate Co Ltd.
- June 1939 Raven Tinplate Co Ltd ceased trading as a separate company and the assets were transferred to The Grovesend Steel & Tinplate Co Ltd.
- 1941 Premises requisitioned by Ministry of Supply for storage purposes.
- May 1948 Buildings and freehold site offered for sale. the machinery and plant having been removed previously. [Pat 19 Feb 2002]
|
|
The
Genuki sites for this general area are on Betws , Llandybie and Llandeilo Fawr |
|
Newspapers in the Tawe and Amman Valley Contributed by Anna Brueton |
|
This is an extract from the Llanelly section of
Pigot's Directory of South Wales, 1844.
- Conveyance by Railway; The Llanelly Railway & Dock Company's
Trains leave the New Dock, for Cwm Ammon [sic] and Cross Inn, every morning at half-past six and nine, and afternoon at half-past twelve and three.
Parcels and merchandise are forwarded from Cross Inn Station by Nathaniel Rees'
Waggons, to Llandilo, Llangadock, Llandovery, and all places adjacent
|
|
Extracts from A History of Carmarthenshire Lloyd, Sir John E., (Ed.). 2 vols., Cardiff, London Carmarthenshire Society (1935, 1939)
The Later Middle Ages;
Iscennen---The Commote
- "Near the castle of Carregcennen were the demesne lands of the maerdref of its former arglwydd.........the commote west and south of the demesne and forest lands was divided into maenors. Maenors Vouwen and Gryngar, bordering on Kidwelly commote, corresponded roughly to the ancient ecclesiastical parishes of Llanarthney and Llanddarog; Maenors Llys and Methennich to Llanfihangel Aberbythych and Llandybie; and, 'between Amman River and the lordship of Gower, bounded by
Cathau brook and
Lle'r Castell' was
Maenor Bettws or Stryveland."
- "............the gwestfa paying areas were peopled by descendents of the Welsh freemen. They also paid dofraeth; this was regarded as an imposition ' against the liberty of the men of Iscennen'..............there was also the tribute of the equivalent of forty cows paid triennially..............and the freemen 'beyond Amman' (that is of
Maenor Bettws) paid a separate 'rent of assize'............."
|
|
Article in the Carmarthenshire Historian, 1978 ) (offline Oct 2015)
Sin-eating in the Amman Valley By HUW WALTERS, B.LIB. "....No doubt the proclamation of the Gospel and the elevated faith which its great truths bring in its train, broke the fascination, the charm and power of many of these superstitions, but they lingered even until the last forty or fifty years - indeed the superstition of the sin-eater is said to linger even now in the secluded vale of Cwmaman in Carmarthenshire . ." (Paxton Hood,
Christmas Evans, the Preacher of Wild Wales, London, 1881.)
|
Many of these photographs detailed below are from original postcards, many are undated and suggestions for dating them would be gratefully received.
I make no representations whatsoever regarding the copyright position of any site material, especially
photographs. In any event the latter are
not available for copying
by any method whatsoever without my prior agreement.
There are some photographs where I have been
unable to determine
current
copyright ownership to seek permission to use the material on the site and I would welcome contact from anyone who can clarify this for me
If you click on the map/diagram on the opening site page this takes you to a map of the general area on the Multimap site. In addition, once the required map is visible, clicking on the link Aerial Photos link in the left hand Navigation Box will bring up an aerial photograph of the area.
For a map of a village as it was in the mid C19 go to Landmark , I recommend using the County Gazetteer option
These two maps are on this site;
Ebenezer Rees's first attempt in 1884 to set up a newspaper based in Cwm Tawe was shortlived. He tried again in 1898, starting the newspaper entitled Llais Llafur, which had a strong following in the area. However many people felt that there was a need for a local paper in the Amman Valley.
In 1909, Gwilym Vaughan, who lived in Brynaman and ran a printing business in Ammanford, started the Amman Valley Times. This was not a great succes and folded after a few months.
GV was not deterred. In 1913 he founded the weekly Amman Valley Chronicle, under the editorship of Thomas Davies (Awstin), an experienced journalist. This time the newspaper was a popular success, and GV was able to promote his favourite causes, the local rugby team and male voice choir, and also the Liberal Party (he was elected as Carmarthenshire county councillor during his period of control). The English language predominated, though there was a fair amount of Welsh language material also.
Unfortunately he was less successful as a businessman, and when a catastrophic fire destroyed the printing works in 1915, he was forced to sell out. The paper continued under new management until 1959, when it was absorbed into the South Wales Guardian Group.
A set of copies on microfilm can be found in Carmarthen Library.
(partly based on an article in the Journal of the Amman Valley History Society by Huw Walters)
[Anna Brueton April 2001]
[Blue Books]
The Report of the Commission of Enquiry into State Education in Wales, 1847
"In the most Southern Iskennen Hundred lies the parish of
Betws. This parish contains a few agricultural labourers. The cottages are chiefly those of colliers. The farms are small and farmers are obliged to work on their own lands. Wages are 9 shillings a week with food and accommodation of the labourers own finding, or 8 pennies a day with food. Colliers earn about 18 shillings a week. The people are industrious and more sober than their neighbours in Llandybie parish. There is a fair school room in the village but the place is too poor and thinly populated
to support a master. There is a prospect of very extensive works being carried out there."
Betws Dame School;
"This school is held by an old woman in the end of the school room newly erected in the village. Not one of the scholars present could read a single word in the new testament accurately, indeed from what I heard from herself, I doubt whether the school mistress could read a chapter with any degree of accuracy."
NB, the new testament would have been in English and in 1847 Welsh would likely have been the only language understood by the children.
[This extract from '
Betws Mas o'r Byd ]
These extracts for local villages/parishes from various
trade directories are to be found on the pages of
Genuki. All those from Kelly's are taken from Cds published
by Archive CD Books
- Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - covers
Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, Rhydyfro, Tairgwaith,Ynysmudw and Llangiwg parish in general
- Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - Extracts relating to
Brynamman, Cwmllynfell and Quarter Bach
- Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - Extracts for
Betws parish
- Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - section for
Cwmamman
- Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - section for
Ystalyfera
- Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 -
Pontardawe section
- Kelly's Directory South Wales 1923 - Private Residents and Commercial for
Ammanford
-
- Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910 Covers
Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, and
Rhydyfro and
Llanguicke parish in general with the exception of Pontardawe and Ystalyfera which have their own sections on the CD
- Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910
Brynamman, Cwmllynfell and Quarter Bach
- Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910
Ammanford (town and parish)
- Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910
Betws, Garnant & Glanamman
- Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910 -
Ystalyfera
See also Farms for census and other details of various farms mentioned
The wills of these people are featured below;
Contributed by Margaret Jones.
Daniel Jones of
Cwmnanthopkin Isha died in 1841 and his will specifies in part:
"I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary Jones my two cows and a horse I also
give and bequeath unto my said wife the use of all my household furniture
during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my widow
and after her decease or intermarriage which shall first happen I give and
bequeath the same unto my daughters Hannah Hopkins and Mary Bevan equally to
be divided between them amongst them share and share alike I also give and
bequeath unto Margaret Jones the illegitimate daughter of my son Daniel
Jones the sum of Twenty pounds to be paid her on her attaining the age of
twenty one years but without any interest in the mean while And as to all
the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever
and wheresoever and of what nature quality or kindsoever the same may be I
give and bequeath the same unto my said daughters Hannah Hopkins and Mary
Bevan their executors and administrators and assigns equally to be divided
between and amongst them share and share alike And lastly I do hereby
nominate constitute and appoint my son in law William Hopkin of
Goitre Garth
in the parish of Languicke and William Bevan of
Twll y Gwithil in the parish
of Langavelach joint executors of this my last will and Testament. In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty eighth day
of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one. "
Witnesses were Evan Jones and John Rees and the estate was declared at under 20 pounds
Contributed by Margaret Jones.
From the will of
Llewellyn Bevan written in 1827:
"I do ordain and apoint my Dear wife ann to posess and enjoy all that
tenement of land commonly called and known by the name of
Nantygaseg isa
During her life time wit the lese of
twllygwyddyl and after her life the
benefit or profit of the afore said lese to my son William Bevan, and I do
order him to pay six pounds yearly and evry year to my son Hopkin Bevan, &
to Rachel Evan the sum of four pounds yearly and the hay of a spot caled
truan and the little field that join her Hous down til the river, and one
pounds yearly to Mallt the wife of John Hopkin, and two pounds yearly to
Elizabeth wife of Evan Johnes.
farther I Do order my son Evan to possess and enjoy that tenement of land
caled nantygaseg ise forever after his mother time, and the said Evan to pay
the undermensioned terms of money to the several persons hereafter named to
John Bevan gelywren ise forty pounds, to the Congregation of Christiance
meeting at Tynnycod twenty pounds, to John Philip twenty pounds, twenty
pounds to the widdow of
Coedy falde, and ten pounds for John Cook and Eighty
pounds for my son Hopkin, and twenty pounds to my Dater Rachel and the hay
of wain fach dan gercwan Every year During her life and to my three Daters
of my first wife nine pounds to be equally Devided between them Farther that
half the stok and crop of
twllygwiddul to my wife."
Contributed by Caryl Jones whose ancestor John Harris owned Cwmbach subsequently
The will of the Rev Noah Jones - proved January 1776
THE FIRST DAY OF JULY AND IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE
I SO HEREBY GIVE AND LEAVE UNTO MY NEPHEW AND HEIR APPARENT JOHN JONES OF
THE PARISH OF BETTWS IN THE COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN YEOMAN ALL THAT TENEMENT
BUILDINGS AND LANDS COMMONLY CALLED TIR Y CWMBACH IN CAGURWEN HAMLET IN THE
PARISH OF LLANGUIKE IN THE COUNTY OF GLAMORGAN WHICH IS COPYHOLD OF TO (SIC)
LIVES UNTO MY SAID NEPHEW JOHN JONES HIS HEIRS AND ASIGNS FOREVER ACCORDING
TO THE CUSTOM OF THE MANOR OF CAEGURWEN IN WHICH THE SAID PREMISES ARE
SITUATED.
Contributed by Rina Callingham (April 2006), copied with permission from the National Library of Wales
Manor of Kaegurwen in the County of Glamorgan
At the Court Baron of Capel Hanbury Leigh Esquire Lord of the said Manor Let in and for the said Manor at the Dwelling house of Evan Bevan on Thursday the seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five before Alexander Cuthbertson Gentleman Deputy Steward of the said Manor.
Abraham Thomas of Bailyglas Isha in the parish of Languicke in the County of Glamorgan Yeoman came this day into open Court and in a kith oath and saith that John Thomas late of Cwmnanthyr in the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid Yeoman now deceased did on the first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four duly sign seal and publish and declare the paper writing hereunto annexed as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of the said Deponent
and
Moses Thomas and
Owen Jones Yeomen both of the parish of Languicke aforesaid in the County aforesaid and that the said Deponent and
Moses Thomas and
Owen Jones did severally subscribe their names to the said paper writing as witnesses to the due execution thereof in the presence of the said Testator and of each other and the said Deponent further saith that the name "John Thomas" set and subscribed near to the seal affixed thereto as the party executing the same is of the proper hand writing of the said John Thomas the said Testator and that the several names "
Moses Thomas, "
Owen Jones," and "
Abraham Thomas" also set and subscribed as witnesses attesting the due execution thereof are of the several and respective hand writing of the said
Moses Thomas and
Owen Jones and of this Deponent and that the said Testator John Thomas at the time of executing the said last Will and Testament was of sound and perfect mind and memory and understanding
Sworn in open court this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five - before me
Alex Cuthbertson
Deputy Steward
The Will
In the name of God Amen I John Thomas of Cwmnanthir in the Parish of Languick and County of Glamorgan Yeoman being sick in Body but of perfect mind and memory make and Ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following
First I give and devise and bequeath unto my Dearly beloved wife all that Messuage and Tenement of Lands called Cwmnanthir in her possession to assign over unto John Hopkin of Gould in the Parish of Cadoxton juxta neath already sold by me John Thomas and if John Hopkin will not completely finish as before mentioned to any other person I authorise her set over and sell and assign the Provision to some other Person
All the rest of my effects I give unto her and I appoint her the sole executrix of this my last will and Testament revoking all Others in witness whereof I put my hand and seal in the presence of us this 1st Day of March 1824.
John
J Thomas
Witnesses
Moses Thomas
Owen Jones
Abraham Thomas
This will was produced before me the 26th day of August 1824 by the written named Testatrix - Mary Thomas and the personal estate of the Testator was sworn to be under the value of fifty pounds.
David Prothero. Surrogate
Notes
Transcribed as seen - with the original punctuation (or lack of it) and highlighting of parts of the documents.
Copy of will obtained from National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Note of interest:
Capel Hanbury Leigh, the Lord of the Manor of Kaegurwen, was the great grandson of the John Hanbury who introduced the rolling method of producing tinplate at Pontypool. Capel inherited the Manor of Kaegurwen through his marriage to Lady Molly Ann Mackworth - the young widow of Sir Robert Mackworth of Gnoll Castle. Molly Ann was herself the daughter of John Nathaniel Miers of the Ynyspenllwch tinplate works near Clydach.
The Court Baron was the means by which the administrative business of the Manor was organised and conducted for the benefit of the Lord of the Manor and his tenants. It was overseen by the Steward.
Also see Saron (Rhydyfro) Operatic Society
See also Picture Gallery (Pontardawe 6)
I have extracted these details from an undated newspaper cutting.
(Colin Richards tells me that he thinks it was in 1938 or 1939 - his uncle, Ross Richards, a well known singer in the Swansea valley, and a former member of the Carl Rosa Opera Company, took the main part of the Mikado, and Colin's father, Oswald Richards, who also had a fine voice, is listed in the article as a member of the men's chorus.)
Pontardawe Operatic Society
Presentation of the Mikado
Successful First Venture
It is not often that a newly formed operatic society undertakes for its first presentation, a work of such quality as Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado', but members of the Pontardawe Society were ambitious enough to feel that they could do ample justice to this comic opera, which for many years has appealed to all lovers of music.
And their ambitions were realised to the full; for the Society gave a presentation of 'The Mikado' that would have been hard to beat in any of the larger provincial towns of the country.
.......................the president of the Society is Mr Charles G Gilbertson JP........joint hon. secretaries were Mr E P Hopkin of Smithfield, Pontardawe, and Mr Idris Jones of Brecon Rd, Pontardawe.............Mr E Thissen was producer....... Mr Trevor Davies of Clydach was musical director......... Mr Percy Chapman was the accompanist.
The cast list was;
- Mr Ross Richards (Ystalyfera) - Mikado of Japan
- Mr Rees Davies (Rhydyfro) - Nanki-Poo
- Mr Ernest Davies (Clydach) - Ko-Ko
- Mr Arthur Gwyn Davies - Pooh-Bah
- Miss Hetty Rees (Clydach) - Yum-Yum
- Miss Gertie Francis - Pitti-Sing
- Miss M G Jones - Peep-Bo
- Mr Stanford Thomas - Pish-Tush
- Madame Sally Davies (formerly Brynamman) - Katisha
- Master David Price - page boy
- Plus chorus of ladies and gentlemen
In the article all the principals are praised for fine performances but to give an example I will quote fully the section that relates to my uncle Rees Davies (Rhys Tirbach) from Rhydyfro (originally Cwmgors).
"Nanki-Poo, the Mikado's son, first seen as a wandering minstrel, sang his way into the hearts of all. Mr Rees Davies is a singer of rare quality, and although the demands made on him were many, he rose to the occasion each time. Especially good was he in the recitative, 'And have I journeyed for a month' sung with Pooh-Bah, and the duet 'Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted' sung with Yum-Yum..."
The choruses also came in for fine praise and they are listed here.
Ladies chorus;
- Mrs Trevor Davies, Mrs Danny Davies, Mrs Iestyn Davies, Mrs John Morgan, Mrs W J Loyd
- Mrs Tal James, Mrs A G Rees, Mrs M Davies, Mrs J J Harries, Mrs W Beresford
- The Misses Annie Jenkins, V Giddings, B Lewis, G Joseph, E Williams, Mary Jones, P Phillips, Annie Williams, N Davies, J Davies, and R Lewis
Men's chorus;
- Ogwin Williams, Glyn Price, Rees Morgan, Davie james, Eynon Davies, Evan davies, W Extance, Tom james, Oswald Richards, Wm H Davies, Syd Davies, D W Thomas, Lew Jenkins, W Beresford and Richard Cooper.
The orchestra was complimented on its splendid playing, the members names are not extracted here although listed in the article, they were also members of the Swansea Festival Orchestra.
The article concludes;
"The performances were of the first order, and one trusts that this will not be the last appearance of a society that promises to do much to to improve the culture of Pontardawe and district.
Saron (Rhydyfro) Operatic Society
Extract from an undated newspaper article (but see above).
Esther the Beautiful Queen
A Capital performance
In undertaking the presentation (at the Public Hall, Pontardawe) of the sacred cantata 'Esther the Beautiful Queen' (by William B Bradbury) the
Saron, Rhydyfro, Operatic Society revealed ambitious desires, for the work is one that demands good individual singing and acting and a blending of the union choruses.
That it was portrayed in so able and convincing a manner is a tribute to the society; and their performance, without any exaggeration, can be labelled first class.
Two of the characters were outstanding.........Miss Hettie Rees of Clydach fulfilled the role of Esther ...... in almost 'the manner born'........Mr W H Davies of Ynismeudw portrayed Haman......created the most favourable impression................... with Mr A Gwyn Davies of Trebanos ......doing exceedingly well in the role of King Ahaseurus, a meticulous portrayal.......the same can be said for Mr Rees Davies of Rhydyfro who enacted Mordecai the Jew, the possessor of a more than useful tenor voice he
can look back with pride on his share of the entertainment........Madame Annie Smith, also of Rhydyfro portrayed Zeresh wife of Haman and her rich contralto was one of the features of the evening..
Other cast members to be complimented were Madam J Phillips of Rhydyfro, Mr Edwin Clement of Rhydyfro, Mr Sid Jenkins of Rhydyfro, Miss Winnie Jones of Rhydyfro, Miss Esther Ann Rees of Rhydyfro, Mr Ezer James of Rhydyfro, and Mr S James.
The chorus and orchestra were also complimented on fine performances.
The latter comprised David Price, S Sammals, W Kersey, David Davies, T Jones, A Palmer, C Francis and J Carpenter.
The Chairman, the Rev Idwal Jones, pastor of Saron, to which cause the proceeds were to be donated, thanked the audience in the interval. The chairman of the committee was Mr David Davies of Llyscoed, treasurer Mr Evan Williams of Baily Glas, and secretary Mr Edwin Clement of Glannant. ...
(From 'Through the Decades' ISBN 0 9524554 04 )
The extract is abbreviated to the original data supplied by the family;
The history of Osbourne House in Garnant ................
Owner Mrs Margaret Evans was known as Mrs Evans Siop y Lamb or even Mrs Evans Siop Fach.
Her story began more than half a century earlier. In 1891, the mother of five children, she lost her husband after an accident in the tinworks. At that period, there was no compensation in such cases. The young mother brought up her family alone.
Margaret tackled the task with great energy and enterprise. When the railway line and viaduct were being constructed behind her house, she rose very early to bake individual small loaves, which she sold, with butter, cheese and cans of tea, to the navvies for their breakfasts.
A billiard room was built alongside. Siop y Lamb became noted for such things as quality confectionery, lovely Belgian dolls - and other toys - at Christmas.
Although she prospered commercially, Margaret Evans was not finished with tragedy. In 1895, one of her daughters died suddenly, a few days after her eleventh birthday. Another daughter died in 1913 at the age of 30, leaving an eight-year old son to be fostered. Her only son was killed in a car crash at the age of 34.
Margaret Evans survived until November, 1945, keeping an active interest in the business until the end. The shop remained open until January 1966, when it closed after the sudden death of Mrs Evans' daughter, Mrs Maggie Hanson.
No trace of the business now remains. The building was sold as a dwelling house. The billiard room has been pulled down to make room for a garage. Mrs Evans' descendants are scattered throughout Wales, England, Scotland and even New Zealand.
And yet the memory of the enterprise is not dead. There are several people who still treasure tea-sets and other articles of china from Siop Mrs Evans.
See photographs in Garnant section of Picture Gallery
There seems to be very little written about the coal mine named after the adjoining Lamb pub in Garnant.
The book
History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley by Ifor Davies mentions it in a short list of 'small mines in the area .... not having a long life......or employing many men...'.
It isn't listed by Joseph T. Robson, H.M.Inspector for the South Wales District in his Report for 1896.
Quite obviously, Osbourne House was there before the mine. It's hard to think that anyone would build a house knowing it would end up surrounded so closely on 3 sides by mining buildings, railway, dust and noise; indeed, the third photograph below shows clearly how the fabric of Osbourne House's outbuildings had suffered.
The mine itself was on the Lamb side of the main road, a drift mine, under Betws Mountain. The overhead tramway allowed coal to be taken to the screening machines and then on to the trucks on the railway tracks below.
Additional comment from John Miles (12/04)
From what I know about the
anthracite coalfield collieries, they were relatively small (the east Glamorgan mines often employed over 1000 men and this is typical for other parts of the UK), were fairly cheap to set up because they were
slants on the outcrop and seem to have gone broke or changed ownership fairly frequently so this mine is typical
Further information;
Bobby Hunt from Garnant, who is now over 80 years, old remembers playing billiards in Mrs Chart's family
billiard hall shown in the photo; he says it contained two billiard tables.
He also remembers
Gwaith y Lamb working and says that it was on three levels.
One level was at the level of the railway line shown with the large trucks , another was at the same level as the shop (i.e.road level) and one overhead level which is shown in another picture.
The winding house is the large brick building shown behind the car in another picture. This winder pulled drams up from two drift mines, which constituted Gwaith y Lamb, as far as the winder itself. Men had then to manually push the drams across the road on two levels to the screening shed and also had to manually tip the coal from the drams when they arrived at the screening plant. The screened coal would then be tipped into the trucks waiting on the lower level.
The track and sidings on which these trucks operated ran to the main GWR line which was situated about 100 yards away from and behind the winding house.
Not far away there was another colliery called the
Doctor's Colliery which was situated near Doctor's Road and the piece of land which was between the winding house and some cottages further along the road was used as allotments by the people who lived in the neighbouring cottages.
Further down the road some inhabitants of
Bryncethin Road used to be able to dig best quality Peacock Vein coal from outcrops in their own gardens.
A list of members shown in the South Wales Voice, Dec 15 1928
Contributed by Anna Brueton
On page 6 - 7 is an article on Trade at Ystalyfera
Members of the Ystalyfera Chamber of Trade (Page 8)
- Morgan's Drapery Stores, Gurnos Road
- Mr. Luther Lloyd, Ironmongery & Boot & Shoe Store
- Mr. Edgar D. Morgan, Gurnos Post Office
- Mr. Tudor W. Rees, Grocer & Milliner
- Tudor's Garage
- Messrs. John Williams & Sons, Perth-y-Gwenyn
- Mr. W.I. Perkins, Oculist & Chemist
- Messrs D. Lloyd & Sons, Ironmongers & Boot Dealers
- Midland Bank, Ystalyfera
- Mr. H.J. Powell, J.P., General Outfitter
- Messrs W.P. Thomas, Ltd, Chemists
- Mr. E.W. James, Welsh & Colonial Stores, Godre'r Graig
- Mr. J.H. Jones, London House, Wern
- Mr. T.D. Phillips, The Boot Store, Commercial Street.
- Mr. J.R. Daniels, Gent's Outfitters, Commercial St.
- Mr. Joseph Davies, Grocer, &c, Manchester House
- Mr. D.E. Rees Men's Wear Specialist, Commercial Street
- Mr. T.L. Clatworthy, Jeweller, Commercial Street
- Mr. Griff. Jones. Provision Merchant, Panteg
- T. C. Arnold & Son, Ironmongers & Xmas Present Depot
- Hunt's Stores, Grocers etc.
There are photographs of all the above shops except the last 2, with an explanatory note: "We greatly regret that through an unfortunate accident, we have been unable to include the photo blocks of the premises of Messrs T.C. Arnold and Son, and Messrs Hunt's Stores - Ed. S.W.V. " ; and advertisements for all except Mr Luther Lloyd (which may appear elsewhere in the paper).
For a more general coverage of the subject (with Swansea/Neath area coverage) see also Cholera in Wales by G Penrhyn Jones,
National Library of Wales journal Vol X/3 Summer 1958.
From
History of Pontardawe & District
by John Henry Davies, 1967
It has been taught that cholera was caused by
Vibrio cholera (Koch, 1886) and there was no reason to suppose that it was air borne.
At
Ystalyfera, beyond all doubt, the culture ground of the
Vibrio cholerae was the human body, and the discharges from it were the source of contagion. They infected the ground, the water or the immediate surroundings of the patient, the poison finding the entrance into the bodies of the healthy by means of food and drink, which became contaminated in various ways, e.g. by flies. Contaminated water was the most important, particularly in places without a public water supply. The dangerous species of
cholerae was found " in excreta, contaminated water, soil, or sewage "
Dr. James Rogers, Ystalyfera, in 1866, described Ystalyfera;
" As a village on an abrupt hill side without any drainage, with very few privies, nearly all being on cesspools, many of them on higher ground than the neighbouring houses, were loathsome nuisances, percolating their contents into the soil below them; and in the instance where the first case of cholera occurred, the pavement of the back premises was ' squashy ' from this cause."
" That water supply was very scanty in quantity and very uncertain in quality, being little better than surface water, percolating through the shale tips and the drainage of the coal seams and colliery workings; so scarce was the water in the Iron Works that it was a common practice with the men to drink largely of the canal water, which was conveyed in pipes through various departments for the purposes of the Works. This water received the surface drainage of nearly all the houses in the village. In
one house - an inn, the landlady fell a victim to the disease, and it will not appear surprising when I state the fact that in the yard at the back of the house, less than thirty feet square, were two pigsties, two privies on cesspools, fowl houses and a well; the said yard being wholly undrained, and it could have been effectively done for a less sum than five pounds - the poor woman had been warned of the dangerous condition of her premises - she had ample means, being a wealthy woman of her class, and one
of the most cleanly women in her house I had ever met with. An open gutter running from this same yard into a field adjoining alongside the hedge, in front of a row of houses gave off a noisome stench. In these houses, several cases of the disease occurred." (
A Sketch of the Cholera Epidemic at Ystalyfera in the Autumn of 1866 by J Rogers, 1867)
The graveyards, some of them crammed with the dead, in one case, that of Pant-teg, standing on higher ground and surrounded by houses, the others unfit for the purpose of burial, became marked centres of virulence during the course of the epidemic. It was said that many bodies were conveyed to Llangiwg Church cemetery to be buried as cholera victims after being refused in other cemeteries. The poor who died in the Pontardawe workhouse were also buried there.
To-day, great improvements in water-supply and sanitation have nearly abolished waterborne diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, enteric fever and the like.
In 1849, cholera swept scores of important persons at Brynamman, and the first who fell a victim to the disease was William Herbert, Cwmnantmoel.
In the same period, cholera took many at Ystalyfera and people hastened to the chapels for refuge.'
In 1866, cholera took the lives of hundreds in the villages. People, terrified by the suddenness with which cholera claimed lives, attended chapels and scores of men and women became members of Pant-teg Independent chapel. At Craigcefnparc in the choleric epidemic of 1866, eighteen cases occurred, of which only one died.
The article THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF A GLAMORGAN PARISH (Llangiwg); By Hugh Thomas,
National Library of Wales journal Winter, 1975, Vol XIX/2 has the following references of particular local interest;
Population/occupations
"The progess of coalmining inevitably had its consequences for the
parish. Population increased significantly from the 829 of 1801 to the 2,813 of 1841, largely as a result of immigration into the parish for by the latter year 946, nearly one-third of the parish's inhabitants, had been born outside the county of Glamorgan. There was a marked change in the
occupational pattern of the parish --- between 1801 and 1831 the numbers of families dependent upon occupations other than agriculture had risen from 41 to 126.
This change is illustrated by the
baptismal register of the three
Independent chapels of Pantteg, Carmel and Alltwen. The last named is in the neighbouring parish of Cilybebyll, but it is possible to identify those parents who were inhabitants of Llangiwg. Between 1826 and 1837 the minister of these three chapels, Rev. Philip Griffiths, recorded the occupations of 190 fathers whose 325 children he baptised. The
largest group among them were the
colliers who totalled 96, although 21 of these were first recorded as labourers. It would appear that these latter either started their working lives or came to the district to work as labourers but during these eleven years changed their occupations to coalmining.
The following are the parental occupations represented in the baptismal registers: Colliers-96*; Labourers - 48*; Farmers -- 43; Carpenters -- 5; Tailors -- 4; Weavers, Publicans, Cordwinders -- 3 each; Engineers, Hauliers - 2 each; Shopkeepers, Masons-- 1 each. (*Contain the 21 men who transferred from labouring to coalmining.)
While it cannot be claimed that this occupational breakdown is comprehensive it does indicate the changes taking place and agrees closely with the pattern which emerges from the enumerators' census return for 1841. By this year the total population of the parish had grown to 2,813 of whom 946 had been born outside the county. Worthy of note also is the fact that the most
significant growth had taken place in those parts of the parish which had witnessed the most mumerous coalmining undertakings,
Alltygrug and
Caegurwen. In the case of the former the 197 inhabitants of 1801 had grown to 1,078 in 1841, while the latter's 224 had increased to 843 during the same period."
A closer examination of the changes which occurred within the parish of Llangiwg illustrates very clearly the nature of the impact of industrial growth upon population change. Of the four hamlets of the parish, Blaenegel was only marginally affected by industrial development, Parcel Mawr was subjected to the industrial undertakings of William Parsons and then William Gilbertson, in
Caegurwen there was considerable expansion in coalmining and less substantial development in ironworking; but far and away the most conspicuous industrial growth was that associated with the Ystalyfera ironworks in the hamlet of Alltygrug. These variations are clearly reflected in the population changes which occurred within the parish during the first seventy years of the nineteenth century. During this period the population of Blaenegel did not quite double itself, that of Parcel Mawr increased almost
six-fold; in Caegurwen the number of inhabitants increased by seven times; in Alltygrug, however, the increase was far greater for its population grew over twenty-fold. The following table shows the differences in growth rates within the parish
Population of the parish of Llangiwg, by hamlets
|
|
Blaenegel |
Parcel Mawr |
Caegurwen |
Alltygrug |
Llangiwg |
|
1801 |
111 |
297 |
224 |
197 |
829 |
|
1841 |
182 |
710 |
843 |
1,078 |
2,813 |
|
1851 |
200 |
897 |
1,316 |
1,816 |
4,229 |
|
1861 |
204 |
1,339 |
1,461 |
4,919 |
7,983 |
|
1871 |
202 |
1,706 |
1,586 |
4,818 |
8,312 |
Housing
"In 1801 the number of inhabited houses in the parish was no more than 161, of which some 120 were farmhouses. The remainder consisted of the few places of business which existed at the time, most of them inns or public houses, the houses and places of work of local craftsmen, weavers, blacksmiths and miners, and there were the cottages of labourers. The parish was thinly populated, its inhabitants living for the most part in isolated farmhouses and cottages. Only where a few dwellings were clustered
around a min or inn were there any concentrations of population and these were very few. By 1871 there had been a radical change in the settlement pattern of the parish. The number of dwellings had increased more than ten-fold and their distribution had altered significantly. The expansion in house building obviously reflected the progress of industrialization in the different parts of the parish. The progress made in the different parts of the parish is shown in the following table: "
Houses in the parish - by hamlets
|
Hamlet |
1801 |
1841 |
1851 |
1861 |
1871 |
1874 |
|
Allt-y-grug |
41 |
204 |
350 |
933 |
949 |
963 |
|
Blaenegel |
30 |
36 |
35 |
35 |
34 |
41 |
|
Caegurwen |
50 |
165 |
256 |
289 |
318 |
320 |
|
Parcel Mawr |
40 |
136 |
176 |
273 |
336 |
352 |
"A small number of the dwellings which had made their appearance in the parish by the middle decades of the century were substantial houses built by the works' proprietors and, in the case of the larger of them, their managers, the few professional men and affluent businessmen. There were, of course, the older farmhouses and the places of business with living accommodation attached. Only at Ystalyfera in the hamlet of Alltygrug were there tenements in substantial numbers. The vast majority of the
dwellings were recorded as cottages, small and with sleeping accommodation frequently in the roof or attic. The following table shows the different categories of dwellings recorded in the parish in
1863: "
|
|
Farm- houses |
Public-houses,etc |
Houses & shops |
Houses |
Cottages |
Tenements |
|
Alltygrug |
25 |
19 |
44 |
30 |
712 |
130 |
|
Blaenegel |
17 |
- |
- |
1 |
22 |
- |
|
Caegurwen |
36 |
8 |
2 |
8 |
244 |
- |
|
Parcel Mawr |
34 |
16 |
10 |
16 |
205 |
1 |
"With the exception of the farms, these were concentrated for the most part in
close proximity to the ironworks and collieries. By this time the parish had assumed in large measure the settlement pattern which prevailed into the present century. The former small centres of population had expanded and joined together to form the villages of the parish.
The largest of these, the village of Ystalyfera, was the product of a number of such centres --- at Craig Arw and Craig-y-merched overlooking the ironworks, at Pantyffynnon and Ystalyfera Uchaf on the southwestern and north-western extremities respectively of the ironworks and these were joined together by the settlement at Gwern Fawr on the lower slopes of the Allt-y-grug Mountain.
The village of Pontardawe was the product of the merger of the settlements at Ynysgelynen, the Cross, Maes lago, Tir-y-bont and Craig Llangiwg, all linked together by smaller collections of dwellings.
In much the same way, Cwmllynfell was founded on the settlements at Tir Owen Gwyn, Llwyncelyn, Hendreforgan and Cwmllynfell; Brynaman on the settlements at Gwter Fawr, Clynboidy and Brynaman itself; and Gwauncaegurwen on those at Mairdy, Pwll-y-wrach, Cwmddrisien and Mount Pleasant.
Villages
The following table will give an indication of how the emerging villages of the parish increased i
n terms of dwelling places during the third quarter of the nineteenth century: