KELLY'S DIRECTORY OF MONMOUTHSHIRE, 1901
KELLY'S DIRECTORY OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 1901

Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire,1901
The proprietors trust that the present Edition of Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire may be found at least equal in accuracy to the previous ones. Every place in Monmouthshire, and every parish will again be found to be included in the book. The Letters M.O.O. and S.B. are abbreviations adopted by H.M. Post Office to represent Money Order Office and Savings Bank.
GROSMONT
GROSMONT is a parish and village, on the river Monnow, which bounds the parish on the northeast, and separates it from the county of Hereford, and stands on the north-eastern confines of the county, near the main road from Abergavenny to Hereford, and a short distance from the northern base of the Graig Mountain; it is 3 miles south-east from Pontrilas station, on the Newport and Hereford section of the Great Western railway, 11 north-east from Abergavenny, 14 miles from Monmouth by road and 14 south from Hereford, in the northern division of tile county, hundred and petty sessional division of Skenfrith, union of Dore, county court district of Hereford, rural deanery of Abergavenny, archdeaconry of Monmouth and diocese of Llandaff. Parliamentary powers have been obtained for an extension of the Golden Valley railway from Pontrilas to Monmouth, which will pass through this parish.

The church of St. Nicholas is a cruciform stone structure, in the Transitional and Early English styles, consisting of chancel, spacious nave, aisles, transepts with aisle, side chapel, north porch and a central octagonal tower with spire, containing 6 bells; it was partly built during the 13th century by Eleanor of Provence, Queen of Henry III, under the direction of a French architect, and partakes largely of the style of that country and period.

The chancel, as an example of the Early English style, has scarcely a parallel in any of the rural parishes ; there is a Norman font; the church was restored during the period 1870-75, at a cost of �1,988 ; in 1886 the nave was thoroughly restored at the sole cost of Lord Llangattock D.L., J.P., and a handsome screen of oak and glass erected by the same donor, presenting to view a perfect vista of the whole of the interior; only the transepts and chancel are used for divine service; in the church is a mutilated effigy of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, who was born at the Castle of Grosmont; the figure is of heroic size, clad in armour and bearing a kite-shaped shield; there, are 200 sittings. The register dates from the year 1589.

The living is a rectory, net yearly value �182, with residence, in the gift of and held since 1884 by the Rev. Charles Wesley. Here are places of worship for Catholics, Primitive Methodist, and The Plymouth Brethren.

This place was formerly incorporated and governed by a mayor, and had a market; the old Market Hall, erected in 1832, being now disused for its original purpose, is used for public meetings and for a Sunday school. There are endowments and charities for school and other purposes.

Some remains of in ancient entrenchment may be seen at Campston. The castle of Grosmont, which stands on a knoll above the river Monnow, is also said to have been called " Rosslyn," a corruption of the Celtic name " Rosllwyn,", i.e., "rose-bush"; an interesting tradition speaks of the fortress as the " Castle of the Red Rose," and suggests that the Lancastrian party assumed this badge, or symbol, not only from the name of the castle, but from the profusion of red roses growing spontaneously in every brake on this beautiful spot; the remains include two round towers and an exquisite chimney in the north wall, dating from about 1300. The fortress, long in a neglected state, was restored in 1894 at the sole expense of the 8th Duke of Beaufort K.G. A very handsome gate of wood, with ornamental ironwork, has been fixed at the entrance. The ruins are now under the control of Mr. W. H. S. Whitney, as Hon. Warden, from whom the keys can always be obtained gratuitously.

In early times Grosmont was much subjected to sudden surprises and incursions from the Welsh. Henry III and his queen are said to have occasionally resided at their castle at Grosmont, which afterwards became a favourite residence of the Earls and Dukes of Lancaster, and still, with the surrounding neighbourhood, forms a part of the Duchy.

Dan-y-Graig, the charming residence of Godfrey Radcliffe esq, in this parish, has some fine old oak carvings, and a beautiful cabinet once belonging to the Lady Jane Grey.

Part-y-Seal is the residence of Mrs. Laura Adelaide Donegan.

The Duke of Beaufort is lord of the manor. The principal land owners are the trustees of T. W. W. Trumper esq., Mrs. Williams, James Graham esq. of Hilston Park, St. Maughan's, William Arthur Sparrow esq. of Albrighton, Salop, Edward Kendal Edmonds Mardon esq., Edwin Morse esq. and Godfrey Radcliffe esq.

The soil is red clay and loam; subsoil, marl. The chief crops are wheat and oats, barley and some land in pasture. The area is 6,761 acres of land and 38 of water; rateable value, �4,968 ; the population in 1891 was 560.

Parish Clerk, George Sayce.

Post, M. & T.O.O., T.M.O., Express Delivery, Parcel Post, S. B. & Annuity & Insurance Office. - Joseph James Cole, sub-postmaster. Letters from Hereford arrive at 9.30 a.m.; dispatched at 5.30 p.m

Police officer, John Powell.

This parish is included in the United School Board District of Skenfrith, formed 9 May, 1874.
Board School, erected in 1877, for 120 children ; average attendance, 64; Joseph Abbot, master.
Board School, New Inn, erected in 1877, for 60 children; average attendance, 50; Miss Lizzie Alice Owens, mistress.

(Marked thus * should have letters addressed Pandy, Abergavenny.)

PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Bennett Miss, Woodbine
Bennett William, The Lodge
Bevan Edwin, Trevyr
Bevan (Mrs.) Woodview
Bevan Thomas (Mrs.), Castle house
David Morgan, Grosmont Wood farm
Donegan Laura Adelaide (Mrs.), Part-y-Seal
Evans Robert Hudson, Well house
Ferneyhough John, The Lawns
Freeman Wm. Chas., Springfield villa
Gazzard (Mrs.), Alma house
Leighton Gerald Rowley, M.B. & C.M., Belgrave
McAllister Edwin, Castle house
Mardon Edward Kendal Edmonds J.P., The Graig
Morgan Miss, Bank house
Morse Jane Coombs (Mrs.), The Cottage
Radcliffe Alister Joseph Francis, Dany-Graig
Radcliffe Captain Francis Joseph, Dan-y-c.raig
Radcliffe Captain Godfrey, (late 5th West York Regiment), Dan-y-graig
Trimble George, Athelstone house
Wesley Rev. Charles, Rectory
Whitney Hudson Evans
Whitney William Henry Smith
Williams Ann (Mrs.)

COMMERCIAL
Arnold David, boot & shoe maker & news agent, The Cross
Bartlett John, farmer, New house, Grosmont road
Bevan Edwin, collector of quit rents to Duchy of Lancaster, Trevyr
Brookes James, farmer, Great Birches
Bryan John & Son, blacksmiths
Coburn James, boot maker
Coburn (Mrs.), dress maker
Cole Alfred Geo., farmer, Kingsfield
Cole Joseph James, grocer, linen draper, & post office
Cross Ash Conservative Association (Iltyd Gardner, registered agent)
Davies Alfred Chas., Cupid's Hill inn
Daws Annie (Mrs.), nurse, Grosmont wood
Dyer Ada (Miss), dress maker Castle house
Dyke Thomas, grocer & baker
Evans Robt. Hudson, farmer, The Well
Evans William, farmer, Upper Duffryn
Eynon Edwin, Little Marlborough
Farr Thomas, farmer, Lower Tresemmy
Ferneyhough John, farmer, The Lawns
Gale Brothers, farmers, White house
Gazzard Mary (Mrs.), farmer, Alma house
Gladwin Henry Reginald, butcher & school attendance officer
Gwatkin Barnard, farmer, Beech hill
Holmes Methusalem, common lodging house, The Hand
Jackson Elizh. (Mrs.), boot & shoe maker
James Anthony, farmer, Steps farm
*James Allan Wm., farmer, The Farm
James Sarah (Mrs.), beer retailer
Jarman Daniel, farmer, Town farm
Johns John, farrrier, Upper Graig
*Jones Jas., farmer, Little Werngounsell
Jones John, stone mason
Jones William, farmer, Little Beech hill
Leighton Gerald Rowley, M.B. & C.M. (Edin), L.R.C.P.&S. (Edin), L.F.P. & S.(Glas), physician & surgeon & medical officer & public vaccinator, Skenfrith district, Monmouth union, Belgrave
*Lewis John, farmer, Lower Goytre
Llewellyn John, farmer, Greig lodge
Lloyd Temperance (Mrs.), farmer, Garehouse
Meredith Joseph, farmer, Barn farm
Meredith Thos. farmer, New hill, Graig
Morgan John, farmer, Great Marlborough
Morgan Thomas, farmer, Great Tresemmy
Morgan William, miller (water), & farmer, Grosmont Mill farm
Moses Arthur, farmer, Lower Duffryn
Parry John, farmer, Yew Tree cottage
Powell Cadge, farmer, Graig-Vach
Powell John, farmer, Point farm
Powell Oliver, farmer, New house, Grosmont wood
Powell Reuben, farmer, Little Birches
*Powell William, farmer, Upper Goytra
Price Isaac, farmer, Hill farm
Price Job, farmer, Pen-y-Pye
Price John, farmer, Little Hoald Albert
Price Thos., farmer, Lower Cefn Lytha
Price William, farmer, The Cross
Prosser William, Cherry Tree P.H.
Pugh John, farmer, Cross farm
Richards Frederick, carpenter & Wheelwright, Rose cottage
Sayce Chas., farmer, Grosmont wood
Sayce Chas. jun., farmer, Old Campstone
Sayce George, wheelwright
Sayce John, farmer, Pool
Skenfrith & Grosmont Habitation of the Primrose League (Garnet E. Bevan, hon. sec.), Well house
Smith Felix William, farmer, Great Campstone (postal address, Llangattock Lingoed, Abergavenny)
*Tranter James, farmer, Werngounsell
Tranter Thomas, farmer, Bower
Trumper Isabel (Mrs.), Angel hotel; tourists & visitors accommodated
Vaughan Thos. jun., farmer, Roan Oak
Watkins Jas., farmer. Upper Cefn Lytha
Watkins John, Duke of York P.H
Whitney William Henry Smith, journalist, assistant overseer & collector of income tax & clerk to parish council
Williams John, farmer, Hoald Albert
Williams John, farmer, Greig farm
Williams John, farmer, Merdy