Abergavenny Chronicle
A weekly newspaper circulating in the Abergavenny area, Usk, Crickhowell and Llantilio Pertholey. Founded in 1871, the newspaper's main content was local news.
These are a few representative articles.
May 5 1899
Sale of the freehold of Little Kethlea (otherwise Quarella) Farm,currrently in the occupation of Messrs. J. and T. Jones, constituting 37a-3r-11p of meadow, pasture and orchard land, with commodious farmhouse, barn, cowhouse, piggery and other outbuildings.
June 1902
CORONATION DAY: Owing to the serious news respecting the King the Coronation festivities were somewhat altered in this parish. Much sympathy was manifested towards the royal sufferer throughout the day. Nevertheless, the children were thoroughly entertained, and made happy by the large number of parishioners and friends who were present. A substantial tea was given in the schoolroom, commencing with the children at three o'clock. Mr. J.B. Walford and Mrs. Walford joined the parishioners at the tables at four o'clock, and afterwards distrbuted, on behalf of Mrs. Curre and Mrs. Gordon Canning, to each child, a box of chocolates, with the pictures on the lid of the King and Queen, and also a large box of delicious sweets. These ladies also contributed handsomely to the funds. Hearty cheers were given to the donors and to Mr. and Mrs. Walford. The schoolroom was made very attractive by Mrs. Griffiths, the Schoolhouse. The tables were superintended by Mrs. Griffiths, Schoolhouse; Miss [Hannah? Sarah?] Jones, late of [Lower] Kellea; Miss [Caroline] Jones, The Tump; and Miss Davies, and the help given by these ladies added much to the success of the undertaking. A field for the sports was kindly provided by Mrs. [Eleanor] Jones, [Lower] Kathlea, and they were carried through under the direction of Mr. Jestyn Griffiths [teacher at James Davies school], Mr. A[lbert] Husbands, Mr. Albert Davies [Upper Kathlea], and Mr. Thomas Henry Davies, Old Court. After the sports the Rev. G[eorge] B[eynon] Jones and Mrs. [Jane Frances] Jones, the Rectory, presented, at their own cost, a beautiful medal to each of the schoolchildren. Mr. W[arren?] Davies presented the annual prizes of books, which ranged in value from 1s. to 2s.6d. Afterwards, coronation mugs, oranges, &c., were distributed, and, after singing the National Anthem, the company dispersed.[Note: the coronation of Edward VII was originally scheduled for 26 June, but Edward had to undergo an emergency appendectomy operation, so the coronation was postponed until 9 August.]
April 1910
A TROUBLESOME CUSTOMER.
Edward Williams, farmer, Llangattock Lingoed, was brought up in custody, on remand, charged with unlawfully and wilfully doing damage to a certain property –
Prisoner Yes, my own.
Mr. Walford (Magistrates' Clerk), continuing: To the amount of 5s., on the 20th of April inst.
Prisoner Well, it's my own property, sir. They keep on aggravating me.
Mr. Walford On the 20th of April the damage you did amounted to 35s., in respect of smashed windows.
Prisoner It's my own.
Mr. Walford then read over a list of damages up to the amount of £1 0s. 3d.
Prisoner again repeated that it was his own property, with the exception of one item, and that was damage to a trap.
Harriet Farr, housekeeper to prisoner, was then charged with aiding and abetting him in his work of destruction.
Defendants pleaded not guilty. Prisoner said he would rather the case went to Assizes; It would, he thought, be more convenient for the magistrates and better for him, as it would give him time to get his witnesses together and prepare his defence.
Mr. Walford said that the Magistrates present had the right to deal with certain of the charges against prisoner, and they would proceed to do so.
Gilbert Baylis, farmer, Pentre Farm, Llangattock Lingoed (formerly and for many years occupied by prisoner and his family), said that the farm was let to him by the High.Sheriff of Monmouthshire, and that he went into possession on the 17th of February last. On Wednesday, the 20th inst., about mid-day, the prisoner came to Pentre Farm, accompanied by a man named Davies, who had a horse and gambo, and tried to take away a pig trough and a large iron boiler. The defendant Harriet Farr was with them. Mr. Powell, landlord of the Skyrrid Mountain Inn, who was there with Herbert Munkley, a butcher, on business, helped witness to resist them in taking away the things. Prisoner had an iron bar in his hand, and said he would run witness through with it. but Mr. Powell got it from Williams, who struggled with witness and both fell to the ground. Williams had been using the bar to strip the zinc roofing off a building, and had thrown the zinc on to the gambo, but the man Davies refused to have it there and threw it off. Williams told Harriet Farr to take it home, and she carried it away. Prisoner also broke down a partition and took the boards away. On Saturday, the 23rd inst., witness arrived home at about 2p.m., and found some of his windows smashed -- nine panes of glass altogether. He also found the front board of his trap smashed all to pieces. The fowl-house door had been taken away. Some of his daughter's painted flower pots were broken, and a quantity of rhubarb in the garden had been cut level with the ground. It was worth about 3s. The total damage that time was £1 0s. 3d. On Monday, the 25th inst., witness got home from Abergavenny about 2p.m., and found more windows broken.
The agreement under which the High Sheriff of Monmouthshire had let the Pentre Farm, on the 17th February, to the witness, was handed in.
Henrietta Baylis, daughter of the last witness, said that on Saturday, the 23rd inst., about noon, she was washing the yard down when she saw Edward Williams approaching, carrying a shovel, and followed by Miss Farr. He entered the yard and dashed the shovel against the back kitchen window, smashing two of the lower panes of glass. He shouted at witness: “Get out of my way, or I will serve you the same as I will the house." With that, he smashed a third pane in the same window. Harriet Farr called out to him: “Loosen up, Hairy, whilst you are about it." (Laughter). (Prisoner has a great shock of hair on his head, and very bushy beard and whiskers). Then Harriet went round to the other side of the house and Williams followed and smashed the front kitchen window with the shovel. Witness went down the road, and prisoner also went on to the road, and then went back on to the lawn and threw several stones at the bedroom window and broke three panes of' glass. He also took the flower-pots from the sill and smashed them. He then.went down the garden to the rhubarb and shovelled it level with the soil. Then he went to the dairy window, but witness did not see what he did there, as she went down the road to the village for assistance. When she got back prisoner was in the cart-house, and she heard the sound of smashing and breaking of wood, but did not see what was happening. Prisoner was using dreadful language all the time he was on the premises. Miss Farr followed him about, but witness did not see her do anything, but heard her telling him to keep on. Witness saw prisoner take away the door of the fowl-house.
Prisoner was asked if he had any questions to ask witness. He said he had, and. addressing Miss Baylis, demanded, in a quizzical manner: "You have very poor calves, haven't you?” The lady blushed and laughed, and so did the crowded Court. He was told that that was an improper question. Prisoner thereupon said: “And very poor horses?” (Laughter). He was again told that his questions had nothing to do with the case.
Prisoner was then asked what he had to say to the charge of wilful damage. He replied that he had done no damage beyond smashing a couple of panes of glass. (Laughter).
Harriet Farr, in reply to a question from the Bench, said she went with Williams as she thought she might get a bit of rhubarb. (Laughter).
P.C. Mussel said that at 11a.m. on Saturday last he served prisoner with a summons for the damage done on the previous Wednesday, and prisoner said: “So long as it has come to what it has. I will burn the place down to-night. I don't care if I don't get a copper from it now."
Charles Powell, landlord of the Skyrrid Inn, said that en the 2 5th inst. he was at the Pentre Farm, at about noon, on business. Witness then gave his version of the arrival of prisoner, and Davies and the gambo, which corroborated that of the first witness, and, in addition, he said he heard the men say that they had come to fetch the furniture. Baylis was not willing to let them pass through the gate, but Davies said, “I've come for the things, and am going to have them." Davies then pushed the gate open and took the horse and gambo in. When. Williams stripped the zinc rooffing off the shed witness told him he was doing wrong but he gave it to Harriet Farr and told her to take it home, and she took it, as Davies wouldn't have it on the gambo. Herbert Munkley, butcher, Llanvihangel Crucorney, said he was with the last witness on the occasion named, and corroborated the evidence of the other witnesses as to what had transpired.
Prisoner asked for an adjournment to give him time to get witnesses. This was not acceded to.
The Chairman: Edward Williams, you will be convicted in both of these cases, and the sentence is that you will go down to Usk for two months.
Prisoner: With hard labour?
The Chairman: No, without hard labour.
Prisoner: Ah! I've been there twice. (Laughter).
The Chairman: You have been warned more than once by this Bench, and if you don't try and do better in future you will be likely to spend a good deal of your time at Usk.
Prisoner was then removed, and his faithful housekeeper, Harriet Farr, picked up her basket and made ready to follow. She appeared to be either very deaf, or dazed, and it was quite apparent that she did not quite realise what was the result of the trial, and seemed to think it her duty to go with her master. However, she was ultimately made to understand that she was bound over in £5 for 12 months to be of good behaviour to all His Majesty's subjects, and particularly the Baylis family at Pentre Farm. She was also told that in aiding and abetting Williams she was considered to be nearly as much to blame as he was.
November 13 1914
DEATH. THOMAS At the Carpenters' Arms, Llangattock Lingoed, on Saturday, the 6th of November, David Thomas, aged 60 years. It is with regret we record the death of Mr. David Thomas, of the Carpenters' Arms, Llangattock Lingoed. The deceased lived a life of strict integrity and blameless character, and was highly respected bv all who knew him. He had always been connected with agricultural pursuits, and was very skilful in all its branches. In this respect he will be much missed in the neighbourhood. Much sympathy is felt for his widow, son-in-law, and grandson. The funeral took place on Wednesday, the 11th inst., at the Parish Church. A short service was held at the house by the Rev. John Davies, Pandy, of whose church the deceased had been a member for many years. The service at the church was conducted by the Rev. Gomer Davies, B.A., rector of Grosmont. The bearers were Mr. James Jones (Shop), Mr. T. H. Kingscote, Mr. T. H. Davies (Killea), Mr. T. H. Davies (Penrose), Mr. Walter Johnson and Mr. Warren Davies. Wreaths were sent by the following:-- From his loving Wife, Son-in- law, and Grandson Mrs. Griffiths, Llanvihangel; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Blaenavon; Mrs. Pritchard, Henllan, Cwmyoy; Mr. and Mrs. H. Thomas, Llanviliangel; Mr. and Mrs W. Thomas, Walterstone; Mrs. Williams and Mr. and Mrs. H. Taylor, Llanellen; Mr. and Mrs. J. Powell, Brynygwenin; Mr. and Mrs. D. Powell, Llandewi Rhytherch; Mr. and Mrs. Pembridge, Tygwent; Mr. and Mrs. W. Bevan, Forest; Albert and Maggie, Brynygwenin; Miss E. Price, Abergavenny; Mr. and Mrs. Price, Trewalod; Rev. G. B. and Mrs. Jones; Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Shop; From Old Court and Penrose Mr. W. J. Gwillim and Mr. Roger Gwillim; Mr. Walter Johnson; Mr. and Mrs. T. Jones, The Hall, Llanddewi Rhytherch; all at Post Office, Llangattock Lingoed; Mrs. Davies, Hendre; Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Commin; Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Hendy; Mr. and Mrs. Kingscote; Mrs. Davies and family, Crossways; Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones, Son, and D. Barrell, Hentlan; Mrs. Teague, Llanddewi Skirrid; Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Jones, Church Cottage; Mrs. E. Hughes, Crossway; Mr. and Mrs. Werret and family; Miss H. Parr, Mrs. Luxton and Daughter, School House; Mrs. Waldron, Abergavenny.
December 15 1916
Warren Davies, farmer, Old Court, Llangattock Lingoed, was summoned for riding a bicycle without a red rear light, on the 5th December. P.C. Birch proved the case. Defendant said he had been detained in town and he had to obtain some fresh oil for his lamp. The oil did not seem to suit the lamp, and the light was jolted out by the roughness of the road. He intended getting some fresh oil at the next house. The case was dismissed with a caution.
March 15 1918
On account of its remote situation, Llangattock Lingoed may be thought of by outsiders as a parish where nothing happens The parishioners do not think so, however, nor as [sic] they indifferent to the claims of country and Empire in these critical times. The young people are particularly gifted in organising socials. A social on Boxing Night produced £3 for Red Cross work; another on New Year's Eve,£1 towards church expenses. A concert on January 25th, organised by Mr. Warren P. Davies and Mr. A. A. Jones (Tump), yielded over £5 towards church expenses. . . . . On February 8th another social was held, with the object of raising money for soldiers' comforts, when £4 were realised. On all such occasions what refreshments the lean times allow were supervised by Miss E. L. Lewis, while Mr. E K. Probert, Mr. G. F. Baylis, and Mr. W. Davies performed the arduous duties of masters of the ceremonies.
October 18 1918
Mr. Montague Harris also offered the Hendre Farm, Llangattock Lingoed, 155 acres, in the occupation of the owner, Mr. Wm. Davies, estimated annual value £125; tithe £19 4s. 8d. -- Sold to Mr. F. G. Bayliss, Llangattock Lingoed, for £1,500.
March 3 1919
Graig Police Court. THE MUZZLING ORDER.The following persons were dealt with for not obeying the Muzzling Order:- James Jones, farmer, Llangattock Lingoed, on April 28. Fined £1. Leonard Davies, farmer, Crossways Farm, Llangattock Lingoed, on April 28; fined £1.