The following was sent to me by a lovely lady called Gwyneth Stratton who’s Jones family came to Goytre in the late 1800’s. Although they moved around the parish they finally settled at 1 Park View. Gwyneth’s nephew Gerald Jones married my cousin Judith Lewis (Bonnie) at Saron Chapel.

WILLIAM AND ANNIE JONES

William and Annie were married at the Ebenzer Baptist Chapel in Griffithstown, Pontypool on 6.9.1895.

Their first home was at Coalbrook Cottage (Farm Cottage, Coalbrook, Goytre) (No photographs found). They then moved in 1901, after the birth of their son Henry, to Parc Bach, Canal Lane, Goytre. This was after it was vacated by Annie’s sister Hannah and husband Louis.

This was a very small cottage consisting of a tiny living room, even tinier kitchen. Upstairs had a main bedroom and an adjoining landing which was used as a bedroom for the girls. The boys slept in the loft over the outside bakehouse. Water was fetched from a spring some 100yds from house.

The front porch was added at a later date. Originally the entrance was at the rear of the cottage.

Goytrey School. 1912

Built in 1870 funded by Col Byrdd at a cost of £600. There was one classroom with separate entrances and play areas for boys and girls. A cottage was provided for the head teacher alongside the school building. Over the years some 15 members of our family attended this school. A new building was erected in the 1950’s and the old school is now a private house.

Ellen and Gertrude are on this photograph. Gertrude is 4^th from left on 1^st standing row, Nell-6^th from left on 2^nd row.

Free schooling only became compulsory after an Act of Parliament in 1870.

William, with son Arthur, on the milk round in Pontypool. Note the name on the cart: GlanUsk Dairy. When Grandad died in 1912 Annie had to sell this equipment as her sole source of income.

The front of 1 Park View. This was taken shortly after the new road was built. Speak to any of the cousins and they will all remember the steep steps up to the front door- which was hardly ever used.

In 1911 the Jones family moved to 1 Park View, a recently built pair of cottages belonging to the Thomas family. Here there was room at the back for a double stable to accommodate William’s horse and milk cart. Just across the road was the Carpenters Arms which caused much friction between Annie and William. For some time William had been a heavy drinker which no doubt contributed to him developing ‘Dropsy’ (now known as Oedema, a heart condition causing swelling of the body) and which subsequently led to his death at the age of 40 on 27th June 1912, leaving Annie with seven children one of whom was a mere baby.

IN MOURNING JUNE 1912.

Back: Henry and Ellen.  Front: Minnie, Arthur, Annie, Gertrude and Lillian.  Seated at Annie’s knee: William Jnr.

Life for Annie and her children was traumatic at this time. There was no Widow’s pensions and the thought of ‘being on the Parish’ was not even considered. A request for some financial help was made but when Annie was told by the Inspector that she should send her daughters out to service and put the younger ones into care she picked up her broom and sent the poor man about his business. She took on the job of cleaner for the village school which involved much scrubbing of stone floors-daughter Ellen helped and she showed her children in later years the scars on her knees where she had helped out.

To earn an extra 1/- (10p) Annie would go to houses where someone had died to lay them our ready for burial. Her one proviso was that if it was a nighttime call she insisted that someone fetched and returned her after her work was done. All her life Annie had been frightened of the dark.

Lillian and Minnie went into Service while Ellen took on the job of collecting the mail from Jackson’s shop in the village and taking it by bicycle to catch the 4.30 train.

In October 1913 or 17? Annie went on her own to Bristol. This is borne out on a postcard provided by Pam, Ellen’s daughter. It is rumoured that she went to give birth to a child that was adopted. This has yet to be confirmed. We can only assume that the children had been left to be cared for by older siblings and possibly their Aunts Minnie and Hannah who lived locally.

The 1914-18 War had little effect on the family-the boys were all too young for being called up for active service. The sad toll on human life was not as great as in the cities, although the Memorial plaques in the church record a number of losses. The biggest long term effect effect was in the social hierarchy and the fact that the upheavals caused by the war were the catalyst for a major breakdown in the old order of life. This was not so apparent in rural communities where life followed a day to day regular pattern.

LILLIAN.

I cannot locate any date for Lillian’s birth although believe it be about May or June 1896.

She, like so many young women left home aged about 14/15 years of age and went into service where she was trained as a cook.

ELLEN.

At some point in 1917 Ellen left home and returned to her Mother’s birthplace, Brislington, Bristol where she obtained work in a dairy called Grange owned by the Morris family and lodged at 12, Sandown Road. There is a record of other members of the Cousin’s family living a 1, Manworthy Road, Brislington. (These could be traced on the National Census records-1911.)

GERTRUDE

In 1917, at the age of twelve Annie’s daughter, Gertrude, was sent some distance away (I can find no trace of just where but according to Gertrude it was to a wealthier member of the family who lived in a large farmhouse and where a number of servants were employed. She was employed to help with the dairy work. Having been told to ‘babysit’ the baby daughter of the family one evening when everyone else, including the staff, went to a Harvest Supper, Gertrude was told to close all the outside wooden shutters on the windows. Gertrude did as she was told despite being absolutely terrified of being in the house and outside in the dark. Early next morning she packed her belonging and set off to walk home arriving at 1 Park View in the late afternoon. The exhausted child was tired, hungry and frightened and fortunately her mother listened to her sad tale. Realising that Gertrude had been unfairly treated a message was sent to notify her employers as to her whereabouts. Her mother told her that she had to return and finish her year but once that was completed she could come home and another place would be found for her. Annie accompanied Gertrude back to the farm and had some very stiff words with the housekeeper and Gertrude was never asked to do anything like this during her remaining time there.

There is no record of what occupations Henry and Arthur followed and we have no dates as to when they left home. Arthur, it is believed, spent time with a Guards Regiment in London but I can find no trace of this as yet. This left William Jr. aged 17 at home.

Lillian and Thomas Morris

Married: ?   Children: Margaret Ann (Peggy)b. d.

Minnie and William Griffiths.  Children:  Joan b. ?,  Mary b. ?

Henry m Doris ?     No Children

Arthur. m Violet?  Children: Lawrence (Adopted).

Ellen and Arthur Cottle, m. 14.8.1926.
Children:  Jean b. ?   Pamela b. ?

William and Elsie (Shutt) m. 1933.
Children:  Cedric Anthony b. Mar 1934 d. 9.1.2015, Gerald b 1939.

Gertrude and Stanley (Bob) Hayes 28.5.1925.
Children:  Stanley William b. 20.4.1926,  Edna Gertrude b.1928 d.Sep 1929, Gwyneth Marjorie b. 12.1.1934

No pictures available of Joan and Mary Griffiths

Grandchildren-1939

Back: Stanley Hayes, Jean Cottle. Front: Gwyneth Hayes, Cedric Jones, Pamela Cottle. (In Edgar’s Field).

Margaret (Peggy Morris) with Edgar Thomas.

EDGAR THOMAS B 1878: As children we accepted the idea that Edgar was Nanny’s lodger. He was a bit of a rough diamond but looked on all of us as his own relatives.We all can recall going with him to feed his pig’s in ‘Edgar’s’ field and riding in the old cart he kept for many years. He could neither read not write apart from signing his name and I don’t think any of us truly appreciated his worth. Little was known about his background. Searches turned up a few surprises:

1920’s. On the yard outside 1 Park View.

1851 Census shows: James Thomas, Master Blacksmith. Born 1805 married to Sarah born 1810. They had 7 children one of whom was Edgar’s father Alfred. Born 1846.

1881 Census shows Alfred. General labourer married to Emma, Turnpike Toll Collector, at Llanellen. They had 4 children among whom was Edgar, born 1878 (and Edith-more of her in a moment).

1901 Census shows Edgar as a blacksmith at Penpellryw 2. (wonder if this was a spelling mistake?) Monmouthshire.

1911 Census shows: Edgar Thomas, aged 34. Single. Blacksmith living at Lynwood Cottage. Goytrey. Nr Pontypool.

From now on it will be pure supposition-until the next census for 1921 is released.

1 and 2 Park View were built in about 1905 and were the property of Edgar’s father, Alfred, who lived in a cottage in Newtown, Goytrey. Edgar’s sister Edith who married George Sexton in 1902 moved into No 2 Park View. William and Annie Jones moved to No. 1 Park View in 1911. After Grandfather William’s death in 1912 Annie had to make provision for her children and it is very likely that Edgar moved in as her lodger. Again this will be checked out in 1921. In actual fact roles were reversed and Nanny became the lodger and housekeeper to Edgar?? Had Edgar had his way he and Nanny would have married-he did ask her three times but was turned down.

The census of 1921 says the Jones family are at No.2 Park View, but I shall enter them here.

Annie Jones is a 47 year old widow from Brislington, living with her are Gertrude 16, doing general domestic work, Arthur 13, a labourer in market gardens at Nantyderry, William 8, Harry 20, an out of work cattleman on farm for Pritchards, all born in Goytre and Edgar Thomas 43 from Lanvair Kilgeddin a blacksmith.

Photo: A very special and dear lady, ANNIE JONES. On her 80^th Birthday in 1952, Seated in the yard at No 1 Park View.

Nanny’s children:  Harry, Gertrude, Arthur, Nell, Billy, Minnie, Lillian.

This is probably the last photograph taken when they were all together.

Family Funeral for Nanny 1956.

Service at Saron Chapel.

Back: Arthur, Edgar, Gerald, Billy, Elsie, Harold. Front:  Gertrude, Minnie, Ellen.

None of us ever had occasion to tell Nanny Jones how much she meant to all her family, it is only now, after many years having walked down memory lane do we realise what a large part she played in our lives. What a legacy she left us, such treasured memories of a time, long past, when the world was a more innocent place.

R.I.P

Edgar’s Field

To anyone else this was just a field housing a pig sty, hen house and occasionally young heifers but to all of us children it was a delightful playground where Kingcups and Watercress flourished in the marshy lower part, and the upper field was filled with all the old fashioned meadow flowers. It was here we picnicked en famille. Collecting eggs from the hen house was a favourite pastime-being careful not to get pecked by an irate chicken.

The pigs were smelly but we still loved going with Edgar to feed the porkers.

The view from the railway bridge in Goytre.

It was magical to stand there and watch the steam trains coming along the line to Pontypool. As the train went under the bridge we would be wrapped in a pungent sulphuric cloud. The drivers would sound their whistles in answer to our waving-very ‘The Railway children’. Stanley and I did this in 2006-a very nostalgic moment although modern trains do not have the same glamour.

Saron Chapel

Where William and Annie were buried as was William (Billy) Hannah and Louis and two of their children are interred here.

Gerald and Bonny were married here.

Goytre Canal Bridge.

Until the canal was opened up for barges the water was crystal clear and we could see all the plant and wildlife therein. We spent many happy hours fishing for minnows, watching the water boatmen beetles scuttling across the water, watching the shimmering dragon flies dancing over the water plants and, on rare occasions, seeing the flash of blue and green as a Kingfisher flew between the banks. A child’s paradise and a precious memory.

Picture taken in 2006 when Stanley and I had a very nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Arrow Cottage, Newtown Road, Goytre – my home from 1949-1955.

A public footpath ran along the side of the drive leading to the fields and then on to the Chapel Ed Lane. Behind Arrow Cottage was a tiny little cottage called ‘Nutshell Cottage’ – this was Cedric’s home when he was little. This picture was taken in 2006 but it didn’t look much different in my day.

Sadly the beautiful flower meadows behind The Nutshell have vanished into urban sprawl!

Goytre Wharf.

When we were young the canal and wharf were no longer in use and the wharf itself fell into disrepair. To us children it was a wild place full of brambles, stinging nettles, crumbling buildings including a ‘mysterious’ derelict cottage-lovely for scary games of hide and seek.

The Canal Company have done a splendid job bringing the place back to life – well worth a visit.

Abergavenny indoor market place.

Behind this stood the Cattle Market where weekly sales were held. Cattle, sheep and pigs were auctioned as farmers from all around the area came to do their deals whilst their wives caught up with shopping and gossip – it was all hustle and bustle. Vegetables, fruit, poultry, clothing-by three o’clock all would fall silent as everyone went home.

Nanny’s favourite lunchtime snack from market café:-Faggot and peas.

1 Park View in 2006.

Stanley and I had the pleasure of being invited in and were so happy to see that the old house has been lovingly and carefully refurbished to a very high standard.

Rose Cottage Nantyderry – 894 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The 1841 tithe says Rose Cottage is 23 perches and owned by the Rev. William Morgan of Pontypool. On the census of the same year John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth both aged 50 are the occupiers.

Ten years later John Edwards says he is 56, a farmer of 20 acres, Elizabeth his wife is also 56 and living with them is their son William 22, they were all born in Goytre.

In 1852 the owner is Ann Morgan, daughter of the Rev William Morgan.

In December 1855 John Edwards horse was stabbed to death by an unknown person, the story is in the Monmouthshire Merlin.

I’m not quite sure who was at Rose Cottage in 1861, but by 1871 William Jones and his family were in residence. William was aged 65, a builder, Mary his wife was 58 and their son William was 26, a plasterer he was born in Llanover. 

By 1874 their son William had married Georgina, and their son William Henry was baptised in February of that year at St Peter’s. On the baptism register it is says he was a shopkeeper in Nantyderry Village.

William the elder died sometime between 1871 and 1881, Mary said she was a widow on the 1881 census, she also said she was an annuitant and was born in Ireland, living with her as a boarder was Henry Neate aged 15.

In 1886 William Jones from Rose Cottage appeared at the meeting for a welsh speaking vicar for St Peter’s Church but he did not appear at the second meeting held on the 14^th March 1887. His mother Mary died in 1887 and was buried at St Peter’s, she was 74 years old.

On the 1901 census William is aged 58, a tiler and plasterer again, Georgina is also 58 and it says she was born in Govilon.

By 1910 William has purchased Rose Cottage, the rateable value for the property is £4 5s. 

On the 1911 census William is aged 68, Georgina is 63, they had been married for 38 years and had one child, at that time Rose Cottage had five rooms.

Georgina died in May 1913 and was buried at St Peter’s, William died in January 1929 aged 86.

The census in 1921 gives George Taylor as the occupier, along with his sister Eliza Ann. George is 63 a plasterer for trustees of Llanover estate, Eliza Ann is 52, both were born in Llanover.

The electoral register of 1933 says Stanley and Edith Williams were in residence at Rose Tree (sic) Cottage.

Dan-y-graig – 55 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Dan-y-graig, like so many properties is no longer in Goytre, it is now in the parish of Llanover. It was also known as Yew Tree Farm.

On May 24^th 1660 Roger Morgan of Mamhilad and his son William purchased Tre-y-g-dee for £30, the property had a holding of 4 acres and 3 rood. Rosser (Roger) Morgan, yeoman and Oliver his son still hold thee house and land in 1666.

There is now a big gap where I can’t find any documents until 1727 when a child Isaac, son of Isaac was baptised in April at St Peter’s, this is followed by twins in 1732, one again called Isaac, although I can’t find a burial I assume the first Isaac died.

Release of the property was mentioned in 1732 to William James of Bristol, brother of Isaac, they were the sons of James James. In May 1744 Isaac James takes the lease.

In 1745 David Morgan was the constable for Dan-y-graig, at some point around this time the lease goes to James James who was overseer of the poor in 1766, the previous year he was surveyor of the highways for his farm.

James James died in 1787. In his will he mentions his wife Elizabeth, son Edward and daughter Elizabeth. (Edward married Rachel Jenkins in August 1792)

In 1790 William James of Wandsworth, yeoman, son and heir of James James Goytre by Elizabeth his wife sold Dan-y-graig to Solomon Jones of Llantilio Pertholey. The same year Solomon leased Dan-y-criag to John Mathews. The overseer of the poor in 1795 says John Mathews is living at the late James James’s land. In 1817 John Mathews married Mary Prosser at St Peter’s.

In 1818 Dan-y-graig was mortgaged by William Jones of Goytre. He was the son and heir of William Jones by Esther his wife, she was the daughter of Thomas Jones of Goytre by Jane his wife. William Jones took a mortgage loan for £100 from Richard Thomas of Brecon, it was named as Tyr-y-Craig, a property of 12 acres.

William Jones took a further charge of £30 on his mortgage in 1822 and again in 1824, he now owes a total of £300 to Richard Thomas of Llangenny Brecon. Another charge was made in 1828 for £60, on this document it says he is a shopkeeper in Abergavenny. William Jones finally sold Dan-y-graig in 1829 for £600.

The 1841 tithe says the owner is Elizabeth Morgan holding 40 acres 1 rood and 32 perches, paying the rector £4 9s. The lease is held by Vaughan Jones, Danygraig was not occupied on the 1841 census, by the 1851 census Vaughan Jones is the occupier.

In 1864 Richard Pruett (the local stonemason, who built amongst other places Machine House at the wharf) purchased Dan-y-graig, taking a mortgage of £450 from David Morgan.

Charles Williams was renting the house and land as tenant in 1871, he was aged 38.  a farmer of 40 acres, Elizabeth his wife is 38, their children are Eva 10, Edward 8, Elizabeth 6, Mary 4, Charles 1 and Sarah 4 months.

That same year, 1871, Richard Pruett sold Dan-y-graig to George Watkins for £755.  The same year George Watkins died. 

On the 1891 census Daniel Watkins and his family are the occupiers, he is a farmer, both he and his wife Elizabeth are 28 years old, they have a one month old daughter called Mabel.

The chief rent of £1 15s was transferred to Lady Llanover in 1895 when Ann Watkins sold Dan-y-graig to Lady Llanover. Josiah Lewis took the tenancy in 1895,.

There is an advert in the Free Press on the 19^th February 1909 for the sale of a cart horse, apply to Dan-y-graig.

Mary and Josiah Lewis of Danygraig. Photo kindly provided by Donna Hamilton.

The census of 1911 gives more details about Josiah Lewis and his family, he is 70

years old and was born in Llanover, Mary his wife is 68, they have been married for 45 years, of their six children born five are still living, their 29 year old son George was working at home on the farm, also mentioned is 22 year old Edith and 14 year old Ivor.

Mary Lewis died in 1912 and was buried at Saron, her obituary says she is the granddaughter of the founder of Saron. Josiah lived for another six years, he died aged 76 and was buried with Mary in March 1918.

40 year old George Lewis is now in occupation of Dan-y-craig on the census of 1921, he is a farmer and was born in Goytre. His wife is Edith who is 31, Edith was born in Risca. With them is Edith’s father 70 year old John Lloyd, he is a retired colliery hewer previously employed in the Ebbw Vale colliery. Their children are Leslie 8 and one year old Keith,  both children were born in Goytre.

On the register of 1939 living at Dan-y-graig is Eric J Spencer and his wife Violet, Eric was born on the 24th July 1906, his occupation is farmer, Violet was born on the 19th May 1913, there is one closed record.

The land tax of 1944 says Herbert is the owner and E S Spencer is the occupier.

Roadmans – 407 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Roadmans was an Earl of Abergavenny property, containing a cottage, 5 acres 1 rood and 37 perches. The fields were Cae Cenol, Can Draw, Can Betty James, Old Orchard, a Cottage garden and a field, Little Meadow, Little Field and Car Clawdd.

A 1774 lease is held by John Jones, for the lives of Thomas Jones 17, Mary Jones 19 and William Edwards aged 3.

The Earl of Abergavenny’s 1821 parish survey says the occupier is still John Jones, he died in 1836 aged 90.

In 1838 John Watkins took the lease from the Earl for the lives of Ann 63 and James 40. The census of 1841 says John Watkins is 55 years old and a farmer, Elizabeth his wife died in 1845 and was buried at St Iltyd’s Mamhilad.

On the 1851 census William Watkins, the son of John, is the head of the family at Roadmans, he is aged 42 and his wife Roseanna is 33, their children are Thomas 7, William 5, Ann 3, and Elizabeth 1 month. They also have a 13 year old servant Emma Morgan.

In 1856 John Watkins died and was buried alongside his wife at St Iltyd’s Church Mamhilad.

William Watkins took a further lease in 1859 at £115 for a cottage and garden with land about 5a for the lives of William 11, George 4, Thomas Thomas 5, the son of Thomas Thomas, Great House Mamhilad, the rent is 4s 6d with a heriot of 5s.

By 1861 William Watkins is a farmer of 15 acres, his son William is 13 and an agricultural labourer, Ann is 13, Elizabeth 10, George 7, Sarah 5 and Matilda is just one month old.

By 1881 William is aged 71 and his wife Roseanna is 63, he is a farmer of 15 acres, he is mentioned again on the tithe update of 1889 as the leaseholder of Roadmans.

There is an advert in the Free Press on the 13th August 1896 for a farm sale at Roadmans on behalf of Mrs R Watkins of live and dead stock, furniture etc.

By 1901 David Morgan,  previously of Church Farm moved into Roadmans, he was aged 52, a farmer and haulier, his wife Martha was 57. The same year he was fined by Pontypool Court for leaving stones on the road, again in 1906 he was fined 5s, this time for allowing a heifer to stray on the highway.

By 1907 his daughter Martha had married Frank Howells and they lived at Roadmans, their children were Ethel, Elias, Henry Grant, and a daughter Gwendoline who died in November1910. The same year the gross rateable value of Roadmans was £6.

The 1911 census says David Morgan is aged 62, a farmer born in Llanbaddock, Martha his wife is 67, living with them is their granddaughter Martha Jenkins aged 17. The other family is Frank Howells 27, a waggoner, born in Hereford, and his wife Martha 28, born in Glascoed.

David Morgan aged 81 of Road Farm died in 1918 and in July 1924 Martha Morgan, wife of David died, she was 81. Two years later a daughter of Frank and Martha Howells called Frances died age 2.

The 1921 gives two families at Road Farm, David Morgan 73, he was born at Ty Mawr Mamhilad, he was a farmer and general haulier – Morgan & Howells, his wife Martha is 78, Martha was born in Griffithstown.

Frank Howells 37 was born in Fawley Hereford, he is working with his father-in-law as a haulier in their business, his wife Martha is 38, born in Griffithstown, daughter Ethel is 15, son Elias is 13, a general farm worker, Henry Grant is 12, all the children were born in Goytre.

Martha Howells, wife of Grant purchased Road Farm from the Earl of Abergavenny in 1927 for the sum of £275.

Martha and Frank Howells and their family remained at Road Farm for the remainder of their lives, and after they both died their son Arthur and his family lived there.

I have very fond memories of the family and spent so many happy hours playing at Road Farm with my dear friend Sandra.

Ty Bach y Bwrgwm – 085 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Now in the parish of Llanover.

Ann Harry, in an undated Earl of Abergavenny lease before 1782, was renting a cottage and quarter of a cover. An indenture in 1872 said she was aged 74, and her new lease was for the lives of Ann 23 and Martha 10, the children of Thomas Millwright.

The occupier in 1841 was John Anthony aged 65 and his wife Mary also 65. They remained there on the 1851 census when John was aged 78 and Mary 77, they were both born in Goytre.

Penperllenni school in 1880 say three children are attending from Ty Bach y Bwrgwm, Annie born June 1868, Maria born August 1872 and William Jenkins born June 1870.

On the 1881 census the children’s father is named as Walter Jenkins aged 42, a gamekeeper, he was born in Goytre, his wife Ann is 44. In addition to the three children mentioned above are Maria 10, Rachel 6, Martha 4, and one year old Mary.

By 1891 Walter Jenkins and his family have moved, the new occupier is Isaac Hatwell aged 66, he too was born in Goytre and is an agricultural labourer, he was still living at Ty Bach y Bwrgwm on the 1901 census, where it states he is now a widower.

The electoral register in 1905 says the owner is the Rev David Davies, Hanover.

Wernog Fach/Powos – 462 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The tithe gives the following information;

House and garden 462
Meadow between the house 463; Little orchard 464; Field by the road 465; Cae twek 466; Cefn yty 467; Wain fach 468; Cae garw 469

Wernog Fach was owned by the Earl of Abergvenny, in 1831 it was occupied by Mary Lewis, by 1841 the occupier was Elizabeth Lewis, her daughter-in-law.

In 1851 Elizabeth Lewis is still there renting 8 acres at a property called Powos.

In 1861 Col. Henry Bird was leasing the property, the occupiers were still Elizabeth Lewis, the wife of John Lewis.

Ten years later Elizabeth is a widow. Living with her are her sons William, a woodcutter aged 41, and Thomas 22, also a woodcutter.

Hollybush Cottage – 745 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

One acre and 27 perches. I know very little about Hollybush Cottage. There is a lease dated 1773 to Walter Williams for the lives of Walter Mathews aged 11, Joan Williams aged 14 and Sarah Williams aged 11.

On the 1891 census William Bevan aged 57, a farm labourer, was living there with his wife Elizabeth aged 61, they were both born in Glascoed. William died in 1896 and his wife Elizabeth then went to live in Mamhilad.

A memo dated 1910 says the owner is the Earl of Abergavenny, the property is holding 3 acres, the gross value is £5 10s and the rateable value is £4 15s

William Weeks is at Hollybush on the 1911 census, he is aged 68, a loco engine driver. Living with him is Elizabeth Ann Weeks aged 39 his daughter.

In 1920 the Earl of Abergavenny sold many of his properties, Hollybush being one of them. William Weeks the present occupier purchased it for £180. At the time of sale the rent was £6, tithe 10d and land tax 3s.

On the 1921 census William Weeks is 79, a retired locomotive engine driver born in Brecknock, living with him is his 49 year old daughter Elizabeth, visiting on the census night is his 46 year old son William who is also a locomotive engine driver, both Elizabeth and William were born in Goytre.

Gwelfan – 609 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Another property for which there is no trace of it ever having existed. It was almost opposite Abergwellan on the opposite side of the road a little lower down towards the Gwelfan brook.

In 1841, the owner was William Hunter Little, the leaseholder of 55 acres, 1 rood and 39 perches was Francis McDonnell, an attorney from Usk.

Francis McDonnell sub let the house in 1841 to Henry Davies who was 55, a woodcutter, Martha his wife was 60, children living with them are, John and William 25, Mary 20, Martha 15, and a two year old child called Jane.

On the 1844 electoral register Francis McDonnell’s name appears for holding the property.

William Hunter Little JP decided to widen the road in 1850, this was appealed against by Thomas Watkins, under tenant to Francis McDonnell.

Thomas Watkins remained at Gwelfan until 1857 when it was then let to Benjamin Jeremiah, a butcher from Llangibby. He said on the 1861 census that he was aged 32, a farmer and butcher, his wife Ann was 29, they have three children, all born in Llanover, Mary Ann 4, Louise 2 and Benjamin 8 months, living with them is a nurse, 15 year old Mary Lewis of Goytre.

On the 1867 Land Tax the rateable value for Gwelfan was £34 10s, and the owner was listed as Mr & Mrs Little.

Benjamin Jeremiah remained at Gwelfan with his wife and children for at least ten years, on the 1871 census he was aged 44, still a farmer and butcher, Ann his wife was 41, their children are, Mary Ann 14, Laura and Ann, both 12, Martha 7 and  Abraham 1.

I have no further information relating to Gwelfan after this date.