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 aged 55 and a woodcutter, Martha his wife was 60 and their children, John and William both 25, Mary 20, Martha 15, and a two year old 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 from this date.

Pyddu – 363 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

In 1790 Rachel Evan held a lease from the Earl of Abergavenny for Pyddu containing, messuage, garden, orchard and 3 acres. She passed the lease to her son, William Morgan Evan the same year. The lease was for the lives of William Morgan Evan, 50, John Morgan Evan, 12 and John Moses 13.

At the time of the Earl of Abergavenny’s parish survey in 1821 Ann Lloyd is renting Pyddu – a house, two plocks, pasture and a cottage.

Between the years 1825 and 1829 the church records say David and Ann Jones are the occupiers with David Jones paying 2s 6d land tax in 1829.

All changed again by 1831 and the new resident was John Watkins.

In 1836 Richard Plaisted had obtained the lease. He had married Ann Lewis, a widow, on the 15^th May 1820.

On the 1841 census Richard says he is aged 60 and a gardener, living with him is his son Henry, 25, also a gardener. The tithe of the same date says Richard is holding 5 acres, 2 roods and 27 perches and paying 15s to the rector. Richard Plaisted died in June 1843 and was buried at St Peter’s. In 1848 Mary, the daughter of Ann also died.

In 1850 the lease is transferred to Mr Thomas Baker of Abergavenny for the lives of William, his son, and Sarah and Sophia aged 17 and 14, his daughters. The same year Thomas Baker voted against the police in Goytre.

On the 1851 census Henry Plaisted is aged 34, still a gardener, he says he was born in Abergavenny, with him is his mother Ann who is now 65 and said she was born in Llantrissant.

In April 1859 Henry Plaisted took Mary Gibbon to court accusing her of assaulting him, she was acquitted. The following year, 1860, Henry took his brother William to court for stealing two bushells of wheat on the 22^nd October. There was no case to answer and William was acquitted. The same year William killed a sheep belonging to Thomas James of Ty Cook for which he was sent to prison.

In 1861 Henry is aged 44, a farmer, living with him is his mother Ann aged 75 and brother William, also William Vaughan, an 18 year old servant from Lanvair.

A sale of the lease of Pyddu took place at the King of Prussia on Wednesday 14^th October 1863 for a cottage, stable, building, yard and garden, three pieces of arable meadow and pasture land, containing together about 5 acres, 1 rood and 17 perches, in the occupation of Mr Henry Plaisted. The lot is held under the lease granted by the Earl of Abergavenny with a reserved rent of 5s per year.

An undated document says the rateable value for the house and land is £5 15s for Pyddu and £6 5s for Caeton ys Cubore, rented land.

Henry’s mother Ann died in 1864 aged 82 and was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.

Henry Plaisted continued to live at Pyddu and is mentioned both on the 1871 census and again in 1881 when he says he is a farmer of 5 acres, and has a 15 year old servant, Ellin Jones who was born in Goytre. Henry died in 1882 aged 69 and was buried at St Peter’s.

The census of 1891 and 1901 appear to show no occupiers.

The Earl of Abergavenny’s property sale in 1920 gave the following details for Pyddu:

Containing 5 acres, 2 rood and 23 perches, let at £25. Tithe 15s, land tax 3s 3d, sold to Henry Morgan the occupier for £910. (Henry is the son of Thomas Morgan.)

On the census of 1921 Henry Morgan is 35, born in Griffithstown, he is a market gardener on his own account, Florence his wife is 34, their children are Ruby 12, Mary 11, Mabel  8, William  6, Charles  2 and baby Eric Ronald who is 4 months, all the children were born in Goytre. Staying with them on the night of the census is Ethel Mount, Henry’s sister and her one year old son Horace David, both born. in Griffithstown.

Henry Morgan died in 1924 aged 38.

Wern Ferig – 842 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

There is an indenture dated 7^thJuly 1609 which says William David, parish of Goytrey, yeoman and Julianna his wife, sell to Jenkin William Howell, parish of Goytrey, yeoman, all right, claim, tenements, messuages and garden called Kair Therwen in parish of Goytrey.

A latin lease in October 1622 says Thomas ap Owen gives a gift of land, Kair Vagor in Goytrey to Andrew Edward Thomas.

In June 1721 Thomas (Rosser) Jenkin and Mary his wife pay Roger Cadogan, parish of Goytrey, gent., £12 for a dwelling house in occupation of Edward Watkins and William John, containing meadow, freeholdland and appurtenances, part of Pellenny common, 5 shillings to be held for the natural life of Thomas and Mary and survivors of them both.

A lease dated 1761 says Thomas Jenkin, Goytrey, yeoman, and his sons, Oliver, William and John take a further lease of 21 years at £9 10s and a further £5 for every acre converted into tillage. They give up the lease in 1783.

In 1783 Theophilus Morgan of Glascoed takes the lease for the sum of £70 for a house, garden, orchard, containing 40 acres called Gwern Virick Ucha and Gwern Virick Isha, he is still holding the lease in 1822.

William Phillips is the owner of Gwern Merrick lands in 1820, late Margaret Jones lands. He is in arrears of £15 to her. The occupier of the house at this time is John Jones, paying £5 a year rent, he remains at Wern Verig until 1823 when Francis Morgan takes occupancy, but shortly after Francis Morgan is removed to the poor house, a few hundred yards down the lane.

In 1826 William Morgan esq., of Pont Kemeys pays a reduced rent of £8 in consequence of the house being let to go into a state of decay.

By the 1841 tithe the owner is Thomas Rosser and the occupier is William Mathews.

The 1851 census says David Evans, 29, a labourer from Denbeighshire is living at Wern Verig with his wife Mary and children Evan, 2 and Catherine 1 month, he remains at Wern Verig for 11 years.

On March 10^th 1863 Louisa Davies of Llanover and James Waite marry in St Woolos, Newport and begin their married life at Wern Verig, James being in the employ of Thomas Evans, the rector of Goytre. Their first child, Mary Laura Elizabeth was baptised in December at St Peter’s. In may 1865 James was summoned for non-payment of £1 12s 4d to Amy Reece (of Walnut Tree, later Black Beech) for bastardy arrears.

James and Louisa’s second child William Owen was baptised in February 1865. In 1867 a further non-payment of a Bastardy order was made against James

James John son of James and Louisa Waite

Waite by Amy Reece.  In June 1867 their third child James John was baptised and in April 1869 their daughter Margaret Elizabeth.

James Waite died aged 35 on the 20^th January 1871 at the home of his brother in St Woolos where he’s buried.

The house is unoccupied on the 1871 census, the children are staying with their grandparents, Owen and Mary Davies at Tyr Ewen.

William and James Waite started at Penperllenny school in 1872.  The same year Louisa was taken to court over her little boy throwing stones at Martha Williams’s turkey (Penwern). In May the same year Louisa threw water over Martha. It was about this time that Louisa removed her children from Penpellenny school to the Rectors school in Nantyderry.

Nantyderry school log book, May 28^th 1873, “John (James) Waite punished for sticking pins in Joseph Hook.” Mrs Price called concerning the conduct of the same John Waite. On the 6^th June headmaster wrote “spoke to the Rector about the bad conduct of the Waites.”

In June 1873 after Louisa had removed her children from the Rectors school and placed them back in Penpellenny school is the start of the “vicar and the well” saga. The rector, the Rev. Thomas Evans, refused Louisa permission to draw water from the well at Black Beech unless she returned her children to his school at Nantyderry. (The full story is in the Free Press of 1873.)

In April 1874 Wern Verig was burnt down by a child playing with a fire brand which lighted some straw and set the thatch alight. (the photo is the new Wern Verig). This year the parishioners raised the sum of £150 to pay for the “vicar and the well court case”  so it could be  heard at Monmouth assizes.

I have not be able to trace Louisa Waite until 1891 when she was living in Oxford Street Abergavenny with James, William and Mary.

Louisa died in 1927.

Tyr Eos y Coed/Nightingale Inn – 231 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Now in the parish of Llanover.

Tyr Eos y Coed

I’m not one hundred percent certain but I think the Nightingale was often called “The Halfway.”

The first reference I can find is in March 1788 when a feoffment (grant of ownership of a freehold property) is made between E B Davies and Edward Williams and Mary Williams, his wife. Edward Williams died in April 1810,  six years later Mary sold the property to William Jenkins.

In 1834 William Jenkins mortgaged the property to Edward James and he then re-mortgaged again in 1840 to John Williams.

In August 1855 Ty Eos y Coed was conveyed to William Harris for the sum of £47 William Harris took his mortgage from  Charles Jordan.

Lewis Edmund wrote in his diary that he was slating the new grocers shop for William Harris and building a new house for him.

William Harris was the assessor of the parish in 1859 and in 1860 Thomas James of  Ty Ivor voted for William Harris to become the surveyor of the parish, but he lost the vote. William Harris tried again later the same year when he voted for himself against Thomas Jenkins, again he lost the vote, by two.

In 1861 William Harris was the census enumerator for the parish, he said he was 46 years old, a grocer and publican, and was born in Llanhenock. Ann, his wife, is 53, and born in Llanover,  their two daughters Martha 17 and Maria 15 are living with them.

Jones the Weaver, Husband of Maria Harris

March 1867 and July 1870 William Harris takes a further charge on his mortgage. He repeats his office as the parish enumerator for the  census of 1871 when he says he is aged 60 giving his occupation as a  blacksmith, Ann his wife is 61 and daughter Martha is 27.

His daughter Maria had by now married Lewis Jones a woollen weaver (and probably employed at Gwenffrwd woollen mill). They were living in Llanover.

In November 1874 William Harris sold the Nightingale to William Walter for £535, the property containing one acre of woodland and a dwelling house, blacksmiths shop, grocers and carpenters shops, all now converted into a public house, outbuildings, shop, two cottages and land now in the occupation of William Harris his under tenant.

“To be let on the 7th March 1878 – The beer house known as the “Nightingale,” situate in the parish of Goytrey, on the main road from Pontypool to Abergavenny., with grocers, wheelwright, and blacksmith’s shops and two cottages and about an acre of garden ground. There is a good supply of water on the premises.”

On the 1881 census, William Jenkins is residing at The Nightingale Inn, he is unmarried and a labourer, living with him is his 84 year old mother Mary, a widow. (She was the widow of John Jenkins, they had previously lived at Penystair)

The Nightingale was up for sale again in 1882 and was sold  to the Rev. Walters, “a freehold public house called The Nightingale Inn.” A garden, paddock, two cottages, blacksmiths shop and premises. The Rev Walters did not keep the premises very long, in December 1882 he sold to Benjamin Jeremiah, who, in 1883 sold to Lady Llanover.

The month following her purchase she gave William Jenkins notice to quit by May, shortly afterwards she installed David Williams from Aberystwyth in the property.

On the 1901 census, Morgan and Catherine Price were the occupants, he was aged 61, a retired station master born in Glamorgan, Catherine was 57 years old.

By 1911 Thomas James, a farmer aged 72 born in Goytre was the occupier with a servant called Gertrude Price aged 21 from Clodock.

Living in  cottage no. 1 was John Evans, aged 32 a gardener from Carmarthen with his wife Margaret aged 32 who was born in Llanover along with their five year old son, Basil.  

In cottage no.2 were Thomas and Margaret Evans, Thomas was aged 24, a painter, and Margaret was 20.

The 1921 census for Nightingale House was Thomas James aged 83, he is a widower and retired farmer. his housekeeper is 48 year old Leora Moss from Huntington, Hereford.

on the 1921 census living in no.1 cottage was Harriet Evans aged 71, a widow from llangynder Carmarthen, visiting on the night was Margaret Griffiths 56 also a widow from Merthyr.

at number 2 on the 1921 census is David Walters 61, born in Llanover, a retired farmer, his wife is 58 year old Lydia Jane from Cardigan.

Ty Nant – 274 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Ty Nant is now in the parish of Llanover.

Lease no. 199 granted on 29^th September 1792 by the Earl of Abergavenny to George Pritchard for the lives of Mary his wife and Thomas or James Lloyd aged 4 years, the rent is 1s 3d and the Herriot is 5s

On the 1841 census George Pritchard is still holding the lease but the occupier of Ty Nant is Joseph Marsh. Joseph is aged 55 and a labourer, his wife Mary is 60, he has three daughters, Martha 35, Margaret 25 and Elizabeth 15 and a son John who is 25.

Joseph Marsh remains at Ty Nant and  in 1852 he says he occupies a cottage and garden at Rhyd-y-meirch, no. 82 on the parish list and the garden is 2 perches.

By 1861 Mary Marsh had died but Joseph, who is now 77, is still working as a labourer. Along with his unmarried daughter Martha who is 55, they have several lodgers living with them, Jane Mathews, 64 who is a pauper, and Capel Morgan 53 and his wife Joan who is 59.

There is a letter dated 7^th October 1869 saying James Lloyd, the last life in Pritchard’s lease has been dead for a year or more since Pritchard has had the cottage.

This may account for a new occupier in 1871, Henry Lewis aged 32 a blacksmith. Henry was born in Hereford, he is married to Margaret who is aged 27 and born in Monmouth, their two children are Elenora 3 and Lizzy 6 months.

On the 4^th March 1873 the Earl of Abergavenny sold Ty Nant to Lady Llanover, he also wrote to her saying there are arrears of rent on the property amounting to £6 18s 9d.

In 1878 David Jones of Pencefyl rebuilt Ty Nant for Lady Llanover at a cost of £71 8s 3d.

Elias Jenkins died at Ty Nant in 1886 and was buried at Llanover church, his wife Sarah appeared in 1887 as a witness for a welsh speaking vicar for the parish of Goytre.

Goytre tithe and income tax for 1888 was paid by Lady Llanover but no tenant was mentioned on the document.

Sarah Jenkins remained at Ty Nant, in 1891 she was 44 years of age and a widow, from Brecon. Her son William is 13 and an agricultural labourer, her other children are David 10 and Elizabeth 5, she has two lodgers, David Williams 20 and Thomas Jones 21, a gardener.

In 1901 Sarah is still at Ty Nant paying the rates, she is letting one room to David Jenkins and one room to David Hughes and is paying £4 per year rent to Llanover Estate.

By 1910, Alfred Randall has moved into Ty Nant. The owner is Herbert and the gross value is 4s and the rateable value is 3s. The 1911 census gives more information about the Randall family, Alfred is aged 23 and a cowman, he was born in Pucklechurch and living with him is his mother Eliza who is a widow aged 50 who was born in Peterchurch.

In 1918 Albert Coffee from Ty Nant is attending Llanover school, and in 1921 Richard Thomas of Ty Nant is attending Llanover school. Two children are mentioned in 1926 from Ty Nant, William John and Richard Thomas. In 1927 Valentine Thomas of Ty Nant, a twelve day old infant is buried at Llanover church.

The 1921 census for Ty Nant says Richard Thomas is 34, an estate drainer labourer, he was born in Glamorgan, his 24 year old wife born in Llantrissant is Gertrude May, they have a son, 6 month old William John who was born in Goytre.

Finally, in 1944 the land tax says the owner is Herbert and the occupier is D Evans.

No. 22 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The location of this property with no name was almost opposite Cerrig Maurion, it is no longer standing and would now be in the parish of llanover.

It was an Earl of Abergavenny property and in 1821 was leased to William Rees.

Elizabeth Morgan was the tenant in 1831 at the time the valuation of the parish was undertaken.

For the 1841 census and tithe both say Elizabeth Morgan is renting a cottage and garden of 3 rood and 8 perches, she is 65 years old and living on her own.

In 1845 John Hart of Abergavenny married Ruth Lewis of Upper Woodlands and they lived in this cottage, close to her parents. In 1850 John Hart voted against the police force in Goytre and gave his religion as “D” – Disenter.

John and Ruth remain there through to 1851 when John is aged 27, a labourer and Ruth is 24.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find anything else relating to this property.

No. 62 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

No. 62 on the 1841 tithe was near Rhydlloyfan, it is now missing and is one of the properties that changed parish from Goytre to Llanover.

The 1798 land tax says Mary Jones is the tenant.

On the 1821 Earl of Abergavenny survey it is now tenanted by Vaughan Jones, but the 1841 tithe says Mary Jones holds the lease of 3 acres 3 rood and 3 perches.

The census of the same year lists William Jones aged 35, a mason, and his wife Ann 40, and children Mary 12, Martha 8, Lazarus 6, and Ann 4.

For the years 1846/7 William is constable for his land and on the 1851 census he is ?, Lazarus is 16 and a mason like his father, daughter Ann is 14 and at home. William is constable again in 1853/55.

On the 1861 census William is 58, he was born in Goytre, Ann his wife is 48 and was born in Llanover, his wife’s son William is 17 he is also a mason.

By 1871 William Jones has died and Ann, a widow is now 68 and calls herself a farmer of 4 acres, her son William 27 also resides with her.

The census for 1881 says the house is unnocupied but by 1890 the electoral register says James Rowlands is the occupier and in 1891 he is 28, an agricultural labourer and was born in Llanthewy, married to Martha 28, who was born in Llanover.

Penyrheol – 376 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

This one of of the few properties privately owned in the parish. The first mention I can find is William Price as owner of Penyrheol on the 1837 electoral register, he was a freeholder and the position of Penyrheol was given as “land near Goytrey House.”

The 1841 tithe says William Price holds “in hand” a cottage, garden of 1 rood and 23 perches and 2 acres 1 rood 8 perches and paying 1/10 to the rector.

On the census of the same year William Price is aged 35, living with him is a 15 year old servant, Diana Thomas. William held the position of constable for the years 1842-44.

The 1851 census gives a little more information, William Price is now 48 and a labourer, he was born in Brecon and is now married to Mary who is 36 and born in Trevethin, they have a son Thomas aged 8 who was born in Goytrey.

William Price once again held the position of constable for the years 1855-7. In 1859 William Price signed the local petition against paying taxes for the widening of Newport Bridge, he gave his occupation on the petition as shopkeeper.

On the 1871 census William is aged 60, an agricultural labourer, Mary his wife is 46, living with them are their children, John 12, William 6.

Very little changed over the following years, on the 1881 census, son, William Price was 16 and a railway porter, and on the 1891 census William senior was 89 and still an agricultural labourer.

William Price senior died in 1894 aged 88 and was buried at Saron Chapel, Mary his wife died the following year aged 72. Also mentioned on their headstone is son John who died in Hannibal USA aged 36 the same year.

The new occupier by 1900 was Edward Lloyd, a farm bailiff born in Christchurch. By 1910 William Summers was living at Penyrheol,family.

The census of 1911 says Edward is 54, a county council roadman, born in Caerleon, Susan his wife was aged 53, born in Lansoy, they had been married for 33 years and had 5 children, one of which had died,  living with them is their son Edward, 32 a masons labourer,  born in Pontypool and a boarder William Morgan aged 25, a gardener from Abergavenny.

Susan Lloyd died in 1914 aged 61 and was buried at St Iltyd’s, Mamhilad.

In 1918 Jane Roberts of Penyrhoel, Goytre died aged 92 she was buried at Llanellen.

Edward Lloyd is in residence on the 1921 census, he is 67 and a main roadman, he doesn’t know where he was born, his 30 year old daughter Elizabeth was born at Llantilio Crossenny, grandchildren Elsie 5 and William 2 were born in Goytre.

The last family I know of living at Penyrhoel is the Williams’, with a son called Lal, and taken from the Free Press dated July 1st 1927 is the following article:

“Laly Williams fell out of the charabanc at Barry Dock on the annual Sunday school outing, had a split lip and required 3 stitches.”

Lal Williams died in July 1969 and is buried at Saron Chapel, I remember him as a very kind gentleman.

Castell Cottage – 395 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

I knew this little cottage very well in my youth as it was owned by my aunt and uncle. My cousin told me it was named after the Castle Pear Tree in the garden.

Castell was number 395 on the 1841 tithe map and contained 3a 2r and 28p, consisting on 4 fields, meadow, the meadow, cae canol and cae wry y canol. The owner was the Earl of Abergavenny.

Although Castell was built many years before, the first fact I can be certain of is a lease dated 1807 to William Morgan for the lives of Ann Phillips 60, her son William 26 and Elizabeth his wife 31. William Phillips married Elizabeth Thomas on February 22^nd 1807 at St Peter’s Church, several children were born, William, John and Ann.

In 1819 William Phillips was the constable and on the 1821 Earl of Abergavenny survey Ann Phillips was listed as holding the lease of a cottage and garden.
Elizabeth Phillips died aged 41 and was buried at St Peter’s Church on April 30^th 1828.

In 1836 Ann Phillips aged 89 of the Castle was given 2/6 weekly by the overseers of the poor as long as certain arrangement exist between her son and the parish overseers for the occupation of a house and land and “he to bind himself to pay them £5 yearly.”

A new lease was granted to a William Phillips in the year 1838 for the lives of lessee, William, son of Thomas Newman, Goytrey, carpenter, aged 6, John, son of Paul Hughes, Lanvair Kilgedin.

On the 1841 census William is aged 25, a woodcutter, Elizabeth his wife is 25 and their children are Daniel 4 and Mathias 9 months.

In 1845 William was the constable and in 1847 another son Noah was born, in March 1851 their son Isaac died aged 7 and was buried at St Peter’s.

On the 1851 census William is 30, Elizabeth his wife is 40, their children are Mathias 11, Annah 9, Noah 4 and William 1.

In 1852 David Davies of the Royal Oak holds the Royal Oak and Castell, paying the Rev Thomas Evans tithe on both properties.

Lewis Edmunds, (the local builder) wrote in his diary on January 2^nd 1855 “William Phillips paid half years rent £5.”

William and Elizabeth’s daughter Hannah died in 1864 aged 22 and was buried at St Peter’s Church on October 14^th.

In December 1864 William Phillips was taken to court by John Waters of Vine Tree Cottage, Goytrey (the cottage directly opposite) for £1 7s 8d.

Mathias Phillips is by 1871 the head of the household, he is 30 and married to Eliza who is 41, living with them is his brother William and step-child William 13 and Alfred Easten aged 11.

The lease is now held by Col Byrde, the rateable value was £3 10s.

Mathias Phillips stays at Castell until 1889 when he moves over the road to live at Vine Tree.

On the 1901 census at the “Old Castle” are Charles and Elizabeth Watkins, Charles is 74 and born in Goytre and Eizabeth is 78, a widow from Swansea. There is a burial for Elizabeth Watkins in July 1907, she is aged 84 and from the Old Castle.

By 1911 the new occupier is Stephen Cutter aged 55, a hay ruser on a farm, he was from Ross, his wife Mary 51, was from Lanvair Kilgeddin. Stephen Cutter remains at the Castle and in 1920 he is paying the Earl of Abergavenny £315s rent for the cottage and 3a 1r and 34p of land.

Stephen Cutter is still in residence on the 1921 census, he is now 69 a district roadman for Pontypool Rural District Council, his wife Mary is 67, she is a maternity nurse.

The electoral register of 1924-26 gives Leonard Trehern as the occupier, from 1930-35 Harold and Florence Ball and in 1935 after their marriage the Castel was purchased by John and Esmerelda Lewis from his sister Florence Ball, they remained at the Castle for 50 years.