Nantyderry Post Office

The Cottages at Nantyderry were built by the Rev Thomas Evans, rector of Goytre in the late 1860’s.

The following advert appeared in the County Observer on the 13^th May 1871:

“ An excellent shop with house now ready to be let. Desirable location for grocery/shoemaking; bus; three cottages also to let near said station; with gardens; rent moderate.”

Goytre school register shows Alfred Owen, son of Edward living at the property in 1874, Edward was a dealer.

The census of 1881 says Edward is a 34 year old, a shoemaker, born in Blaenavon. Harriet his wife is 34 from Pontypool, their children are Elizabeth 12, Albert 8, Annie 5, David 3 and 7 month old Josiah.

By 1891 a new family had taken occupation, 63 year old widow Maria Taylor who was born in Llanover, living with her are her children George, a 32 year old tyler and plasterer, 24 year old Jesse a domestic groom, and 27 year old Eliza. They remained here until a short while before the 1911 census when they had moved to Brynynant, Nantyderry.

The family in 1911 at the post office were Leonard Lloyd aged 31, a carpenter born in Clodock, Hereford, the son of William and Annie. On the census of 1901 he was living in Abertillery, his occupation was carpenter, his wife, Marlene Jane, 38, was born in California, their daughter Lena Marlene was 5 years old and born in Goytrey.

The post office was put up for sale in 1918 by the owner, Charlotte Evans, daughter of the Rev Thomas. The purchaser was the tenant, Leonard Lloyd, who paid £240 for the premises.

The census of 1921 says Lionel Lloyd is at the Post Office, he is 43, born in Clodock and is a Postmaster general and telegraph messenger, Martha Jane his wife is 38, Martha was born in California, she gives her occupation as sub post mistress. They have a lodger, 21 year old Frank Herbert Piper born in Oxford, Frank is a railway porter for GWR.

Lena Mattie Lloyd, daughter of Leonard married Cornelius Price late in 1929, they lived at the post office until their deaths.

The Lloyd family remained at the post office, Marlene died on the 15^th July 1929 in Westminster, her will showed she left the sum of £231 7s 6d. Leonard Lloyd died on the 2^nd April 1965, he is mentioned as “late of the post office,” his will says he left £4,290.

Cornelius Price died in late 1973, Lena on the 23^rd September 1994 whilst still living at the post office.

Vedw – 561 on the 1841 Tithe Map

Vedw is no longer standing, the location of Vedw was in the field that runs alongside the canal  from Jenkin Rosser’s bridge to Lapstone Cottage.

The earliest I can find about Vedw is a mention in the latin leases dated 1661 when John Morgan William Howell paid 6d land tax for holding one messuage and barn near Cefn Mynog, and before him Valentine Pritchard of Llanover.

I cannot find any further reference to Vedw until 1778 when Edward Jeremiah and his wife Martha had a son Edward baptised, the parish record says he is living at Vedw. Edward and Martha also had children born earlier than 1778, Mary a daughter was born  in 1775.

Edward Jeremiah was the son of William and Mary Thomas. He was born in Goytre in 1745 and was a collier. His first wife Martha died in 1780 and was buried in St Peter’s churchyard, he later married Elizabeth.

A daughter also named Elizabeth was born to him and his new wife Elizabeth in 1781.

The land tax record of 1798 says the owner of Vedw is John Edwards and the occupier is Edward Jeremiah.

Edward Jeremiah was an assistant overseer of the highways for the years 1798, 1799 and 1800, during this time he was residing at Vedw.

In 1810 the ownership of Vedw had changed to Edward Edwards of Caerleon.

Canal documents say Edward Edwards was made a payment for his land by the Canal Company in 1811.

In 1818 the ownership of Vedw changed from Edward Edwards to Roger Edwards, Roger Edward died in 1824 aged 80.

The following year 1825 the new owner is Thomas James, the occupier is William Jeremiah.

The census of 1841 says William Jeremiah is 70, a wood collier, his daughter Maria is 35 and a grand-daughter Margaret is 2.

The tithe of the same date, 1841, says the owner is now Richard Seamark.

By 1850 William Jeremiah had left Vedw and was living at Park-y-brain.

On the census of 1851 William Plaisted is now in occupation with his wife Caroline. William was baptised at St Peter’s on 3^rd September 1826, the son of Richard and Ann Plaisted who were, at that time living at Bwrgwm.

William Plaisted’s wife Caroline is the daughter of William Edwards of Caerleon, a carpenter.

William and Caroline were married at Llanover Church, Blaenavon, in 1846.

I am unable to work out who was in residence at Vedw on the censuses of 1861 and 1871.

By the 1880 tithe update the owner is Daniel Jones of Cefn Mynog. Vedw contains 17a 0r 2p, he is paying £1 14s 3d tithe to the rector.

Unfortunately that is as much as I know, Vedw has been a difficult property due to lack of documents available.

Nantyderry Refreshment Rooms.

Now called the Foxhunter, named after the famous horse belonging to Col. Harry Llewellyn.

Built about 1867 by the Rev. Thomas Evans, now a listed building.

In 1871 the publican was 56-year-old widow Sarah Evans, Sarah was baptised at St Peter’s on the 5^th June 1815, the daughter of Richard and Mary Jones of Park-y-brain.

Living with Sarah is her 23-year-old unmarried daughter Emily and 12-year-old son Alfred.

(On the census of 1881 the family had moved to Trevethin where Sarah is living on her own and classed as a pauper. Alfred, now 22 is living with his grandmother Margaret Reof, he is employed as a colliery clerk.)

Also residing at the refreshment rooms in 1871 is William Williams 67 and his 57 year old wife Ellin.

An incident is mentioned in the Usk Observer June 1878 when John Probert refused to quit the Refreshment Rooms when he was drunk, the matter was reported to the police at Pontypool where he ended up in court where he was fined 15s or 14 days hard labour.

In 1878 the license for the Railway Inn was transferred to Thomas Agg of Llanvair (it doesn’t say who from) Mr Gardener, solicitor, opposed the application but no reason was given.

No one is listed on the 1881 census, it does appear that although William Williams had a coal business operating from the railway sidings he was not the publican.

On the census of 1891, 51 year old James Ralph is the innkeeper, he was born in Abergavenny, living with him is wife Mary Ann, 46 who was born in LLanover.

By 1901 the new occupier was William James, he was a 40 year old farmer and innkeeper from Llanvabon, his wife Mary is 53, and born in Goytre.

In 1910 the owner is Charlotte Evans, daughter of the Rev. Thomas who lived at Nantyderry House, the gross value is £19, the rateable value is £15 5s.

The census of 1911 gives more information, the tenant is now David Hutchinson he is a coal seller, 50 years old and was born in Llanover, his wife is Margaret, they had been married 18 years but had no children, Margaret came from Panteg. Living with them is 22-year-old domestic servant Kate Pritchard from Llanvihangel.

In August 1918 Charlotte Evans decided to sell the Refreshment rooms. The sale was held at The Crown Hotel, Pontypool, the tenant David Hutchinson purchased the property for £1,175.

David Hutchinson is still at the Refreshment rooms on the 1921 census. he is 65 still a coal  agent for Marsh and Sons Abergavenny. Margaret is now 60 and gives her occupation as an innkeeper. They have a general domestic servant, Emma Fisher aged 17 from Pontypool.

David Hutchinson died on Christmas Day 1928, he was buried in St Peter’s churchyard. (His obituary is mentioned on the 4th January 1929.)

Margaret remained at The Refreshment rooms until her death in 1940.

Green-y-Croft now Y Bwthyn – 258 on the 1841 tithe map

Lease number 1039 between the Earl of Bergavenny and Edward Lewis is dated 1699 for a messuage and parcels of land called Green y Croft and Wayne Vach.

Green y Croft was then leased to David Thomas from the Hon. George Neville.

Living there in 1737 was yeoman Roger Reynolds, Roger was also an overseer of the poor for the parish of Goytrey the same year.

Thirteen years later Roger Reynold is mentioned again when he takes the lease number 1012 in his name, the description on the lease says a cottage and 3 parcels of land, Green y Croft and Wain Vach at Cross-hoped.

In 1751 the parish records says, Mary, the wife of Rosser Reynold died, Roger Reynold died a few years later in 1756, they were both buried in St Peter’s churchyard.

Roger Reynold left a will, written the year he died in which he leaves to his grand-daughter Margarett Williams  a field “called by ye name of Ton Glas,” situate and being in the parish of Goytrey, by estimate 2 covers, this is leased land,  Margarett  to pay the rent and heriot, should she die then it is left to Roger’s daughter Margarett on the same conditions.

To Mary (I assume his daughter) he leaves a house on lease called Glan-y-nant, excluding the land called Ton Glas, should she die then the property is left to daughter’s Martha and Elizabeth to share on the same terms.

Also to the above he leaves the appurtenances called Pen Cross Hopped, situated in ye parish of Goytre to be enjoyed by them during the term of the lease.

In 1763 Roger Reynold’s daughter Elizabeth married William Absolom of Llantarnam. They were living at Green y Croft but did not take the lease until 1768 when William is classed as a yeoman occupying a cottage and 3 parcels of land at Cross Hopped, the lease states for the lives of, William Absolom, 38, his wife Elizabeth, 36, and David Thomas of Mynyislwyn aged 2.

The lease also mentions the previous holders, David Thomas and Roger Reynold.

The land tax in 1808 is in the name of Elizabeth Absolom, so William must have died but I cannot find a burial for him.

Elizabeth died in 1817 at Glan-y-nant when she was 86 years old, she is buried at St Peter’s, she had made a will in 1815 in which she says she leaves everything to her nephew William Griffiths and Sarah his wife.

The new occupier in 1817 was Thomas and Margaret Lewis. Thomas was a labourer, their children are John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Capel. On the 1821 Earl of Abergavenny’s parish survey William was paying 5s land tax.

In February 1832 Richard Pruett from Llanelly married Martha Hall in Aberstruth. Richard’s name first appeared in the parish overseers’ accounts in 1835 and again the same year when their daughter Mary was baptised.

In 1838 their daughter Elizabeth was also baptised at St Peter’s.

The census of 1841 says Richard Pruett is a 35 year old stonemason, Martha his wife is also 35.

Two more daughters were born to them, Sarah in 1846 and Martha in 1849. Unfortunately their 14 year old daughter Mary died in 1849 and was buried at St Peter’s.

The census of 1851 says Richard Pruett is 45 year old mason Martha is 46, they were both born in Llanelly, their children are Elizabeth 12, Sarah 4 and two year old Martha.

In 1852 Richard Pruett senior and Richard Pruett junior were sent to examine the Blaenavon bridge at Llanfoist.

Richard built the Woodlands about 1855/6 for himself, this property is a very short distance from Green y Croft.

In 1857 Richard took the lease of Green y Croft for the lives of his children, Elizabeth 18, Sarah 10 and Martha 7. The same year he took the lease for The Wharf at a cost of £87 per annum.

Richard Pruett had let Green y Croft to Evan Jones in 1860 whilst Evan was there he voted for William Harris to become the parish surveyor of the highways but William Harris lost the vote.

Evan Jones had left Green y Croft by the 1861 census when it was occupied by David Morris and his family. David was 25, a woollen spinner (probably working at Gwenffrwd) his wife Mary was 21 and from St Mellons, they had a son, also called David who was born in Goytre.

By the census of 1871 63 year old John Jones is living at Green y Croft, he is a woollen spinner from Cardigan, his wife Elizabeth is 61 and their son Morgan is 31 who was born in Rhymney.

In 1879 Richard Pruett paid 1s 3d  income tax for Green y Croft,  the bill came from Lady Llanover.

The Pruett daughters still held the lease in 1884, at this time Lady Llanover started to makes moves against them to release it to her. In 1891 Sarah Pruett aged 41 was a servant in East Chiltington Sussex.

The census of 1891 shows 46 year old jobbing gardener Thomas Jones and his family living at Greenfields, his wife Ruth is 49 from Monkswood, sons William 11 and John 9 were born in Hereford as was Thomas; the younger children, Christiana 4, Florence 2 and 7 month old Ethel were born in Goytre.

Thomas Jones and his family had moved to no. 2 Chapel Ed cottages by the 1901 census, they were replaced at Greenfields by Dorothy Evans, a 47 year old widow, she and all her family came from Carmarthenshire, daughter Dorothy, 27, Edward 23, a plumber, 18 year old Thomas, a gardener, Jeanet 8 and 3 year old William.

The census of 1911 show two separate families at Greenfield Cottages, at number 1 is Gwillim Evans, a 55 year old woollen spinner at the flannel factory living with his 57 year old wife Margaret, son David, a 29 year old farm labourer and 26 year old Gwillim a brewers labourer, all the family were born in Carmarthenshire.

At number 2 Greenfield is George Roberts, George is 82 year old, a retired general labourer who was born in Llantrissent.

The original lease is still held by the Pruett girls the following article is written about the time Lady Llanover starts her purchase of Greenfields

I, William Richardson of the Estate Office, Eridge Green, Sussex Estate, clerk, do solemnly declare and sincerely declare as follows:-

1. I have for twenty years and upwards been a Clerk in the Estate Office for the Abergavenny Estate having been employed in that capacity by the Most Honourable the first Marquess of Abergavenny up to the time of his death on the twelfth day of December one thousand nine hundred and fifteen and since that date and up to the present time by the Most Honourable the Second Marquess of Abergavenny and in the course of my duties as such I have become well acquainted with the pieces of land forming part of those estates which are more particularly described in the schedule hereto which as I am informed and believe have lately been agreed to be sold to the Trustees of the Will of the late Lady Llanover.
2. The said pieces of land other than the piece of land numbered 211 is the said schedule have been in the interrupted enjoyment of and the rents and profits thereof have been received without interruption by the Marquess of Abergavenny for the time being for upwards of twenty years prior to the month of October One thousand nine hundred and fifteen being by his committee in the full and undisturbed receipt of the rent and profits of the said pieces of land other than as aforesaid.
3. As regards the said piece of land numbered 211 in the said schedule it is doubtful whether this piece of land forms part of the Abergavenny settled Estates or of the Llanover settled Estates but if and so far as it is not part of the Llanover settled Estates it may be part of the Abergavenny Settled Estates.
4. As regards the pieces of land nos. 257, 258 and 260 in the said schedule stated to be let on lease for the lives of Elizabeth Pruett, Sarah Brains (formerly Pruett) and Martha Pruett the said Martha Brains and Martha Pruett are to the best of my knowledge still alive but the said Elizabeth Pruett is I believe now dead.

On the 26^th March 1918 Mary Lewis, the daughter of Daniel Lewis of the Woodlands apply on behalf of her father to purchase Greenfield Cottages from the Earl of Abergavenny, Mary Lewis mentions that two of Pruett’s daughters are still living, she also refers to Greenfield as the “two old cottages and 1^1/4 acres” that adjoins ours.

The property was sold to Lady Llanover’s trustees in 1918.

Lady Llanover’s trustees sold Greenfields to the said Mary Lewis on the 26th November 1920, being a cottage and land of 1.422 acres for the sum of #170. Mary’s father Daniel, who had for many years served Lady LLanover as butler, may have died that autumn. The trustees kept one of the three plots which had originally been part of Greenfields, the plot on the opposite side of the old Abergavenny road.

The electoral register of 1920 show William Redwood in occupation. William was born in Llanover in 1899, the son of Thomas and Mary (nee Langford.) William married Elizabeth Maud Lewis, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Lewis of Ynys y Bwlch, in April 1920, probably at Saron Chapel, as this was their place of worship. William and Elizabeth remained at Greenfields for several years before moving to Bwrgwm.

William Redwood is still in occupation of Greenfield Cottage on the 1921 census, he is 22, working as a general farm labourer for Llanover trustees, he was born at Danyrheol Llanover, his wife Maud is 21 born in Goytre, they have a 10 month old son William Thomas also born in Goytre.

By 1927 John and Eva Williams were in residence, followed in 1930 by William, Alice and Mary Williams. This changed again in 1935 to Lewis and Amy Bennett.

On the 2nd April 1936, Greenfields and one of the remaining plots was sold by Arthur Daniel Lewis (son of Daniel) to Edwin James and Irene Elizabeth Williams for the sum of 370 pounds. Edwin and Irene are still at Greenfields on the 1939 register, Edwin was a steel furnace man/heavy worker at that time.

In 1956 the other adjoining plot, which had been part of Greenfields was sold to Edwin and Irene Williams by Please Alexander. Edwin by now was a market gardener, and, according to a visitor in 2013 who remembered him, had a stall in Pontypool market.

On 5th December 1968, William died, David Charles and John Arthur James who had probate sold the property to Robert George and Joan Margaret Evans. The property is said to have been in very poor condition Robert Evans did extensive renovations but died suddenly in 1987.

The house was left empty and subsequently sold by his widow Joan to Glanville George and Dorothy Celia Jehu in 1991, it was at this time renamed Y Bwthyn, they also carried out further development of the property.

In 2013 Y Bwthyn, (also known by the names of Greenfields and Green y croft)  was purchased by David and Jaqueline Warren.

It is Jacqui who I wish to thank for letting me have the modern records of Y Bwthyn to complete the record of her beautiful home and garden.