I don’t know when Gardener’s Cottage was built and I have very little information about the property.

The cottage was part of the estate of the Rev. Thomas Evans.

The property was occupied by John Harding, gardener to Nantyderry House, or Goytre Lodge as it was first known.

John Harding was born at the Four Horseshoes Inn, Checkendon, Oxfordshire in 1858, the son of Thomas and Martha Hope Harding.

He married Elizabeth Bowen on the 11^th January 1876 at St Peter’s Church, Goytrey. Elizabeth, born in 1855 at Trevethin, was daughter of David, a mason and Elizabeth Bowen.

By 1871 the Bowen family had moved from Trevethin to Coalbrook Cottage, where I assume Elizabeth met John Harding. Their first child Hope was born in Goytre.

The rateable value of Gardener’s Cottage in 1910 was £7, the owner was Charlotte Evans of Nantyderry Mansion.

On the 1921 census John Harding is 74, a widow, born in Checkendon Oxfordshire, a retired gardener, late Miss Evans Nantyderry House. Living with him are his children, Richard 38, a masons labourer for Mrs William Wicks, Hawthorn Cottage, born in Abergavenny, Harry, a son who is visiting he is 35 and a railway clerk for GWR, Harry was born in Usk. Daughters Gertrude 33, Viola Amy 24 and granddaughter Eileen Isabel aged 11 who’s father is dead.

John and Elizabeth then left Goytrey and moved to Cae Kenfy, Monmouth Road, Abergavenny, after a few years they returned to Nantyderry where they remained until their deaths.

Their children were Hope, Millie, Laura, Richard, May, Harry, Gertrude and Alicia.

John Harding’s obituary in 1941 says he died aged 93 at his home in Nantyderry where he had lived for many years. He is survived by three sons and three daughters, Mrs Jack Rosser, Goytrey; Mrs Davies, Blackwood; Miss Harding, Nantyderry; Messrs Harry Harding, Station master, Abergavenny; Richard Harding, Nantyderry; and Sam Harding who is abroad.

On July 30 1914 at St Peter’s Church May Harding, 30, married Robert John Rosser 29,  a painter.

May’s sister Alice married Gilbert Flower, 31, a solicitors clerk also at St Peter’s church on September 17th 1917.

On the 1939 register John Harding, born on the 28th May 1847 is a retired gardener, living with him is Richard, a general farm labourer born on the 27th September 1882 and Gertrude born the 5th November 1887.

The family chose St Peter’s as their final resting place, David Thomas and Hope in 1882, John’s wife Elizabeth in 1917, Viola Amy in 1923, John aged 93 in 1941, Bessie, who was living at Llanvair Grange Cottage in 1945 and Gertrude in 1951.

Ty Port is now in the parish of Llanover.

Mary Port of Ty Port died aged 56 and was buried at Llanover church on the 5^th August 1837.

I am quite sure it is the niece of Georgina Ann Port who married Benjamin Waddington. Georgina Waddington (photo) is shown as the owner of Ty Port on the 1841 tithe, the land adjoining Ty Port is 8 acres 2 rood and 17 perches, she is paying 5s 10d tithes to the Rector of Goytrey.

On the census of 1841 living at Ty Port is Catherine George and her 15 year old daughter Georgina, Temperance Deakin 20, Jepsey 2 months, Pheobe 6, Hannah Adler 30 and Elizabeth Phillips 85.

By the census of 1851 Miss Maria Collins aged 63, annuitant, is residing at Ty Port along with her widowed sister Charlotte Warne and her 13 year old niece  Georgina Warne, they all came from Middlesex.

An undated document in the name of Mrs Warne says the rateable value of Ty Port was £7 15s.

Maria Collins died in April 1852 and was buried at Llanover Church. Her will, stated that all interest, dividends, profits to be given to her sister Charlotte, then to her niece Georgina.

On the 1861 census Isaac Edwards 35, his wife Susannah 33, and Ann Jones a 17 year old servant born in Goytre were in residence. Isaac Edwards was Chaplain to Lord Llanover, he and Susannah came from Cardiganshire.

From 1865 the occupier was John James and his family, he had several children baptised at Llanover Church, John in 1865 and a second child in 1866, he was also called John, so I assume the first son John had died.

I’m not able to find who was living at Ty Port on the census of 1871.

In 1876 Lady Llanover wrote from her London residence “Dafydd Williams is welcome to settle at Ty Port.”
This was followed a few years later by another letter from Lady Llanover whilst residing at her Mayfair house to Dafydd Williams telling him to take the things out of the house, she also tells him to send Mrs Evan Jones and Mrs Chubb and that they are to send for Mrs Watkins.

In 1877 E. Bevan, the rector of Llanellen wrote to Turner (Lady Llanover’s agent) informing him he had employed Mrs Parker for 4 weeks to look after Ty Port.

A second letter written in 1878 from the Rev. Bevan said that he had repaired a window at Ty Port at  his own expense when it should have been done by the previous tenant, David Evans, when he had the loan of the place and that he was expecting Mr Watkins to have everything delivered up in good order.

On December 10th 1879 Thomas James paid the income tax for Ty Port.

The Minister of the Calvanistic Church was in residence in 1881, he was 39 year old Thomas Miles and his 37 year old wife Evelyn, they were both from Glamorgan. They had a son Stanley in 1882 who was baptised at Llanover Church.

On the 3^rd  of June Turner wrote to Lady Llanover informing her that damage was done to the property by ladders.

The 1891 census  census shows John Prys, his wife Katie and their two year old daughter Myfanwy in occupation of Ty Port, John is a Presbyterian Minister.

John Prys remained at Ty Port through the censuses of 1901 and 1911. On the 1911 census he is aged 52 and was born in Brecon, he had been married to Catherine for 23 years and had one child, Myfanwy who was now 22 years of age. The family was still in residence at the time of the 1914 poor rate.

John Prys is not at home on the 1921 census, Mary Catherine his wife is, she was born in Liverpool, daughter Myfanwy is also at home. Living with them is 26 year old Annie Marjorie, a poultry farmer.

John Prys is listed on the Electoral register until 1924, after this date I cannot find any reference to Ty Port.

Number 491 on the 1841 Tithe Map .

Mary, the supposed daughter of William Jenkins of Haymeadow and Mary Williams, was baptised at St Peter’s church on 20^th October 1765.

There is no further mention of Haymeadow that I can find until 1807 when lease 122 is granted to Joshua Griffiths, blacksmith, for the part of a messuage or dwelling house. The lease is for the lives of Joshua, then 68, Joseph his son, 40, and William Griffiths, 4.

Labourer William Williams is to occupy the remaining part of the house. His lease is for the lives of his wife Cecelia who is 60 and Mary their daughter aged 24.

By 1821 Joshua Griffiths lease had been assigned to Thomas Prosser, on the 29^th January 1823 it was further assigned to John Prosser. There is a mention of Thomas Prosser holding his lease (now dead) on the 1831 land valuation. The present holder of the lease Col. Henry Bird of Goytrey House, holds a cottage and 2 acres, 3 roods  numbered 189 on the tithe map.

On the 29^th December 1838 Mary Williams, the daughter of William and Mary of Haymeadow was ordered to the Pontypool workhouse. In 1839 Mary Williams, pauper applied to leave the workhouse for a few days, her request was denied. The same year she was brought before the Board of Pontypool workhouse for keeping her food.

By the census of 1841 Mary Williams had returned to Haymeadow and was living with her nephew William, a 35 year old farmer, Mary is now 75, living with them is a little 8 year old labourer called John Blunt. Mary died in 1843 and was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.

The census of 1851 says 70 year old labourer William Jenkins has taken occupation along with his wife Ann, who is 52, children John 31, Thomas 29, William 21, James 15, all were born in Goytrey, they all had the same occupation, woodcutters. Their 20 year old daughter Elizabeth is their housekeeper.

In 1852 William Jenkins of Haymeadow is mentioned in the Rev. Thomas Evans tithe accounts.

Lewis Edmund wrote in his diary throughout 1855/6 that he was at Haymeadow making gates, roofing the beast and pig house and plastering and slating the house.

Part of the 1861 census for the village is missing, but from the following parish records in 1863 it says that William Williams, (occupying part of the house) leasehold property to be sold as he has now become chargeable to the Pontypool Union.

The census of 1871 gives William Jenkins’s occupation, he is a 46 year old gardener (probably for Col. Byrde) married to Ann 45, their children are Mary Ann 18, Walter 15, William 14, John 12,  Elizabeth 10 and eight year old twins Rachel and Philip.

On 11^th August 1874 William and Ann’s son John died and was buried at Saron Chapel, he was only14 years of age.

The Jenkins family remained at Haymeadow, the census of 1881 says William is still a gardener, Ann is now 54, Williams is a 24 year old railway signalman, Philip is a labourer in the steelworks, Elizabeth and Rachel are both at home.

Another family death occurred in in December 1886, that of William Jenkins jnr, aged 29, he too was buried at Saron with his brother.

William, by the date of the 1891 census is still a gardener, Ann is now 64, Rachel 26, all the family were born in Goytrey.

William Jenkins died aged 68 in February 1892, he was also buried at Saron Chapel. By 1901 Ann Jenkins was living at number 1 Upper Village with her daughter Elizabeth who had married Edward John Evans in 1892. (Saron register shows the entry of February 19^th 1902 for Ann Williams, widow of William aged 76.)

On the census of 1901 James and Caroline Green of Hereford had taken up residence at Haymeadow, James is a 38 year old blacksmith,  Caroline his wife is 37 and their daughter Ellen is 12.

A document  in 1910 says the old cottages are now restored, the owner is the Earl of Abergavenny, the gross value is £10 10s and the rateable value is £9 10s.

The sale of Haymeadow by the Earl of Abergavenny in 1920 states it is a smallholding of 2a 3r 5p, it is let at £14, the tithe is 7s.  It was purchased by Mr Purnell of Pontnewynydd, the price was not mentioned.

From the electoral register in 1920 Hay Meadow was in occupation of Thomas, Ruth and Ernest James Jones, where they remained until 1925.

The census of 1921 Says Thomas Jones is 76, a market gardener born in Llangrove, Herefordshire, his wife Ruth is 60, daughters Winnie 24, is an assistant foster mother at Coedygric Institution, Irene 21 is at home helping, as is 17 year old Sedley, their sons are Ernest 28, who is assisting his father and 39 year old John who has been an invalid from birth, all the children were born in Goytre.

By 1935 the Vimpany family had taken residence, they moved about one mile from Cefn Mynog to Hay Meadow. They were still there in 1948.

Flossie May Vimpany died at Hay Meadow in 1943 aged 32.

The Tavern, built in approximately 1852 by John Rosser of Pantglas farm and mill.  Through my research I have been able to trace the family back to 1625 living at Pantglas where they were farmers and millers.

A £100 loan was taken by John Rosser to finance the building of the Tavern. He built it in a field called Cae Coed on the Mamhilad to Llanover road at Pengroesoped. 

In the parish register dated 1854 John Rosser was mentioned as being a farmer and innkeeper.

By 1859 John Rosser junior had taken occupancy of the tavern and was living there with his wife Amy. The same year a petition was going round the village asking for support against the paying of taxes towards the widening of Newport bridge, John Rosser signed the petition.

The census of 1861 says John Rosser (jnr) is a 35 year old publican, his wife Amy is 34, their children are Ellen 10, Thomas 8, John 6 and three year old Margaret.

On October 30^th 1861, Lewis Edmund (builder) wrote in his diary, “old John Rosser died suddenly this morning,” he was 76 years old, his funeral was at St Iltyd’s, Mamhilad.

Two years later on the 10^th January 1863 John Rosser, son of John, of the tavern died, he was only 38, he too was buried at St. Iltyd’s, Mamhilad.

On the 26^th May 1863 Ann Rosser, widow of John (snr) took the mortgage in fee for herself and in the names of three of her children, Aaron, James, and William.

Amy Rosser, wife of John jnr had all her children baptised seven months after his death, on the same day, the 9^th July 1863 at St Peter’s.

Amy remained at the Tavern with the children.

The following article appeared in the Usk Observer on 16^th January 1864:

Pugilism at Goytrey

Thomas Jenkins, Thomas Griffiths, John Allgood and Henry Painter were charged with committing a breach of the peace by fighting.

William Rosser gave evidence that John Jenkins and Thomas Griffiths began fighting on the night after Christmas day at Mrs Rosser’s house at the Goytrey and the other two acted as their seconds, after which they began a “set to.”

Mr Ralph (of the Bench) said if the occupier would not sell too much drink at once disturbances would be less frequent.

Fined 9s each.

Amy Rosser remained at the Tavern until her early death in January 1867, she was only 40 years of age, the funeral took place at St Iltyd’s, Mamhilad. Lewis Edmunds wrote in his diary on the 17^th January that he was at Amy Rosser’s funeral.

The census of 1871 says William Rosser is a 32 year old unmarried publican, living with him are his nephews John 16 and Charles 11, his 20 year old housekeeper is his niece Ellinor (they are children of his brother John, by Amy Rosser.)

William Rosser is mentioned as being an overseer of the poor for the parish and also for objecting to the quarter sessions of Usk being moved to Newport.

In 1877 the owner of the Tavern was John Phillips, the grandson of Ann and John Rosser, his mother, Ann Rosser married John Phillips of the Lower Hendre, Llanover (late of Mamhilad Villa.)

There is a letter to Lady Llanover from E Francis dated 28^th June 1877 informing her he had seen the three Rosser brothers that morning, “Rosser the publican, Rosser the farmer and Jim or James Rosser,” who had informed him the old public house was for sale but not to put it abroad.

 It wasn’t sold to Lady Llanover, William Rosser  purchased the Tavern from his nephew John Phillips. 

On the census of 1881 William is 41, an innkeeper, Elizabeth his wife is 29 and they have a daughter Alice just one year old.

In 1885 William sold the Tavern to Lady Llanover for £850, he then rented Kiln Farm from her until 1887 when he moved to the Halfway House in Little Mill, where he died in April 1893.

Another newspaper incident is mentioned on the 29^th June 1883 when a James Meredith was drunk at Pengroesoped Inn, he was unconscious for three hours then taken to the railway station. For this misdeameanor he was fined 10s or 7 days.

Robert Bassett took the lease for the Inn from Lady Llanover in 1885 at a quarterly rent of 10s, she turned the Inn into a coffee/temperance house. She sent the following items to the Inn on the 2^nd May 1885:

2 quilts, 3 pairs of blankets, 4 pairs of sheets, 8 pillow cases, 4 bed towels, 4 tea cloths, 6 kitchen dusters, 6 knife cloths, 6 dish cloths, 2 table cloths, 6 housemaids dusters, 2 wool mattresses, 2 straw mattresses, 3 pillows, 2 chambers.

6 cups and saucers, 1 milk jug, 2 basins for use of tea, 3 broth basins, 3 mugs, 1 salt server, 2 pie dishes, 1 meat dish, 6 large plates, 6 small plates, 3 blue and white jugs.

2 small pans for washing hands, 1 small pan for washing dishes, 1 tin tea pot, 1 tin coffee pot, 6 tea spoons, 2 table spoons, 6 knives and forks, 1 tin pepper pot, 1 tin jack, 1 bucket, 1 sweeping brush, 1 hearth brush, 1 black brush, 1 scrubbing brush.

There are several account books for the Inn starting May 1885.

The census of 1891 says John Morgan and his family are in occupation he is 67,  a mason, his wife Ann is 51, they came from Glamorgan. Emma their daughter is 27, living with them is 27 year old William Powell,  a weaver.

John Morgan remained at the Inn through to 1911 when he says he is the manager of the refreshment rooms.

The 1921 census of Pengroesoped Temperance House gives the following information, Emma John a 57 year old single woman born in Cardiff is a boarding house keeper. Boarding with her is John Price 76 from Crickhowell, a wood cutter and Melsom Constance 74 from Gibraltar near Monmouth both are working for Llanover estate trustees.

A separate entry also for the Temperance house is Charlotte Mabel Brace aged 29 she is single and was born in Sirhowy. Charlotte is the district sick nurse.

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.