West Glamorgan Archive Service: Annual Report of the County Archivist 2021-2022

Adroddiad Blynyddol Archifydd y Sir

Annual Report of the County Archivist

2021-2022 Gwasanaeth ar y cyd ar gyfer Cynghorau Abertawe a Castell-Nedd Port Talbot A joint service for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Councils

West Glamorgan Archive Service West Glamorgan Archive Service collects documents, maps, photographs, film and sound recordings relating to all aspects of the history of West Glamorgan. It is a joint service for the Councils of the City and County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot County Borough.

Our mission is the preservation and development of our archive collections, to safeguard our documentary heritage and to enable research in order to further our collective knowledge. We are committed to providing information and the opportunity to engage with archives to everybody.

West Glamorgan Archive Service Civic Centre Oystermouth Road Swansea SA1 3SN  01792 636589

Front cover: Ralph Vaughan Williams with the Mayor of Swansea, Sir William Jenkins, outside the Brangwyn Hall during the inaugural Swansea Festival of Music, October 1948.

2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

westglam.archives@swansea.gov.uk www.swansea.gov.uk/westglamorganarchives

@westglamarchive

Connecting People and History

In June, Swansea Council unveiled a blue plaque to the anti-slavery campaigner Jessie Donaldson at the entrance to the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Dynevor Building. The Archive Service was proud to be involved in the organisation of this plaque, supporting Women’s Archive Wales, and an article on Jessie Donaldson was contained in last year’s annual report.

Pictured here from left to right are Cllrs Yvonne Jardine and Louise Gibbard; Head of Cultural Services Tracey McNulty; Jen Wilson of Women’s Archive Wales and Jazz Heritage Wales; and Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, sponsor of the blue plaque scheme. (Picture courtesy UWTSD) West Glamorgan Archive Service is run jointly by Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Councils in order to preserve access to their archives and to other archive collections which it has received and collected on their behalf. Residents of the two local authority areas and researchers from across the UK and overseas access our archive collections, both online and in person, in order to carry out a wide variety of research.

The Archive Service, much like the rest of the world, has had over the last two years to come to terms with a global pandemic of unprecedented scale in the modern world. The repeated service closures have inevitably lessened our public profile as we have been forced to limit physical access to our collections, reduce our seating to ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines, and put booking systems in place to manage the flow of users.

Alongside the melting away of our previously strong customer base, we have suffered backlogs in onsite work such as accessioning, repackaging and conservation, and have no doubt missed out on new donations of material during closure periods, where so much often depends on personal

contact with potential donors and information from our customers about records at risk.

Opportunities for outreach work with groups have also decreased. Volunteers have been unable to come onsite, meaning their valuable contributions have been reduced.

Yet, despite this, the pandemic has presented several opportunities. The idea of staff working from home would have seemed impossible only a few years ago before the distribution of laptops and the introduction of the ubiquitous Microsoft Teams software. With it, we can all now appreciate the value of a hybrid working environment where once travel was an inevitable accompaniment to any arranged meeting, either a walk across the city centre to another civic building or a drive across Wales to Aberystwyth and Llandrindod Wells.

People have also in many cases had a space for self-reflection during lockdown, and some have turned to family and local history as a means to improve their own knowledge and sense of wellbeing. As we return to what has frequently been trumpeted as the ‘new normal’, let’s hope that we, like our fellow archive services, are able to capitalise on this new-found interest.

As regular readers of this annual report will no doubt be aware, the archives for some years have been faced with the implications of the proposed closure of Swansea Civic Centre. During the year, Swansea Council took the decision that the place where the archives would relocate would be a new City Centre Hub, to be created out of the former British Home Stores department store on Oxford Street in Swansea. The archives will sit alongside a new central library, a relocated Contact Centre for Council services and offices for a number of public and voluntary sector organisations, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Careers Wales.

The decision to relocate the archives is forced by the inevitability of the closure of Swansea Civic Centre, but it is one which poses challenges while presenting opportunities for the Service. On the one hand, the archives will benefit from a city centre location and ease of access immediately alongside the Local Studies Library: on the other, the new facility will need to be more modest in size in order to fit into a multi-purpose building, affecting in particular our future outreach work with local history groups and with schools. A condition of Welsh Government funding for the Hub project is that Swansea Council will at the same time investigate the feasibility of a new purposebuilt History Centre, which all involved recognise would provide a better long-term solution for the archives.

Our first external event for 18 months, the Glamorgan History Day School in Bridgend, October

Building and preserving our collections

A copy of the tithe apportionment for Neath parish, seen here during conservation at Gwynedd Archives as two torn leaves are prepared for being rejoined.

The primary role of the Archive Service is to preserve our documentary heritage for the benefit of future generations, receiving additional gifts and deposits of archive material while maintaining and developing the greatest degree of access to the collections in our care. There are several strands to this work, including seeking out and receiving new accessions of archives, cleaning, boxing and conserving what we already hold, then cataloguing and publicising our collections.

Most of our conservation work is carried out under contract with the conservation unit of Gwynedd Archives at their main headquarters in Caernarfon. The pictures in this section show how conservation work there on our collections brings our documents back to a useable condition.

The conservation of paper and parchment records is however only part of the responsibility of the Archive Service: we are also increasingly asked to store and preserve digital material, and managing for this change is an increasing challenge which thankfully is being addressed by all Welsh archive services working together.

During the year, the Archive Service has continued to collect material of archival value relating to our two local authority areas from institutions and individuals. A full list of accessions received in 2021/22 is to be found below in Appendix 2 and several of the most interesting accessions are featured in our section below comprised of local history articles. Here are some key highlights.

The year saw the closure of the parish of Glantawe with its two churches, St Margaret’s, Bonymaen and St Peter’s, Pentrechwyth. Originally mission churches in the parishes of Llansamlet and Kilvey respectively, these had been brought together to form the new parish in 1965. The records deposited consist of the registers together with minutes, accounts and inspection reports. There is also a beautiful First World War roll of honour for St Peter’s, Pentrechwyth and an illuminated address which includes portrait photographs of dozens of members of the Sunday School.

The Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Regulations 2021 changed the way marriages are registered, which resulted in the closure, nationwide, of all the current marriage registers. Every

church and chapel in the possession of a marriage register had to hand it in and in the process, incumbents and church secretaries also handed in the completed registers that remained in their possession. The result of this was the deposit of a large number of marriage registers, either directly with the Archive Service, or indirectly through the Registrar, whose kind cooperation at a very busy time we gratefully acknowledge.

In 2021, South Wales Record Society published A Gower Gentleman: the Diary of Charles Morgan of Cae Forgan, Llanrhidian, 1834-1857, edited by Rod Cooper and Professor Prys Morgan. The diaries referred to are full of the business concerns, hopes, fears and intimate family life of their creator and are an important record for the history of Gower and a rich resource for social history more generally. Not only are they a lucid personal account, which is rare for this period, but they include a good deal of information about farming, religious life, social interactions, transport, local and national affairs, and provide a unique view of the way society functioned in Gower. Following the launch of the book, the original diaries were deposited in the archives, along with a collection of title deeds, pictures and personal papers relating to the Morgan family of Cae-forgan, Llanrhidian and Herbert’s Lodge, Bishopston.

Four years ago, we received a consignment of records relating to the St Helen’s Estate in Swansea, including deeds of properties in the centre of town as well as in the area to the west of the Sandfields, and family papers relating to the Morgan family who owned it. Further records of a similar nature have recently been received from the same source, which are in the process of being catalogued. The St Helen’s Estate was not particularly extensive. It comprised St Helen’s House, on the site of a small monastic foundation associated with a holy well, which stood on the corner of St Helen’s Avenue, and also the associated farmland, which covered the area between Brynmill Lane, Rhyddings and the sea. There were also several houses in the centre of Swansea, in Goat Street, Fisher Street and Wind Street, whose deeds go back to the seventeenth century.

Its some-time proprietor was William Llewellyn Morgan, author of Antiquarian Survey of East Gower.

We were equally delighted to receive the photographic collection of Derek Gabriel in 2021.

Growing up in the Sandfields area of Swansea, he and his father were both keen photographers and recorded the changes to the town that took place in the years of reconstruction and modernisation that followed the devastation of the Second World War. In a time of continuing change, his photographs document in visual detail the stages that brought us near to the cityscape we know today. The collection is the subject of an article by archivist Katie Millien later in this report.

The Archive Service continues to receive and preserve film and sound collections, the majority of which, these days, are received in digital form. Without a doubt our most prolific depositor has been Peter Hall, whose short videos on local history have continued to entertain and instruct.

Some of his most important work has been in recording the wartime history of the area and during the year he researched and photographically recorded the Commonwealth War Graves in Swansea cemeteries, work which was also shared with the service. His videos are made available on his YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/channel/UCtp56JAjcqrNqopcG6AVNgQ. We also received a number of films created by Fusion Swansea. Part of the Fusion programme of activities has been the creation of a number of films based on research which included long and detailed oral history interviews on topics as varied as the Swansea music scene over the last fifty years, Swansea Pride, Swansea City of Sanctuary, the history of Tabernacle Chapel, Morriston and the experiences of ethnic minorities in the city. The oral history interviews are filled with both historical information and personal experience and were transferred to the archives along with copies of the completed films. Preserving and maintaining these sound and film collections helps ensure that diverse voices in the city which otherwise might not have formed part of the collections are captured for the benefit of future generations.

Engaging new audiences

During the summer of 2021, Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales mounted an exhibition in Cardiff entitled ‘Becoming Richard Burton’. Items in the Archives relating to the young Burton’s schooldays in Port Talbot (where he was known by his birth name of Richard Walter Jenkins) were loaned for the exhibition. (Picture courtesy Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales) Over several years, West Glamorgan Archives has developed a reputation for innovation and for collaboration with other institutional partners on innovative projects. Despite the pandemic, the Archive Service continues to play its part in some educational, creative and thought-provoking projects and some of our collaborations are featured here.

A SWANSEA JEWISH HERITAGE TRAIL We have been helping the Jewish History Association of South Wales to create a trail around key sites for Jewish history in Swansea.

THE WORLD REIMAGINED The World Reimagined (TWR) is an innovative arts project which will see 10 replica globes placed along a trail running through central Swansea, each one linked to a theme connecting us to the historic transatlantic slave trade, to past stories and their echoes in the present.

Around each globe, and along the trail itself, a web of stories from past and present-day Swansea, will be captured online and viewable via a QR code on each installation.

The Archives is working alongside other partners in the city and with the TWR team to prepare for the opening in mid-August 2022.

CLIP CYMRU West Glamorgan Archives is delighted to have been working over the year with the National Library of Wales on an innovative Heritage Lottery Funded project to bring the NLW’s TV, film and audio archive to archives and libraries across Wales via a dedicated VPN connection. Our Swansea searchroom will be in the first tranche of so-called ‘Clip Corners’ to open in July 2022.

The pandemic heavily impacted our visitor figures for the second year running. As we came out of lockdown in April 2021, only our facilities in Swansea Civic Centre were able to reopen. The Neath branch remained closed for all the year.

Total members of the public visiting the Archive Service during 2021-2022: 679

2021/22 IN NUMBERS 70 volunteer days were contributed 159 new reader’s tickets were issued 206 pupils and teachers attended online sessions for schools 383 attended our online learning events 2,955 emails were answered 4,703 documents were consulted in our Swansea searchroom 10,017 visited the Archive Service web pages on the Swansea Council website 21,457 pages from our catalogues were viewed on the Archives Hub website 574,559 views were made of our digitised records on the Ancestry family history website

Including: Swansea Neath Port Talbot Group visits

679 0 0 0

An innovation with a Swansea connection

The Archives Card reader’s ticket is a modern online system which provides researchers with easy access to participating archives.

Since its launch in 2020 just before the pandemic, 47 archives throughout England and Wales have signed up to the scheme, including the majority of local authority archives in Wales.

Much of the concept for the Archives Card is derived from the Archives Wales card which was devised here in Swansea.

The Archives Card scheme is operated by ARA Commercial, which is a subsidiary of the Archives & Records Association, the leading body for archives in the UK and Ireland.

Next page: a selection of our social media posts during the year

Our work with schools Like so much of our outreach work, our work with schools has moved online as a result of the pandemic.

During the year we ran online sessions with Casllwchwr, Gowerton and St Helen’s Primary Schools and with Pontarddulais Comprehensive School. The sessions covered topics including the Three Nights’ Blitz, the Elba Colliery Disaster and a local history study tailored to the school’s location. On a positive note, the online sessions have allowed us to engage with more than one class at a time and this experiment may provide a better model for future delivery. The schools themselves were very positive in their feedback.

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the online session on Friday- it was brilliant! I will be doing lots of follow up work in class to do with it and using the resources of course! Thanks again for all of your hard work and such an engaging session too!” (St Helen’s Primary School) “Thank you so much, it was great and everyone enjoyed and got lots out from it. I know Lisa thought some might explode with excitement in Year 4 because they loved it so much!” (Casllwchwr Primary School)

Staff At the end of the reporting year, all Archive Service staff are now back in the office for all or nearly all of their working hours and the Archives public areas are now open to customers who have and haven’t pre-booked.

Much work has been going on behind the scenes by all the Archives staff to prepare the collections for the move to the City Centre Hub. The picture to the right shows archivist Katie Millien measuring a volume so that a specially-prepared box can be made to fit it. This boxmaking will ensure that no item will be transferred to the new strongroom unboxed or unwrapped and we are grateful to our neighbouring Glamorgan Archives for their undertaking the box manufacture for us.

There has been only one staff change during the year.

Don Rodgers, Office Manager, now divides his responsibilities between this and the newly-created post of Archives Assistant.

Acknowledgements The chair and members of the West Glamorgan Archives Committee have continued to show their interest and support for the work of the Service during the year, for which I am grateful. Particular thanks are due to members of the Neath Antiquarian Society for continuing to monitor the Neath Mechanics Institute during the enforced closure of the Neath service point in 2021/22. At the time of writing this report, I am pleased to say the Neath service point is now open again and this is in no small measure due to their efforts over two years to look after the building and its contents.

In my view, a service which exists to preserve the building blocks of our history, in looking back over the past year, cannot fail to mention the conflict which has brought misery, suffering and destruction to the people of Ukraine, to their historic monuments and their cultural heritage. Both of our parent local authorities have publicly expressed their solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine, and I finish here by appending an extract from the Ukraine solidarity statement of the International Council on Archives: The International Council on Archives wishes to express its solidarity with Ukrainian archives and records professionals during this difficult time. The ICA calls on the Government of Russia to not harm any documentary or cultural heritage professionals that remain in country, as well as refrain from destroying documentary and cultural heritage in respect of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

Archives are irreplaceable cultural heritage and must be protected, along with the dedicated personnel who understand their importance, organization, and use. …………………………………………..

Kim Collis West Glamorgan County Archivist 1 June 2022 …………………………………………..

West Glamorgan Archives Committee As at 31 March 2022 Chairman HM Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan R. Louise Fleet JP Vice-Chairmen City and County of Swansea Councillor R.V. Smith County Borough of Neath Port Talbot Councillor P.A. Rees Representing the City and County of Swansea Councillor P.M. Black CBE Councillor M. Lewis Councillor J Raynor Councillor L.R. Jones MBE Representing the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot Councillor A. Aubrey Councillor W.F. Griffiths Councillor H.N. James Councillor R. Mizen Representing the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon A. Dulley MA, MSc Representing the Diocese of Llandaff S. Perons Representing Swansea University Prof. L. Miskell FRHistS Representing the Neath Antiquarian Society Mrs J.L. Watkins City and County of Swansea Head of Cultural Services Ms T. McNulty MA Neath Port Talbot County Borough Head of Legal Services M.C. Griffiths LLB County Librarian W. John MCLIP

West Glamorgan Archive Service STAFF As at 31 March 2022 West Glamorgan Archives Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3SN Tel. (01792) 636589

Neath Antiquarian Society Archives Neath Mechanics Institute, 4 Church Place, Neath SA11 3LL Tel. (01639) 620139

Email: westglam.archives@swansea.gov.uk Website: www.swansea.gov.uk/westglamorganarchives

County Archivist ...........................................................................................Kim Collis MA, DAS Assistant County Archivist ....................................................... Andrew Dulley MA, MSc (Econ) Archivist.......................................................................................... Katie Millien BA, MSc (Econ) Archivist (job-share) ....................................................................David Morris PhD, MSc (Econ) Archivist (job-share) ..................................................................................... Emma Laycock MA Production Assistant .............................................................. Anne-Marie Gay MA, MSc (Econ) Archives Assistant and Office Manager.............................................. Don Rodgers MA, PGCE Archives Reception Assistant ....................................................................Rebecca Shields BA

Edward le Despenser’s Charter to Margam Abbey, 1358

Over the years we have published a number of translations of the charters granted to institutions and individuals in the West Glamorgan area. Last year we looked at three medieval charters granted to Neath Borough, which are held at West Glamorgan Archives in facsimile form only.

This year we turn to Margam Abbey and an important charter granted in 1358. Although the majority of the surviving Margam Abbey records are held at the National Library of Wales, this one is a stray which seems to have been sequestered from the main archive at least a century ago.

Importantly for us, it is the only one to be held here at West Glamorgan Archives.

When and how it became separated from the rest of the Margam manuscripts is unknown.

Although its text does appear in G. T. Clark’s Cartae, it is clear from the description that he took it from a different version of the document. This one came up for sale around 1936 and was purchased by Captain Andrew Mansel Talbot Fletcher and later came into the possession of his daughter Josephine, Lady Mexborough. At the suggestion of John Vivian Hughes, the then Chief Executive of West Glamorgan Michael Rush entered into correspondence with Lady Mexborough and in 1978 she presented the charter to the county of West Glamorgan ‘for people to be able to see on request’. In 1984, West Glamorgan Archives first opened its doors in the newly-built County Hall, and the charter was housed there. A facsimile was produced and is still for sale in the Archives shop today. This facsimile includes a brief description of the document and seal, but no transcription or translation, and although Lady Mexborough’s correspondence refers to the loan of a translation, this was never published and is no longer available. It is our purpose here to provide a translation, to facilitate access by ensuring that its contents can be understood.

The manuscript is a complex confirmation charter of the type known as an inspeximus: in it the grantor, Edward le Despenser, Lord of Glamorgan, declares that he has inspected a certain other charter, which he proceeds to recite, before declaring that he confirms its contents. The charter he has inspected is dated 1338. It is itself a confirmation by Edward’s uncle, Hugh le Despenser, this time of five other documents, all of which are important sources for the history of the abbey.

The first of these is the foundation charter of the abbey itself, which is not known to survive as an original. Dating from 1147, it is a grant, from Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester, an illegitimate son of Henry I. In it, he gives to the abbey at Clairvaux land between the rivers Kenfig and Afan, ‘from the brow of the mountains as the said waters descend to the sea, in wood and plain, and my fisheries of Afan, for founding an abbey,’ conceding that these lands were held in the right of his wife Mabel, daughter of Robert FitzHamon, lord of Glamorgan. This is followed by a second charter: this is undated, but can circumstantially be placed between the installation of Cynan as abbot of Whitland in 1165 and the death of the grantor in 1183. In it the founder’s son, William FitzRobert, also lord of Glamorgan, gives to Margam Abbey the upland territory towards the sources of the rivers Ffrwdwyllt and Kenfig that lay beyond his father’s rather vague ‘brow of the mountains.’ These two grants gave Margam Abbey the core of its estates.

Next come two charters recording the gift by the Welsh lords Morgan ap Caradog and his son Leisan ap Morgan of land that would become the Manor of Resolfen. Both are internally undated, but Morgan was lord of the Welsh barony of Afan Wallia and died in 1208, giving a terminus ante quem for both charters. In the second one, Leisan ap Morgan acts ‘with the counsel and consent of my father’, implying that he was still alive at the time. The charters are very similar to each other in content and phrasing and give clear boundaries for the land. Resolfen constituted a significant addition to the abbey’s property. The Dictionary of Welsh Biography describes Morgan ap Caradog as ‘always an unwilling vassal of the Norman lords of Glamorgan’. Nonetheless, these two charters demonstrate that their Welsh grantors were keen to patronise the abbey with a sizeable gift of land and did not view it as the exclusive preserve of the Normans.

The final confirmation is of an order by the county court of Cardiff to the effect that Margam Abbey and its lands are subject to its jurisdiction and protection alone. As the abbey acquired more territory, so administrating it became more complex. Their lands lay within several manors, boroughs and member lordships, each with its own courts, customs and prejudices, and the declaration from the lord of Glamorgan that his main court would oversee all cases involving the monks’ land would have been of great value.

There are at least two other versions of the document, both held at the National Library of Wales.

One (Penrice and Margam 230) appears to be a counterpart of the version at West Glamorgan Archives, complete with its seal. The other (Penrice and Margam 212c), which may be a contemporary copy, is attached to the charter of 1338 that it confirms. The version held at West Glamorgan Archives is a sealed, contemporary original document. It is written in a typical midfourteenth century documentary hand on a piece of velum measuring 51 x 49 cm, with the bottom 7.5 cm folded up in the customary way to support the seal. The document has been folded in half vertically and then in half again, giving it three pervasive vertical folds. It was then folded horizontally, but the folds here are less marked. With the exception of some slight abrasion along the main, central fold, the text is legible throughout, although there are some brownish stains in places and the suggestion that something was spilt on it at some stage.

The seal (pictured) is suspended from a light green silk cord which passes through three holes in the folded foot of the document to make a Y shape. It is of very dark green, nearly black, beeswax.

About a quarter of it is missing, mostly from the bottom edge and from one of the sides, but the design on each side is clearly visible.

In its pristine state it would have measured approximately 8 cm in diameter. On the obverse is the coat of arms of Edward le Despenser (Quarterly 1st & 4th: Argent; 2nd & 3rd: Gules fretty or, over all a ribbon sable) and on the reverse the usual representation of the knight on horseback. The document identifies it as the seal of Edward le Despencer’s chancery in Cardiff. There are several endorsements. The first, in a hand contemporary with the document, reads ‘Edward lespencer Edward III xxxijo’. The next, also in a medieval hand, reads ‘Confirmacion of Edward le Spencer upon divers lands betweyn Keynffige & Avan &c.’ with the addition, in a seventeenth century hand, of ‘& Rosolvn’. It is also marked ‘A’ and ‘No: 13th’.

Here follows a translation. In order to demonstrate how the document is structured, steps have been taken to show where the text of each of the quoted charters begins and ends. Each of the sections is given a brief title describing the document. It should be noted however that the original document does not include these, but is written as a single block of text. Place names are rendered as given in the original text. Where a modern equivalent can be deduced, this is given afterwards in square brackets.

Confirmation charter of Edward le Despenser, 1358, ref. A/Ma 1

TRANSLATION Edward le Despenser, lord of Glamorgan and Morgan, to all faithful to Christ to whom these present letters may come, greeting. Know that we have inspected the confirmation of Lord Hugh le Despenser, our uncle, of famous and pious memory, late lord of Glamorgan and Morgan, which he made to the monks of Margam for the first foundation of the said house, in these words:

1. Confirmation of Hugh le Despenser to Margam Abbey, 1338 Hugh le Despenser, son and heir of Lord Hugh le Despenser and Lady Eleanor his wife, lord of Glamorgan and Morgan, to all those of the holy mother church to whom this present writing may come, eternal greeting in the Lord. Know that we have inspected the charter of Lord Robert, Earl of Gloucester of honoured and pious memory, which he made to the monks of Clairvaux for the first foundation of the abbey of Margam, in these words: i. Foundation charter of Margam Abbey by Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester, 1147 Robert, son of the King, Earl of Gloucester, to Robert Norris the sheriff and all barons and their men and friends, French, English and Welsh, greeting. Know that I have given in alms for the salvation of mine, my wife’s and my children’s souls to the monks of Clairvaux all the land that is between the Kenefeg [Kenfig] and Avena [Afan], from the brow of the mountains as the said waters descend to the sea, in wood and plain, and my fisheries of Avena [Afan], for founding an abbey, free and quit of all custom, with the consent of Mabel the countess, of whose inheritance these lands are part. Witness Hamo and Roger, sons of the earl, and lord Nivard, brother of the abbot of Clairvaux, into whose hand was given these alms, and Brother Walter of Abbedeston his colleague, Hubert the steward, Hugh de Guminiville the constable, Ralph of Hastings, Stephen de Beauchamp, Richard de St Remy, Fulke Fitzwarine, Gregory, Thomas kinsman of the earl, Robert Fitzharding, Robert de Almer, Adam of Ely the clerk, Picot the physician, Henry Tusard and Elias the clerk. At Bristol.

We have also inspected the charter of William, Earl of Gloucester, son of the said lord Robert, Earl of Gloucester, in these words: ii. Further grant of land to Margam Abbey by William, Earl of Gloucester, c. 1170-1188 William, Earl of Gloucester to Nicholas, Bishop of Llandaff, his sheriff of Glamorgan and all barons and their men and friends, French, English and Welsh, greeting. Know that I have given and granted and by these my letters confirmed to God and the church of Blessed Mary of Margan [Margam] and the monks serving God there, all the land in the mountains by these boundaries, that is to say from the lower brow of the mountains to the higher brow of the mountains, to the source of the Kenefeg [Kenfig], and from the source of the Kenfig to the source of the Frudel [Ffrwdwyllt], and from the source of the Frudel across through the mountains to the ford of Kewelthi [Gyfylchi] in Afan, and as the waters descend to the sea, in wood and plain, in marsh and pasture, in perpetual alms, to be held freely and quit of all secular service. And I and my heirs will guarantee all the aforesaid to the said monks of Margam Abbey against all men forever. The witnesses of this matter are these: Hawise the countess, Cynan the abbot of Whitland, Richard the abbot of St Augustine’s, Bristol, Ralph the abbot of Neath, William of the Wood who was then sheriff, Symon of Cardiff, John de St. Laud, Robert son of Richard, Geoffrey Sturmy, Reginald son of Simon, William of Acton, Gilbert Croke, Guy de Rochefort, Robert the chaplain, Hervey the clerk.

Moreover, we have inspected the charters of Morgan ap Caradoc and Leyson his son, which they made to the monks of Margam aforesaid about the land of Rossoulyn [Resolfen], in these words: iii. Gift of Resolfen to Margam Abbey by Morgan ap Caradoc, early 13th century Morgan ap Caradoc to all sons of the holy church, present and future, greeting. Know that I with the counsel and consent of my heirs and friends have granted and given and by this charter confirmed to God and the church of St Mary of Margam and the monks who serve God there, in eternal alms, all the land of Roussoulyn [Resolfen] with all its appurtenances, in wood and plain, in meadows and pastures, in waters and in all its easements, by these bounds, that is to say, whatever is contained between the river called Wrak [Gwrach] and the river called Cleudachumkake [Clydach Cwm Caca] and between the River Neth [Neath] from the high road that goes through the mountain of Torbethel [Banwen Tor y Betel] as far

as Glynwrak [Glyn Wrach], and all the commodities of the River Neth [Neath] between the two rivers named before, that is to say the Wrak [Gwrach] and the Cleudachcumkake [Clydach Cwm Caca] and common of pasture of all my lands in the mountains between the Avena [Afan] and Neeth [Neath], to have and to hold free and quit of any service and custom, and secular exaction just as any alms can more freely be had and held. And I and my heirs will guarantee all this to them against all men forever. And all this I swear on that which is holy, for me and my heirs, to keep faithfully and securely. Witness lord Henry, Bishop of Llandaff, Nicholas Gubion, Helias deacon of Newcastle, Richard deacon of Boneulleston [Bonvilston], Henry priest of Bryggetune [possibly Briton Ferry], Rualthon and Maurice his brothers, William ap Alewins, David Pugnel. iv. Gift of Resolven to Margam Abbey by Leysan ap Morgan early 13th century Leysan ap Morgan to all sons of the holy church, present and future, greeting. Know that I with the counsel and consent of my father and my friends have granted and given and by this charter confirmed to God and the church of St Mary of Margam and the monks who serve God there, in perpetual alms, all the land of Roussoulyn [Resolfen] with all its appurtenances, in wood and plain, in meadows and pastures, in waters and in all its easements, by these boundaries, that is to say whatever is contained within the river called Wrack [Gwrach] and the river that is called Cleudachumkake [Clydach Cwm Caca], and between the River Neeth [Neath] and the great road that goes through the mountain in Torbethel [Banwen Tor y Betel] to Glynwrak [Glyn Wrach], and all the commodities of the River Neeth [Neath] between the before-named rivers, that is to say between the Wrack [Gwrach] and Cleudachumkake [Clydach Cwm Caca], and common of pasture of all my land in the mountain between the Avena [Afan] and Neeth [Neath], to be had and held free and quit of any service and custom and secular exaction just as any alms can more freely be had and held. And all this I and my heirs will guarantee to them against all men forever.

And all this I swear on that which is holy, for me and my heirs, to keep faithfully and securely. With these witnesses: Helias then deacon, Maurice the priest, Martin the priest, Henry the priest, David the priest, Roger ap Wyan, David Pugnel, John Soor, Gronow ap John and many more.

We have also inspected a certain inquisition taken in our county court of Glamorgan concerning the abbot of Margam, the tenor of whose words is as follows: v. Judgement of the county court of Glamorgan, 1299 County court of Glamorgan, held Monday next before the Feast of St Laurence, in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Edward the son of King Henry, and in the year of our Lord’s incarnation one thousand, two hundred and ninety nine, before lord Simon de Ralegh, then sheriff of Glamorgan, and before the council of the lord’s county court, which is to say lord Robert de la Warde, lord John de St John the younger, lord Roger his brother, lord Robert of Halketon, lord Hugh de St John, lord Robert of Cardiff, lord Robert de Grendon, knights, master Thomas of Pulesdon, master Henry of Llancarvan, lord Robert of Chemicton, lord John of Bruges, clerks. Wherefore all the county court bears witness that the Abbot of Margam holds and has held all his lands and tenements from the county court of Cardiff in chief. And that the same abbot will answer to the county court of Cardiff and not elsewhere about all his lands and tenements aforesaid. And that the priest of the county court of Cardiff, whoever he may be, will perform the office of coroner everywhere throughout the whole land of the Abbot of Margam and nobody else. It is also adjudged by the same county court that Traharn Du, beadle of Tiriarlth [Tir Iarll], who has made a coroner’s inspection of Philip Spark who was oppressed in Comkenefeg [Cwm Kenfig] in the wood of the said abbot which is within the jurisdiction of the liberties of the said county court, and who has been neither appointed nor assigned to this, is to be incarcerated in prison. In witness whereof the present Simon de Ralegh, then sheriff of Glamorgan, placed his seal and John le Waleys, knight, William de Berkeroles, John le Norreis, John de

Winchester, Richard de Nerbert, Lucas de Barry, Philip Soor, David Basset, Richard Siward, William Wallos, John le Botiler, Robert de Cauntelo, Peter de Lanhask, Aaron ap Howel then bailiff of the county court, likewise placed their seals.

And we the said Hugh le Despenser, son and heir of lord Hugh le Despenser and lady Eleanor his wife, considering the said donations of alms and other works of piety which are continually increased in our said abbey of Margam to the honour of God, for the salvation of our soul and for the salvation of the souls of our father and mother aforesaid and also for the salvation of the souls of all our ancestors and descendants, have given, granted and by this present writing confirmed and for us and our heirs in perpetual and pure alms all the gifts, grants and confirmations aforesaid according to the tenor of the said charters, to God and the church of Blessed Mary of Margam and the monks serving God there, free, quit of all secular service, custom and demand of whatever kind forever, ratifying and approving for us and our heirs forever whatever is more fully and freely contained within the said charters of lords Robert and William his son, Earl of Gloucester, and also in the charters of the said Morgan ap Caradoc and Leysan his son. Moreover we confirm for us and our heirs the before-mentioned inquisition so plainly that the said abbot or his successors may respond nowhere but in the county court of Cardiff, as much regarding all their lands and tenements in our lordship of Glamorgan wherever and of whatever kind they may be forever. Wherefore we will and order that the said monks may have and hold all the aforesaid freely and quietly, wholly and fully, in wood and plain, in roads and lanes, in waters and mills, in running and stagnant water, in moor and marsh, in turbaries and fisheries, in meadows and pastures, and in all their other easements and free customs forever. In witness of which matter we have caused the seal of our chancery to be placed on this present writing. Given in our castle of Cardiff on the ninth day of the month of October in the twelfth year of the reign of King Edward the Third after the conquest. Witness myself and also the venerable father in Christ John de Egglescliffe, Bishop of Llandaff, master Richard de Halton then archdeacon of the same church Gilbert de Wigeton, John de Melton, master Richard Stokes, canons of the said church, William de Erkelawe, then steward of our lands in England and our sheriff of Glamorgan, William de Chiswille, John Davene, Roger de Berkeroles, Edward de Stradeling, knights, Gilbert le Despenser, John le Norreis, Matthew le Soor, Thomas de Barrie, Thomas ap Aaron, John Lovel and many others.

And we the said Edward le Despenser, Lord of Glamorgan, for the salvation of our soul and the souls of our father and mother and all our ancestors, descendants and heirs, ratifying and approving all the charters, donations, grants and confirmations aforesaid, for us and for our heirs, we grant, renew, accept, ratify and confirm them as far as we can forever, wishing and granting that these charters, gifts, grants and confirmations should be firmly and inviolably observed in all their liberties forever, any interruption notwithstanding. In witness of this matter we have caused the seal of our chancery of Cardiff to be placed upon this our present charter. With these witnesses: venerable father in Christ John Pascal, Bishop of the church of Llandaff, John de Coventry, then archdeacon of the same church, Gilbert de Ellesfeld then our sheriff of Glamorgan, Richard de Turberville, Oliver de St. John, John le Norreis, Edward de Stradeling, knights, William Flemyng, Henry de Landefey, William Denys, and others. Given at Cardiff the thirteenth day of July in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Edward the Third after the conquest. …………………………………………..

Andrew Dulley Assistant County Archivist …………………………………………..

Archives A/Ma 1: charter of Edward le Despenser, 1358.

The Derek Gabriel photograph collection: the changing face of a town and city

View from the Bus station looking over the corner of Plymouth Street and Nelson Street. Shows Brian Jones Ltd., Fletchers and Callways (D/D DG 3/20) This year we received three volumes of photographs of Swansea and the surrounding area by Derek Gabriel. The photographs were intended for publication as ‘Lovely Ugly Swansea’ Parts 1-3 although they were never actually published. Derek Gabriel grew up on Spring Terrace, Sandfields with his family. His mother, Gladys Gabriel, was church caretaker at Spring Terrace Tabernacle.

Derek was a professional photographer, formerly employed by Swansea University. He has published several books including 'The Great Pub Crawl (The search for an A-Z): A story of Swansea Pubs' with Ray Marshall and ‘Photographic Memories of Jazz in Swansea’. His interest in photography began when his father taught him to develop films in his darkroom under the stairs.

The photographs have been catalogued in detail within the original volumes.

Many of the images focus on the area in and around the centre of Swansea, as well as Sandfields.

Some of the photographs record an area, house or building over time, such as the development of the Quadrant, changes along Oystermouth Road, and the South Dock area. The majority of images cover the period of the 1950s-1970s, but there are also older and more recent images covering the period 1930s-1990s. This article showcases some of those images.

Shop fronts The collection includes a number of photographs showing post-war shop fronts, including all the main brands of the day: Lennards, Lewis Lewis and Woolworth, as well as smaller, independent businesses such as Bills Sweet Centre, Hoover and Carousel.

From left to right: looking down Orchard Street towards the upper Kingsway roundabout, showing Lennards (D/D DG 1/117); Lewis Lewis, High Street (D/D DG 1/29); Woolworth on junction of College Street, Welcome Lane and High Street (D/D DG 1/28)

From left to right: Bills Sweet Centre on the corner of Singleton Street and James Street (D/D DG 2/9); Oxford Street at junction with Little Gam Street showing the Hoover Shop (D/D DG 1/147); Carousel shop on Nelson Street (D/D DG 2/32)

Sandfields The photographer grew up in Sandfields and a number of images reflect this. There is a set that includes images of Spring Terrace Tabernacle, both inside and out, as well as a couple of family photographs taken on Spring Terrace.

View looking over the rooftops and gardens of houses in Sandfields towards Swansea Prison (D/D DG 3/15) Public houses Many of the images of public houses appear in the book 'The Great Pub Crawl (The search for an A-Z): A story of Swansea Pubs' by Ray Marshall. Only one of the pubs shown below still remains (now run as a café). Swansea Castle Hotel was demolished in 1993. The Gower Inn and Rutland Arms were demolished in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

From left to right: Swansea Castle Hotel, Oxford Street (D/D DG 1/146); Gower Inn, corner of Plymouth Street (D/D DG 2/17); Rutland Arms, Rutland Street (D/D DG 3/26); Nelson Street towards the Belle Vue Hotel and The Quadrant during construction (D/D DG 2/35)

Churches and chapels The collection also records churches and chapels that are no longer standing, although Elim Pentecostal Church was rebuilt along Dyfatty Street.

From left to right: Walter Road Congregational Church (D/D DG 1/76-79); Elim Pentecostal Church (D/D DG 1/61); Alexandra Presbyterian Church (D/D DG 3/76) Curios within the collection There are a couple of curious images within the collection. Firstly, a set of three images recording the circus coming to town sometime in the 1970s. The photographs show a memory of elephants and a caravan of camels. The photographer took up position opposite Argyle Chapel, St Helen’s Road and watched the parade head west towards the Guildhall.

Photographs of a circus parade along St Helen’s Road (D/D DG 1/157-158) There is also a set of four photographs showing David Prowse (best known for playing Darth Vader in Star Wars) at The Dairy Festival weightlifting competition (D/D DG 2/115-118); as well as a photograph of the First Supersonic World Land Speed Record Car (ThrustSSC) outside Fulton House, Swansea University (D/D DG 2/108). The collection is available to view in our searchroom in Swansea Civic Centre. …………………………………………..

Katie Millien Archivist …………………………………………..

Archives D/D DG The Derek Gabriel Collection

Swansea County Borough Land Use Survey, 1949-1977

Map 73 SW 2 showing Swansea town centre with annotations marking the route of the new Kingsway and Princess Way, 1949/50 Transferred from Swansea Council’s Planning Section this year were a number of boxes containing a Land Use Survey which was made by Swansea County Borough Council under powers conferred by the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 laid the foundations of today’s planning system.

Superseding an Act of 1944 which gave local authorities powers over reconstruction and redevelopment, the 1947 Act required planning permission to be granted before any development could begin. This was a significant change which meant that from thenceforth the right to develop land was no longer a natural consequence of owning it. The owner needed both title and ‘planning title’.

Under the 1947 Act, local authorities were given power to approve all planning proposals, control the redevelopment of land, issue compulsory purchase orders and lease it to developers. They were also given powers to control outdoor advertising, to preserve woodland and buildings of architectural and historical interest. This last power was the start of the scheduling or listing of historic buildings which has ever since provided a degree of protection to them.

The Act required that local authorities prepare a comprehensive local plan, setting out detailed policies and proposals for the use and development of land within their area. Swansea submitted its first plan to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning in February 1955, four years later than the deadline set by the 1947 Act. This survey carried out by the County Borough Council provides information on how the town looked and what use was made of each building at the time of the survey, first in 1949/50 and then again in 1976/77. Within each file, we get such details as the number of buildings on a street, what materials they are constructed of, their present condition and use, and whether there were any advertisements on them. Also detailed are the name and nature of any premises that accommodated businesses.

The accession consists of two editions of the survey a quarter of a century apart. The first survey took place between 1949 and 1950 and the second was undertaken in 1976. Much changed in the town/city between these years and the maps can be used to inspect those changes. The first survey maps give an insight into Swansea in the immediate post-war period. At the time, Swansea was a town only just starting on its reconstruction after the devastation of the Second World War. The town centre had been largely destroyed in the Three Nights’ Blitz. While some emergency repairs took place in the period immediately after the war, it was not until the 1950s that the real reconstruction phase would begin. As seen in the examples above and below, the maps have post-war annotations hand-drawn on pre-war Ordnance Survey maps.

Map 63 SW 4 showing the Greenhill area of Swansea

Schedule of property details for map 63 SW 4 These two Land Use Surveys are undoubtedly an invaluable source for researching the history of an area of Swansea or a particular building; they add more depth to research than a map alone, giving details of what the property or land was used for, who owned it, who occupied it, and so on.

West Glamorgan Archives also holds several parallel resources useful for researching land and property.

Tithe maps and their accompanying apportionments were drawn up in the decade or so following the Tithe Commutation Act, 1836, under which payments of tithes in kind were commuted to monetary payments. To carry out the terms of the Act, Commissioners were appointed for each parish whose task was to draw up maps and accompanying schedules or apportionments.

Typically the maps include roads, houses, gardens, woods, rivers and the names of farms and other significant buildings. The accompanying schedules list landowners, occupiers, field numbers, field and farm names, state of cultivation, quantities in stature measure, amount of rentcharge and who it was payable to (rector, vicar or lay impropriator).

The Local Board of Health Map of 1852 is the most detailed map of Swansea in Victorian times.

Swansea Local Board of Health was formed in 1850 to regulate sanitation in the rapidly growing town. To help with the planning they mapped the town in detail: houses are all numbered, down to

the smallest slum dwelling and larger public buildings include seating plans. It gives a glimpse into urban life in Victorian Swansea.

Ordnance Survey parish survey books were drawn up in the 1870s to accompany the first edition of the 1:2500 Ordnance Survey Map, and there was one for each parish. Each plot of land in the parish is given a number, which appears on the map, and corresponds to an entry in the reference book. The entry gives the field number, acreage and land use. At the back of each book is a gazetteer of place names in the parish. These reference books were only drawn up to accompany the first edition maps. Subsequent editions include the acreage of the plot on the map along with the field number. Land use is not recorded on later editions.

Another useful set of plans covering the centre of Swansea are the Goad Insurance plans, 18881947 (D/D Xgb 18/1-12) originally produced to aid insurance companies in assessing fire risk. The footprints of buildings, their use (commercial, residential, educational, etc.), the number of floors and the height of the building, as well as construction materials (and thus incendiary risk) and any special fire hazards (stored chemicals, kilns or ovens) were documented in order to estimate premiums. Names of individual businesses, property lines, and addresses were also often recorded. Together these maps provide a rich historical shapshot of the commercial activity and urban landscape of Swansea at the time.

The 1910 Land Valuation Survey arose from the Finance Act of 1910 which included provision for taxing any increase in the value of land, by undertaking a baseline valuation of all land owned in England and Wales in 1909, against which subsequent sale prices could be compared. The valuation was undertaken by District Valuation Offices of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and involved the compilation of field books and maps which listed all property; a 'Domesday' book summarising this information, and various Forms (including Form 37, listing all holdings of a particular individual). The Welsh Region was divided into 11 districts, including the Swansea District, which covered parts of Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire.

The Domesday or Valuation books provide details of property in each parish, giving the hereditament number (for purposes of valuation), the names of occupiers, owners, description of the property and the valuation. The books are dated between 1909 and 1910.

The Form 37 provides details of property in each parish and hereditament number (for purposes of valuation) together with the valuation. Names of Occupiers are left blank, but names and addresses of owners, lessees and other interested parties, on whom a copy of the provisional valuation was served, are given. The forms are dated between 1911 and 1916.

Image of the fire-damaged Zoar Chapel on In conclusion, the Swansea Land Use Survey, the newest of our several landrelated resources, will be an invaluable addition to our collections and a useful tool for researchers for years to come. …………………………………………..

Emma Laycock Archivist …………………………………………..

The archive collection reference number is as yet unassigned.

Carmarthen Road corresponding in location to the bottom edge right hand side of map 63 SW 4 reproduced above, 1978 (P/PR 58/3/7/1)

Cyril George Cupid and the creation of Cupid Way

Cupid Way forms the new approach road to Swansea Arena. It is named in honour of the Swansea athlete Cyril George Cupid (1908-1965). Cyril Cupid became the Welsh champion in both the 100 and 220 yard races from 1930-1934, winning eight titles, four consecutive sprint doubles, and setting new Welsh records. In 1934, he became the first Welshman to run 100 yards in under 10 seconds. He was part of the Welsh team competing in the British Empire Games in 1934. Here, by kind permission of Lesley Williams, editor of Swansea’s Bay Magazine, their resident local and family history expert Charles Wilson-Watkins reveals some of Cyril Cupid’s family and sporting history.

Cyril Cupid has been honoured this year with a road named after him, Cupid Way. The road, leading from the entrance of the Quadrant Centre and St. Mary’s church, forms the ramp of the new bridge over Oystermouth Road to the Swansea Arena. But who exactly is Cyril Cupid? After posting a photograph onto the Swansea People’s History Facebook page, I was contacted by Sonya Aleksic, Cyril’s granddaughter. The photograph I had posted turned out to be not of Cyril but of his brother, Douglas. The family photographs used in this article have been kindly provided

by Sonya.

Cyril was born in 1908 in Swansea, the second of eight children of George Arthur Cupid and Maud Matilda Palmer. By the time of the 1911 census, the Cupid family were residing at 33 Caebricks Road, Cwmbwrla. Information from the census shows that Cyril’s father, George, originated from

St Vincent and the Grenadines in the West Indies. George’s occupation in 1911 is shown as spelterman, however the 1901 census lists him as Able Seaman, Royal Naval Reserve. The censuses list the birthplace of Cyril’s mother Maud as Swansea.

Sadly, during the First World War in 1917, George died while a passenger on a train travelling between Newport and Cardiff. He was on his way home after a period at sea serving onboard the Malwa, a P&O passenger liner requisitioned by the Admiralty to carry Australian troops. George was buried in an unmarked grave in Cwmgelli Cemetery. Maud outlived him by almost thirty years and died in 1945.

The Cambria Daily Leader article “Fete and Sports” in August 1918 describes a carnival held in Victoria Park and St. Helen’s Ground to raise money for the War Prisoners’ Fund. In the sports results, the 190-yard flat race for boys under 14 lists Cyril as finishing second.

A decade later, we see Cyril making his first public appearances as an adult athlete. During the 1930s, Cyril broke records in Germany and Austria for both the 100 and 200 metres. In 1934, Cyril, competing in Newport in the 100-yard race, set a new record of 9.8 seconds, making him the first Welshman to run under 10 seconds. The record set at Newport remained unbeaten in Wales for fifteen years, to be broken only in 1949 by Ken Jones, a sprinter and also a Welsh international rugby footballer.

In 1933, Cyril married Elizabeth A. Rees in Swansea. The following year, they were to have their one child, a daughter whom they named Coral.

The British Empire Games, held every four years, were established in 1930 and were known by that name until 1950. From 1954 to 1966 they were called the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, then the British Commonwealth Games from 1970 until 1974 and most latterly the Commonwealth Games. The 1942 and 1946 Games were cancelled because of the war and its immediate aftermath of austerity. The cancelled 1946 Games had been scheduled to be held in Cardiff.

The first Games in 1930, were held in Ontario, Canada, where eleven countries participated. The 1934 Games were originally awarded to Johannesburg in South Africa. However, owing to that country’s increasing policies of racial segregation and hence concerns by the organisers about prejudice against Black athletes, London replaced it as the host city.

Wembley Park, with its iconic Empire Stadium constructed in 1922, was the ideal venue for the 1934 Games. It was here that the 1923 FA Cup Final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United had been played before an estimated crowd of 300,000 fans. In 1924, the Stadium was chosen for the British Empire Exhibition, which lasted until the following year. The 17 nations participating in 1934 provided a total of 500 athletes competing in 68 events. The four home nations of England, Wales, Scotland and the Irish Free State competed as separate countries. The opening ceremony was held on 4th August and, lasting just a week, concluded with a closing ceremony on 11th.

At the 1934 Games, England topped the medal table, with 29 gold, 20 silver and 24 bronze medals, while Wales came eighth, with no gold, but three each of silver and bronze medals. At least three of the Welsh athletes at the Games were from Swansea. As well as Cyril Cupid, lawn bowlers Thomas Davies and Stan Weaver, who bowled for the Swansea Bowls Club, competed and won a bronze medal in the Pairs Lawn Bowls.

At the start of the Second World War, the 1939 Register records that Cyril, his occupation given as ‘First Helper Tin worker, Heavy Work’, was residing with his wife, Elizabeth at 30 Llwyn Derw in Fforestfach, Swansea.

After the war, Cyril, now in his 40s, was still competing in athletics events. The family however moved from Swansea to London, where Cyril died in 1965, aged 57 years. …………………………………………..

Charles Wilson-Watkins Bay Magazine family and local history columnist …………………………………………..

The murder stone at Cadoxton

The Cadoxton murder stone (photograph by Don Rodgers) Last year’s article by Ioan Richard about a murder stone in the village of Felindre included a postscript written by myself concerning the more famous murder stone in Cadoxton-juxta-Neath parish graveyard and that postscript prompted an email from Martyn Griffiths, retired police officer, Neath historian and member of the Neath Antiquarian Society.

I am very pleased, by way of correction of my assertion in the postscript that the suspect was never charged, to be able to reproduce here Martyn’s article on the Cadoxton murder stone, which has been reproduced previously in the Cadoxton parish magazine and on the Neath Antiquarian Society website.

Amongst the thousands of graves in the churchyard at Cadoxton, the most famous or infamous is undoubtedly the Murder Stone.

Murder Stones served as an appeal to conscience and the one in Cadoxton was intended to attract the attention of the murderer. The primary message addressed to him is that he should give himself up as a matter of conscience. The secondary message is a warning to others of a similar violent disposition. When the stone was erected there was no wall around the churchyard and anyone passing on the turnpike road would have been able to see the stone.

The stone was erected in 1823, a year after the murder. The memorial reads: “Although the savage murderer escaped for a season the detection of man, yet God hath set his mark upon him either for time or eternity and the cry of blood will assuredly pursue him to certain and terrible but righteous judgement.”

This was a genuine attempt to put the ‘Fear of God’ into the murderer!

The stone is not unique. There are many stones dealing with the victims of murder; but the St Catwg’s stone is a very rare example of a murder stone where the assailant was never identified.

There is a similar stone at Nebo Chapel, Felindre (Llangyfelach). Erected in 1832, the inscription there no doubt took its inspiration from the Cadoxton stone, as some of the wording is identical.

THE MURDER STONE The murder took place on Saturday 13th July 1822, but the stone was not erected until the following year. Some say it was placed alongside the path at a particular angle so that it pointed towards the farm where the chief suspect lived. However, it is obvious that the stone is placed no differently to others alongside the path.

The cost of producing the monument was paid for by George Tennant of Cadoxton Lodge who, at this time, was well advanced in the building of the Tennant Canal (opened May 1824). Was this a public relations exercise?

The author of the verse on the stone was Elijah Waring (1788-1857). He was originally a Quaker and had moved to Neath in about 1814 from Alton in Hampshire. Waring became a Wesleyan and preached at the local chapels. He was either loved or hated and one adversary commented that he was; “notorious on all occasions for a desire of hearing his own oratory.”

Waring married a daughter of Peter Price of the Neath Abbey Iron works. He lived at Plas-y-felin, next to the Neath river bridge and owned Melin-y-bont, the mill adjoining his property. He is best remembered for his Recollections and Anecdotes of Edward Williams, the Bard of Glamorgan, (Iolo Morganwg) which was published in 1850.

Elijah Waring’s daughter Anna Letitia was a well-known hymn writer who joined the Church of England. His son, Charles, lived at Darran, Longford, and wrote a Handbook of Neath although it was published anonymously.

THE MURDER Margaret Williams was a 26 year-old young woman from Carmarthenshire who worked as a maid on a farm above Cadoxton. She became pregnant and left the farm – we don’t know if she left of her own accord or was thrown out.

Ten weeks later she was lodging with an old man nearer the town. She walked into town on Saturday 13th July 1822 and there she bought a sheep’s head. The following morning she was found in a ditch by the side of a path near the river. Her basket with the sheep’s head was found nearby. She had been walking home when she had been attacked “with marks of violence upon her person.”

The son of the farmer was arrested. He was known to be the father of the child and he was immediately suspected of her killing.

On Tuesday the inquest started in Neath (things moved far more quickly in those days). The jury were kept in overnight but the following day it was found that there was not enough evidence to charge the young man and he was released.

Cadoxton, and indeed, Neath, may have been small places in those days, but probably everybody knew everyone else’s business. Suspicions and feelings ran high and it is said that the young man left for a new life in America, though recent research puts that in doubt.

THE ACCUSED The Richards family farmed much of the hillside on the east side of the Neath valley for most of the 19th century.

Llewellyn Richards was the son of Daniel Richards and Gwenllian John who had married on 25th March 1791 and had three known sons – Howell born 1793 who farmed at Tongarwed and Ynysgollen; Daniel baptised at Cadoxton 7th June 1804 and Llewellyn baptised 2nd May1800.

Howell married in 1820 and went to farm at Tongarwed. Daniel stayed single and remained at Gellia the rest of his life. Their mother Gwenllian died in 1832 but their father Daniel was 90 years old when he died in 1867.

The murder took place on 13th July 1822. The following January (17th) Llewellyn Richards had a son Llewelyn baptised in Cadoxton. The mother was Gwenllian Llewelyn, the daughter of John Llewelyn of Blaengwenffrwd farm, above Clyne on the other side of the valley. The baby died in November the following year.

The Cambrian newspaper reported on 16th April 1825 that Llewellyn Richards had been charged with the murder. He stood trial at the Court of Great Sessions and was found Not Guilty. Twentytwo witnesses were called to give evidence. Unfortunately, there is no transcript of the trial itself.

Llewellyn Richards and Gwenllian Llewelyn were married at Cadoxton on 11th May 1829 and they had a daughter, Mary, christened in Llantwit on 11th October that year.

By the time of the 1841 Census, Llewellyn Richards and his wife had settled at Myrose Farm Llanharan and they remained there for the rest of their lives. The farm is shown as 197 acres in 1861. They had two children, Mary and Daniel born 1832. Daniel never married.

Llewellyn Richards died 9th December 1876 at Llantrisant and made a will naming his son Daniel, a labourer of Heolpenmaen, Llantrisant, as his executor. Llewellyn’s wife, Gwenllian, had died age 76, on 26th May that same year.

On 6th September1888 the funeral of Mary Harris relict of Richard Harris, Pontypridd, and daughter of the late Llewellyn Richards, Meyrose, Llantrisant was noted in the newspapers. It is not known if they had any descendants.

The son, Daniel, died early in 1912 aged 79.

THE TRIAL OF LLEWELLYN RICHARDS The Bristol Mercury dated 25th April 1825 records that Llewellyn Richards had been charged with the murder and was in custody. Perhaps, as suggested above, he had fled to America and returned to face justice. The following is the charge as laid out before the Court of Great Sessions and it gives more detail of the brutal murder:

The trial as recorded by the Court of Great Sessions in 1825 (GB0210 CGREATS Gaol file 4/638/1, picture courtesy National Library of Wales) Annotation at the top: [ ] Not guilty by the Jury In the Great Sessions Glamorganshire to wit The Jurors present that Llewelyn Richard late of the parish of Cadoxtone near Neath in the County of Glamorgan Labourer on the thirteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two with force and arms and so forth at the Parish of Cadoxtone in and upon one Margaret William then and there being feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault.

And that the said Llewelyn Richard then and there did strike beat and kick the said Margaret William with both the hands and feet upon the Head Breast and Neck Throat Back Belly sides and other parts of the Body of her.

And also did then and there with both the hand of him the said Llewelyn Richard cast hurl fling and throw into a certain Pill or rivulet of water then and there being and down to and upon the ground with great force and violence there giving unto the said Margaret William then and there by the beating striking and (Insert unreadable) of him the said Llewelyn Richard in manner and form aforesaid and by the said casting hurling flinging and throwing of the said Margaret William into the said Pill or rivulet of water in manner and form aforesaid several mortal strokes wounds and bruises in and upon the head breast neck throat back belly sides and other parts of the body of her the said Margaret William of which said several mortal strokes wounds and bruises she the said Margaret William for a long time to wit for the space of four hours then next ensuing at the Parish of Cadoxtone near Neath aforesaid in the County of Glamorgan aforesaid did languish and languishing did live on which said thirteenth day of July in the third year of the reign aforesaid the said Margaret William at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid of the several mortal strokes wounds and bruises aforesaid died And so the Jurors on their Oaths aforesaid do say that the said Llewelyn Richard h[it] the said Margaret William in the manner and by the means aforesaid feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the peace of our said Lord the King his crown and dignity. And the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid do

further present That the said Llewelyn Richard not having the fear of God before his Eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil on the day and year aforesaid with force and arms at the Parish of Cadoxtone near Neath aforesaid in the County aforesaid in and upon the said Margaret William then and there instantly died And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid do further say that he the said Llewelyn Richard her the said Margaret William in the manner and by the means last aforesaid did feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the peace of our said Lord the King his crown and dignity And the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid with force and arms at the Parish of Cadoxtone near Neath aforesaid in the County aforesaid in and upon the said Margaret William in the peace of God and our said Lord the King then and there being feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did make another assault and the said Llewelyn Richard then and there feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did cast throw and push the said Margaret William into a certain Ditch Rivulet and piece of water there situate wherein there was a great quantity of water by means of which said casting throwing and pushing of the said Margaret William in the said Ditch Rivulet and piece of water by the said Llewelyn Richard she the said Margaret William was then and there choaked suffocated and drowned of which said choaking suffocation and drowning Margaret William then and there instantly died And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid do further say that he the said Llewelyn Richard her the said Margaret William in the manner and by the means last aforesaid feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity.

Thos. Morgan Prosecutors Attorn

Brown

REVERSE Prosecution & Witness Witnesses John William William Jones John Davies Ann Jenkins Adam Jenkins Edwd. Howele Esq (born Neath 1795 M.D. from Swansea) Jenkin Jenkins David Harry Hopkin Jenkins Thomas Jones John Bereford ?

David Davies David Hay, Land Surveyor (advertised as Mineral surveyor of Cwm Neath, died Llanelli 1833 ‘in the prime of life’) James Moore Nicholl Wood (coroner for East Glam. Retired 1830 – removed from office due to long periods out of country. He died in Jamaica 1838 where he had gone for his health. Notice said he was of Pibor, Carmarthenshire, son of John Wood esq of Cardiff)) Thomas Morgan Gwenllian Llewelyn (girlfriend of accused) Gwenllian Evan Daniel Richard (brother of accused) Gwenllian Richard (mother of accused)

A CONFESSION Fifty years after the murder, a book was published in Merthyr which raised fresh questions about the killing. The author, Charles Wilkins, was a postmaster and librarian in the town and a respected historian, having written a history of the town of Merthyr Tydfil and many other history books.

This particular publication was a collection of stories. It was entitled ‘Tales and Sketches of Wales’ and the tale that we are interested in was named, ‘The Mystery of the Neath Valley : Was He Guilty?’

In it, Wilkins repeats a version of the Cadoxton tragedy and ends with a death-bed confession from a man named Parry. Parry alleged that he had always taken a fancy to Margaret Williams but she had not returned his advances. On this particular Saturday night he had seen Margaret with her boyfriend. When they parted he once more tried his luck only to be repulsed. Frenzied with passion he killed her.

Was this a true story? Or was it an editorial addition aimed at selling more books? The names have been changed, the place of the murder is different and even the means of the killing has been altered. The tale as told by Charles Wilkins has certainly been re-arranged to grab the attention of the readers.

There is one more piece of information of interest relating to this murder. The Neath Fair in the late 19th and early 20th centuries featured plays put on by the Haggar family. William Haggar and Jack Desmond wrote, ‘The Fair Maid of Neath’, which outlined the heinous crime. Haggar’s father, also named William, was a pioneer film maker in South Wales.

CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE THE GRAVESTONE The Western Mail carried a story on 13th December 1939, calling for the removal of the Murder Stone by some residents in the village, saying that “it is not in keeping with the spirit of the age.”

The correspondent was anonymous but his or her demands did not find support from other residents. The secretary of the church, Mrs Herbert Evans commented, “I never heard of such a thing. The stone will never go from the churchyard while I live.” (She was then 66 years of age.)

A compromise was suggested that the stone be turned around so that the inscription was not readable by passers-by.

The Murder Stone thankfully, still occupies a prominent site on the main pathway to the church entrance and is well known throughout the Neath area. The stone is well maintained and flowers are often laid there. The murder itself will probably never be detected now but, as long as the stone stands, its story will live on.

POSTSCRIPT Local historian, Robert King, tells the story that some years ago he was asked by the Wales Tourist Board if he would show an American family around the area. As they said their ancestor came from Gellia farm, he took them there and later showed them around Cadoxton Church.

Finally, he showed them the Murder Stone and one of them commented, “1822. That was when our ancestor came out to America.”

Who then was that ancestor? All the brothers are accounted for. Was it one of the labourers on the farm or perhaps a lodger? Was this the ‘Parry’ who returned fifty years later and confessed on his death bed (the name has probably been changed)?

A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. There are still many questions to be answered about the Cadoxton Murder Stone. …………………………………………..

Martyn Griffiths Local historian and member of the Neath Antiquarian Society ………………………………………….

Photograph by Jeffrey Griffiths

Sky high above Mawr

An aerial view of Mynydd y Gwair, from before the wind farm development (photographer the late Michael Kent and copyright of the author) For a second year, we are delighted to present here an article by Ioan Richard, amateur local historian, former Swansea councillor and Lord Mayor of Swansea 2011/12. Ioan is a keen champion of the history of his native patch, the Community of Mawr.

For those of you who do not know, Mawr is Welsh for ‘big’. It is also a geographic area that was the largest division of the ancient Llangyfelach Parish Church and known as ‘Parsel Mawr’. It includes the villages of Craigcefnparc; Felindre and Garnswllt and large areas of upland common land or ‘Gower of the Hills’ with many farms and formerly several large coal drift mines.

If you look at a map it is the seemingly large empty space between Morriston Hospital and Ammanford Town. It also has a large air space above which seems to be one of the most used aero corridors for the flights between London and New York. Up until the pandemic there would always be a few large aeroplanes above Mawr, both day and night. Apart from those, Mawr has had its own history of flying and its own aviators. This article seeks to record those and their aero history in an amateur history which, true historians should beware, has not been fully researched properly in being a fragmented collection of memories and handed down stories of interest before they are lost forever. It is mostly about Mawr area with a few very nearby locations. Before progressing I would ask readers to just pause to remember the few brave residents of Mawr who gave up their lives for our free future during wartime conflicts in the Armed Services and the Royal Air Force.

I don’t know when flights first took place over Mawr but the following press cutting from page 5 of the Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News on Thursday 30th October 1913 gives an idea of the early beginnings of such flights:Brynamman Notes. The appearance of an aeroplane soaring over our heads on Saturday aroused surprise. After some speculation as to its purpose and motive, the re-assuring information was obtained that it was making an exhibition flight and would "land" at Ammanford.

THE AEROPLANE AND BETTER TRAVELLING FACILITIES.—Great was the excitement on Saturday. Every vantage point was thronged with people watching the first aeroplane flying through the district, and, of course, like most other things, it went to Ammanford. It would be a good thing for the Amman Valley if a flying service could he established to take the place of the antiquated train service of the Great Western Railway. There is no word strong enough in the dictionary to describe the service of the G.W.R. in the Valley. Pity we cannot get a director of the company to come and live somewhere near. One director is equal to endless petitions for better service.

AEROPLANE AT AMMANFORD 1913. On Saturday last Mr. Edwin Prosser, the well-known aviator, gave an exhibition of flying at Ammanford. A very large crowd attended to see him making his two flights. The aeroplane could be heard and seen by large numbers in all parts of the locality when circling in the air very high.

Air shows in Garnswllt Many residents today talk of handed-down accounts of air shows being held at the large flat field next to Afon Llwchwr called Ynys Fawr, part of Ynystawelog Farm Garnswllt in the early 1930s.

Seemingly crowds would gather to watch aerial acrobats of daring pilots in light aircraft take off and land in the field. Those with enough courage and enough money would be taken up for an aerial circuit of the Ammanford area.

Harry Grindell Matthews “The Death Ray Man” (1880-1941) Matthews built his laboratory, workshop and bungalow home on an isolated part of Mynydd y Gwair in Mawr in 1934 called Tor Clawdd. He equipped it with an aircraft landing strip which he used for his own plane as a pilot himself. The ‘strip’ was later dug up for wartime security. He had many visits from persons landing there by aeroplane.

One included Colonel Etherton, who had been part of the team that made the first ever flight over Mount Everest. That team was sponsored by the incredibly wealthy Lady Houston who also sponsored the development of the Supermarine Spitfire. Without her there would have been no Spitfires to fight the Battle of Britain. She was also a close friend of Grindell Matthews! Grindell helped two local men Gwilym Price and Jim Hill build a ‘Flying Flea’ kit aeroplane at Torclawdd. They went on from being Council electricians to work for Westlands Aircraft in Somerset. It is beyond the scope of this short article to say more.

Colonel P T Etherton The Second World War A bi-plane lost a propeller over Cynghordy Fawr Farm but struggled on to land safely at Fairwood.

The incident is recorded in Glamorgan Archives Cardiff for 31 January1942 in police files of that year as “Propeller found in field”.

Stanislav Tocauer was a Czech pilot who survived a Spitfire AR226 crash landing in a field above the Lower Lliw Reservoir, Felindre, Swansea on the morning of 25th November 1941 at Llety Farm in Felindre. The then farmer acquired the Spitfire’s small rear wheel for his wheelbarrow and the wheel is still there on the wheelbarrow in 2021. Tocauer served in the 312 Czech Squadron at Fairwood Common Swansea. This crash landing is referred to in the book “Fallen Flyers” – “Tragedy in the skies over wartime Gower” by Steven H Jones (2005). In 1943, Stanislav Tocauer volunteered for a tour of duty with the Czech airforce on the Eastern Front led by the Soviets. He survived the war despite being shot down by the Germans and held by them as a PoW. Oddly the mass presence of American Troops training on Mynydd y Gwair 1943 to June 1944 saw little aircraft activity as they were G I Infantry - who trained in danger there under real live ground fire.

Gliding Club Many years after Grindell Matthews, in the 1970s, a local gliding club used a nearby part of Mynydd y Gwair common as a ‘strip’ to launch their gliders using an old farm tractor with a fast spinning winch to wind in the tow cable at a fast speed to launch their planes. Was there another such club there pre-WW2, I wonder?

Bryn Llewellyn The late Bryn Llewellyn of Abergelli Farm in Felindre in his younger days gained a pilot’s licence and, as his business became more successful, he used some land at Betws to develop a ‘Trotting Race Track’ for his trotting horses, land which was also used as a landing strip for his aircraft. Over the years, Bryn owned and flew several aircraft, including a Cessna 150 and various two, four and six-seater planes. At the end he also owned a helicopter that came with a pilot. Bryn was a founder of the West Wales Flying Club based at Fairwood Aerodrome outside Swansea, together with former Bomber Command pilot Ray Spencer and former fighter plane pilot ‘Ginger’ Lacey and with enthusiast Diane Isme, a descendant of the White Star shipping line family. In later years, Bryn allowed microlight flyers to store their equipment in one of his barns. Bryn was a ‘larger than life’ character and is missed by all who knew him.

Thomas Ivor Plant (1913-1996) was a Wartime RAF pilot who lived at Lygos Farm in Mawr from 1958 to 1996. He was a very interesting character and retained the rank of Flight Lieutenant after service retirement as an entry in the The London Gazette shows:

ROYAL AIR FORCE. GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.* Confirmation and promotion. Pit. Promotion. Fig. Off. to Fit. Lt. (war subs.): —16th Dec. 1944. T. I. PLANT (41130).

He kept a large aircraft propeller on the wall above his fireplace as an ornament. One of his wartime colleagues was the then Queen Elizabeth’s brother known by his comrades as ‘Bowes Lyons’.

Hot air balloons were a regular feature over Mawr in the seventies to eighties but are not seen these days. A conspicuous one was emblazoned “DAL the Builders’ PAL”. Helicopters are far more regular these days – usually either the Air Ambulance on its way to Morriston Hospital, occasional police searches, or else flights checking the pylon lines, gas pipelines and other utilities over and under Mawr. Model aeroplanes have often been flown on Mynydd y Gwair but are not welcomed by the graziers as it is considered they can disturb the summer grazing livestock. .

In the late nineteen eighties / early nineteen nineties a well known local car dealer used to land on Banc Maestir Mawr Salem to visit a farmer friend - until his aircraft crashed on the common there due to fuel problems, luckily with no injuries!

Thanks for contributions to this article go to: Keith Thomas, a Salem farmer for his father and grandfather’s memories; Steve Jones, Pontlliw, glider and microlight pilot; Alun Lewis and Mrs Janice Gimblett of Garnswllt; Mr Bryan Llewellyn, Abergelli; Dr Barry Torrington, Craigcefnparc and others. Jonathan Foster’s excellent book on Grindell Matthews is still available. Diolch yn fawr i chi gyd! …………………………………………..

Ioan Richard Local historian, former Swansea councillor and Lord Mayor of Swansea 2011/12 …………………………………………..

Appendix 1: Depositors and Donors The Archive Service is grateful to the following individuals and organisations who have placed local and historical records in its care during the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Ms A Abu-Shahba; Mrs V Ali; Lord Anderson of Swansea; R Austin; Ms S Beddoe; Mrs A Bentley; Mrs J Butt; R Carmichael; Ms H Chappell; Mrs C Comyn; R Cooper; Ms M Daley; D Davies; I Davies; Ms M Dobbins; Ms K Dolman; A Dulley; H Dunthorne; Revd F Eccleston; Ms C Evans; G Evans; D Gabriel; Mrs E Gale; G Games; Revd Dr J Gillibrand; J Glass; Dr J Grenfell-Hill; D A Griffiths; Ms J Gruffudd; D Gwynn; P Hall; H Harris; Mrs P Henderson; Revd Canon T Hewitt; D Hopkins; A Hughes; Mrs E Jarvis; D Jenner; F Jones; J P Jones; Ms F Laird; B Lewis; J Lewis; Ms M Lewis; T Lock; J Mallon; Mrs A Manley; C Moon; Mrs S Moore; M Morgan; Ms M Morgan; Prof. P Morgan; Mrs J Morris; T Newbould; J Parkhouse; D Phillips; Mrs P Ramsdale; C Randall; C Reed; Revd Canon I Rees; I Richard; Mrs K Richards; Revd Canon D Roberts; A Robins; I Rogerson; Mrs H Roscoe; D Shopland; S Shorter; H Simpson; Mrs S Simpson; R Smith; S Taylor; Ms H Thomas; D Treharne; C West; A Williams; C Williams; G Williams; J Williams; R Williams; Mrs C Wilsher; J Winchester.

Carmel Welsh Independent Church, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen; Cymdeithas y Ddrama Gymraeg; Dyffryn Clydach Community Council; Ebenezer Welsh Independent Church, Dunvant; Friends of Clydach Heritage Centre; Fusion Swansea; Gower Constituency Labour Party; Gower Festival; HMP Swansea; Hutchinson Thomas solicitors; Llanrhidian Higher Community Council; Nebo Welsh Independent Church, Felindre; Pantygwydr Baptist Church; Parish of Cwmtawe Uchaf; Parish of Glantawe; Parish of Llangyfelach; Parish of Llwchwr; Parish of North Gower; Parish of Pontarddulais with Penlle’rgaer; Parish of Sketty; Parish of South West Gower; Parish of South West Gower; Parish of Swansea St Gabriel; Parish of Swansea St James; Parish of Three Cliffs; Parish of Ystalyfera; Peniel Baptist Church, Glais; Pontardawe Town Council; Pontarddulais English Methodist Church; Rectorial Benefice of Central Swansea; Smith Llewellyn Partnership; Swansea and Port Talbot Docks Retired Staff Website; Swansea Registry Office; The Gower Society; Trinity Baptist Church, Penclawdd.

The roll of honour from St Peter’s Church, Pentrechwyth (P/308/CW/42)

Appendix 2: Accessions of Archives, 2021-2022 The archives listed below have been received by gift, deposit, transfer, purchase or bequest during the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. Not all items are available for consultation immediately and certain items are held on restricted access.

SHRIEVALTY High Sheriff of West Glamorgan: Warrant and declaration of Mrs Joanna Lewis Jenkins as High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, and appointment of Robert Hywel Parker Williams as under sheriff, March 2021 (HS/W 47/1-3) High Sheriffs of West Glamorgan: Book of biographies of high sheriffs and lords lieutenant of West Glamorgan, by Robert Williams and Louise Fleet, 2022 (H/S W 48/1)

RECORDS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND PREDECESSOR AUTHORITIES UNITARY AUTHORITIES City and County of Swansea Commons Registration Act: provisional register map for West Glamorgan: commons and town or village greens in the area of the former County Borough of Swansea, 1974-1996 (CC/S CR 8) Electoral register, 2022 (CC/S RE 52-53) Swansea Central Library: Public consultation documents on the proposed tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, proposed student accommodation in Kings Road, Swansea Docks and Mumbles Conservation Area Review, 2007-2020 (SL PC 1-4) BOROUGHS County Borough/City of Swansea Land Use Survey, 1949-1977 CIVIL PARISH/COMMUNITY AND TOWN COUNCILS Dyffryn Clydach Parish/Community Council: ‘Ymlaen’, newsletter of the Dyffryn Clydach Community Council, Summer 2021 (P/242/12/15) Llanrhidian Higher Community Council: minutes, May-June 2021 (P111/45) Pontardawe Town Council: minutes, 2010-2019 (P/59/21/4-5)

POLICE AND PRISON RECORDS HM Prison Swansea: Carmarthen Prison men's nominal registers, 1894-1906 (D/D PRO/HMP 9/2b and 9/3a) Group photographs of policemen, including Swansea Borough Police Force, 1910s-1940s (D/D Z 1115/1-6)

EDUCATION RECORDS Port Talbot Secondary School: Photograph of pupils at the Secondary School, Port Talbot and the exterior of the County School, Gowerton [now Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr], early 20th cent.-1948 (D/D Z 1092/2-3) Knelston School: conveyance of land for the [Old] School, Knelston, 1876 (E/W 35/2/1) Trebannos School: photograph of teacher and pupils, 1 Dec. 1907 (E/W 41/4/1) Dynevor School: photographs of Dynevor School basketball team, 1980s Records relating to St Winifred's Convent School, Swansea, photographs and publications, earlymid 20th century (D/D Z 364/10-12) St Winifred's Convent School, Swansea: Photographic album showing interior and exterior views of the school, and pupils, c. 1915 ‘The history of Neath Grammar School for Girls’ by Carole Wilsher, 2021 Photographs of students at Swansea Training College. Students names are identified on reverse of each photograph, 1943

ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH Rectorial Benefice of Central Swansea: Registers of baptisms and marriages (Christ Church), banns (St Matthew's) and service register (St Mary's), 1950-2017 (P/317/CW/101-104; P/323/CW/26; P/123/CW/1378) Parish of Cwmtawe Uchaf: Marriage registers for churches of St David's Abercraf, Callwen, Capel Coelbren and St Cynog's Ystradgynlais, 1971-2020 (P/300/CW/85; P/301/CW/21; P/303/CW/25; P/331/CW/175-177) Parish of Glantawe: Records for St Margaret's Church, Bonymaen and St Peter's Church, Pentrechwyth, including baptisms, marriages, banns, service and confirmation registers, PCC and Easter Vestry minutes, quinquennial inspection reports, faculties, parish annual reports, and (from St Peter's) a First World War roll of honour and commemorative photographic presentation, early 1900s-2021 (P/304/CW/16-42) Parish of Llangyfelach: marriage register (P/58/CW/74) Parish of Llwchwr: marriage registers from the parishes of Gorseinon (P/305/CW/253) and Loughor (P/112/CW/158-159)

Parish of North Gower: marriage registers for the parishes of Cheriton, Llangennith, Llanmadoc, Llanrhidian, Llanyrnewydd (P/104/CW/10-11; P/109/CW/33; P/110/CW/11-12; P/111/CW/17-20; P/314/CW/14-15) Parish of Pontarddulais and Penlle'rgaer: Registers of baptisms, marriages and burials for Penlle’rgaer, 1961-2016 (P/315/CW/57-60) and registers of marriages for Llandeilo Talybont St Michael and St Teilo (P/108/CW/99-100) Parish of Sketty: marriage registers (P/316/CW/285-286) Parish of South West Gower: Annual Vestry and PCC minutes, 2004-2020; marriage registers for the parishes of Llanddewi, Oxwich, Penrice, Port Eynon, Reynoldston and Rhossili (P/107/CW/19; P/114/CW/24-25; P/118/CW/16; P/119/CW/104; P/120/CW/34; P/121/CW/33) Parish of Swansea St Gabriel: marriage registers for St Gabriel (P/319/CW/153) and St Barnabas (P/333/CW/94) Parish of Swansea St James: marriage register (P/335/CW/62) Parish of Three Cliffs: marriage registers for the parishes of Bishopston, Nicholaston, Ilston, Penmaen and Pennard (P/103/CW/76; P/105/CW/22; P/113/CW/116; P/116/CW/50; P/117/CW/148) Parish of Ystalyfera: Marriage register, banns register and service register, 1986-2018 (P/329/CW/37-39)

NONCONFORMIST Baptist Pantygwydr, Swansea: deacons' minutes and records relating to the Ladies' Fellowship, late 20thearly 21st century (D/D Bap 50/129-148) Peniel, Glais: membership records and financial ledgers, Early 20th cent.-early 21st cent. (D/D W/Bap 44/1/1-44/4/3) Trinity, Penclawdd: marriage registers (D/D W/Bap 43/1/1-4) Welsh Independent Carmel, Gwaun Cae Gurwen: Copy of burial register, 1900-2016; copy of sketch plan of Hen Garmel Cemetery; list of donors and contributors; Hurley and Davies condition report on Carmel Chapel, 2015; Rowland and Jones Surveryor’s report, 2015; manuscript recollections of characters and officials of Carmel Chapel by Morgan J Thomas; History of Carmel Newydd, 1877-1922 by Jonah Evans, 1900-2016 (D/D Ind 39/18/1-39/20/1) Ebenezer, Dunvant: marriage registers (D/D Ind 11/61-67) Nebo, Felindre: marriage register (D/D Ind 43/1/1)

Siloh Newydd, Landore: Bundle containing newspaper cuttings, musical programmes and orders of service, 1906-1995 Soar Welsh Independent Church, Seven Sisters: Papers relating to the church Jubilee, 1951; annual reports 1988-1993; various histories of the cause, 1924 and 1951 and collection of papers relating to singing at the church, 1901-1951, 1901-1993 (D/D Ind 26/77a, 79a-c, 218-221) Papers relating to Tabernacl Newydd Chapel, Port Talbot, 1947-1997 (D/D Ind 44/8-13) Methodist Pontarddulais English Methodist Church: marriage registers (D/D Wes SG 27/1-5)

ESTATE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL PAPERS St Helen's Estate, Swansea: further records relating to the life of Miss Mary Rose Mumford and to the St Helen's Estate, Swansea, including deeds, accounts and correspondence, 18th-20th cent.

Bundle of papers relating to Smallwood Road, Baglan, a self-build project during the 1950s, 1950s (D/D Z 1112/1) and photographs relating to the self-build project at Smallwood Road, Baglan, 1950s (D/D Z 1112/2/1-21) Papers of Mr Brian Simpson, president of RISW, including RISW material; files relating to High Sheriff duties & photograph album of military service in India pre-independence, 20th cent Scanned copy and transcript of the diary of Charles Morgan of Llanrhidian, 1834-1857, 2019-2021 (D/D Z 586/8) Papers of Charles Morgan of Cae-forgan, Llanrhidian: diaries, letters, photographs, sketch books, bank book, travel diaries and other records; also title deeds relating to Parc-y-rhedyn and Caeforgan farms, Llanrhidian, 1698-1872, 1698-1870s Photographs, newspaper cuttings and letter relating to John John, manager of Lloyds Bank, Morriston. Includes photograph of Clairvette John (born Clara Ann Yvette John, daughter of John and Olga John), 1916-1936 Records relating to John Griffiths of Ynysmeudwy and R S Griffiths of Pontardawe, 1860s-1950s (D/D Z 1116/1/1-1116/5/4) Ephemera relating to boxer Brian Curvis, including programme and ticket from the Welterweight Championship of the World boxing match between Emile Griffiths and Brian Curvis (who was from Swansea) held at The Empire Pool and Sports Arena, Wembley. Also contains the removal receipt from Cyfartha Castle Museum and Art Gallery, 1964 (D/D Z 1110/1-2)

RECORDS RELATING TO TRADE AND INDUSTRY Private donation: HSE Report into the Gleision Mine incident, 15 September 2011 (D/D Z 1073/5) Private donation: Conference pack in relation to British Iron and Steel Association meeting, 1951.

Includes specifications, plans etc. relating to steel smelting and refining processes, 1951

Records relating to Swansea Canal; plan of Pontardawe Steelworks c.1880, 1880s-2000s (D/D Z 80/311/ 3; 6-10; 18-20; 28) Ystalyfera Ironworks records; Swansea Canal photographs; Copperworks records, (D/D Z 80/312315) Papers relating to Gilbertson Industrial; Papers relating to William Parsons; papers relating to Ystalyfera, 19th-21st cent (D/D Z 80/311/26-27) Identification card for differentially coated tinplate issued by the Steel Company of Wales Ltd. Carmarthen Road, Swansea, c.1950s Records relating to Swansea Canal, including information on bridges, locks, people, draft copy of Two Centuries of Pontardawe by Clive Reed, records relating to Pontardawe Steel Works, photographs of the Buttress family and slides of the lower Swansea valley taken by WGCC., 20th Century; A4 ring binder on Swansea Canal passenger boat; photograph album of Swansea Canal at Ystradgynlais by John Davies, donated by Ystradgynlais Heritage Society; A4 file on Ynysmeudwy heritage and access to the canal, 1978-2017 (D/D Z 80)

SOLICITORS’ RECORDS AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS Strick and Bellingham, Solicitors: grants of probate; letter book of Edward Strick; Assignment premises at Ffynone, 1841-2008; deeds of land in Blaengwynfi; bundle of deeds relating to land in Aberdare, 19th-20th centuries; deeds relating to the Brook family of Swansea, 19th-20th cent Messrs D O Thomas, Solicitors: pre-registration title deeds for various properties, 19th-20th centuries Records relating to the estate of Walter Thomas and attempts to recover it, 19th-20th century Deeds of 1 Pell Street, Swansea, family photographs and other records relating to the Morris family, 1851-1994 (D/D Z 1107/1-8) Deeds relating to Cornhill House, No 9 Christina Street, Swansea, 1850s-1980s Deeds relating to Clase Farm, Llangyfelach, 1876-1890; receipts for Howells Bros and Canton Stores, 1909-1925; quarterly charge for pews at Caersalem Newydd Chapel, 1870s, 1876-1925 (D/D Z 1060/2-4)

SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS, SPORT AND THE ARTS Cymdeithas y Ddrama Gymraeg: programmes, photographs and minutes, 1919-2009 (D/D CDG 1/3-4, 7/43-10/10) Gower Festival: Gower Festival printed programmes, 2014-2016, 2019; Sir Karl Jenkins 75th Birthday Gala programme, 2019 (D 62) Gower Society: CD-ROM containing layout, text and images for Gower Society publication 'A Pocket Guide to Gower', 2019. Newsletters, 2019-2021; programmes, 2020-2021; agendas, 2019-2021; press cuttings, 2019, 2019-2021 (D 56)

Morriston Senior Citizens Guild, Mens Section: membership and financial records, c. 1960s-1990s (D/D MSC) Sketty Players Amateur Theatricals Society: records relating to productions, 1994-2014 (P/316/CW/287-289) Photographs and papers relating to the Swansea Canal Society, 20th century (D/D Z 80/311/5; 1117; 21-25) Rules of the Tywysog Dulais Lodge, Pontarddulais; Minute book of the same lodge; Account book of the Gopa Methodist Cymanfa Ganu, 1935-1988, 1873-1988 Programme for concert at the Albert Hall, Swansea, 2 June 1895 Documents relating to David Daniels, mainly Eisteddfod memorabilia, collected by Brenda Hopkins, 20th Century Programmes relating to West Glamorgan Youth Theatre; photographs relating to West Glamorgan Community Dance Fellowship activities, 1970s-1980s Printed work: 'The Swansea Clubs Snooker League 1956 to 1987', 1987

WOMEN’S ARCHIVE OF WALES Minutes of the West Glamorgan division of Merched y Wawr, 2018-2021 (WAW 28/1/7) Pictures and documents showing the activities of the Swansea Branch of Merched y Wawr, 19712007 (WAW 47/1-2)

POLITICAL PAPERS Gower Constituency Labour Party: correspondence, minutes, and other papers, 1980s-2000s (Lab/G 10/1-14/5)

FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS Transcription of an interview between Bernard Lewis and his father Private Glyndwr Lewis of his war service, 1944-1945 in the 2nd Battalion, the Monmouthshire Regiment, 2002 (D/D Z 1021/2) Family photographs and items relating to the First World War, early-mid 20th century Personal diaries of David R Thomas written during the First World War, 1917-1918 (D/D Z 1109/15) Photographs of soldiers of 248 Battery stationed at Blackpill during the Second World War, 1941 (D/D Z 1075/9-11) County Borough of Swansea, plan of route for military traffic from St Thomas to Lon-las via B4292 and the unclassified roads. Scale 20 feet: 1 inch, November 1941

Wartime memories of Muriel Wheeler, who was 12 at the beginning of the Second World War. Typewritten notes by Muriel with memories of wartime in Swansea, air raids, the Three Nights’ Blitz etc. Also the cover letter from Derek Hopkins, c. early 1990s

FILM AND SOUND Friends of Clydach Heritage Centre: film entitled 'Make Yourself Necessary', on the contribution of the Mond Nickel Works to the war effort in the First World War, 2021 (T 33/4) Fusion Swansea: Oral history project conducted by Swansea Music Hub consisting of edited interviews with people involved in the music scene in Swansea, created in connection with the 50th anniversary of Swansea's city status, 2019 (T 52/1/1-25). Also, collection of finished films and the oral history interviews used in them, relating to Swansea change-makers, Swansea as a City of Sanctuary and Tabernacle Chapel, Morriston, 2020, and interview with Martin Nichols, Director of Place, City and County of Swansea, regarding the effects of Covid-19 lockdown, 21 Apr. 2020.

Peter Hall Video Collection: Films about Sir Algernon McLennan Lyons, Swansea War Memorial and the memorial to the victims of the Three Nights' Blitz, New Cut Road, 2021; films on stone stacking at Limeslade, the Boer War Memorial, the origin of street names and the history of the Swansea Jack memorial, 2021; two videos: one on a tree trail in Clyne Gardens, the other an interview with Grafton Maggs of Mumbles, retired dentist, aged 96, 2021; film entitled "Royal Visitors to St Mary's Church, Swansea", 2021; film about the life of Sir Arthur Whitton Brown, 2021; film regarding war graves in Swansea municipal cemeteries; also digital photographs of war graves in Danygraig and Oystermouth Cemeteries, Swansea, 2021; further items including films, folders of photographs and information about Commonwealth War Graves in Swansea cemeteries, including Danygraig, Cwmgelli, Oystermouth, Kingsbridge and Morriston, and the churchyard of St Peter's, Cockett, 2021; two biographical films about local RAF pilots in the Second World war, Wing Commander Frederick 'Taffy' Higginson and Wing Commander Hubert Raymond Allen (Dizzy), and a film documenting the return to Swansea and Gower of Karen Penny of Pennard from a fundraising walk, 2021; films on the dog graves in Clyne Gardens, and on the Mumbles Railway, 2021; film entitled 'The Gardener's Shed, Clyne Gardens, Mayals, by Allan Evans', 2021; film entitled 'German Luftwaffe Observer Kurt Brand Killed Swansea 1943', 2021; film entitled 'AJR Oak Tree Planting Swansea' about a commemorative oak tree planted at Swansea Guildhall, 2021 (D/D Z 717/105122 Two films believed to be training films used at Velindre Apprentice Training School, c. 1970s Cassette tapes of lectures on Swansea Canal by Stephen Hughes and Clive Reed 1978-1993; DVD of lecture by Clive Reed on Tareni Colliery 2017; CD interview of William Thomas Stead, 1987 (D/D Z 80)

PICTORIAL Photographs of the Glamorgan War Agricultural Executive Committee Finance Department, 1944, and Glamorgan RHA Rugby Football Club, 1915-1916 Slides taken by Afan Camera Club of the Passion Play 'Behold the Man' staged in Port Talbot by the Port Talbot Passion Play Association, 1960s-1980s Three volumes of photographs of Swansea and surrounding area, 1960s-1980s (D/D DG 1-4)

Scanned copies of photographs of Elias Evans, print compositor at South Wales Daily Post, c. 19201931 Swansea and Port Talbot Docks History Website: Scanned copies of photographs used in the website (www.swanseadocks.co.uk), 19th-20th century Photograph of Mayor William Jenkins and Ralph Vaughan Williams OM, composer at the Guildhall, Swansea., 27th October 1948 Photograph by A. J. Robinson of Mumbles showing GWR locomotive at Landore Engine Shed, 1895 Black and white photographs and negatives of Caswell Bay, Swansea Docks, Mumbles, the Pumpstone at Bishopston and Oxwich Castle, 1950s-1969 Photographs of Llanelli Rugby Team, Morriston Ladies Choir, the Maltsters Arms; the Bulletin Magazine; St Jude's Church annual report; Mount Calvary Baptist Church magazine, 1890s-1930s (D/D Z 585) Photographs of Dunvant Council School, Siloam Chapel Choir; Killay Coronation celebrations, Dafen Tnplate works, Mumbles Head, Killay Orphanage; Rugby programmes, 1929-1999 (D/D Z 585) Digital scan of a tracing of the map of the Manor of Cadoxton, 1600 (D/D D/M 1), 1980s Photographs of Victoria railway workers; concert programmes; Donald Anderson MP leaflet; invitations to civic events, c. 1880s-2016 (D/D Z 743/13-27) Bundle of photographs relating to Swansea people and places, newspaper cuttings relating to theatres and swansea news in general, book from a Pontardawe author and newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to mining, early 20th Century - late 20th Century

PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED WORKS Published biographical account of life in Llanrhidian, 2021 (D/D Z 685/3 and Searchroom library) Research on garden staff at Penllergare Mansion, based on available census returns (1841-1911), 2021 (D/D Z 1092/4) Illustrated London News (bound volume), 1892 (N/ILN 71) Books on Swansea and Port Talbot docks and harbour, 20th cent. (CHU 229-231; TRA/POR 26-35; REF/GEN 32-33) Biography of Brigadier J. Gwynne Morgan, 2021 Souvenir leaflet relating to the matinee showing of Sir Alan Cobham's "Historic Empire Flights" at the Swansea Empire 4th May 1927; souvenir leaflet for Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day , 1920s Programme for visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to the Borough of Neath; Swansea Dock's Shipping Lists (BTDB) 29th January and 2nd February 1965

Gwasanaeth Archifau Gorllewin Morgannwg Mae Gwasanaeth Archifau Gorllewin Morgannwg yn casglu dogfennau, mapiau, ffotograffau, recordiadau ffilm a sain sy’n ymwneud â phob agwedd ar hanes Gorllewin Morgannwg. Mae’n wasanaeth ar y cyd ar gyfer Cynghorau Dinas a Sir Abertawe a Bwrdeistref Sirol Castell-nedd Port Talbot.

Ein cenhadaeth yw cadw a datblygu ein casgliadau o archifau, diogelu ein treftadaeth ddogfennol a chaniatáu ymchwil er mwyn datblygu ein casgliad. Rydym yn ymroddedig i ddarparu gwybodaeth a’r cyfle i gyflwyno’r archifau i bawb.

Gwasanaeth Archifau Gorllewin Morgannwg Canolfan Ddinesig Heol Ystumllwynarth Back cover: Abertawe Reverse of a Christmas postcard to ‘Mr C Davies’ from a SA1 3SN Ukrainian displaced person who took part in a work camp at Scurlage in 1947 and was enrolled there as a Scout Leader  01792 636589 (D8/2/34)

archifau@abertawe.gov.uk www.abertawe.gov.uk/archifaugorllewinmorgannwg

@archifgorllmor

Gwasanaeth ar y cyd ar gyfer Cynghorau Abertawe a Castell-Nedd Port Talbot A joint service for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Councils