Pembrokeshire
Researched by Nikki Bosworth
The Eighteenth Century
In the Pembrokeshire Record Office, there is a lease dated 2nd February 1704 that granted a right of way from Great Nash farm to Black Tar "for all carts, wagons and other carriages with cattle to drive, lead and carry all and all manner of coal, culm, lime and other goods" belonging to Charles and Dorothy Owen.
Basically, the route is described as follows: -
"From Pitt Park eastward across several fields belonging to Sir Richard Walter of Shenfield, Essex, to Moorhead and from there to a place called David Gwynn's Short Leys by Long Row Hedge. Then straight as near as possible eastward leaving the two old sheep cotes (one on each side of the way leading north and south called the Churchway from Hook to Llangwm) on the south side to the open and large field called South Knap and continuing eastward through South Knap field to a place called Black Tar Rock".
The right of way was described as being 18 feet wide. The document also states that the lime kiln was at the east end of South Knap field.
1803
According to the 1801 census, Llangwm consisted of 138 inhabited houses and 5 uninhabited houses. There were 240 males and 328 females living in the parish. Agriculture provided employment for 83 people: another 14 were employed in trade, manufacturing and handicraft while the remainder were occupied in other ways.
The 1803 Land Tax Assessment lists 23 occupiers of land - David Morgans, William James, Thomas Wright, Thomas George, George Venable, Thomas Williams, Hugh Barlow esquire, Widow Couzens, Rev. John Morris, John Mithey, John Morris, Lettice Llewellin, Henry Wilkin, George Summons, John Lloyd, Thomas Roberts, Thomas Griffith, Absalom Folland, William Rees, John Griffith, Thomas James, William Lloyd and Lieutenant Holingsberry. John Mithey is described as a Custom House Officer. Thomas Lloyd Junior and William James were the Land Tax assessors.
David Morgans, George Whitta, Henry Wilkin and Thomas Summons (all farmers) were eligible for jury service. Nobody from Llangwm appeared in court at the Quarter Sessions during 1803.
From 1799 to 1833, the Vicar of Llangwm and Rosemarket was Rev. John Morris. In 1803, he performed 21 baptisms (including those of Mary Halfhead, Mary Palmer, Jennet Venables, Arabella George and John Goodridge) and 16 burials (including Arabella George, Lally Edwardes, Dorothy and William Llewhellin).
Seven marriages took place at St Jerome's during 1803. The happy couples were: John Skyrme and Elizabeth Randell; Richard Millard and Rebecca Bowen; Isaac Young and Anne John; John Jenkins and Elizabeth John; Daniel Davies and Elizabeth Folland; Thomas Evans and Mary Webb; William Howell and Sarah Goodridge.
In 1803, Guildford and Llangwm Ferry were in the parish of Burton. The road to Burton was approached from the bottom of Mill Street, rather than round the east side of the church, and another route ran from Great Nash to Sardis, passing Nash Corn Mill.
1861
A collier named William Follant, employed at Hook, was killed on his descent to work in the pit. The rope by which he was descending gave way and the poor fellow was precipitated to the bottom and was killed instantaneously. [William was aged 26, married with two young children and lived at Llangwm Hill.]
1892
Early on Thursday 18 August 1892, a series of tremors shook South Wales. The most severe of the shocks were felt in Milford Haven, but Llangwm was also affected. The Western Telegraph of 24 August reported that the first shock was felt about 12.20 am.
A dead calm was experienced before the event. Sea birds circled overhead with a plaintive call and other animals behaved unnaturally. For a few seconds, a distinct rumbling sound was heard. The sound increased in volume until houses appeared to rock to and fro. Pictures on the walls and ornaments on chimneypieces rattled. In some places, people fell out of bed.
The second shock-wave came at about 1.45 am - and was followed by lesser tremors. After the earthquake, people reported that there was a strong smell of ozone.
In a history of Llangwm written by Miss Eliza Morgan of North Nash Farm in 1953, Miss Morgan writes about her memories of the event. 'The day before the shock was felt, my father was bothered about the abnormal ebb and flow of the tide … However, he took his boat and nets out, and went fishing with some other men as usual'. Although Miss Morgan had gone to bed on the night of the 17th, she was unable to sleep. She continued, 'There was a loud, long rumbling under the house and, as the sound receded, the house seemed to lift and settle, crockery rattled, birds outside were disturbed and cows that were in a field close by began lowing. I jumped out of bed for I knew it was an earthquake. My father was soon home',
A tidal wave had been predicted but did not materialise. The centre of the earthquake was reputedly the mid Atlantic Ocean.
1903
Farm labourer Alfred Thomas (age 23) of Knapp Farm, was charged with unlawfully wounding Frederick Griffiths of Barn Farm, Burton, also a farm labourer, at Llangwm on the evening of Tuesday 7 July 1903.
The men had been drinking at the Black Horse Inn (now Knowle Cottage) in the company of Jim Llewellyn from Hook. As they left the pub, arguing amongst themselves, the men met Evan Howells of Llangwm Farm and his teams man (in charge of the horses used for ploughing), William Jones.
Frederick Griffiths went back to Llangwm Farm with Evan Howells, while Alfred Thomas remained in the roadway shouting abuse. Frederick Griffiths went back outside, afterwards claiming , 'I thought it was to be a fair fight, with fists'.
During the ensuing fight, Alfred Thomas stabbed Frederick Griffiths five times in the fleshy part of the left arm and breast. The injured man was taken to Haverfordwest Infirmary [his arm having been temporarily bound up by Mrs Elizabeth Howells] where the wounds were stitched by Dr Williams.
Alfred Thomas spent the night in custody and was bailed on a surety of £50 by Rev. Henry Evans, Rector of Llangwm. He was subsequently found guilty of unlawful wounding and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with hard labour.
1911
A resolution was passed [by Llangwm Parish Council] condemning the practice of washing fish, potatoes and traps in Main Street, Llangwm. And, it was decided to write to Burton Parish Council asking them to join with Llangwm Parish Council in erecting a footbridge over the stream between Ashdale and Llangwm.
1912
22nd March: Visitors to Llangwm have for many years found great difficulty in obtaining refreshments in the village. To meet this want, on and after 1st April next, tea and refreshments will be obtainable at Mrs Palmer's, Holloway House, Llangwm. Charges Moderate.
April: (from the annual Vestry Meeting, Llangwm Parish Church) James Davies and George Protheroe George were appointed churchwardens, with James Jones, Edward Morgan, George Jones, John Davies, Samuel Edwards junior and Robert Peters as sidesmen.
April: (from the annual Vestry Meeting, Llangwm Parish Church) A resolution against the proposed disestablishment and disendowment of the Church in Wales was passed.
April: (from the annual Vestry Meeting, Llangwm Parish Church) It was decided to substitute collecting plates for the bags used in collecting alms in church services. Two plates were presented to the Church by J C Evans and were first used on Whit Sunday 2012.
April: (from the annual Vestry Meeting, Llangwm Parish Church) It was resolved that the Rector be asked to repair the gateway and boundary walls of the extension of the churchyard, that he be advised to collect funds for the purpose from all persons responsible for the gravestones already fixed in the graveyard and that henceforth he put in more strict force the rules of making the charge often shillings foi the burial of every non-parishioner and the charge of five shillings for the admission of every gravestone into the burial ground.
5th April: A lecture explaining the National Insurance Scheme was given by Mr Howell James B.A. of Narberth on Saturday night in the National School, Llangwm.
19th April: A very pretty wedding was solemnised at Llangwm Church on Saturday morning, when the contracting parties were Mr James Brock, eldest son on Mr and Mrs John Brock, and Miss Mary Jane Palmer, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Palmer. The bride was attired in a cream serge costume with a hat, containing a large white feather to match. The bridesmaids were Miss Martha Brock, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Amy Downing, Pontardulais, cousin of the bride, whilst the best man was Mr Edgar Thomas.
24th May: At last we are able to announce to the inhabitants of Llangwm and district that enterprising young tradesman, Mr E R Palmer, has opened his new establishment. The stock consists of fancy and general drapery of every description, including casement cloths, towellings, gentlemen's neckwear, etc. Provisions of almost every domestic article can be purchased at extremely moderate prices. We are also informed that one of the leading specialities this splendid shop will be stocked with is a great and varied assortment of footwear including the latest styles in boots, shoes and slippers, straight from the factory.
1914
January: A library had been started at the Llangwm Institute and now contained over 100 volumes. The billiards were “going strong”. The Institute had 84 paying members and a balance of over £12.
February: “Villagers win splendid game” was the headline for a report on the match between Llangwm Rugby Club and the Border Regiment in the West of Llanelly league. “The weather was beautifully fine but the turf was in a wretched condition after the heavy rains”. “The Llangwm backs’ tackling, as usual, was deadly”. Llangwm team members included Messrs Warlow, Brown, Bryant and Palmer and the final score was 6 points to nil to Llangwm.
March: The new school at Hook was opened on 16th March by Mr S B Sketch, Chairman of the Education Committee. Mr Sketch admitted, in his speech, that despite living in Pembrokeshire for 20 years he had never before visited Hook. The new school had accommodation for 65 children but there were “many more children of school age in the locality”. Originally the school had been intended to accommodate 100 children. However, “the parents were unanimous in the decision not to send their children to Llangwm School after the opening of the school at Hook”.
March: Llangwm’s rugby match against Pembroke was refereed by Mr William Jolley of Neyland. At half-time, the score was 6 points to nil to Llangwm. A few minutes before fulltime, “clenched fists were shooting in all directions”, “the referee was powerless” and game was abandoned.
May: An accident occurred at Sprinkle Pill Farm when” a youth, William Hitchings, fell against a pick which penetrated his foot”. He had been holding a calf “which gave a spring” and unbalanced him. William was taken to Haverfordwest Infirmary where he was reported to be making a successful recovery.
June: A service to celebrate the anniversary of Galilee Baptist Sunday School included recitations by the children and a performance by the choir which “reflected great credit upon the energetic conductor Mr William Palmer of Fox Hall and the faithful organist Miss L Muriel Owen”. The annual tea was held in Guildford Park by kind permission of Mr James of Barn Farm.
1st July: “The shabby action of Haverfordwest Rural District Council in refusing to adopt the plans of the proposed new road to enable Hook and Freystrop people to attend their market town called forth some strong protests -------- the question of a road from Hook to Haverfordwest had been under consideration for nearly 35 years. The original scheme was to make a road connecting with the District Council road at Fern Hill.” [The road finally opened in 1922.]
24th July: “Under the auspices of Llangwm Institute, very successful athletic sports, consisting of foot, cycle and pony races, were held in the Pill Park.” ... “One mile pony race for 14.2 hands and under – this was an exciting race, but unfortunately the third horse Mr J Hancock’s ‘Surprise’ came to grief in the last round. The jockey J Evans of Edgecombe Farm was badly thrown. The crowd rushed across the course and some of the officials picked up Evans and found him in a dazed condition. He was badly cut about the face.” ... “In the evening, dancing was heartily indulged in, the music being supplied by the Pembroke Dock Temperance Band."
16th September: “The children of Llangwm have picked and delivered 2 consignments of blackberries of 212 lbs and 60 lbs respectively, to the Pembrokeshire Branch of the Red Cross Society”
23rd September: “Tomorrow Mr & Mrs John Philpin, Llangwm House, Llangwm, celebrate their golden wedding ------- of the marriage, there were ten children, of whom four are now living: Mr Tom Philpin, Llangwm; Mr Henry Philpin,
Devonport; Mrs Skone, Milford Haven, and Mr James Philpin, Llangwm.” [Mrs Annie Skone was the wife of John James Skone and, in 1911, they were living at Merlins Hill, Haverfordwest.]
2nd October: “Mr Phillips, a naval pensioner, of Llangwm who left to re-join the Navy, when the Royal Naval Reserve was called up, is amongst those who went down with HMS Cressy.” [Stephen Arla Phillips, aged 45, husband of Hannah Phillips of Black Tar, was actually on board HMS Aboukir as an armourer when both vessels were sunk by a German U-Boat on 22nd September when on patrol in the North Sea.]
21st October: “A notice has been issued, under the Defence of the Realm Act, prohibiting the possession of carrier and homing pigeons without written permission of the police.”
30th October: “An outbreak of fire took place in the shop of Mrs Palmer on Tuesday morning. Considerable damage was done, but a number of women were soon there and were able to extinguish the outbreak.” [Mrs Ellen Palmer was the wife of William Palmer of Holloway House where they ran a bakery and grocery business.]
25th November: “It will be gratifying to the many friends of Mr James Edwards in his native village of Llangwm to learn that the London City Council have recently appointed him to the head mastership of a large boys’ school under their jurisdiction, a position which carries a salary of £300 per annum.” [In 1911, James Edwards, aged 42, was living in East Dulwich with his wife and two daughters.]
30th December: George Dunn of Llangwm was recruited into the Welsh Army Corps. [George Dunn was an agricultural labourer, the son of Thomas and Maria Dunn of Hill Mountain. The Welsh Army Corps was never actually formed but evolved into the 38th (Welsh) Division which saw active service in France from November 1915 onwards.]
1915
Celebrating their Golden Wedding on 11 November 1915 were Mr and Mrs John Morgans of Anarcarco Cottage, Llangwm. According to a report in the Western Telegraph newspaper, the couple were 'staunch Wesleyans', but had married at Llangwm parish church in 1865. The newspaper reported that Mr and Mrs Morgans had seven surviving children and 27 grandchildren. The report concluded, 'We trust that they will be spared for many years to come'.
John Morgans was 21 years old when he married the 19 year old Betsey Llewellin. He was the son of George & Mary Morgans of Guildford, Burton parish, and the grandson of Edward Morgans. John, George and Edward all worked on the river a fishermen or watermen [boatmen who plied for hire]. John's grandfather on his maternal side was John Morris, Lazareth Officer [a sort of medical man, but not a doctor].
Betsey Llewellin was the daughter of William Llewellin, a waterman, and his wife Margaret [need Davies]. Betsey [or Elizabeth as she was more formally known] had a twin sister called Ann.
The couple had 11 children - Mary, Ann, Elizabeth, George, Margaret Jane, Edward, Sarah, Jane, John, William and Thomas - born between March 1866 and March 1889. Margaret Jane died when she was 14 months old. George also died as an infant. Thomas died when he was almost 13 and is buried in Llangwm cemetery.
In 1881, John Morgans was an able bodied seaman on board HMS Widgeon. On the night of Sunday 3 April 1881, the census records that the vessel was moored at Pembroke Dock. HMS Widgeon was a wooden paddle ship, launched at Chatham in Ken in 1837 and employed as a tug at the RN Dockyard in Pembroke Dock. According to the 1881 census, Betsey and 5 of their children were living at home in Llangwm.
On the 1901 census, John and Betsey were living in a three-roomed cottage in Mill Street with Sarah (aged 23), John (aged 17) and William (aged 14). John Morgans Senior was once again working as a fisherman on the river.
Betsey Morgans died on 24 February 1918, aged 70, and John Morgans died on 15 March 1919, aged 74. They are buried at Llangwm cemetery between the graves of their son Thomas and their daughter Elizabeth, the wife of William Evans of Foxhall, 'The bodies are laid to rest here between their two children, Thomas and Elizabeth, but their spirits are gone to their giver until the Resurrection Day when there will be a reunion'.
1920
Dennis Lewis (15) son of Henry Lewis of Guildford, was presented with the vellum certificate of the Royal Humane Society for saving the life of Reggie Palmer (11), grandson of Thomas Palmer of Llangwm, who was in imminent danger of drowning on August 20th 1920.
Reggie Palmer was playing on a timber jetty at Llangwm Ferry when he accidentally fell into the water. There was a high tide running strongly at the time and he was carried out a distance of about 20 yards. Dennis Lewis was dressing after bathing and immediately dived off the jetty into about 12 feet of water. He swam to the rescue of Reggie Palmer and caught him as he was sinking for a third time.
1923
The little shunting engine 'Skylark' at Ward's shipbreaking yard on Pill Point was returning from Newton Noyes manure factory at about 8.30 p.m. one February evening in 1923 and had to pass over a swing bridge spanning the narrow entrance from the main harbour to the Pill. The swing bridge had been opened to allow the passage of a barge out to sea. In semi-darkness the man responsible for the bridge frantically waved his lantern and shouted to the men on the engine, but the engine continued and there was a mighty splash as the engine, with its occupants, fell through the gap into the water below. The engine driver and a workman from the Fish Meal Factory swam to safety, but two other men on board the engine were not so lucky. The bodies of 50-year-old William Williams of Pill and 20-year-old William Glanmor George of Guildford were recovered the following day.
December 1935
Michael Fox, a 50-year-old hawker from Swansea, crashed into the stationary car of Dr Douglas in Main Street, Llangwm. At the time of the accident, Police Sergeant Ivemey was a passenger in the Doctor's car.
Llangwm Parish Council proposed that councillors who never attended council meetings should be made to resign.
Death of Leonard Payne of the Kilns, aged 66. "His last illness was so short that it was impossible to bring his children, who all reside in England to his bedside before he passed away. One son, John Payne, is still ignorant of his father's death, being at sea".
Llangwm Wasps were beaten by the Grammar School. This was described as a "surprising victory" due to "bad defensive tactics".
The bridge between Pill Park and Knapp Farm was in a dangerous state. The Parish Council received a complaint from a woman who had fallen through the middle of the bridge.
Advance notice of the Llangwm RFC Dance to be held at Llangwm Schoolroom "on the new floor" at Easter 1936, was publicised with the request "Please do not clash".
1942
In August 1942 some people in the village were still ignoring the blackout regulations. One Saturday evening when it was quite dark, a house in Coronation Avenue had only pale yellow blinds shielding the light in the room, which afforded no blackout whatever.
1943
On 27th August 1943, a Walrus amphibious biplane - P5707 - struck a pinnace (a lightweight boat powered by oar or sail) on the river near Lawrenny Ferry, flipped onto its back, crashed into the water and broke up on impact. The pilot Lieutenant Commander R L M Shannon was uninjured, the radio operator had a broken leg but a 14-year-old Sea Cadet on board the Walrus was badly injured and drowned. There was no inquest by the Pembrokeshire Coroner and no report in the local newspapers. The death certificate just states “due to war operations” as cause of death.
RNAS Lawrenny Ferry was a Royal Naval Air Station for advanced seaplane training. This base had been established for Walrus, Swordfish and Kingfisher aircraft after the prolonged enemy bombing raids on Pembroke Dock further downriver. It had one hangar, three hardstandings, a wooden jetty and a concrete slipway. Accommodation for personnel was in local cottages and Nissen huts, with officers in Lawrenny Castle. Its practice bombing target was at Sprinkle Pill, further upstream on the opposite bank of the river between Llangwm and Hook. The base was operational only from May 1941 to October 1943.
The unfortunate Sea Cadet was Alec Victor Hancock, son of William Joseph Hancock (also known as Jock and “Uncle Bill” to friends and family) and his wife Winifred. Jock was from the Gloucestershire Cotswolds area originally, married and lived in the Brighton area in the mid-1920s and had moved to Surrey by the time Alec, his fourth child, was born in 1928. Alec was a first cousin of my mother and, therefore, my great-uncle. Alec was buried at St Peter and Paul church, Albury, Surrey, on 3rd September 1943 and he is listed on the war memorial at Albury.
1950
Llangwm was to be added to the list of places where a police house should be erected. This was decided by the Joint Standing Committee in January 1950 following a report on the unsatisfactory state of the police house at Houghton. It was pointed out that for many years a police officer had been stationed at Llangwm.
1958
At Llangwm School bazaar "such was the quality and demand that in a very short time the stalls were emptied and a grand sum collected".
At a cricket match between Hook and Llangwm, Mr Penry Esmond was hit in the eye by a cricket ball and received 9 stitches for the wound.
A piece of giant cake, cut by Princess Margaret on her tour of Canada, had been sent to Mr Owen Jones of Glanhafan. The 5-tier cake was 18 feet high, weighed 10,000 pounds and was sold for charity.
At the funeral of ex-Welsh Guardsman Aubrey Thomas of Foxhall, there was a "seemingly unending line of cars".
Haverfordwest received 6 inches of rain in August 1958.
"Carry on Sergeant" was showing at the Palace Cinema.
There was a hula hoop competition at a dance in Milford Haven.
A council survey revealed that there were 1690 caravans in Pembrokeshire.
A lorry carrying 16 tons of steel plates, bound for the Esso Refinery, began to run backwards down High Street, Haverfordwest, on a busy Saturday morning. A butcher's van was crushed and the wall of the telephone exchange was cracked, but no-one was hurt.
The Milford Haven Tidal Barrage Bill was introduced into Parliament. The barrage was intended to be sited between Cosheston and Burton.
1960
Electricity was cut off for several hours at Llangwm yesterday when a helicopter from Brawdy tore through high tension cables spanning Llangwm Pill. The pilot, Lieut. Rodney Griffiths, landed the aircraft on the Pill Parks, Llangwm's rugby-recreation ground.
This was reported in the 'West Wales Guardian' on 13th May 1960. In the helicopter with Lieutenant Griffiths were Leading Airman William Rogers and a passenger, Naval Air Mechanic Brian Pinnington.
Residents rushed to the ground to render what service they could but fortunately the pilot and his crew landed without injury. Eye-witnesses say there was a bright flash as the machine severed cables.
Schoolchildren on their way home had an unexpected diversion, especially when a second helicopter, bringing Naval engineers to inspect the damage landed on the Pill Parks.
An examination revealed that the 'chopper' was not badly damaged and soon the 'show' was over, both craft taking off together shortly after 5 p.m. In the interval, although the power supply had been cut off, the airmen were entertained to tea!
A few weeks later, the 'West Wales Guardian' informed its readers that "Fourteen days before he terminates his service in the Royal Navy, a 26-year-old pilot, Rodney Stephen Griffiths of Long Levens, Gloucester, was sentenced at a court martial at the R. N. Station, Brawdy, to forfeit one year's seniority and to be severely reprimanded".
Lieutenant Griffiths had pleaded guilty to flying a Dragonfly helicopter at a height of less than 100 feet.
Souces: Pembroke County Guardian, Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegrah, Minutes of St Jerome's Vestry Meeting, West Wales Guardian, Western Telegraph, Pembrokeshire Archives.