Kelly's Directory, South Wales, 1910

The villages of Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, and Rhydyfro and  Llanguicke parish in general

Not including Pontardawe and Ystalyfera which have their own sections on the CD.

This is an extract by Gareth Hicks from the CD of the same title with the kind permission of Archive CD Books

See also the links below for similar extracts for adjoining districts;

• Brynamman, Cwmllynfell & Quarter Bach
• Betws, Garnant & Glanamman
• Ammanford

Llanguicke

...........is 10 3/4 miles from Swansea, is a very extensive and populous parish, including the hamlets of Cwmgorse, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Lower Brynamman, Rhydyfro, and Ynysmudw, also the populous villages of Ystalyfera and Pontardawe, of which the last two mentioned will be found under separate headings. The parish is on the Western side of the Swansea valley on the road from Swansea to Brecon, and extends to the boundary of the county of Glamorgan where it adjoins Breconshire and Carmarthenshire; the distance from Swansea to the nearest part of the parish is 8 miles, but to the extreme limit 13 miles; it is in the Western division of the county of Glamorgan, Pontardawe petty sessional division and union, Neath county court district, rural deanery of East Gower, archdeaconry of Carmarthen and diocese of St David's; the Swansea Canal runs through some parts of the parish.

The church of St Cuik, or Guick, standing on the top of a hill, is an ancient building of stone in the Norman style, consisting of nave, south porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing 2 bells; in 1812 it was new-roofed, and several alterations made; there are 300 sittings. A Welsh service is held on Sundays in the afternoon. The register dates from the year 1740. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £321 with glebe (£14), in the gift of the Bishop of St David's, and held since 1892 by the Rev James Griffiths BD of St David's College, Lampeter, prebendary of St David's, and JP Cardiganshire. The vicarage house, at Pontardawe, built in 1870, commands extensive views up and down the valley and of the hills opposite.

There is a Congregational chapel at Gwrhyd, erected in 1856, seating 256 persons; one at Rhiwfawr, erected in 1891, with 200 sittings, and one at Ynysmudwy, rebuilt in 1904, seating 800 persons, and a Swedenborgian chapel at Ynysmudw.  

The Duke of Beaufort is lord of the manor. Fleming R D A Gouch esq of Yniscedwyn House, Herbert Lloyd esq of Killybebill, Henry Nathaniel Miers esq of Clydach, Mrs Jones of The Garth, and Howell Jeffries esq, are the principal landowners.

The soil is sand; subsoil, sandstone; chiefly pasture land. The area is 12,432 acres of land and 121 of water; rateable value £42,912; the population of the ecclesiastical parish in 1901 was 8,657; the population in 1891 was 9,707, and in 1901, 12,376, including 6 officials and 30 inmates in Pontardawe workhouse.

Post & MO Office, Ynysmudw (letters should have Glamorgan added). --- David Jones, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive at 7 am and 12 noon; dispatched at 11.40 am and 7.35 pm; open 8.30 to 10 sundays for sale of stamps and registration; letters delivered over counter. Pontardawe is the nearest telegraph office, 2 miles distant

Lower Brynamman

..is a hamlet 6 miles north from Pontardawe, and adjoins Brynamman. Here are Baptist and Congregational chapels.

Post & MO Office. --- Mrs Margaret Price, sub-postmistress. Letters through Upper Brynamman, Carmarthenshire arrive at 9.30 am and 1 ? pm; dispatched at 5.40 pm week days & 3.55 pm on sundays; no delivery on sundays. Upper Brynamman is the nearest telegraph office, 1 mile distant.

County Police, Alfred Stonehouse, constable.

Cwmgorse

...is a hamlet 3 1/2 miles north from Pontardawe. There is a Calvinistic Methodist chapel and a Zion Baptist chapel, erected in 1894.

Post & MO Office --- Thomas Howells, sub-postmaster. Letters through Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, arrive 8.30 am; dispatched 5 pm week days only. Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is the nearest telegraph office, 3 miles distant [?? more like 3/4 mile in reality]

Wall Letter Box, Cwmgorse Valley, cleared at 9.25am week days only.

County Police, John Shellum, sergeant, & 2 constables.

Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen

..is a hamlet , 4 miles north from Pontardawe. here is a Carmel Congregational chapel, founded in 1762, which has 850 sittings, and the Hermon Congregational chapel erected in 1909, which has 400 sittings, and a Calvinistic Methodist chapel, erected 1907, which has over 800 sittings.

Post, M O T & Telephonic Express Delivery Office (letters should have Glamorgan added). --- Jenkin Mark, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive at 7.30 am & 12.30 pm; dispatched at 10.30 am & 5.35 pm.

Wall Letter Boxes --- Collieries, cleared at 4.45pm week days only; & Waunleyshion, cleared at 4 pm.

Public Elementary School, erected in 1867, & enlarged in 1894, for 297 boys & girls & 197 infants ; average attendance, 300 boys & girls & 191 infants; John Hugh, master; Miss Lydia Owen, infants' mistress

Rhydyfro

...is a hamlet 1 mile north from Pontardawe, and has a Congregational chapel, first erected in 1844, seating 550 persons; a new chapel was erected in 1905, at a cost of £1,100.

Post Office --- David Phillips, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive via Pontardawe, Glamorganshire, at 8 am ; dispatched at 10.40 am & 6.5 pm; no delivery on sunday. Nearest money order & telegraph office, Ponardawe.

Public Elementary School, erected 1876, for 150 children ; average attendance, 140; Alfred William Owen, master.

Places of Worship, with times of services

• St Cuik Church, Llanguicke, Rev Preb Jas Griffiths BD, vicar; Rev Isaac Richard Morgan & Rev James Gwyronydd Evans, curates; 11 am & 6.30 pm ; thurs 7.30 pm.
• St Mary's Chapel of Ease, Cwmgorse; 11 am & 6.30 pm

Baptist

• Lower Brynamman (Siloam), Rev Joseph Lee Davies; 10.30 am & 6 pm; tues & thurs 7 pm
• Cwmgorse (Sion), Rev John Thomas; 10.30 am & 6 pm

Calvinistic Methodist

• Gwaun-cae-Gurwen (Siloh), Rev Rheidol Davies; 10 am & 6 pm ; tues & thurs 7 pm
• Cwmgorse; 11 am & 6.30 pm

Congregational

• Carmel, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Rev Benjamin D Davies; 10 am & 6 pm; tues & thurs 7 pm [the Tabernacl, Cwmgors congregation was meeting from 1905 in the vestry in Cwmgors but the chapel itself was not built until 1910]
• Gwrhyd, Cwmgorse; 10 am & 6 pm; tues 7 pm
• Hermon, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen; 10 am & 6 pm
• Lower Brynamman (Ebenezer), Rev Hywel Owen Jones; 6 pm; mon, tues & fri 7 pm
• Rhiwfawr; 10 am & 6 pm
• Rhydyfro (Saron), Rev John Rhys Price; 10 am & 6 pm; mon & wed 7 pm
• Ynysmudwy (Bethesda), Rev Thomas Emrys James; 10.30 am & 6 pm ; tues 7 thurs 7.30 pm

Llanguicke

(Marked thus * receive their letters through Pontardawe, Glam)

(Marked thus + receive their letters through Ystalyfera, Glam)

Private Residents

• *Gilbertson, Charles Geo; Gelligron
• *Jones, Thomas; Garth House
• Phillips, Francis Rosser; Ynysmudw ho
• Stanhope, Scott Stanhope; Cwm Schon, Ynysmudw

Commercial

• *Bevan, John, farmer; Cwmclyd
• Bryn Works Limited (F R Phillips, manager), tinplate manufacturers; Ynysmudw
• Cwmdu Quarries Co; Ynysmudw
• *Davies, David J, farmer; Forchegel
• *Davies, Thomas, farmer; Gartregarth
• Davies, Thomas, shopkpr; Ynysmudw
• +Evans, John, farmer; Pantygwanid
• *Gibbs, John (Mrs), farmer; Perthygwynon
• *Griffiths, David, farmer; PistyllGwyn
• *Griffiths, Thos, farmer; Gwrhyducha
• *Harris, Elizabeth (Mrs), farmer; Waunpentan
• +Harris, John, farmer; Penperlyn
• +Harris, Mary (Mrs), frmr; Brynllefrith
• *Harris, Morgan, farmer; Garthrithin
• *Hawkins, William Benjamin, quarry owner; Cwmnanllici
• *Hodson, Thomas, farmer; Gillylwch
• Hopkin, Evan, milk dlr; Ynysmudw
• Hopkins, Hannah (Mrs), shopkeeper; Ynysmudw
• *Hopkins, William (Mrs), farmer; Gors Goch
• *Howell, William, farmer; Gellyfowy Ganol
• *Isaac, Daniel, farmer; Gellilwcha
• James, Joseph, grocer, London house, Ynysmudw
• *James, Richard, farmer; Pendarren
• James, Wm, greengrocer; Ynysmudw
• Jenkins, Joseph, boot ma; Ynysmudw
• Jenkins, William, tailor; Ynysmudw
• John, Evan, farmer; Gellyfowy fawr & Ynysmudw Inn PH
• *Jones, Arthur; Cilmangwynushaf
• *Jones, David, farmer; Cefnllan
• *Jones, Evan (Mrs), farmer; Penygarn
• Jones, Eynon, grocer; Ynysmudw
• *Jones, Llewellyn, farmer; Cwrtybariwns
• *Jones, Owen, farmer; Llwynmedw isaf
• *Jones, Thomas, farmer; Garth
• *Jones, William, farmer; Gwrhyd isaf
• *Jones, William, farmer; Llwynpryfed
• +Morgan, John, farmer; Cwmtaweisa
• Morgan, Margaret A (Mrs), shopkeeper; Ynysmudw
• *Morgan, Roger, farmer; Gillyfowy fach
• +Morgan, Wm, farmer; Cwmtaweganoe
• Morgan, Wm, shopkeeper; Ynysmudw
• +Owens, Jenkin, farmer; Graigtwrch
• Phillips, Margaret (Mrs), shopkeeper; Ynysmudw
• *Thomas, John, farmer; Pentwyn
• Walters, E & D, stationers; Ynysmudw
• *Walters, Gwenllian (Mrs), farmer; Ceffullan uchaf
• Walters, William, frmr; Betting ishaf
• +Watkins, Caroline (Mrs), farmer; Gilfach Goch
• +Watkins, David, farmer; Deri isha
• Williams, Daniel (Mrs), farmer; Ynysmudw isaf
• Williams, John, grocer; Ynysmudw
• Williams, Lewis, farmer; Cilmangwyn Uchaf, Ynysmudw
• *Williams, Morgan, frmr; Llwynmudw
• +Williams, Thos, farmer; Gorsygranod
• Williams, Thomas, farmer; Pentwyn, Ynysmudw
• Williams, Wm, shopkpr; Ynysmudw

Cwmgorse

(Names marked thus * receive their letters through Pontardawe, Glam)

• Davies, Rev Benj D (Congregational)
• Davies, Rev Rheidol Davies (Calvinistic Methodist)
• Griffiths, Rev David LD (curate); Persondy
• Jenkins, Samuel JP; Cwmgorse farm
• Morgan, George JP; Fern Bank

Commercial

• Brynmelyn Quarry Co
• Clarke, David, hair dresser & confectnr
• Cwmgorse Brick Co Limited, brick & tile makers
• Davies, Evan, stonemason
• Davies, John, coffee tavern
• Davies, Noah, cycle agent
• *Davies, Thomas, smith
• Davies, William, bootmaker
• Evans, Daniel, hair dresser
• Evans, Thomas, hosier
• Hopkins, David, shopkeeper
• Howells, Thomas, clothier & draper; Post Office
• James, Thomas, confectioner
• Jenkins, Margaret (Mrs), shopkeeper
• Jenkins, Thomas, ironmonger
• Jones, John, frmr; Bailey Glas isaf
• Jones, John Richard, grocer
• Lewis, Gomer, grocer
• Llewellyn, David John, tailor
• Morgan Bros, butchers & builders
• Rees, Ellen (Miss), draper
• Rees, John, brewer, & Abernant inn
• *Richards, Jas, farmer; Nantygasey
• Thomas, John, shopkeeper
• *Thomas, Mary (Mrs); Star Inn
• Watkins, Gwen (Miss), dress maker
• Watkins, John; New Star PH
• *Williams, David, farmer; Tynycoedcae
• Williams, John, builder & timber mer
• Williams, Thos, grocer & ironmonger

Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen

• Thomas, Rev John (Baptist)

Commercial

• Capital & Counties Bank Ltd (sub branch) (open tues, 11 am to 1.30 pm); draw on London office, 39 Threadneedle street, EC
• Davies, Morgan, solicitor
• Davies, Thomas, shopkeeper
• Dicks, James, farmer; Llwynhen
• Edwards, Thomas, builder & carpenter
• Evans & Mark, cycle agents & reprs
• Evans, William & Son, tailors & drapers; Cloth hall
• Evans, Benjamin, farmer; Llwynrhydie
• Evans, John, farmer; Bryndu
• Evans, Thomas, builder & carpenter
• Evans, William Lewis, shopkeeper
• Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Colliery Co Ltd, colliery owners
• Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Co-operative Society (Griffith Evans, manager)
• Hicks, Daniel, fancy repository
• James, John, grocer
• Jenkins & Sons, butchers & grocers
• Jenkins, Daniel, farmer, Tyisaf
• Jenkins, Margaret (Mrs), beer retlr; Mount Pleasant
• Jones, Margaret (Mrs), Cae-Gurwen Arms PH
• Jones, Thomas, grocer; Caenewydd
• Jones, William, shopkeeper
• Lewis, Archer, boot maker
• Lloyds Bank Ltd (open tues & fri 11 am to 1.30 pm); draw on London office, 71 Lombard st EC
• Mark, Jenkin, wholesale & retail boot maker; Post Office
• Morgan, James Thomas, news agent
• Morgan, John, ironmonger, paperhanger, seedsman, implement agent & house furnisher; Commerce ho
• Morgan, Richard; Leigh Arms PH
• Morgan, Thomas, shopkeeper
• Morris, Mary (Mrs), draper
• New Cwmgorse Colliery Co Limited, colliery proprietors
• Price, Wm, farmer; Bailey Glas Uchaf
• Public Hall (John Jones, caretaker)
• Rees, David (Mrs), farmer; Pencardu
• Roberts, William, blacksmith
• Thomas, Catherine Ann (Mrs), grocer
• Thomas, David, grocer
• Thomas, Morgan J, tobacconist
• Williams, David, grocer
• Williams, James, draper

Lower Brynamman

• Corkey, William MD

Commercial

• Bowen, Henry, farmer, Cwmteg
• Corkey, William MD Brux, LRCP & S Edin, LFP & S Glas, physician & surgeon
• Davies, Thomas, grocer
• Evans, Thomas & Son, ironmongers
• Evans, Edward; Brynamman hotel
• Hargreaves, Wm; Farmers' Arms PH
• Harris, David, tailor & draper
• Hawkins, Anne (Mrs), draper
• Henley, John, boot maker
• Howells, David Josiah, hosier
• Howells, George L, hair dresser
• Howells, Howell, fried fish dealer
• Howells, John David, builder & crpntr
• Isaac, William farmer
• Jenkins, John H, grocer
• Jones, Mary (Mrs), beer retailer
• Jones, William, shopkeeper
• Morgan, Thomas Jacob, carpenter
• Morgan, Whitfield J, stationer
• Owen, John, coffee tavern
• Phillips, Thomas John, hair dresser
• Price, Margaret (Mrs), grocer & wine dealer; Post office
• Rees, John, naturalist
• Thomas, David, sewing machine agent
• Williams, D H & Son, butchers
• Williams, David farmer; Clynboidy
• Williams, John David, bookseller

Rhydyfro

• Price, Rev John Rhys (Congregational)

Commercial

• Evans, Evan, farmer; Ynys-y-botten
• Harris, John; Royal Oak PH
• Lewis, David, beer retailer
• Lewis, Richard, blacksmith; Maesiago
• Phillips, David, shopkpr & post office

[Last Updated : 26 Sept 2002 - Gareth Hicks]