Post Office Directory 1871

COWBRIDGE, with LLANBLETHIAN, &c.

Transcribed by Phil Mustoe

Cowbridge is a small contributory parliamentary borough, market town and parish, a polling place for, and in the County of, Glamorgan, hundred of its own name, Bridgend and Cowbridge union and county court district, rural deanery of Gro-Neath(Upper division), archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaff, distant 172 (by rail 186) miles from London, 56 from Bristol, 12 from Cardiff, 8 from Llantrisant, and 7 from Bridgend. There is a line of railway from Llantrisant station (South Wales branch) to this town.

The town consists principally of one long street from east to west, and has some well built houses, and Town Hall and Market-place, and is divided by a small stream, over which there is a stone bridge.

In the year 1091 the town was encompassed with a stone wall, by Robert de St. Quinton, who afterwards rebuilt the Castle of Llanblethian, of which only one of the gates now remain standing.

The town is supposed to have received its present name from the circumstances that, when the bridge was built, a cow, driven by dogs, took shelter under one of the arches, and her horns being so much entagled that she could not be taken out alive; the arms of the town are still the figures of the cow on a bridge. The town is governed by a mayor, two bailiffs and six aldermen, the mayor appointed by the Marquis of Bute for life, and the bailiffs elected annually by the burgesses. A court of record may be holden under the charter granted by Charles II., but the corporation do not avail themselves of the privilege. Cowbridge shares with Cardiff and Llantrisant in returning one member to Parliament.

The church of St. Mary is a handsome stone building, in the Norman style, and consists of a chancel, nave, south aisle, and gallery with an organ at the west end, also a porch, and fine square tower, with a peal of 8 bells; there is a tablet in memory of Dr. Benjamin Heath Malkin, M.A., F.R.A., the celebrated historian of South Wales, who was buried here. The church was restored in 1851 at a cost of #1,400, defryaed by contributions. The register dates from the year 1718. The living is a vicarage, with Llanblethian and Welsh St. Donatts annexed, yearly value about #300, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester, and held by the Rev. Thomas Edmondes, M.A. , of Jesus College, Oxford; the Rev. Owen Bowen Price, B.A., of St. David's College, Lampeter, is the curate

The church of Llanblethian (St. John the Baptist) is an old stone edifice, in the Norman style, situated upon an eminence; it has a chancel, nave, south transept, porch, and square tower, with a peal of eight bells. The register dates from the year 1660.

There are chapels for Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, Independents and Wesleyans.

The Grammar School was endowed by Sir. Leoline Jenkins, Judge of the Prerogative Court and Secretary of State in the reign of James II.; according to his will it was purchased by him of Sir Edward Stradling, of St. Donatts Castle, and commonly called or known by the name of the 'Free School', and devised by him to the principal, fellows and scholars of Jesus College, Oxford. He founded six monitorships, each of the present value of #16 10s. The scholarships and fellowships originally attached to the school have been, as in most foundations, thrown open to competition by the Royal Commission, in granting to English boys , who have been educated in the school for four years, equal advantages with the Welsh in competing for the fellowships and scholarships of Jesus College, Oxford. The present building was erected by the fellows of Jesus College, Oxford, in the year 1847, with residence for master. There is also a National school for boys and girls.

The Town Hall and Market House is situated in the High street and is a fine building.

The county court is held at the Town Hall alternately, every month, with Bridgend. Petty sessions are held at the Police Station, and the magistrates meet every Tuesday. There are also Gas Works, by which the town is supplied.

The market is held every and is purely agricultural. The great markets are held the first Tuesday in every month, chiefly for cattle. Fairs are held the Tuesday before March 25th, May 4th, June 24th, Sept 29th and the first Tuesday in December.

The charities (a list of which is in St. Mary's church) are as follows :- Mrs. Catherine Williams, by will, dated 27th November, 1682, bequeathed the sum of #100 for ever to the town of Cowbridge, the interest whereof to be yearly paid for the relief of the poor of the said town. Sir Leoline Jenkins left, by will, dated 20th June, 1685, the sum of #20 once in every four years, towards apprenticing poor children or clothing poor people of the town of Cowbridge, at the discretion of the master ofthe Grammar School in the said town for the time being. Mrs. Mary Wilcox also left two closes of land situated in the parish of Llanblethian, the rent of which to be yearly distributed to the poor of the town of Cowbridge, at the discretion of the bailiffs of the said town for the time being. Mrs Rebecca Wyndham likewise left, by will, the sum of #100, which, together with the interest thereof, purchased the moiety of a tenement of lands called Pencoed in the parish of Llanilid, the profits of which to be applied towards appenticing poor children of the town of Cowbridge, at the discretion of the minister and churchwardens for the time being. Mrs. Cecil Thomas' house, near the Cross, in the town, Mr. Thomas Thomas' house, near the Weigh-house, Mrs Mary Morgan's house, near the Market place, and a field, called by the name of Tair Erw Heoly Smallway, in the parish of Llanblethian, are charged with the yearly sum of 12s. each, which, with 4s. from the Corporation, are left to be distributed in bread to the poor of the town on every Sunday after divine service, at the discretion of the churchwardens. Mr. Walter Williams, by a codicil to his will, dated 16th January, 1796, bequeathed the yearly sum of #4 for ever, to be issuing out of the rents and profits of a tenement of lands called "The Paddocks." situated in the Western Village of the townof Cowbridge, to be paid to the treasurer of the town, and to be distributed to the poor of the town and parish of Cowbridge, at the discretion of the bailiffs. On Nov. 24th, 1840, Daniel Jones, of Beaupre, in the parish of St. Hilary, in this county, by his will, directed his executors should purchase as much stock in Consols as would produce a yearly dividend of #10, for the use and benefit of the poor of this town for ever, the money either to be divided among the poor in equal moieties, one at Whitsuntideand the other at Christmas, by the minister for the time being, or to be laid out by such minister for the use of the poor, in clothing, bedding, or firing; the above stock stands invested in the #3 per Cent. Consols in the name of Her Majesty's Accountant-general. Dec. 11th, 1845, John Frauncies Gwyn of Ford Abbey, in the parish of Thorncombe, in the County of Devon, by his will made the following bequest :- I give and bequeath unto the minister and churchwardens of the parish of Cowbridge thesum of #200, in trust, to invest the same in their names in the public funds of Great Britian, and to apply the dividends thereof in such manner as they shall think fit, for the benefit of the National school for boys of the three consolidated parishes of Cowbridge, Llanblethian and Welsh St. Donatts. The principal residences in the neighbourhood are : Bryn Awel, the seat of Miss Entwistle; Marlboro' Grange, the seat of Mrs. Entwistle; Newton House, the seat of John Samuel Gibbon, esq., J.P.; Penlline Castle, the seat of John Homfray, esq., J.P., Penlline Court, the seat of William Salmon, esq., J.P.; The Verlands, the seat of James Ballard, esq.

The Marquess of Bute is lord of the manor of Llanblethian and borough of Cowbridge. The Earl of Dunraven; John Samuel Gibbon esq. J.P., Major William West, James Bassett, J.P., and Mrs. Entwistle are the principal landowners.

The soil is clay and gravel; subsoil, various. The chief crops are wheat, barley and pasturage, and the population in 1861 of the parish of Cowbridge was 1,047; parish of Llanblethian in 1861, was 753.

The area of the parish of Cowbridge is 69 acres; parish of Llanblethian is 3,030 acres; gross estimated rental of the parish of Cowbridge, #3,556 13s.; parish of Llanblethian, #5,515 9s.; rateable value of the parish of Cowbridge, #3, 095 10s; parishof Llanblethian, #5,083 6s.

Parish Clerk, Thomas Davies.

OFFICAL ESTABLISHMENTS, LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, &c.

POST & MONEY ORDER OFFICE

Post Office Savings Bank & Government Annuity & Insurance & Telegraph Office, High street. - Thomas Felton, postmaster. Letters arrive from London, Gloucester, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend &c. at 7.30 a.m.; second arrival fromIreland, Scotland & North of England &c. at 11.47 a.m.; dispatched to all parts at 7.45 a.m.; second dispatch at 6.30 p.m.; extra stamp 7.0 p.m. Money orders are granted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; on saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On sundays there is only one delivery, at 7.30 a.m. & letters are delivered at the office from 7. 30 a.m. until 10 a.m. only

CORPORATION

Mayor of Cowbridge & Constable of the Castle of Llanblethian - vacant
Bailiff's, James Ballard, esq.; John Samuel Gibbon, esq. J.P.
Aldermen, Edward Bradley, Thomas Llewellyn, Rev. Thomas Edmondes, M.A., James Ballard, Rev. Francis Taynton, John Bevan
Town Clerk, John Stockwood, High street

MAGISTRATES

Usually Attending Petty Sessions

John Whitlock Nicholl Carne, esq. D.C.L., St. Donatts castle
Rev. Thomas Edmondes, M.A., Cowbridge
John Samuel Gibbon, esq., Newton House
Rev. Francis Frederick Edwards, Gileston manor
John Homfray, esq., Penlline court (should probably read Penlline Castle)
John Richards Homfray, Pwllywrach house
John Blandy Jenkins, esq., Llanharran house
George Whitlock Nicholl, esq., Ham house
William Salmon, esq., Penlline court
Thomas Deere Salmon, esq., 7 New sq., Lincoln's inn, London
George Montgomery Traherne, esq., St. Hilary
Hubert de Burgh Thomas, esq., Crossways house
Rowland Fothergill, esq., Hensol castle
Hubert Chuchill Gould, esq
Major William West James Bassett, Beaupre
Clerk, John Stockwood, High street

INSURANCE AGENTS

Commercial Union Assurance, Henry Peter Hoadley, High street
Eagle Life, John Parsons, High street
General Fire & Life, Philip Griffiths, High street
Imperial Fire, W. Thomas, Greenfield villa, Llanblethian
Lancashire Fire & Life, J. Reynolds, Bute cottage, Llanblethian
Law Union Fire & Life, William John Goddard, High st
Life Assocation of Scotland, Thomas Payne, High street
Liverpool & London & Globe, Thomas Felton, High street
Norwich Union, John Stockwood, High street
Provincial, Thomas Payne, High street
Royal Exchange, Thomas Rees, East village
Royal, S. D. Evans, High street
Royal Farmers' & General, Edward Bradley, East village
Sun Fire & Life, John Parsons, High street
West of England Fire & Life, John Thomas, High street

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS

County Court, held at the Town Hall, Thomas Falconer, esq. judge; Thomas Tamplin Lewis, registrar; John Stockwood, high bailiff
Police Station, Charles Rodman, sergeant
Stamp Office, Thomas Felton, High street, sub-distributor
Town Hall, High street, Mrs. Rebecca Thomas, keeper

PUBLIC OFFICERS

Borough Treasurer, John Thomas, High street
Clerk to the Magistrates, Clerk to the Commissioners of Taxes & to the District Highway Board, John Stockwood, High street
Collector of Rates & Assistant Overseer, William Lewis, High street
District Surveyor, Robert Lougher
Inland Revenue Officer, James Fielding Rich, Cross house
Inspector of Nuisances, Charles Rodman
Medical Officer, Edward Bates, M.D., surgeon, East village
Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, David Lloyd, East village
Relieving Officer, David Lloyd, East village
Town Crier, Owen Roberts

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Churches

St. Mary's , Cowbridge, Rev. Thomas Edmondes, M.A. , vicar; Rev. Owen Bowen Price, B.A., curate
St. John the Baptist, Llanblethian, Rev. Thomas Edmondes, M.A., vicar; Rev. Owen Bowen Price, B.A. , curate

Chapels

Baptist (English), The Limes, ministers various
Baptist (Welsh), West village, Rev. Timothy Thomas, minister
Calvinistic Methodist, The Limes, ministers various
Calvinistic Methodist (Welsh), Aberthin, ministers various
Independent (Welsh), Maindy, Rev. John Evans, minister
Wesleyan (Welsh), High street, ministers various
Wesleyan (English), East village, Rev. John Nancarrow, minister

SCHOOLS

Grammar, Church street, Rev. James Colin Francis Morson, M.A., head master; James Milnes Wheat, B. A. & Augustus Laloe, assistant masters
National, East village, William Thorpe, master

RAILWAY STATION

Cowbridge, Aaron England, station master

CONVEYANCE

From Llantwit Major to Cowbridge Railway Station - John Smith, daily

Private Residents

Ballard Capt. Jas. Simpson, The Verlands
Ballard James, The Verlands
Ballard Misses, The Bridge
Bates Edward, East village
Bevan John, High street
Bradley Edward, East village
Colton Mrs., The Bridge
Edmondes Rev. Thomas, M.A., J.P. [vicar], High street
Edmondes Misses, East village
Edwards Daniel Ithiel, East village
Entwistle Miss, Bryn Awel, Llanblethian
Entwistle Mrs., Marlboro' grange, Llanblethian
Gibbon John Samuel, J.P., Newton house, Llanblethian
Gibbon Mrs., East village
Giroe Miss, Brynhyfryd, Llanblethian
Goddard William John, High street
Hall Joseph Williams, East village
Homfray John, J.P., Penlline castle
Howells Samuel, West village
Jenkins Evan, West village
Jenkins Lewis, High street
Jones Rev. Owen Bowen, B.A. [curate]
Laloe Augustus, The Poplars
Lewis Miss Mary, East village
Lewis Mrs., East village
Llewellyn John, High street
Llewellyn Thomas, East village
Miles Mrs., High street
Morgan Mrs., Ivy cottage, West village
Morgan Mrs., The Limes
Morson Rev. James Colin Francis, M.A., Grammar school, Church street
Nancarrow Rev. John [Wesleyan], East village
Nicholl George William, Llanblethian
Ord Mrs., East village
Payne Thomas, High street
Perkins Mrs., High street
Phillips John Watkin, High street
Price William, East village
Rees David, East village
Rees Thomas, East village
Rogers Joseph, High street
Salmon William, J.P., Penlline court
Salt Titus, St. Quinton's cottage, Llanblethian
Simmonet Mons. Julius Augustus, Dynevor cottage
Smith Rev. Joseph Henry, Llanblethian cottage, Llanblethian
Stibbs Robert, The Limes
Stockwood John, High street
Thomas Rev. Timothy [Baptist], East village
Thomas Hubert de Burgh, J.P., Crossways house, Llanblethian
Thomas John, Eastfield house
Thomas Mrs., Calcady house, High street
Thomas Wm., Greenfield vil, Llanblethian
Thomas William, Thorn villa
Verity Miss Cecilia, East village
Williams Miss, Sydney ho., East village
Williams Morgan, Edmondes terrace
Williams Thos., Sydney ho., East village
Williams William, The Armoury

Commercial

Aubrey Richard, Tennis Court & wheelwright, East village
Ball Jeremiah, accountant, West village
Ballard & Co., iron merchants & ironmongers, High street
Bates Edward, M.D., surgeon, East village
Bird Nathaniel, general ironmonger, High street
Braddick Joseph, Masons' Arms & haulier, High street
Bradford James, flannel weaver, Llanblethian
Bradley Edward, land agent, East village
Butler John, farmer, Aberthin, Llanblethian
Collin Timothy, lodging house keeper, East village
Cowbridge Gas Light & Coke Company (Thomas John Parsons, secretary; John Jenkin, manager), The Limes
Cowbridge Railway Company Limited (Jno. Stockwood, sec)
Culverwell Thomas, farmer, Llwynhelig farm
Davey John, farmer, Aberthin, Llanblethian
David Hopkin, farmer, Holly bush farm, Llanblethian
David Iltyd, Westgate, West village
David Thomas, Cross Keys, High street
David Thomas, shoe maker, West village
Davies Ebenezer & Anne (Miss), farmers, Llanblethian
Davies Margaret Eliza & Mary (Misses), boarding & day school, High street. See advertisement
Davies Edmund, linen & woollen draper, East village
Davies Edward, currier & leather seller, High street
Davies Ellen (Mrs.), milliner & dress maker, Church street
Davies Margaret (Mrs.), shopkeeper & servants' registry office, East village
Davis Ann (Miss), stationer & news agent, High street
Davis David, bookbinder &c., Church street
Davis Ebenezer, bookseller, stationer & printer, High street
Edmund William, miller, Llanblethian
Edwards Daniel Ithiel, surgeon, East village
Edwards David, farmer, Broadway
Edwards William, tin plate worker, East village
Evans David, farmer, Down farm, Llanblethian
Evans Edward, cooper, Llanblethian
Evans Evan, Horse & Groom, High street
Evans John, baker & grocer, East villag
Evans John David, tailor, West village
Evans Robert (of Bridgend), auctioneer & valuer, High st
Evans Samuel David, linen & woollen draper, tailor & general outfitter, High street
Evans Thomas, beer retailer, High street
Evans Thomas, Pelican, West village
Evans Thomas, White Lion, High street
Felton Thomas, chemist & stamp & post office, High street
George John, coal merchant, & agent for the Burton Brewery Company, East village
Gifford Nathaniel, shoe maker, Llanblethian
Giles David, boot & shoe maker, West village
Goddard William John, solicitor, High street
Griffiths John, blacksmith, High street
Griffiths Philip, grocer & provision dealer & agent for Gilbey's wines, High street
Hall Joseph Williams, coal, manure & seed merchant, High street
Harding William, miller, Town mill, Llanblethian
Harman Susannah (Miss), milliner & dress maker, Tydvil house, High street
Harris Catherine (Miss), ladies' seminary, West village
Harris Jane (Mrs.), grocer, High street
Hayter William, shoe maker, East village
Hopkin Thomas, farmer, Maindy, Llanblethian
Hopkins David, stone mason, Llanblethian
Hopkins Evan, farmer, Llanblethian
Hopkins John, stone mason, Llanblethian
Horton Mary (Mrs.), Red Lion, East village
Howe Elizabeth (Mrs.), Blue Bell, High street
Howe John, grocer & butcher, High street
Howe Joseph, farmer, Llanblethian
Howell John, Three Boars' Heads, High street
Howells Samuel, brewer & maltster, Malt House yard
Huge Richard, Hare & Hounds, Aberthin, Llanblethian
James Harriet Strange (Mrs.), cabinet maker & furniture dealer, East village
James Matthias, stone mason, The Bridge
Jenkins Lewis, brewer, maltster & wine & spirit merchant, Vale of Glamorgan brewery, High street
Jenkins Richard, grocer, West village
Jenkins Thomas, coal merchant, East village
Jenkins Thomas, farmer, Mount Plesant farm, Llanblethian
Jenkins William, maltster, West village
Jennings William, blacksmith, West village
John Catherine (Mrs.), shopkeeper, East village
John David, farmer, Maindy, Llanblethian
John Edward, Railway, East village
John John, farmer, Aberthin, Llanblethian
John Thomas, carpenter, West village
John Thomas, farmer, Llanblethian
John William, accountant, West village
John William, haulier, East village
Johnson Henry, watch maker & jeweller, High street
Jones Daniel, shopkeeper, Llanblethian
Jones Evan Morgan, painter, house decorator &c., Bridge ho
Jones Henry, farmer, Llanblethian
Jones John, farmer, Llanblethian
Jones John, tailor, West village
Jones Mary (Mrs.), lodging house, East village
Jones William, farmer, Llanblethian
Jones William, grocer, Llanblethian
Joseph Morgan, beer retailer, Llanblethian
Kitt James, King's Head, Llanblethian
Lane Robert, farmer, Aberthin, Llanblethian
Lawes John bennett (of London), seed & manure merchant (Edward John, agent), High street
Lewis John, saddler, Tydvil cottage
Lewis Thomas, market gardener & china & glass dealer, High street
Lewis William, baker, plasterer & tiler, East village
Lewis William, boy's school, Eagle academy, High street
Lister Thomas, chemist & druggist, High street
Llewellyn Jane (Mrs.), saddler & seed dealer, Church street
Llewellyn John, surgeon, High street
Lloyd David, registrar of births, deaths & marriages, & relieving officer, East village
Matthews & Yorwerth, saddlers, High street
May Joseph, Ancient Druid, East village
Miles Mary Ann (Mrs.), grocer & provision dealer, High st
Morgan Ann (Miss.), shopkeeper & dress maker, East village
Morgan David, beer retailer, High street
Morgan John, farmer, Great House, Llanblethian
Morgan Miles, beer retailer, West village
Morgan Morgan, shoe maker, High street
Morgan Thomas, General Picton, Llanblethian
Morgan William, butcher & farmer, Llanblethian
Morris Richard, confectioner & shopkeeper, East village
Mustoe Rowland Hale, boot & shoe warehouse, East village
National Provincial Bank of England (Thomas Payne, manager), High street; draw on Head Office, London
Nicholas Thomas, builder & slate & timber merchant, The Limes
Ormandy Elizabeth (Miss), Bear inn & posting house, High street
Oswin John, chimney sweeper, The Limes
Owens Catherine (Mrs.), dress maker, North View cottage
Parker Thomas, farmer, Aberthin, Llanblethian
Parsons John, grocer & provision merchant, High street
Perkins John, hair dresser, High street
Phillips Jane, grocer & provision merchant, High street
Phillips John Watkin, surgeon, High street
Phillips Mary (Mrs.), Royal Oak, Aberthin, Llanblethian
Pickard Richard, greengrocer & shopkeeper, High street
Preece John, blacksmith & wheelwright, High street
Price Edward, grocer, East village
Price William, seedsman, High street
Provincial Banking Corporation Limited (Henry Peter headley, manager), High street; draw on London & County bank
Rees David, general draper & outfitter, East village
Rees Thomas, solicitor, & commissioner for taking affidavits in the common law courts
Reynolds James, auctioneer, tailor & draper, Bute cottage, Llanblethian
Reynolds Thomas, tailor, High street
Rich James Fielding, inland revenue officer, Cross house
Richards John, farmer, Llanblethian
Richards Silas, Commercial inn, East village
Richards Thomas, farmer, Llanblethian
Roberts Owen, nail maker, Eastfield cottage
Roberts Thomas, tailor
Stibbs Elizabeth (Miss), confectioner, High street
Stibbs William, baker & confectioner, Ivor house
Stockwood John, solicitor, clerk to the magistrates, clerk to the commissioners of taxes, clerk to the district highway board, commissioner for taking deeds of acknowledgment by married women, to administer oaths in chancery & all the common lawcourts, town clerk, & high bailiff of the county court & secretary to the Cowbridge Railway Company, High street
Thomas David, boot & shoe maker, West village
Thomas David, draper & outfitter, High street
Thomas David, Duke of Wellington & posting house, High street
Thomas David, shoe maker, West village
Thomas Evan, grocer, East village
Thomas John, auctioneer, appraiser, land agent, borough treasurer, & livery stables proprietor, High street & Bear Inn livery stables. See advertisement
Thomas John, Crown inn, East village
Thomas John, pharmaceutical chemist, High street
Thomas Morgan, Cowbridge Arms, & butcher, High street
Thomas Thomas, wine & spirit merchant. High street
Thomas Thomas Treharn (of Bridgend), agricultural implement maker, High street
Thomas William, maltster, Hill House, Llanblethian
Thomas William Henry, Greyhound, West village
Thorne & Hill (Misses), ladies' boarding & day school, Great House, High street. See advertisement
Tilley William, coach builder & wheelwright, West village
Turberville Jane (Mrs.), Edmondes Arms, East village
Turner Margery (Mrs.), lodging house keeper, High street
Warren Solomon, beer retailer, plumber, painter & house decorator, East village
Wilde David, omnibus proprietor, East village
Williams David, farmer, East village
Williams David, Royal Oak, High street
Williams Edward, plasterer, East village
Williams Morgan, farmer, Aberthin, Llanblethian
Williams Thomas, baker, High street
Williams Thomas, boot & shoe maker, High street
Williams Thomas, plasterer & tiler, East village
Williams Thomas, shoe maker, East village
Williams Thomas, tailor, East village
Williams William, cabinet maker, upholsterer &c., High st
Williams William, tiler & plasterer, West village

[Last Updated : 19 Sept 2002 Gareth Hicks]