Margam Taibach Contents

MARGAM is an extensive parish, in Neath union and county court district, hundred of Neath, eastern division of the rural deanery of Upper-Gro-Neath, archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaff, and county of Glamorgan, on the high road between Neathand Bridgend, being 9 miles south from the former, and 9 north from the latter, 4 miles south from Aberavon, 3.5 miles south from Port Talbot station, on the South Wales and Great Western Railway, and 205 miles by rail from London: it is delightfully situated under a perpendicular wood at the base of the Mynydd Margam. Previous to the thirteenth century, this parish was called Pen-dar, or the Oak Summit. Here are remains of a Cistercian abbey, founded by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, A.D.,1147. About a mile from the Abbey was a convent of nuns, called Eglwys Nunydd, or the Nuns' Church; at the dissolution of the abbey it was sold to Sir Rice Mansel, knt., for #642 9s. 8d., and he came to reside there: it afterwards came into the possession of the Talbots, heirs to the Mansels; it is now occupied as a farmhouse. The church of St. Mary is a plain building in the Norman style, consisting of nave, chancel, and aisles; there are many handsome monuments to the Mansel family, and the Talbots, especially that of the late Mrs. Talbot. Some years ago, while the church was undergoing repairs through the munificence of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, Esq., M.P., many traces were found which would convey the idea that at one time Margam was aplace of some importance. The register dates from the middle of the sixteenth century. The living is a vicarage, yearly value about #300, in the gift of C. R. M. Talbot, esq., M.P., L.L., J.P., and held by the Rev. David Thomas,M.A., of Trinity College, Oxford; servide in Welsh and English, alternately. There are schools supported by C. R. M. Talbot, esq., M.P., and places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists. In the parish is an ancient stone cross, about eight feet high, bearing rude and imperfect characters. Margam Park, the seat of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, Esq., M.P., L.L., J.P., is a handsome structure, which was built a few years since in the Elizabethan style, and resembling the monastic edifices of the Middle Ages; the park is five miles in circumference, and has long been celebrated for its pleasure grounds; the principal feature is the Orangery, which originated from a shipwreck near here. The vessel was conveying from Portugal to Queen Mary a present, from a Dutch merchant, of orange and lemon trees, and being stranded the plants became as a waif, or by purchase, the property of Lord Talbot, in the conservatory are some admirable specimens of ancient statuary, also a curious collection of cork models of Italian buildings. From here may be obtained a view of the beautiful Bay of Swansea, and the character of the scenery generally, from its rich woodlands, its mountains, and varied and lengthy scope, is picturesque in the extreme. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, Esq., M.P., L.L., J.P., is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The area is 18,725 acres, including water; gross estimated rental, #24,685; rateable value, #22,189; and the population in 1861 was 5,528.

TAIBACH is situated about half a mile from Port Talbot railway station and 1 mile from Aberavon. Here are the extensive copper works of Messrs. Vivian and Sons, known as the Margam copper works; the well known tin plate works of Messrs. Byassand Co. are also in this parish although adjoining Aberavon. There is a chapel of ease to St. Mary's (the parish church); curate in charge of the Rev. John Edward Jones; the services are performed in English and Welsh, morning and evening. There is a small market house for the disposal of agricultural and other produce, which is well attended on Saturdays.

Despatch

Briton Ferry, Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire & forward	9.00 p.m.
Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport (Mon.), Bristol & Gloucester	7.30 a.m.
Briton Ferry, Neath, Swansea, Llanelly & Carmarthen	9.30 a.m.
Bridgend, Cardiff, London & foreign	11.20 a.m.
Swansea	2.45 p.m.
Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport (Mon.), Gloucester, & the North	4.00 p.m.
Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport (Mon.), Bristol, Gloucester, London & foreign	6.50 p.m.

Letters can be posted by extra stamp ten minutes later for each mail

Delivery

	By Carrier	To Callers.
England, Ireland, Scotland, & all parts of South Wales	7.00 a.m.	7.00 a.m.
Neath & Swansea	10.40 a.m.	10.40 a.m.
Bridgend, cardiff, Newport (Mon.), Gloucester, North & West of England, & North Wales	10.40 a.m.	10.40 a.m.
Cardiff, Newport (Mon.), Bristol, Gloucester & London	3.55 a.m.	3.55 a.m.
Briton Ferry, Neath, Swansea & Carmarthen	5.10 p.m.	5.10 p.m.

On sundays there is one delivery only at 7 a.m. The office is open to callers from 7 a.m. till 10 a.m.

Pillar Letter Box, Margam, cleared at 5.50 p.m. week days; 12.15 p.m. sundays. Letters by messenger from Taibach.

Insurance Agents :-

Lancashire Fire & Life, John Williams, Taibach
London & Lancashire, B. Heycock, Taibach

Churches :-

St. Mary's (Parish Church), Margam, Rev. David Thomas M.A., vicar
Chapel of Ease, Taibach, Rev. John Edward Jones, curate in sole charge

Chapels :-

Baptist

Jerusalem (Welsh), ministers various
Smyrna (Welsh), Rev. John Jones, minister

Calvinistic Methodists

Duffryn (Welsh), ministers various
Groes (Welsh), ministers various

Independent

Gideon (Welsh), Rev. - Stephens
Carmel (Welsh), Rev. Richard Williams

Primitive Methodists, Bryngurnos (Welsh), ministers various

Schools :-

British (Messrs. Vivian & Sons) (boys, girls & infants), Taibach, Joseph McOan, master; Miss Phoebe Richards, mistress; Mrs. Mary Henry, infants' mistress
British (C. R. M. Talbot, esq. M.P.), Margam (boys & girls), Thos. F. Howell, master; Mrs. - Howell, mistrs

Public Officers :-

Police Constable, George Roberts
Registrar of Births & Deaths, George Jones, Aberavon
Collector of Rates, John Williams

Post Office Directory, Margam, Glamorgan, 1871

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