Hide

Rhossili

hide
Hide

"RHOS SILI, in the Cwmwd of Gwyr, Cantref of Eginog (now called the Hundred of Swansea), County of GLAMORGAN, South Wales: a Rectory valued in the King's Books at £9..6..8: Patron, The Lord Chancellor: Church dedicated to St. Fili. The Resident Population of this Parish, in 1801, was 158. The Money raised by the Parish Rates, in 1803, was £31..16..4 1/4, at 2s. 11 1/4d. in the pound. It is 15 m. S. W. b. W. from Swansea. It is situate upon a Bay, to which it give name, on the Bristol Channel; and where there are great Eddies and Counter-tides, so as to render it dangerous to anchor there, except in good weather. According to the Diocesan Report, in 1809, the yearly value of this Benefice, arising from Tythes, Glebe Land, and Surplice fees, was £102.. 15..0. This Parish contains about 1500 acres of inclosed Land, and about 500 acres which are uninclosed. In the division of Glamorgan by the Norman Adventurers, this Lordship was given to Reginald Sili." From: A Topographical Dictionary of The Dominion of Wales by Nicholas Carlisle, London, 1811.

Hide
topup

Bibliography

Here is a substantial reading list of books which relate to Glamorgan, either county or parish.

topup

Cemeteries

The Glamorgan Family History Society have produced a set of microfiche containing Monumental Inscriptions for the following burial grounds :-

  • Parish Church of St. Mary

Extract from Rhossili parish records [also] noting burial of shipwrecked sailors, 1844/5   - on the People's Collection Wales site

topup

Church History

Chapels Database - a list of all known non-conformist chapels or other non-Anglican religions in the parish

topup

Church Records

For full and up-to-date details of their holdings see the sites of Glamorgan Record Office and/or West Glamorgan Archives

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on  FreeReg

The church is dedicated to St. Mary, is in the Benefice of Port Eynon with Rhosili with Llanddewi with Knelston, and diocese of Swansea and Brecon. Details of the present incumbent of this benefice can be found at the Church in Wales website. The church can be located at grid reference SS417881.

Anglican Parish Registers Held at the Glamorgan Record Office, Cardiff
BaptismsMarriagesBurialsBannsBishops Transcripts
1641-1642, 1665-1807, 1813-19781665-1666, 1671-19701642, 1644-1645, 1665-1807, 1813-19111823-19371671-1672, 1677-1679, 1682-1683, 1685-1688, 1694, 1696-1697, 1700-1701, 1704, 1707-1708, 1710, 1712-1713, 1725, 1727, 1729-1731, 1733-1736, 1738-1790, 1794-1800, 1802-1803, 1805-1869, 1871-1882, 1885, 1887-1894, 1898
(All held at the NationalLibrary of Wales, Aberystwyth)

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Rhossili Ecclesiastical Parish Records     " ...... Registers (including service and banns registers) 1641-1970; papers relating to church property (including church restoration) 1889-1926; Churchwardens' accounts 1889-1896."

Extract from Rhossili parish records noting burial of shipwrecked sailors, 1844, page 20  - on the People's Collection Wales site

Pitton

Non Conformist Registers Held at the West Glamorgan Archive Service (WGAS)
ChapelBaptismsMarriagesBurialsOS Map Ref
English Wesleyan

(*not on WGAS online list)

*1864-1913--SS 42538768
    topup

    Description & Travel

      Rhossili - on Wikipedia

      Various landscapes - on the People's Collection Wales site

      You can see pictures of Rhossili which are provided by:

      topup

      Directories

      Transcript of complete name listing for the Gower parishes, from Slaters Directory for 1880.

      topup

      Gazetteers

      The transcription of the section for Rhossili from The National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

      Description of parish from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833) by Samuel Lewis

      topup

      Historical Geography

      Some of the hamlets, towns and villages within this parish

      • Hillend
      • Middleton
      • Pitton
      topup

      History

      Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

      • "Edgar Evans was born at Middleton, Rhossili on the 7 March 1876. He attended St. Helen's Boys School in Vincent Street from the age of six until he was thirteen, before joining the Royal Navy in 1891 at the age of fifteen. He joined the National Antarctic Expedition between 1901-1904. The officer in command was Captain R. F. Scott who later invited Evans to join him on the British Antarctic Expedition to attempt to reach the South Pole (1910-1913). However they all perished on the return journey, with Evans the first to die. Edgar married Lois Beynon, daughter of William Beynon and niece of his mother, on 13 December 1904 at Rhossili Parish Church and had three children. There is a plaque in his memory in the Norman church at Rhossili."
      topup

      Maps

      This diagram shows the position of this parish within the county of Glamorgan - click on this to see a full size diagram of the county

       

      image

       Map of Rhossili parish, Glamorganshire - on the People's Collection Wales site

      Parish map (Kain/Oliver)

      You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SS420888 (Lat/Lon: 51.575838, -4.281493), Rhossili which are provided by:

      topup

      Names, Geographical

      Places, villages, farms etc within Rhossili parish as shown on the online parish map from the CD of Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. (Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R.). (Extracted by Mary Greatorex)

      • Rhossili (34) Camp, Fall, Fernhill Top, Hillends Burrows, Kitchen Corner, Lifeguard Station, Mewslade Bay, Middleton, Old Castle, Pilton, Pitton, Pitton Cross, Rectory, Red Chamber, Rhossili, Sluxton, Sweone's Houses, Tears Point, The Beacon, The Knave, Thurba.
      • Worm's Head (34): Blow Hole Crabat, Devil's bridge, Inner Head, Low Neck
      topup

      Newspapers

      There are many references to this area in the 15 million Welsh and English language articles from Welsh newspapers transcribed by the NLW and viewable on Welsh Newspapers Online
      Below are English language articles that have been re-transcribed and extracted randomly to illustrate what is available, there are many that are not extracted here that include names of local people

      • From The Cambrian 3rd September 1897

      RHOSSILI. CONCERT. A successful evening concert was given on Friday, August 27th. for the benefit of the Parish Church, the attendance being very fair and the performance excellent.    .....(part extract).....

      •  From the Weekly Mail 23rd June 1906

      RHOSSILI SCHOOL. EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE VICAR. The Glamorgan Education Committee met on Tuesday at Neath, Dr. Morris presiding. A sub-committee appointed to consider the holding of gymnastic competitions for the county schools made its report. Four competitions were fixed upon—two for girls and two for boys. They will be held at Porth on July 14, and Neath on July 21.

      RHOSSILI SCHOOL. The sub-education committee's report contained mention of the case of Rhossili School, where objection had been taken to the rector, the Rev. Lewis Hughes, giving Scripture lessons and making entries in the school log-book.    .....(part extract).....

      •  From The Cambrian 3rd July 1891

      RE-OPENING OF RHOSSILI CHURCH, GOWER. THE HISTORY OF THE EDIFICE. THE BISHOP ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. The remote parish of Rhossili was en fete on Friday last, the occasion being the re-opening of the church after restoration. Rhossili is situated at the extreme south-west corner of Gower, and is too distant from Swansea to be visited so frequently as many other parts of the Peninsula.  But it has its points of interest. First and foremost is "the Worm,"   .....(part extract).....

      •  From the Weekly Mail 16th February 1884

      WRECK ON THE COAST OF GOWER. On Tuesday night a large vessel laden with coal was wrecked on the Gower Coast, a little east of Worms Head. The crew were saved by means of the Rhossili rocket apparatus. The sea has been very wild on the Gower Coast for some time.

      •  From The Cambrian 20th April 1900

      GOWER. RHOSSILI. CONCERT IN AID OF THE "GOWER BED." On Easter Monday a large number of people assembled at the Rhossili Board School, to attend a concert given in aid of the "Gower Bed," for the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital. Great interest was taken in the concert, both by the Parish of Rhossili and Llangennech, as well as by many in the adjoining parishes of Llanmadoc and Porteynon. A very excellent programme was gone through with enthusiasm, and the audience fully appreciated the worthy efforts of those who took part in it      .....(part extract).....

      topup

      Population

      The Population of Rhossili was as follows, and a more detailed breakdown is available.

      1841 - 3391851 - 3671861 - 2941871 - 2671881 - 3321891 - 285
      topup

      Public Records

      Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

      • Rhossili Parish and Community Council Records          "...... including minute books, 1943-1999; financial records, 1923-2000; correspondence, 1975-2001; tithe map and apportionment, 1847"
      topup

      Schools

      Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

      • Rhossili School Records     "School log books, 1882-1969."