Kelly's Directory - South Wales 1895

The data below has been extracted by Gareth Hicks (November 2003) with the kind permission of the publishers from the CD of the same title as the main heading. (Archive CD Books)
Place names are as written unless clearly misleading.

Llanwnws (or Gwnnws)

Is an ecclesiastical parish in the county of Cardigan, comprising the townships of Gwnnws Lower and Gwnnws Upper, 2 1/2 miles north-by-west from Strata Florida station and 6 north from Tregaron station, both on the Manchester and Milford railway, in the hundred of Ilar, petty sessional division of Ilar Upper, county court district of Aberystwyth, union of Tregaron, and in the rural deanery of Ultra Aeron, archdeaconry of Cardigan and diocese of St. David's.

The church of St. Gwnior (or St. Lucia) is an ancient building, consisting of chancel, nave, porch and a tower with spire, containing 2 bells: the church is now (1895) in course of restoration, and at present affords 200 sittings. The register of baptisms dates from the year 1760; marriages, 1754; and burials, 1789. The living is a vicarage annexed to that of Llanafan-y-Trawscoed, joint gross yearly value £228, with 378 acres of glebe, in the gift of Miss Chichester, of Arlington Court, Devonshire, and held since 1886 by the Rev. William Jones-Williams B.A. of St. David's College, Lampeter, who resides at Trawscoed (Crosswood).

There are Baptist and Calvinistic Methodist chapels.

The manor is vested in the Crown. The Earl of Lisburne and T. G. Waddingham esq. are the principal landowners.

The soil is clay; chief crops, oats and barley.

The area is comprised in Upper and Lower Gwnnws; the population of the ecclesiastical parish in 1891 was 882.

Gwnnws (Upper and Lower) are townships in the parish of Llanwnws, their areas being:-
Upper, 5,857 acres, 42 of which are water; rateable value, £1610; population in 1891, 532;
Lower, 3,381 acres, 17 of which are water; rateable value, £905; population in 1891, 222.

Parish Clerk, T. Jones, jun.

Post Office, Tynycraig. --- John Evans, sub-postmaster. Letters received through Ystradmeurig R.S.O., Cardiganshire for Gwnnws Lower, at 12.15 pm.; dispatched at 3 p.m. Letters for Gwnnws Upper arrive at 12.30 p.m.; dispatched at 12.30 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Tregaron and telegraph office at Strata Florida Station Letters for Gwnnws Upper received via Ystradmeurig from Tregaron at 12.30 p.m. & collected for dispatch at same time.

This place is included in Strata Florida & Upper Gwnnws United District School Board, formed 1 Nov. 1875

Board School (mixed), Upper Gwnnws, built in 1879, for 200 children; average attendance, 85; John Rees master; Miss A. J. Jones, infants' mistress

The children of Lower Gwnnws attend Lord, Lisburne's school at Llanofan y Ranscoed

GWNNWS UPPER.

Residents

• Couch, Richard

FARMERS

• Davies, Evan; Cefnmeurig
• Davies, Thomas; Caemawr
• Edwards, Thomas; Hafod
• Evans, William; Maesbanadlog
• Hughes, David; Llwyngronwen
• Hughes, Morgan; Caemawr
• Hughes, Richard; Drouberllan
• Jones, David; Llwyngog
• Jones, Jane (Mrs.); Lawrhydian
• Jones, John; Dolfawr
• Jones, Peter; Penwernhir
• Jones, Thomas; Llydiartyffair
• Rees, Ann (Mrs.); Cefnmeurig
• Roberts, John; Gargoed
• Roberts, Morgan; Dolebolion
• Rogers, William; Llwyngwiddil
• Thomas, Catherine (Mrs.); Llwynmyn
• Williams, Rees; Pendolfawr
• Williams, William; Cefnmeurig

GWNNWS LOWER.

Residents

• Jenkins, Charles; Hafod house
• Williams, Ebenezer J.P. ; Broncarradog

COMMERCIAL

• Edwards, Isaac, blcksmth; Penpompren

FARMERS

• Davies, Charles; Pentre
• Davies, David; Brynreithin
• Davies, Elizabeth (Mrs.); Trefriwawr
• Davies, Rees; Tynllydiart
• Jones, David; Pendrdwlyngoch
• Jones, Eleanor (Miss); Hafod-y-gofen
• Jones, Thomas; Penlan
• Lawrie, Thomas; Berthllwyd
• Parry, Anne (Miss); Hafod-y-gofen
• Richards, Richard; Penglly
• Rowlands, William; Penderywen
• Williams, Ebenezer J.P.; Broncarradog

[Gareth Hicks: 2 November 2003]