Slaters Commercial Directory, 1858-1859.

Caerphilly and Neighbourhood

Transcribed by Phil Mustoe

CAERPHILLY is a small market-town in the parish of Eglwyss-llan, county of Glamorgan, 160 miles w. from London, 7 N. from Cardiff, 12 w. from Newport, (Monmouthshire), and about three from Taff's Well Station on the Taff Vale line of railway;seated in a broad valley, surrounded by mountains. It is chiefly to be noticed for the magnificent ruins of its castle, the most extensive in the principality. On the south side of the principal court, which is about seventy yards in length, and fourty in width, are the remains of the great hall, a noble apartment , seventy feet by thirty , and seventeen feet high: on one side are several stately windows, ornamented in the style of the fourteenth century. The castle comprises many towers, a mint, decorated arches, in the pointed style, and a variety of fine architectural ornaments. The mint is a circular tower of no great heigh; but close by it stands the leaning tower, a singulrly attractive object: it consists of about one half ir semi-circumfrence of a round tower eleven feet thick, ruptured from top to bottom; one portion having been destroyed when the other was forced into its present position; the part now remaining is about eighty feet high, the top of which overhangs its base u The parish church is at Eglwyss-llan, about three miles from Caerphilly; the Rev. William Leigh is the vicar. Saint Martin's chapel of ease is situate in the town, the Rev. Juda Jones, incumbent. There are also places of worship for Baptists, Independents and Calvinistic Methodists.

The chief support of the inhabitants and those of the neighbourhood arises from the manufacture of pig and bar iron; the surrounding country abounding with iron ore of good quality, and also coal. THe manufacture of flannel is also carried on to a limited extent. The market is held on Thursday; and the fairs April 5th, Trinity Thursday, July 19th, August 25th, October 9th, November 16th, and the Thursday next before Christmas. The parish of Eglwyss-llan (with which the population of Caerphilly is returned), contained, in 1841, 3814 inhabitants and in 1851, 5,110.

POST OFFICE, Thomas Reynolds, Post Master - Letters from all parts arrive (from Cardiff), every moring at nine, and are despatched thereto every evening at a quarter past four.
Money Orders are granted and paid from nine till five

Gentry and Clergy

Davids David, Esq. Cwm
Edwards Mr. R. P., surgeon
Jones Rev. Juda, Caerphilly
Leigh Rev. William, Eglwyss-llan
Llewellyn Mr. John, Surgeon
Morgan Mr. David
Morgan John, Esq. Pontypandy
Williams Evan, Esq. Duffrin Frwyd
Williams George, Esq., Hendredenn
Williams H. D., Esq., Solicitor
Williams W. E., Esq., Penllypant
Wynne F. X., Esq., New House

Inn and Public Houses

Blue Bell, Thomas Rees
Boar's Head, Jaliesin Williams
Bowl's Tavern, Eli Price
Castle Inn (and excise office), Mary Harris
Clive Arms, Thomas Morgan
Cross Keys, Elizabeth Waters
King's Arms, Joannah Morhan
New Inn, William Lewis
Parrot, Thomas Jenkins
Piccadilly Tavern, Thomas Thomas
Red Cow, Evan Edwards
Royal Oak, Isaac Harris
Wheatsheaf, Ann Edmunds
White Lion, Lewis Williams

Shopkeepers & Traders

Anthony Henry, dyer
Anthony Thomas, woollen manufctr., Pandy
Christopher Edward, shopkeeper
Davies Eli, sculptor and mason
Davies Joseph, grocer
Davies Thos., woollen manufacturer
Davies William, saddler
Doel Samuel, hair dresser
Edwards Charles, maltster, Yestrad
Edwards Thomas, shoe maker
Evans Edward, shoe maker & grocer
Evans Evan, grocer, draper, clerk to the magistrates, registrar of births and deaths
Evans Joseph, spirit vaults
Evans Maria, schoolmistress
Evans Martha, baker & shopkeeper
Evans Samuel, sub-distributor of stamps
Evans Willam, blacksmith
Francis Richard, maltster, Aber
Haddock Mrs. -, school
Howells Thomas, beer retailer
Isaac Harris, tailor
Jones Edmund, boot & shoe maker
Lewis Edward, shoe maker
Lewis Thomas, shoe maker & grocer
Llewellyn Rachael, guide to the castle
Mills Thomas, watchmaker
Phillips Joseph, joiner
Phillips Thos., carpenter & builder
Puleston Philip, schoolmaster
Reynolds Thomas, ironmonger and druggist, maltster & hop merchant, and agent for the North British (life) and Manchester (fire), Insurance Companies
Rowland John, maltster
Smith Thomas, relieving officer
Thomas Ann, Schoolmistress
Thomas Edmund, tailor
Walters Harriet, grocer & draper
Walters Thomas, cabinet maker
Walters Thos., druggist & cabinet mkr
Williams Lewis, beer retailer

Places of Worship And their Ministers.

Parish Church, Eglwyss-llan . . Rev. William Leigh, vicar
St. Martin's Church, Caerphilly . . . Rev. Juda Jones, incumbent
Baptist Chapel, Caerphilly
Independent Chapel, Caerphilly
Methodist (Calvinistic) Chapel, Caerphilly

Railway

Stations, on the Rhymney line, about a mile from the town, and at Taff's Well, about three miles distant

Carriers

To Cardiff, Edward Lewis and Evan Edwards, Wednesday and Saturday
To Newport, Evan Edwards, Wednesday

[Last Updated : 19 Sept 2002 Gareth Hicks]