Post Office Directory, 1871

LLANTRISSANT with Bryn Sadler, New Mill, and Tonyrefail

Transcribed by Phil Mustoe

LLANTRISSANT or Llantrisant, is an ancient borough and small market town and extensive parish in the county of Glamorgan, hundred of Miskin, union and county court district of Pontypridd, rural deanry of Upper Llandaff, archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaff, distant (by rail) 181 miles, (by road) 170 miles, from London, 11 from Cardiff, 10 from Bridgend, 8 from Cowbridge, and 5 from Pontypridd, and is a station on the Great Western Railway.

The town takes its name from the church, originally dedicated to the three saints - St. Illtyd, St. Gwynno, and St. Dyfodwg, and is romantically situated on the road from Cowbridge to Merthyr, in a pass over a mountainous ridge between two lofty hills. The ascent to Llantrissant is steep, but the prospects become more striking as you advance, and are perpetually varied by the circuitous course of the road, till, on gaining the churchyard, you obtain a magnificent view of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Llantrissant Castle, of which only a small part now remains, was formerly a place of great renown: it is supposed to have been erected by Gwrgan ab Ithiel, Lord of Glamorgan, and to have been repaired, if not rebuilt, by Einon ab Collwyn after the invasion of Robert Fitzhamon, at the time of the Norman conquest : in the time of Edward I. the castle was undoubtedly in the possession of Gilbert de Clare, commonly called the Red Lord: it is difficult to ascertain when and by whom the castle was demolished; some have supposed it to have been destroyed by Llewellyn Bren in 1315, and others by Owen Glyndwr in 1404.

Llantrissant shares with Cowbridge and Cardiff in returning one member to Parliament.

The town obtained a charter, granted by the Earl of Warwick, in the reign of Henry VI. : that charter creates a municipal government, consisting of a portreeve, aldermen, and burgesses.

The town deives its chief support from the iron ore and coal works in its immediate neighbourhood; it is supplied with gas, and well drained.

The Town Hall and Market place are close to the remains of the castle, but the market, formerly held every Friday, is now discontinued.

Petty sessions are held at the Cross Keys Inn; the magistrates meet every alternate Friday.

There is an ancient camp about a mile from Llantrissant, supposed to be where the battle of Rhiwsaeson was fought, A.D. 873, in which the Welsh were victorious: about two miles south-east of the town are the remains of an ancient castle.

The church of Llantrissant, dedicated to the three saints - St. Illtyd, St. Gwynno, and St. Dyfodwg, is an old stone building, in the Norman style, and has a chancel, nave, porth and square tower, with 6 bells : it is about to be restored, at a costof #1,500, defrayed by public subscriptions. The register dates from the year 1727. The living is a vicarage, yearly value about #550, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester, and held by the Rev. John Powell Jones, B.D. , of St. david's College, Lampeter.

There are two chapelries in this parish :-

St. John's chapel of ease, at Tonyrefail, is a neat stone building, and has a chancel, nave,porch, and bell turret, with 1 bell : the Rev. Thomas D. Jones is curate in charge.

The chapel of ease at Talygarn, is a plain stone building and has a porch and small bell turret, with 1 bell : the Rev. Thomas Jones is curate in charge.

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

There is a National school for boys and girls : the house is a handsome stone building, erected at a cost of #2,000, and there is also a British school.

The charities are about #25 yearly value.

Races are held near the town every year, and also fiars on the 13th February, 12th May, 12the August, and 29th October.

Crofta Hall, the seat of William Prichard, esq., J.P. ; Castella House, the seat of Edward Lloyd, esq.; Lanelay House, the seat of Major Vaughan Hannan Lee, J.P.; Miskin manor, the seat of Gwilym Williams, esq., and Talygarn House, the seat of George Thomas Clark, esq., J. P., are the principal residences.

The Marquis of Bute, who is lord of the manor, and the Earl of Shrewsbury are the principal landowners.

The soil is principally gravel; subsoil, various. The chief crops are wheat, barley and roots, with some pasturage.

The area of the parish is 16,669 acres; gross estimated rental, #43,037; rateable value, #35,218. The population of the parish in 1861 was 5,492; the town about 2,000.

Parish Clerk, John Thomas. 

OFFICIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, &c.

POST & MONEY ORDER OFFICE, Post Office Savings Bank & Telegraph Office, Llantrissant. - John Thomas, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Pontypridd at 7.20 a.m.; dispatched at 4.40 p.m. No arrival or dispatch on sundays. Business transacted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

POST OFFICE, Tonyrefail. - Thomas Lewis, sub-post-master. Letters arrive from Pontypridd at 9 a.m.; dispatched at 3 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Dinas.

POST OFFICE, Brynsadler. - Evan Thomas, sub-post-master. Letters arrive from Cardiff at 9.20 a.m.; dispatched at 4.55 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Llantrissant.

Corporation

PONTREEVE - Roderick Lewis

Town Clerk, Evan John
Steward of the Castle, William Charles Luard, esq
Deputy Steward of the Castle, Lewis V. Shirley, esq.
Constable of the Castle, Rev. Hely Hutchinson Keating Rickards

County Magistrates.

Usually attending Petty Sessions.

Evan William, esq. Duffryn Ffrwd, chairman
David Davies, esq. Cwm, near Caerphilly
William Prichard, esq., Crofta Hall
Major Vaughan Hannan Lee, Lanelay house
Rev. David Watkins Williams, Fairfield, near Pontypridd

Clerk to the Magistrates, John Stockwood, solicitor, Cowbridge

Insurance Agents

London, Liverpool & Globe, John Thomas, post office, Llantrissant
Provincial Insurance, David Llewellyn, Llantrisant
Royal, John Dyke Slade, 1 Commercial street Llantrissant

Public Establishments

Police Station, John Loyns, constable
Stamp Office, David Llewellyn, sub-distributor

Public Officers

Assistant Overseer & Collector of Rates, John Morgan, Llantrisant
Clerk to the Commissioners of Taxes, William John, Brynteg, Llantrissant
Clerk to the Magistrates, John Stockwood
Inland Revenue Officer, Alfred Bailey, Llantrissant
Inspector of Nuisances, Richard Morgan, Hopkins town
Medical Officer of Llantrissant, David Williams Davies, Llantrissant house
Registrar of Births & Deaths, Richard Jones Thomas, Gelynog inn, Llantrissant
Registrar of Marriages, David Powell, Pontypridd
Relieving Officer, Howell Davies, Llantrissant
Town Clerk, Evan John, Llantrissant

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Churches

St. Illtyd, St. Gwynno& St. Dyfodwg (parish church), Rev. John Powell Jones, B.D., vicar; Rev. Thomas Jones, curate
St. John's (Chapel of Ease), Tonyrefail, Rev. Thomas D. Jones, curate
Talygarn (Chapel of Ease), Rev. Thomas Jones, curate

Chapels

Baptist -

(Welsh), Llantrissant, Rev. Jenkin Jenkins
Oinon (Welsh), Tonyrefail, ministers various

Calvinistic Methodist -

Bryn Sadler, ministers various
Crossvane, ministers various
New Mill, ministers various
Llantrissant, ministers various
Tonyrefail, ministers various

Independent -

Zoar (Welsh), Llantrissant, Rev. Caradoc Davies
Bethel (Welsh), Llantrissant, Rev. Dan Griffiths

Wesleyan (Welsh), Llantrissant, ministers various

Schools

British, Tonyrefail, David Rowlands, master
National, Llantrissant, Thomas Hartshorn, master; Miss Anne Rowlands, mistress; Miss Caroline Alice Rowlands, infants' mistress
New Mill, Thomas Hughes, master

Railway Stations

Llantrissant (Great Western Railway, about 1.5 miles from the town), Walter Jay Browne, station master
Cross Inn (Taff Vale Railway, about half a mile from the town), Thomas Thomas, station master
Tonyrefail (Ely Valley Railway, for the conveyance of goods only ), James Herepath, station master

Carrier

Cardiff - Peter Watkins, every saturday

PRIVATE RESIDENTS

Clark George Thomas, J.P., Talygarn ho
Cozens Collwyn, Yn-ys-y-Plwm
Davies Rev. Caradoc [Independent]
Davies David, Llestowen
Davies David Williams, Llantrissant ho
Davies Joseph
Edwards Evan Thomas
Flockton Webster, Spring villa
Griffiths Rev. Dan [Independent]
Harris Mrs., Treferyg
Hopkins John, Llantrissant cottage
Hopkins Samuel, Bryngolen house
Jenkins Rev. Jenkin [Baptist]
John Evan
John Mrs.
John William, Brynteg
Jones Rev. John Powell, B.D., Vicarage
Jones Rev. Thomas [curate]
Lee Major Vaughan Hannan, J.P., Lanelay house
Lloyd Edward, Castella house
Mathews John
Morgan Henry, Bute villa
Morgan John, Bryngolew house
Prichard William, J.P., Crofta hall
Priestly Saml. Collenna ho., Tonyrefail
Rosser James
Siderfin Thomas, Yn-ys-y-Plwm
Spickett Edward Colnett
Vivian William
Williams Gwilym, Miskin manor
Williams James

COMMERCIAL

Bailey Alfred, inland revenue officer
Bevan William, shoe maker, Tonyrefail
Bowen George, Angel inn, & tailor
Browne Walter Jay, master of Llantrissant station (Great Western railway)
Bryant William, boot & shoe maker
Bussell Thomas, miller, Tonyrefail
Bute Hematite Iron Ore Company (E. J. Cox Davies, manager; S. H. F. Cox, sub-manager; Daniel Evans, resident agent)
Butler Henry, blacksmith
Coffin & Co., colliery proprietors, Dinas colliery
Cooke William, Windsor Arms & posting house
Cooke Zachariah Alfred, grocer
Cymmer Colliery (Jabez Thomas, manager); & office at Cardiff
Cymmer Level Colliery (Hollway & Co. proprietors; Jeremiah Savage, manager); office at Cardiff
David Richard, stone mason
David Thomas, Horse & Groom
Davies & Son, colliery proprietors, Penrhiwfer colliery
Davies Anne (Mrs.), milliner, 6 Commercial street
Davies Charles, White Hart
Davies David, draper & grocer
Davies David, farmer
Davies David, Red Cow, Tonyrefail
Davies David William, surgeon, Llantrissant house
Davies Ebenezer, builder
Davies Edmund, builder & farmer
Davies Edward, shopkeeper
Davies Evan, farmer, Caeryngall farm
Davies Evan, farmer, Tor-y-coed farm
Davies Howell, relieving officer for Llantrissant
Davies Jacob, beer retailer, Rhiwsaeson
Davies John, beer retailer
Davies Mary (Mrs.), draper & grocer
Davies Thomas, carpenter, 6 Commercial street
Davies William, boot & shoe maker, 2 Commercial street
Davies William, farmer
Davies William, farmer, Tonyrefail
Davies William, grocer, Gate shop
Dinas Colliery (Coffin & Co.); Office at Cardiff
Edmunds John, Rock & Fountain
Edwards Edmd. Miskin inn, New Mill
Edwards Evan Thomas, Surgeon
Edwards Thomas, beer retailer
Ely Merthyr Colliery (Samuel Priestly, proprietor)
Enoch Henry, Three Mountains, Tonyrefail
Evan Benj. shopkeeper, Bryn Sadler
Evans Daniel, farmer
Evans David, Greyhound
Evans Edwd. stone mason, Tonyrefail
Evans Evan, farmer, Corner Park farm
Evans Evan, farmer, Maesyfelin farm, Bryn Sadler
Evans James, Cross Inn
Evans Meyrick, builder
Evans Morgan, blacksmith, Tonyrefail
Evans Richard, farmer & stone merchant, Maesaril farm
Evans Richard, miller, Bryn Sadler
Evans Richard, Rickard's Arns
Evans Thomas, farmer
Evans William, farmer, Malt house
Evans Wm., stone mason, Tonyrefail
Fowler Brothers, colliery proprietors, Pyllgwaen colliery
Francies Rachel (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Gelliwton Colliery (Richard Rowlands, proprietor)
Gibbon Henry, beer retailer
Giles John, beer retailer
Glamorgan Coal Company Limited, colliery proprietors (Joseph Pattison, manager), Gilfach Coch colliery
Glass George, gardener & seedsman
Griffiths Griffith, farmer, Gelliwen farm
Griffiths Robert, Cross Keys
Gumbley Joseph, railway contractor &c. Tylcha Fawr, Tonyrefail
Herepath James, master of Tonyrefail station (Ely Valley railway), Tonyrefail
Hollwey & Co. colliery proprietors, Cymmer Level colliery
Hopkins John, surgeon, Llantrisant cot
Howell Llewellyn, farmer, Llwyna farm, Bryn Sadler
Jacob David, shopkeeper
James Thomas, wheelwright
Jenkins Evan, shoe maker
Jenkins Saml. Hewitts Arms, Pencoedca
John Catherine (Mrs.), farmer, Rhydtalog farm, Bryn Sadler
John David, shopkeeper
John Edward, miller, New Mill
John Evan, town clerk
John Llewellyn, boot & shoe maker
John Thomas, grocer & shopkeeper
John Wm., miller & farmer, Rhiwsaeson
John Wm., secretary to the Llantrissant Gas Light & Coke Company
John William, shopkeeper, Crossvane
Johnson Wm. Henry, watch & clock mkr
Jones Thomas, market gardener
Jones Thomas, saddler, 3 Commercial st
Jones William, beer retailer
Lan Coal Company, colliery proprietors (William Davies, manager); office at Cardiff
Lewis John, boot & shoe maker
Lewis Meyrick, farmer, Tyr heol, Tonyrefail
Lewis Roderick, Wheatsheaf
Lewis Thomas, grocer, Tonyrefail
Lewis Thomas, painter & glazier
Lewis William, Red Cow, Cross Vane
Llantrissant Gas Light & Coke Company Limited, William John, sec
Llantwit Red Ash Coal Company, colliery proprietors (Webster Flockton, manager)
Llantwit Wallsend Coal Company, colliery proprietors (Joseph Lewis, manager)
Llewellyn David, chemist & sub-distributor of stamps
Llewellyn Edward, butcher
Llewellyn Elizabeth (Mrs.), shopkeeper
McCarthy John, greengrocr, Bryn Sadler
Morgan Daniel, shopkeeper, New mill
Morgan David, beer retailer
Morgan Edwd. Ivor Arms, Bryn Sadler
Morgan Evan, farmer, Tynewydd farm
Morgan Evan, Three Horseshoes, & blacksmith, Tonyrefail
Morgan George, shopkeeper
Morgan Henry, mining engineer & mineral agent to Major Vaughan Hannan Lee, Bute villa
Morgan John, butcher & farmer, Gutern-y-Mol farm
Morgan Levi, wheelwright, Crossvane
Morgan Morgan, butcher
Morgan Peter, sculptor
Morgan Thos. market gardener & Shopkeeper
Morgan Thomas, Red gate inn, grocer & flour merchant, Tonyrefail
Morgan William, carpenter, Tonyrefail
Mwyndy Iron Ore Company Limited (William Vivian, manager); office at 4 Allhallows chamers, Ball alley, Lombard street, London e.c.
North Llantwit Colliery Company (James Williams, manager)
Parry Thomas, shoe maker, Tonyrefail
Penrhiwfer Colliery (Davies & Son), (David Davies, manager); office at Cardiff
Phillips Wm. White, grocer, Tonyrefail
Potter John A. Boars Head, Tonyrefail
Powell Mary (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Price Francis, Bute Arms
Priestly Samuel, colliery proprietor, Ely Merthyr colliery, & coal merchant, Tonyrefail
Prodger Richd., shopkeeper & shoe mkr
Pwllgwaen Colliery (Fowler Brothers, proprietors) (Thomas Fowler, man)
Rees Anne (Mrs.), farmer, Newpark farm
Rees Edward, shopkeeper
Rees Richard, carpenter
Rees Wm. farmer, Rhiwbrydwell farm
Robb William, farm bailiff to George Thomas Clark, esq., J.P., Talygarn, Bryn Sadler
Roberts Edward Hugh, shopkeeper, Bryn Sadler
Roberts Morgan, Fox & Hounds, & butcher
Rosser Morgan, tailor, Tonyrefail
Rowlands Evan, farmer, Lawnd farm
Rowlands Richard, colliery proprietor, Gelliwion colliery
Sheffield William, carpenter
Silkstone Samuel, greengrocer
Slade John Dyke, chemist, 1 Commercial street
Smith Thomas, draper & tailor, Tonyrefail
Spencer Samuel, New inn
Thomas & Price, brewers
Thomas Daniel, shoe maker, Bryn Sadler
Thomas Edmind, farmer, Glan Myddlyn
Thomas Edmund, grocer, 4 Commercial street
Thomas Elvira (Mrs.), Talbot Inn
Thomas Evan, butcher, & post office, Bryn Sadler
Thomas John, draper, grocer & ironmonger, & post office, London house (established 1849)
Thomas John, shopkeeper, Tonyrefail
Thomas Llewellyn, farmer, New House farm, Bryn Sadler
Thomas Meyrick, blacksmith & shopkeeper, New mill
Thomas Miles, carpenter
Thomas Richard Jones, Gelynog, Pontypridd road
Thomas Thomas, master of Cross Inn station (Taff Vale Railway)
Thomas William, farmer, Hendy farm
Thomas William, grocer, Bryn Sadler
Thomas William, Shrewsbury Arms
Treharne John, draper & grocer, Castle shop
Ty Nant Colliery (exors. of Thomas Powell, proprietors)
Tyrne Wm. farmer, New Park farm
Walters Thos. shoe maker, Bryn Sadler
Watkins Caroline (Mrs.), milliner
Watkins Edwd. beer retailer, Pencoedca
Watkins Hezekiah, Blacksmith & shopkeeper, Pontypridd road
Williams Edmund, shopkpr, Cross Inn
Williams Henry, blacksmith
Williams John, beer retailer
Williams John, blacksmith, Cross vane
Williams Thos. farmer, Caergwanaf frm
Williams William, beer retailer
Williams William, draper, grocer & general merchant
Williams Wm., farmer, Danygraig farm
Williams William Bevan, carpenter, New mill
Willis John, Butchers' Arms, & butcher

[Transcribed by Phil Mustoe, 5th April 1998].

  [Last Updated : 19 Sept 2002 - Gareth Hicks]