Pigots London Provincial Directory,1822-1823.

Neath

Transcribed by Phil Mustoe

NEATH, a small but thriving market town in Glamorganshire, seated on the banks of the river Neath, in a beautiful valley, eight miles from Swansea, and 196 from London. The streets were irregular and narrow, but some are now much improved. The new town-hall, which is nearly finished, is a fine building, and will be a great ornament to the town. The church is a large structure, divided into two aisles, by a range of pillars which support the arches of the roof, having a chancel at one end, and at the other a substantial square tower, surmounted by an embattled parapet. A few ruins of its ancient castle still remain, comprising part of the walls, and one of the gateways, which has a massive round tower on each side. The mineral treasures of the adjacent country, and the extensive copper, iron and tin works in the vicinity, create a considerable trade here, which is much promoted by the construction of a canal to Abernant, a distance of 13 miles, which opens a communication with the collieries, copper works, &c. to Briton Ferry, where are several convenient shipping places to take in coal, culm and stone coal. A canal is now cutting to form a junction with the Swansea canal, which must be of great advantage to the town. Six miles northof Neath, is a beautiful cataract, falling nearly 150 feet perpendicular, and one mile to the west stands Neath Abbey, called by Leyland, the Fairest in all Wales; it was founded for Cistertians, by Richard de Granville and Constance his wife, and dedicated to the Holy Trinity : at the time of the dissolution, it contained only eight monks, and it was valued at #132 7s 7d. per annum, it was given by Henry VIII to Sir Richard Williams alias Crumwell. Here the unfortunate Edward II. sheltered himself until he was taken : the remains of it are now inhabited by some poor families belonging to the neighbouring works. No adequate idea can be formed, from the present remains, of the original extent and magnificence of this edifice, foundations ofbuildings are to be traced in the adjacent grounds for a considerable distance, and some of the houses in the village were evidently connected with the main building. To contrast these fine ruins with the humble dwellings that surround them, their present occupiers, with their once powerful possessors, forms a picture of fallen monastic greatness, rarely to be equalled. Near to the ruins stand the crown, and mines, royal copper works, and the extensive iron foundry tha bears their name. Market day, Wednesday. Fairs, Trinity Thursday, July 31, & Sept 12. The population is about 3000.

POST OFFICE, Wind Street, Wm. Howell, Post Master. - The mail to Bristol every morning at three. To Milford every night at half-past ten

CUSTOM HOUSE, Wind Street

Collector, Rowld. Prichard, Esq.
Collector's Clk., Evan Thomas, jun.
Comptroller, Thos. Leyson, Esq.
Searcher, Wm. Williams

ATTORNEYS

Cuthbertson Alex., Wind st
Gwynn Wm., Orchard st
Jenkins Lewis, Wind st
Morgan Thomas,
Powell David, Parade

AUCTIONEERS

Howell Wm., Wind st
Jenkins David, High st

BANKERS

Haynes & Sons, Wind st
Williams & Rowland, Wind st

BOOT & SHOE MAKERS

Jones Wm., Castle st
Oynon Joseph, Wind st

CABINET MAKERS

Emanuel Evan, Wind st
Jenkins David, High st
Williams Moses, High st

COAL MERCHANTS, &c.

(Those marked thus + are stone & culm)

Neath Abbey Coal Co, near Abbey
Parsons John, Longford court
+ Penrose & Marriett, Agent W. Mort
+ Protheroe Edw., agent J. Arthur
+ Thomas Lewis, Agent D. Francis
+ Williams W., Agent Jas. Fear

COPPER SMELTING WORKS

Crown Copper Co., Agent Michael Allen, Rockfield
Governor & Co., of Copper Mines in England, Agent Philip Jones, Margam
Mines Royal Copper Co., Manager T. D. Place, Esq., Neath Abbey

DRUGGISTS, &c.

Hayward Chas., New st
Hybert Joseph, Market street

FIRE BRICK MAKER, of DINAS CLAY

Morgan David, Market st

GROCERS, &c.

Bentley John, Cattle st
Griffiths John, Market st
James James, Market st
Jones Jno. (amp; corn dealer), Cattle st
Jeffreys Evan, Cattle st
Morgan John, Wind st
Morris Joshua, High st
Thomas David, Wind st
Thomas Thomas, Market st
Walters Philip, Wind st

INN

Ship & Castle, Ed. Townsend-parade

IRON & BRASS FOUNDERS

Neath Abbey, Iron Co., near Abbey

IRON MONGERS

Arthur Thomas, Market st
Morgan David, Market street
Rees Elizabeth, High st

LINEN and WOOLLEN DRAPERS, GROCERS, &c.

Cox Thos. Nathanl., Wind st
Edwards Thos., Market st
Jones J. & E., Castle st
Jones David, High st
Lewis Francis, Cattle st
Morgan Rees, Castle street
Rees Hopkins, Wind st
Rice Benj., Water street & Wind st

LIQUOR DEALERS

Bynon Benj., Wind st
Williams Thos., Water st

MERCHANTS

Morgan David, Market st
Warring Elijah, (corn & flour), Plas-y-velin

SHIP BUILDER

Thomas Wm., Parade

SKINNERS

Evans Wm., Water st
James Benjamin, High st

SURGEONS

Jeffreys Rees, Market st
Jones & Powell, Market st

TALLOW CHANDLERS

Elias Wm., Market st
Walters Philip, Wine st

TANNERS

Howell Benj., Water st
Morgan Samuel, New st

TAVERNS and PUBLIC HOUSES

Angel, John Jones, Cattle st
Ancient Briton, Rd. Jones, Wind st
Bear, Jenkin Griffiths, High st
Blue Boar, Philip Jones, High st
Blue Bell, J. Hopkins, Market st
Clock Face, Wm. Jones, Cattle st
Cock, Wm. Ambrose, High st
Crown, Wm. Berriman, Cattle st
Cornish Arms, E. Jeffreys, Market st
Duke of York, W. Thomas, Cattle st
Falcon, W. Parker, Market st
Globe, Hopkin Jones, Market st
Green Dragon, J. Williams, Cattle st
Jones Arms, W. Jones, Market st
King's Arms, S. Peters, Market st
King's Head, W. Perkins, New st
Lamb, Thos. Thomas, Parade
Lamb & Flag, W. Pearce, Water st
Mason's Arms, E. Davies, Water st
Pilot Boat, Thos. Morgan, Cattle st
Plume of Feathers, Margt. Davies, Water st
Red Bull, Thos. Lewis, Water st
Red Cow, Thos. Waters, Cattle st
Royal Oak, Thos. Evans, New st
St. Ives Arms, Rd. Berriman, Market street
Star, Mary Morgan, High st
Swan, Thos. Deane,
White Hart, Thos. Thomas, Cattle st

TIMBER MERCHANTS

Arthur John, near Parade
Grainger John, Parade
Thomas Wm., Parade

TIN WORKS

Vigurs and Smith, Ynis-y-gerwn, Agent Wm. Llewellyn

WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS

Cohen S. P., (& music seller) 9, New st
Reynolds Wm., Wind st
Williams J., Church st

MISCELLANEOUS

Arthur David, malste, Water st
Bowen Hy., book-binder, Wind st
Davies Jno., woollen weaver, Castle street
Edy Josh, confectioner, Market st
Evans Wm., plumber and glazier, Wind street
Howell Edw., Physician, Wind st
Jones John, glazier, Butter st
Levy R. (bookseller, &c), Market st
Redwood Isaac, currier, Wind st
Whitlaw J. (baker, &c), Wind st

CONVEYANCE

BY WATER

Bristol Traders

Eliza, J. Rees, Capt
Fonmon Castle, Joshua Morris, Capt

N.B. - Some of the London Traders call at Neath for goods.

COACHES

BRISTOL. The Royal Mail, from the Ship and Castle, every morning, at half past two
MILFORD HAVEN. The Royal Mail, from the Ship and Castle, through Swansea, every night, at half-past ten
BRISTOL. The Cambrian, from the Ship and Castle, Thursday, and Saturday Mornings, at six
BRISTOL & Gloucester. The Regulator, from the Ship & Castle, Monday, Wednesday, & Friday morns, at six
SWANSEA. The Cambrian, from the Ship & Castle, Monday, Wednesday, & Friday nights, at eight
SWANSEA. The Regulator, from the Ship and Castle, Thursday, & Saturday night, at eight

Description of Neath from Pigots London Provincial Directory, 1822-3 [Last Updated : 19 Sept 2002 - Gareth Hicks]