TIMES PAST Life in the Vale – part 2
| By Betty Alden from Cowbridge History Society’s digital archive
The Glamorgan Star is grateful to the Cowbridge Local History Society, who have made a digital archive, including these press clippings from the past. Please note – this piece contains language in common usage at the time which may cause present day offence.
Butcher loses paternity case
1867, 21st December – Morgan Thomas of Cowbridge, butcher, was adjudged at Cowbridge Police Court to be the father of the illegitimate child of a single woman named Susannah John, who had been in his service. He was ordered to make the usual allowance to the plaintiff.
Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian
Local landlord is robbed
1868, 5th December – David Williams, landlord of the Fox & Hounds, Penlline, was robbed near the National Provincial Bank, Cowbridge, soon after dusk last Tuesday of £80.8s. He was taking the money to his landlord, Mr T Llewellyn, in this town & was seen by a woman changing the money from one pocket to another in the street. The ‘lady’, probably having some associates close at hand, seized the opportunity. A hawker named John Smith & a prostitute named Green were apprehended in Cardiff on charge of being concerned in the robbery & were brought to Cowbridge on Wednesday.
Cardiff Times
Feast of fat stock
1869, 8th December – The ancient town of Cowbridge wore its liveliest aspect yesterday. Everything in the shape of cattle portended of Christmas. It was high market as well as the fat stock show, consequently the town was unusually thronged. The railway station at ten o’clock was crowded, a fact of rare occurrence. The fat stock show was established six or seven years ago for the purpose of bringing buyers of fat stock to market. This object has been gained to a very large extent. Yesterday the attendance of butchers from different parts of the county was large…good animals were shown and satisfactory prices were obtained…The show of fat stock was held in a field at the back of the church…the dinner table at the Duke of Wellington was graced with some fine specimens from the farms of Mr Culverwell, Mr Alexander etc…Towns like Cowbridge are centres of agricultural activity..
Whipping for juvenile delinquent
1880, 11th December – At Cowbridge police court, a boy was charged with placing two pieces of timber on the Great Western Railway… and was ordered to be whipped. ‘It certainly seems as if the number of boys entering on a criminal or mischievous course is increasing, & that they are becoming more daring in their exploits against the law’.
Cardiff Times
Cowbridge Grammar in decline
1880, 18th December – At the Departmental Committee on Higher & Intermediate Education in Wales, the Rev. H.P. Williams, headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School, reported that ‘owing to various causes the number of boys attending the
school had diminished since 1875, when he took the mastership, there being then 50 day scholars & 12 boarders.’ He felt this was mainly because up to that time there were no high-class schools in Cardiff & Merthyr & boys from those areas attended at Cowbridge, but now their parents sent them to the proprietary schools in their own towns; secondly, the boarding out system, brought about prior to his coming there, about 10 years ago, had a tendency to diminish the number. ‘Boys had been boarded out at private houses in the town, but for the reason that they were not sufficiently under the control of the master, & some formed bad habits such as going to public houses, the headmaster determined to abolish the system. Though this was undoubtedly greatly to the benefit of the school, yet it had a tendency to decrease the number of scholars. The boarders now paid 45 guineas for board and 10 guineas a year for tuition. Ten boys received their instruction as day scholars at 4 guineas a year’, but of late there had been no free scholars. ‘There had been two or three who had made a private arrangement with him’.
Flooding around Cowbridge
1880, 30th December – During the past two days the quantity of rainfall in the town & neighbourhood has been unusually great. The river Thaw in some places is overflowing, & most of the low-lying grounds are flooded. In the village of Llanblethian, the road near the mill was under water for some time on Wednesday. Most of the meadows near the town are flooded. On Newton Moors the effect of good drainage was evident.
South Wales Daily News
Plan for butter factory in town
1885, 5th December – A ‘South Wales Agriculturalist’ in the light of the Bothwell Farmers’ Club report into butter production, reported that Cowbridge, being in direct communication with Merthyr, Aberdare, Pontypridd & the Rhondda Valleys, would be a good place for a butter factory. ‘The skim or separated milk could easily be transported by rail & find a ready demand in the mining districts.’
Cardiff Times
Cowbridge man invests in Cardiff
1886, 8th December – Castle Arcade Company Ltd. – registered on the 29th November with a capital of £25,000 in £10 shares to form an arcade at Cardiff. Subscribers included Daniel Owen of Ash Hall, near Cowbridge.
South Wales Daily News
Cowbridge pub is badly damaged
1886, 10th December – Roof of the Bridge Inn beer-house (72 Eastgate), in occupation of Mr Soloman Warren, was completely destroyed, damage to amount of £60. A vinery in the garden of Mr W.A James, builder, also destroyed (13 Westgate).
South Wales Daily News
Young Men’s Institution
1892, 16th December – Mr N Bird of Cowbridge has told the town clerk of the borough his intention of giving £500 towards providing a new building for the Cowbridge Young Men’s Institution. – only condition that it be entrusted to a committee of 5 gentlemen (Rev. D Bowen, W F Evans, David Tilley & 2 other members of the town council).
Barry Dock News
Jail for Yankee robber
1893, 12th December – Harry Joseph May, alias McClode, a native of New York, wearing the uniform of a ship’s officer, was imprisoned for 6 months at Newport for stealing various items from houses where he was lodging (including at Cowbridge & Penarth), whilst falsely claiming to be a ship’s officer.
South Wales Daily News
Local reverend is leader of the pack
1895, 3rd December – The Cowbridge Football & Cricket Clubs have every reason to be thankful in having in their midst such a rare, good sportsman as Mr Ebsworth of Llandough Castle. This gentleman has spent no less than £1,500 in laying out the grounds at Cowbridge. The Cowbridge Club is going strong just now. The Rev Owen Jones is playing in the forwards & is pulling the team together.
Evening Express
| By Betty Alden from Cowbridge History Society’s digital archive
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• | TIMES PAST – Life in the Vale in December part 1
