TIMES PAST Life in the Vale – part 4

Glamorgan Star news 16/04/2022

9 minutes read

Times past Life in the Vale – part 4

| 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 may contain language in common usage at the time which may cause present day offence.

10,000 attend religious meeting in Cowbridge

1808, 19th March. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists’ quarterly association was held on Wednesday at Cowbridge. The congregation was estimated at 10,000 persons. Cambrian

Reward offered after attempted robbery near St Mary Church

1818, 14th March Three men, two of them in carters’ frocks, the other in dark clothes, attempted to stop William Jones of Gileston on the high road leading from Cowbridge to St Mary Church on the 6th of this month between 9 and 10 o’clock in the evening. Whoever will discover the said men shall, on their conviction, receive 5 gns reward from the Revd John Edwards. Cambrian

Young person needs a job

1823, 29th March. A young person, whose connections render salary but a secondary consideration, wishes for a situation as assistant to a respectable person in the dress-making line etc; or to engage in a respectable family to wait upon a lady and make herself useful to her employer. Apply (letters post-paid) to Miss Sarah Thomas, near the Town Hall, Cowbridge. Cambrian

Inflated prices for sheepskins

1834, 22nd March. Daniel Jones Esq of Llantwit Major has received a letter from an eminent wool-dealer, offering 2s. per lb. for what is now on the sheeps’ backs. The letter was read to the farmers at Cowbridge market on Tuesday last. The fellmongers of Cardiff are giving 10s. each for sheepskins, on account of the wool; two years ago, the same article sold for 2s. 6d. Cambrian

**Eastgate around 1900** *(Photo: Glyn Evans, )*

Baron’s in court

1839, 16^th March. The trial of Baron Spolasco (John Williams Spolasco), charged on the oaths of Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Arnott and others for causing the death of Susannah Thomas, daughter of Thomas Thomas, Cowbridge cooper, by administering a destructive drug. She had been attended by Mr John Llewellyn, surgeon of Cowbridge. She had had an injection of turpentine. Abraham Verity and his son Frederick Verity, Bridgend surgeons, gave evidence on the post-mortem, and also Mr William Henry Wood, Cowbridge surgeon. He was found not guilty. Monmouthshire Merlin

Organ appeal for Cowbridge church

1843, 18th March. The subscription for procuring an organ for Cowbridge church has totalled so far £103.18s.6d Glamorgan, Monmouth & Brecon Gazette

Drunk and disorderly in the Butchers Arms

1845, 8th March. Trial of Jonathan Williams, a labourer – witness was David Morgan who kept the Butchers Arms (10 High Street), Cowbridge. Police Constable Henry Lewis had been called there and the prisoner had struck his hat off, then further assaulted him. A Richard Jenkins had eventually assisted him and he was carried to the Royal Oak (20 High Street), insensible, on a shutter. ‘It would appear that in and near the locality of Cowbridge there were certain classes of persons more ready to join in an affray than to aid the police in keeping the peace’. Monmouthshire Merlin

Drunkard crushed by wagon load of guano

1849, 10th March. William Harding, 29, employed near Bridgend, had been sent with a wagon and horses to collect some guano from Cardiff. He was rather intoxicated. Another person came on to the cart and Harding sat on the shafts. At Nant y Lladron, nearing Cowbridge, it began to rain. Concern because of salt being carried on the cart. The deceased fell off the shafts of the wagon right under the wheel. Was taken to Cowbridge where he died. ‘This affords another warning to drunkards’. Monmouthshire Merlin

Oddfellows in gay attire

1849, 10th March At the commencement of the assizes, the inhabitants of Cowbridge and neighbourhood were much gratified by seeing the High Sheriff pass on his way to Swansea (Robert Boteler of Llandough Castle – sheriff 1849), accompanied by his chaplain, the Revd Mr Knight. He was preceded by fifty Oddfellows in their gay attire, a cavalcade and vehicles, his own carriage splendidly decorated. He was met near the Lake, in sight of Llandough Castle, and the woods of Llandough and Beaupre resounded to the loud hurrahs! The day was remarkably fine – the picturesque village of Llanblethian in view, with its lofty steeple and its bells in concert with those of Cowbridge, merrily ringing and the ‘meandering Dan’ (Dawan or Thaw) listening as it were with delight. Monmouthshire Merlin

Clod crusher for sale

1850, 2nd March. Sale in the centre of Cowbridge of valuable carriages, agricultural implements, a remarkably handsome mare and a few articles of modern household furniture, including ‘a very commodious family carriage, with hind rumble and plate glass enclosure, a four-horse power thrashing machine, fitted on wheels, a scarifier, a very excellent clod crusher, revolving pig troughs’ etc. Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian

Let there be light

1854, 4th March. The town of Cowbridge was lit with gas for the first time on Monday night. Star of Gwent

Toll gate consultation

1856, 29th March. Notice given of a consultation about erecting or placing of a Toll Gate, Bar or Chain upon or across the Turnpike Road leading from Cowbridge to Bridgend at or near a point ninety-five yards from the Toll Gate called the Cowbridge West Gate. And also one on the road from Cowbridge to Llantwit Major thirty-eight yards from the Cowbridge West Gate. Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian

To Cardiff by horse-drawn omnibus

1857, 21st March. Cheap and rapid conveyance between Cardiff and Cowbridge – William Thomas begs to inform the inhabitants and the public generally of Cardiff, Cowbridge and their vicinities that he will run a commodious two-horse omnibus between the two towns, every Tuesday. To start from the Five Bells Inn, Broad Street at 8 o’clock in the morning, and to return at 5 o’clock in the evening, starting from the Duke of Wellington, Cowbridge. Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian

Thoroughbreds on sale

1860, 17th March. Sale on Tuesday, 20th March (Cowbridge Fair Day), opposite the Cowbridge Arms (46 High Street), of that handsome thoroughbred carthorse ‘Young Merryman’; also of ‘Black Tom’, cart horse, and ‘William the Great’, a celebrated high pedigree horse, a winner of £2,000 at Doncaster and other heavy stakes. Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian

Rogues and vagabonds

1869, 13th March. At Cowbridge police court, Charles Brindley, a tramp, was charged with ‘soliciting alms being an able-bodied man’. He was committed for 14 days. Ann Ellis and John Evans, vagrants, were charged with fraudulently collecting alms in the parish of Llanblethian. He was found guilty as a ‘rogue and a vagabond’ and was sentenced to Cardiff prison for 42 days – she to Swansea gaol for 28 days. Several Llanharry youngsters were charged with stealing turnips. Cardiff Times

Hard labour for stealing from wreck

1871, 4th March At Cowbridge Police Court, William Quick was charged with stealing copper from the wreck of the ‘Etoile de la Mer’, a large French ship, now lying on the beach at The Leys. He was sentenced to two months imprisonment, with hard labour. Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian

Railway line death

1876, 18th March. An old man named John Morgan of Trerhyngyll met with his death on the Cowbridge railway line. Aged about 80. Appears to have tried to get his hat which had blown off as he was crossing Maindy bridge. Having descended to the line…he proceeded along it… exhausted he sat down…. did not hear the train approaching. Cardiff Times

Cowbridge man captured by ‘hostile Indians’ in America

1881, 4^th March. William Williams, son of John and Maria Williams of Tyn-y-pant, Ystradowen, has written home from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, telling of his captivity by ‘hostile Indians’ when he went out west with a party of miners to prospect for gold. Several of his party had been killed, but he, amongst others, were taken to one of the Indian villages and were told they would have to join the tribe. Mr Williams was captive for over two years, being made to work hard, until State troops came to release him and take him to a fort, where he has since enlisted willingly as a soldier for the next five years. Monmouthshire Merlin

Young girl fined for assault

1881, 16th March. Mary Ann Williams, a young girl, was fined for an assault on an old woman named Bloomfield at Cowbridge by striking her on the head with a stone.

Rabid dog is shot

1882, 4th March. White terrier dog seen running down the town in an apparently rabid state. Had bitten several animals and attempted to bite townspeople. Shot near the Town Hall, but with no effect. Then shot near the tennis court. Owner not known. Cardiff Times

Call for livestock market in town

1882, 22nd March. The March Fair on Tuesday in Cowbridge was well attended. The High Street was crowded with cattle and horses from the Westgate to the bridge, a distance of about half a mile, making it dangerous for pedestrians to pass along. In years gone by, the horses were kept more or less in Church Street, but on Tuesday they were paraded through the main thoroughfare. The pavements and footpaths were obstructed by cattle, and persons who went into the roadway ran the risk of being trampled upon by horses. … It is high time that some steps were taken to provide a market place, and remove from Cowbridge the stigma of being a century of being behind any other town of its size and importance.

Cowbridge sanitation is slammed

1893, 18th March. Concern expressed by the medical officer about the drainage and poor-quality water in Cowbridge. Cowbridge said to have an abnormally high death rate. The water supply is chiefly obtained by means of pumps from four public wells (West Village, East Village, the Brewery and the Town Hall). Some inhabitants drink rain water, others resort to the river. The East Village well is in the immediate vicinity of cesspools and stables and the water is offensive to taste and smell. Only the Town Hall pump is considered good. There are only a few water closets in Cowbridge. Only one seems to flush. The privies are ‘mere holes dug in the soil’ that empty their contents into cesspools, which are mostly bottomless and close by or even up to walls of houses. One was inside a stable. Two were within a few feet of slaughterhouses. They were rarely emptied. South Wales Daily News

Circus freaks and curiosities

1895, 22nd March. Forthcoming visit to Cowbridge (and Bridgend and Aberavon) of ‘The World’s Greatest Show’. It combines a circus and hippodrome, a menagerie and museum of freaks and curiosities. There are 42 huge waggons, and it employs 200 people. There is a stud of 120 performing horses and ponies, a herd of performing elephants, camels, dromedaries, lions, tigers, panthers etc., under the command of Captain Rowland. There are upwards of 300 specimens of birds., beasts and reptiles, and 80 circus performers, including the strongest man and woman in the world, Goliath and Miss May.

Horse racing in Penlline

1902, 29th March. Easter horse race meetings – the pleasant little gathering at Cowbridge hold court on Friday…. at the foot of the picturesque Penlline Castle, one of the most lovely spots in Wales. The paddock simply teems with primroses just now. Great improvements have been made to the course since last year, and the going will be found excellent. Evening Express

Local families emigrate to Canada

1903, 24th March. Mr Stewart, a Canadian farmer delegate, is meeting a number of young farmers in Cowbridge…. He was in Aberavon yesterday and anticipates that by the end of the month at least 200 families will try their fortunes in Canada. Evening Express

Star cricketer dies at 37

1908, 9th March. Death at Cowbridge of Mr William Russell, the professional cricketer attached to the Glamorgan Gypsies Cricket Club. Had been ailing for some time. He was 37 years old and leaves a widow and two children. He came to Wales about 12 years ago to prepare a ground which was played on for several years by Mr Ebsworth’s XI at Cowbridge. Until that club was disbanded, he acted as their professional and then was engaged by the Glamorgan Gypsies. His fielding at cover-point was probably superior to that of any other cricketer who has played for any South Wales XI… Evening Express

This article appeared in the printed edition of the Glamorgan Star on 7th April 2022. See our news first by picking up you free copy from outlets everywhere!