Fforestfach Cross

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Farms - Penll.eithin

 

Pen-llwyn-eithin Uchaf[1]

Location: Latitude: 51.642125 , Longitude: -3.987780 or Map Grid Reference: SS6255195574

 

From the 1945 aerial image it's easier to explain Penwyneiddan[2] farm's position. The farm was situated between the bend of Corporation Road on the left and the Queensway on the right, during the development of Fforestfach Industrial Estate Swansea. The end of farm possibly came as a compulsory purchase order of the land by Swansea Council. The area was needed for light industry development and job creation after WWII..

The oldest map I have of the area, you can see how the names have changed.

Early Fforestfach Industrial Estate, showing only a few buildings.

Pen-llwyn-eithin farm 1805-1874 OS Map

OS 1805-1874 Map
Google earth 1945 aerial image
   
The farm is on the left with Cockett G.W.R. goods yard branch line on the right with the old Greyhound track in-between, latter built off Ystrad Road.   The most recent satellite view.
Penll.eithin_OS_1940_Map
OS 1940 Cockett Map
Google earth 2009 satellite image
My reference
   Farm - Roughly where Pen-llwyn-eithin[1] farm was once situated
   Road 1 - Llwyn Derw
   Road 2 - Carmarthen Road
   Road 3 - Queensway
   Mettoy - Originally the S Factory
   Mettoy - Originally the W Factory

 

 

 

MAPS

OS 1805-1879:

Pen llwyn eithen[1] is connected to the underlined Carmarthen Road.

The farm's is also connected on its north west access to related farm called Pen llwyn eithin fach which had a track leading Ystrad Road near Ystrad uchaf.

This related farm name isn’t seen on later maps, as its name changes to Felin-fach.    

 

1843 Tithe Apportionment:

Penllwn Ithan[3] ycha

Landowner - John Dillwyn Llewelyn Esquire, Occupier - William Williams, Land - 20 areas of land including at least 2 houses,

Payable to vicar 15 shillings, Payable to Sir John Morris Baronet £1.10.00.

While comparing both Tithe Map and the OS 1805-1879, I found Penllwn Ithan[3] ycha fields were next to Raven Hill farm bottom fields; there is more room for further investigation between the the Tithe map and its relevant Apportionment of 1843.

 

1879 OS Map 1:25 000 Swansea, St John & Llangyfelach Parishes:

Pen-llwyn-eithin-uchaf[1].
Access(Main) North East route between Worcester and Wig fach collieries, over at least 3 railway lines onto what is now White City Road (2012) leading to Carmarthen Road.
Directions: roughly 500 meters North West from small bridge at Cockett.
2nd access runs North West into a place called Felin-fach this is north east of Ystrad Road and North West of Cwmbach colliery, Felin fach is off the Kingsway and the road leading to recently developed area that leads onto Corporation Road.  West of old mineral railway to Worcester /Wig-fach Collieries, north of Cwmbach colliery and Cockett railway line.

 

1899 OS Map Penderry PH. - Pen-llwyn-eithin[1] Uchaf.
Now has 6 Buildings, north west of Cwmbach Brick Works.

 

1916 OS Map Penderry PH. - Pen-llwyn-eithin[1] Uchaf.
6 Buildings and a few changes from map, No brick works nearby.

 

1940 OS Map – Pen-llwyn-eithin[1] Uchaf.
Many Buildings shown on map above, the farm is at its largest.
West of what looks like a greyhound track as mentioned by Haydn Williams in his audio interview.

GWR railway line, timber Yard connected to mainline railway at Cockett, where brick works used to be.

 

1950-55 OS Map - no name.
No farm description and only a few buildings left, no evidence of track, Industrial park built including Queensway road with two Mettoy buildings, the expanding Industrial estate is encroaching on the farm land. Only part of the railway that was GWR shown, at the bottom near the railway where the Cwmbach works were is now a saw mill.

 

1964 OS Map - no name.
The farm and buildings have now disappeared, more factories on west side of Queensway.

The GWR railway junction at Cwmbach Cockett with a mill described at centre of this junction.

 

 

POLLING DETAILS:

(1845) Page 81, Parish of Swansea Higher.
Number: 5375 Voter: (spelt) Llewelin Williams, Place: Penllwynerthan[4],
Nature of Qualification: fifty pounds rent of a land, Details: Penllwynerthan[4]

 

(1869) (a) Swansea Polling District, The Hamlet of Swansea Higher.
Voters in respect of Property, including Tenant Occupiers at a Rent of £50 and upwards.
Number: 10083  Voter: Llewellyn Williams, Place: Penllwyneiddan[2],
Nature of Qualification: occupation of land, Details: Penllwyneiddan[2]

 

(1869) (b) Swansea Polling District, The Hamlet of Swansea Higher.
Voters in respect of Property, including Tenant Occupiers at a Rent of £50 and upwards.
Number: 10083  Voter: Llewellyn Williams, Place: Penllwyneiddan[2],
Nature of Qualification: freehold lease of house and gardens, Details: Raven hill

 

 

DIRECTORIES:

1895 Kelly's Directory, page 750

Williams Llewellyn, farmer, Penllwyneithen[1]

 

1914 Kelly's Directory, page 965
David Rees, farmer, Penllwyneiddan farm[1]

 

 

Census

1851         -     Land 72 acres
1861         -     Land 60 acres
1881         -     Land 50 acres

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In 1871 William was still living at home age 24 - could he possibly have been given or rented some farmland nearby?

By 1881 Llewelyn (the younger) was the only child still living at home.

In 1901 Llewelyn was named as an 'employer'
I had understood that the farm was sold by my great grandmother at some point but as the land was rented I presume that couldn't have been the case. 

By 1901 Mary Williams was living at Nyddan Villa so the farm must have left the family between 1901 and 1911.

 

In some census returns Llewelyn is written Lewlyn.
Mary Williams (nee Morgan) was the daughter of Mary and William Morgan who ran the Post Office and Grocery  store on Carmarthen Road in Fforestfach from about 1860. Llewelyn died in 1906 aged 46 and I understood that his wife Mary carried on running the farm but I don't know for how long.

 

I am the great granddaughter of Llewelyn and Mary Williams.

 

Extract written by Eleanor Price

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REFERENCE:

[1]The word Pen-llwyn-eithin is spelt a number of ways on this page, all taken from orginal print.

Penwyneiddan[2], Penllwn Ithan[3] ,Penllwynerthan[4].

Maps - West Glamorgan Archive Service and Swansea library and http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html.

Kelly's Directories - West Glamorgan Archive Service and Swansea library

Polling Directories - Swansea library

Thank you to Eleanor Price for her research and helping building a history of Pen-llwyn-eithin Uchaf

 

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Thank you Mr. Nigel Alan Robins

Thank you to the City & County of Swansea for all your help and support.