Hi Linda
I have been researching the ironworks in the vicinity of Llangattock
Mountain for my forthcoming book 'Exploring The Caves of Llangattock
Mountain' (part 1) and can tell you that there were two 19th century sets of
ironworks in Cwm Llanwenarth.
Cwm Llanwenarth can be found behind Govilon (which has a wharf situated on
the Brecon & Abergavenny Canal) and lies between the Blorenge mountain and
Gilwern Hill, a short distance to the southwest of Abergavenny. Census
records for the district can be found with those for Llanfoist and Govilon.
The main works in the area were those of the forge at Garnddyrys, which was
associated with Blaenavon Ironworks. The tramroad which linked the furnaces
at Blaenavon, the forge at Garnddyrys and the canal at Llanfoist opened in
1818 and so it can be assumed that production at the forge also began in
earnest in 1818. There was a whole community with terraced cottages and
various residences perched on the northwestern flank of the Blorenge,
associated with and named after the Garnddyrys Works. The date when the
tramroad was finally discontinued, with the bridge over the canal at
Llanfoist being unexpectedly removed by the Blaenavon Iron & Coal Company,
was c.August 1861. In the 1861 Census, entries for 'Garnddyris' can be found
at: RG 9/3995, f.20, p.3 - f.22, p.8.
There was also Mr Hill's Forge at Govilon where in March 1860 a flywheel
shattered and sent large heavy pieces of iron flying in all directions. This
took place at the Wildon Ironworks, run by Messrs Hill & Batt, who were
ironmasters and manufacturers of wire rods, with another iron-making
business at the Oakfield Works in Cwmbran. Hill's works were located a short
distance to the northeast of the railway viaduct across Cwm Llanwenarth, not
far from Upper Mill Farm, and were marked as disused by the time the area
was surveyed in 1879-81. From the 1861 Census I have a note that ED 1 on RG
9/3994 covers Llanwenarth Ultra from the Canal Company's Wharf to the Wildon
Works.
From what you have described I think your ancestors lived at
Garnddyrys and
this was probably covered by either the Llanfoist or Blaenavon
parish.
I'd be interested to hear if you have any details of everyday life in their
iron-making community.
Best regards
Clive Gardener
Tel/Fax: 020 7987 8820
www.secret-bottletop.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Kent-Taylor" <email(a)lindakt.freeserve.co.uk>
To: "BLAENAU GWENT" <BlaenauGwent-D(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 4:57 PM
Subject: [BLAENAUGWENT] Llanwenarth ultra Garndyris and Pwll du
Can anyone please tell me where this was I have an 1890 survey map
and I
can find Llanwenarth. My ancestors where moved to Blaenavon and the
houses they lived in demolished. They worked in the iron works. This all
seems a long way from Llanwenarth. Any details I read say it was on the
Usk and Govilion station was in the parish?
regards Linda
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