Pembroke Centenarian
Recollections of a lady aged 105 years
Mrs Hannah Rowlaneds of 4 East-end, Pembroke, is probably the oldest Welsh subject of the
King. She was born in Martletwy nearly 105 years ago, and her memory of events of bygone
days is remarkably clear, although in later years she has taken little cogneisance of
passing events. For over 96 years she has been living at Pembroke, where she is
familiarly known as 'Granny Rowlands' She is the mother of thirteen children, and
her grandchildren and great-grandchildren number several dozens.
A 'Weekly Mail' reporter who called on Mrs Rowlands found her exceedingly active,
although she is so affected by years that she is scarcely 4ft in height. The greatest
care is taken of 'Granny Rowlands' whose genial disposition has won her the
affection of all the townspeople. Mrs Rowlands has lived in the reigns of six english
Monarchs. she remembers the battle of Waterloo, which was fought when she was nine years
old, and recalls how Napoleon terrorised the whole of Europe. In Pembrokeshire she said
'I have seen great changes. Towns and villages have sprung up with great rapidity,
while new industries have been established in quick succession' South Wales was
practically an unknown quantity commercially in her younger days, and she remembers
Cardiff and Swansea nothing more than overgrown villages. Mrs Rowlands is a fresh air
devotee and to this she attributes her longevity. Every day she takes a short walk, eats
heartily, and sits at the door chatting with neighbours and passers by who happen to
notice her.
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This is accompanied by a picture of her.......note on snippet states Died 14th January
1911. ( think this was collected in 1910........)