Greetings from Oregon!
I discovered that there was some discussion here about Cwmbelan in Llangurig
a few years ago. Below is my great-great grandfather, Edward Rees, and his
wife Sarah (Cleaton). Edward died young, and Sarah and the boys decided to
move to the beautiful land of Dowlais, to work in the mining business. They
later moved to Pomeroy, Ohio.
1841 Lower Green, Llandidloes, Montgomeryshire
Edward
Rees
20
Montgomeryshire
Sara
Rees
20
Montgomeryshire
Edward
Rees
2
Montgomeryshire
1851 Cwmbellan, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Sarah
Rees
32
Widow, hand loom weaver, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Edward
Rees
12
Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Thomas
Rees
10
Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Richard
Rees
7
Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
1851 Cwmbellan, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire, Wales
Mary
Rees
26
Hand loom weaver, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Elizabeth
Rees
21
Hand loom weaver, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Margaret
Rees
18
Hand loom weaver, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Jane
Rees
16
Hand loom weaver, Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
Mary A.
Meddings
6m
Llangurig, Montgomeryshire
If anyone from the region is still here, I’d like to ask a few questions.
When was the factory in Cwmbelan built?
When did it change from a flannel mill to a carpenter shop? (I spent a
couple days in 1983 visiting with Gwen Ingram at the factory)
I presume that the flannel business in Cwmbelan was ruined by competition
from the larger mills in England, which could make clothe more cheaply.
Are woolen fabrics still a major industry in Powys, or have they been
replaced by cotton and synthetics?
Are the hills still covered with sheep, or is that era over?
Thank you!
Rick