Bedwas
including Maes-y-Cwmmer
(A description written in 1891)
A Parish and Village, on the river Rumney and a Glamorganshire border, 163 miles from London, 11 miles west-by-north from Newport, and 2 miles north from Caerphilly, in the Southern division of the county, Hundred of Wentloog; Petty Sessional division of Bedwellty, Union and County Court district of Newport; Newport rural deanery, Monmouth archdeaconry, and Llandaff diocese.
There are two railway stations, one at Bedwas Village, and the other at Maes-y-Cwmmer; both are in the parish, but are 4.1/2 miles apart.
The church of Saint Barrog is an ancient building of stone, in the Decorated Gothic Style, consisting of chancel and nave, south porch, and a western tower containing 5 bells: the church has 200 sittings. The register dates from about the year 1653. The living is a rectory, with the Chapelry of Ruddry, in the county of Glamorgan, annexed; tithe rent-charge (Bedwas) £188, (Ruddry) £100 and 1.1/2 acres of glebe, joint gross yearly value £388, including 104 acres of glebe and residence in the gift of the Bishop of Llandaff, and held since 1890 by the Rev. John Griffiths, of Lampeter College. Parish Clerk: David Morris
There are chapels for Baptists and Wesleyans at Bedwas.
The Parish abounds with coal, and there are several collieries in operation, and some chemical works.
Post & M.O.O, S. B. & Annuity & Insurance Office - Mrs Mary Davies, receiver. Caerphilly is the telegraph office
Schools:
A School Board of 5 members was formed in 1884; T S Edwards, 20 High street, Newport, clerk to the board; Lewis Lewis, Bedwas, attendance officer
Board School (boys, girls & infants), for 250 children; average attendance, 60 boys, 65 girls & 50 infants; Llewellyn Thomas, master; Miss Rachael Kovachich, mistress; Miss Kate Harris, infants' mistress
Railway Station:
John Carlyle, station master
Fairs are held on the 3rd of April and the 6th of October.
Lord Tredegar, who is lord of the manor, John Glynne Richards Homfray Esq. D.L., J.P., Edmund Thomas Esq. and Lady Llanover are the principal landowners. The soil is light loam; subsoil, gravel and loam. The chief crops are wheat, oats and barley. There is much mountain land and some pasture. The area is 4,166 acres of land and 29 of water; rateable value £7,668;
The population in 1881 was 1,531
…………
MAES-Y-CWMMER
is a Hamlet of the parish of Bedwas, 4.1/2 miles north.
Here are Baptist, Welsh Congregational and Calvinistic Methodist chapels
Post, M.O. & T.O., S.B. & Annuity & Insurance Office, Maes-y-Cwmmer - William Jones, postmaster
Board School (mixed & infants), built in 1879, for 250 children; average attendance, 130 boys & boys & 55 infants; William Augustus Davies, master; Miss Blanche Powell, infants' mistress
Railway Station: Benjamin Newton, station master
(extracts from Kelly's 1891 Directory of Monmouthshire, transcribed by J. Doe)
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