Hafod-y-Daval Farm

Hafod-y-Daval Farm.
Hafod-y-Daval Farm, had been a long established homestead located on the western side of Cwm Beeg Dingle, on the southern tip of the Arael Mountain, Aberbeeg. Hafod-y-Daval (summer tenure or residence) was one of a reported four homesteads on that south western side, the others being Penrhiwllech, Pen-Crug-Glas and Llan-Dafal.

The Arael Mountain.
That part of the summit on the Arael Mountain was originally known as Mynydd-y-Begwn, Beacon Mountain. It was said the Celts lit beacons on the mountain as a warning of the approach of enemy warriors. It seems to have kept that name until at least the beginning of the 19th century as it was on a map printed 1805. By the mid 19th century it seems to have been renamed the Arael, when a reporter from the Monmouthshire Merlin reporting on the laying of the foundation stones during the construction of the British School in 1854 wrote of how the school was surrounded by four mountains, the Twyn Silvania, Pentre Parc, the Arael and the Twyn Pentre.

Dr Williams – Rhys-Crys-Coch.
Dr Williams was a local magistrate, known as Justice Williams. On Friday 2nd of December 1938, the South Wales Gazette printed a story on Dr Williams, as follows – Dr Williams was known as Rhys-Crys-Coch, as he invariably wore a red coloured shirt, once popular amongst miners and regarded by many as the fore-runner of the shirts which now figure so prominently in European politics. Dr Williams had his home on the Arael and that he bathed each morning in a well. As a magistrate he held his courts at his mountain home.

The Norman Army.
The same article also went on to say – Just over the verge of the Arael Mountain is believed to be the place where part of the Norman Army, after being surprised and defeated by the Welsh at Gelligaer in 1094, were intercepted and slain by the forces of Gruffyd and Ivor.

Edmund Jones.
Edmund Jones in his book “A Geographical, Historical and Religious Acount of the Parish of Aberystruth” written in 1779 touched on the fact that Justice Williams resided at Hafod-y-Daval though doesn’t mention which homestead, though it shows that Justice Williams was active pre 1779.

Mr Thomas Williams and Mrs Margaret Williams.
Mr Thomas Williams and his sister Mrs Margaret Williams were mentioned in the book by Edmund Jones as living at Hafodavel. Whether they lived at the actual farm or area is unknown as he never put that information in writing.

Mr Edmund Williams and Mrs Margaret Powell.
Mr Edmund Williams and Mrs Margaret Powell were also mentioned in the book by Edmund Jones as living at Hafodavel. Whether they lived at the actual farm or area is unknown as he never put that information in writing. It is unclear as to who the families were or if they were related, although Margaret Powell was married to the Rev John Powell, the curate of the parish.

Mr Isaac William Thomas.
Mr Isaac William Thomas was mentioned in the book by Edmund Jones as living at Hafodavel. Whether they lived at the actual farm or area is unknown as he never put that information in writing.

Mr Thomas William Edmund.
Mr Thomas William Edmund was also mentioned in the book by Edmund Jones as living at Hafodavel. Again, it is unclear as to if they lived at the actual farm or area as he never put that information in writing.

The 1840 Tithe Map.
Apart from what was recorded in Edmund Jones’ book “A Geographical, Historical and Religious Account of the Parish of Aberystruth” as seen in extracts above, along with the odd newspaper article, there is a lack of early information on the occupants at Hafod-y-Daval Farm. There doesn’t seem to be any official record of its history made available until the 1840 tithe map apportionment and the following year’s census of 1841.

Mr Morgan James Snr.
The 1840 tithe map shows Mr Morgan James was listed as the landowner and also resident at Hafod-y-Daval Farm, Aberbeeg.

The 1841 census shows Mr Morgan James was born in 1776, his wife was Mrs Gwenllian (Gwenny) James nee Henry, born in 1781. The couple were married at Bedwellty in 1799 and lived at Hafod-y-Daval Farm with their children – Mr William James, born 1803. Mr Morgan James, born 1811 and Mr Henry James, born in 1815. Also living at the farm were – Miss Rachel Isaac, Mr William Martin, Miss Sarah Rowland and Miss Mary Miles.

Mr Morgan James Jnr.
On the 1851 census Mr Morgan James Jnr, born in 1811 was the head at Hafod-y-Daval Farm. Mr Morgan was a farmer of 160 acres. His wife was Mrs Ann James nee Lewis, born in 1820. They lived at the farm with their children – Master James James, born 1844. Master Edmund James, born 1846. Miss Sarah James, born 1849 and Master Morgan James, born in 1850. Also living at the farm were – Mr Evan Prichard, a servant. Elizabeth Lewis and Joanna Williams, both house servants.

On the 1871 census, Mr Morgan James Jnr, was still the head at Hafod-y-Daval Farm. Mr James at this time was a farmer of 200 acres. He was with his wife Ann and children Mr Edmund James, born 1846, Miss Sarah James, born 1849. Miss Naomi James, born 1860. Master Lewis James, born 1861. Master Henry James, born 1863 and Master Thomas James, born in 1866.

The Morgan Family’s Move to Carmel Street, Abertillery.
Sometime during the 1870’s the Morgan family moved from Hafod-y-Daval Farm to live at Carmel Street, Abertillery. Mr Morgan James was listed as a shepherd. Only two of their children were living with them at this time, Mr Henry Morgan, working in one of the collieries and Mr Thomas Morgan, a catcher at the tin works.

Mr Isaac Isaacs.
On the 1881 census, Mr Isaac Isaacs was living at Hafod-y-Daval Farm, Aberbeeg. He was listed as being a farmer of 150 acres at this time. Mr Isaacs was born in 1835 at Gelligaer, Glamorganshire. His wife was Mrs Hannah Isaacs nee James, born in 1854 at Llanhilleth Monmouthshire. The couple lived at Hafod-y-Daval Farm with their two children – Miss Mary Isaacs, born 1873 and Miss Margaret Isaacs, born in 1876. Also living at the farm was Mr Jabez Daniel, a servant.

On the 1891 census the Mr Isaac Isaacs and his wife Hannah Isaacs were still living at Hafod-y-Daval Farm with their family – Miss Mary Isaacs, born 1873 and Miss Margaret Isaacs, born in 1876 and Miss Catherine Isaacs, born in 1889. Also living at the farm at this time was Mr Arthur Davies, a servant and Miss Alice Osland, a house keeper.

Mr William Thomas Jnr.
On the 1901 census Mr William Thomas Jnr was at Hafod-y-Daval Farm, Aberbeeg. Mr William Thomas Jnr was born in 1873 at Cwmtillery. His parents were William and Gwenllian Thomas of Penybont, farmers of 40 acres. He now lived at Hafod-y-Daval Farm with his sister Miss Ann Thomas, born 1877 and his brother Mr Benjamin Thomas born in 1882.

In the 1880’s, Mr William Thomas’ parents William Thomas Snr and Gwenllian Thomas nee Samuel, moved from a farm at Penybont to reside at Penrhiwllech Farm. Mrs Gwenllian Thomas, was the daughter of Henry and Ann Samuel, farmers at Greenmeadow Farm, Penybont, Cwmtillery. The Thomas family now occupied both Penrhiwllech and Hafod-y-Daval.

The Death of Mrs Gwenllian Thomas.
In 1901 Mrs Gwenllian Thomas, wife of Mr William Thomas Snr passed away. Mr William Thomas Snr moved into Hafod-y-Daval Farm with his son Mr William Thomas Jnr.

Mr William Thomas Snr.
On the 1911 census Mr William Thomas Snr was living at Hafod-y-Daval Farm with his son Mr William Thomas Jnr, his daughter Sarah Jane Thomas a school teacher for the Abertillery Education Authority. Also living at the farm was Miss Ethel Beeson a servant.

Mr George S. Jukes.
Sometime in the 1930’s-40’s Mr George S. Jukes took possession of Hafod-y-Daval Farm and has been in the family since. The farm house suffered irreparable damage through subsidence and was left uninhabitable.

Mr Howell Jukes.
Mr Howell Jukes is the current owner of the farmland.

The Steelhouse Festival.
Hafod-y-Daval Farm, Aberbeeg is the venue of the Steelhouse Festival, an independent rock festival held annually in late July since 2011.

Many thanks to Mr Howell Jukes and Mr John Hills for their help in compiling this story.