Arail Farm

Arail Farm.
Arail Farm, more commonly known as Arael Farm, is located on the southern tip of the Arael Mountain, to the east of Cwm Beeg Dingle.

Cistercian Monks.
A story appeared in the South Wales Gazette, Friday 1st of May 1959 written by Councillor Mr Brinley Evans, under the pen name “Arael”. Mr Evans wrote of the Arael Farm’s past and its place in history as follows – Apart from St Illtyd’s and the Old Barn at Gelli Crug, the Arael Farm has equal claim to our interest. The Cistercian Monks of Llantarnum, who built the first church at St Illtyd’s had a farm there and they also farmed the Arael Mountain. So the first Arael Farm, no less than the first “Old Church”, has historical importance as one of the center’s of Cistercian activity.

The story of the Arael Farm begins in France in 1098 when a few Benedictine Monks decided worldliness was creeping into the life of their monastery and it was time they did something about it. The result was that they established an independent organisation at Citeaux and because the Latin name for Citeaux was Cistercian they called themselves Cistercians. The Cistercians built abbeys in many countries in Europe and they became active in this country after the Norman Conquest. They came to Monmouthshire and gave us Tintern Abbey and then the abbey at Llantarnum and as pointed out, the Cistercians at Llantarnum became landowners and farmers on the two mountains between the industrial area in which we reside, eventually took shape.

Mr Evans went on to write – To look up at the Arael Farm and to reflect that If I could turn the clock back to the middle ages I would see white-robed monks on the mountainside at Six Bells entering and leaving their homestead, which at that time, would have been surrounded by the dense forest that clothed the Arael Mountain until it was stripped to provide charcoal for industry. The connection between the first Arael Farm and Llantarnum Abbey enables us to share a big slice of Monmouthshire’s rich history, of strife, struggle and progress, because we can be sure that the road between the farm and the abbey, down into the valley and up the mountain on the other side and beyond, was a much used “line of communication” in war and peace during the Middle Ages and there were some stirring times during the Cistercian monk’s tenure of Llantarnum Abbey and the Arael Farm.

The Cistercian monks were very popular wherever they settled and especially so in Wales. “Laborare est orare” was their motto and they specialised in agricultural pursuits. When they came to St Illtyd and to the Arael Farm, therefore they brought great benefits to the scattered population for they provided employment and taught our fore-fathers how to get the maximum results from tilling the soil and breeding sheep and cattle and the instruction they gave at their church services provided our fore-fathers, for the first time, with glimpses of the treasures of European literature. It was the beginning of popular education in this area.

It is more than probable that young men who displayed a very deep interest in what was being taught were encouraged and greatly helped to develop their natural talent and no doubt, some of them found their way into the Cistercian Order. There is a great deal of evidence that the Cistercians in some parts of Wales and notably in Monmouthshire gave strong support to Welsh national aspirations. Llantarnum Abbey, for example came into being through the influence of the Welsh Lord of Caerleon, Howel ap Iorwerth and one of its priors, John ap Howell lost his life at the Battle of Usk in 1405 as a staunch supporter of Owen Glyndwr, the famous Welsh rebel. An ancient chronicle tells us that “he showed equal proficiency in learning and in arms” and in that matter suffered death in this world with seven hundred Britons and thus won eternal life as is hoped.

It is more than probable that the fighting parson of Llantarnum recruited many supporters for Glyndwr from the families of our fore-fathers who were employed by him at St Illtyd’s and at the Arael Farm. The whole story of Cistercian activity in these parts in war and in peace is something to think about with ever deepening pride. Mr Brinley Evans finished his story with the following – So, nowadays, when I go to work I raise my eyes to the Arael Farm and I am very thankful to remember that although we cannot boast of the glory that was Rome and the grandeur that was Greece, we have our own precious links with the past. Let us treasure them, for they can be a rich source of inspiration for the kind of citizenship that leads to real civic progress.

The 1840 Tithe Map.
Apart from the newspaper article above, there is a lack of early information on the occupants at Arael Farm in the intervening years. 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 and Mrs Daniel Rogers.
The 1840 tithe maps shows Capel Hanbury Leigh as the landowner, with Mr Daniel Rogers as the tenant at the Arael Farm.

On the 1841 census Mr Daniel Rogers was resident at Arael Farm. Mr Daniel Rogers was born in 1801. His wife was Mrs Leah Rogers, born in 1806. The couple lived at the farm with their children – Master William Rogers, born 1829. Miss Rachel Rogers, born 1831. Miss Sarah Rogers, born 1833. Miss Mary Rogers, born 1836 and Miss Hannah Rogers, born in 1840. On this census their surname Rogers was miss-spelt as Roggens.

During the 1840’s Mr Daniel Rogers was listed as farmer at the Arael Farm and also the Glo Byllau Farm on Blaina Road, both farms under the ownership of Capel Hanbury Leigh Esq.

The 1851 census is vague and shows Mr and Mrs Rogers and their family as farmers at the Arael Farm, written as Arrail Farm, in the parish of Aberystruth. This census is very vague showing hardly any addresses.

Mrs Leah Rogers at Penybont.
On the 1871 census Mrs Leah Rogers was listed as a farmers widow and living at Penybont, Cwmtillery with her son Mr Edmund Rogers and Master Thomas Matthews, a grandson.

Mr Edward Nicholas.
On the 1871 census Mr and Mrs Edward Nicholas was at the Arael Farm. Mr Edward Nicholas, listed as farmer of 200 acres was born in 1816 at Mynyddislwyn. His wife was Mrs Margaret Nicholas, born in 1814 at Bedwas. They lived at Arael Farm with their children – Mr John Nicholas, born 1843. Mr Samuel Nicholas, born 1844. Mr Joseph Nicholas, born 1845. Miss Margaret Nicholas, born 1852. Miss Sarah Nicholas, born 1854. Master Edward Nicholas, born 1857. Miss Ann Nicholas, born 1859. Master Thomas Nicholas, born 1861 and Miss Mary Nicholas, born in 1863. Previous to their move to Aberbeeg, the Nicholas family had been farmers at Penllwyn, Mynyddislwyn.

Mr Thomas Nicholas.
Toward the end of the 1890’s Mr Edward Nicholas handed the responsibilities of the farm over to his son Mr Thomas Nicholas.

The Death of Mrs Margaret Nicholas.
On Sunday 19th of January 1902, Mr Margaret Nicholas passed away at the age of 83. Mrs Nicholas was buried at the New Bethel, Mynyddislwyn.

The Death of Mr Edward Nicholas.
On Monday 4th of December 1911, Mr Edward Nicholas passed away at the age of 96. Mr Nicholas was buried at the New Bethel, Mynyddislwyn.

Mr Frederick Thomas.
On the 1939 register Mr and Mrs Frederick Thomas was resident at Arael Farm, Abertillery. Mr Frederick Thomas, born in 1885 was listed as a dairy farmer. His wife was Mrs Rosina Thomas, born in 1885. Also at the farm was Mr Lionel Thomas, born 1923, listed as a farm labourer.

The Bruten Family.
In the 1940’s the Bruten family resided and worked Arael Farm.

(More Information to come).