Glan-y-Dwr Farm

Glan-y-Dwr Farm.
Glan-y-Dwr Farm, more commonly known as Glandwr Farm was located on the main railway line close to what was to become the new Abertillery Cricket Field and Park. Today, the steps to the footbridge over the A467 leading to Morley Road is where the farm buildings were.

The 1840 Tithe Map.
Apart from the odd newspaper article there is a lack of early information on the occupants at Penrhiwllech Farm. There doesn’t seem to be any record of its history made available until the 1840 tithe map apportionment and the following year’s census of 1841.

Mr Thomas George.
The 1840 tithe map shows Mr Thomas George was resident at Glandwr Farm, Abertillery. Messrs J & C. Bailey of Nantyglo Iron Works was listed as the landowners.

The 1841 census shows Mr Thomas George was the farmer, born 1791. His wife was Mrs Mary George, also born in 1791. The couple lived at the farm with their children – Mr William George, born 1811. Mr Thomas George, born 1821. Misses Mary George and Margaret George, born 1826 and Master Henry George, born in 1833. Also living at the farm was Master John Williams.

On the 1851 census shows Mr Thomas George, was from Gelligaer, he was a farmer of 150 acres. His wife Mrs Mary George was also born at Gelligaer. The family at this time consisting of Mr William George, Miss Margaret George, Miss Martha George and Henry George, were all still at the farm.

Mr William George.
On the 1871 census Mr William George, son of Thomas George was the head at Glandwr Farm, Abertillery. Mr William George was a farmer of just 34 acres. He lived at the farm with his mother Mrs Ann George and his sister Mrs Margaret George. Also at the farm was Mr David Davies, a boarder.

Mr Henry George.
On the 1881 census the Glandwr Farm was listed as being part of the “Line Houses”, more than probably as of its location on the railway line. Mr Henry George, born in 1843 was now the head, listed as a farmer of 55 acres. I am not sure if this was the son of Mr Thomas George as the dates of birth doesn’t match. Mr Henry George lived at Glandwr Farm, Abertillery with his wife Mrs Charlotte George, born 1853 at Carmarthen and their son Master Thomas George, born in 1879. Mr David Davies was still boarding at the farm.

On the 1891 census Mr Henry George, now a widower was still the head at Glandwr Farm, Abertillery. He farmed the area with his son Master Thomas George, listed as a farmer, aged just 13 years old. Also living at the farm were William and Elizabeth Hughes and their son Alfred, listed as lodgers.

Mr George Jukes Snr.
The 1901 census shows that Mr George Jukes Snr was the head and farmer at Glandwr Farm, Abertillery. Mr George Jukes was born in 1853 at Ludlow, Shropshire. His wife was Mrs Margaret Jukes nee Thomas, born in 1856 at Dowlais, Glamorgan. The couple lived at Glandwr Farm with their children – Master John Jukes, born 1886. Master David Jukes, born 1888. Master George Jukes, born 1890 and Miss Margaret Jukes, born 1894. Also living at the farm was Mr George Davies, a servant, born in 1851 at Brecon.

On the 1911 census Mr George Jukes was still the head and farmer at Glandwr Farm, Abertillery with his wife Mrs Margaret Jukes, they lived at the farm with their children
Mr John Jukes, born 1886. Mr David Jukes, born 1888 and Miss Margaret (Maggie Jukes), born in 1894. Also at the farm was Mr Jukes’ son Mr George Jukes, born 1890 and his wife Mrs Margaret Jukes nee Morgan, born in 1892, listed as being farmers with Miss Emily Jukes, a granddaughter.

The New Abertillery Cricket Field.
Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, the Abertillery Cricket Team played their matches on Captains Field, the strip of land now occupied by the houses of Glandwr Street. The field was owned by and named after Capt. Phillips, the owner of the tin works at that time and a strong supporter of local sport especially cricket. When the population began to grow there was a great need for houses and Capt. Phillips sold the land and cricket field for building purposes. That meant, in the late 1890’s the Abertillery Cricket Team were without a pitch, they were granted permission to play on the rugby field in the park on a temporary basis until they acquired a place of their own.

In 1912 the Abertillery District Council began talks with the Nantyglo and Blaina Co, the owners of the land at Glandwr Farm and Mr George Jukes to rent the field belonging to Mr Jukes for the purpose of cricket. Permission was granted and a rental of £15. was agreed. There was originally a form of covenant placed on the land that the field was only to be used for the sport of cricket.

Mr George Jukes Leaving the Farm.
In October 1920 the South Wales Gazette reported on the selling of Glandwr Farm, Abertillery. It stated that Mr Jukes was leaving and selling live stock and machinery, including 350 sheep, 3 horses and crops, 9 dairy cattle, pigs and various machinery.

The Glandwr Level Crossing.
In 1925, after the construction of the new houses of Morley Road and Rose Heyworth Road a level crossing was needed to access the park from the new houses. Talks between the Great Western Railway Co and the Abertillery Urban District Council were successful and the construction of the level crossing went ahead.

Mr David Jukes.
On the 1939 register, Mr David Jukes, born in 1888 was was still living at Glandwr Farm, he was listed as being a Milk Roundsman. Also living at the farm was Mrs Mary Thomas, born in 1882 and listed as being a domestic.

In 1944 Mr David Jukes, of the farm, was now living at 23 Gladstone Street, Abertillery. The South Wales Gazette printed a notice stating that Mr David Jukes, now of 23 Gladstone Street, Abertillery has changed ownership of his milk round. It was stated that the new owner was Mr Noel Jukes of Clyn Mawr Uchaf Farm.

Glandwr House.
I am not sure as to when the farm ceased to be a farm although as early as 1956 the farm was known and reported as being Glandwr House.

Mr and Mrs W. J. Thomas.
In 1947 Mr Fred Thomas was reported as being at Glandwr House. Also at this time a Mr and Mrs W. J. Thomas were resident.

Various families lived at the premises after it ceased being a farm, amongst those the Liddington family were one of the longest residents.

The Closure of Rose Heyworth Colliery.
The Glandwr Farm, Abertillery was as stated above was located on the main railway line close to the cricket pitch. After the closure of the Rose Heyworth Colliery in 1986 the new A467 bypass was planned from Abertillery to Brynmawr, toward the eastern side of Glandwr Farm. The other lower sections of the new A467 had been completed by this time.

The New Bypass A467.
The old railway line foundations through the valley were widened, a narrow section of the county school playing fields adjacent to the new road was removed and the old Glandwr Farm was earmarked for demolition as of its close proximity to the planned new road.

Compulsory Purchase Order.
On Thursday 20th of August 1987, the South Wales Gazette printed compulsory purchase orders for the purpose of the construction of the new A467. Mr Norman Liddington of Glandwr House, Abertillery was one of the residents, landowners and tenants that were affected. It stated 550 square metres of the house, garden and shed were to be taken and also keep the right of access and working space to construct and maintain a footbridge.