Porthcawl Dock Plans

In 1825 local industrialists and landowners obtained an Act of Parliament for building a tram road down the Llynfi valley to Porthcawl bay, and improving the bay by the erection of some form of dock. The line began at Dyffryn Llynfi, a few miles above Maesteg, and ran along the valley to Tondu where it turned westward towards Kenfig Hill and through Pyle and Newton Nottage to reach the sea at Porthcawl. Other sites at the mouth of the Ogmore River and at Newton had been considered for the dock but were rejected, either because of difficulties of terrain or because the landowners were uncooperative. The harbour built at Porthcawl was a small rectangular basin which was tidal and so could only be used at certain times of day, and in 1840 it was extended and deepened. By 1864 the growth in the iron and coal industries was such that the two railway companies which then operated in the Llynfi and Ogmore valleys joined forces to obtain a further Act proposing much greater expansion.

The entrance to the existing basin was to be re-positioned, and a completely new dock of some 7 acres area would be built, connected to it, on the north, and fitted with gates so that it would not be dependent on the tides; the breakwaters would also be extended. The new dock opened in July 1867 at a cost of £250,000, and in seven years the amount of coal exported increased almost ten times.

Depression in the iron industry led the dock to concentrate more and more on coal. Trade reached its peak in 1892 when over 800 ships docked, but it declined very rapidly after that, largely because of the opening of more expansive and modern docks at Port Talbot. Trading from Porthcawl finally came to an end in 1906, and the town turned its attention from commerce to recreation.

Glamorgan Archives holds 32 plans prepared by the London engineer R.P. Brereton between 1864 and 1866 for the extension of Porthcawl Dock (ref.: UDPC/HARBOUR).  The collection of plans, though comparatively large, may not be complete; some of them are numbered, but not all the numbers are present. As well as an overall plan, they show details of the dock gates, the breakwaters and coal lines. On the ground the dock of 1867 has been filled in, but the plans survive as a reminder of one aspect of Victorian industrial growth, and the changing fortune of different ports.

Puddings and Parcels: Christmas fundraising in the First World War

Christmas is traditionally a time when we think of others and when charities launch special appeals to raise funds.  During the First World War this was even more important with so many soldiers and sailors serving overseas, separated from families and home comforts.

School log books record the charity fundraising efforts of the pupils.  At Gellidawel School in Tonyrefail in October 1914, the Headteacher recorded sending a  £1 postal order to HRH Princess Mary for her fund to provide Christmas gifts for servicemen.  The teachers had provided the prizes and there was a prize draw amongst the children, who paid a penny for each ticket [ELL26/2].

One Headteacher in Pen-y-bont School, Bridgend [EM10/11] wrote wearily in October 1914 that, due to the war and the many calls …it has entailed upon the pockets of the people…, he had not had …the face this year to beg for subscriptions… to the Christmas Prize Fund. However, funds were raised for servicemen and a sizeable sum of over £7 was sent to the Prince of Wales Fund.  It was used to purchase cigarettes, woollen mufflers and chocolates and sent to Old Boys stationed in Scotland.  He records having received a thank you from Sergeant Major Miles thanking the boys for …their Happy Christmas Box [EM10/11].

Refugees from Belgium were not forgotten at Christmas. The Headteacher of Dyffryn Mixed School in Ferndale, recorded that money had been raised for the refugees by pupils collecting on Christmas Day in 1916 [ER15/1].  The minute book of the Rest Convalescent Home in Porthcawl also records help given to Belgian refugees;  …that the matter of providing extra diet etc. for the refugees and staff at xmas be left to matrons and chairman… [DXEL/3/5].

Concerts were arranged to raise funds.  Mr Leon Vint applied for a licence from Barry Council to open ‘Vint’s Place’, Thompson Street in Barry on Christmas Day in 1914 and 1915, with performance profits to go to the Barry Red Cross Hospital.  Romilly Hall was also to be allowed to open on Christmas Day for the same purpose [BB/C/1/20,21].  As well as raising funds, the opening of venues on Christmas Day meant that servicemen could be entertained.  Cardiff Borough Council gave permission for the Central Cinema, The Hayes, to be used on Christmas Day between 5.30 and 8pm for the …purpose of free entertainment for servicemen [BC/C/6/54].  Mountain Ash Urban District Council proposed a Sunday Concert at Abercynon Palace on 29 November 1914, …the proceeds to be devoted to the making of, and sending a huge Christmas box of cigarettes, tobacco, socks etc to the soldiers at the front [UDMA/C/4/12].

In 1916 The Daily Telegraph and Daily News were entrusted by the War Office to raise funds for providing Christmas puddings for soldiers at the front, and local councils raised funds to send to the charity. Porthcawl Urban District Council sent over £7 to the ‘pudding fund’ in 1916 [UDPC/C/1/10].

Local parish councils, churches, chapels and other organisations also sent morale boosting Christmas parcels to local men serving abroad.

Amongst the records of the Cardiff University Settlement are letters of thanks from soldiers for parcels received at Christmas. On 19 December 1916, Gunner C Upcott writes to Edward Lewis, I beg to thank you and all the members of the University Settlement for their kindness in sending me the parcel and I do not know how much to thank you for your kindness.  It is something terrible out here with the rain and one thing and another but I hope the end won’t be long so as we can all meet once again (DCE/1/64).

Private William Slocombe of Cardiff, who was awarded the Military Medal during the War, wrote to his mother, from the front, on 9 December 1916.  He asks her to buy him a …soldier’s diary… which has …a lot of useful military information and a small French dictionary at the beginning… I should like you to send me one if possible. It does not cost more than a couple of shillings at most.  He is also thinking of Christmas gifts for his family at home and sends a postal order for 10 shillings; It is for the kids and yourself… If you can get some chocolates for the girls so much the better.  I should like to give Pa some tobacco too’  Poignantly he writes …the circumstances are very different to last year aren’t they?  Your affectionate Son… [D895/1/3].

These records, and many more relating to the First World War, are available to consult at Glamorgan Archives.

News from the Front

With the outbreak of the First World War, many men signed up to serve their country, either voluntarily or because they were called up by the military. Local authorities were affected by this as much as any other field of work. Naturally those who had stayed behind and continued to work with the local authorities were keen to find out how those who were at the Front were getting on.

Good news came from the Front in the form of awards bestowed on soldiers for their actions in combat. In September 1915, Gelligaer Urban District Council noted that James Green had been recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal. In December 1917 Private Tudor Lewis received the Military Medal. And on New Year’s Day 1918, it was announced that Sergeant Ivor Jones had won both the Distinguished Conduct and Military Medals.

Several other employees were recognised for their distinguished service and bravery.

In January 1917, Porthcawl Urban District Council heartily congratulated Lieutenant Tamblyn and Corporal Nicholls who had both been awarded for conspicuous bravery while on active duty. And in July of that year Maesteg Urban District Council congratulated Sergeant Fred Davies who had received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

In June 1917 Bridgend Urban District Council passed on their congratulations to the parents of Oscar Powell and Frank Howells who had both received the Military Medal. In December of that year Second Lieutenant Steve Jenkins, son of one of the council members was also awarded the Military Medal. In January of 1918 Ogmore and Garw Urban District Council reported that Mr King, a former Captain of the Nantymoel fire brigade had received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

At the end of the War in November 1918, Aberdare Urban District Council revealed that Major R D Williams, the son of a councillor, had won the Distinguished Service Order.

Another source of good news would be when servicemen were promoted. In June 1916 Bridgend Urban District Council congratulated Lieutenant Colonel F W Smith on his promotion to the Command of the 16^th Welsh (Cardiff City) Battalion. In May 1917 Gelligaer Urban District Council reported on the rapid rise of Mr Emlyn Evans. Starting as a Private in September of 1915, he became a Lance Corporal in November of that year, then a full Corporal a month later. Six months after that he became a Sergeant before becoming a Company Sergeant Major in December of 1916. The following month he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and became a Flight Sergeant and then in April of 1917 he became a Sergeant Major.

Sometimes just hearing the news that someone at the Front was alive and well was enough cause for celebration. In September 1914 Penybont Rural District Council congratulated Colonel Turbervill on the news that his son Captain Turberville was in good health. However sadly, in May of 1915, Colonel Turbervill’s grandson was killed in action.

Along with the joy of hearing of colleagues receiving awards for valour, there was also the despair of hearing the news of the death or wounding of those serving at the Front. In September 1914 the Earl and Countess of Plymouth lost a relative, Archer Windsor Clive. Several local authorities voted to pass their condolences, which were followed up by replies of thanks in kind from the Plymouth Estate.

In November 1914 Penybont Rural District Council conveyed their sympathy to Colonel Nicholl on the death of his son Lieutenant Nicholl. In December, Mountain Ash Urban District Council expressed their condolences to the family of Lord Aberdare, whose eldest son had been killed. In October 1915, Porthcawl Urban District Council proposed a vote of condolence for the families of Lieutenant Sydney Randall Jenkins and Sergeant Evan Rogers.

In November 1916 Dr M J Rees, who had been for many years the medical officer of health for Aberdare Rural District Council, was reported killed in action. In July of 1917 three former employees, Motorman Amos, Motorman E Wiltshire and Conductor AC Sims, were killed in action.

In December 1917 Maesteg Urban District Council experienced a triple loss, with the deaths of Second Lieutenant Hugh Grade, Private Harold Edwards and Private Charles Corbett. Another triple loss was announced at the end of the war, with the deaths of Privates Ivor Evans, A Meldrum and Hillman.

Not all losses occurred at what most people would view as the ‘Front’, namely France and Belgium. Some of the above losses may have occurred in other parts of the world. The Gallipoli campaign of 1915 saw British Empire troops serving in modern day Turkey, while several campaigns took place in both Africa and the Middle East. It is also worth noting that not all losses occurred on the ground. There were those who served in the air with the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force) and Royal Naval Air Service (later Fleet Air Arm), and there were those who served with either the Marines or the Navy. One loss at sea was in October of 1914 when Gelligaer Urban District Council reported the death of Lieutenant Commander McGregor when HMS Hawke was sunk by a German U boat in October of 1914.

The local authority minutes at Glamorgan Archives show us that news from the front was highly sought after by councillors and employees. Although good reports were hoped for sadly it was often bad news that was received.

Andrew Booth, Relief Records Assistant

The Rest, Porthcawl during the First World War

In 1862, Dr James Lewis had opened The Rest for Invalids, Convalescents and Scrofulous Patients at Nottage, near Bridgend, Glamorganshire, which consisted of three cottages in his possession. The aim was that people who had been injured or had become ill would have somewhere to recover from their ailments, benefiting from the fresh air of the sea, diet and exercise. It was planned that The Rest would move to much larger premises. Dr Lewis had been in contact with Florence Nightingale about how such a building should take shape in 1871.

A design was selected for construction near Porthcawl in 1874, but shortly afterwards it became clear that the funds required would not be raised, due to the collapse of the iron industry and the falling price of coal. A scaled down version was authorised in 1876 and completed in 1878. The rising popularity of The Rest throughout the 1880s meant the facilities were no longer large enough, and in 1893 a new extension catering for female patients was opened. A new wing for the hospital opened in 1897, then a further extension for children was opened in 1900, and finally another extension was opened in 1909, so that The Rest finally looked like it should have done in the 1870s. In 1913 The Rest Committee purchased the Dunraven Hotel in Southerndown, and it would deal with women and children.

The idea of The Rest accommodating convalescing soldiers and sailors had originally been proposed during the Boer War, although the War Office turned the offer down. Only a few months after The Rest at Southerndown had opened, the First World War began. Again, The Rest Committee offered to take wounded and invalided soldiers in to both Rests, but the Secretary of State for War already had over 20,000 beds at the disposal of the military and the war was only expected to last until Christmas, so again turned down the offer. Instead, the first victims of war to be admitted to The Rest in Porthcawl were Belgian Refugees.

By the 5^th of November 1914, 29 male refugees had been admitted to The Rest in Porthcawl. At the end of November, the Red Cross was requesting the use of the Southerndown Rest. This was agreed to, on condition that the matron was always in control.

In January of 1915, with the war lasting longer than was originally expected, the local military authorities requested the billeting of over 180 recruits of the 1^st Welsh Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, and the Rest Committee agreed to it. After moving to the Southerndown Rest, the Belgian Refugees left at the beginning of March 1915, with the exception of two who stayed on as staff members.

At the end of 1915, the St John Ambulance Association applied for the use of The Rest in Porthcawl as an Auxiliary War Hospital. The Rest was placed at their disposal until the end of the war, although the Association was expected to pay at least part of the cost of maintaining the facilities. This meant that it was not used for civilian patients during this time, and the soldiers and sailors did not pay for a ticket as the civilians had done.

In 1916, more beds were provided and a field hospital in the grounds of The Rest in Porthcawl was considered, although it was not constructed. By the end of the war in November of 1918 nearly 2500 British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian casualties had received treatment at the two Rests, of which the Southerndown continued to receive civilian patients.

In 1919 both Rests returned to receiving civilian patients, as had been the case before the war. The Rest at Southerndown was sold after the Second World War, while The Rest at Porthcawl closed at the end of 2013.

Andrew Booth, Relief Records Assistant

Two Bridgend Solicitors : Randall and Stockwood

In 1952 our 75^th accession, a deed of land in Cowbridge, was deposited by the firm of H.J. Randall, Solicitors of Bridgend and in 1961 our 75^th accession came from Stockwood Solicitors, another firm practising in the town.

Thomas Stockwood is listed as a solicitor in the 1865 trade directory working from an office in the town hall, whilst the Randall family began practicing law in Bridgend when William Richard Randall opened for business in Nolton Street in the 1880s.

The papers of these firms (refs. DRA and DST) illustrate the variety of material that can come to us from solicitors’ offices.  Solicitors are involved in many of our most important life events, compiling and safeguarding our wills, handling divorces and overseeing house sales, so we expect to find legal documents such as copies of wills and deeds to properties and land included in their collections.

A selection of legal documents

However, solicitors often played significant roles in their local communities, acting in a legal capacity for many official bodies, as well as agents for landed estates and manors and other local organisations in which they had a personal interest. Randall of Bridgend, for example, acted as land agents for the Earl of Dunraven and stewards of many local manors. Thomas Stockwood was clerk to the magistrates  and agent to the Dowager Countess of Dunraven.  He was also Honorary Secretary to the Rest in Porthcawl, and the collection includes a letter written to him from Florence Nightingale in 1871, where she comments on plans for a new building.

Florence Nightingale’s letter

Florence Nightingale’s letter

Both collections reflect the varied interests of the solicitors as well as their diverse clientele and include papers relating to collieries, local families, public utilities, agriculture, railways, the Glamorganshire Rifle Volunteers and poetry.

The importance of finding out what records were held by solicitors was recognised in the early days of the Record Office. In 1947 letters were sent by County Archivist, Madeleine Elsas, to local firms all over Glamorgan. The responses to the letters offer a fascinating glimpse of post war life for many solicitors.  Some in Swansea reported that most of their historic records had been ‘destroyed by enemy action or saturated with water following such action’. The war had other consequences with one firm in Pontypridd reporting that ‘most of our old files and documents relating to the last century and the early part of this century were either used as salvage during the late war, or destroyed in office reorganisation at the end of the war’.

However, the speculative letters from the Record Office did encourage many firms to search ‘out old boxes and bundles’ as one solicitor described it and resulted in the deposit of many rich and varied collections.