Victorian Cwmbran - Some extracts from my book

These are some extracts from Victorian Cwmbran and relate to Forge Hammer and the Cwmbran Works which was on the site of the retail park and stretching up through Springvale.

17 May 1856

“On Tuesday week, a lad named David Davies, while engaged near the rolls at Cwmbran Works, was accidentally drawn into a portion of the machinery called 'the box' and received such serious injuries that he died the following morning. An inquest was held on the body Thursday last and a verdict of accidental death returned”

7 May 1859

“An inquest was held on Saturday at the Bridge End Inn before Mr W H Brewer deputy coroner, on the body of Isaac James, age 17 years who came by his death under the following painful circumstances. The deceased was a haulier on the incline tramway between the iron works and the colliery. On Wednesday, the 27^th while bringing down some coal trams, the gradient being heavy and the brakes insufficient, the tram obtained too much momentum which placed the horses in danger. Deceased, in order it is thought, to rescue them, attempted to uncouple their chain from the tram, when he fell across the road the trucks passing on, his legs, body and head were frightfully broken, bruised and lacerated. Surgical skill was of no avail and the unfortunate youth died on Friday. Verdict 'Accidental death'”

8 March 1879

“John Lyons, landlord of the Moon Public House was charged with keeping his house open during prohibited hours on 15^th. A police officer said that he was passing near the house at 11.5 pm and heard some conversation. On going into the premises he saw a man named Crine there. He asked him what he had got under his coat, which he declined to show. He afterwards threw something into the canal which witness believed to be a jar. He asked the landlord what Crine wanted at his house and he replied that he had some beer. Mr David who appeared for the defendant said, Crine was on the premises at work at the time. Crine was then charged with being in the house during illegal hours which he admitted but said he staying to supper after work. The Bench dismissed the case.

15 December 1883

“An inquest on the body of Mr Joseph Williams, a fireman aged 59 years, who was killed on 3^rd December by an explosion of gas at the Cwmbran Colliery, belonging to the Patent Nut and Bolt Company, was held on Monday at the Pontnewydd Inn before Mr Martin Edwards. A verdict of 'Accidental Death by an explosion of gas underground' was given Mr Bain, Government Inspector attended to watch the inquiry”

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorian-Cwmbran-Carol-Ann-Lewis/dp/1490970177/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401220382&sr=8-1&keywords=victorian+cwmbran

Paranormal Evening at the Horse & Jockey

     I was invited to go along to a paranormal evening at the Horse and Jockey pub in Pontymoile on 12 May 2014.  I've always wanted to go on a ghost hunt but wasn't sure if I should or whether I'd like it, but this one was different.
     I've already written about the ghostly goings on at the pub in my book Gwent History and Mystery, its the place where my great great grandfather was killed in 1902.  So I decided to go out of curiosity, see if any of the mediums would pick anything up!
     There were about twenty of us at the pub. We sat in the oldest part, what used to be the coaching inn, dating from around the 15th century. We had a meal first, it being only seven o clock and still light outside.  It was planned then to go into the churchyard next door and have a look around once dark enough.  As the night progressed I mentioned to the host that my ancestor had been killed in the area in which we were eating and she suggested I should tell the story to the group before we went out.  I didn't say how he had been killed but at the end of the story one lady said that she had felt the sensation of being hit in the back of the head as she walked through the entrance.  She had described exactly how he was killed, from behind.
     The current landlord also related a spooky experience he had had one night.  He was sat downstairs in the bar with another person and they heard footsteps running upstairs when there was no one up there!
     Once it was dark, about 10 pm, we went out into the churchyard and had a look around, quite a few said they could sense figures but I couldn't see anything.  At the top of the church tower I thought I saw a figure looking down on us, so did a few of the others but on shining a torch up there the windows were boarded up!.
     Back in the pub, the lights were off and we held a group seance.  Plenty of cold spots and a woman close to me describing the feeling of having a very upset stomach.  This made me think of the landlord Isaac Walford who had died in 1862.  One night he had been drinking heavily and had suffered from diarrhoea, weakness and trembling.  He had to be assisted to bed and died a few hours later. The ghost of a vicar with a round hat was mentioned next, the building having been a vicarage in the 17th century. The ghosts of two women also came through.  One was described as being very short and the other as quite large.  I know of three landladies, Martha, Elizabeth Walford, wife of Isaac and Elizabeth Jeremiah who was landlady by 1875. There could of course have been more.
     Around 11ish, seances and and divination was in full swing.  The ghost of a little boy came through to some, dressed in scruffy clothes and dirty, why he was there couldn't be ascertained but maybe the fact the pub was used for the inquest on the body of a baby boy found dumped in the woods in the 1850's might be the answer!
     At 12.30 the evening came to a close.  All in all, a really interesting, sometimes freaky but never scary night!  The Horse and Jockey is a lovely pub, especially the 15th century part which is very cosy with its big fireplace.  I would definitely go on another paranormal evening there, though not alone!




The 15th century part of the pub

The 15th century part with original staircase to the right of the fireplace

The church tower

Scene of the crime !!!

Looking into the newer part of the pub

Read more of Gwent's ghost stories in my book ...



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gwent-History-Mystery-Carol-Lewis/dp/1492171395/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420997432&sr=1-1&keywords=gwent+history+and+mystery