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February 1838
“The sufferings of the poor of
Pontypool and it's neighbourhood have been greatly alleviated, during
this inclement season by the praiseworthy exertions of many
benevolent individuals who have interested themselves in their
behalf. The annual subscription of the inhabitants to the soup fund
have been much increased, and the liberal donation of Mrs Hanbury
Leigh, of Pontypool Park, has enabled the committee to distribute 950
quarts of nutritious food to the necessitous twice a week during the
winter months. Mr E H Phillips has taken an active part in this
charitable undertaking and in addition has liberally given a number
of loaves of bread to many deserving families who feel thankful for
the relief afforded them in time of need”
3 August 1839
The destruction of property owing to the
late heavy rains in the vicinity of Pontypool has been truly awful
and we we are very sorry to say that two unfortunate fellow creatures
have been hurried into eternity. About 10 o clock on Tuesday night,
the large pond at the British Works, Abersychan gave way, the water
rushing with terrific violence, destroying everything in its way. We
also hear the following effects from the storm:- Mr C H Leigh's park
completely inundated. A large slip of the Darren mountain fell on a
man from which he was fortunately extricated. Pontypool bridge almost
down and the large iron bridge at the New Forge, destroyed with a
large portion of the rail road. The mill house at Abersychan was
partly carried away. A horse and donkey were observed going down
with the stream, the donkey trying to reach the land but was soon
dashed to pieces. The British Company's Forge had a very desolate
appearance; not a man was at work, stones, coal, rubbish and timber
blocking up the place. Several hundred tons of coal and heaps of
mine were carried off. A small house was observed buried in sand to
the upper windows. The engine house near the pits was quite filled
with rubbish, the water having flowed through it, filling the pits,
drowning, we are sorry to say, two men and seven horses. Nearly all
the bridges and three houses at Varteg were washed away. At
Trosnant, the people were obliged to be taken out of their bedroom
windows, at twelve o clock at night: their screams being truly awful.
15 March 1856
“An inquest was held on Saturday last
at the Cwmffrwd Inn before Thomas Hughes Esq, coroner, and a
respectable jury on the body of William Jacob, who was, on the
previous day found suspended from a hook in a beam at the top of the
house, quite dead. The finding of the body having been proved by Mr
E Evans, who lived next door to the deceased. P C Roberts stated
that deceased had been deranged for a length of time and continued so
to the day of his death. There being no doubt of the lunacy and that
he had committed the act himself the jury found a verdict that 'the
deceased had destroyed himself in a fit of insanity"
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