Some Captured History of Glanamman and Garnant

The Prince Albert

It is likely that the Prince Albert Public House at Garnant was named after Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and the building is certainly old enough for this to be the case. We know that the Prince Albert Public House was established by the time of the 1841 census and Queen Victoria's marriage took place on the 10th of February 1840.

In 1841, the Prince Albert was occupied by 25 year old David Davies and his wife, Esther. the couple had three daughters at that time, aged from 3 months to three years. there was also a 20 year old female house servant living with the family.

By 1851, David had died and his widow Esther was the Inn Keeper and Victualler at the Prince Albert. It appears that Esther had also lost her two youngest children. Esthers family in 1851 consisted of three daughters and a son; Rachel aged 12, Anne aged 8, David aged 3 and Esther aged only 1. Despite being twelve years old, daughter Rachel was still at school although it was not compulsory to continue in education past the age of 10 at that time.

There was also a 21 year old female house servant, a 12 year old female nurse, a 40 year old stableman and a 38 year old married male lodger living at the Prince Albert in 1851. The lodger was a house carpenter from Llandeilo.

Later that year, Esther Davies married Thomas Rees and his occupation was recorded as Carpenter and Victualler on the 1861 census. At that time, daughter Anne and son David were still living at the Prince Albert. David was still at school at the age of 13. Esther also had two sons and a daughter with her new husband Thomas. Esther's 79 year old mother-in-law was also living with the family. There were no servants at the Prince Albert at the time of the 1861 census.

What happened to Esther's household is uncertain but by the time of the 1871 census, the Prince Albert was home to a different family. William Rees, former Inn Keeper of the Griffin at Gwynfe was the publican. He was 70 years old and with him at the Prince Albert was his wife Anne and 25 year old daughter Sarah.

The 1881 census showed that William Rees and his household had moved to the Lamb and Flag at Garnant, while the former Inn Keeper of the Lamb and Flag had taken over the Prince Albert. Daniel Jenkins was 35 years old in 1881 and his occupation was listed on the census as Inn Keeper and Butcher. His wife Jane was the widow of former Chelsea Pensioner Phillip Rees. Jane and her first husband had kept the Caegurwen Arms in 1861.

Jane's Daughter, Catherine Rees was a 21 year old shopkeper and lived at the Prince Albert. Jane also had a 16 year old son from her first marriage named Morgan Rees who was employed as a farm labourer. Jane also had five sons with her new husband Daniel Jenkins. they were aged between 1 and 14 years old in 1881; the oldest, Thomas Jenkins was employed as a butchers boy. There was also a 31 year old domestic servant living at the Prince Albert at that time.

John James was the head of the Prince Albert household at the time of the 1891 census. He was a 50 year old coal miner. He and his wife Gwenllian had five sons aged between 1 and 18 years old. The two eldest boys were employed as coal miners. John James' wife was previously married to a William Philpott who unfortunately died and the second eldest son, 14 year old John J Philpott (born at Swansea), was therefore a stepson to John Richard James.

John James Philpott was listed as a grocer at Garnant in the 1910 edition of Kelly's Directory.

Daniel Hopkin James, son of John and Gwenllian, having been born at the Prince Albert was known locally as "Dan Prince".

John and Gwenllian James also had a daughter who was only 2 months old in 1891. There was no mention of anyone at the household being an Inn Keeper at that time and it is not certain therefore whether the Prince Albert was trading as a public house.

There was a 51 year old boarder named Jos Pike living at the Prince Albert in 1891. He was a fish and fruit dealer from Kings Lynn. It is interesting to note that a 14 year old fish and fruit dealer from Swansea named Albert Pike was living next door to the Prince Albert at the same time. It is likely that these were father and son. The 1910 and 1923 editions of Kelly's Directory had an entry for Joseph Pike and Son's; Fruiterers at Garnant.

Richard Jenkins was listed in the 1895, 1910 and 1923 editions of Kelly's Directory as living at the Prince Albert Public House. Richard was 39 years old and was from Llansamlet. He was employed as a blacksmith. His wife, Mary Anne Jenkins was from Neath Abbey. They had six children living with them, aged between 11 months and 14 years old. There was also a 29 year old female boarder (a charwoman) and an 18 year old female domestic servant living at the Prince Albert in 1901. No member of the household was listed on the 1901 census as Inn Keeper or Publican.

Today, many local people are unaware that the Prince Albert ever existed as the terrace on Cwmamman Road, opposite what was once the Colliers Arms bears no testimony to its past history.

Map Ref:: 51°48'03.2"N 3°53'47.8"W

Thanks to David James for information on the James family.

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