Some Captured History of Glanamman and Garnant

The Raven Inn

Raven Inn, Garnant; September 2005

A tourism leaflet produced by the Carmarthenshire County Council states that the Raven Inn is over 200 years old. It also tells us that a landlady named Margaret Rees was the licence holder for over 50 years. She died in 1931 aged 89 years. She was born at the Farmers Arms, Brynamman.

The Raven was the symbol of Lord Dynefwr and it is believed that the Raven Inn may have been so named because it was built on Lord Dynefwr's land.

In 1841 the landlord of the Raven Inn was 40 year old William Jones who was also an auctioneer. There were two male and two female servants living at the Raven at the time. Various advertisements from the Cambrian tell us that the Raven Inn was used as a venue for selling property and other items such as coal and ironstone veins.

William and his wife Hannah had at least six children including two sets of twins. The first set of twins were born in 1836, with the second set of twins being born approximately ten years later in 1846.

On the 27th of October 1848, The Cambrian newspaper held a notice of death for William Jones' wife, Hannah. She had died at Swansea, aged only 48.

In 1851, William Jones was still the landlord and auctioneer at the Raven where he lived with his children. There was also one house servant living with the family at that time.

On the 3rd of October 1851, The Cambrian advertised a Stock/Crop sale on behalf of Graigyfelin Farm near Swansea. Applications were to be made at the Raven Inn, Cwmamman.

By January of 1856, William had remarried and his second wife Elizabeth had given birth to a son, born at Duffryn House, Llandybie.

On the 14th of March 1856, The Cambrian announced that a meeting of the Shareholders of Cwmamman Market House, was to be held at the Raven Inn. The foundation stone of the Market house was laid on 12th June 1841.

The 4th September 1857, edition of the Cambrian newspaper, had an article announcing the death of a Mr Edward Hytton; proprietor of a wax work exhibition. He had died at the Raven Inn on 21st August.

The 1861 census does not list William Jones as living at the Raven Inn. Instead, his second wife Elizabeth is listed as "Innkeepers Wife". Her three year old son, William is living with her as is Mary Ann Jones, one of William Senior's twin daughters who by that time was 16 years old. The Raven household had one servant; 26 year old John Rees, whose occupation was also given as Horse Jockey. Later that year William Jones Senior died at Duffryn, Llandybie. He was aged 61.

By 1871 the Raven was run by one of William's sons; Herbert Jones, who like his father was also an auctioneer. Also living at the Inn was his wife Fanny and their three children. There were also two servants living at the Raven at that time.

An advertisement on the 22nd of August 1873 edition of The Cambrian, announced an auction at the Raven Inn, Cwmamman. This was regarding the sale of a Woolen Factory in the Parish of Llanguicke.

In 1881, the Raven's Innkeeper was Annie Jones, who was a 36 year old widow. Census information tells us that she was also a "Farmer of 20 acres". She had her 2 year old son living with her and three stepsons, aged between 8 and 14. There were also two female domestic servants and a male farm and general servant living at the Raven Inn at that time. It is not clear whether Annie Jones was related to Herbert Jones, the previous occupant.

The Raven establishment saw an especially sad event on the 17th of January 1884 when an inquest was opened at the premises, to investigate the Garnant Colliery disaster after ten men and boys had died when the rope holding the cage broke.

The Raven was run by Joseph Rees and his wife Margaret by 1891. Joseph was from Swansea and as stated at the top of this page, Margaret had been born at the Farmers Arms Brynamman. The couple's 15 year old daughter, also named Margaret was living with them.

Joseph died at the "Raven Hotel" in 1899 aged 62 and Margaret took over as Hotel Proprietor. In 1901, six of her sons and daughters lived at the Raven with her as well as a Domestic Cook named named Catherine Samuel.

Today, the Raven Inn remains a landmark in Garnant, though it is likely that few of its customers are aware of the age and history of the building.

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