Some Captured History of Glanamman and GarnantThe Angel Inn
The Angel Inn is situated on Mountain Road above Glanamman and dates back to at least 1861 when it was run by 56 year old Catherine Anthony. Catherine was the widow of a Master Tailor named William Anthony, who in 1851 was the employer of 12 men. William Anthony was known locally as "Teiliwr Llunden" (London Tailor) due to the fact that he spent many years there following his trade. He is reputed to have travelled to and from London on foot. The Angel Inn is not listed on the 1841 or 1851 censuses, and William and Catherine were living at an abode listed as "Pentwyn" during that period. In 1923, the Amman Valley Chronicle contained an article celebrating the golden wedding anniversary of one of William and Catherine's sons; John Anthony, who was born at the Angel Inn on the 4th of May 1850. It is therefore fair to assume that the Angel Inn was a dwelling known as Pentwyn before it became a hostelry. John Anthony was approximately six years old when his father died. At the age of eight, he was working as a colliery door boy earning 8d a day at a colliery known as "Hen Level Fawr" which was situated behind the Salutation Inn (now Amman Utd RFC). He continued working as a collier for a total of 65 years and at one time worked at Pwll-y-Gwter, Brynamman, alongside the renown poets; Watcyn Wyn and Gwydderig. John Anthony and his wife also ran various local hostelries; they kept the Half Moon Hotel at Garnant for 18 years and the Telegraph at Ammanford for 5 years. John Anthony's elder brother; Lewis Anthony, was a noted Welsh-American tenor and was precentor at Ebenezer Church, Swansea before he emigrated to the USA. Lewis Anthony eventually became precentor at Cynonfardd's Church, Pennsylvania and when he died, the church erected a memorial stone at his grave in Wilkes-Barre. After Catherine's death in 1887, the Angel Inn was taken over by her daughter, Elizabeth Anthony who also continued with her previous occupation as dressmaker. In 1891, Elizabeth's 17 year old niece; Catherine Ann Evans was sharing the abode with her. Although Elizabeth Anthony was still living at the Angel Inn at the time of the 1901 census, it is not clear whether it was open as a public house as Elizabeth's occupation is recorded only as dressmaker, rather than "Innkeeper & Dressmaker" as it was in the previous census. It may be that the establishment was indeed open as there was a 13 year old domestic servant named Sarah A Jones also living at the Angel Inn at that time. The Angel Inn continues to be one of Cwmamman's landmarks and still maintains regular custom from local people who enjoy it's traditional character. Sources: |
