Some Captured History of Glanamman and Garnant

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The above image shows Llety Twm Shôn, a cottage in the proximity of what was once the Glan Quay Inn at Llandyfan and shows the Rogerson family circa 1895.

Censuses up to 1871 list this cottage as Llety Twm Shôn. Sometime later, as shown on the 1891 census, the abode became known as the Forge. This should not be confused with the original Llandyfan Forge whch was once sited on the opposite side of the river.

The true age of the cottage is not known, nor is anything known of Twm Shôn, the cottage's namesake. The 1851 census reveals that Llety Twm Shôn was the home of 27 year old Journeyman Shoemaker, John Davies and his family. John's widowed mother lived nearby in a dwelling known as Llety Tomos, where she was also a shoemaker who employed 4 men (one of whom was probably John). John's Father, Esiah had also been a shoemaker.

By 1871, John and his wife Sarah had four children, three girls and a boy. Alas by 1891, John had died and Sarah was head of the household and working as a "Huckster", that is, a seller of small items. Her eldest daughter was a dressmaker, as were many young ladies at that time. Sarah's son, named Esiah after his father had was carrying on the family tradition of shoemaking. At nearby Llety Tomos, the other Davies household were also continuing as shoemakers, with five workers on their account. It is likely that Esiah Davies of Llety Twm Shôn was employed by the Llety Tomos Davieses.

There were ten inhabitants of Llety Twm Shôn in 1891 and by then Sarah Davies was 64 years old. Her 62 year old brother Herbert Harris was also living with the family. It is likely that he is the gentleman in the above image. The rest of the household was made up of daughter Mary and her husband Thomas Irving-Rogerson and their children. Thomas Irving-Rogerson was employed as a labourer, possibly at one of the local quarries. Although emanating from Cardiff, he was in fact of Scotish descent. The census also now listed the cottage as "The Forge". Although there was no Blacksmith listed as living at the abode in 1891, it is difficult to imagine how the cottage could have become known as such if metal working had not taken place there.

Although it is uncertain where Llety Tomos was located, the 1891 census does show that the Davies household who had lived there were by then living at "The Bumpers", a former hostelry which was only a small distance away. There the Davies family carried out the arts of the farming, shoemaking and that of the Blacksmith.

Although Llety Twm Shôn has lost its former name, the Forge as it is now known is still owned by the descendants of the Davies/Rogerson family. The cottage is now a two storey dwelling and no longer has the thatched roof as shown in the image above. The Fox shaped weather vane which for many years charmed the passer by from its location on the barn roof has also now gone.

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