Overview
Sunny Bank Farm sits between Pergoed Lane and Glascoed Lane. Sunny Bank Farm is in between Pergoed Lane and Glascoed Lane. Sunny Bank Cottage is on the farm lane leading to the Farmhouse.
Sunny Bank Farm is now known as Brynheulog (Welsh for “Sunny Bank” or “Sunny Hill”) and has been known as this since at least 1965. This document, which is a record of a use of common land dispute between Mr Robert Edward Price of Brynheulog and others including Mr Roy William Davies of the Lilacs contains some interesting anecdotal evidence of who lived where and some of the property and land use rights that existed.
Facts and Figures
Year of Construction
Not known – it was certainly there in 1871.
First Recorded Residents and year
Probable: John Jones, 1852. Daniel and Mary Jones were recorded there in 1871.
Residents at time of the 1851 census
Sunny Bank Farm was not clearly recorded on the schedule.
Location
Residents
John Jones
John Jones was the first resident that I found listed as living at a place named “Sunny Banks” on the 1852-53, 1853-54 and 1855-56 Registers of Electors.
John Jones (who according to the Register of Electors was living there from the 1852-53 through to the 1855-56 Registers of Electors), is little more than a name to me … there was a John Jones living at “Pare Tree Cottage” on the 1861 census, which was in the same general area as “Sunny Banks” – this COULD be “Sunny Bank” although I don’t think it was the Farm, since “Sunny Banks” was listed as uninhabited.
Daniel and Mary Jones and family
By the time of the 1871 census, the farm is clearly occupied by Daniel and Mary Jones. Daniel and Mary continued to live there until 1911 and probably beyond. I know that they had left by the time that the 1921 census was taken. I wonder whether Daniel and John Jones were related.
Daniel Jones was born on 30th October 1830 at Ynysgow, Panteg. He was living at Llanddewi Fach at the time of his marriage on 19th May 1859 to Mary Jones (a rare marriage where the wife did not need to change her maiden name!). Mary had been born at Llangibby cir 1831.
Daniel was a labourer at the time of his marriage and was the son of a Thomas and Elizabeth Jones (Thomas was also a labourer). Mary was also the son of a Thomas Jones – this one being a farmer (“Yeoman”) from Cwyrwen, Llangibby. Daniel and Mary only had one child, a son named Thomas to my knowledge. Sadly Thomas died in June 1881 and was buried on 16th June 1881 at Llanddewi Fach Churchyard.
Mary was an invalid at the time of the 1891 census. Mary died just a few months later. She was also buried at Llanddewi Fach, with their son, Thomas.
Daniel re-married on 4th August 1896 at Usk Parish. His new wife, Emma Louisa Webb was over 30 years Daniel’s junior. She came to Glascoed with her two brothers. William Webb was a 27 year old certificated Schoolmaster at Glascoed Board School on the 1891 census and Emma was his “Housekeeper and teacher of sewing”, aged 27. Their younger brother, Andrew Charles Webb completed the staff as a pupil teacher. Emma had been born at Pembroke Dock in 1863, the daughter of William and Emma Webb, who both came from Gloucestershire. William was a Coastguard.
Daniel was a farmer throughout 1871 to 1911 from census records (although in 1901 he was described as “Living on own means”).
My partner bought me a surprise and very thoughtful birthday gift last year. They were two postcards that had been sent to “Mrs Jones” at Sunny Banks, Glascoed. You’ll find them in the Records section, Personal letters sub-section (on the postcards page). They are interesting to see – and they also show that Emma was still living at Sunny Bank in July 1911.
Daniel died in August 1912 and was buried at St. Michaels Chapel, Glascoed on 24th August.
Frederick and Isabella Large
A new family appears on the 1921 census at Sunny Bank Farm: Frederick and Isabella Large. What a great name!
Frederick and Isabella had married on 7th December 1908 at the Parish Church in Usk.
Frederick was 49 years old and worked as a Shunter for the Great Western Railway company at Pontypool Road station. He had been born near Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on 23rd May 1872.
Isabella Agnes Large was 46 years old, born on 8th April 1875 at Llanvair, Monmouthshire. Isabella, like most ladies of her generation was occupied with “Household duties at home.” Isabella was the daughter of Isaac Edward Lewis and Anne, nee Gwatkin. Isaac had died in 1881. Anne Gwatkin was the daughter of William and Eliza Gwatkin, who had come to farm at Maesmawr around 1880. Anne was to re-marry into a Glascoed family – marrying a 47-year-old Bachelor, Philip Williams of Beech Farm at St. Woolos, Newport. Isabella, who already had six siblings through her parents’ marriage, was to have a new brother and sister through her mother’s marriage to Philip. Isabella came to live at Beech Farm at the age of 12 with her Mum and was still living there when she married Frederick over 20 years later.
Frederick and Isabella both appeared on the 1922 and 1929 Registers of Electors. Frederick and Agnes continued to live at Sunny Bank farm beyond 1939, since they appeared on the 1939 National Register together. By 1939, Frederick had retired.
Frederick and Isabella died within three years of each other. Their Gravestones at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel read:
“In Loving Memory of ISABELLA AGNES LARGE, of Sunnybank, who died August 7th 1952 aged 77 years, also of FREDERICK LARGE who died, February 18th 1955 aged 82 years. Re-united.”
Later residents
The Tidleys
According to the 1959 Electoral Registers, Vivian and Marjorie Tidley were the residents at “Sunnybank.” The Tidleys came to Sunnybank in 1955 and were there until the mid-1960s.
Vivian Claude Tidley was born on 29th June 1925 and was living at Cold Harbour Farm, Gwehelog with Gladys Tidley (presumably his mother) and several other (presumed) siblings at the time of the 1939 National Register.
The Tidleys moved to Llangibby around 1965.
The Prices
We know from the 1988 use of common land dispute, mentioned at the start of this article, that Mr Robert Edward Price had purchased Sunny Bank Farm from Reginald Gordon Burge of “The Paddocks” in October 1966.
The Price family re-named the farm “Brynheulog” at this point (the Welsh name for “Sunny Bank”).
Records
Registers of Electors
1855 and 1856 – A James Jones was living at “Sunny Banks.” This was almost certainly Sunny Bank Farm.
1874 through to 1909 – Daniel Jones.
1922 and 1929 – Frederick and Isabella Large.
1959 – Vivian and Marjorie Tidley.
1968 – Robert and Barbara Price (now named “Brynheulog”).
Censuses
Under different names. Almost certainly the same property.
1871 – “Sunny Banks” – Daniel and Mary Jones with their son Thomas, aged 10.
1881 – “Sunny Bank” – Daniel and Mary Jones with their son Thomas, aged 10.
1891 – “Sunnybank” – Daniel and Mary Jones.
1901 – “Sunny Bank” – Daniel and “Amy L.” Jones. (Emma Louisa Jones, nee Webb).
1911 – “Sunny Bank” – Daniel and Emma Louisa Jones.
1921 – “Sunny Bank” – Frederick and Isabella Large.
1939 – “Sunny Bank” – Frederick and Isabella Large.