Transcribed from the 1854 E. Pearse edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
PEARSE’S
COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY
TO
SWANSEA
AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD,
FOR
1854:
COMPRISING
AN ALPHABETICAL AND CLASSIFIED LIST
OF PROFESSIONAL, COMMERCIAL, AND PRIVATE RESIDENTS;
WITH
A COMPLETE
LIST OF PUBLIC OFFICERS, POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS,
&c., &c.
SWANSEA:
PUBLISHED BY E. PEARSE, PRINTER, BOOKSELLER, AND STATIONER.
1854.
SWANSEA.
Swansea is most delightfully situated in the centre of the Bay to which it gives its name, near the junction of the river Tawe with the sea. The town is protected from the chilling influence of the north-west and north-easterly winds by two hills lying on either side, but freely receives those of the south, where it is open to the sea; and the soil being light and gravelly to a considerable depth, the air is both salubrious and agreeable.
Swansea justly claims to be the first and most important town in the Principality. It is the centre of commercial transactions of very great magnitude, and its status is proved by its having been selected for the Meeting of the British Association for the advancement of Science, in 1848. Few commercial towns have so admirable a sea-side available to the inhabitants, as that which extends from Swansea to the Mumbles, round the western margin of the bay.
The town is in general well planned and built, particularly in the newer portions, and the shops in the principal streets are in the most modern style. There are three churches and numerous chapels belonging to the various denominations of dissenters. The Castle is an object of principal interest to the antiquary; it is a fine old ruin, built in 1330, and is remarkable for the range of light arches surrounding the top of the massive quadrangular tower, and supporting the parapet which forms a connection with the turret at each angle. The Guildhall is a beautiful Grecian structure of Bath stone, and was greatly enlarged in 1848. The Royal Institution of South Wales, erected for literary and scientific purposes, is a most elegant structure, the museum and library of which are well worth a visit by strangers, who may obtain ready access by a note from any member. The Market Buildings are large and commodious, and well supplied with every kind of provisions, especially butter, poultry, fish and meat, besides other articles of almost every description. In the centre is a tower with a two-dial illuminated clock. Principal Market days—Wednesday and Saturday. The Grammar School founded by Bishop Gore in 1682, has been recently restored, and a new building in the Tudor Gothic style erected on a site at Mount Pleasant, commanding a most beautiful prospect of the Bay and surrounding Country.
There are also other Public Buildings of less importance, of which the following may be especially named,—Custom House, Theatre, Assembly Rooms, Police Court, House of Correction, Union Poor House Infirmary, National and British Schools, Railway Station, Docks, Piers, the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and Beau Nash’s Birth-place.
Next to the raising of coal, the most important trade carried on here is that of copper smelting. The circumstances that originally determined the settlement of cooper smelting in and around Swansea, are that it is possessed of an excellent and well-sheltered harbour, has an almost unlimited supply of the proper description of coal in the immediate neighbourhood, and is the nearest Welsh port of any rank to the Coast of Cornwall, from whence is obtained the principal part of the supply of copper ores. Some idea of the extent of the trade may be formed from the following particulars. The quantity of ore annually sent from Cornwall is about 150,000 tons, of the value of nearly £1,000,000. Irish, about 15,000 tons. Foreign—from Cuba, Chili, Australia, &c., about 50,000 tons: these contain about double the per centage of copper as compared with that of Cornwall, and are therefore proportionately valuable. This will give upwards of a million-and-a-half of money as the amount annually paid for ores alone. In addition to the copper works, there are extensive works for silver, iron, tin-plate, zinc, alkali, and patent fuel. Potteries, breweries, and ship building yards; and these together with bituminous, freeburning and stone coal are the articles which go to form the great export trade of Swansea. The imports are principally metallic ores, timber, flour, &c., &c.
Under these favorable circumstances, the shipping, the general trade, and the limits of the town have for many years past been greatly extended. In the coasting trade, the shipping has nearly trebled itself within about thirty years, whilst in the foreign trade the increase has been in a much greater ratio. The rate of increase in the population has been found to correspond with the general improvements of the town; in 1821 it was rather above 10,000, whilst it now amounts to nearly 35,000.
A great impetus was given to this part of the Principality by the opening of the South Wales Railway in 1851, and Swansea appears to have received its full share of the advantage which railway communication confers under the most favorable circumstances. The improvement of that part of the town near the railway station is very manifest; several new shops of a superior class having been built, and others improved and altered in order to keep pace with the growing importance of the neighbourhood. At the same time, in various parts of the town, most important improvements have been going forward. The Harbour has been much improved, by floating that part of the river known as the Town Reach: this was very much needed for the larger class of vessels trading from this to foreign ports, and which heretofore were liable to injury from being strained while lying on the mud in a dry harbour; it also gives the advantage of bridges to pass over the river in two places, instead of the tiresome old ferry boat, which happily now is only remembered as belonging to by-gone days. The Swansea docks on the western side of the pier, after a long, and at one time apparently hopeless struggle, are also now actively progressing towards completion. The effect of large works of this kind on the prosperity of the town was soon manifested, for no sooner was the vexed subject of the docks fairly settled, and the contractor had commenced operations, than in an incredibly short space of time, fields in the neighbourhood that were almost valueless, were soon covered with houses and streets; so that a person who has not seen that part of the town for the last two years, would now scarcely know where he was, if set down in the road he was formerly quite familiar with. In other parts of the town the tendency to extension is equally seen; and wherever there is room to extend, the buildings are rapidly covering the ground. Many persons living remember when the town extended westerly no further than Goat Street, Cross Street, Rutland Street, &c.; but the generation now rising up, bids fair to see even a much greater increase than their fathers; and it is quite impossible to form an opinion how far the town will ultimately extend.
Three or four projects are now in contemplation, for giving to the public increased railway accommodation, and improving the harbour; and judging from the natural capabilities of the district, and the experience of the past, the carrying out of some of these new schemes of railway accommodation, and the completion of the docks, must exercise an influence on the town and district, of which we can at present form very little idea.
No person who has an hour to spare should leave Swansea without driving round its beautiful bay to Oystermouth; a village, celebrated for its native oysters, its lighthouse, rocks, church, and ancient castle, and embracing from its noble headland, views of sea and rock, hill and dale, shipping and farming, which makes a coup d’œil no-where to be surpassed.
TO THE READER.
The condition of the town of Swansea, as indicated in the above remarks, offers a sufficient reason for the publication of a work such as the present. Where a town is so rapidly increasing, there is not merely an addition being constantly made to the previous number of inhabitants, but there are changes of other kinds constantly going forward, arising out of its progressive tendency, in addition to the ordinary changes which affect every place. This is particularly seen in the number of persons who settle in Swansea only for a short time and then leave again; and in other cases where they are led to engage in new occupations. This Directory is to give information of such changes; and is intended to be published periodically, as circumstances may seem to require. The publisher has found it a much more arduous undertaking to secure its correctness than he at first apprehended; and fears that yet some mistakes and omissions may be discovered. It is hoped, however, that in future issues of the work, any errors of that kind may be avoided; and any suggestion that may tend to make it more correct, and of greater public utility as a work of reference will be thankfully received.
E. P.
Wind Street, Swansea, May, 1854.
PEARSE’S SWANSEA DIRECTORY; 1854.
ABEL, Daniel, blacksmith, 4, Welcome street
Abergarwed Colliery Company, Port tennant, shipping agent, James Allen
Ace, George, agent to the Ystalyfera Iron Company, 6, Adelaide street
Ace, Samuel and George, coopers, 48, Strand
Akerman, George, 8, Nelson terrace
Adams, Edward, boot and shoe maker, 18, Castle street
Adams, James, pastry-cook and confectioner, 38, Castle street
Adams, James, fuel maker, Ferryside
Adams, Richard, corn and provision dealer, 74, Oxford street
Alban, Diana, Lord Nelsen, 170, High street
Albion Life Assurance Society, agent, J. G. Jeffreys, Esq., High street
Alfred Life Assurance Society, agents, Attwood and Brown, Prospect place
Allen, John, cashier, Hafod Works, Mount pleasant
Allen, Mary, lodging house keeper, 4, Somerset place
Alliance Fire and Life Assurance Society, agent, Michael John Michael, Picton place
Andrew, Philip, ale and porter brewer, 11, Nelson terrace
Andrews, Henry J., lodging house keeper, 7, Somerset place
Andrews, Joseph, maltster, 13, Fisher street
Andrews, John, potatoe merchant, &c., 3, Strand
Anning, Charles, baker and flour dealer, 22, Oxford street
Anstey, Charles, boot and shoe maker, 17, Wind street
Anthony, David, boot and shoe maker, 90, High street
Anthony, Peter, beer retailer, Joiner’s Arms, 69, Oxford street
Anthony, Thomas, commercial traveller, 7, Brunswick place
Arnold, Henry Townsend, plumber, brazier, &c., 7, Temple street
Arnold, Jane, milliner and dressmaker, Oxford street
Ashman, James, last and boot-tree maker, Fynone road
Atkins, Joseph, painter and glazier, 125, High street
Atlas Fire and Life Assurance Society, agent, James Strick, Strand
Attwood and Brown, solicitors, Prospect place
Attwood, William M., chemist and druggist, 12, Castle street
Attwood, Thomas, (firm of Attwood and Brown) 5, Mount street
Aubrey, Richard, (firm of James and Aubrey) 1, Gloucester place
Austin, John, pilot, 1, Jeffrey’s place
Ayres, Daniel Thomas, cabinet maker and undertaker, 1, Gower street
BAKER, Henry, bookseller and news-vendor, 1, Caer street
Baker, James, grocer and tea dealer, 49, High street
Ball, Eli, agent, 31, Pleasant street
Ball, Sarah, grocer and tea dealer, 50, High street
Ballinger, George, baker and flour dealer, 52, High street
Ballinger, William, brewer, 38, High street
Barber, Thomas, marine store dealer, 44, Greenhill street
Barker, George and Co., grocers and tea dealers, 2, Oxford street
Barnes, Henry, Black Horse livery stables, Rutland street
Barree, Elizabeth, teacher of dancing, 6, Prospect place
Bassett, Mrs. E., 1, Cambrian place
Bath, C., lodging house keeper, 8, Adelaide street
Bath, Henry, (firm of Bath and Son) 1, Longland place
Bath, Henry and Son, copper and silver ore merchants, Tyrllandwr
Baxter, Israel, hawker, 23, Singleton street
Baylis, James Henry, architect and surveyor, Wind street
Beavan, Edward, spirit merchant, 41, Castle street
Bedford, Emma, teacher of dancing, Wind street
Beor, Mrs. Ann, 17, St. Mary street
Beer and Shaw, nurserymen and seedsmen, St. Helen’s road
Beer, John, fruiterer, 16, Castle street
Beer, Mrs. Mary, 7, Wassail street
Bennet, Mrs., lodging house keeper, 16, Camden place
Bennett, Frederick, wine and spirit merchant, 37, Orchard street
Bennett, John, cabinet maker, 19, High street
Bennett, Miss, ladies’ seminary, 11, Dynevor place
Bennett, William, custom house officer, Williams place
Benson, Starling, colliery proprietor, Russell house, Mount pleasant
Benson, Thomas, fishmonger, &c., 5, High street
Beor, Richard White, solicitor, 2, Longland place, office, St. Mary street
Berry, Benjamin, grocer and tea dealer, 2, Union street
Betts, John, Mason’s Arms, 34, High street
Bevan, George Ace, ship broker, 5, Pier street, office, Broad Quay
Bevan, Mrs. Grace, 14, Gower street
Bevan, John, ironmonger and seedsman, 16, Caer street
Bevan, John, Smiths’ Arms, 124, High street
Bevan, Mrs. W., lodging house keeper, 30, Bellevue street
Bevan, Mansel, master mariner, 3, Dillwyn street
Bevan, Miss Matilda, 11, Clarence terrace
Bevan, Philip, mason, grocer and tea dealer, James street
Beynon, John, merchant, 9, Brunswick place
Beynon, Owen, mariner, 9, Dillwyn street
Biddle, William, baker, pastry cook and confectioner, 43, Wind street
Biddulph, John, merchant, office, Bath lane
Biggs, Elizabeth, pawnbroker, 226, High street
Biggs, Frederick, chemist and druggist, 225, High street
Bindon, Frederick, flour and potatoe merchant, 9, Madoc street
Bindon, Henry, grocer, 7, Union street
Birchall, Henry Bath, grocer and tea dealer, 15, Castle square
Birch Grove Coal Company, Ferryside
Bird, George Gwyn, M.D., 2, Burrows place
Birmingham Fire Assurance Society, agent, George Allen, Glamorgan Bank
Birt, Thomas, baker, 9, St. David’s place
Blackmore, Herbert, pilot and lodging house keeper, 1, Island street
Blake, J. W., cattle dealer and lodging house keeper, 8 Heathfield street
Bland, John, South Wales Railway Parcel office, Wind street
Blewett, George, second-hand bookseller and bookbinder, 25, Goat street
Blisset, Mrs., Clarence terrace
Bolton, Robert, Three Mariners, 19, Strand
Bonnett, Frederick, plumber, glazier and painter, 7, Quay parade
Bonnett, John, tobacconist, engraver and copper plate printer, 41, Wind street
Booth, Henry Compton, merchant, 3, Calvert terrace
Borland, John, travelling draper, 32, Oxford street
Boundy, Aaron, agent, 11, Northampton place
Boundy, Thomas, merchant, 10, Northampton place
Bowden, Henry, ore sampler, 5, Cradock street
Bowden, John, tobacconist and provision dealer, 7 and 8, Wind street
Bowen, Daniel, Mansel’s Arms, Wellington street
Bowen, David, grocer, 6, Garden street
Bowen, Evan, mason, 12, Goat street
Bowen, George, hot and cold baths, 2, Adelaide street
Bowen, George, clerk, York street
Bowen, John, Globe Inn, Ferryside
Bowen, J. W., wine and spirit merchant, 3, Castle street
Bowen, Thomas, Lamb and Flag, Prince street
Bowen, Miss W., 4, Bellevue street
Bowen, William, Glo’ster Arms, 134, Strand
Bowen, William, grocer, 92, High street
Brader, John, music repository, 14, Wind street
Bramble, Susan, Talbot Arms, 8, St. Mary street
Brend Thomas, chemist and druggist, 40, High street
Brenton, John Rees, collector for board of health, 27, Oxford street
Brett, Richard, railway guard, 3, Cradock street
Brettell, Miss Hannah, ladies’ seminary, Heathfield terrace
Brettell, Miss Louisa, ladies’ seminary, 12, Dynevor place
Brewer, John, master mariner, 3, Camden place
Bright, James, Quay Tavern, 7, Quay
British Empire Mutual Life Assurance Society, agent, G. P. Evans, Northampton place
Brooks, Daniel, police sergeant, 39, Gam street
Brooks, Mrs. Elizabeth, gun maker and toy dealer, 2, Castle street
Brooks, Robert, master mariner, 31, Gam street
Brooks, James, baker and grocer, Gam street
Brown, Amy, baker, grocer and tea dealer, 37, High street
Brown, Edward, grocer and tea dealer, Wind street
Brown, Edward, manager of White Rock Copper Works, Kilvey house
Brown, Thomas, pilot, Jeffreys place
Brown, Thomas, agent to Nicholson and Sons, 4, Island street
Brown, Thomas, Travellers’ Rest, Sea beach
Brown, Soloman, jeweller, 16, Nelson street
Brown, Washington H., (firm of Attwood and Brown) 3, Prospect place
Buller, John, grocer and tea dealer, Clarence street
Burchell, James, coach builder, 19, Dillwyn street and York street
Burgess, James Edward, bread and biscuit baker, 37 and 38, Strand and St. Mary street
Burgess, William, baker, grocer and tea dealer, High street
Burk, Michael, eating house keeper, 74, High street
Burleigh, George, boot and shoe maker, 11, Calvert street
Burge, Edwin, officer of excise, 47, Oxford street
Buse, John, saddler and harness maker, 3, Oxford street
Buse, Nicholas, currier and leather seller, 95, Oxford street
Bustin, Richard, wine and spirit dealer, 96, Oxford street
Butler, William, artist, 40, Oxford street
Butt, Arthur, boot and shoe maker, 10, Goat street
Butt, Arthur, jun., boot and shoe maker, 12, Castle square
Buxton, Edward, principal of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, 4, Picton place
CADWALLADER, E. and Sons, tailors and drapers, 87, Wind street
Cadwallader, George, (firm of E. Cadwallader and Sons) Wind street
Cadwallader, John, tailor, &c., 18, Union street
Candy, Mary E., berlin repository, 12, Wind street
Capus, Peter, hardware dealer, 29 and 30, High street
Carrol, Patrick, Angel Inn, 2, Llangefelach street
Cawker, John, grocer, glass, china and earthenware dealer, 94, Oxford street
Cawker, Richard, grocer and tea dealer, 5, Cross street
Chalk, Henry, Blue Bell Inn, 55, Strand
Challicombe, Henry, sail maker, 9, Heathfield street
Chamings, Richard, flour dealer, 2, Western terrace
Chapman, Mrs. Matilda, 4, Dynevor place
Chapman, Mrs., milliner and dress maker, 17, Dillwyn street
Charles, Charles, watchmaker, 44, Castle street
Charles, George, master mariner, 5, Jeffrey place
Cheshire, George, custom house officer, 6, Herbert place
Cheshire, John, sailmaker, Ferryside
Chiles, John, grocer and tea dealer, 141, High street
Christelow, Robert, Victory Tavern, 7, Little Wind street
Christoe, John, assaymaster, Grove place
City of London Life Assurance Society, agent, John Harris Roberts, Wind street
Clarke, Frederick, superintendent of South Wales Railway, Mount house, Mount pleasant
Clark, John W., 12, Picton place
Clark, William, wine and spirit merchant, 86, Wind street
Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Society, agents, Attwood and Brown, solicitors, Prospect place
Clougher, Thomas, bookseller and stationer, 4, Wind street
Clowes, William, Spotted Leopard, 28, Mariner street
Clowes, William, Black Horse, 79, High street
Clutton, Valentine and Son, outfitters and clothiers, 87 and 88, Strand
Cobre Copper Mining Association, Tyrllandwr, agent, James Petrie, 1, Brunswick place
Cock, Josiah, grocer and tea dealer, 18, Wind street
Cohen, Mrs. C., 17, Orange street
Collier, Mrs., lodging house keeper, 25, Oxford street
Collins, Charles, coroner, solicitor, &c., Fisher street
Colston, John Robert, boarding and day school, York street
Conybeare, George, slate and flag merchant, 22, Madoc street
Coode, John, master mariner, 35, Park street
Cook, Mrs. Elizabeth, lodging house keeper, 12, Camden place
Cook, Mrs. Margaret, Fisher street
Coombe, Mrs. Mary, school, 22, Union street
Copeland, Alexander, lock master, 4, Somerset place
Copeland, Robert, mariner, 39, Garden street
Copas, Christopher, Hop Pole Inn, Edward street
Corbett, John, ship broker, 41, Strand
Cordukes, Thomas William, Adelaide Inn, 12, Adelaide street
Corin, Joseph, trunk maker, toy dealer, &c., 15, Castle street
Couch, David Edward, lodging house, 9, Adelaide street
Couch, George Thomas, sailmaker, 21, Union street and Padley’s yard
Couch, Mrs. Hannah, Camden cottage
Couch, Phillip, joiner, Edward street
County Fire Insurance Office, agent, John Hore, Rutland street
Courtis, William, grocer and tea dealer, Oxford street
Cousins, Richard William, watch and clock maker, 20, Wind street
Cox, William, governor of the House of Correction
Crabbe, Edmund, tin plate worker, 5, Goat street
Crabbe, James, tin plate worker, 222, High street
Crabbe, William, schoolmaster, Dynevor place
Cragg, Mrs., 1, Cradock street
Crapper, William, glass and china dealer, 25, Castle street
Crawley, W. C., master mariner, 24, Bellevue street
Crimp, George, plasterer, cement and colour dealer, 1, Rutland street
Crockford, William, policeman, Kynaston place
Croker, John, master mariner, 1, Nelson terrace
Croker, John, shipwright, 30, Singleton street
Crole, Mrs., Oxford street
Crown Fire Insurance Office, agent, Richard White Beor, solicitor, St. Mary street
Crowther, Thomas, tinman and brazier, 25, High street
Cummings, John, bell-hanger, lock and white-smith, 30, Goat street
Curnow, James Martin, grocer and tea dealer, 112, High street
Curran, Harriet, dress maker, 4, Caer street
Cwm Capple Coal Company, Strand, agent, Thomas Dryden
DABB, Elizabeth, grocer and tea dealer, 31, Strand
Dalton, Arthur, Esq., 3, Cambrian place
Dalton, John, Globe Inn, 8, Strand
Damp, John, 61, Oxford street
Dangerfield, Richard James, printer, 15, Singleton street
Daniel, Ann, grocer and tea dealer, Foxhole
Daniel, Benjamin, land and mineral surveyor, 5, Garden street
Daniel, Evan, land and mineral agent, 5, Garden street
Daniel, Henry, land and mineral surveyor, 31, Singleton street
Daniel, Jeremiah, clerk, 5, Garden street
Daniel, Thomas, relieving officer, 3, Heathfield street
D’Arcey, Captain, 5, Picton place
D’Austin, Madame, ladies’ seminary, 13, Nelson street
Davey, Thomas, commercial traveller, 1, Prospect place
David, David, solicitor, 1, South hill place, office, 18, Castle street
Davison, Bartholomew, engineer, Ferryside
Davies, Ann, grocer and tea dealer, 19, Oxford street
Davies, Mrs. A. M., 23, Dillwyn street
Davies, Benjamin, currier, 6, Pell street
Davies, Charles, Queen Adelaide, 40, New street
Davies, David, Dillwyn Arms, 3, Union street
Davies, C. S., provision merchant and boot and shoe warehouse, High street
Davies, Rev. Daniel, Welsh baptist minister, Nelson street
Davies, Daniel, linen and woollen draper, 1, Castle square
Davies, David, accountant and agent, 41, Oxford street
Davies, David, Bell Inn, 54, Oxford street
Davies, David, Mason’s Arms, 1, Charles street
Davies, David, fruiterer, 8, High Street
Davies, David, Cambrian Inn, 12, Cambrian Foundry place, Strand
Davies, David, Beaufort Arms, 6, Ferryside
Davies, Evan, linen and woollen draper, 3, High street
Davies, Evan, A.M., principal of the Normal College, and boarding and day school, Ivy lodge, Nelson terrace
Davies, Mrs. E. M., lodging house keeper, Mount Pleasant
Davies, Henry, boot and shoe maker, 2, Welcome street
Davies, James, skinner and glove manufacturer, 34, Orange street
Davies, John, butcher, 98, High street
Davies, John, painter, 190, High street
Davies, John, Castle Hotel, 10, Castle square
Davies, John, post-master and auctioneer, 12, Fisher street
Davies, John, Penllergare Arms, 9, Union street
Davies, John, currier, 7, Cradock street
Davies, Elizabeth, grocer and tea dealer, Singleton street
Davies, Mary, 6, Dillwyn street
Davies, Margaret, lodging house keeper, 21, Dillwyn street
Davies, Margaret, lodging house keeper, 8, Camden place
Davies, Mrs. M., The Laurels, Mount pleasant
Davies, Morgan, Copperman’s Arms, Pentreguinea
Davies, Mrs., 9, Heathfield street
Davies, Owen, Coach and Horses, 132, High street
Davies, Richard, lodging house keeper, 30, Rutland street
Davies, S. Mostyn, agent, 21, Cradock street
Davies, Thomas, pilot, Little Wind street
Davies, Thomas, tailor and draper, 105, High street
Davies, David, draper, Castle street
Davies, Thomas, boot and shoemaker, 10, St. Mary street
Davies, Thomas, jun., joiner, 4, Jeffreys place