Cwm-pandy Fulling & Dyeing Mills, Cimla, Neath

PAUL RICHARDS

(An extract from a more substantial article that may be published in the future)

Summary

In Wales a ‘Fulling (or Tucking) Mill’ - the purpose of which is both the cleaning and thickening of cloth – may be known as ‘Y Pandy’ or a ‘Pandy Mill’. Between circa 1845-1910 on the bank of the Crythan Brook at Cimla stood the ‘Cwm-pandy Fulling & Dyeing Mills’ under the control of the Parry, and then, the related Reynolds families. The outstanding quality of their finished products brought royal praise and numerous awards were won at various national competitions. Unfortunately, the business would become a likely victim of industrialisation which in turn may have led to personal problems culminating in closure of the mill following a dramatic turn of events. Thereafter, the living accommodation continued to be used until circa 1960 and was probably demolished over the ensuing few years, thereby bringing an end to the association of Cwm-pandy with the original mill. A street named ‘Pandy View’ nowadays overlooks the area acknowledging both the local industry and associated hard-working people of the mill.

This article chronicles the origins, period of production, and subsequent demise of Cwm-pandy Mill with some additional commentary on those both linked to the business and details of the subsequent residents of the remaining house post-closure. [Note that spelling is often as-written at the time and hence may vary.]

Background

There are basically seven stages to woollen cloth manufacture – shearing, grading/sorting, carding, spinning, weaving, scouring, finishing. Over the centuries, while many businesses and/or households could undertake the processing from grading to weaving inclusive, the subsequent scouring and finishing was much more suited to a dedicated facility. The latter finishing process could incorporate both fulling of the woven article and dyeing if required. Fulling is a well-established process and been developed over hundreds if not thousands of years. The French word ‘fouler’ means ‘to trample on’ and in time, this trampling action, originally manual, would become mechanised using large wooden mallets which would first be driven upwards via a waterwheel and then dropped onto the cloth. The initial series of poundings lasted for hours and served to both close together the fibres of the freshly woven woollen item and to partly cleanse it of dirt and oils (necessary for weaving) then being followed by the introduction of agents such as ‘Fullers Earth’ prior to a final rinse. The shrinkage caused by consolidation of the fibres would result in a much tighter material, though this needed to be controlled during fulling to ensure an even distribution.

While this mechanised noisy fulling process meant the mill would need to be located away from other properties it also needed to be near to a plentiful source of water not just for use during both fulling and dyeing but also to drive the waterwheel – note that sometimes the premises would be combined with a grist mill to make full use of this power source. Fulling and dyeing were skilled specialised processes in the manufacture of quality woollen goods and the Crythan Brook would afford such production at the Cwm-pandy Mill for over 60 years. It is not known what type of fulling or dyeing was employed at Cwm-pandy Mill (also known as Cwmpandy Mill), though one of the later methods of fulling is shown in fig.1.

The improved tightness of the fibres of fulled cloth is clearly seen in fig.2⁽³⁾.

Following fulling the material would now be in a condition suitable for dyeing if required, typically involving immersion and agitation in the dye(s), each colour having its own specific recipe. Cloth would then be stretched and evenly dried on racks or ‘tenter frames ’by hanging using L-shaped nails or ‘tenterhooks’ fig.3 - hence the expression ‘being on tenterhooks’!

One of the horizontal frame sections would be adjustable to allow different widths to be used on the same frame.

Cwm-pandy Mill

In the 1841 census, both John Parry (no occupation noted on census) his wife Margaret, each born in Troedyraur, Cardiganshire were listed as aged 50 years and along with their son David, 25 years, were residing in Pontardawe having left a background in Cardiganshire where they had been running a small rural pandy mill; there was no mention of daughter Elizabeth, 14 years, at the same residence. It is understood⁽⁷⁾ the family moved to the Cimla area in the mid-1840s. The background as to the mill being built at Cwm-pandy and then leased by John Parry is not known. At the location of where Cwm-pandy Mill would be established there is no indication of its presence at the time of the 1846⁽⁶⁾ tithe maps, the only nearby premises being described as ‘Cottages and Garden’ occupied by John Davies. At the time of these maps, the aforementioned property, fields alongside the brook plus all lands north-westerly leading to the already established road were owned by the Rev. Thomas Gronow. Considering the whole area had the same landowner, there would be no problem building both a mill adjacent to the brook to be supplied by a leat from a man-made reservoir to power its waterwheel and to provide access to the established road. As seen in fig.4⁽⁸⁾ it appears that the area including Davies’ property was indeed developed into Cwm-pandy Mill, maybe utilising the original building(s) and the lane/road to Cae-Rhys-ddu established – this access remains in use today.

As seen in fig.4a to the right, upstream of Cwm-pandy Mill a take-off from the brook feeds into a substantial reservoir of approximately 60 yards in length. Water would be released on demand by opening the sluice to run along the supplying leat to the mill with the gradient from the sluice down to Cwm-pandy Mill allowing an overshot-type waterwheel. As seen more clearly in fig.5⁽⁹⁾ the water is then returned to the brook. While no details have been found regarding the factory buildings the following has been surmised for the larger structures and annotated as such i.e.1-5, based on the potential need for power from the waterwheel and need for a drying field:

- Leat emerging from the right [1] is shown to run to the waterwheel thus providing power into the adjoining rectangular fulling mill [2] 50’x20’, before returning to the brook.  Square building [3] adjoining the fulling mill is the living accommodation and grading/carding/scouring/spinning/weaving area; due to its size it may have also incorporated storage of finished goods for safekeeping – it was to be the last remaining building post-factory closure, built on two levels, 33’x30’. Irregular-shaped building [4] opposite the fulling mill and resting on the bank of the brook is the dyeing house, 50’x33’. Tentering area [5] is in the field shown above the leat.

The earliest found mention of Cwm-pandy Mill was as reported by Phillips⁽¹⁰⁾ where the ‘Llan Illtyd Vestry Book’ of 5^th April 1847 mentioned a ‘Cwm-y-pandy factory in the Cryddan valley’ and ‘Ordered that John Parry’s Factory at Carrisdee (Cae Rhys Ddu) be rated at £8-0-0’. It was later stated⁽¹¹⁾ that John Parry became the lessee of ‘The Fulling or Tucking Mill, Land, Dwelling House and Watercourse’ for a term of 50 years at the rent of £5-0-0 p.a. from 7^th June 1846.

John Parry was noted on the 1851 census as ‘Tucker Wool’ and resided with wife Margaret and daughter Elizabeth, 24 years. A lodger Mandy Bowen, 28 years and two servants Elizabeth Jones, 15 years ‘House Servant’ and Thomas Evan, 55 years ‘Servant’ also lived on-site. There are no details if these latter three undertook any other role at Cwm-pandy although the servants would probably have worked at the mill. John died in 1855 from bronchitis⁽⁷⁾ hence, Margaret was listed as the widowed ‘head’ in the 1861 census and described as a ‘Dyeing Factoress’. Lodging at the house was daughter Elizabeth, now wed since September 1851⁽⁷⁾ to James Reynolds, 31 years, a ‘Collier’ - they already had three children, John, 8 years, Parry, 4 years and Elizabeth, 1 year. There remained two ‘House Servants’ John Jones, 21 years and Jane Jones, 14 years. James was of the ’Kimla’ family Reynolds who were living in the area by 1841 and he was recorded as being a miner at ‘Cimley’ in 1851. Margaret died in 1862 and maybe the absence of both John and Margaret was the cause of the enterprise being offered for sale on 19^th December 1863 (Aberdare Times, 19^th December 1863). It seems there was no sale nor the premises let to other persons as the remaining family would continue with the business. On 22^nd July 1868 the ‘Cryngallt’ estate was again put up for sale by Rev. Gronow (The Brecon County Times, 11^th July 1868). As subsequently detailed, fig.6⁽¹¹⁾, the lot comprised a number of premises including ‘The Fulling or Tucking Mill, Land, Dwelling House and Watercourse’ details fig.6a, the mill area shown in fig.6b.

While no details of the sale results have been found (possibly bought by W Peddie Struve Esq. – see later) it seems the Reynolds family remained as, in 1870 a theft of material worth £7 10s from James Reynolds was presented to the Borough Court and reported (The Brecon County Times, 1^st October 1870) as an ’Extraordinary Case of Cloth Stealing’. Material had been stolen from the ‘Butcher’s Arms’ public house and subsequently hidden among ferns near the Ivy Tower thence tracked down by an employee of Cwm-pandy Mill. The defendant claimed he was drunk at the time, found the material which he believed had been dumped, but changed his story a number of times and was sent for trial, outcome unknown.

The 1871 census documented the Reynolds family as James Reynolds, 43 years, occupation ‘Dyer & Clothier’ wife Eliza, 45 years, sons John Parry (previous census named ‘John’), 17 years and Parry, 14 years both sons reported as having the same occupation as their father, daughter Elizabeth, 11 years was listed as a ‘scholar’; also residing at the premises were two servants – James Howells, 71 years ‘General Servant’ and Mary Thomas, 56 years ‘Domestic Servant’. Evidently James was no longer a collier and now ran the mill. It is believed James also expanded his concerns to run a mill in Neath Abbey between 1870-1876/7; John Parry married Maria Cambridge, daughter of the Shakespeare Inn, Neath publican William Cambridge, in 1876. The combined mill businesses were reported as entering into voluntary liquidation in May 1877 (Western Mail, 26^th May 1877; London Gazette, 25^th May 1877). It seems this was an appropriate way of agreeably dividing-up the value of existing businesses to allow both sons to set-out on their own.

While John Parry and family remained at Cwm-pandy the others moved to Pontardulais to start afresh. During 1878 the first child of John Parry and Maria was born, Catherine, who unfortunately was to die aged just six weeks on 10^th March. Thus, in 1881 John Parry Reynolds, 27 years, was residing in ‘Cwmpandy House, Cwmpandy Woollen Mills’ the census of that year listing John as the head and defined as a ‘(Master) Woollen Cloth Manufacturer’ employing two men. Also residing was his wife, Maria, 24 years, daughters Minnie and Edith aged 4 years and 1 year respectively, plus three servants – Rachel Roberts, 14 years ‘General Domestic Servant’, longstanding employee James Howells, now 80 years ‘Woollen Factory Labourer’, Richard Davies, 23 years ‘Woollen Cloth Maker’. Margaret Elizabeth (known as Minnie on earlier census), Edith and John Stephen (born between July-September 1881 i.e. after the census that year) were baptised together on 10^th October 1881, with John Parry being described as a ‘Clothier’.

Certainly in this type of woollen industry, tokens, typically about an inch diameter with a blank reversed side could be exchanged by the mill with suppliers as a receipt for incoming goods and a corresponding token attached to their property. The supplier’s token in turn would be re-exchanged for the final article, possibly either a cleaned fleece or finished fulled and dyed product. Such tokens were issued by Cwm-pandy Mill, fig.7⁽¹²⁾.

The business was steadily gaining a good reputation and was noted (The Cambrian, 14^th April 1882) as having provided a ‘Welsh scarlet whittle’ similar to that ‘...presented and graciously received by H.R.H. Princess of Wales’ (Cardiff Times & South Wales Weekly News, 15^th April 1882) as a prize in the Neath Eisteddfod of 1882 - a whittle is a large square or rectangular shawl with long fringes, in this case 12” in length, which was usually worn around the waist in South Wales. At the National Eisteddfod of 1884 it was claimed (The Flintshire Observer, 18^th September 1884) that John Parry would have won the award for ‘Best Handloom Cloth’ but was debarred as he had his name and business details attached. The presentation of gifts to dignitaries was commonplace then as now, other gifts recorded (South Wales Daily News, 23^rd October 1888) including ‘... two beautiful Welsh flannel shawls and a piece of cloth of his own manufacture’ to the Duke and Duchess of Teck in 1888, i.e. the Austrian nobleman who had married the cousin of Queen Victoria⁽¹³⁾.

During October-December 1882 John Parry and Maria would have a son, Parry Hayden. Another son was born to them between April-June 1885 James David, and they were baptised together on 4^th May 1885; John Parry was again listed as a ‘Clothier’. Sadly, Parry Hayden died on 12^th November 1889 aged 7 years. The following 1891 census would record John Parry still classed as a ‘Woollen Manufacturer’, living with his wife Maria at ‘Cwm Pandy’ with their daughters Margaret Elizabeth (Minnie) [erroneously named Maria], 14 years, Edith, 10 years and sons ‘John S’ 9 years, also now a ‘James D’ erroneously listed as 9 years when actually 6 years. For the first time an indication of the size of the accommodation was given and defined as ‘not less than 5 rooms’. Later that year, the 17^th June 1891 saw a number of freeholds offered for sale, fig.8⁽¹⁴⁾ all owned by W Peddie Struve Esq. including the ‘Pandy Mill’ (The Central Glamorgan Gazette, 5^th June 1891) which included two associated cottages near to Caerhysddu Farm. It appears a new lease had been taken in 1889 for 99 years.

However, the ‘Pandy Mill’ lot was withdrawn only £400 being bid (South Wales Daily News, 18^th June 1891). The subsequent outcome is unknown although it is possible that John Parry bought the concern as the property was believed part-owned in 1959 by other family members (see later).

Around this period further gifts were given by John Parry to prominent figures with many plaudits also being received. In August 1890 (The Cardiff Times, 2^nd August 1890) an article detailed thanks being given to John Parry for a gift made to the wife of the great explorer Henry Morton Stanley on his marriage ‘...beautiful pink Welsh whittle, “Princess Whittle”...not only quite lovely to look at, but very, very useful, and will always be prized by Mrs. Stanley.’ A wedding gift in 1893 to the Princess of Teck (South Wales Daily News, 6^th July 1893) on her marriage to the Duke of York - later to become Queen Mary and King George V respectively, once again received high praise ‘...unique specimen of Welsh woollen manufacture...Welsh striped “traws” or skirt...famous Welsh whittles of his manufacture’ culminating in a flattering acceptance letter. During 1895 (South Wales Daily Post, 10^th August 1895) a report announced John Parry’s win at the Pencader Eisteddfod for best Welsh serge cloth i.e. fabric that exhibits diagonal ridges, under the pseudonym ‘Ioan Nedd’. It was commented that he had previously won many awards throughout the UK including that reported in this instance ‘...in the heart of the Welsh manufacturing trade’ which was highly commended.

Sadly, on 29^th March 1898 son James David died aged 13 years. All deceased children, Catherine, Parry Hayden and James David were buried at Llantwit cemetery (see later). Later that year John Parry gave an interview (South Wales Daily Post, 15^th August 1898) as part of the ‘Welsh Industries Scheme’, a philanthropic organisation promoting cottage industries, particularly woven cloths. He extolled the virtues of the Welsh woollen industry with the vision that the future of the new generation lay with a finer texture of material. The main problem he explained was the dyeing process but that he intended to publish a book, in Welsh, on the topic including instructions, colours, shades, etc. It is not believed the book was written/published although the interview alluded to the fact some documentation had been seen. At this time it seems his son John Stephen was not part of the business having entered the service of Neath Railway Station as a ‘Cleaner’⁽¹⁵⁾ on 24^th September 1898 although leaving this employment on 4^th November of the same year.

The National Eisteddfod of 1899 saw John Parry again win an award for Hand Loom Serge, at which time his produce was being sold at Neath market on Wednesdays and Swansea market on Saturdays, as noted on his business card, fig.9⁽¹⁶⁾.

It seems the motto of the business was that displayed at the top of the card - ‘Cas gwr ni charo y wlad a’i mago’ - trans.⁽⁷⁾ ‘Despicable is the man who does not love the country that reared him’.

John Parry died, aged just 46 years at Cwm-pandy Mill, on 12^th June, 1900 (Cardiff Times & South Wales Weekly News, 23^rd June 1900), seemingly without publishing his promised book. It was reported (South Wales Daily Post, 13^th June 1900) that he ‘...was well known throughout South Wales, and highly respected. He leaves a widow and three grown-up children. Since February last he had been suffering from anaemia, and his death, at the age of 46, took place at nine o’clock on Tuesday night.’ It was reported that due to the respect he had throughout the community all along the route blinds were drawn and the Liberal Club flag flew at half-mast.

The 1901 census now described the premises as ‘Cwm Pandy Mills’, being headed by Maria who held the title ‘Master Manufacturer’. Also living at the premises was son John Stephen and daughters Minnie and Edith, all being described as ‘Worker in mills (flannel)’, plus a niece Beatrice Thomas, 21 years, with the same job title. Also present was one servant Elizabeth Lloyd, ‘Servant, Domestic’ and a visitor at the time of the census Jane Thomas, 44 years of Blaina, Monmouth ‘Living on own means’. Later that year, unfortunately, a death occurred at the mill on 29^th March when a worker sustained terminal injuries due to having his foot caught in the waterwheel pulley-strap while undertaking its disconnection to a chaff-cutting machine (The Cambrian, 5^th April 1901); subsequently he was carried around the wheel striking the ground a number of times while still attached before it could be stopped. No gruesome details of the accident to the deceased, George Mitchel aged 23 years, who had worked there since a boy, were spared by the newspapers of the day.

In November that year John Stephen Reynolds married Emily Constance Stockham (The Weekly Mail, 16^th November 1901) at Wesley Chapel, Neath. Records show that their children John Parry (same name as grandfather), Ida Constance, Edith Olive and Lily Alecia were all born late in each of the years 1902, 1903, 1905 and 1909 respectively. Over this period, Maria Reynolds, almost certainly along with her daughters Minnie and Edith would remain at Cwm-pandy up to at least 1909 (see later). During 1904 John Stephen and no doubt his growing family were recorded as residing at 99 London Road, Neath i.e. not too far from father-in-law William John Stockham of 69 London Road. A charming photograph of a young John Parry circa 1907⁽⁷⁾ outside the mill is shown in fig.10. No other photographs of the mill or surrounding area of the time have been found.

On October 1908 Lord George Henry Robert Child Villiers (later 8^th Earl of Jersey)⁽¹⁷⁾ married Lady Cynthia Almina Constance Mary Needham, with gifts from farmers and other tenants being gathered. These gifts included that from the mill ‘...a sweet travelling rug, specially manufactured for the occasion by Mr. J.S. Reynolds of the Cwmpandy Woollen Mills, near Neath. The rug is of rather too delicate texture for rough and ready wear, but it is proof positive that a Welsh woollen mill can turn-out, under competent direction, one of the choicest products of its kind. And all the wool used in its manufacture was grown on the Jersey Estate, which imparts added charm.’ The mill was still obviously producing high-quality material. During 1909 Maria would move from Cwm-pandy to ‘Pencaira Villas’ the same year John Stephen was recorded as moving from the very similar named ‘Pencaira’ to Cwm-pandy. Maybe Maria and daughters undertook an exchange with John Stephens and family. Edith married James Lewis Davies, a ‘Cashier’, in April 1909, she was not listed as having any profession and living in ‘Llantwit’; John Stephen was one of the marriage witnesses.

John Stephen remained registered at ‘Cwmpandy’ for 1910, however, early that year, following what must have been ongoing personal issues with Emily matters were reported to have taken a dramatic turn which would ultimately result in closure of Cwm-pandy Mill. He was summoned by his wife for persistent cruelty (Evening Express & Nottingham Evening News, 26^th February 1910); a summary of an incident which was to end the relationship with his family is shown in fig.11 (South Wales Daily Post, 25^th February 1910).

Among the many reports, Emily stated she was married for eight years and had 4 children but only ‘...12 months after marriage her husband took to drink.’ Described as a ‘...flannel manufacturer formerly of Cimla’ the court heard that five weeks earlier John Stephen had brought their four children into her bedroom and threatened to shoot Emily. He shot at a clock to show how good a shot he was and said she was next. It was claimed he ’... had for some time neglected his business and taken to drink’ and had threatened to also kill the children. Further, he had since threatened her with a gun and also thrown the childrens’ clothes into the fire. He did not appear in court and the bench granted a separation order with £1 per week maintenance with Emily having custody of the children and costs. At this time it is believed the family still resided at Cwm-pandy Mill and the actual reason for John Stephens not attending court was that he had already left the country for America with the assistance of his extended family. Travelling 3^rd-class from Liverpool on the Lusitania⁽¹⁸⁾, at one time the world’s largest passenger ship, departing 26^th February 1910 arriving New York 5^th March he was described⁽¹⁹⁾ on the passenger list as: “John Reynolds, Engineer, Cwmpandy, Neath, in good health, fair-haired, six-foot tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, single, in possession of at least $50”. Also, he would be joining a ‘friend, Mr. H. Parry, Smith Street, Olyphant, Pennsylvania’. The nearest relative/friend from John Stephen’s home country was named as ‘friend, Mr. James Davies, Bryn Road, Swansea’ i.e. his brother-in-law.

The immediate situation of the mill following the issue with John Stephen and Emily is unknown. Generally at this time the woollen manufacturing processes were becoming increasingly mechanised and more cost-effective. On site power from gas boilers obviated the need for mill location being dictated by use of a waterwheel. It is likely these commercial influences placed added pressure on Cwm-pandy Mill potentially driving the mill towards closure and may even have been contributing factors in the first instance to John Stephen’s personal issues. Whatever, no further reports of activity at the mill have been found.

On 29^th March 1910 Margaret Elizabeth (Minnie) of ‘Pencaerau’ married Thomas Philip Roberts, a Neath ‘Tradesman’. The UK 1911 census documented Minnie as living in Neath during 1911 with no profession stated. Emily Constance Reynolds had left Cwm-pandy (see later), and Maria Reynolds was now living with Edith and James in Swansea. While Edith did not have any listed occupation Maria was recorded as ‘Woollen Manufacturer, Cwmpandy Mills, Neath’. It is not known whether the mill business had closed by this time, possibly goods/assets were still being sold by Maria but this is the last known familial reference to the Cwm-pandy operation. Maria died on 10^th November 1930 aged 74 years at Swansea, presumably while still residing with daughter and son-in-law and was buried in the same grave as her late husband John Parry and their three deceased children at Llantwit cemetery, fig.12⁽²⁰⁾. Also later buried in the same grave were John Parry’s daughter Edith and her husband James Lewis Davies.

Various records imply that ownership of the business/premises was at some time passed-onto Maria’s daughters Minnie and Edith with no potential interest of Emily Constance found; the owners circa 1959 were named as Edith Davies and her niece Edith Margaret Rees, granddaughter of Minnie. Edith died in 1966 closely followed by James Lewis the following year. No further information has been found regarding Edith Margaret.

Emily Constance Reynolds & John Stephen Reynolds Post-Mill Closure

The UK 1911 census documented Emily as married and now residing at 19 Hillside, Neath with her children John Parry, Edith Olive and Lily Alecia, no occupation was listed; fig.13a shows a family photograph shortly after that period. Subsequent press reports and marriage certificates of the children and when Emily remarried either classed John Stephen as ‘deceased’ or made no mention of him. It seems the family were, perhaps understandingly, determined to no longer recognise his existence. However, John Stephen went on to have a relatively full-life in Pennsylvania, USA marrying Orilla Fairchild Ripley in 1915 and having at least a further four children. A series of documents⁽¹⁹⁾ show John being drafted in WW1, census details in 1940 and his 1942 draft registration for WW2. Fig.13b⁽¹⁹⁾ shows John Stephen much later in life.

John Stephen died of Cardiac Decompensation (abnormal heart condition causing inefficient circulation) on 27^th November 1949 aged 68 years. The death certificate states his father’s name as ‘Unknown’ although the maiden name of his mother was noted as ‘Cambridge’. During his new life in the USA maybe John Stephen did not want to reveal too much about his background and/or history.

Cwmpandy House

Although the mill ceased operation circa 1910 and the Reynolds family departed the premises the living accommodation was now available to new tenants. This would be known as ‘Cwmpandy House’ and remained in occupation until circa 1960. The area near to the time of cessation of mill operation up to 1913 does not appear to have changed in the intervening 3 years. The subsequent main residents of Cwmpandy House were: Quinn Family 1911-14; no details found during war period 1914-18; Thomas Family 1918-36 - David Andrew Thomas died in 1970 (The Neath Guardian, 22^nd October 1970) his obituary claiming he was known as ‘Dai The Pandy’ and was formerly of Cwmpandy House; Lewis Family 1937-60 - it is stated⁽¹²⁾ that the house premises held boxing matches in a booth upstairs at the mill barn with David Lewis (aka ‘Dai Shavons’) being the promoter. By 1935 the leat was no longer visible although the buildings remained relatively intact.

In February 1959⁽²¹⁾ the intention to raise a ‘Demolition Order’ on the premises was initiated by Neath Borough Council (NBC) despite the house being in occupation. In May the owners, Edith Davies and Edith M Rees objected stating they would wait for the premises to become vacant and then proceed with ‘…a major improvement and repair scheme’ although they would accept a ‘Closing Order’ with a formal undertaking to complete their plan. The Closing Order was finalised later that month but it is unclear thereafter what became of the buildings. Edith would pass away in 1966 and, with Edith Margaret living in Cardiff, maybe during the intervening years the whole issue became too burdensome for them, the proposed work remaining in abeyance before the whole site was sold; there are no electoral records of any persons in residence post-1960. It is understood that much of the premises were demolished during the late 1960s with no discernible trace remaining, although an OS map from 1970⁽²²⁾ shows possibly just the house remaining, or at least its footprint. However, an OS map from 1983, fig.14⁽²³⁾ shows some form of building on-site although temporary structures were believed to have been used around that time possibly on the same base(s) of the earlier premises.

The nearby housing estate to the top right of fig.14 retains a link to the origins of the area with the street named ‘Pandy View’ overlooking the landscape. However, there is now no evidence of either Cwm-pandy Mill that was in use for 65 years nor Cwmpandy House which had lingered-on for a further 50-60 years.

Conclusion

Cwm-pandy Fulling & Dyeing Mill began in the mid-1840s and was in operation until circa 1910 over which period it came under the control of the Parry and later, the related Parry-Reynolds families. The outstanding quality of products brought royal praise and numerous awards were won at various nationwide competitions. The business was a likely victim of industrialisation which may have led to personal problems culminating in its closure. The living accommodation continued to be used until 1960 and was probably demolished over the following decade bringing an end to the association of Cwm-pandy with its industry. However, overlooking the area is a street named ‘Pandy View’, a reminder of the history of the local industry and hard-working people who ran the mill for 65 years.

References

Apart from newspaper articles as included, extensive use has been made of electoral registers and UK censuses sourced from Ancestry and FindMyPast. Other specific references are as below.

1. rollecanalsociety.org/tucking-mill.html

2. Commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:fulling_stocks_helmshore_6209.jpg

3. Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation; sbthp.org/mission-mills-fulling

4. commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:tenter_frame_Helmshore_6213.jpg

5. robin-ellis.net/2012/01/23/on-tenterhooks

 6. Tithe Maps, National Library of Wales

7. “Cwmpandy Mills Neath”, Joan Cordell, publ. Joan Cordell, 2021

 8. Ordnance Survey Map, 1877

9. Ordnance Survey Map, 1900

10. “The History of the Vale of Neath”, D. Rhys Phillips, Swansea, 1925

11. NAS RE 6/6-8

12. “Cimla – Piecing Together the Past”, Anne Pearlman, publ. Bryngold Books, 2005

13. National Portrait Gallery

14. NAS EA 180/204

15. Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956, Ancestry UK

16. Business Card, Image from Facebook

17. Earl of Jersey, Wikipedia            

18. Titanicandco.com

19. Ancestry UK

20. Author’s Photographs

21. Minutes, Borough of Neath Housing & Planning Committee, February-May 1959

22. Ordnance Survey Map, 1970

23. Ordnance Survey Map, 1983