wyndham arms

[ynysfach man]

thinking back on the late 70s to 82 i spent most of my life there with my mates terry morgan basils son who was the landlord the music in the back room from the loudest just blew you away and it was good rock music as well a few names of the locals were myself /squeak/dudders/yanto/stu griff /russel one thumb/billy sweeney/spock/malcom edery/big geof/larry/and more which i cannot remember we were all good m8s no drugs the odd fight but no trouble yeh good times sadly nowadays you go out and its all hasstle .any of the gang read this email me @ [e-mail] cheers andy...

[ginlynne]

Spent many a lunchtime in the Wyndham!!!!

[ynysfachman2]

lunchtime and eventime me till i met my wife then it all stopped in fact i met my wife there how many lunch times ag were you there last??andy..

[ginlynne]

I was probably there most Friday lunchtimes between 1986 - 1989.

[ynysfachman2]

:)ahh that was after i got married then which was 82 and basil was the landlord yeh as a said it was a good place to be at the time all heavy rock music good m8s no drugs just bow on tap and good m8s as well but we all grow up don't we eh?take care andy..

[peterpjw]

G'day all

The Wyndham Arms was held by my ancestor John DAVIES (1834-1899) from about 1887. In 1887 it was owned by Dr Thomas J DYKE (1816-1900), Merthyr Tydfil's medical officer of health from 1863. John DAVIES was listed as the occupier on the 1888 county rate assessment, the gross estimated rental was 20 pounds and the rateable value was 17 pounds. John and his family were listed there on the 1891 census:

1891 Apr 6: WLS GLA Merthyr Tydfil Glebeland Street 55 Wyndham Arms Hotel: census:
DAVIES, John, h, m, 56, tailor & publican, neither employed nor employer, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, Welsh & English
DAVIES, Sarah, w, m, 52, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, Welsh & English
DAVIES, Hannah, d, unm, 26, school teacher, employed, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
DAVIES, Sarah Ella, d, unm, 24, school teacher, employed, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
DAVIES, John Rees, s, unm, 22, painter, employed, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
DAVIES, Beatrice, d, unm, 17, school teacher, employed, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
DAVIES, Edith, d, unm, 15, scholar, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
DAVIES, Agnes, d, unm, 11, scholar, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
DAVIES, Blodwen, d, unm, 9, scholar, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
EDWARDS, Mary Ann, d, m, 29, dressmaker, neither employed nor employer, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only
EDWARDS, Ernest, gs, unm, 3, scholar, b GLA Merthyr Tydfil, English only [RG12 Piece 4437 Folio 6 Page 14 CP Merthyr Tydfil EP Merthyr Tydfil RD Merthyr Tydfil SD Lower Merthyr Tydfil ED 26 Schedule 62 588 2E].

John DAVIES was listed in the 1895 Kelly's Directory, at the Wyndham Arms PH.

John died on the premises in 1899 - here are the details from his death certificate:

1899 Mar 1: WLS GLA Merthyr Tydfil Wyndham Arms: death cert: "John Davies, male, 65y, innkeeper, cause syncope and heart failure after repeated attacks of vomiting, certificate received from Rees Jenkin Rhys, Coroner for Glamorgan, inquest held 3 Mar 1899".

An inquest was held -

1899 Mar 3: WLS GLA Merthyr Tydfil: Inquest held by Rees Jenkin RHYS, Coroner for GLA. Estate valued at 1,314 pounds 4 & 3. Died intestate. Admons granted to widow.

And his death was reported in the local newspaper:

1899 Mar 4: WLS GLA Merthyr Tydfil: funeral and death notices: "Sudden Death of Mr John Davies, Wyndham Arms. - Early on Wednesday morning Mr John Davies, landlord of the Wyndham Arms, Glebeland Street, died somewhat suddenly. It appears that for about a week Mr Davies suffered from pains in the chest, and was attended by Dr C Biddle. On Tuesday (his 65th birthday) he appeared rather unwell, but retired to bed at the usual hour. Between one and two o'clock deceased was obliged to get out of bed several times to vomit, and just before two o'clock he was seized with a stroke and died at once. Dr Biddle was sent for, and pronounced life to be extinct. Mr Davies was a native of Llandovery. He came to Merthyr about 60 years ago, and for 21 years was landlord of the Park View Inn, and had been in the Wyndham for about 12 years. He leaves a widow, one son, and seven daughters, four of whom are married." [Merthyr Express 4 March 1899].

As was the funeral:

1899 Mar 11: WLS GLA Merthyr Tydfil: newspaper clipping, funeral report: "Funeral of Mr John Davies, Wyndham Arms - On Sunday the remains of the late Mr John Davies (Wyndham Arms), whose almost sudden death was reported in our last issue, were interred in Cefn Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev H Jones (Curate of St David's Church). The mourners were Mr Davies (son), Mr White and Mr Jones (sons-in-law), Mr Morgan, Park View (brother-in-law), Mr Jones and sons (Vochriw), and others. The bearers were Mr Havard (Merthyr Bottling Company), Mr Griffiths (Express Inn), Mr James (Red Lion), Mr J Lewis, Mr Tom Thomas (Morganstown), Mr E P Nash (Lamb), and Mr Evans (Anchor). Two beautiful wreaths were laid upon the coffin, one being from the family, and the other from the teachers at Aberfan School. The funeral was attended by a large number of gentlemen representing 'the trade', the deceased having been one of the oldest licenced victuallers in Merthyr." [Merthyr Express, 11 Mar 1899].

Administration of the estate was granted to his widow, Sarah (nee MORGAN):

1899 Mar 22: WLS GLA Merthyr Tydfil Glebeland Street Wyndham Arms Inn: letters of administration: granted to Sarah DAVIES widow, sureties were William GRIFFITHS of Pencaemawr, Merthyr Tydfil gentleman and Alfred DUNSTAN of The Woodlands Park Terrace Merthyr Tydfil accountant; Gross value of the estate 1,314 pounds 4 shillings 3 pence; net value of personal estate 1,226 pounds 10 shillings 11 pence.

Apparently, Sarah carried on the business. She died in 1908. Her son-in-law, Mr WHITE (his first name may have been Thomas), possibly carried on at the Wyndham Arms into the 1920s.

If you have further information, please contact me.

Regards

Peter