Ship Inn, Dowlais/Caerharris

[drag0n98]

Hello

Does anyone have any information about the Ship Inn in either Dowlais Top or Caerharris.

I've been tracing my family tree and have reached my Great-Grandfather (my father's grandfather) William Williams (aka 'Will Ship'), I understand he was the landlord of the Ship Inn around 1900, unfortunatly that's all I know.

Any information would be greatfully recieved.

Thanks

[tricia1309]

Have you checked the 1901 census?

[huw1818]

Hi, The ship inn was in Caeharris High Street. Today it is 2 houses, They are directly opp the Post Office. I do not know whether any photographs still exist, My dad lived in Cwm Canol Street approx 15 yards from the Ship Inn. He died in 2007 leaving negatives of 80 years of photography!! we have yet to sort these out... Should I find a photo I will forward it to Alan for display on this web site....Huw

[Alan]

Great Huw, I look forward to receiving any photographs that you think are suitable.
If I come across any photo's of the 'Ship Inn' I'll post them on the site.
Alan

[minstrel]

I don't know if this will be of help or hindrance to you. I was told some years ago that if you find an inland pub called the Ship it is highly likely that it was originally called the Sheep Inn & will often be by an old sheep/Drover's route. Might that be the case here? In times past the word Sheep was pronounced ship or shep, so you can see why many pubs were called Ship when a long way from water.

[Hywel]

Just to note the post office was originally one of the Guest (iron masters)shops, as a tied shop ie a company shop where you paid with tokens that you got for your work in the iron works. Eventually outlawed well known to have caught the workers all ways.
If you do find a photo from the 60's would be glad to see it.

[rachelb]

There is a story of a painter, Richard Wilson I think, who was painting a scene inland and the Welsh peasant who came by said " it's very nice, but where are the ships?" Wilson thinking he meant Ships, not the intended Sheep, duly painted in a ship in full sail, in the middle of the mountains. I think the painting is in the National Gallery in London.

Nothing to do with the Ship Inn, but sort of 'confirms' the likelihood that inns called 'The Ship' could have been originally called 'the Sheep'.
Rachel Bowen

[huw1818]

Hi, I will forward any interesting photos I find to alan.

[minstrel]

Of no help to Dragon98 but may be of passing interest. From the "Dictionary of Archaic & Provincial Words (obsolete phrases, proverbs and ancient customs from the 14th Century)" By J O Halliwell & first published 1842 or 1847. Ship is listed as having 3 meanings, the first listed being Sheep.

[drag0n98]

Hi Apologies, for not responding earlier, many thanks for all you comments.

[penelope1]

I am also looking for information about the Ship Inn at Dowlais Top. My great grandfather was brought up there as a boy in 1885-95 Richard Phillips born in Dowlais. His history was complicated by the fact his father Henry Phillips having 4 children and a widow (sic) from 1881 census remarried. But my uncle who is now 89 and has a remarkable memory for names (thank goodness with all us welsh having such similar ones!) remembers how his father refused to go to chapel because he remembered as a boy, the deacons from the nearby chapel used to come into the Ship on Sunday morning after the service when the pub was closed to drink pints of beer!!! How or what his connection was to the pub we have yet to find out.

Later his father moved to Tylorstown and was an overman in No 8 pit marrying Lizzie Morris daughter of John Morris. There is a connection with the Griffiths family as my grandfather Richard got a good job through them as my uncle remembers having to call David Griffiths deci Griffiths and he lived in East Road. My uncle was also named Arthur Ivor after one of David Griffiths' sons who died in the Great War in France. Any scraps gratefully received!!!

[bailey]

My Grandfather's Uncle Moses Jones & his wife Mary Ann Jones (maiden name Rees) had The Ship in Caeharris in the early 1900's. Moses died while they lived there in June 1906 and his wife and children were still there in for the 1911 Census. I'd love to see a picture too.