|
Names
There are two Williamstons just a few miles apart. In the Middle Ages they were distinguished by a following name, possibly that of a manorial owner. But with the passing of time they were identified by the words ‘East’ and ‘West’. So Williamston Elnard (or Eluard) became East Williamston. Broadmoor is an area at the extremity of East Williamston Chapelry, where a village has grown relatively recently. Field and farm names are clues to features which have by now disappeared. The farm name ‘Beaconing’ probably originates from a place on which a beacon might be lighted. Beacons were often sited on prominent Bronze Age barrows. A group of 6 fields with the element ‘castle’ were surely part of a fortified site possibly an Iron Age hillfort. Several fields in the Tithe Apportionment Schedule of 1842, including the one where Cold Inn chapel was later to be built, are called Cantons Leat. The identity of Canton is unclear, but there is a document of 1799 which records the sales of culm at Cantons Leat. Another 1842 field name is ‘(part of) Harris leat’. A small group of fields had the name ‘Priest’s Pool’. There are some partly Welsh names like 4 fields called ‘Gelly land’ (‘gelly’ could be a grove of trees or just possibly a personal name). Of natural history interest is the group of names which are variants of ‘kite’: for example ‘Kite Hill’, ‘Kitle’ and ‘Kettle’. The bittern also figures. |
|
Naming Cold Inn
This name is a local mystery. Today it refers to a group of houses and Ebenezer Chapel. The name Cold Inn existed in the late 18th century but the public house seems to have been called New Inn.
This name is a local mystery. Today it refers to a group of houses and Ebenezer Chapel. The name Cold Inn existed in the late 18th century but the public house seems to have been called New Inn.
|
How Old Is the East Williamston area?
There was certainly a settlement here over 700 years ago. Two fields west of the parish church used to be called ‘moat meadow’. Was this the site of a motte castle or fortified dwelling? The church around which the homes are clustered is dedicated to a Welsh saint, Elidyr. For centuries, all the main traffic between Carmarthen and Pembroke travelled via Begelly and Temple Bar and along the north west border of East Williamston village. This road was crossed by the one leading from the direction of Jeffreyston to Stoneybridge. From the 18th century, Turnpike Trusts came into existence. A new road from St Clears to Kingsmoor built by the ‘Main Trust’, joined the new road of the ‘Tavernspite Trust’ to Hobbs Point. This crossed the long existing road from Jeffreyston at the point where later, Cross Inn was to be established. On 6th April 1839 the Royal Mail travelled for the first time on the turnpike road from Carmarthen to Hobbs Point and East Williamston was by-passed. |
Coalfields
There was coal mining in the area in 1620, and there is specific mention of Watershill and Masterland in 1632. In the period 1792-3, collieries called Williamston and Williamston Meadow were worked by Alexander Smith, William Bowen & Co. Williamston Meadow was still occupied by William Bowen and Co. at the turn of the century, but by 1809 Williamston was being worked by Thomas Manning and Co. About the same time, Hill Moor and South Field collieries were operational. These collieries closed with the introduction of deeper mining and better technology. However, mining continued to take place beneath the area from other collieries such as Moreton (closed 1887).
Broadmoor evolved as a mining village. Even in the early 20th century there continued to be some activity at Masterland, one of the places where there was mining in the early 17th century. M.R.C. Price has pointed out that ‘the name Broadmoor Colliery was attached to at least four different workings within a century’. These were Wilson and Smith’s colliery in the first half of the 19th century, the Greenhill Colliery active from about 1853 to 1881, and Cross Park and Gunter’s both worked after the first World War. (Cross Park was opened in 1926)
A short row of cottages still to be seen at Broadmoor was built by the owners of the Greenhill Colliery. Wilson and Smith’s colliery was one of the earliest to use a steam operated pump. Work in the mines was a traditional occupation and when there were insufficient local opportunities, people walked to Bonvilles Court, Saundersfoot.
There was coal mining in the area in 1620, and there is specific mention of Watershill and Masterland in 1632. In the period 1792-3, collieries called Williamston and Williamston Meadow were worked by Alexander Smith, William Bowen & Co. Williamston Meadow was still occupied by William Bowen and Co. at the turn of the century, but by 1809 Williamston was being worked by Thomas Manning and Co. About the same time, Hill Moor and South Field collieries were operational. These collieries closed with the introduction of deeper mining and better technology. However, mining continued to take place beneath the area from other collieries such as Moreton (closed 1887).
Broadmoor evolved as a mining village. Even in the early 20th century there continued to be some activity at Masterland, one of the places where there was mining in the early 17th century. M.R.C. Price has pointed out that ‘the name Broadmoor Colliery was attached to at least four different workings within a century’. These were Wilson and Smith’s colliery in the first half of the 19th century, the Greenhill Colliery active from about 1853 to 1881, and Cross Park and Gunter’s both worked after the first World War. (Cross Park was opened in 1926)
A short row of cottages still to be seen at Broadmoor was built by the owners of the Greenhill Colliery. Wilson and Smith’s colliery was one of the earliest to use a steam operated pump. Work in the mines was a traditional occupation and when there were insufficient local opportunities, people walked to Bonvilles Court, Saundersfoot.
Chapelry
Although East Williamston has its own church, it was never a separate parish. For centuries, it was a Chapelry or Hamlet of Begelly, and was served by its rector. At the moment the Church is without a permanent vicar.
Although East Williamston has its own church, it was never a separate parish. For centuries, it was a Chapelry or Hamlet of Begelly, and was served by its rector. At the moment the Church is without a permanent vicar.
|
Church of St Elidyr, East Williamston
With the exception of the west end, the church was virtually re-built on the old foundations in the 1880’s. The walls were raised one foot. The windows were of the period of the restoration, but there was a single older window in the west wall near a supporting buttress.. The approach to the small western tower is by external steps following the line of the roof. The bowl of the font is Norman. An additional burial ground was consecrated on 11th July 1898. The land was bought from Sir C.E.G. Philipps (Picton Castle) and Lady Philipps for £18.00. The location of a holy well dedicated to St Mary remains a secret. In 2016 the church was granted funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to renovate the church. During that time the walls were re-rendered with lime mortar and all windows were replaced, including rediscovering the small slit window at the base of the tower under the bell pull. |
|
Ebenezer Baptist Chapel, Cold Inn
At first, services were held in cottages under the guidance of Rev. David Phillips of Molleston and other ministers. One of the local leaders was John Hay of Wooden. In 1859 at a meeting in the former public house, a church was formed. The chapel was built in 1861. Services continue to be held today. |
|
Moreton Chapel
The Methodist Chapel, according to a stone plaque placed in the external wall, was built circa 1851, an addition was erected in 1950 to be used as a church hall and schoolroom and also accommodates a kitchen and facilities. The use of the building for a place of worship has come to an end, it is now a family home.
The Methodist Chapel, according to a stone plaque placed in the external wall, was built circa 1851, an addition was erected in 1950 to be used as a church hall and schoolroom and also accommodates a kitchen and facilities. The use of the building for a place of worship has come to an end, it is now a family home.
East Williamston
The village received mains water in 1937; until then the population relied on 4 wells. Mrs Cole, who moved to the village in 1939, recalls that the village had just 19 houses at that time: 3 farms, 6 small holdings and 10 cottages. Many new properties have been built since.
The village hall was originally built in 1953 . Miss Jermin of the Brotherhill family gave the land for the hall, and as the oldest inhabitant presented the keys at the opening. The hall fell into a state of disrepair and was demolished and rebuilt with lottery funding and opened in June 2000. The hall is now a modern accessible building and the hub of the community. You can find out more on our Community Hall page.
Electricity arrived in the village some time around 1959. Mains drainage was introduced to the village at the discretion of each homeowner in 2011. A community wind turbine was built near Prouts Park Farm in 2018. The Jubilee Community Park was opened in 2002. You can find out more about the Park here.
The village received mains water in 1937; until then the population relied on 4 wells. Mrs Cole, who moved to the village in 1939, recalls that the village had just 19 houses at that time: 3 farms, 6 small holdings and 10 cottages. Many new properties have been built since.
The village hall was originally built in 1953 . Miss Jermin of the Brotherhill family gave the land for the hall, and as the oldest inhabitant presented the keys at the opening. The hall fell into a state of disrepair and was demolished and rebuilt with lottery funding and opened in June 2000. The hall is now a modern accessible building and the hub of the community. You can find out more on our Community Hall page.
Electricity arrived in the village some time around 1959. Mains drainage was introduced to the village at the discretion of each homeowner in 2011. A community wind turbine was built near Prouts Park Farm in 2018. The Jubilee Community Park was opened in 2002. You can find out more about the Park here.
|
Cold Inn
As Mentioned above the name Cold Inn existed in the late 18th century but the public house seems to have been called New Inn. The date of closure is unknown. Probably Susannah Howells was the last innkeeper. Her residence is described in the Land Tax of 1829 as ‘New Inn’, 1830 as ‘New End’ and 1831 as ‘Cold End’, this house and the others nearby were usually referred to in the parish registers as ‘Gould’/‘Gold Inn’. In 1842 Susannah lived on the other side of the road from Cold Inn Farm and slightly closer to East Williamston. |
|
There is however a local tradition that the inn was on the same side as the farm. Cold Inn Farm continues to be the home of the Protheroe family who lived here in the early nineteenth century. ‘Mr. Reg Protheroe decided during his lifetime that he did not wish to be buried in the cemetery of either East Williamston Church or Cold Inn Chapel, but would prefer to be laid to rest on his own land. He completed all the required formalities and permission was granted, so his grave and that of his wife are in a specially tended area.’
Before the second World War, there was a slaughter house and butcher’s and 2 cottages additional to the farm, and the house on the corner of Clayford Road. Many houses have been added to the village in recent times, and the Lovespoon Workshop was opened by the Thomas family in 1975 and is still going strong with the next generation now holding the reins.
Before the second World War, there was a slaughter house and butcher’s and 2 cottages additional to the farm, and the house on the corner of Clayford Road. Many houses have been added to the village in recent times, and the Lovespoon Workshop was opened by the Thomas family in 1975 and is still going strong with the next generation now holding the reins.
|
Broadmoor
Farms such as Masterland and Morgans (now Hanbury Lodge) existed in Tudor days. However, there was little nucleation of population until after the building of the turnpike road. A house on the site of Cross Inn was occupied by one James Humphreys in 1842. Other local occupations besides mining have included the manufacture of bricks and pipes and concrete blocks. The village was known locally for its garage which was established in the 1920’s by Able Owens. It was famous for charging radio batteries, and later they sold bicycles and footwear as well as petrol and oil. Able's daughter Ruth and her husband Jim took over the running of the garage and introduced a post office it was known locally as "Jim Codd's" it is now a used car sales business. |
The village had its own slaughter house and butcher until 1945. The holiday industry has taken over from mining and ‘Cross Park’ for example, formerly the name of a pit, is now a holiday park, along with Morgans Lodge, Masterland Farm and Myrtle Park.
|
Some of the above information is copyright to and kindly supplied by PLANED (formerly SPARC) from their "East Williamston and Broadmoor Sense of Place" leaflet with illustrations by Geoff Scott and reproduced with permission. Find out more about PLANED by clicking here
|
|