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Near the bottom of Barn Street, Haverfordwest, stands an elegant group of houses with iron balustrades, known as 'Spring Gardens'.

In the middle of the nineteenth centurySir William Davies, a solicitor,lived in one of these houses.

Born into a humble family in Prendergast, Haverfordwest, William's father died while he was still young, leaving him andhis motherin extreme poverty.

William was educated in Parson Brown's School in Haverfordwest, leaving when he was fourteen to become articled to his uncle, William Rees, a local solicitor.

When William Davies qualified as a solicitor hemoved to Bristol, where a wealthy relative had left him a legacy.

In 1849, he married his cousin, Miss Martha Morganand they settled in Haverfordwest.They had seven children but, in 1872, Mrs Davies died. Two years later, when he was fifty three, William marriedher sister.

The laws of this country forbade a brother-in-law and sister-in-law from marrying, sothe wedding took placeabroad.

Eventually,a son, Hillard, was born. William Davies'slaw firm prospered and he was said to draw an annual salary of 4,000 a year. Thirty legal clerks were employed by the business and its activities expanded to money-lending and banking.

Master Mariners, farmers, ministers of religion, even servant girls deposited money with the 'Lawyer Banker' of Spring gardens, who was reputed to be fabulously wealthy. Apart from his Barn Street home he owned property in Scoveston and Broad Haven,wielding considerableinfluence and power in the area.

Twice William Davies was Mayor of Haverfordwest, three times he defeated Sir Charles Phillips of Picton Castle, becoming Liberal Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire, a tremendous victory at a time when birth and privilege held sway.

A Deputy Lieutenant of the county and a trustee of the Sir John Perrot Charity, William Davies never forgot the plight of the poor, giving generously from his own coffers to the poor of the town each New Year's Day.

In 1893, William Davies, the son of a poor thatcher, was knighted. Endearingly he erected a cottage on the site of his childhood home.

Disaster appeared in 1895, in the form of bankruptcy, just at the moment when Sir William should have been enjoying his achievements. Within a few months he was dead, a broken man, though the cause of death was given as an abscess on the kidneys.

Sir Williamwas buried in Machpelah Cemetery, Haverfordwest.

The local paper voiced the sentiments of many when it saidSir Williamhad been an honourable man: the greatest charge that could be laid against him was misfortune.

Time mellowed the feelings of those who had lost their moneyand Sir William was remembered in the town as a good man.

'Mrs Morgan' was the author of 'A Tour to Milford Haven'.The wife of the Vicar of Ely, she visited Haverfordwest during the C19th.

Her book casts light on the state of the roads at this time. Although the roads in Haverfordwest are deemed good, not many townspeople kept carriages, because the roads leading out of town were 'deplorable'.

Mrs Morgan singles out the turnpike road from Haverfordwest to Honeyborough as being particularly bad.

Ladies often road side-saddle, but Mrs Morgan decides not to. Shefears her mount might stumbleon the many loose stones,throwing her, but she concedes the horses are used to the hazard for: 'It is surprising how the horses lift up their feet over them'.

On her journey to Honeyborough, south of Haverfordwest, Mrs Morgan meets drovers taking large numbers of bullocks to market in England. It couldnot have been apleasant experience, because she writes: 'The journey was attended with many alarms to me'.

Mrs Morgan sympathiseswith thejudges who cameto Pembrokeshire for the Assizes and had to put up with the discomforts of travelling on poor roads.

Local people are not deterred from travelling, however.

In 1851, theomnibus for Carmarthen left Salutation Square on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at eight o'clock in the morning. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdys it departed from 'The Old Swan' at half past elevenin the morning.

Each day an omnibus left 'The King's Arms', bound for Milford Haven.On Tuesday and Saturdays passengers for St. David's gathered at 'The Mariners Hotel' to board the four o'clock omnibus.

Three carriers left for Cardigan on a Thursday, driven by John Thomas, James Williams and Henry Hanson. Evidently, Haverfordwest was not an isolated town.

I've been researching my ancestry for several years and, fortunately, have relatives who have archives of a number of people on my mother's side of the family.

The reason I first started my ancestry tree was that I knew nothing about my paternal grandfather but, inevitably, I've done a great deal of research on my maternal ancestors and relatives too. Amongst my maternal associations are Lewis Thomas and Sir Thomas Herbert Parry-Williams, though I should stress that neither of them is a blood relation as they both married into the family, as it were.

While Parry-Williams will no doubt be familiar to you, Lewis Thomas may be less so. He married my first cousin (twice removed), Mary Emiah Jones; she was born in Llanon, Carmarthenshire, and became a teacher in Pontyberem. Lewis Thomas was, according to the BBC website where I got this information, a pioneer of the art of Cerdd Dant (singing to harp accompaniment) in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in Pontyberem, the eldest of a collier's nine sons. He went down the mines himself until he became a shoemaker. He married and opened a shop in Pontyberem where he had shoemaking apprentices. He won prizes at three National Eisteddfodau: Caerphilly (1950), Aberystwyth (1952) and Ystradgynlais (1954). He was also made a member of the Gorsedd at the Llanelli National Eisteddfod in 1930.

Sir Thomas Herbert Parry-Williams, the illustrious poet, married my second cousin (once removed), Emiah Jane Thomas (plenty of Emiahs in the family, you'll notice!) who became known as Lady Amy. As you will know, he too was very successful at National Eisteddfodau, winning both chair and crown on two separate occasions.

What impresses me about Wales is that those who have entered (and won) competitions in local and national Eisteddfodau are not necessarily highly-educated or even the offspring of parents who are highly educated (Parry-Williams was, of course). It says much that the son (or daughter) of a collier or, for that matter, a farmer, shoemaker or anyone, can achieve so much in the arts of music, poetry and prose. It's very egalitarian and all the more to be applauded for that reason.

A project that may interest a number of our readers and members:-

After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities

" I am working to raise $5000 to support After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities. This documentary film that explores how two mining cultures face the challenge of their dependence on fossil fuels. Currently the Appalachian coalfields are struggling with chronic unemployment and environmental degradation, while Wales has experimented with strategies to rebuild their communities after the mines closed. As the Appalachian coalfields enter their last generation of mining, this documentary project will help map directions to a sustainable future after coal ." .... more .

"As y'all may recall, this summer I took a class on Postindustrial Wales as my first graduate course at Appalachian State. For our final assignment, we were instructed by Billy Schumann to propose three sites for a proposed Appalachia/Wales documentary. I'd love to share my proposal with y'all (it is quite humorously cinematic), but it was handwritten when I submitted it this summer. I've become quite interested in Wales and am trying to find ways to incorporate what I've seen into my thesis.".... more .

Forthcoming events at The Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey include the following
Race Night on Friday, November 11, first race at 7.30pm. Tickets (3) available at the bar. Proceeds to the Ladies Centenary Fund.
The series of Themed dining evenings continues, following the success of the Mediterranean and Asian/Oriental evenings. On Friday November 18, British Isles Menu; Friday December 9, French menu.

Haverfordwest's High Street was once grand and elegant, boasting a variety of architectural styles. Near the top of the street stood tall Georgian houses, built forwealthy merchantsof the town during the C18th.

Traditionally, the country gentry left their mansions and took up residence in their town houses during the winter months,continuing to do this into the nineteenth century. Families like the Pictons, the Laugharnes and the Lort-Phillips' added to the gaiety of the social scene.

Parties were given and balls attended, sometimes in the Assembly Rooms near Saint Mary's Church at the top of the town. Haverfordwestrivalled Bath for entertainment.

Ladies prepared for thefestivities bychanging into evening gowns inbedroomswarmed byfires their maids had lit. Dressedelaborately inshimmering dressesthey rouged their cheeksandfixed diamond clips to sparkle in their hair. Beaded bags, feather fans and boascompleted their ensembles.

The sedan chair, or even a carriage was the usual form of transport, to convey the ladies over the steep cobbled streets.

At these soirees, old social contacts were renewed, friendships ignitedand mothers with eligible daughters hopedgood matches wouldbe made.

On August 12, 1780, Jones Llwyd, a Carmarthenshire barrister, sent a letter tohis 'Ever Dear Alicia' from Haverfordwest. Things were very quiet inCourt and he was scarce making enough money to powderhis wig. A bright spot occurred when he attended a Ball given by Sir Cornwallis Maude where he met Mr and Mrs John Vaughan and Miss Price of Cilgwyn.

In 'A Tour of Milford Haven', Mrs Morgan, wife of the Vicarof Ely, says she attended some dances in Haverfordwest andwas enchanted by the gentlemen whose acquaintance she made, remarking that 'they have a softness of manner that is perfectly pleasing'.

So the drabness of the winter months wereeased by the social life of the town.

Here is a lovely jewelry box for the Welsh woman, or any woman. Featuring the lines to the popular Welsh song Ar Lan Y Mor. Makes a wonderful gift!

http://www.zazzle.com/welsh_song_jewelry_box_gift_box-246830708555763435

For the Welsh Rugby fan, especially you men, here's a box perfect for your rings, wallet, tie clip, whatever. In several sizes and colors, makes a great gift!

http://www.zazzle.com/wales_rugby_jewelry_box_gift_box-246007655437722279