Neath Genealogical Records
Neath Birth & Baptism Records
An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.
Name index attached to original images of the baptism registers of St David, Neath. Records document parents' names, date of baptism and/or birth, residence, occupations and more.
Records of baptism for people born in and around Neath between 1653 and 1912. Details include child's name, parents' names and dates of birth and/or baptism.
Digital images of baptism registers that can be searched by name. They record baptisms, which typically occur shortly after birth, and list the baptised's name, date of birth and/or baptism and parents' names. They may also list where the parents lived, their occupations and occasionally other details.
An index of close to 1 million baptism, marriage and burial registers extracted from records of the Church of England.
Neath Marriage & Divorce Records
An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.
Banns registers list the names of people who intended to marry by the system of calling banns, in which the bride and groom's name were called for three weeks at church. At these callings objections could be made to a marriage. Thus they record any intended marriages that didn't occur.
Name index linked to original images of the marriage registers of St Thomas, Neath. Records document marriages from 1853 to 1866. Details may include a party's age, residence, martial status, father's name and signature.
Banns registers list the names of people who intended to marry by the system of calling banns, in which the bride and groom's name were called for three weeks at church. At these callings objections could be made to a marriage. They record the bride and groom's parish of residence.
Abstracts of marriage licences granted by the Vicar-General in London. These licences could be used to marry in any church in the Province of Canterbury.
Neath Death & Burial Records
An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.
Records of burial for people buried at St Thomas, Neath between 1653 and 1956. Details include the deceased's name, residence and age.
Records of burial for people buried at Quaker, Neath between 1804 and 1848. Details include the deceased's name, residence and age.
Burial records covering those buried at St Thomas, Neath_. This resource is an index and may not include all the details that were recorded in the burial registers from which they were extracted.
An index to burials recorded in the registers of a Quaker church. The index contains the name of the deceased, the date of their burial and their age where available.
Neath Census & Population Lists
An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.
The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.
A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.
Digital images recording those eligible to vote in part of Glamorganshire.
The 1901 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.
Newspapers Covering Neath
A Welsh- and English-language newspaper that predominantly covered local news. It was a left-wing publication. Each edition has been indexed and digitised.
An English language journal containing articles on historical and artistic topics related to the Swansea area.
A journal publishing historical sources relating to South Wales, with introductory texts, indexes and illustrations.
A twice-yearly English-language local history journal containing articles on historical topics, with references, book reviews, notes and news.
2,700 fully searchable editions of a conservative newspaper. It contained local news, family announcements, sports etc.
Neath Wills & Probate Records
Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.
An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.
A searchable database of mid-17th Century probates performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Supplies details of testator and executor.
An index to most surviving wills, administrations and inventories proved in Wales' six ecclesiastical courts and the Peculiar of Hawarden. Most documents are available to view online.
A index to testators whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. They principally cover those who lived in the lower two thirds of Britain, but contain wills for residents of Scotland, Ireland, British India and other countries. A copy of each will may be purchased for digital download.
Neath Immigration & Travel Records
A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.
A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.
An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.
Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.
A list of over 40,000 passengers traveling from North America to the British Isles. Details of passengers may include: occupation, nationality, gender, age, martial status, class, destination, and details of the vessel they sailed on.
Neath Military Records
A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.
Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.
Index and original images of over 5 million medal index cards for British soldiers It can be searched by individual's name, Coprs, Unit and Regiment. Due to the loss of many WWI service records, this is the most complete source for British WWI soldiers
This rich collection contains contains records for 1.9 million non-commissioned officers and other ranks who fought in WWI. Due to bomb damage in WWI, around 60% of service records were lost. Documents cover: enlistment, medical status, injuries, conduct, awards and discharge. A great deal of genealogical and biographical documentation can be found in these documents, including details on entire families, physical descriptions and place of birth.
An index to nearly 900,000 military personnel who were awarded the Silver War Badge for sustaining injures. Records include rank, regimental number, unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, and reason for discharge.
Neath Court & Legal Records
Records of over 300,000 prisoners held by quarter sessions in England & Wales. Records may contain age, occupation, criminal history, offence and trial proceedings.
Over 175,000 records detailing prisoner's alleged offences and the outcome of their trial. Contains genealogical information.
Digital images of ledgers recording those registered to vote, searchable by an index of 220 million names. Entries list name, address, qualification to vote, description of property and sometimes age and occupation.
From the late 18th century many prisoners in Britain were kept on decommissioned ships known as hulks. This collection contains nearly 50 years of registers for various ships. Details given include: prisoner's name, date received, age, year of birth and conviction details.
This collection lists brief details on 1.55 million criminal cases in England and Wales between 1791 and 1892. Its primary use is to locate specific legal records, which may give further details on the crime and the accused. Details may include the accused's age, nature of crime, location of trial and sentence. Early records can contain a place of birth.
Neath Taxation Records
A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.
This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.
An index linked to original images of registers recording apprenticeship indentures. Details are given on the trade and nature of apprenticeship. Many records list the parents of the apprentice.
An index to wills and administrations that incurred a death duty tax. The index can be used to order documents that give a brief abstract of the will and details on the duty. It can be used as a make-shift probate index.
Index to personal names listed in the Royalist Composition Papers that dealt with the estates of royalists.
Neath Land & Property Records
Digital images recording those eligible to vote in part of Glamorganshire.
This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.
Poll books record the names of voters and the direction of their vote. Until 1872 only landholders could vote, so not everyone will be listed. Useful for discerning an ancestor's political leanings and landholdings. The collection is supplemented with other records relating to the vote.
Abstracts of records detailing the estates and families of deceased tenants from the reigns of Henry III and Edward I.
A searchable database of thousands of transcribed and abstracted manuscripts, largely pertaining to land.
Neath Directories & Gazetteers
A description of Swansea with directories of its streets, trades, public institutions & officials, churches & friendly societies.
A description of the area, with lists of residents.
A description of the area, with lists of residents.
A description of the area, with lists of residents.
A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.
Neath Cemeteries
An index to vital details engraved on over 80,000 gravestones and other monuments across the county of Glamorgan.
Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.
Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.
Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.
A searchable database of photographs relating to railways and canals in Britain.
Neath Obituaries
The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.
A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.
A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.
This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.
A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.
Neath Histories & Books
An English language journal containing articles on historical and artistic topics related to the Swansea area.
Photographs and images of churches in Neath.
A journal publishing historical sources relating to South Wales, with introductory texts, indexes and illustrations.
A twice-yearly English-language local history journal containing articles on historical topics, with references, book reviews, notes and news.
An annual journal containing scholarly articles on geology, archaeology and natural history, with book reviews and society notes.
Neath School & Education Records
Transcriptions of admission registers for 10 Glamorganshire schools. Records contain date of birth and the name of a pupil's parent or guardian.
A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.
A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.
A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.
A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.
Neath Occupation & Business Records
A liberal newspaper that predominantly covered mercantile and shipping matters. It did not contain family announcements. Each edition has been indexed and digitised.
An introduction to smuggling on the west coast of Britain & the Isle of Man, with details of the act in various regions.
An index of Glamorgan police officers who came from the West Country.
An index to and images of registers recording over 3.7 million trade union members.
Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.
Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Neath
Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.
A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.
A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
Neath Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records
Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.
A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.
Over 600 pedigrees for English and Welsh families who had a right to bear a coat of arms.
A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.
Lineages of Britain and Ireland's untitled landed families; supplemented with biographical sketches.
Neath Church Records
Documentation for those baptised, married and buried at Neath. Parish registers can assist tracing a family back numerous generations.
Digital images of registers that record baptisms, which typically occur shortly after birth; marriages and burials. The registers can be searched by name and can help establish links between individuals back to the 16th century.
An index of close to 1 million baptism, marriage and burial registers extracted from records of the Church of England.
The parish registers of Wales are a collection of books documenting baptisms, marriages and burials from 1914 to 2013.
The primary source of documentation for baptisms, marriages and burials before 1837, though useful to the present also.
Biographical Directories Covering Neath
A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.
A directory containing lengthy biographies of noted British figures. The work took over two decades to compile. Biographies can be searched by name and are linked to images of the original publication.
Neath Maps
A collection of digitalised maps covering the county.
Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.
An interactive map featuring four OS map editions published between 1868 and 1954. To load a map select the menu tab on the far right, select the edition you wish to view and zoom in to a locality.
Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.
Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.
Neath Reference Works
A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in Wales.
Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.
A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.
A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.
A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.
Historical Description
Neath, a market-town, seated at the bottom of a valley, on the banks of the river Nedd. The streets are extremely irregular and narrow, and the houses, with few exceptions, ill built, and incommodious. The town used to be covered with the smoke of the copper works in its neighbourhood; a circumstance which must render it a very unhealthy place of residence, though its population is estimated at near 3000 inhabitants.
The church is a large and handsome structure, divided into two aisles by a range of pillars, which support the arches of the roof, having a chancel at one end, and at the other a substantial square tower, surmounted by an embattled parapet.
A few ruins of its old castle, built probably by Richard de Granville, a Norman, still remain, comprising part of the walls, and one of the gateways, which has a massive round tower on each side. In 1231 Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, being offended at Hubert Burgh's conduct on the marches, burnt this castle to the ground. There is no manufactory here entitled to notice; the copper works at Melin Crythan, about a mile from Neath, are discontinued, and the collieries have long lain in a state of inactivity. However, the mineral treasures of the adjacent county, still create a considerable trade here, much promoted by the construction of a navigable canal from the upper part of the vale, to a shipping place at Briton Ferry, and communicating with the iron works at Aberdare. The country about Neath is enlivened by several gentlemen's seats, and among these one of the principal is Gnoll Castle, the ancient residence of the Mackworths, but now that of H. J. Grant, Esq.
About one mile west of the town of Neath, near our road, stands Neath Abbey, called by Leland the fairest in all Wales. It is styled by the Welsh, Abatly Glyn Nedd, or the Abbacy of the Vale of Neath; for Nedd is properly the name of the river running through it, being descriptive of the gentle course of its stream, compared with most of the neighbouring waters. This abbey was founded for Cistertians, by Richard de Granville, and Constance his wife, who gave their chapel in Neath Castle, likewise the tithes belonging to it, and a large tract of waste land, with other possessions in temp. Henry I. to endow the same, which was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. About the time of the dissolution it contained only eight monks, and valued at 132l. 7s. 7d. per annum; but, according to Speed, 150l. 4s. 9d. and granted 33 Henry VIII. to Sir Richard Williams, alias Crumwell. The ruins are on the west side of the river, with lancet windows, which form the north side of a quadrangle. The gates, hall, and gallery, still remain, having in front of a contiguous room, in stone, the arms of England and of John of Gaunt, with three chevrons quartering three horsemen's crests—Granville. In this abbey the unfortunate Edward II. sheltered himself till he was taken. The remains of it were inhabited by some poor families belonging to the workmen employed in the neighbouring metal works. The iconography of the old church, which was of excellent architecture, and immense size, may easily be traced.
The great western window of the Abbey Church, fell down within these few years, and a large part of the side walls have since shared the same fate. No adequate idea can be formed from the present remains, of the original extent and magnificence of this edifice.
Foundations of buildings are to be traced in the adjacent grounds for a considerable distance, and some of the houses in the village were evidently connected with the main building.
A navigable canal has been made to communicate with all the interior parts of the county to Pont Nedd Vechan, in Breconshire, about twelve miles off. A little north of Neath is a beautiful cataract, falling nearly 150 feet perpendicular.
NEATH is a municipal and parliamentary borough, market town, seaport, and parish, the head of a poor law union, petty sessional division and county court district, on the south side of the Neath or Nedd river, which is navigable for vessels of from 300 to 400 tons burthen, with a station on the South Wales main line and another on the Vale of Neath section of the Great Western railway. The Neath and Brecon Railway Co. have a line from Neath to Brecon, with running powers into the Neath Low Level station of the Great Western railway. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay railway have a branch from their main line, with a terminus station, opened in 1895, at the south-west end of the town, which forms a direct route to Swansea Docks and the Rhondda Valley, 7 miles east-north-east from Swansea, 38 west from Cardiff, 78 from Bristol, and 193 ½ miles from London by the Great Western railway, via the Severn Tunnel, in the Mid division of the county of Glamorgan, hundred of Neath, rural deanery of Upper Groneath (western division), and archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaff. The town is a borough by prescription, but under the provisions of the “Municipal Corporations Act, 1832” (5 & 6 William IV. c. 76) the Corporation was remodelled and now consists of a mayor, four aldermen and twelve councillors, one third of whom go out annually, but are eligible for re-election. The Corporation also acts as the Urban Sanitary Authority. The borough has a separate police force and commission of the peace. The town is well lighted with gas, and supplied with water from works at Gnoll Park, both belonging to the Corporation; a new reservoir is now (1895) in course of construction. The Harbour and Docks for Neath are at Briton Ferry. Neath, together with Aberavon, Kenfig, Loughor and Swansea, forms the Swansea Parliamentary district, returning one member. The Neath Canal, that from Abemant to Briton Ferry, and the Tennant Canal, give convenient water communication from all parts of the valley to Neath and Swansea. Neath claims, as a place, a high antiquity, being, as is generally allowed, identical with the “Nidum” of Antoninus, and the hills and valleys by which it is surrounded abound in mineral wealth, the apparently inexhaustible character of which has chiefly contributed to the mercantile importance and continued prosperity of the town.
The parish church of St. Thomas the Apostle is an ancient building of stone, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, and a massive embattled western tower, containing a clock and 6 bells; the east and west windows are stained; the church was restored in 1874 at a cost of £2,600, when the galleries were removed and the whole church re-seated with open benches; there are sittings for about 700 persons, and the services are conducted entirely in Welsh. The register of baptisms and burials dates from the year 1692; marriages, 1694. The living is a rectory, with Llantwit annexed, tithe rent-charge £365, average £278, joint gross yearly value £436, net £218, with glebe (£84) and residence, in the gift of the Marquess of Bute, and held since 1855 by the Ven. John Griffiths B.D. Cantuar, archdeacon and canon residentiary of Llandaff.
The church of St. David, a chapel of ease to that of St. Thomas, erected in 1866, at a cost of £10,000, on a site presented by the late Howel Gwyn esq. of Dyffryn, is a cruciform building of local blue-sandstone, with Bath stone dressings, and bands of red sandstone introduced, in the Florentine Gothic style of the thirteenth century, and consists of apsidal chancel with a finely carved stone Teredos, three windows of which are stained, nave, aisles, transepts, north transept aisle (used as a vestry), south porch, narthex with seven bays and a tower, 88 feet high, at the south-west angle of the chancel, with massive pinnacles at the angles and a spire containing a clock and 1 bell, the total height being 152 feet. The services here are conducted in English, while the parish church is used entirely for services in Welsh.
The church of St. Catherine, Melincrythan, also a chapel of ease to the parish church, and locally in the parish of Llantwit, erected in 1890, at a cost of £3,000, and opened May, 1891, is a building of local blue stone with Bath stone dressings in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and a belfry containing 1 bell; there are 510 sittings. The site, of half an acre, was the gift of Edward Evans esq. Eaglesbush, and the pulpit, of polished Devonshire marble, was given by O. H. Thomas esq. in memory of his wife. The register dates from 1894. The handsome altar cloth was presented by Charles Evan-Thomas esq. of The Gnoll. The font of Caen stone, on polished marble columns, is the gift of the Sunday school. To this church a very handsome bequest of £500 was made by the late Miss Place, of Neath; it has also an endowment of £10 per year, made by the late Mrs. Grant.
The Catholic church, in Castle street, dedicated to St. Joseph, was formerly a Wesleyan chapel; it has. 200 sittings. The meeting place of the Society of Friends in James street occupies part of the site of the old castle and has 150 sittings, with a burial ground adjacent. Bethany Welsh Baptist chapel, London Road, is a building in the Greek Classic style, with 500 sittings. The Welsh Congregational chapel (Maes-yr-haf), Green street, erected in 1769 and rebuilt in 1864 is a building of Welsh stone with Forest of Dean stone dressings, and has sittings for 780 persons.
The Town Hall, standing in the centre of the town, is a building of the Doric order, and contains a spacious court room for magistrates’ and county court meetings, capable of seating 600 persons. The county court sits here monthly; the basement is used as a corn market, and also contains the offices of the borough police; the hall is also let for concerts, entertainments and public meetings. The Gwyn Hall, in Orchard street, erected in 1887—8 by the corporation, at a cost of about £7,000, on a site presented by the late Howel Gwyn esq. of Dyffryn, is a building of blue sandstone with Bath stone dressings, in the Gothic style, and consists of a large public hall, holding 1,500 people, a council chamber and municipal offices; in the hall is a fine toned organ, given by Mrs. Gwyn; the Glamorganshire county council hold meetings here half yearly; the borough council and various meetings of the county authorities are also held here. In front of the hall, on a granite pedestal, is a fine bronze statue of the late Howel Gwyn esq. designed by Raggi, erected in 1888 by the principal residents of the neighbourhood and county.
The county constabulary offices, in Windsor road, have an attached police court, erected in 1862.
There is a Mechanics' Institute in Church place. The Constitutional Club, in Orchard street, was erected in 1885, on a site given by the late Howel Gwyn esq. and cost nearly £3,000; it is a building of red brick, relieved with Bath stone dressings, and consists of a large reading-room, dining, smoking and billiard rooms, and a hall for entertainments, which will seat about 250 people; there is also a small library, and baths were added in 1891; the club was furnished at a cost of £1,000, and has 550 members, and the building was erected by a limited company and leased to a committee.
The Liberal Club occupies premises in Orchard street, comprising billiard, smoking and reading rooms, a reference library of 200 volumes, and attached is a bowling alley and quoit ground. The Masonic Hall, in Queen street, was erected in 1848.
The market is in Green street, market days being Wednesday (which is the principal market) and Saturday. There is also a market for the sale of horses, cattle &c. on the last Wednesday in every month. Fairs are held on the last Wednesday in March; hiring fair, also stock, horse and wool, 1st and 2nd Wednesday after 12th May, June, Trinity Wednesday; July, last Wednesday, cattle and horse; September, 2nd Thursday, sheep, cattle and horse; also the great pleasure fair of the year October, last Wednesday; hiring and horse and cattle, 1st and 2nd Wednesday after 12th November.
The Glamorganshire Reformatory School, which is under the control of a committee of seven members, was established in 1858, at Hawdref-Ganol, and removed in March, 1875, to the present building at Ty-Segur; it is a well-built structure of stone, with blue brick dressings, pleasantly seated on the slope of a hill overlooking the town and valley of Neath. It is available for 65 boys, the number detained on the 31st December, 1894, being 60.
In the vicinity are copper smelting and tinplate works, fire brick manufactories, chemical works, several foundries and collieries and a brewery. The principal exports from the Port of Neath are iron and tin plates, copper, spelter, fire bricks, coal and culm; of coal 290,896 tons were sent coastwise and foreign for the year ending 31st March, 1894.
The No. 7 Co. of the 1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers and the K company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Welsh Regiment, have head quarters in Quay road.
Charities, amounting to £2, are distributed in bread. In Water street is an almshouse for six poor women, founded in 1670 by Alderman John Gibbs. Alderman Davies left various lands, the rents of which, amounting to about £100 per annum, are assigned to the support of the school in St. David's street.
On the east side of the river are some remaining fragments of the castle, included in the domains of Jestyn ap Gwrgan, lord of Morganwg; it was repaired and enlarged by his kinsman, Richard de Granville, but in 1231 was burned by Llewellyn ap Jorwerth.
One mile from the town, in the village of Neath Abbey, are the picturesque ruins of the Cistercian abbey of St. Mary and Holy Trinity, founded in 1130, by Richard de Granville, and colonised from Savigny. In 1224 the monastery was burned. Leland describes it as “the fairest abby in Wales, " and its beauty and magnificence, and the tuneful melody of its bells, were commemorated in 1500 by the native bards. At the dissolution there were eight monks, and the revenue was estimated at £132 yearly. The remains, now surrounded by smoky coal pits, represent a church 215 feet long, and resembling Tintern; the nave, of seven bays, was 100 feet, the crossing and presbytery, which had aisles also, 110 feet, the transept, with two chapels in each wing, 140 feet; on the east side of the cloister were the sacristy, chapter house of three alleys, the slype and the common-house, still remaining; on the west side are ceIlarage and a cart entrance, porch, dark entry, and the undercroft of the guest-house. Here in 1320 the unfortunate Edward II, found a temporary refuge, shortly before the loss of his kingdom and life.
Among the principal residences in the neighbourhood may be mentioned “The Gnoll,” belonging to and occupied by Charles Evan-Thomas esq. M.A., J.P., D.L. which is beautifully situated on an elevated spot on the south side of the town of which it commands fine views, as well as of the valley of Neath and some parts of the bay of Swansea, and of the Breconshire Beacons to the north. In the grounds is a cascade, partly artificial, which has been much admired. Ynys-y-gerwn, near Aberdulais, a large mansion situated amid the delightful scenery of the Vale of Neath, is at present (1895) unoccupied.
Dyffryn, the seat of Mrs. Gwyn, has extensive grounds, and is about two miles distant from the town.
The Drymma, the seat of John Birch Paddon esq. J.P. is pleasantly situated overlooking the Bristol Channel, the mansion, built in 1876, is about 3 miles from the town.
Cadoxton Lodge, the seat of Mrs. Tennant, is pleasantly situated a short distance from the town. The grounds afford some of the most beautiful views in the neighbourhood, comprising a great portion of the Vale of Neath.
Eaglesbush House, the seat of Walter Rice Evans esq. stands on elevated ground, and affords a charming prospect of the surrounding country, the mansion, rebuilt in 1876, has been for many generations the residence of the Evans family.
The principal landowners are C. Evan-Thomas esq. who is lord of the manor, Mrs. Gwyn, Sir J. T. Dillwyn-Llewelyn bart. M.P. Walter Rice Evans esq. Rees Powell Morgan esq. and Pendrill Charles esq.
The area of the parish and town is 1,133 acres of land and 67 of water, tidal water and foreshore; rateable value, £39,756; the population in 1891 was 11,060, including 80 officers and inmates in the workhouse, and 60 in the reformatory. The area of the municipal borough is 1,439 acres; the population in 1891 was 11,113, which includes 53 in Blaenhonddan township.
Verger of St. David’s church, Thomas Harries.
Most Common Surnames in Neath
| Rank | Surname | Incidence | Frequency | Percent of Parent | Rank in Neath Hundred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davies | 834 | 1:15 | 2.67% | 2 |
| 2 | Jones | 744 | 1:16 | 2.33% | 1 |
| 3 | Thomas | 719 | 1:17 | 2.60% | 3 |
| 4 | Williams | 548 | 1:22 | 2.12% | 4 |
| 5 | Rees | 362 | 1:34 | 3.11% | 8 |
| 6 | Evans | 357 | 1:34 | 1.87% | 5 |
| 7 | Lewis | 267 | 1:45 | 1.99% | 6 |
| 8 | Morgan | 263 | 1:46 | 2.17% | 7 |
| 9 | Jenkins | 259 | 1:47 | 2.89% | 9 |
| 10 | Griffiths | 209 | 1:58 | 2.81% | 10 |
| 11 | James | 169 | 1:72 | 2.50% | 11 |
| 12 | Harris | 150 | 1:81 | 3.78% | 16 |
| 13 | Hopkins | 141 | 1:86 | 5.51% | 24 |
| 14 | Phillips | 133 | 1:91 | 2.52% | 14 |
| 15 | Richards | 125 | 1:97 | 2.17% | 13 |
| 16 | Hughes | 122 | 1:99 | 3.13% | 17 |
| 17 | Edwards | 93 | 1:130 | 1.80% | 15 |
| 18 | Parker | 90 | 1:135 | 13.49% | 64 |
| 19 | Morgans | 89 | 1:136 | 5.00% | 32 |
| 20 | Morris | 87 | 1:139 | 2.36% | 19 |
| 21 | Arnold | 86 | 1:141 | 29.86% | 160 |
| 22 | Price | 85 | 1:143 | 2.21% | 18 |
| 23 | Howells | 79 | 1:154 | 3.07% | 23 |
| 24 | Roberts | 74 | 1:164 | 2.16% | 20 |
| 25 | Smith | 71 | 1:171 | 2.59% | 22 |
| 26 | Watkins | 70 | 1:173 | 3.48% | 28 |
| 26 | Llewellyn | 70 | 1:173 | 3.49% | 30 |
| 28 | Bowen | 66 | 1:184 | 2.78% | 26 |
| 29 | Harries | 63 | 1:193 | 5.35% | 41 |
| 29 | Rosser | 63 | 1:193 | 5.93% | 44 |
| 31 | Lloyd | 56 | 1:217 | 2.22% | 25 |
| 32 | Powell | 55 | 1:221 | 1.90% | 21 |
| 33 | Walters | 53 | 1:229 | 3.14% | 34 |
| 34 | John | 51 | 1:238 | 0.87% | 12 |
| 35 | Reynolds | 49 | 1:248 | 7.61% | 67 |
| 36 | Taylor | 46 | 1:264 | 3.73% | 40 |
| 37 | Hill | 45 | 1:270 | 4.00% | 42 |
| 38 | Francis | 44 | 1:276 | 2.84% | 35 |
| 39 | Daniel | 43 | 1:282 | 5.21% | 55 |
| 40 | Matthews | 41 | 1:296 | 4.58% | 52 |
| 40 | Michael | 41 | 1:296 | 11.58% | 128 |
| 42 | Stephens | 40 | 1:303 | 3.93% | 47 |
| 42 | Bevan | 40 | 1:303 | 1.97% | 27 |
| 44 | Rowlands | 34 | 1:357 | 3.36% | 48 |
| 44 | Lovering | 34 | 1:357 | 39.08% | 476 |
| 46 | Gregory | 33 | 1:368 | 8.21% | 115 |
| 46 | Nicholas | 33 | 1:368 | 4.72% | 63 |
| 48 | Miles | 32 | 1:379 | 3.87% | 55 |
| 48 | Mort | 32 | 1:379 | 12.55% | 187 |
| 50 | Collins | 30 | 1:404 | 2.96% | 49 |
| 50 | Ball | 30 | 1:404 | 10.38% | 158 |
| 50 | Sullivan | 30 | 1:404 | 2.40% | 39 |
| 53 | Mills | 28 | 1:433 | 7.25% | 119 |
| 53 | Owen | 28 | 1:433 | 1.58% | 33 |
| 53 | Hutchins | 28 | 1:433 | 25.00% | 378 |
| 56 | Allen | 27 | 1:449 | 3.78% | 61 |
| 57 | Clarke | 26 | 1:467 | 4.69% | 83 |
| 57 | Bartlett | 26 | 1:467 | 13.00% | 235 |
| 57 | Bryant | 26 | 1:467 | 4.66% | 82 |
| 57 | Alford | 26 | 1:467 | 44.07% | 691 |
| 57 | Tamplin | 26 | 1:467 | 44.07% | 691 |
| 62 | George | 25 | 1:485 | 1.91% | 37 |
| 63 | David | 24 | 1:506 | 1.19% | 29 |
| 64 | Baker | 23 | 1:528 | 2.93% | 58 |
| 65 | Hall | 22 | 1:552 | 5.30% | 110 |
| 65 | Owens | 22 | 1:552 | 2.12% | 46 |
| 65 | Charles | 22 | 1:552 | 3.54% | 72 |
| 65 | Snow | 22 | 1:552 | 34.92% | 653 |
| 65 | Richard | 22 | 1:552 | 4.34% | 88 |
| 65 | Manuel | 22 | 1:552 | 33.85% | 629 |
| 71 | Singleton | 21 | 1:578 | 27.63% | 545 |
| 71 | Broom | 21 | 1:578 | 33.33% | 653 |
| 71 | Gowman | 21 | 1:578 | 63.64% | 1,190 |
| 74 | Parry | 20 | 1:607 | 1.88% | 43 |
| 74 | Sims | 20 | 1:607 | 6.37% | 141 |
| 74 | Steer | 20 | 1:607 | 32.79% | 668 |
| 74 | Brennan | 20 | 1:607 | 35.09% | 709 |
| 74 | Trick | 20 | 1:607 | 25.00% | 523 |
| 79 | Bishop | 19 | 1:639 | 7.12% | 171 |
| 79 | Wilkins | 19 | 1:639 | 6.15% | 144 |
| 79 | Thorne | 19 | 1:639 | 11.31% | 272 |
| 79 | Samuel | 19 | 1:639 | 2.34% | 57 |
| 83 | Ryan | 18 | 1:674 | 6.23% | 158 |
| 83 | McCarthy | 18 | 1:674 | 2.76% | 65 |
| 83 | Johns | 18 | 1:674 | 2.80% | 68 |
| 83 | Anthony | 18 | 1:674 | 4.93% | 126 |
| 83 | Derrick | 18 | 1:674 | 20.69% | 476 |
| 83 | Treharne | 18 | 1:674 | 4.56% | 117 |
| 89 | Green | 17 | 1:714 | 3.08% | 84 |
| 89 | Cook | 17 | 1:714 | 3.04% | 81 |
| 89 | Butler | 17 | 1:714 | 4.04% | 108 |
| 89 | Howell | 17 | 1:714 | 1.32% | 38 |
| 89 | Vaughan | 17 | 1:714 | 2.77% | 75 |
| 89 | Hunkin | 17 | 1:714 | 94.44% | 1,973 |
| 95 | Turner | 16 | 1:758 | 3.54% | 102 |
| 95 | Cox | 16 | 1:758 | 3.25% | 90 |
| 95 | Chapman | 16 | 1:758 | 6.87% | 202 |
| 95 | Russell | 16 | 1:758 | 5.06% | 140 |
| 95 | Palmer | 16 | 1:758 | 3.54% | 102 |
| 95 | Freeman | 16 | 1:758 | 11.03% | 304 |
| 95 | Tucker | 16 | 1:758 | 2.14% | 60 |
| 95 | Pugh | 16 | 1:758 | 2.76% | 80 |
| 95 | Bray | 16 | 1:758 | 19.05% | 494 |
| 95 | Lake | 16 | 1:758 | 10.60% | 295 |
| 95 | Dobbs | 16 | 1:758 | 25.00% | 642 |
| 95 | Mellin | 16 | 1:758 | 33.33% | 833 |
| 95 | Swash | 16 | 1:758 | 57.14% | 1,371 |
| 108 | Newton | 15 | 1:809 | 13.16% | 372 |
| 108 | Reed | 15 | 1:809 | 3.50% | 107 |
| 108 | Smart | 15 | 1:809 | 17.05% | 471 |
| 108 | Copp | 15 | 1:809 | 23.81% | 653 |
| 108 | Cornelius | 15 | 1:809 | 15.63% | 436 |
| 108 | Leyshon | 15 | 1:809 | 2.88% | 86 |
| 114 | Wright | 14 | 1:867 | 5.26% | 173 |
| 114 | Clark | 14 | 1:867 | 3.68% | 122 |
| 114 | Knight | 14 | 1:867 | 4.83% | 157 |
| 114 | Hawkins | 14 | 1:867 | 4.09% | 134 |
| 114 | Perry | 14 | 1:867 | 4.53% | 144 |
| 114 | Hancock | 14 | 1:867 | 5.53% | 190 |
| 114 | Abbott | 14 | 1:867 | 20.59% | 611 |
| 114 | Perkins | 14 | 1:867 | 3.48% | 115 |
| 114 | Collier | 14 | 1:867 | 8.14% | 269 |
| 114 | Mears | 14 | 1:867 | 27.45% | 785 |
| 114 | Roderick | 14 | 1:867 | 2.96% | 96 |
| 114 | Rhys | 14 | 1:867 | 31.11% | 884 |
| 126 | Cole | 13 | 1:933 | 2.57% | 89 |
| 126 | Pearce | 13 | 1:933 | 2.75% | 96 |
| 126 | Hutchinson | 13 | 1:933 | 18.31% | 584 |
| 126 | Rouse | 13 | 1:933 | 52.00% | 1,504 |
| 126 | Whittington | 13 | 1:933 | 76.47% | 2,071 |
| 126 | Jeffreys | 13 | 1:933 | 5.96% | 217 |
| 126 | Giddings | 13 | 1:933 | 68.42% | 1,871 |
| 126 | Millett | 13 | 1:933 | 81.25% | 2,184 |
| 126 | Elias | 13 | 1:933 | 3.74% | 132 |
| 135 | Moore | 12 | 1:1,011 | 2.50% | 94 |
| 135 | Adams | 12 | 1:1,011 | 2.06% | 79 |
| 135 | Rogers | 12 | 1:1,011 | 1.34% | 51 |
| 135 | Parsons | 12 | 1:1,011 | 3.45% | 132 |
| 135 | Waters | 12 | 1:1,011 | 4.12% | 156 |
| 135 | Foley | 12 | 1:1,011 | 6.70% | 258 |
| 135 | Abraham | 12 | 1:1,011 | 4.55% | 176 |
| 135 | Lovett | 12 | 1:1,011 | 34.29% | 1,123 |
| 135 | Budge | 12 | 1:1,011 | 52.17% | 1,625 |
| 135 | Kingdon | 12 | 1:1,011 | 18.46% | 629 |
| 135 | Stacy | 12 | 1:1,011 | 52.17% | 1,625 |
| 135 | Gething | 12 | 1:1,011 | 11.54% | 399 |
| 147 | Brooks | 11 | 1:1,103 | 3.56% | 144 |
| 147 | Lawrence | 11 | 1:1,103 | 3.58% | 147 |
| 147 | Nicholls | 11 | 1:1,103 | 4.07% | 169 |
| 147 | Leach | 11 | 1:1,103 | 14.29% | 539 |
| 147 | Mathews | 11 | 1:1,103 | 1.33% | 54 |
| 147 | Daniels | 11 | 1:1,103 | 7.24% | 292 |
| 147 | Dennis | 11 | 1:1,103 | 6.83% | 285 |
| 147 | Jewell | 11 | 1:1,103 | 8.80% | 347 |
| 147 | Beynon | 11 | 1:1,103 | 1.15% | 50 |
| 147 | Mainwaring | 11 | 1:1,103 | 3.03% | 127 |
| 147 | Poley | 11 | 1:1,103 | 18.97% | 704 |
| 158 | Johnson | 10 | 1:1,213 | 2.07% | 92 |
| 158 | McDonald | 10 | 1:1,213 | 4.44% | 207 |
| 158 | Andrews | 10 | 1:1,213 | 3.26% | 147 |
| 158 | Marsh | 10 | 1:1,213 | 5.85% | 270 |
| 158 | Cross | 10 | 1:1,213 | 5.26% | 246 |
| 158 | Barber | 10 | 1:1,213 | 14.49% | 604 |
| 158 | Curtis | 10 | 1:1,213 | 3.77% | 175 |
| 158 | Barnett | 10 | 1:1,213 | 4.44% | 207 |
| 158 | Poole | 10 | 1:1,213 | 4.57% | 215 |
| 158 | Pickering | 10 | 1:1,213 | 20.41% | 816 |
| 158 | Jacobs | 10 | 1:1,213 | 11.11% | 462 |
| 158 | Browning | 10 | 1:1,213 | 16.13% | 660 |
| 158 | Child | 10 | 1:1,213 | 41.67% | 1,558 |
| 158 | Dawes | 10 | 1:1,213 | 66.67% | 2,302 |
| 158 | Heard | 10 | 1:1,213 | 10.00% | 416 |
| 158 | Tasker | 10 | 1:1,213 | 13.70% | 575 |
| 158 | Phelps | 10 | 1:1,213 | 5.99% | 274 |
| 158 | Beesley | 10 | 1:1,213 | 21.74% | 864 |
| 158 | Chappel | 10 | 1:1,213 | 12.50% | 523 |
| 158 | Dymond | 10 | 1:1,213 | 27.03% | 1,066 |
| 158 | Cribb | 10 | 1:1,213 | 66.67% | 2,302 |
| 158 | Dumphy | 10 | 1:1,213 | 76.92% | 2,599 |
| 180 | Young | 9 | 1:1,348 | 1.98% | 101 |
| 180 | Webb | 9 | 1:1,348 | 2.21% | 112 |
| 180 | Cameron | 9 | 1:1,348 | 20.00% | 884 |
| 180 | Sanders | 9 | 1:1,348 | 3.30% | 167 |
| 180 | Groves | 9 | 1:1,348 | 8.33% | 387 |
| 180 | Higgs | 9 | 1:1,348 | 14.52% | 660 |
| 180 | Barry | 9 | 1:1,348 | 2.00% | 104 |
| 180 | Donovan | 9 | 1:1,348 | 1.43% | 70 |
| 180 | Sparks | 9 | 1:1,348 | 10.98% | 509 |
| 180 | Cassidy | 9 | 1:1,348 | 100.00% | 3,550 |
| 180 | Frazer | 9 | 1:1,348 | 20.45% | 909 |
| 180 | Pitcher | 9 | 1:1,348 | 40.91% | 1,685 |
| 180 | Venables | 9 | 1:1,348 | 27.27% | 1,190 |
| 180 | Shea | 9 | 1:1,348 | 3.77% | 198 |
| 180 | Billing | 9 | 1:1,348 | 39.13% | 1,625 |
| 180 | Prout | 9 | 1:1,348 | 20.93% | 925 |
| 180 | Winstone | 9 | 1:1,348 | 12.33% | 575 |
| 180 | Pole | 9 | 1:1,348 | 52.94% | 2,071 |
| 180 | Skelly | 9 | 1:1,348 | 100.00% | 3,550 |
| 180 | Ryding | 9 | 1:1,348 | 100.00% | 3,550 |
| 180 | Grinter | 9 | 1:1,348 | 37.50% | 1,558 |
| 180 | Dummer | 9 | 1:1,348 | 18.37% | 816 |
| 180 | Kempthorne | 9 | 1:1,348 | 36.00% | 1,504 |
| 180 | Theodore | 9 | 1:1,348 | 50.00% | 1,973 |
| 180 | Wathan | 9 | 1:1,348 | 29.03% | 1,253 |
| 180 | Fraley | 9 | 1:1,348 | 100.00% | 3,550 |