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Felinfoel Brewery & the John Family

Census Details

In the early part of the 19th century Felinfoel was mainly an agricultural area and the King’s Head, according to local tradition, was an important coaching house on the Felinfoel to Llanelli road. A coaching house would have provided accommodation for travellers and their horses; the horses would be fed and watered after their long journey and if necessary they would be rested and replaced by team of fresh ones. The community in the small village of Felinfoel would have been mainly farmers, farm labourers, a few colliers and an assortment of tradesmen, such as shoemakers, tailors and blacksmiths.

1837 David John was born around 1837.

1841 A quick look at the 1841 census reveals that there were at least three inns in the village – the Farmers’ Arms, the Union Tavern and the King’s Head. The King’s Head was occupied by Thomas Jones, a shoemaker, and his wife Catherine, both aged 60 and both born in Carmarthenshire.

The same census shows that David Lewis aged 35 (a collier), lived with his wife Anne, their children and a 14-year-old servant girl at the Farmers’ Arms.

James Lewis aged 25, a widower and Mary Lewis aged 40, lived in the Union Tavern, whilst farmer Thomas John, aged 55, and his wife Jane John, also aged 55, lived at Pandy (fulling mill. The local Toll House was occupied by gatekeeper, Daniel Davies, aged 25 and his wife Eliza, aged 25.

1846 Thomas and James Motley and their partner, John Winkworth started their new enterprise at Dafen, which was the first tinplate works to be built in the Llanelli area. According to local historians, David John (born circa 1837), was working in the Glandafen colliery when the tinplate works opened.

The new works provided a different type of job for the local people and the young David John decided to try his hand at tinplate production. The Dafen works was probably not completed until 1848 – by which time the partnership of Motley & Winkworth had run into financial difficulties. In September, Thomas Motley of Felinfoel, wrote to Richard Janion Nevill of the Copperworks asking if he could borrow a waggon and horses “to remove furniture to Pembrey”. The next owners of the tinplate works were Sidney James Phillips, his Portuguese brother-in-law Benjamin Phineas Nunes, and Robert Smith.

1849 By 1849 Richard Nevill had married Mary Sophia Wills of Crewkerne in Somerset, and his older brother Charles William Nevill had married Jane Davies of Swansea. Both brothers and their families were living at Felinfoel, Richard Nevill at Field House and Charles William Nevill at Westfa.

1851 By the time the census was taken there were ‘new people’ at the King’s Head. Benjamin Thomas, a shoemaker, aged 54, was landlord and the previous owner Thomas Jones (69) was listed as a pauper living at Twyn with his wife Catherine. The Union Tavern was in the occupation of publican Mary Evans aged 73, and the landlord of the White Lion was Thomas Jenkins aged 28, a pig drover, from Kidwelly.

1861 By the time this census was taken, the population of Felinfoel had increased considerably. The Sailors’ Home was occupied by Mary Phillips (45). Mary Mathias (29), lived at the Union Tavern and the Royal Oak was occupied by Thomas Morgan (35), innkeeper and tailor employing 2 men. The village also had two new inns, namely, the Red Lion and the Greyhound.

The King’s Head, situated in Farmers Row was occupied by David John (24) a Tinman and Innkeeper of Llanelly, his wife Johanna (28) born Llanelly and their children David (2) and Hugh (2 months), both born in Llanelly. Also at the inn on Census day were Rachel Francis (14), a Domestic Servant who was born in Llanelly and Mary Mainwaring (35), a Boarder and Stocking Knitter also born in the town.

The fact that David John was described as a Tinman and not  a brewer was not uncommon, however, for local landlords often brewed their own beer and the local farmers would fetch grain to the brewhouse. On brewing day they would collect the ‘sog’ which was a mixture of grains left over from the mash contained in a large cask called a tun (an obsolete liquid measure of ale, usually 216 gallons). Farmers congregated with their carts near the King’s Head and this is probably how the area's name came about.

1871 By the time this census was taken David John and his family were living at No 5 Farmers Row and the King’s Head was no longer just an inn - it was also a small brewery. David John was still  a Tinman, but with the help of his wife, mother-in-law and young family he was able to produce fine beer. The quality of his brew was said to be so good that he began to make beer for the other inns and taverns in the village and the surrounding area. According to local tradition he only brewed beer in the winter months but its keeping qualities were such, that his beer was in great demand all through the year.

David John worked hard and prospered and he was able to build himself Pantglas, a fine house in the grounds across the road from his coaching house and brewery.

1878 Demand for his David John's beer increased and the decision was made to build a new brewery. The prestigious new brewery – built of stone – was constructed over the River Lliedi, in the orchard of Pantglas, abutting the Llanelli to Felinfoel Road.The date 1878 can still be seen high on the wall.

The brewery became a focal point for the villagers and at one time employed about 50 locals. A villager is said to have recalled “Nearly every family kept a pig in their garden and when the butcher was booked to kill a pig in the back yard, large cans of water were carried from the brewery, to scrape and clean the pig. It is also said that local women carried hot water from the brewery for their weekly washing and ladders were borrowed, tools sharpened and every excuse taken to sample the beer.”

1881 By the time of the census David John was no longer described as a Tinman. He was a "Brewer of Beer for sale", employing 11 men and 2 boys. His brother John John lived with the family and he was employed as a Commercial Clerk at the Brewery.

1891 David John was still living with his family at Pantglas and his son David John (32), a Brewer, was living with his family at the Brewery in Twyn Row.

The McKinley Tariff adversely affected the local tinplate trade and many tinplate workers suffered severe hardship as tinplate works went from boom to depression. The Dafen Tinplate Works did not go unscathed but his years of working in the works had taught the astute David John important lessons in tinplate production.

1893 A new company, Dafen Tinplate Company Limited, was registered and an arrangement was made between Rowland MacLaran and the John family of Felinfoel to run the Dafen Tinplate Works.

1897 Plans were afoot to increase the capacity of the brewery. A local newspaper reported in January 1897 that Messrs John of Felinfoel have decided to spend several thousand pounds on the extension for their brewery.

There was a year-long stoppage at the Dafen Works which lead to a winding up notice. The directors eventually withdrew the sale notice and another new company was formed in 1898 with members of the John family being the main directors. Rowland MacLaran decided to relinquish his interest in the works and retired to Ilfracombe.

When David John retired from his business interests his sons, David and Martin, took over management of the brewery and Llewellyn John took over management of the Gorse Tinplate Works.

The annual horse fair in Llanelli held outside the Thomas Arms was a great occasion and Brewery horses would be groomed and dressed for the event. There was  great excitement in the village as the immaculately presented horses pulled the carts out of the yard in readiness for their journey to Llanelli. Before they started on their journey they were led through a large gate to Cae’r Engine where they were allowed to graze. An ostler and a saddler were employed by the Brewery to care for the horses. When a fleet of lorries replaced the horse-drawn drays the ostler and the saddler were replaced by mechanics.

1906 The brewery was registered as Felinfoel Brewery, a private company with a registered capital of £50,000 worth of £50 shares.

The family was described as “at Felinfoel Brewery, Executors of David John, and carrying on the business of Mineral Water Manufacturers.”

David John, Glasfryn, Llanelly, Brewer

Martin John, Highmead, Llanelly, Assistant Brewer

Llewellyn John, Tyrfran, Tinplate Manufacturer

Mrs M A Lewis, Felinfoel.

Mrs E Hughes, Bucks Cross Village, Bideford.

Miss C John, Felinfoel.

Dr John Bronygarth, Llangennech, Llanelly.

Directors: not less than 3 and no more than 5: David John; Martin John; Llewellyn John.

Remuneration after 5% was paid on shares £150 each per annum:

David John (Brewer), £520.00,

Martin John, (Assistant Brewer) £416 per annum.

Registered Office, Felinfoel Brewery.

Solicitors Rees & Edwards Llanelly.

David John, lived at Glasfryn and was a rather large man and used to arrive at the Brewery in a horse and trap, whereas his brother Martin John, who lived at Highmead, Yr Heol Newydd (Corporation Avenue), was very smart, wore a monocle and always walked to the Brewery. Another brother, Dr John, practised medicine at Llangennech and for many years was doctor to the local tinplate workers and their families. Llewellyn John, who lived at Tyrfran, was a director of the Brewery but was more interested in the Dafen Tinplate Works.

The Brewery became interested in soft drinks and was famous for their Trebaun Spring Mineral Waters. The mineral water being supplied from a spring in Trebaun just above the village and at one time a pump above the well supplied the nearby cottages. Bottles used by the Brewery for the spring water had a unique shape and were sealed with a marble. Local lads could often be seen searching for empty bottles to get the marbles.

1909 Although the first attempts at making cans for beer was made around 1909 it was not until 1933 that results were achieved and not until 1935 that the process was successful.

The Metal Box Co., Ltd. was the main manufacturer of cans and decided to try to introduce canned beer using Llanelli, the tinplate manufacturing centre. It was natural that the John family who had interests in the Felinfoel Brewery, Dafen Tinplate Works and St David’s Tinplate Works at Bynea, would want to be in the forefront of this ground-breaking technology. Records show that St David’s Tinplate Works provided the tinplate sheets for the Metal Box Company to make the cans, which were then returned to the brewery to be filled with beer.

Buckleys Brewery also dabbled with the new technology but it seems that Felinfoel Brewery were the forerunners.

At the time Sidney John, Head Brewer at Felinfoel Brewery, expressed the view that he was satisfied with the initial canning and was convinced that there would be a great future for canned beer.

1939 The Second World War broke out there and was a great demand by the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) for canned beer - Felinfoel Brewery was able to benefit from this new market.

Over the years the brewery built up a thriving business supplying pubs and clubs throughout Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire. As public houses, inns and taverns became available Felinfoel Brewery purchased them – thus expanding their business interests.

Rugby has always been popular in the village and has been closely connected with the local brewery. At one time Felinfoel Rugby Club’s headquarters were in the Union Inn and many a ‘debate’ followed a local match.

1950s In the 1950s the coopers were made redundant when it was decided to replace the wooden casks with alloy casks. Previously it was said that when the coopers were sawing their planks of wood the road was so narrow that the traffic had to stop until the coopers had finished. The Union Inn was demolished when the road-widening scheme of 1962 was implemented.

1841 census

Kings Head: Thomas & Catherine Jones, both aged 60 and both born in Llanelly.

Union Tavern: James Lewis (25), Widower, born Llanelly & Mary Lewis (40), not born Llanelly.

Pandy: Thomas (a Farmer) & Jane John, both 55 and born Llanelly.

Toll House: Daniel (a Gate Keeper) & Eliza Davies, both 25, both born  Llanelly.

1851 census

Twyn – King’s Head: Benjamin (a Shoemaker) & Hannah Thomas, his wife were both aged 54 and born Llanelly. Mary Bassett, their 8 year old granddaughter was at the inn when the census was taken, along with Sarah Hughes (18) a visitor and general servant.

Twyn: Thomas John (69), a pauper born in Llannon, his wife Catherine (68) and Thomas Davies (47), a Sawyer and Lodger was also recorded.

Union Tavern: Mary Evans (73) Publican, born Llandybie; David Evans (29), her son, a Collier, born Llandybie; Margaret Harries (11) a House Servant, born Llanelly were all resident at the time of the census;

Tinworks House – Dafen: Rowland MacLaran, Cashier

1861 census

Sailors Arms, Hengoed: Mary Phillips (45), Inn Keeper

Union Tavern: Mary Mathias (29) Inn Keeper; Margaret Lewis (23) her Sister & Fundholder

Union Row: John John (49) (a Carter) & his wife Margaret (38)

Kings Head - Farmers Row: David John 24 Tinman & Inn Keeper, born Llanelly, his wife Joanna (28) and their children: David John (2); Hugh John (2 months) all born Llanelly. Also there at the time of the census were Rachel Francis (14), an unmarried Domestic and Mary Mainwaring (35), a Border and Stocking Knitter, also unmarried and born in Llanelly

1871 census

5 Farmers Row: David John (34) Tinman & his wife Johannah (38) along with their children: David (12); Hugh (10); Mary A John (8); Martin (6); Ellen (2); Llewellyn (1 month). Also there at the census were David John's mother-in-law Ann Hugh (68 and a widow); Margaret Davies (16) General Servant and Mary Roberts (12) General Servant

1881 census

King’s Head - 15 Farmers Row: David John (44), a Brewer of Beer for sale, born Llanelli, employing 11 men and 2 boys, his wife Joanna (48) and children Mary A John (17); Martin (15); Ellen (12); Llewellyn (10) and Catherine (6). A Commercial Clerk called John Brother (46) was also staying at the inn

1891 census

Pantglas: David John (54) Brewer, born Llanelly, his wife Joanna (58) and children: Martin (25), an  Accountant; Ellen (22; Llewellyn (20), an Accountant. Also there were Mary Williams (18), General Servant, born Pembrey and Harriet Evans, a General Servant born in Paddington, London

4 Twyn Row: David John (32, a Brewer and his wife Elizabeth (33) and their children: Arthur Samuel (9), a Scholar; Mary Ethel (6), a Scholar; Herbert Edward (3); Sydney Clement (1). Also there was John Samuel (Father-in-law and a widower aged 59, a retired Master Mariner; Jane James (26), a General Servant born Llandybie; Elizabeth Bowen (14) General Servant born Llanelly