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Notable Houses in and around Llanelli

Blaen Hiraeth

Situated on high ground on the borders of Llanelli, Llangennech and Llannon parishes, Blaen Hiraeth is steeped in history, and during the 1600s was owned by Daniel Lloyd a member of the powerful Lloyd family, who owned extensive lands in Carmarthenshire.

The Lloyds of Alltycadno in the parish of Llangyndeyrn, were descended from Jenkin Lloyd of Blaiddbwll, Pembrokeshire, a loyal supporter of the Yorkists during the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485). Daniel Lloyd of Blaen Hiraeth, married Elizabeth Penry, the only daughter and heiress of Griffith Penry, who was High Sheriff in 1630. Previously, in 1614, Griffith Penry had purchased Buwchllaethwen Llangennech, and other properties, from Thomas Lloyd and his wife Maud of Alltycadno.

When Griffith Penry died, Elizabeth inherited Buwchllaethwen along with her father’s other properties, and some time later the Lloyd family of Blaen Hiraeth settled at Buwchllaethwen.

When the Lloyd family moved to Buwchllaethwen they probably rented Blaen Hiraeth to tenant farmers because records of 1701 show that John Lloyd of Buwchllaethwen, owned Blaen Hiraeth which was occupied by William David who paid an annual rent of 4s. 9d, one of the highest rents in the Llanelli area.

In 1724, when John Lloyd of Buwchllaethwen died, his only child Elinor, inherited his estates. Elinor Lloyd had married John Stepney of Llanelli, in 1714, and when she died at the age of 32 in 1734, her father’s estates, which included Blaen Hiroth (Hiraeth), passed to her husband, who became Sir John Stepney 6th Baronet in 1744.

When Sir John died in 1748, his surviving son became Sir Thomas Stepney, 7th Baronet, and Blaen Hiraeth passed to him, and records of 1758 show that Sir Thomas Stepney, 7th Baronet, held the 22 acre Blaen Hiraeth Estate. When Sir Thomas Stepney, 7th Baronet, died in 1772, his son Sir John Stepney, 8th Baronet, inherited his vast estates, including Blaen Hiraeth.

Around 1795 Sir John Stepney, 8th Baronet, sold his Llangennech estates to John Symmons an industrial property speculator who lived in Paddington, London.

By 1804 Symmons had sold his Llangennech estate including Blaen Hiraeth, to John Vancouver, (Llangennech Mansion), and the Earl of Warwick his financial partner. Because of financial difficulties the Estate passed back to Symmons who sold it to Edward Rose Tunno of Upper Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, London, between 1821 and 1824.

Blaen Hiraeth is thought to have featured in the Rebecca Riots of August 1843, when a group of about 500 Rebeccaites, travelled to the village of Llannon, along the Carmarthen Road, from the direction of Pontyberem. By the time the rioters reached Gellywernen they had been joined by other rioters and a crowd of about 700 or 800 Rebeccaites, attacked Gellywernen. It is believed that Blaen Hiraeth was used as a Court House, when some of the accused Rebecca Rioters were eventually tried and convicted.

John Davies of Blaen Hiraeth was one of the tenants of the Llangennech Park estate who presented a signed illuminated address to mark the coming of age of Mr Morton Evans, 22 August 1895.

Another link with the Rebecca Riots is the family that was living at Blaenhiraeth in 1841. Two years before the Riots arrived at Llanelli, John and Margaret Rees were living with their young family at Blaenhiraeth. Margaret, also known as Peggy Samuel, was from Y Llwyn, Machynis, and she married John Rees on 19 January 1832 in Llanelli. John Rees was related to John Hughes, Tyisha, also known as Jac Ty-isha, who took part in the Rebecca Riots at Pontarddulais on 6 September 1843.

John Rees and John Hughes (Tyisha) were cousins, they shared the same grandparents, William Rees and Elizabeth David. Jac (from Tyisha near Tumble), led an attack on the Pontarddulais tollgate and was captured by the police and cavalry. Following his arrest, Jac Ty-isha was convicted at special Assizes in Cardiff and sentenced to 20 years deportation to Tasmania. Two others who took part in the raid were sentenced to 7 years each. He served his time, married and raised a family in Tasmania. His relatives (John and Margaret) continued to live at Blaenhiraeth until sometime after 1851 and before 1861.

On 16 May 1866 John and Margaret were living at Ty’rheol in the hamlet of Hengoed. John died on 11 June 1872 when it was reported in the Cardigan Reporter on Saturday 15 June 1872: “Melancholy death, Mr John Rees, farmer Ty’nryheol, near Llanelly left his daughter’s house, the ‘Farmers Arms’, on Tuesday night last for home, in a market cart. When the horse and vehicle arrived at Ty’nyrheol Mr Rees was found dead, with his head hanging between the side of the vehicle and the wheel.”

His death certificate gives his age as 62 and an inquest was held on 13 June 1872 conducted by J Rowlands, coroner for the three commotts. He was buried in Adulam graveyard, Felinfoel, together with his wife and three of his sons, David, Henry and Jonathan.

For many years Blaen Hiraeth Farm was owned by the Davies family who sold off parts of their estate.

During 1960 the farm was completely destroyed by fire, when an attempt was made to renovate the farmhouse and turn it into a Country Club, but plans fell through when permission for a Liquor Licence was refused .

The last of the Davies family to live at Blaen Hiraeth was a Mr Davies, a farmer and veterinary.

The present owners [2002], Mr & Mrs Poulson, purchased the derelict farm over 20 years ago and have completely rebuilt the property. They retained part of the original chimney which can be seen on the outside of the building to the right hand side.

Thanks are due to

Mr & Mrs Poulson of Blaen Hiraeth.

David Llewellyn Edwards, of Oslo, Norway, whose family lived at Blaen Hiraeth between 1841 and 1851