Gelly Farm House, Bryn, was the home of William Rees the Younger for the latter part of the 19th century and Maesarddafen was the home of the Rees family for the first 70 years of the 19th century. William Rees The Elder (b 1775) purchased Gelli Farm, Bryn in 1813 and when he died in 1858 he left Gelli Farm to his son also named William (b 1809) and known as William Rees the Younger.

In 1847 William the Younger built Glandafen House situated near the Great Marsh, Morfa Mawr, moved to Gelli Farm House in the mid 1850s and purchased land and properties in the Llwynhendy, Bynea and surrounding district. All these acquisitions became known as the Gelli Estate and was one of the largest in the Llanelli area, administered by William Rees who became known locally as Squire Rees.

William Rees was known to be living at Gelli in 1861 when the census described him as a widower aged 51, a farmer holding 63 acres, employing one labourer and one boy. Ten years later William had remarried and he and his new wife, Mary Ann, were living at Gelli with their daughter and two sons.

William Rees The Younger died in 1894 and his estate was administered by his sons, William John Rees (1865-1947) his other son John Smith Rees went bankrupt twice before he was 25 years old. His ½ share of the estate was left in trust under no circumstances was he ever to be involved in the administration.

William John Rees was born at Gelli House on 22 May 1865, was educated at Long Ashton School Bristol and when he left school he managed his father’s collieries at Maesarddafen. He married Minnie Maude Smallman of West Bromwich and built Uplands House, Bryn, in 1896 on part of a field belonging to Gelli Farm for his bride. The grand residence of Uplands House was built to William John’s own specification on land adjacent to the family home, Gelli House, Bryn. The contractors were T. P. Jones, Building Contractors, Llanelli and the house and grounds covered an area of 5 acres, comprising a garden, rose garden, plantation, fish pond and tennis lawn.

Gelli House was eventually converted into a Social Club (known as the Bryn & Trallwm Sports & Social Club) and Uplands House was demolished and replaced by bungalows, forming a residential home for the elderly known as Llys y Bryn, The Bryn, Llanelli.

Family group at Gelli House, Bryn, c. 1880

Extreme left – William John Rees (1865-1947), with crutch.
Squire William Rees (1809-94), his father (seated) with wide-brimmed hat.

Photo: Stephen P. Rees, great grandson of Squire Rees

William Rees Head M 61 Farmer 50 acres Llanelly

Mary Ann Wife 44 Monmouth

Ada Mary Rees Daughter 7 Llanelly

William John Rees Son 5 Llanelly

John Smith Rees Son 3 Llanelly

Jane Williams Niece Unmarried 27 Housekeeper Kidwelly

Louisa C Smith Sister-in-law Unmarried 19 Governess Crwbin

Elizabeth Jones Servant Unmarried 24 Nurse Llanarthne

Jennett Thomas Servant Unmarried 19 Dairymaid Trelech

Evan Jones Servant Unmarried 16 Labourer Llanstephan