1823

William Henry Nevill (younger son of Richard Janion Nevill and his wife Anne) was born when his parents were still living at Field House.

1850

A supporter of the Welsh language, William Henry was living at Llangennech Park and he was Warden of Llangennech Church.

1852

William Henry Nevill established the Old Lodge Iron Works with John Thomas in Station Road.

1856

He was one of the original trustees of the Llanelly Athenaeum (now the Public Library) and had been involved in the purchase of the original property which had belonged to the Pemberton family. Other trustees were Richard Thomas Howell, James Buckley, John Pasley Luckraft and William Thomas, all of Llanelli.

1857

He married Rachel Louisa Fry of Essex at Walthamstow, London. She was the grand-daughter of Elizabeth Fry, the prison reformer. The couple lived at Llangennech Park along with his mother Anne Nevill, widow of Richard Janion Nevill.

1858

Attended celebrations at the Athenaeum with other dignitaries.

1859

Ernest William, William Henry's first son was born at Llangennech Park in June.

1860

His first daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, was born during October.

1862

Another daughter, Anne Martha, was born at Llangennech Park in February.

1863

William Henry Nevill started building ships in his yard which was established on the same site as Joblings Yard. The Llanelly Iron Shipping Company was registered on 11 April with a capital of £25,000 in £5 shares.

A crowd of 5,000 assembled at Carmarthenshire Dock to watch the first iron steamship to be built and launched at Llanelli on 17 July. The 220 ton vessel – a clipper – was christened the Premier by Mrs Rachel Nevill.

1864

Another daughter, Rachel, was born at Llangennech Park.

In November the Old Lodge Iron Works belonging to William Henry Nevill was enlarged and another 60 hands were required.

William Henry was appointed Chairman of the Board of Health.

A large new steamship, built by William Henry Nevill and named the Oliver Cromwell was launched at Llanelli.

1865

John Gilbert, another son, was born at Llangennech Park in July.

1866

The Cambria, the first iron steamship built by William Henry Nevill’s Iron Shipping Company, was launched at Llanelli.

1867

Advertisements for William Henry Nevill’s Iron & Ship Building Yard appeared in local newspapers.

A son, Richard Austin, was born at Llangennech Park in September and John Gilbert, aged two, died.

1870

Charles Davies, another son was born on 23 May at Llangennech Park.

The family moved from the house in December and local school children presented William Henry Nevill with a leaving gift.

1871

When William Henry Nevill left Llangennech Park the Mansion House was occupied by Frederick E Abel aged 26 from Norwich, a Tinplate works Manager, his family and their servants. Frederick Abel’s wife Charlotte, from Essex, was only 18 years of age and their daughter Elizabeth was 4 years old.

1873

The family moved to Robert’s Rest, Ferryside, where another son was born in October.

1875

Another son was born at Ferryside on 8 June to Rachel Louisa and William Henry Nevill but sadly Rachel died on 10 June, aged 46, as a consequence of childbirth.

1877

The Old Lodge Iron Works established by William Henry Nevill and John Thomas in 1852 closed.

1880

The Old Lodge Iron Works that had lain idle for three years was converted into a tinplate works by David Morris & Company of Briton Ferry and Penclawdd.

William Henry Nevill was still one of the trustees when the Athenaeum was transferred to the Board of Health.

1882

Old Lodge Iron Works went into bankruptcy.

1887

William Henry Nevill was also an inventor and an advertisement in the Llanelly Guardian promoted a new ‘patent roller washing board’ available from William Henry Nevill of Ferryside and Llanelly.

1890

Old Lodge Iron Works was restarted by a group of local shareholders.

1893

The Llanelly Iron Shipping Company established by William Henry Nevill in 1863 went into voluntary liquidation.

1894

William Henry Nevill died at the age of 71 and his son Richard Austin Nevill became manager of the Copperworks.