Crosskeys Inn Pontnewydd

Using the census enumerator's route, the original Cross Keys pub was situated between Ty Pwca cottage and the lock-keepers cottage, also known as Canal Cottage, in Five Locks.

On the 1861 census it was occupied by John Makeley, 44, who only gave his profession as that of a coal miner, so it may not have been serving drinks at this point.  John lived with his wife, Sarah, 42 and sons William, 18 and George, 15.

At the time of the 1871 census it was known as Cross Keys Beer House.  Again its occupier, Robert Hart, 30, only gave one occupation - that of a bolt maker.  He lived there with his wife Emma, 25 and son William, 2.

We know that alcohol was being served there in the mid 1870's because of an article in the Monmouthshire Merlin of June 1874 when a man called David Davies was charged with being drunk and refusing to leave the premises.  He was fined ten shillings.

The inn made the news in March 1883 when James Thatcher, a brewers haulier from Newport was summoned for leaving a horse and cart unattended.  Constable Davies gave evidence in support of the charge stating the horse and cart were unattended outside the inn for twenty minutes.  Mr Greenway, solicitor, appeared for the defendant and said he had not left it for longer than needed.  He had worked at the Castle Brewery for many years and had never been complained about.  The Bench said it would deal leniently with him.

By the 1901 census the Cross Keys was run by Thomas Jones, aged 35, a hammer man as well as a publican.  He lived with his wife Harriet, daughters - Ethel, 8, Dorothy,5, Elsie, 4 and Gladys,3.  They also had a 1 year old son - Ernie.

The Cross Keys was a five roomed property with seven people already living in it.  It is unknown whether the Jones family still occupied the inn in 1907 but what is known is that it took in lodgers.  One of these, Frank Rowlands, 33, was found drowned in the canal in November of that year.  He was seen in Pontnewydd late at night and it was assumed while crossing a lock, he fell in the canal.  He was found with two cuts on his head which he probably got from hitting the stone-work.

Betting was causing concern at the inn in September 1908.  Edgar Bowen from Pontypool was summoned for visiting a public place for the purpose of betting.  P.C. Hughes stated he saw two men reading a sporting paper on the canal bank between the Cross Keys and Cwmbran Gardens.  They wrote on slips of paper and when Bowen appeared he was handed something by one of the men.  P.C. Hughes followed Bowen to the Cross Keys and told him he was arresting him on suspicion of betting on the canal bank.  He was taken to the police station, searched and was found to have the sum of eleven pounds and three shillings.  There was nothing found however to suggest he had been betting and the case was dismissed.

William Nicholas was landlord in 1911.  He was 41, single with no family.  In January of that year he was summoned to Pontypool court for selling alcohol on Christmas Day during prohibited hours.  Two friends - Ivor Morgan and John Hibbs were also charged with being drunk on the premises.  P.C. Hughes gave evidence that around ten in the morning he heard a commotion from inside the house.  When the landlord opened the door he saw the two men sitting by a table with glasses half full of beer and some empty bottles.  When questioned the landlord said the two had stayed at the house until stop tap on Christmas Eve then later returned to sing carols.  They were not drinking alcohol merely ginger brandy and lemonade.  The court erupted into laughter as the two were asked if they had sung 'While Policemen Watched'.  All were fined twenty shillings.

The Cross Keys Inn was probably demolished with the building of new houses in the area with a new pub replacing it.  This too has now closed down and has been converted into a private house.

Pontnewydd Royal British Legion

George William Lennard was born in 1851 in Yorkshire.  In 1880 he married Lavinia Williams of Pontnewydd.  His occupation was a master mariner.  In the 1880's he built a ten room home for his family and called it The Laurels.

By 1891 George and Lavinia had two children - Evelyn aged 9 and Gertrude aged 6.  They also employed a servant, Caroline Morgan, aged 18.

In 1907 Gertrude married Engineer Lieutenant Vernon ver Teen.  The details of the wedding were recorded in the Evening Express of 1 August.  It described Holy Trinity Church as being prettily decorated for the big day.  The vicar was D I Mackintosh.  The bride groom was dressed in naval uniform.  The bride was given away by her mother as Captain Lennard was away in China.  She wore chiffon satin.  Her corsage was in the romany style trimmed with chiffon and silver tissue.  She woere a tulle veil over a coronet of orange blossom and myrtle.  Her train was of Carrickmacross lace draped over a full skirt.  She wore an opal and diamond ring and pearl and tourmaline pendant, gifts from the groom.  Sister Evelyn was bridesmaid and was dressed in ivory chiffon.  After the service a large party was held at the Laurels.

In 1912 Evelyn married Frederick J Hooper.  Unfortunately I could not find anything in the papers about their wedding.

George William Lennard died in 1930.  Lavinia continued to live at the house by herself and is registered there in 1939.  She died in the mid 1960's.

In the early 1970's The Laurels became the home of Pontnewydd Royal British Legion.  Community groups met there and it was also the meeting point for Remebrance Day parades..  I attended a dance school there when I was about 5.  The lessons were held in the big room at the back however it didn't look like it does today.  There was no carpet on the floor just tiles, no disco lights and no big screen.  The room to the side where buffets are now served was the same, tiled flooring, ideal for dance lessons.

Pontnewydd Legion is probably the friendliest club in Cwmbran, there's always something going on.  There are also rumours of ghostly activity - orbs caught on the security cameras, the front bedroom always feeling icy cold.  A presence has also been felt in the same room!