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.
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