THE FORD AND FERRY AT LOUGHOR.
EXCERPTS FROM AN ARTICLE BY THE
LATE H O HARRIES.
Before the present road from the Bush Inn to the bridge
was made there were three approaches to
the river:-
1.
The first past Tan y Castell
and Ty’r Hen Anne to the south, now the way at a
lower level to and past the Railway Station.
2.
The second known as dock street ran on the south side
of the Churchyard past Stoutway, Blue Anchor (next to
and adjoining the churchyard) then through Cae Clift to the dock.
3.
Ferry Road, for some time known as Cameron Place, led
to the old ford and ferry, above where the road bridge now stands. At the South
East corner of this road stood the Hope
and Anchor public house with Alderman John Harris as the last occupier. In it’s
time the long room of this house was the scene of many a merry gathering. The
house was demolished and Horeb Independent chapel
erected on the spot in 1856-57.
On the opposite side one old house remained, this was said
to be the Rectory but only because the Curate lived there. Later this house
became a Public House known as the Red Cow. Of further interest, until April
1913 this house bore evidence of avoiding the Window Tax, by closing up two of
it’s 8 windows.
In the latter part of the 18th. Century, Thomas
Beer collected this tax in Loughor, his tombstone was
one of many forming the floor of the aisle in the old Church. William Jones
collected the tax from 1759-60.
The charges for the Loughor Ferry
were:-
No ancient right of composition existed on this ferry
although Loughor people could use the Swansea ferry
free of charge.
Although the Loughor ferry had no
composition rights each tenement in the parish of Swansea and Llansamlet and each householder in the town of Swansea, was
charged 4d per annum towards the boat. In Llansamlet
the charge was 2d, this was due on December 31st. Gower tenements
were charged with 3 sheaves of corn sewn on the tenement but this could be
commuted to a cash payment, for this payment the entire family, including vehicles and cattle were entitled to travel
free at any hour of the day or night.
The ford at Loughor was open for
about 3¾ hours after high tide to about 3 ¾ hours before the next tide. A Public House on the Cefn side opposite
Y Bwllch, last kept by Mrs
Edwards, one of the Roberts, Glyniau family, was
called the Cape of Good Hope. In 1829 a man called Cadwaladr
acted as ferryman he was frequently assisted by John Trick, alias Jack Trick.
William ap Evans was ferryman in 1628.
Who constructed a ford at Loughor
is unknown, however the Romans used a ford here as part of the via Julia Maritima.. When Robert Fitzhamon
and his Knights partitioned Glamorgan, William de Londreas
used and took possession of this ford in a dash along the old road as far as Kidwelly. The family held this right until the failure of
the male line, and the heiress married Patrick de Chatworth
(a contemporary of Henry III) again owing to no male heir the whole estate in
England and Wales was partitioned and given to Maude, Countess of Stafford who
died childless in 1362.
The whole estate was successfully claimed by her Brother in
Law, John - Duke of Lancaster, on behalf of his Wife Blanche, Mother of Henry Bollingbroke, later Henry IV, who gave the Lordship to Sir Rhys ap Thomas as a token of
appreciation during the battle of Bosworth.
Henry VIII took the rights from Sir Rhy’s
Grandson and fined him £300,000.
The Kings held the rights until the Civil War and was later
sold to Richard Vaughan, Earl of Cranberry. In 1710 Henry, Marquis of Worcester
(Duke of Beaufort) commenced a lawsuit against the Earl of Cranberry.
Unfortunately, the Duke died before judgement had been given and in 1764 John
Vaughan received all the benefits.
Up to 1834 when the Bridge was opened, Lord Cawdr received £10 per annum rent for the sole right of
ferrying.
