The Bulwark, Brecon
Powys County Archives
Transport
Horse-drawn Transport in Brecon
Horses were still essential for transport of goods and people, although by the end of the nineteenth century this tended to be for shorter distances than before the advent of the railways. Kelly's Directory of 1895 noted that:
"An omnibus from The Castle Hotel meets the up and down trains and conveys passengers to any part of the town."
A widow and her son ran a local livery stables, where horse drawn vehicles were available for hire.
1891 Census | ||||||
3 Bulwark | ||||||
Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
Jane Medcalfe | Head | Wid | 66 | Livery Stable Proprietor | Breconshire Brecon | English |
David John Medcalfe | Son | S | 32 | Manager Livery Stables | Breconshire Brecon | English |
Miriam Medcalfe | Dau | S | 24 | Housekeeper | Breconshire Brecon | English |
Jane J Medcalfe | Dau | S | 22 | Assisting in House | Breconshire Brecon | English |
Licensed to let Post Horses, Flys, Dog Carts &c. Wedding Carriages on the shortest notice. Hearses & Mourning Coaches. Established 1857."
They may have relied on the services of Edward Dennison, a horsebreaker who trained horses for riding or pulling vehicles. His stepson was employed in another branch of the transport industry as a railway fireman:
1891 Census | ||||||
Cerrigcochion Old Toll House, Brecon | ||||||
Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
Edward Dennison | Head | M | 27 | Horsebreaker | Breconshire Brecon | English |
Mary Dennison | Wife | M | 44 | Montgomeryshire Newtown | English | |
David J Morris | Stepson | S | 21 | Railway Fireman | Glamorgan Merthyr Tydfil | English |
Edward Morris | Stepson | S | 13 | Newspaper deliverer | Glamorgan Merthyr Tydfil | English |
Delivery cart for The Emporium, Llandrindod
Wells, c1910.
Radnorshire Museum
A coach driver, or coachman might
have worked privately for one employer such as a local landowner, or be available
for general hire. William Williams also had a saddler in his household, another man dependant on the horse industry. Even
his son was a grocer's haulier
although this may have been a handcart rather than horse drawn transport.
1891 Census | ||||||
3 George Street, Brecon | ||||||
Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
William Williams | Head | M | 48 | Coachman | Carmarthenshire Caio | Both |
Ann Williams | Wife | M | 46 | Dressmaker | Carmarthenshire Talley | Both |
William Williams | Son | S | 21 | Grocer's haulier | Carmarthenshire Llandingat | Both |
Jane Williams | Dau | S | 19 | Domestic servant | Carmarthenshire Llandingat | Both |
Daniel Williams | Son | S | 17 | General labourer | Carmarthenshire Llandingat | Both |
John L Williams | Son | S | 16 | Tailor's apprentice | Carmarthenshire Llandingat | Both |
Ann E Jones | Lodger | S | 15 | Scholar | Carmarthenshire Mothvey | Both |
William W Vaughan | Lodger | S | 19 | Saddler | Breconshire Talgarth | English |
Horses were also dependant on blacksmiths who were still in great demand in 1891.
1891 Census | ||||||
13 Maendu Street, Brecon | ||||||
Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
Edwin Hill | Head | M | 54 | Sawyer | Hay Brecon | English |
Margaret Hill | Wife | M | 53 | Laundress | Brecon | Both |
David Hill | Son | S | 27 | Blacksmith | Brecon | English |
William Hill | Son | S | 18 | Grocer's labourer | Brecon | English |
Emily G Hill | Dau | 4 | Brecon | English | ||
Edwin J Hill | Grandson | 9 | Brecon | English |
Stansbatch Smithy, Radnorshire, 1930
Radnorshire Museum
Many people were also involved in the provision of coaches.