RootsChat.Com
Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: CassT on Thursday 07 February 08 05:44 GMT (UK)
-
Hi
I think I have located one of "my" family, on the 1891 and 1901 Census
residing at Drumma or Drymma Lodge in Coedfrane, Glamorgan.
The family is David Thomas, Coachman/ Groom aged 51 in 1901
his wife Mary also 51 yrs
Annie daug 18 yrs ?? dressmaker
and Ada F daug 16 yrs School teacher.
(1901 Census RG13/5061 page 62)
On both Census there is also a Drymma / Drumma House, the head at this residence is a John Birth Paddon esq JP, with his family and seven domestic servants, so it appears that it was a very large home.
I am wondering if my David was the Coachman/ Groom for the large "House" and resided with his family in a separate building known as the Lodge on the property.
Does this seem logical? any suggestions would be appreciated
Cass
Sydney Australia
-
Hello
If you look at the 1891 census for a John Paddon you will see that he is living at Drymma House in Glamorgan and their is also a J,P.John Birch Paddon living there re. Kellys Directory for 1910 .
Sylvia
-
Hello
Not quite with it I now see that you have all the information that I have given you.
Sorry.
-
I havent looked at the census returns you mention, but it does seem logical.
Drummau house is a large property built on the side of Drummau mountain, in Coedfranc, overlooking Neath.
It later became a home for young girls in the area, and when I was young, if I had been naughty my mother would threaten to pack me off to Drummau house :o
-
A lot of large houses did have a lodge where a servant & his family would reside.
The case I know personally involved a gardener living at the lodge.
It was usually by the gated entrance to the property.
Here's an example:
http://prismdata.hullcc.gov.uk/gallery2/v/The+Brumhead+Collection/DIMB_1_1_29++The+Lodge+Hessle.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
-
My Mum worked as a cleaner at Drummau House in the 1980's when it was a government home for the mentally impaired. The lodge is still there and is on the main road about 500 metres away from the house. I can see it on Google Maps - see attachment . The correct spelling is Drummau
Regards John
Melbourne Australia
-
Hi John
Many thanks, I have had a look on Street view on Google and you can see the cottage at the entrance
I don't think street view was available when I started this post, the road is so narrow, with no verge, I would hate to have to pass of big truck
Regards
Cass
-
I recently moved from Birchgrove in Swansea and my kitchen window overlooked Drummau house. I believe it is currently a residential home but indeed there is a small lodge at the main entrance which is now a private residence. Its an imposing structure and has wonderful views. used to walk the dog past there most days.
-
Google "Welshnewspapers on line"
Search for "Drymma" and use filters to restrict to "Evening Express" and year "1896" (date slider bars).
There's an item in the Evening Express, 30 Dec 1896 that names the claimants to the estate!!!.
Lots of info available about the estate/house on that site.
-
Hans Teule
Many thanks for the Newspaper Link, I had a quick look at the Evening Express, sounds an interesting story.
Next weekend I will spend a few hours reading all the articles in the papers.
I love Newspaper sites. In Australia we have TROVE, they are adding old newspapers all the time, you can find so much information about the lives of family members.
David
from Google Street view it looked like the cottage could be a private residence, nice to know that the home is still being used as a residence,
Thanks to you both
Regards Cass
-
Hi Cass,
When I used to walk my dog through the gardens of Drummau House in the 1980's I came across a pet cemetery at the back of the house. There were several dogs buried there complete with individual gravestones with very touching inscriptions along the lines of
SAUL 1880 - 1890 " My faithfull friend "
Regards,
John
Melbourne Australia
-
It would appear that there were two "Drumma House" references. Incidentally until recent times, it was spelled DRUMMA or DRYMMA not DRUMMAU.
The mansion which is currently a Care Home was built by John Birch Paddon in 1884. Was this on the site of Drumma Fach?
Adverts in the Cambrian from 1807 refer to Drumma House 3 miles from Neath and 5 miles from Swansea. Where was this? Does this align with Neuadd Drummau today?
An article by Paul Reynolds states that William Pegg built Drumma House in 1861 and his family stayed there until 1874. This can't be the property that Paddon had. I think this was nearer Drumma Isaf between Glais and Birchgrove where Pegg had coal interests.
There are also references to Drumma(u) Mansion. John Popkin dubbed 'Lord of Drumma' lived at Tir-y-Mynyddd in the early 18th century. Was this the mansion?
A map of all the Drummau properties would be interesting.
-
It's confusing because the big property above Skewen is called Drumau House (sometimes called Drumau Mansion) but we also have a big (ruined) farmhouse above Birchgrove that was also called a also called Drumau House. These maps show their locations
-
I saw a woman mention it was a girls home later, but the house became a home not for sound minded girls here in Neath. It was for girls with mental disabilities and then became a care home which it is at the moment. Until about 1990 it was an asylum, but luckily not like the hospital institutions dotted around. A farmer who owns Price Farm in Longford, Neath Abbey used to say about how the girls would be taken on walks around the area and would pass through the farm as the farm has a right of way through it. They were just girls with autism and other similar disabilities the farmer said.
-
This is all so intersting! John Birch Paddon was my Great x3 grandfather! My Grandfather was Grp. Cpt. Brian Paddon, DSO (of Calditz fame). Brian died in Inyanga, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and his daughter, Dianna Shane (Nee Paddon) is my mother and still lives in South Africa. My husband and I have now come to live in N. Wales on an adventure for the past 3 years. We will have to come and visit Drmmau house!! (If anyone would like more details of above I do have a lot more; contact me at johnsuerich@gmail.com) Sue Rich
-
Yeah you should as the building is still there, however it is now a care home once again, so not sure what type of access you would get to the property, but if you explain your reason for going there they may let you look around. There are plenty of other historic sites in the local area around here though to keep you occupied if you stay down here. It's also possible you'll find some of your ancestors in the local church yards too as your family seems to have an old link to the area.
-
I live in the village of Birchgrove, above which the imposing Drymma House stands.John Birch Paddon was responsible for the building of our village St Johns Church, for the local mining families, so they wouldn't have to make the journey to Llansamlet, the mother church.The Paddon family were not worshippers at St Johns, but at St Matthews Church,Dyffryn.Where John Birch Paddon is buried,and probably the rest of the family also.