Market Gardening in St Mellons/Rumney

[Fue]

Hi

Does anyone have any information about Market gardening  and the people who did it, in this area around 1850s ?

[Tricia_2]

I wonder if this might lead you back in the right direction?

'In those days, the old Inn bar was covered in nice clean sawdust, ready for the evening session of the local men, who enjoyed their Scrumpo at 3d a pint and their best ale at 4d a pint. We would sort out our papers on the Bagatelle table and I’d go on my round down Rumney Hill. Not many houses there then. They were building on the left‑hand side, coming up the hill. I would walk back towards St. Mellons, as far as the Market Garden, run then by a good woman by the name of Nellie Hastings, where Claremont Crescent has now been built, down to Fantham’s Cottage, now demolished, to the Sealands and back along Ty Fry Road to a little shop run by a Mr. Morse, who at one time had been a confectioner at the Dutch Café in Queen Street. There I would very often have a stale bun for my reward, which I would eat with relish.'

From: Reminiscences of Old Rumney ~ by Stuart Scrivens

'In 1975 Stuart Scrivens, who was born in Rumney in 1912, recalled family stories and his own memories of Rumney, schooldays, country walks, fishing, farms and other aspects of Village Life. His Grandparents were John and Ann Scrivens, (my Great Grandparents) they lived in Rumney for the rest of their lives and are buried in Rumney Churchyard ~ Marjorie Neal'

http://www.rumneyhistory.org.uk/main/article.php?story=2006100322364896

[Fue]

Hi Tricia, thanks for that. I was aware of the site but must have not really looked at what the site has to offer.   There's a bit of reading to do there

[Scrumhalf]

My Wifes grandfather William Russell had a Market garden at Belmont The Grove off Wentloog Rd 
Rumney in the early 1900's there was also a Joys and the Bolt families who had mk/gdns alongside.

I lived in Rumney as a boy 1945/58 and there was a another large Market garden owned by the Shute family in the to the left of Nepwrt Rd after the Cross Inn pub now it is all playing fields. how long it was in existence prior to the 1940's I do not know 

 Nellie Hastings used to have a Greengrocers shop at the end Bradley St/Pearlst during the War 2. I can still picture her now cycling down our street with her sacking apron tied up with string blowing in the wind. There is a Hastings Drive today in Old St Mellons where she had her land.
I know its a different era to the years you are looking for but it may kick off someones memories

[Fue]

Hi Scrumhalf

Many thanks for your extremely interesting post. 

Although I am looking for info around the 1800s to try to trace my ggrandfather, his sons were  also  market gardeners in Rumney during the time you have talked about. My grandfather's name was George Ford Williams and his brother Harry Ford Williams. I don't suppose this rings any bells?

My auntie tells me that George Williams at one point had a small farm with a horse and cart, he also had a very large white dog.

Also one address that does not exist now but may have back then was 'Greenway Fach,' does this sound familiar.

Regards
Sue