Loughor Bridge / Mardy Hotel

[townhilllas]

I have been asked to establish a family claim that Henry Griffiths of Gorseinon constructed the Loughor Bridge. He was born in 1843 so the claim is possibly linked to the 1880 rebuilding of the bridge. It is also claimed that he built the Mardy Hotel in Gorseinon. The 1911 census has him living in 1 Mardy Terrace, Gorseinon (no longer on the map) and he is listed as a haulier. Can anyone help with any information or point me in the right direction please?

[suzard]

it doesn't look like he was a builder -in 1881 he was a farmer and in 1891??

Suz

[suzard]

The Mardy Hotel was built 1901 so possibly they were hauliers for the building -but cannot find any mention

Suz

[townhilllas]

Thank you! Would you know if No 1 Mardy Terrace was on the site where the Mardy now stands?

[osprey]

do you mean the railway bridge?
http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1341

I've had a look through the Cambrian online index for mentions of the bridge, works various but none mention Henry Griffiths. There are mentions of a Henry Griffiths applying for alcohol licences -
25 Aug 1876 Henry Griffiths, farmer of Pengelly, applied for a licence to sell liquors
15 Sept 1876 application for an ale house licence for building under construction was refused - Henry Griffiths, Gowerton
6 Oct 1876 2 different Henry Griffithses were refused licences on 2 proposed houses near Gorseinon station
Also, birth of a daughter in 1893 to Henry  Griffiths of Albion House, Gorseinon.

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/cambrian

You can search various newspapers online here, many results for Loughor bridge

http://papuraunewyddcymru.llgc.org.uk/en/home

[townhilllas]

Thank you again - I have. a lot to work on now! I am really grateful - thanks again.