Glais

 

Glais is where this blog starts!  Glais is a semi-rural village situated in Swansea running through the village is the Nant-y-Pal stream. 

During the early 20th century, Glais had a very religious community with 4 churches, covering all denominations.  The oldest one, the Welsh Dissident Chapel was built during 1834, following during 1840 to the Seion Chapel having been built.

1881 St Pauls the Anglican church was built.  A decade later, 1891, Tabernaci Welsh Baptist church was built.

During this period Glais was a commercial hub for farming, when cattle had been driven far away to Llandeilo were kept in pens, until new owners could move the animals to their farms.

1928 Swansea Corporation decided not to allow to have a Greyhound Racing at St. Helens, so greyhound racing was done at Glais following the facilities for pedestrianisation and Greyhound Racing.  During the early 20’s there is references the village hosting a racecourse for an equestrian event.

Seion Chapel

Seion Chapel, is where there some interesting history.  Today, the chapel is close the last service was conducted during 2019.

From 1904 to 1913, the minister of Seion was Thomas Evan Nicholas, the “Peoples Poet”.

Thomas Evan Nicholas
Thomas Evan was born Llanfymach, Pembrokeshire during 1879, was the Welsh language poet, preacher, radical and champion of the disadvantage of society.  He used the Welsh bardic name of Niclas y Glais. 

Before becoming the minister at Seion, Thomas, was briefly a minister at one of the Welsh Congregational Churches at Dodgeville, Wisconsin.

Thomas’s religious convictions were influenced by Watcyn Wyn and Gwili, were focused on the radical messages of the Gospels. Thomas supported socialisms of R. J. Derfel, Welsh poet and political writer, with the emphasis on brotherhood, peace, justice, equality, land nationalism and a Parliament for Wales. Thomas was opposed to the Royal Family, brewers and militarism. 

Whilst at Seion, Thomas, supported the Welsh culture and stablished a chair for the eisteddfod. Whilst at Glais, Thomas won over 17 chairs at the eisteddfods for poems that wrote.  These poems carried a socialists and radical messages.

By 1913, Thomas, left to become Minister of two chapels in rural Ceredigion.

During the Second World War, Thomas and his son, Islwyn were arrested and charged on a trumped-up charge of fascism.  They were sent prison firstly at Swansea and then to Brixton.  Whilst in prison, Thomas, wrote 150 sonnets expressing his Christian and Communist convictions. Today the National Library of Wales holds the manuscripts of these poems.  

Thomas died 1971, at Aberystwyth.

However, turning our attention to a grave in the little churchyard of Seion.  The gravestone of the Rogers family.

The Roger family were from Ynys-y-mond Uchaf Farm at farm situated between Glais and Alltwen.  The headstone records Elizabeth Rogers’ many bereavements.  Elizabeth first lost her three babies, then her husband, John, 1891.  1912, Elizabeth would lose her son William John Rogers, 30 and grandson, Evan Davies, 22, drowned when RMS Titanic hit an iceberg, 15th April.

RMS Titanic

At the time of the 1911 Census, Elizabeth, is the head of the household.  The address given on the night of census is given as Ynisymond Uchaf Glais, Swansea Valley.

1911 Census
Ynisymond Uchaf Glais, Swansea Valley

Elizabeth is 65, and widowed, here place of birth is listed as Glyn Neath.  William, 28, son of the above his occupation as Coal Miner Hewer, His place of birth is that of Ynisymond.  Evan Davies, 21, grandson of the above.  His occupation is Coal Miner Haulier Above Ground.  His place of birth is that of Ynisymond. Also present in the house on the night of the census are Elizabeth’s grandchildren, John Reginald Rogers, 9 and Elizabeth Davies, 16.  All the family could speak both English and Welsh.

RMS Titanic - Deaths at Sea, 1912
Evan Davies
RMS Titanic - Deaths at Sea, 1912
William Rogers









Both Evan Davies and William Rogers embarked onboard the Titanic at Southampton, as 3rd Class Passengers.  Both men were lost, and their bodies were never recovered.


Rogers family headstone
credit - findagrave
Today, sadly, the family headstone has fallen over on its front, and using an old photograph we can see what the inscription is.

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