1871
THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
Bridgend 1871
A year in the life of Bridgend town.
It was a time when women brawling in the street were fined 1 shilling and 6 old pence and when a drunken woman attempted to throw her baby into the river Ogmore and The local gentry held their county balls at the old town hall.
( Photo 1 ) . Bridgend town 1950`s, showing the new bridge in the foreground built in 1821 and the old bridge built in 1425.
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7th January 1871
DRUNKENNESS.
William Howe, Newcastle, was sent to gaol for seven days for being drunk and riotous in the public street, at Bridgend, on the 26th. The Bench thought it would be wise for him to take permanent lodgings in the House of Correction. Thomas Jeremy, collier, Cwm Ogwr, and Thomas Griffiths, mason, OldCastle, were fined 10s. each for the above offence.
7th January 1871
COUNTY BALL.
The annual County Ball was given on Wednesday night. The Town Hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Most of the principal families in the county were represented. There seemed to be a slight falling off in the attendance however to former year?. Mr. Watt, of the Wyndham Arms Hotel, catered in his usual excellent style. Among those present were Mr. Theodore Mansel Talbot and Miss Talbot.
( Photo 2 ) . Bridgend town, showing Dunraven Place with the old town hall on the right of the photo, photo taken circa 1900.
7th January 1871
THE WEATHER. The frost has been more severe during the last fortnight than known for many years. Several mornings the river was almost entirely frozen over. Some snow fell on Friday and Saturday, but on Monday there was a. larger downfall, almost completely blocking the thoroughfare. On Tuesday the temperature became more mild, and a thaw commenced, which gradually continues.
14th January 1871
SEVERE SNOWSTORM
This town was visited by a very heavy snowstorm on Tuesday afternoon, and although the ground was very wet, a considerable quantity accumulated in the streets. &c., which becoming frozen during the night, made the roads very dangerous for all kinds
of traffic.
25th February 1871
BRIDGEND. ATTEMPT TO MURDER A CHILD
On Wednesday afternoon, shortly after two o'clock, a woman, living in Newcastle, attempted to drown her infant by throwing it over the new bridge into the river Ogmore. Fortunately a woman who was passing caught the child and saved it from the mother's drunken fury.
4th March 1871
IRREGULAR HOURS
Jesse Williams, victualler, Welcome to Town. Bridgend, was charged with keeping his house open after hours on Saturday night. The offence was proved by Police-constable Page. Defendant denied that his wife admitted to the officer the offence, also the time as stated by him. But the main point was whether the defendant in giving the beer to his charwoman, as part wages, broke the law. The magistrates ruled against him, and fined him 5 s. and costs.
The Cardiff Times
1st April 1871
Willful Damage
Mary Ann mcGuire, a prostitute charged with breaking several panes of glass in a window at the Welcome-to-town public-house, was ordered to pay 4s damage, and 9s 3d fines.
1st April 1871
Thomas Jenkins, of the Lamb, Newcastle, was charged by the police with an assault upon his wife. The wife declined to prosecute, but so many disturbances occur between them that the neighbourhood is disturbed. The wife now pleaded that he might be let off easily, but the magistrates thought ten days' hard labour would perhaps teach him a good lesson.
20th May 1871
A WOMAN'S SQUABBLE.
Mary Conolly, Julia Sullivan, and Catherine Sullivan were charged with assaulting Ellen Welsh. The complainant stated that she met the first defendant on Saturday week, and she (defendant) made use of insulting expressions, and wanted to fight her, but she refused, and was then struck. One of the defendants also attempted to stone her, but Conolly interfered, and wished to have a fair fight." A number of persons gathered round, and tried to make them fight. All three defendants assaulted her. They were fined 1shilling. 6d. and costs each.
The Cardiff Times
21st October 1871
Bridgend Railway Accident
A somewhat serious accident occurred near the Great Western Station, on Thursday night, in the down express, which reaches Bridgend about half-past ten, a passenger named Murray, a young, mathematical tutor, was travelling, his place of destination being Bridgend. Having a long journey he was much fatigued, and the train left Bridgend station before he became aware of the fact.
When apprised by a fellow-passenger that they had passed Bridgend, he jumped out, and, falling forward on to his face, he was stunned.
A luggage train soon after passed, and it is thought that the guard-rail of the engine struck his legs, lacerating them in a shocking manner, his groans attracted some foot passengers who were walking along the turnpike road near to the spot, and they proceeded to his help.
The unfortunate young fellow was conveyed to the railway station ( 300 or 400 yards distant ), where several medical gentlemen were soon in attendance, he was afterwards conveyed to the Castle Inn, when it was found necessary to amputate the left leg below the knee, and two toes of the right foot, He is progressing as well as can be expected.
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