County Elections: Extracts from Dr. Randall

Before 1815 elections for the one member of Parliament then possessed by the county under the legislation of Henry VIII were held at Cowbridge. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, the County representation was very much a family affair and it might ave almost been called a Dunraven seat. Charles Edwin held the position from 1747 until his death in 1756.

Then there was an interval when the seat was held by a Vernon of Briton Ferry, but it reverted in 1780 to Dunraven in the person of Charles Wyndham. He retired in 1789 and after some controversy his son, Thomas Wyndham, was returned unopposed.

But the free and independent electors of the county were not disposed to allow even an unopposed member to be returned too cheaply, and Mrs Margaret Thomas of Bridgend presented a bill for over £100 of which Lord Dunraven supplied some details.

Election Day

• Dinners for 108 gentlemen at the Town Hall at 2s. 6d. 
• Dinners for 51 gentlemens servants at 1s. 6d. 
• Dinners for six chairmen, 2 doorkeepers, 10 persons who carried flags at Bridgend, St. Brides, Newcastle, Laleston, etc., also for 18 bell-ringers and gunners, all at 1s. 6d. 
• Three bottles of Brandy drunk by gentlemen passing and repassing through the house at 3s. 6d. 
• Two bottles of cider drunk by gentlemen in the dusk of night at 1s. 6d.

Other items state: 49 gallons of ale, hay and corn for seventy gentlemen's horses.

Breakfast was also provided for those who might happen to stay rather late and of this convenience we find ten gentlemen availed themselves in the parlour and twelve coachmen elsewhere.

Contemporaneously with the celebrations at Bridgend, Mr Wyndham entertained over a hundred of his friends to a ball at Cowbridge, which appears to have been arranged for him by Mr. Christopher Bradley at 9s. per head - extra being charged on account of port wine and sherry for the gentlemen and cards and negus for the ladies.

Thomas Wyndham held the seat unopposed until he died in 1814. Shortly afterwards, in April 1815 a county meeting was held at the Pyle Inn - here it was decided to introduce a bill into Parliament to make Bridgend the place for holding the county elections.  The Act was evidently passed as all subsequent elections were held at Bridgend until the passing of the Reform Act in 1867.

The elections were held in a field near the the Leicester Inn called the Election Field. (now where The Star Inn is situated)

Victorian Bridgend: Bridgend Petty Sessions.

The Davies Building, Caroline Street.. 

Recently I have been trawling thorough the Victorian Newspaper of our area - below are some interesting extracts that I have come across whilst research Bridgend Petty Sessions, which is basically a Victorian "Who is in Court?".

2/9/1864
Sarah Williams and Elizabeth Williams were brought up in custody of the police charged with stealing a shirt. The former was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, and the latter was dismissed.

20/11/1870

William Webb, vagrant, was charged with destroying his trousers in the Work House. He said he thought it more decent to tear them off inside than to let them blow off outside. Sentenced to ten days' hard labour

20/5/1871

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 Is. 6d. and costs each. 

13/1/1877

A labourer, named Cotten, was brought from Ireland to answer a charge of non-maintenance. When he was produced it was found that the wrong man had been apprehended. He was discharged and the prosecutors ordered to give him £1 to defray the cost the return journey.

18/8/1877

David Thomas, a tramp, was charged with entering the house of Mr Charles E. Sawyer, at Bridgend, and stealing ham to the value of 80s. The prisoner was committed for trial.

17/12/1881

George Evans Taylor, Bridgend, was sent to gaol for seven days for being drunk and disorderly in Nolton Street, on the previous Tuesday evening.

29/8/1885

Henry James, of Blaengarw huts, Pontycymer., labourer, was charged with stealing a flannel shirt, the property of Henry Harris, of Pontycymer, and was committed for trial at the sessions.

27/5/1892

John Keys. of no settled abode, was charged on remand with indecently exposing his person.—Police-constable Rees said defendant had been about the town begging for about a fortnight, but he did not see him exposing his person to the little girl.—Prisoner was sent to gaol for seven days.

10/6/1892

James Dupplaw, lessee of Maesteg Market-place, was charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide at Maesteg Police-station. The circumstances of the case have already fully appeared in the South Wales Star.—John Richard Hill, son of Sergeant Hill, said that on the morning of May 25, about 8.30, he saw defendant hanging and appearing to be dead. He at once cut him down.

The Chairman commended witness for his conduct.  Dr. T. W. Clayton said he saw defendant a few minutes after Dr. Thomas in the cell. Defendant was very restless and irritable. He was trembling all over. and could not stand. Witness believed defendant was suffering from the effects of delirium tremens. Defendant had had several such attacks before, but had never previously attempted self-destruction. Defendant was allowed to go on Dr. Clayton promising to get Mrs. Dupplaw to look after him.