Owners of Llanfrechfa Grange from 1922 to 1924 (2 years)
Sir Leonard Wilkinson Llewellyn – born 1874; died 1924
Elsie Louise Llewellyn (nee ??) – born xxxx; died xxxx (Various records show Elsie Louise Llewellyn as a ‘Lady’, a title she would have received as the wife of a knight, while others refer to her as a ‘Dame’ the personally attained female Royal award equivalent the that of a knighthood. No further information has yet been found on Elsie. Can anyone help?)
Sir Leonard Wilkinson Llewelyn KBE JP
Sir Leonard Wilkinson Llewellyn (Source Newport Past Picture Library)
Sir Leonard was a well-known figure in the South Wales coal owning and mining circles and was Sherriff of Monmouth in 1920 under King George V.
Born is Aberamau, Aberdare, Sir Leonard spent his early boyhood in Chile before being educated in Monmouth, Cheltenham and then Heidelberg. Sir Leonard later served his apprenticeship in engineering at the Abersychan and Newport Abercarn Collieries. At the age of twenty four he became manager of the Cambrian Pits at Clydach Vale, and then manager of the Ocean Coal Company’s Collieries. He later held a number of director roles in South Wales companies including:-
- Arrow Fuel Co Ltd
- Blaenclydach Colliery Co Ltd
- Britannic Merthyr Colliery Co Ltd
- Burmah-Queensland Corporation
- Cambrian Collieries Ltd
- Consolidated Cambrian Collieries Ltd
- Celtic Collieries Ltd
- Crown Preserved Coal Co Ltd
- D Davies & Sons Ltd
- Duffryn Aberdare Coal Co Ltd
- Ebbw Vale Steel Iron and Coal Co Ltd
- Fernhill Collieries
- Frenchwood Mill Co Ltd
- Glamorgan Collieries
- Harwood Bros (1920) Ltd
- Imperial Navigation Coal Co Ltd
- John Lysaght Ltd
- Joseph Sankey & Sons Ltd
- Naval Colliery Co (1897) Ltd
- North’s Navigation Collieries Ltd
- Phoenix Patent Fuel Ltd
- Welsh Navigation Collieries
Sir Leonard served as the Controller of Materials at the Ministry of Munitions during the First World War and received the Cross of Officer of the Legion of Honour, the Cross of Officer of the Order of Leopold, and the Order of St. Stanislav. He also received the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society for gallantry in the Clydach Vale Explosion in 1905.
Sir Leonard was a Magistrate for the County of Glamorgan, a member of the Newport Chamber of Commerce Incorporated and a member of the Committee of Welsh Army Corps.
Sir Leonard had one son, Leonard George Edward and three daughters, Sybil Margaret, Edith Cicely, and Hilda Phylis. He died aged 50 at Llanfrechfa Grange in June 1924 and is buried at All Saints Church, Llanfrechfa.
The sale of Sir Leonards belongings
Following his death Sir Leonards belongings at Grange House were offered for sale.
The Gwent Archives holds a copy of the sale catalogue for the ‘Contents of Llanfrechfa Grange, the property of the late Sir Leonard W Llewelyn KBE’ dated September 1924. There were 2 viewing days (20th & 22nd) with the sale conducted at the house over 4 days (23rd to 26th) starting at 1pm each day. The catalogue extends to some 44 pages and the sale went from room to room during days 1, 2 & 4, with day 3 used for China Plaques, Silver & Plate, Books, Pictures, China & Glass and Wines.
References, Bibliography and acknowledgements
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GLAMORGAN/2009-07/1246912474
Durham Mining Museum www.dmm.org.uk/whoswho/
Graces Guide http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Leonard_Wilkinson_Llewelyn
Gwent Archives http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/
Newport Past www.newportpast.com/gallery/photos/php/photo_page.php?…42
Scotish Mining Museum: 1923 Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory Scottish Mining Museum
Western Mail Saturday June 14th 1924
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff of_Monmouthshire#Served_under_George_IV
Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden Community 