All the Crew are saved

Culver Hole

The remote Gower coastline was a lucrative haven for smugglers during the late 18^th and 19^th centuries. 

Beneath the cliffs at Port Eynon is a cave called Culver Hole.  Set between two rock faces it has a masonry wall and a staircase leading up four floors.  


Culver Hole is believed to have links with the legendary 11^th century castle of Port Eynon.  In more recent history it was used as a safe hideaway for contraband.

Various smuggling gangs operated under the very noses of the establishment making the job of the customs officials particularly difficult.  Farms at Great and Little Highway occupied by William Hawkin Arthur, the self-styled smuggling king, were the centre of operations.  Seemingly invincible, it was customs officer Francis Bevan (an ancestor of both Silvanus and Ann) who in 1804 seized some 420 casks of spirits from a concealed cellar in both farmhouses, causing the collapse of this particular gang’s operations. 

This incident illustrates just how dangerous the work of customs officers could be as to get the casks into safe keeping over night Francis had to contend with a mob of some 200 people.  He was forced to allow them to have a couple of casks just to keep the peace.  Guarding the haul proved equally difficult and by the time the consignment reached Swansea it was found to be 17 casks short.  In a subsequent report Francis explained how he had given up some of the cask to secure the safe transferral of the bulk of the shipment.

Official figures state shipwrecks along the Gower coast occurred at the rate of one every two years but the Bevan letters would indicate that they were much more frequent than this.  In a letter to George dated 23 January, 1879 Ann writes:

Overton Jan 23 1879

Dear George

I am glad to say Sill is better but not able to get up from bed he [he] will have been in bed three weeks next Saturday he is now out of pain but very weak the Dr says he may try to get [get] up on Sunday next if he goes on well.  

Hannah & Ellen have had bad colds & had to stay in bed some days they are better & able to sew & nit by the Parlour Fire you Father feels the cold weather very much.  I have just been to see your Aunt Harriet she has caught a severe cold & is laid up in bed.  I hope she will soon be about again & I hope you will try not to take cold as the weather is very trying.  

Last Monday night a Norweggian Barque came on Shore under Slade Cliff Laden with Indian Corn, Maize all the Crew are saved & are at Porteynon the men round here have got work getting out the Cargo. Frank has been up seeing the wreck this afternoon. 

We have heard from George Bevan that you are coming home Saturday week Bring all your clothes with you that want mending.  I am getting Stockings ready for you your Uncle promised me some packing cloth & a Basket but perhaps he has forgotten them you must write to let uss know when you can come home weather Saturday or any other day.  

Dear George it is getting late I must conclud with our kindest love & may God bless & keep you form every evil from your affectionate

                                      Mother A. Bevan

Image - courtesy of the National Trust

Frank looks for a situation

George’s eldest sister Jane is always a good source of local news and gossip. 

 Overton

Friday Night

My dear Brother

Here we are three in bed.  Sill is out of pain but still helpless.  Hannah has not been up since Monday but she is better.  Ellen came home from school crying in pain in her head and knees she is a little better now.  Mother and Frank is goine to town tomorrow to look for a situation.  Mr. Jenkins in Castle Square would take him in March Mr. B. Williams in Temple St. would take him so they are going in tomorrow to see which place will suit him best.  Aunt Jane was here yesterday.  She said that Rowland had the offer of Manager in a shop he did not know the man to speak to he had heard of Rowland and wanted a steady young man he is not going [to] leave his present employ as Aunt Jane is proud of her boy.  Uncle promised me to some hampers and packing cloth please remind him of it and buy them will you.

Mr Benson of Fairy Hill was out shooting yesterday and fell down and broke his neck was carried home dead.  When are you coming home you must try and come on a Wednesday or Saturday.  Do not forget the little thing I sent for some time a go.  Come whenever you like hoping to see you soon. I remain Your affec. Sister

                                      Jane

 Seventy-year-old Mr. Starling Benson JP was out shooting with his gamekeeper when he fell into a quarry. 

A sick house to begin the New Year with

Silvanus junior, referred to in the letters as Sill, older then George by two years, is the mainstay on the farm, especially following his father's near fatal illness.  Aged only twenty, Sill suffers from a bout of rheumatism, and when he is confined to his bed even more pressure is put upon Ann and work on the farm suffers.

Overton Jan 8 1879

Dear George

Just a line to say we have sent the Box with a Goose & two Fowls & a parcel for you a little Pudding & a few apples.  I had nothing else to send.  I hope you have had them.  I am sorry to say Sill has been ill in bed since Sunday in Rheumatism in his legs & arms he is better to day & slept a little last night the Dr thinks he will not have Rheumatic Fever he caught cold last week removeing the Sheep nets in the wet at Moors.  Jane has been very poorly but is better & able to get up to day so I have had a Sick House to begin the new year with.  I hope poor Sill will be better soon as he is wanted every day your Father has had a cold but is better all the rest are quite well

With kindest love & hoping you are quite well this cold weather I remain in haste

                             Your affectionate

                                      Mother

Image - a traditional Christmas pudding - 1860s.

Head Man on the Farm

At the beginning of the New Year sixteen year old Francis writes to his brother about how he is ‘head man’ at the farm at Overton.

Overton Gower

January 6^th 1879

My dear brother

I am quite well and I hope you are the same. I have had a very hard time of it to day almost enough to make me wish myself back to school again owing to Silvanus is very bad in his legs and he is obliged to stay in bed and the servant boy went home this morning very bad and I have just returned from being after medicine.  Jane and Father have also been very poorly but are getting better now.  So you see that I am head man just now.  I do not think that I am going back to school.  Mother was into Swansea last Saturday to look out for a place for me but she failed to get one.  Mr Jenkins cant take me until March but I hope to get a birth before then.  Mother says that we are going to send the box on Wednesday from Killay station so you may look out for it.  I have got no more news to tell now.  So long

                   From

                             Your affectionate

                                      brother

                                                F.J. Bevan

A modern view across Overton Bay

Happy Christmas

And after Christmas sister Elizabeth writes to her brother to tell him how it all went.

Overton

Dec. 31^st/78

Dear Brother

We enjoyed our Christmas very much Although it was snowing all the morning and very cold.  We were all so sorry that you could not come home.  We were down to Aunt Harriets to tea yesterday evening and Jane and Sill are gone down to Uncle George Gibbs to tea this evening.

I am afraid you will be too late for the tea meeting it is to take place to morrow evening.  There has been a sad accident it happened a few days ago.  Uncle George’s Brother Captain Joseph was knocked of the vessel and drowned the crew didnt know he was gone till they missed him.  We are going to sent Uncles box next week so you may expect a bit of Christmas pudding and a few apples.

                   I must now conclude

                             And Wishing you a happy

                                      new year I remain

                                                Your affectionate sister

                                                          Elizabeth

First Edition Frontispiece and Title Page of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol published 1843

George Gibbs was the son of Harriet nee George, (Ann’s mother Jane’s sister) and Samuel Gibbs.  After working in London under the guidance of his uncle Robert, George returned to Gower and married Ann Hughes of Newton in Llanddewi.  George was employed for many years as Lloyd’s Agent (the shipping firm) in Gower and farmed 59 acres at The Rectory, Porteynon.

Wishing George was home

Ann squeezes in one more letter before Christmas, obviously thinking of her absent son.

Overton Monday morning

Dec 23^rd 1878

Dear George

Just a line to say we are all quite well your father has gone off the Club & seems in very good spirits but his legs swell a little now he does not feel the Cold weather so much now as when it first set in.  The children are quite delighted with the sleding on the Splol Pool & are wishing George was home.  

We are all sorry you cannot be with us perhaps you will be able to stay the longer when you do come.  I hope you will be able to injoy your Christmas at Llandudno as we are very busy to day & I must Finish with our kindest love & may God bless & keep you from all evil from your Ever affectionate Mother & Father

                             S & A Bevan

Jane wants you to send her the Christmas number of the [Methodist] Recorder if you can get it.

Believed to be one of the first mass produced Christmas cards published in 1843 for Henry Cole.

"We are haveing Winter in Earnest," writes Ann

December 1878 and the family at Gower prepares for Christmas

Overton Decr 9^th 1878

Dear George

I think it is my turn to write this week we are all well your Father feels the cold weather he has to stand with his back to the Fire every now & then to keep warm he does not like to sit in the Parlour it is too lonely.

I dare say you find it cold in the Shop we were surprised this morning to find the Ground cover’d in Snow.  We are haveing Winter in Earnest.  Franks School breaks up on Wednesday next the Agricultural Show will be held on Thursday.  I think Sill will go in if all is well we have sold two Fat Cows to go in on Monday next.

Will you be able to come home this Christmas we should be glad to see you but you must do as your Uncle thinks best the little ones are often talking about you Ellen thinks they shall have a better Christmas this year than last as Father is so much better.

They are all gone to Capt. Steven’s this evening to tea. I have not much news to tell you. Captain Jones has got back to Swansea he & his Crew were landed at Plymouth the Second Mate was drowned Mr Thomas’es Son of Hillend.  There is no account of Capt. F. Gibbs. We live in a world of trouble & disasstars.  The Lord help uss to keep our lamps trimmed and burning ready to meet our Master when he calls for uss.  With our kindest love we remain Dear George

                                      Your affectionate

                                                Father & Mother

                                                          S & A Bevan

P.S. Robert & Eddy sends their love & you must buy them a Ball each

Winter Landscape, Poland by Robert Polhill Bevan