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Brian’s blast from the past: The Duke of Wellington, Cowbridge

Author Brian Lee writes a weekly history and nostalgia column for the South Wales Echo.

Cowbridge Pictured. Image Mark Lewis/Media Wales.

Written by Brian Lee

Back in the 1920s, a Mr. Emrys Jones wrote a series of articles for a local paper on the old inns of South Wales.

This is what he had to say about the Duke Of Wellington Inn in Cowbridge.

“I arrived in Cowbridge, and in a few seconds I was standing before the famous Duke of Wellington Inn, with its olde world charm and its small-panel bay windows.

“On your left inside is the smoke-room, a narrow, low room: the kind of room in which our ancestors were wont to talk o’ nights, and at one end stood a very ancient Welsh blanket chest, a very gem to warm the heart of any antiquary.

“More stylish and more costly dining rooms you may find in plenty, but I doubt whether you will find one anywhere more charming than the one in the ‘Duke’.

“Above the fireplace, you will see a portrait of the Iron Duke, supported on either side by a pair of old-fashioned crossed swords.

“The old military air is maintained by crossed halberds at the other end of the room,

“This inn is so called, I was told, because the Duke of Wellington stopped here after the battle of Waterloo, while on his way to visit the mother of the famous Welsh soldier, General Picton, who was killed in the engagement that broke forever the power of Napoleon.

“Before then, going back into the dim past, the old inn was known as the ‘Black Horse’, and a faded photograph remains to posterity, together with that of the peculiar looking town hall that existed in Cowbridge hundreds of years ago, when highway-men rode at nights and held up the mail coaches on the Cowbridge Road.

“There is a legend that once a highway man came to the outskirts of the town.

“He bribed a boy to take his horse through the toll-gate to the end of Cowbridge he would be known had he come on horseback.

“Then he sauntered through the town like any other pedestrian until he came to the ‘Duke’ or the Black Horse as it was known then.

“As he glanced through the window, he saw men sitting there with gold, travelers who had come from one of the big towns.

“He was a daring fellow this highway-man, with his brace of pistols hidden under his long coat, and his ironical smile of devil-may-care.

“Without a second thought, he drew his pistols and killed one of the merchants, snatched up the bag of gold and made off up the road to where his fretting mount stood ready for the long ride to freedom.

“He was never caught. And no wonder, for in those times it was a matter of days before a policeman could be sworn in!

“By the time the pursuer set out, the highway-man was hundreds of miles away.

“But the landlord of the Black Horse had to suffer the highway man’s deed.

“His license was taken from him for a time, and when it was restored, he was commanded to wall up the window through which the highwayman shot, thus this remains to this day.”

Please send your pictures and stories to Brian Lee, Cardiff Remember, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff, CF10 1XR
or email brianlee4@virginmedia.com
If sending a letter, please include your phone number.

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