J
Jeffreston
JEFFRESTON a parish, in the union and hundred of Narberth, county of Pembroke, South
Wales, 7 miles (S. by W,) from Narberth; containing 644 inhabitants. The village is pleasantly situated on a well-wooded eminence, and forms a conspicuous and interesting feature in the views from
the adjacent parts of the country. Near the turnpike-road from Narberth to Pembroke, which passes
through the parish, and about half-way between
Creswell-Quay and the church, is Cresselly, a seat
surrounded with luxuriant plantations. The substrata of the parish are stone coal and culm, which
have been wrought to a very great extent, and still
continue to be procured, though on a smaller scale.
The mines are thought to be nearly exhausted, but
it is probable that, by carrying the shaft to a greater
depth, an abundant supply may still be obtained.
The coal is conveyed by a tramroad to the pier at
Saundersfoot, on Carmarthen bay, and there shipped
for the coast of Cardiganshire, &c.; many tons of the
large coal are carried thence to the London market,
for malting purposes, it being free from all bituminous
qualities. The living is a vicarage, rated in the king's
books at £4. 17. 6., and endowed with £200 private
benefaction, £600 royal bounty, and £1000 parliamentary grant; present net income, £134; patrons
and impropriators, the Dean and Chapter of St.
David's. The church, dedicated to St. Jeffrey and
St. Oswald, is not distinguished by any remarkable
architectural features. A school, erected in 1835,
and conducted on the National system, is principally
supported by the family at Cresselly; and a Sunday
school is also held in connexion with the Church.
John's (St.)
JOHN'S (ST.) juxta Swansea, a parish, in the
borough, union, and hundred of Swansea, county of
Glamorgan, South Wales; adjoining the sea-port
town of Swansea, and containing, in 1841, 913 inhabitants. The name of this place, in Welsh "Eglwys
Ieuan Aber Tawe," is derived from the dedication of
its church, which originally belonged to the Knights
of St. John of Jerusalem, and from its situation adjacent to the town of Swansea, immediately below
which the river Tawe discharges its waters into the
Bristol Channel. The parish is small, containing not
more than six farms of moderate size, and extending
not quite a mile in length in a northern direction
from Swansea. The scenery in and near St. John's
is not nearly so engaging as that by which the environs of the borough on the south-west side are distinguished; but the distant views comprehend some
pleasing features, with a fine prospect, from parts
of the parish, of the Bristol Channel and the coast of
Devonshire. The Havod copper-works, in the parish,
belonging to Messrs. Vivian, employ a very large
number of persons; there are also some coal-works,
and a manufactory of tobacco-pipes. The whole of
the parish is included within the boundaries of the
contributory borough of Swansea.
The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with
£600 royal bounty, and £1400 parliamentary grant;
net income, £100; patron and impropriator, Sir John
Morris. The church, dedicated to St. John, having
fallen into a state of dilapidation, was taken down and
rebuilt in 1824, towards defraying the expense of
which the Incorporated Society for building and enlarging churches and chapels granted £575; the
remainder was made up by subscription, through the
exertions of the Rev. Henry Williams. The structure, which is situated within the town of Swansea,
is a plain massive edifice, without any tower, and
contains 1000 free sittings, in consideration of the
grant above-mentioned, affording great accommodation to the inhabitants of part of the town. The
service is performed both in the English and Welsh
languages. Near the copper-works are some schools
with appropriate offices, erected by J. H. Vivian,
Esq., M.P., at his sole cost, and capable of accommodating nearly 800 children; they are conducted
on the British and Foreign system, and supported by
a stoppage on the workmen's wages. There is a
place of worship for Independents, who are a numerous body here.
Johnston
JOHNSTON, a parish, in the union of Haverfordwest, hundred of Rhôs, county of Pembroke,
South Wales, 3¼ miles (S. S. W.) from Haverfordwest, on the road to Milford; containing 289 inhabitants. The environs of this place are pleasant, and
contain some agreeable scenery, with several respectable seats. Johnston Hall, an ancient mansion, was
for a long time the residence of the late Lord Kensington. The lands, which are all freehold, are
chiefly inclosed, and in a good state of cultivation.
The parish abounds with culm and limestone; the
former is worked for the supply of the neighbourhood, and the latter also on a limited scale, chiefly to
be burnt for manure. The living is a discharged
rectory, consolidated with the living of Steynton,
rated in the king's books at £2. 0. 5., and in the
patronage of the Crown; present net income of the
benefice, £322. The tithes of Johnston parish have
been commuted for a rent-charge of £105, and the
glebe comprises twenty-five acres, valued at £25 per
annum; with a glebe-house. The church is not distinguished by any peculiar architectural features.
There is a place of worship for Baptists. A National
school was erected in 1834, at the expense of the
late J. Bowen, Esq., of Johnston, together with a
grant from the National Society; and two Sunday
schools are held, one of them in connexion with the
Church, and the other with the Baptist denomination.
Jordanston
JORDANSTON, a parish, in the poor-law union
of Haverfordwest, hundred of Dewisland, county
of Pembroke, South Wales, 4 miles (S. W.) from
Fishguard; containing 157 inhabitants. This parish
appears to have derived its name from an ancient
estate within its limits; it is pleasantly situated in
the north-western part of the county, and is intersected by a stream which falls into the river Hog.
The scenery is agreeably diversified, and the views
of the adjacent district comprehend a variety of interesting features. In the parish are, Jordanston,
the ancient family mansion of the Vaughans, situated
in a retired part of the country, and commanding
much pleasing scenery; and Llangwaren, an ancient
residence, with an extensive and well-cultivated farm
attached to it. The living is a discharged rectory,
rated in the king's books at £6. 3. 9., and endowed
with £400 royal bounty; patron, G. G. Vaughan,
Esq. The tithes have been commuted for a rentcharge of £86, and the glebe comprises six acres,
valued at £8 per annum. The church, dedicated to
St. Cwrda, is a small neat edifice. Here are some
remains of a circular encampment, generally ascribed
to the Danes.