Cheriton - Bursting with History

One of the smallest hamlets located in Gower, is Cheriton. “Cheriton” names derives from the names “church town”.   

The first church dating from the 11^th century, had been built by the family of Payn de Tuberville, who then granted it to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John at Siebech.

The hamlet evolves around the site of a 13th-century church, St. Cadoc.  During the 19^th century, the present church was built replacing the 13th-century one.  The church depicted on the 18^th century map was located near a mill, which ceased to be used during the 19^th century and was also demolished during the same time as the “Great House”.  The “Great House”, the Glebe House, was one of the last houses to be built in Gower by the Order of Knights of St. John. During the 15^th century.

During 1770, the churchyard was the scene of a brawl between members of the Lucas family, who locked the rector in the church so that his sensibilities should not be disturbed by the sight of the bloodshed.

Further changes were made to the church during 1934.  Today, the church is Grade I listed.

Notable burials in the churchyard are Reverend John David Davies and Ernest Jones.

Reverend John David Davies, who was also the vicar of Cheriton became famous locally for his writings of what became known as The Gower Bible.  These volumes of works depicted the local customs, history, and local legends of Gower.

John, who was born in 1831, Oxwich, is recorded on the 1911 Census, aged 80, residing at Llanmadoc Rectory, Reynoldston.  Dying later on during the year.

More information about J.D. Davies can be found at

https://swanseafamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2020/09/llanmadoc-art-and-smallest-church.html

Ernest Jones, born in 1879, Gowerton was a Welsh neurologist and psychoanalyst.  During his lifetime, he was a friend and colleague of Sigmund Freud, whom he met in 1908.  Jones became Freud’s official biographer.

Ernest is best remembered for his marriage to the Welsh musician Morfydd Llwyn Owen in 1917.  The following year, 1918, whilst holidaying in South Wales, Morfydd became seriously ill with acute appendicitis.  Emergency surgery was carried out at Ernest’s parents' house, Mumbles.  The local surgeon was able to save her life, Morfydd died from the effects of chloroform poisoning.

Morfydd was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, and headstone bears the inscription having been chosen by Jones from Goethe’s Faust “Das Unbeschreibliche, heir ist’s getan”

More about Morfydd Llwyn Owen can be found on the following link

Morfydd Llwyn Owen 

Ernest married for the second time in 1919 to Katherine Joki, a Jewish economics graduate from Moravia.  They went on to have four children.  The eldest daughter, Gwenith died when aged 7 during the interwar influenza epidemic.  

Ernest was proud of his Welsh roots, was a member of the Welsh Nationalist Party, Plaid Cyrmu.  He enjoyed and loved the Gower Peninsula, having explored it during his youth.  He purchased a holiday cottage in Llanmadoc and used it as a holiday retreat. During 1956, he was instrumental in helping secure Gower as the region in the UK as an Area of Outstanding Beauty.

Ernest was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1942; Honorary President of the International Psychoanalytical Association, 1949; awarded from Swansea University an Honorary Doctor of Science, 1954.

Four years later, in 1958, Ernest died and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.  His ashes were later laid with his eldest daughter’s grave at St. Cadoc's church.

Cheriton is also the birthplace of the author and first-class cricketer, William Collins.  William was born in 1848.  Educated at Radley College and then at Jesus College, Oxford. 

Whilst a student, William did not feature in the Oxford University cricket team. He eventually went on to play in 1884, when he played for the Gentlemen of England and played against Oxford University.  Again, playing for the Gentlemen of England team in 1886.

Held in high regard by C. I. Thornton, who invited William to play for Lord Londesborough’s XI team, playing against the Australian team.  Batting number 11, William scored 56 runs.  Again, during 1887, at the Scarborough Festival, William played for the Gentlemen of England team.

In 1888, William was invited to play with the Oxford University Past and Present cricket team.  His last appearance at first-class cricket was three years later, in 1891, played for H. Philipson’s XI team against Oxford.  In total, William scored 157 runs and took 19 wickets.

William also played at county level, playing for Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, and for one match for Shropshire.

Outside of cricket, William was a contributor to Blackwood’s Magazine, also publishing two works of fiction, “The Don and Undergraduate”, 1899, and “A Scholar of his College”, 1900.  William died in January 1932, Norfolk.