Llewellyn and Charles Bullin
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| Herald of Wales |
Llewellyn, born in 1881, and Charles, born in 1887, were the
sons of Thomas Bullin and Mary Cochrane.
Thomas Bullin, granduncle of Llewellyn and Charles, was born
in 1805 in Esher and was the proprietor of the Glamorgan Cab.
He arrived in South Wales around 1828, at which point he was
leasing the tolls at Turnpike Trusts in various regions such as London,
Portsmouth, and Bristol. Thomas Bullin's occupation is listed as a toll farmer,
distinct from the toll keepers or collectors who operated the toll gates and
bars.
In South Wales, he managed numerous tolls in Breconshire,
Monmouthshire, Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire, and Cardiganshire. In several
locations, he appointed his family members to oversee operations; for instance,
in Neath, his brother was stationed at one gate while his father managed the
West Gate. His brother Charles was responsible for the Aberystwyth South gate
in 1841, Llanarthney in 1851, and Swansea Upper (Strand) in 1861. Another
relative, possibly his brother John or another member named James, supervised
the Cowbridge gate in January 1835 when an incident occurred where the keeper
shot a boy dead. The coroner deemed the death accidental but noted that ‘the state of Bullin’s mind since the
accident is truly deplorable.’ It is possible that the gatekeeper abandoned
the problematic tolls afterward, and this might be the same James Bullin
mentioned in parish registers as later working in industry at Neath Abbey.
The Turnpike Trusts replaced the parish system to enhance
road quality. In Glamorgan, five Trusts operated, leasing gates to toll farmers
who managed multiple gates.
Bullin assumed control of Aberystwyth in 1836, Kidwelly
including Loughor bridge from 1837 to 1841, Bridgend from 1837 to 1842,
Newcastle, Cardigan, Milford and Whitland in 1838, Tavernspite from 1838 to
1841, and Main Trust from 1838 to 1843. Furthermore, he managed numerous
individual gates. In Whitland, where the rioting commenced, he paid an
additional £300 compared to the previous lease, a proposal the struggling
Trustees found difficult to reject. At Bridgend, the prior fee for all gates
was £1,192; upon Bullin's takeover, he paid £1,330, which increased to £1,680
the following year. In Swansea in 1845, his brother John managed the Swansea
Gate, Cwmbwrla, Pentre, Hafod Inn, St. Helen’s Hill, Gorse Lane, Ynisdaw, and
Pontardulais.
He recouped his investment by installing additional bars and
gates, often without the consent of the Trustees, and raising the rents. Given
his control over all the gates in a district, Bullin was able to conduct
operations as he saw fit. He also denied credit. Four additional gates were
installed in Whitland, including Efail Wen. In Llanarthney Parish, where the
Bullin brothers had three gates and eleven bars.
There is no evidence indicating that he engaged in illegal
activities. He stated that if the courts found him at fault, he would repay any
amounts due. If informed that a specific action was not lawful, he would cease
that activity; however, there were instances where the Trustees were unaware
for several years of certain actions he had taken, during which time he
profited from them. An illustration of his management style surfaced in August
1843 when Bullin appeared before the Swansea Magistrates. The Trustees had
authorized him to charge 1½d
for every cart of coal, but Bullin had been charging 3d for more than a year.
In his defence, Bullin cited an Act of Parliament permitting the higher fee.
However, the magistrates clarified that the amount specified in the Act was
subject to any reductions imposed by the Trustees. Bullin paid the £5 penalty
and adjusted his charges accordingly.
The toll collectors or gatekeepers were compensated based on
commission, which sometimes led to subjective interpretations of the fees. For
instance, at Aberavon East, where Thomas Bullin Senior, father of the
toll-farmer, served as the collector, it was alleged that a cart carrying bags
of potatoes for multiple individuals would be charged per bag according to each
owner, rather than imposing a single fee for the entire cart. Thomas Bullin
Junior firmly denied these allegations to the Commission.
In West Wales, where farms were poor and incomes low,
tensions culminated in the Rebecca Riots. Bullin faced widespread criticism,
but some believe he was made a scapegoat, suggesting that others, such as the
Trust owners, may have been more responsible. In the Rebecca saga, Thomas
Bullin and George Rice Trevor, the Deputy Lieutenant of the County, had their views
on the causes and attributed blame to Thomas Campbell Foster, correspondent of
The Times newspaper, for contributing to discord in Wales through his reports.
In 1839, significant unrest occurred at Efailwen when
Rebecca and her followers dismantled the tollhouse owned by Bullin’s brother,
Benjamin, referred to as Little Bull. Three years later, another gate erected
by him near St. Clears was also demolished. Bullin was notably targeted by
Rebecca and was generally held responsible for much of the turmoil. Rebecca
sent letters to him, and on one occasion, he received two woodcuts, one
depicting a headless man accompanied by a note stating, "Receipt for
the interest I took in the matter."
Following the Inquiry into the unrest, Bullin ceased his
toll-farming activities and established a Livery Stable in Swansea, where he
resided until his death. Both Bullin and his father are interred at St. Catwg’s
Churchyard in Cadoxton. Bullin was a pioneer of public cab services in Swansea,
having received authorization in 1858 to station a cab for hire in Castle
Square. An article in the Western Mail later remarked, "In all
weathers, there stood the solitary vehicle and its diligent custodian, when not
out on hire."
According to the 1881 Census, Thomas, the father of Llewellyn and Charles, was living at 40 Bellevue Street, Swansea.
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| 1881 Census |
Thomas, aged 32, was a Livery Stable Keeper, while Mary was
aged 25. Her place of birth is recorded
as Scotland. Their two children at the
time were
Thomas, aged 3, and Jane, aged 2
Mary's sister, Isabella Cochrane, aged 12, was also present
and attended school.
The 1891 Census record documents the two brothers for the
first time.
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| 1891 Census |
The Bullin family resides at Mews (Back of Green) in Swansea. This property is located near St. James Crescent.
Thomas, aged 42, is a Master and Cab Proprietor, while Mary
is aged 35. Their children are
Jane, aged 12; Llewellyn, aged 10; Charles, aged 4; Laura,
aged 2.
Also present is niece, Eliza Edmund, aged 21, who is
recorded as a “Visitor”. Her place of
birth is Dafen, Carmarthenshire.
The 1901 Census records that the Bullin family is residing
at Ffynone Mews.
1901 Census
Thomas, 52 years old, holds the position of Livery Stable
Proprietor, whereas Mary is 45 years old. Their children residing at home are:
Jane, aged 22, who is a School Teacher; Charles, aged 14,
and Laura, aged 12.
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| Llewellyn Bullin Maitland Cemetery, Maitland, Western Cape, South Africa credit - findagrave |
According to the 1911 Census, the Bullin family had
relocated to their new residence at 3 Bay View Crescent.
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| 1911 Census |
Thomas, aged 62, is a Livery Stable Keeper, while Mary is
aged 55. Their two children present at
home are
Charles, aged 25, who is a manager, and Laura Haines, aged
22, who is married to Arthur Haines, aged 27, and who is an Upholsterer.
Charles married Lily May Thomas in 1915.
Charles enlisted in the First World War, ranked as a Driver,
and served with the Army Service Corps, 483rd H.T. Coy. 27th Div. Train.
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| Charles Bullin Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta credit - findagrave |
The 1921 Census records that Jane Bullin, who is reported in
the Herald of Wales article published on 28th October 1916,
as headmistress of the Vetch Field Infant School, is living at 3 Bay View
Crescent.
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| 1921 Census |
Jane, aged 42, is single, and she is the Headmistress of Elementary School, Vetch Field School, Swansea.
Also present are Lilly May Bullin, aged 24, sister-in-law,
who handles household duties; Llewellyn Bullin Haines, aged 11; Leslie Bullin
Haines, aged 9; and Thomas Bullin Haines, aged 7, all of whom attend school and
are Jane's nephews.
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