Mine Owner and Timber Merchant
John Glasbrook was born in 1816, the son of Thomas and Margaret Glasbrook of Llwyn-y-domen Farm in the parish of Llangyfelach (near Rhydypandy, about a mile and a half to the west of Clydach and baptised on 30 August in that year at Llangyfelach church.
Mine ownership
Penrhiwceiber Colliery
Business and undertaking of Penrhiwceiber Navigation Steam Coal Company at or near Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash; £400; annuity of £30; 15s weekly; 10s weekly; 10s; residue of real and personal estate whatsoever.
Beaufort Colliery
Birchrock Coal Company and the Garngoch Collieries.
1878 Morriston Collieries after the death of his partner Mr Phillip Richard (brother-in-law) died
Endorsed: memorandum of conveyance, 1 Mar 1963.
Other business activities:
Messrs. John Glasbrook, Sons & Co., Timber Merchants of Swansea,
Glasbrook’s Brick and Tile Co. of Forestfach
John Glasbrook & Sons and Co., Cambrian Steam Saw Mills, South Dock, importers of timber and slate merchants.
When John Glasbrook died in 1887, he appointed his 5 son’s joint trustees of his property, they traded together in a partnership as colliery proprietors known as Glasbrook Brothers in 1892.
The brothers were:
Thomas d. 1892
John Issac Thomas d. 1912
David Mansell d. 1933
Sydney Edward d. d 1896
The brothers continued to administer the Messrs Glasbrook Bros Ltd estate until the last brother, David Mansell, died in 1933.
The next people to live at Norton House were the Glasbrook’s. They were there in 1891, but it is not clear when they came, or whether the death in May 1887 of their father John Glasbrook Senior, Mayor of Swansea in 1871, had any relevance to the move to Norton House. Thomas, John and Isaac owned collieries around Swansea. John was also a director of a Gaslight and Coke Company. Sydney, the youngest brother, was more involved with the Glasbrook, Son & Company, timber merchants. Their sister, Margaret, also lived with them. Their staff consisted of 2 general servants and a cook. Thomas was killed in April 1893 when his horse threw him onto the track of the Mumbles Railway.
Administrative and biographical history: John Glasbrook was a successful colliery owner working collieries such as Beaufort Colliery, Birchrock Coal Company and the Garngoch Collieries. His industrial interests also included the Messrs John Glasbrook, Sons & Co., Timber Merchants of Swansea, Glasbrook’s Brick and Tile Co. of Forestfach and John Glasbrook, Sons and Co., Cambrian Steam Saw Mills, South Dock, importers of timber and slate merchants. When Phillip Richard, co-partner and brother-in-law died in 1878, he took over Morriston Collieries. He purchased Brynmor House in Swansea in 1850, and acquired land on both sides of the Glamorgan/Carmarthenshire border, including farms in the parishes of Llangyfelach, Llandeilo Talybont, Loughor, Swansea, Llandybie and Llanelli. When he died in 1887 he appointed his five sons, Thomas (d. 1892), John, Isaac Thomas [d. c.1912], David Mansell (d. 1933) and Sydney Edward [d. c.1896] joint trustees of his property.
They traded together in partnership as colliery proprietors known as Glasbrook Brothers in 1892. In 1898, the Glasbrook Brothers, Limited was incorporated and in 1908, it became a private company. Bryn-y-mor estate was put for sale by auction by W J Rees in 1909. John Glasbrook Sons and Company Limited was wound up voluntarily in 1929. The brothers continued to administer the Messrs Glasbrook Bros Ltd estate until the last brother, David Mansell, died in 1933
Will and probate of John Glasbrook, formerly of Russell House, Swansea, but late of Norton House, parish of Oystermouth, colliery proprietor and timber merchant, who died on 27 Apr 1887, 18 Apr 1887; proved 31 Aug 1887. Bequests to Margaret Glasbrook, daughter (and trust); Thomas Glasbrook, son (trustee and executor); John Glasbrook, son (trustee and executor); Isaac Thomas Glasbrook, son (trustee and executor); David Mansel Glasbrook, son (trustee and executor); Sydney Edward Glasbrook, son (trustee and executor): Eliza, wife of Reverend Henry Lewis Davies, sister; Thomas Glasbrook, brother; Thomas Morgan Glasbrook, son of late brother William Glasbrook, nephew; grandson of late brother William being son of his eldest daughter by Colin MacKenzie, her husband; grandson of late brother William being eldest son of his daughter, wife of William Jenkins. Part or parts of household furniture, plate, plated articles, linen, china, books, pictures, prints, household effects, gigs, carriages, horses and harness; £150; £20,000; £20,000; £18,000; £15,000; share, estate and interest as part owner and partner in lands, messuages, colliery business and undertaking of Penrhiwceiber Navigation Steam Coal Company at or near Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash; £400; annuity of £30; 15s weekly; 10s weekly; 10s; residue of real and personal estate whatsoever. Endorsed: memorandum of conveyance, 1 Mar 1963. (i) John Henry Lionel Glasbrook and David Mortimer Sydney Glasbrook to (ii) Buckleys Brewery Limited. Public house and premises known as The Colliers Arms, Saron, Llandebie, county of Carmarthen together with 5 detached plots of land, whole comprising 8 acres or thereabouts