Catherine Skinner (Phillips)
Mrs Skinner of Langstone Dairy
Catherine Alice Mary Skinner (n. Phillips) of Langstone Villa was our grandmother. Growing up in Langstone we lived next door to our nanna and spent considerable time with her, listing to stories about growing up at ‘The Cwm’ and her brother Gus. Much of the motivation behind this research project was our desire to know more about our grandparents and their family histories.
Catherine was born at Cwm Farm in Rogerstone on the 30th May 1907. She was the second and final child born to John Phillips and Catherine Phillips, both from successful farming families. John was from Greenmoor Farm in St Brides, and Catherine from Bryngwyn Farm in Nash. John was a significant figure in Monmouthshire and held a number of public offices. The success of their parents meant that Catherine and her elder brother Augustus, known as Gus, enjoyed a comfortable childhood on the farm.
Cwm Farm was situated off Cwm Lane in a rural part of Rogerstone, there was a reservoir behind the property. At the time Rogerstone was a working-class hamlet that also included the village of Tydu and had a population of 2,389. Cwm Farm consisted of a four-bedroom farmhouse, barn, various outbuildings and 41 acres of land. John and Catherine moved to Cwm Farm in 1900 and were tenants of the Tredegar Estate.
We are fortunate to have a small photograph album of Catherine’s from her childhood at Cwm Farm. It includes rare photos of the farmhouse, her family and some of the friends and visitors who came to Cwm Farm. There are a number of photographs of Aroma Harris who was Catherine’s best friend. Aroma lived locally and was the daughter of Charles Harris, the Baptist Minister at Bethel Baptist Church in Bassaleg, the Harris family were frequent visitors to the farm.
Catherine aged 3 and Gus aged 7 first appeared on the 1911 census. They were living at Cwm Farm with their parents and a 14-year-old domestic servant named Elizabeth Ainge. Both children attended the local school and were well educated.
By the 1921 census both children had left school, Catherine was now 14 and Gus 17 years old and helping his father on the farm. Catherine was only 21 when she lost her mother on the 4th August 1928. Catherine senior had been ill for some time and passed away at Byngwyn Nursing Home, her estate was left to husband John, and son Gus. Catherine remained at Cwm Farm for four years after the death of her mother and would have worked hard to support her father an brother.
In the summer of 1932 Catherine married Donald Skinner (our grandfather) of Abernant Farm near Caerleon. Also, in 1932 her father retired due to ill health, and Gus took over the running of Cwm Farm. The marriage of Catherine 25 and Donald 33 was a union of two successful farming families, and it attracted considerable attention. In a preview article about the wedding, the Western Mail described Donald as a well-known farmer, as his father was before him. Catherine’s father John was described as one of the best-known agriculturists in Monmouthshire and past president of the Monmouth Chamber of Agriculture.
A follow up article in the Western Mail reported on the wedding day and included a photograph of the wedding party. The wedding took place at St John’s, an Anglican church in Rogerstone, and photographs from the day show huge crowds outside the church. Due to illness John Phillips was unable to attend the wedding and Catherine was given away by her uncle Fred Phillips from Bryngwyn. The reception was held at Cwm Farm and attended by members of both families, we can only image that farming conversation would have been the order of the day!
Following the wedding Catherine moved to Abernant Farm, arriving during a period of great change. Donald’s mother had just moved out to live with her eldest son at Hendrew Farm, and all of his siblings except one had left the family home. Donald was attempting to make a success of Abernant Farm with just the assistance of his brother Ray and one paid permanent worker.
Catherine took an active role on the farm and was recruiting staff including a milkmaid to support the business. Despite their best efforts output on the farm inevitably started to drop and Donald was forced to spend two years in paid employment on land near Clomendy Wood in Caerleon. This meant Catherine was spending more time on her own at the farm.
Catherine and Donald had two daughters whilst living at Abernant, Mary was born in 1934, followed by Janet (our mother) who was born at Rock Farm in 1937. The Rock was home of Ralph and Edith Skinner and Catherine stayed there during the final stages of pregnancy, whilst Donald continued to work.
In 1940 the tenancy was surrendered and Catherine, Donald and their two daughters left Abernant Farm. There are no address records during WWII, but anecdotal evidence suggests the family spent some time living with Ralph Skinner at Rock Farm in Penhow whilst they looked for a new home. The Electoral Register of 1945 shows that Catherine and Donald had moved to Langstone and bought Langstone Villa. The large semi-detached property was just a few miles from Abernant, and they lived there with Mary and Janet.
With her husband in poor health and semi-retired Catherine worked full time for Unigate Dairies and operated the milk round for the local area. It has been said that Catherine was born a lady and not meant for work, but when circumstances required, she showed herself to be more than equal to the challenges she faced. Catherine ran the business from the family home and is still remembered by local people as Mrs Skinner of Langstone Dairy, who ensured they had their milk in all weathers.
Her family recall her getting up at 4am to do the milk round, and Catherine continued working long hours into her late 70s. A rare aerial photo of Langstone from the late 1960’s shows Langstone Villa with a single-story addition. Catherine used this building to run the business and the yard next to it was used for parking the milk floats.
Catherine made a success of the business and when their daughter Janet married Bernard in 1964, her parents purchased the property next door, Langstone Cottage, for them to live in. Away from work Catherine was passionate about gardening and worked hard on the garden at Langstone Villa, which was always in pristine condition.
Catherine was widowed in 1973 when Donald died after a long period of ill health. Catherine continued to opertae the milk round and only retired, albeit very reluctantly, aged 80 after her eyesight failed.
Catherine died in 1995 aged 87 at a nursing home in Newport, she left a substantial estate for her two daughters.
Her granddaughters recall her as a strong willed and resilient woman who worked hard to support her family. She also had a softer side, and they have fond memories of Sunday night baths when their nanna would wash their hair with a ‘luxury’ shampoo! Catherine and Donald are remembered together on a plaque at Langstone Church, just a short walk from their home in Langstone.
Memories of Mrs Skinner? Please email [email protected]