John R. Phillips
Famer & Prominent Public Figure
John Richard Phillips was our great-grandfather, he was born at Greenmoor Farm in St Brides in 1860 and appeared as an infant on the 1861 census. John was the fourth child born to Phillip and Mary Phillips. His father was a significant local landowner having succeeded his father as the owner of the 120-acre Greenmoor Farm.
John grew up as one of eight children, he attended the local school where he performed well and received a good education. Amongst the friends he made in St Brides was David Llewellyn Harding, who under his stage name Lyn went on to be a notable actor. Lyn spent 40 years on the stage before entering British made silent films, talkies, and radio.
Growing up at Greenmoor we would have expected John to follow the family tradition and become a farmer, however he initially looked to be on a different path. On the 1881 census John was listed as a Grocers Assistant and just three years later John had his own store on Commercial Road in Newport. Amongst the goods sold by him was produce from Greenmoor Farm.
In 1884 his father Phillip Phillips died and John returned to Greenmoor to support his mother and brothers on the farm. John then decided to leave the grocery business behind and work as a farmer. It is recorded that this change of direction was due in part to health concerns, which would suggest John benefited from working in the fresh air.
By the 1891 census John’s elder brother Phillip was running Greenmoor, and John moved to nearby Sutton Farm, which his uncle John had farmed for many years. John remained at Sutton Farm until the death of his mother in 1899 and then struck out on his own. In 1900 at the age of 30, John married Catherine AM Phillips, the daughter of a farmer from Bryngwyn Farm in Nash and the couple settled in Rogerstone.
The 1901 census showed them living together at Cwm Farm in Rogerstone. Cwm was an historic property and had been a farm since at least 1730, it was part of the Tredegar Estate and John ran it as a tenant farmer. He iwas a friend of Lord Tredegar and soon became an important figure in the local farming community. In his first year at Cwm Farm he hosted the annual prize meeting of the Henllys Farmers Association.
John and Catherine had two children, John Augustus, known as Gus, was born in 1903 followed by Catherine in 1907. John has been described by family members as more of a ‘Gentleman Farmer’, who achieved success by employing good people rather than hands-on work. This would certainly explain the number of outside interests that John maintained. Over three decades at Cwm Farm he built an excellent reputation and in the 1930s was described as one of the “best-known agriculturists in Monmouthshire” by the Western Mail.
Amongst John’s many achievements were: President of the Monmouthshire Chamber of Agriculture, Member of the Monmouthshire Executive of the National Farmers Union, and 30 years as the Steward of Lord Tredegar’s Show. He also served as a committee member for numerous agricultural shows and associations and was a highly respected agricultural judge.
John was also active in public affairs; he served as the chairman of the local school board and was a member of the Newport Board of Guardians. John was a staunch conservative and chaired the local Conservative Association for 20 years. In his spare time John maintained a serious interest in music and sung and conducted at the famous Crystal Palace in London as well as other music festivals across the country.
John used his profile to campaign on a number of issues and we have found several letters from John that were published in the Western Mail. One in 1926 concerned the problem of Alsatian dogs worrying sheep with John calling for firm action to be taken. He also wrote letters that criticised fellow farmers for taking issue with the Conservative government of the day, John argued that members of the farming union should remain politically neutral.
On August 4th 1928 John lost his wife Catherine, an event which affected him deeply for the rest of his life. Catherine had been ill for some time with cancer and passed away at Byngwyn Nursing Home. With John’s health also getting worse he made the decision to retire in 1930 at the age of 60. He had spent three successful decades at Cwm Farm, proving himself capable of juggling the demands of managing a farm and the responsibilities of various public roles, whilst still having time for his family and hobbies.
The retirement was covered in a Western Mail article that described his childhood in St Brides, his early days as a grocer, his time at Cwm Farm, his interest in politics and the church, as well as the many public roles he had filled. John continued to live at Cwm Farm with Gus and Catherine and his son became the second Phillips to tenant the property. Despite retiring we would imagine John continued to have much influence on the farm!
In 1932 John saw both of his children wed, with both marrying into fellow farming families. In June Catherine married Doanld Skinner at St Mary’s Church in Rogerstone. John was unfortunately unable to attend the wedding due to ill health, but the reception was held at Cwm Farm. Donald was from Abernant Farm in Kemeys Inferior, John would have been familiar with his late father as both had served in the local Farmers Union.
In October 1932, Gus married Olive Amelia Smith. Olive was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Tom Smith of Hardwick Farm. The farm was situated on Five Lanes near Caerwent where Tom ran a successful mixed farm on around 80 acres of land. Olive moved to Cwm Farm to live with Gus and they had a child named Enid Meriol Amelia Phillips she was born 2nd December 1935.
John spent his final years living at Cwm Farm with his son and daughter-in-law. By the 1939 register John was incapacitated and being supported by his family and members of the household staff. These included Margarite R Flook (private secretary), Sylvina M Sumsion (typist) and Winifred D Whittle (domestic maid).
After 43 years At Cwm Farm, John Phillips died on the 21st January 1943. John’s estate passed to Gus, and he was buried with Catherine at St. John’s Church in Rogerstone, where he had been a regular worshipper for many years.
Gus and Olive continued to run Cwm Farm as tenants until 1958 when they were finally able to purchase the freehold after the Tredegar Estate was dissolved. For the next 30 years Gus and Olive farmed their 41 acres as well as land on nearby moors, where they held grazing rights.
In 1989 they finally retired, handing the reigns to their daughter, and as of 2024 the farm is still in family hands. John would undoubtably have been very proud.