Arthur Turnour Raby 1791-1856

1813 Arthur married Henrietta Jane Smith, daughter of a landowner in the West Indies, and they settled at Caemawr Cottage, which was described as a ‘picturesque mansion and a thatched wooden chateau’.

He joined his father in his business enterprises and when they faced financial ruin Arthur decided to leave Llanelli.

1821 his home at Caemawr Cottage was advertised for sale and it was stated that he intended leaving Wales. However he seems to have changed his mind, probably because he was offered financial assistance, and remained in partnership with his father.

With the continuing serious financial trouble in 1823 Alexander Raby the Elder assigned his leases and business interests to Arthur.

Arthur suffered another setback when a newspaper report of 29 May 1824 reported that a fire had broken out in the thatched chateau when the cook spilt fat from the frying pan onto the fire. The wooden structure was completely engulfed by flames and destroyed in a short time. The furniture and effects were said to have been saved from the fierce fire by the efforts of the inhabitants.

Arthur continued to mine coal, sank a new pit and tried to expand his coal interests in an attempt to repay his father’s debts. In order to avoid bankruptcy he accepted a business proposition and the Raby interests were sold in 1826.

He offered Caemawr Cottage for rent when it was described as ‘Late the residence of Arthur T Raby’.

1827 Some time after 1827 Arthur Turnour Raby left Llanelli to live abroad, probably to avoid creditors. He travelled extensively and died in Russia in 1856.

Arthur and his father Alexander had been involved in Llanelli’s iron and coal industries for 30 years. They had invested and lost a fortune, purported to have been around £175,000, trying to exploit the area’s resources.

The only reference in the town today to the Raby family is the name Raby Street, which is close to Sandy Bridge on the road to Pwll.