The cottages were built in the garden of the Old Thatch Cottage by William Williams, in December 1851.

On the census of 1861 widow Rachel Jones was in residence. This had changed by 1871 to Jane Thomas also a widow, living with her is her son William a 35 year old farm labourer, they were both born in Brecon.

On the 1881 census in occupation of number two is Henry Holland 55 from Bicester, a labourer, along with his 44 year old wife Virginia from Weymouth with their sons, Henry 17, a gardener born in Merthyr, William 11 and 13 year old daughter Ellen both born in Goytre.

The younger children were attending Penperlleny School when in January 1883 Henry Holland was summoned by the Pontypool Board of Guardians for his children’s non-attendance.

By 1891 Henry and his family moved to Abergavenny where, in 1894 Virginia died. Four year later in September 1898 Henry was admitted to Abergavenny Lunatic Asylum, he died in December the same year.

The 1901 census shows Samuel James and his family in occupation, Samuel is a 35 year old miller, born in Bath, Laura his wife is 30, their children are James, John and Ceridwen. All the children attended Llanover School.

Isaac Heaven had taken occupation by 1911, he was 44, a labourer on the Llanover estate, his wife Frances is also 44, they had been married 17 years and had two children both still alive but only one daughter, 9 year old Ellen Jane was living with them on the census.

By 1921 it was Henry William Jones living at number 2, Henry was 43 from Llanellen, he was a woodman for Llanover estate trustees, Catherine his wife was 29 born in Llantrissant, daughter Catherine was 10, born in Llanover and son William Herbert was 18, a garden labourer for Llanover trustees, William was born in Llanellen.