Two workers at the Sirhowy Ironworks

Image: © Robin Drayton Taken: 2 Aug 2013

Blacksmith and poet. The inscription reads: William Williams ('Myfyr Wyn') 1849-1900 was born at Twyn Star, Tredegar. His father worked at Bryn Bach as an ironstone miner and William was at his side, working underground at the age of 10, when he was killed by a rock that fell upon him. Later as a young man, William served an apprenticeship at the same time as Ezechial Davies ('Gwentwyson') as a blacksmith under Joseph Bevan ('Gwentydd') at Sirhowy Ironworks. It's probably no coincidence that Joseph was a poet and both his apprentices became poets as well as blacksmiths by trade! William competed in eisteddfodau and published two volumes of poetry. His articles, which were written in the Gwent dialect 'Llythyra Bachan lfanc' were very popular. William's brother, another poet, David ('Myfyr Ddu'), published a selection of his articles and poems after William's death which included reminiscences of Sirhowy and district in the 19th century. Sarah Jones, iron piler at Sirhowy Ironworks. Sarah Jones stated that she was 15 when she gave evidence in 1841 to a commissioner enquiring for the report on the Condition of Children employed in Mines. She had been working at the ironworks for 5 years and piled the iron bars for them to be put in the heating furnace. Every other week she worked at night. She had never been to school and could not read although she sometimes went to Sunday School. Examination of census records has shown that children often stated that they were 2 or 3 years older than was actually the case.

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