Barbara, Just remembered, there is a church up the road from Penrhyn Castle in Mynydd Llandegai. My cousin attended this one and I shall ask her the name in case this is the one you are referring to. There also were many non conformist chapels. Most quarrymen were not church, rather chapel. Arlene

Barbara, The church was probably St. Anne's. It was built by Lord Penrhyn after the drift fell and covered the original St. Anne's and much of Coed y Parc. They didn't realize the quarry would grow as fast as it did, and this was the reason the orginal church was buried along with many graves of our ancestors. However, I do think that the records were saved, but not sure. The church is now closed as it was in need of much repair. It combined with another church, but not sure which. I believe it's now in Cilgeraint. I'll have to check this information to make sure it's correct. Arlene > Dear All, > > Thank you very very much to the many, many people who have responded to my > requests for maps, quarry locations and identifying places. > > I have found an old map online on http://www.old-maps.co.uk/ which has > been > very useful, I will send it to myself at work and print out on A3 paper so > it is easier to see. I do have a road map of Great Britain which has of > course come in handy for modern places. > > I was born in Liverpool and lived in the UK until I was 28 before > migrating > to Australia (I still have the accent to prove it too!!) and have been > back > quite a few times over the years and although I always make a point of > going > to Wales (land of my fathers??) I have never been back at the same time as > I > have had an interest in family history matters as this is something I seem > to "take up and put down" at various times. So my visits have always been > as a kind of "tourist" rather than as a family historian I suppose. > > I was last back home in October 2002 and did visit Bethesda with my > sister. > We found 4 Bryn Owen Street where our grandfather Thomas John WILLIAMS was > born, there was a village school nearby and although we had our photo's > taken outside it and assumed this was the school he had gone to - I > didn't > make note of the name of it. Llanllechid National School is the school on > the Gathering the Jewels page where I found his two sisters, would this > have > been the same school? > > And we did seem to find the area where Coed Y Parc was. We went for a > drive > around and found an old church - I have some photo's (and some WILLIAMS > gravestones) if somebody can identify the church that would be good as I > didn't note down the name of this one either :( > > We also saw Penrhyn castle and a lovely little estate of houses nearby but > didn't visit inside the castle. > > Sorry to have rambled on.........but I really do think Arlene needs to get > a > webpage up and running!! > > I can see by all these unanswered questions of mine that I really do need > to > pay another SERIOUS visit to the area. > > Thanks and Regards > Barbara in sunny Sydney via rainy Liverpool > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and > English are welcome > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

Dear Arlene This book sounds like it is just up my street!! I am going to search it out on the Internet this week-end. Thank you for taking the time to type up this little whetter to the appetite! I really am loving this whole thread and have to admit that before this all I could see that my ancestors were all named WILLIAMS, OWENS and JONES (so many people with the same name!!) and they all had the same occupation generation after generation after generation. Regards Barbara > Let me just say that the book is an amazing read if you had ancestors > working in quarries. In the instance of the Penrhyn Quarry, the men > built their own cottages, but Lord Penrhyn owned the land and rented it > to them for 9 pounds a month! > > Also, the English owned the quarries. > Arlene

Hi all, If you are keen to get your own copy of this book check out Amazon Books who have a few on the list (for varying prices!). Sue Australia

Hi Wendy Well I have to admit I am finding the whole Bethesda/Llandegai/Llanechid (sp?) a little confusing here. I know this is due to the parishes and boundaries of the times but still.........can anybody point me in the right direction of where I can buy a map or find some indication of how I can pinpoint places? Mostly my previous research has been in Liverpool and Cheshire. Liverpool being of course a large city with specific streets, roads, boundaries. Cheshire has been a little more difficult but I think I have the hang of it.........but the Bethesda/Llandegai/Llanechid is a little more puzzling. I hear what you are saying about the factories and such like in Lancashire, but find it strange that no women were employed in the quarries. I have read many books on the social conditions of the "good old days" and find women and children being employed in various factories, mills - even coal mines and yet there appear to be no women employed in the slate quarries. I wonder why that was? Regards Barbara > Dear Barbara, I think Cilgeraint is a street, Llandegai is a pretty, small > village. Women usually worked in service, there wasn't a lot of > opportunities for women in an otherwise rural area..not like Lancashire with > the mills. I think it's held the women's movement back in Wales. I've got a > couple of books about the slate quarry's. I think you could get them on > inter library loan. All the best from the outskirts of Caernarfon, Wendy > > -----Original Message----- > From: Barbara Williams [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 09 September 2004 20:28 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > > > > When you hear the lives they lived, how hard they work, and what they > > received in return, it makes you angry. My grandfather and several > > uncles, started working at Penrhyn Quarry as 8 year olds. They > > pulled the carts that took the slate up to the rail cars. The rail > > line is still in Llandegai. > > Hi Arlene, Wendy and all, > > This whole thread has been SO interesting. It kind of adds a bit of "meat > to the bones." Every one of my ancestors from the Llandegai area has so far > been a slate quarryman and I have learnt so much just recently. My g.g. > grandfather was a Slate Waggon (sic) Driver in 1864, do you know what this > kind of job would have entailed? Well obviously driving a Slate Wagon (!!), > but how was it powered etc? Was it just some kind of cart or more like a > rail train? > > On the birth certificate of his son, they are shown as living at Cilgeraint > Incline, Llandegai, is this a "village" or just the name of a street? > > Arlene, I have been on eBay and looked for the book you recommend, but it > doesn't seem to be available in Australia, I will have to do a wider search, > can you tell us a little about it? Is it just concerned with the Great > Strike or does it give an overall picture of life for these men? Which has > just made me think of something else..............were girls ever employed > in the quarry as I see you mention 8 year old boys working there and I know > that both boys and girls were employed in say the cotton mills and factories > back in the "good old days." > > Thanks and Regards > Barbara > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== Gwynedd Family History Society > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/inst/uwbangor.shtml > Bangor University Archives > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Williams" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 10:51 AM Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > Hi Wendy > > Well I have to admit I am finding the whole Bethesda/Llandegai/Llanechid > (sp?) a little confusing here. I know this is due to the parishes and > boundaries of the times but still.........can anybody point me in the right > direction of where I can buy a map or find some indication of how I can > pinpoint places? > Barbara, The simple way would be to follow the A5 London-Holyhead Road up past Bettws-y-Coed along the shore of Lake Ogwen dropping into the river valley[the Ogwen]in the direction of Bangor.As Bethesda approaches the vast slate quarries can be seen to your left[or at least the towering heaps of slate leavings tipped there over decades !] The A5 continues through Bethesda proper and at the next crossroad out of town,still heading to Bangor,the crossroads are to Tregarth on you left and Llanllechid is strung along the hill ridge to your right[together with Rachub,another historical slate village]. Continue to the junction with the A 55 coast road and you are in Llandegai facing one of the gates to Penrhyn Castle. Press on for Bangor and,just past the Crematorium down the only straight piece of road for miles,look for a slip road to your right to Penrhyn Quay. You, the Ogwen River and the mineral railway and its cargo of slate have arrived at where the slate was once shipped to all quarters of the globe. Pleasant journey John in sunny Hampshire.

Hi Glenys and all, Another question about the quarries. How could one find out just which quarry their ancestor(s) worked in? How could one find out for instance whether they were employed in the Penryhyn quarry or the one at Dinorwic (or any others)? Or is there no way of knowing seeing as such vast numbers worked at Penrhyn? Would one get a map of the area at the time you were interested in and then just kind of assume due to geographic location of their home and the nearest quarry - well that is were they worked?? Did Lord Penryhn totally own all quarries in the end or just the biggest one? Regards Barbara > There is an article written in todays Chronicle (& shorter piece in Caernarfon & denbigh Herald) that a Mr Ray Bower is seeking planning approval to install a six foot slate slab as a memorial to the quarrymen at Dinorwic on the hills above Llyn Padarn. It will bear a tribute inscription bi-lingually, as well as a poem called "I'r Chwarel ai Phobol" (To the Quarry and it's people) by Norman Closs to remember the quarrymen from 1788 - 1969 > > Glenys > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and English are welcome > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

> Dear Hywyn > > I have spend a little time on this site before and had it bookmarked > already. However I hadn't realised that the book you speak about gives > names and addresses. This one needs some serious study and I am sure if I > find somebody of mine there will be a Welsh speaking member on here to > translate for me. > > I have already found two of my grandfather's sisters on the Llanchellid school page a few weeks back > which I got very excited about........ and just to show how sometimes other > members of our families show little interest in our "hobby"...........I sent > the link to my sister in Cheshire. She wrote back and said she had been and > had a look and was expecting to see photo's of them!! After reading all this stuff > on here recently about the strike and the starvation......I wrote back and > said......I don't think they were able to afford food for the table never > mind a camera > > Regards > Barbara > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Barbara Williams" <[email protected]> > To: "Barbara Williams" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 7:33 AM > Subject: Fw: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Mymailbox" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 6:54 AM > > Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > > > > > > > Further to this thread may I point those who do not know about it to the > > > excellent website called Gathering the Jewels www.gtj.org which is self > > > explanatory ( and time absorbing) when you enter it. > > > The site contains a number of interesting themes etc about Wales and has > a > > > lot about the Quarries etc of N Wales. > > > Of particular interest to this thread of casualties etc will be the List > > of > > > Accidents which lists ( with addresses etc in many cases) the many > > hundreds > > > who died in Dinorwig and in Penrhyn from 1822 to 1878. > > > To find it. > > > Select " Slate Industry" in Topics. > > > then select " Penrhyn Quarry etc" > > > Go to page 2 > > > It's the top right entry- select it > > > then select "this item has pages" > > > And you will get all the pages of this book to print or save etc. > > > > > > The book is in Welsh but I'm sure that list members will translate for > > > those who recognise a name or address. > > > > > > Hywyn Williams > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > > Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon > > > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and > > English are welcome > > > > > > ============================== > > > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > > > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Hello List Llanllechid info. via Genuki - _http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CAE/Llanllechid/index.html_ (http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CAE/Llanllechid/index.html) Regards Maggi Blythin

Barb, There were also times when an epidemic took many lives. In 1877, many, many lives were lost. When you walk the cemetery you see entire families of children who died days apart. It's very sad. No antibiotics. Arlene > Hi Meirion > > I have to admit to not being too "good" with deaths in my family tree > research. But this is something I will definitely take into account when > I > can't find one of my missing ones. > > 39 is such a young age to die.......unless of course you are 20, when this > is considered to be an old timer..... > > Barb in Sydney.........WAY PAST 39........... > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Thomas Hughes" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 6:21 AM > Subject: Re: [CAE] bradwyr > > >> Hi Barbara, >> >> You ladies seem to have a great interest in the hardships suffered by >> quarrymen. How about this? There was a time when a quarryman could only >> expect to live to the age of >> 39 and this was not due to accidents, but the lung disease called >> Silicosis. The average age an agricultural worker could expect to live >> in >> the same period was 67. The Dinorwic Quarry closed almost 40 years ago, > and >> yet ex quarrymen are still dying from the disease. An ex union official > died >> a couple of months ago aged 78, and he was a sufferer. Not only that but > do >> you know that all persons who had worked in the quarry and receiving >> invalidity benefit from this industrial disease are given post mortems? >> >> Oh! yes. The Quarry was the biggest killer in this area and I had 5 >> brothers-in-law who died of Silicosis, each one suffering and for many > years >> before finally succumbing to it, after months/years on oxygen. >> >> Regards, >> >> Meirion >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Barbara Williams" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 10:53 PM >> Subject: Re: [CAE] bradwyr >> >> >> > >> > Hi again Thomas and Ian >> > >> > Thank you so much for your input into this thread I started. It is >> amazing >> > to think that in the days before social welfare you could be >> considered > a >> > traitor to go to work to put food on the table for your family. I > didn't >> > realise that local people still bore such bitterness against the >> descendants >> > of the "bradwyr's". >> > >> > I have learnt so much just recently, it has been a wonderful lesson in >> > social history. >> > >> > I have been "doing the family tree" on and off now for about 10 years, > but >> > really only recently got into my father's side. Because of the name >> > WILLIAMS being so common in Wales I thought I would start with my > mother's >> > more unusual name of POVALL when I first began this "hobby" of ours. >> > >> > The other day I found a wonderful site >> > >> > http://www.worldwidewales.tv/index2.php >> > >> > You can sit at your computer and watch narrated films (in English or >> Welsh) >> > of historic events or tours around places all over Wales as well as >> > biographies of famous Welsh people. If you go to "Historic Events" in >> Step >> > 1 and then click on Step 2 "Penryhn Quarry & the Great Strike" you >> will >> see >> > a film clip of the events we have been talking about and also a view >> of >> "one >> > of the largest man made holes on the planet and the largest slate >> quarry >> in >> > the world" Penrhyn Quarry. >> > >> > Thanks and Regards >> > Barbara >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Ian Thompson's assessment of the Penrhyn Strike situation is to be >> > > applauded. What we should remember is that it was not a Black and > White >> > > issue. There were those who returned to the Quarry for good and bad >> > reasons. >> > > Some could not bear to see their half starved families, whilst >> others >> > > accepted the £1 bribe offered by the Squire (Punt y Gynffon) so they >> could >> > > enjoy a few drinks in the Pub. However, at the time both were tarred >> with >> > > the same brush and called BRADWYR. >> > > >> > > History has not been kind to the former because of the actions of >> the >> > > latter, but what should be stressed in no uncertain terms is that >> EVERYONE >> > > lost out by the Strike, >> > > The Squire, the Strikers who refused to return to work on a point of >> > > principal and those who swallowed their pride and did for whatever >> reason. >> > > It was a NO WIN Situation and that is the way the Strike should be >> > > remembered. Not with malice towards those who broke the strike and >> towards >> > > their children, their grandchildren and even great grandchildren. >> Why >> > should >> > > the innocents of today bear a cross for the actions of their > ancestors? >> It >> > > is time that the people of the area forgot about the mistakes of a >> century >> > > ago. Possibly books like Y CHWALFA, T Rowland Hughes, and more >> recent >> ones >> > > written in English have a lot to answer for. >> > > >> > > No! Neither I nor my family were interested parties. >> > > >> > > T. Meirion Huighes. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > ----- Original Message ----- >> > > From: "I Thompson" <[email protected]> >> > > To: <[email protected]> >> > > Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 12:26 PM >> > > Subject: [CAE] bradwyr >> > > >> > > >> > > > Hi there, >> > > > I was interested to read about strike-breaking in Penrhyn. My >> > grandmother >> > > > used to talk about my gt grandfather going out in Birkenhead in >> the >> > > General >> > > > Strike of 1926 to work when many others weren't doing with a red >> armband >> > > on. >> > > > His explanation was that at a time of poor employment, and with 10 >> > > children, >> > > > he couldn't afford to miss one day's work. I know that his >> decision >> > > > attracted the opprobrium of neighbours and workmates so it must >> have >> > been >> > > a >> > > > difficult decision to make. Equally so in Penrhyn, I would have >> > thought? >> > > > Ian >> > > > London SW9 >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ===> > > > Cewch ddanfon >> negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon >> > > > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh > and >> > > English are welcome >> > > > >> > > > =============================> > > > You can manage your >> RootsWeb-Review subscription from >> > > > http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ===> > > Cewch ddanfon >> negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon >> > > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh >> and >> > English are welcome >> > > >> > > =============================> > > Gain access to over two billion >> names including the new Immigration >> > > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >> > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ===> > Gwynedd Family History >> Society >> > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ >> > >> > =============================> > Gain access to over two billion names >> including the new Immigration >> > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >> > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >> > >> >> >> ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ===> >> http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/inst/uwbangor.shtml >> Bangor University Archives >> >> =============================> Gain access to over two billion names >> including the new Immigration >> Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >> >> >> > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ===http://www.welshmariners.org.uk/ > Morwyr Cymru Welsh Mariners > > =============================Gain access to over two billion names > including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

Barbara, Bethesda is the town. It has a main street, called a high street in Wales, actually named Ogwen Terrace at the present time. Anyway, heading east on the high street, the parish of Llandegai is on your right, Llanllechid is on the left. They are all Bethesda. And, I will not further confuse you by giving you names of other parishes within Bethesda. Within these parishes there are areas of houses, or neighborhoods if you like, that have names. I hope I have explained this correctly. I go to Bethesda once a year to visit my family, and I think once you have been there, you get a better understanding. It did take me 2 visits to get it all straight in my head. On the woman working in the quarry. First, the quarry is not a hole in the ground. They shave the slate from the sides and bring it up and load it on carts, which then are take to the train, which took it to Anglesey where it was loaded onto ships or taken my horse and cart to London or wherever. You have to remember there was no woman's liberation in those days. Men had certain jobs, as did woman. Most woman worked as seamstresses or servants. They also had many children once they married. They spent much time, cooking, raising vegetables, a small animal for food, eggs or goats milk. Each cottage had a little piece of land for a garden to grow food. I really need to get a web page going with the photos of the area, quarry, cottages, cemetery, chapels and the churches. Can anyone else add to this. Arlene > Hi Wendy > > Well I have to admit I am finding the whole Bethesda/Llandegai/Llanechid > (sp?) a little confusing here. I know this is due to the parishes and > boundaries of the times but still.........can anybody point me in the > right > direction of where I can buy a map or find some indication of how I can > pinpoint places? > > Mostly my previous research has been in Liverpool and Cheshire. Liverpool > being of course a large city with specific streets, roads, boundaries. > Cheshire has been a little more difficult but I think I have the hang of > it.........but the Bethesda/Llandegai/Llanechid is a little more puzzling. > > I hear what you are saying about the factories and such like in > Lancashire, > but find it strange that no women were employed in the quarries. I have > read many books on the social conditions of the "good old days" and find > women and children being employed in various factories, mills - even coal > mines and yet there appear to be no women employed in the slate quarries. > I > wonder why that was? > > Regards > Barbara > > > > > > >> Dear Barbara, I think Cilgeraint is a street, Llandegai is a pretty, >> small >> village. Women usually worked in service, there wasn't a lot of >> opportunities for women in an otherwise rural area..not like Lancashire > with >> the mills. I think it's held the women's movement back in Wales. I've >> got > a >> couple of books about the slate quarry's. I think you could get them on >> inter library loan. All the best from the outskirts of Caernarfon, Wendy >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Barbara Williams [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: 09 September 2004 20:28 >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries >> >> >> > When you hear the lives they lived, how hard they work, and what they >> > received in return, it makes you angry. My grandfather and several >> > uncles, started working at Penrhyn Quarry as 8 year olds. They >> > pulled the carts that took the slate up to the rail cars. The rail >> > line is still in Llandegai. >> >> Hi Arlene, Wendy and all, >> >> This whole thread has been SO interesting. It kind of adds a bit of >> "meat >> to the bones." Every one of my ancestors from the Llandegai area has so > far >> been a slate quarryman and I have learnt so much just recently. My g.g. >> grandfather was a Slate Waggon (sic) Driver in 1864, do you know what >> this >> kind of job would have entailed? Well obviously driving a Slate Wagon > (!!), >> but how was it powered etc? Was it just some kind of cart or more like >> a >> rail train? >> >> On the birth certificate of his son, they are shown as living at > Cilgeraint >> Incline, Llandegai, is this a "village" or just the name of a street? >> >> Arlene, I have been on eBay and looked for the book you recommend, but >> it >> doesn't seem to be available in Australia, I will have to do a wider > search, >> can you tell us a little about it? Is it just concerned with the Great >> Strike or does it give an overall picture of life for these men? Which > has >> just made me think of something else..............were girls ever >> employed >> in the quarry as I see you mention 8 year old boys working there and I > know >> that both boys and girls were employed in say the cotton mills and > factories >> back in the "good old days." >> >> Thanks and Regards >> Barbara >> >> >> >> ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== Gwynedd Family History >> Society >> www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ >> >> ============================== >> Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >> Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >> >> >> >> >> ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== >> http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/inst/uwbangor.shtml >> Bangor University Archives >> >> ============================== >> Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >> Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >> >> >> > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Gwynedd Family History Society > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ > > ============================== > You can manage your RootsWeb-Review subscription from > http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ > > >

Maybe we should list all the names of the quarries and the areas where they are. They usually lived near the quarry where the worked. They walked, and many miles some times to get to the quarry. Also, there were barracks where men from long distances would stay during the week and the go home for the weekend. At the Pehrhyn Quarry, men came in from Anglesey. It's all in the book, but I know there should be something on the Gathering of the Jewels website. Arlene > Hi Glenys and all, > > Another question about the quarries. How could one find out just which > quarry their ancestor(s) worked in? How could one find out for instance > whether they were employed in the Penryhyn quarry or the one at Dinorwic > (or > any others)? Or is there no way of knowing seeing as such vast numbers > worked at Penrhyn? Would one get a map of the area at the time you were > interested in and then just kind of assume due to geographic location of > their home and the nearest quarry - well that is were they worked?? Did > Lord Penryhn totally own all quarries in the end or just the biggest one? > > Regards > Barbara > > > >> There is an article written in todays Chronicle (& shorter piece in > Caernarfon & denbigh Herald) that a Mr Ray Bower is seeking planning > approval to install a six foot slate slab as a memorial to the quarrymen > at > Dinorwic on the hills above Llyn Padarn. It will bear a tribute > inscription > bi-lingually, as well as a poem called "I'r Chwarel ai Phobol" (To the > Quarry and it's people) by Norman Closs to remember the quarrymen from > 1788 - 1969 >> >> Glenys >> >> >> ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== >> Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon >> This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and > English are welcome >> >> ============================== >> Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >> Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >> >> >> > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Gwynedd Family History Society > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

Cilgeraint is an area of cottages in Llandegai. It had a pub and when Lord Penrhyn found out, he shut it down. I believe St. Anne's church recently moved to the area, when the repairs to the existing one were deemed too expensive. Arlene > Dear Barbara, I think Cilgeraint is a street, Llandegai is a pretty, small > village. Women usually worked in service, there wasn't a lot of > opportunities for women in an otherwise rural area..not like Lancashire > with > the mills. I think it's held the women's movement back in Wales. I've got > a > couple of books about the slate quarry's. I think you could get them on > inter library loan. All the best from the outskirts of Caernarfon, Wendy > > -----Original Message----- > From: Barbara Williams [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 09 September 2004 20:28 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > > >> When you hear the lives they lived, how hard they work, and what they >> received in return, it makes you angry. My grandfather and several >> uncles, started working at Penrhyn Quarry as 8 year olds. They >> pulled the carts that took the slate up to the rail cars. The rail >> line is still in Llandegai. > > Hi Arlene, Wendy and all, > > This whole thread has been SO interesting. It kind of adds a bit of "meat > to the bones." Every one of my ancestors from the Llandegai area has so > far > been a slate quarryman and I have learnt so much just recently. My g.g. > grandfather was a Slate Waggon (sic) Driver in 1864, do you know what this > kind of job would have entailed? Well obviously driving a Slate Wagon > (!!), > but how was it powered etc? Was it just some kind of cart or more like a > rail train? > > On the birth certificate of his son, they are shown as living at > Cilgeraint > Incline, Llandegai, is this a "village" or just the name of a street? > > Arlene, I have been on eBay and looked for the book you recommend, but it > doesn't seem to be available in Australia, I will have to do a wider > search, > can you tell us a little about it? Is it just concerned with the Great > Strike or does it give an overall picture of life for these men? Which > has > just made me think of something else..............were girls ever employed > in the quarry as I see you mention 8 year old boys working there and I > know > that both boys and girls were employed in say the cotton mills and > factories > back in the "good old days." > > Thanks and Regards > Barbara > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== Gwynedd Family History Society > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/inst/uwbangor.shtml > Bangor University Archives > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

Gellir prynu y gyfrol Studies in Welsh History:iv. The North Wales Quarrymen 1874-1922 trwy wefan Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru http://www.gwales.com The volume Studies in Welsh History:iv. The North Wales Quarrymen 1874-1922 is available for sale via the Welsh Books Council's website http://www.gwales.com Ceris Gruffudd Rhos Helyg 23 Maesyrefail Penrhyn-coch ABERYSTWYTH Ceredigion SY23 3HE 01970 828017 [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Williams" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 9:27 PM Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > > > When you hear the lives they lived, how hard they work, and what they > > received in return, it makes you angry. My grandfather and several > > uncles, started working at Penrhyn Quarry as 8 year olds. They pulled > > the carts that took the slate up to the rail cars. The rail line is > > still in Llandegai. > > Hi Arlene, Wendy and all, > > This whole thread has been SO interesting. It kind of adds a bit of "meat > to the bones." Every one of my ancestors from the Llandegai area has so far > been a slate quarryman and I have learnt so much just recently. My g.g. > grandfather was a Slate Waggon (sic) Driver in 1864, do you know what this > kind of job would have entailed? Well obviously driving a Slate Wagon (!!), > but how was it powered etc? Was it just some kind of cart or more like a > rail train? > > On the birth certificate of his son, they are shown as living at Cilgeraint > Incline, Llandegai, is this a "village" or just the name of a street? > > Arlene, I have been on eBay and looked for the book you recommend, but it > doesn't seem to be available in Australia, I will have to do a wider search, > can you tell us a little about it? Is it just concerned with the Great > Strike or does it give an overall picture of life for these men? Which has > just made me think of something else..............were girls ever employed > in the quarry as I see you mention 8 year old boys working there and I know > that both boys and girls were employed in say the cotton mills and factories > back in the "good old days." > > Thanks and Regards > Barbara > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Gwynedd Family History Society > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

> When you hear the lives they lived, how hard they work, and what they > received in return, it makes you angry. My grandfather and several > uncles, started working at Penrhyn Quarry as 8 year olds. They pulled > the carts that took the slate up to the rail cars. The rail line is > still in Llandegai. Hi Arlene, Wendy and all, This whole thread has been SO interesting. It kind of adds a bit of "meat to the bones." Every one of my ancestors from the Llandegai area has so far been a slate quarryman and I have learnt so much just recently. My g.g. grandfather was a Slate Waggon (sic) Driver in 1864, do you know what this kind of job would have entailed? Well obviously driving a Slate Wagon (!!), but how was it powered etc? Was it just some kind of cart or more like a rail train? On the birth certificate of his son, they are shown as living at Cilgeraint Incline, Llandegai, is this a "village" or just the name of a street? Arlene, I have been on eBay and looked for the book you recommend, but it doesn't seem to be available in Australia, I will have to do a wider search, can you tell us a little about it? Is it just concerned with the Great Strike or does it give an overall picture of life for these men? Which has just made me think of something else..............were girls ever employed in the quarry as I see you mention 8 year old boys working there and I know that both boys and girls were employed in say the cotton mills and factories back in the "good old days." Thanks and Regards Barbara

Dear Barbara, I think Cilgeraint is a street, Llandegai is a pretty, small village. Women usually worked in service, there wasn't a lot of opportunities for women in an otherwise rural area..not like Lancashire with the mills. I think it's held the women's movement back in Wales. I've got a couple of books about the slate quarry's. I think you could get them on inter library loan. All the best from the outskirts of Caernarfon, Wendy -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Williams [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 09 September 2004 20:28 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [CAE] Re: debate on strikes at Penrhyn and other quarries > When you hear the lives they lived, how hard they work, and what they > received in return, it makes you angry. My grandfather and several > uncles, started working at Penrhyn Quarry as 8 year olds. They > pulled the carts that took the slate up to the rail cars. The rail > line is still in Llandegai. Hi Arlene, Wendy and all, This whole thread has been SO interesting. It kind of adds a bit of "meat to the bones." Every one of my ancestors from the Llandegai area has so far been a slate quarryman and I have learnt so much just recently. My g.g. grandfather was a Slate Waggon (sic) Driver in 1864, do you know what this kind of job would have entailed? Well obviously driving a Slate Wagon (!!), but how was it powered etc? Was it just some kind of cart or more like a rail train? On the birth certificate of his son, they are shown as living at Cilgeraint Incline, Llandegai, is this a "village" or just the name of a street? Arlene, I have been on eBay and looked for the book you recommend, but it doesn't seem to be available in Australia, I will have to do a wider search, can you tell us a little about it? Is it just concerned with the Great Strike or does it give an overall picture of life for these men? Which has just made me think of something else..............were girls ever employed in the quarry as I see you mention 8 year old boys working there and I know that both boys and girls were employed in say the cotton mills and factories back in the "good old days." Thanks and Regards Barbara ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== Gwynedd Family History Society www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

There is an article written in todays Chronicle (& shorter piece in Caernarfon & denbigh Herald) that a Mr Ray Bower is seeking planning approval to install a six foot slate slab as a memorial to the quarrymen at Dinorwic on the hills above Llyn Padarn. It will bear a tribute inscription bi-lingually, as well as a poem called "I'r Chwarel ai Phobol" (To the Quarry and it's people) by Norman Closs to remember the quarrymen from 1788 - 1969 Glenys

Further to this thread may I point those who do not know about it to the excellent website called Gathering the Jewels www.gtj.org which is self explanatory ( and time absorbing) when you enter it. The site contains a number of interesting themes etc about Wales and has a lot about the Quarries etc of N Wales. Of particular interest to this thread of casualties etc will be the List of Accidents which lists ( with addresses etc in many cases) the many hundreds who died in Dinorwig and in Penrhyn from 1822 to 1878. To find it. Select " Slate Industry" in Topics. then select " Penrhyn Quarry etc" Go to page 2 It's the top right entry- select it then select "this item has pages" And you will get all the pages of this book to print or save etc. The book is in Welsh but I'm sure that list members will translate for those who recognise a name or address. Hywyn Williams

Hi Barbara, You ladies seem to have a great interest in the hardships suffered by quarrymen. How about this? There was a time when a quarryman could only expect to live to the age of 39 and this was not due to accidents, but the lung disease called Silicosis. The average age an agricultural worker could expect to live in the same period was 67. The Dinorwic Quarry closed almost 40 years ago, and yet ex quarrymen are still dying from the disease. An ex union official died a couple of months ago aged 78, and he was a sufferer. Not only that but do you know that all persons who had worked in the quarry and receiving invalidity benefit from this industrial disease are given post mortems? Oh! yes. The Quarry was the biggest killer in this area and I had 5 brothers-in-law who died of Silicosis, each one suffering and for many years before finally succumbing to it, after months/years on oxygen. Regards, Meirion ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Williams" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 10:53 PM Subject: Re: [CAE] bradwyr > > Hi again Thomas and Ian > > Thank you so much for your input into this thread I started. It is amazing > to think that in the days before social welfare you could be considered a > traitor to go to work to put food on the table for your family. I didn't > realise that local people still bore such bitterness against the descendants > of the "bradwyr's". > > I have learnt so much just recently, it has been a wonderful lesson in > social history. > > I have been "doing the family tree" on and off now for about 10 years, but > really only recently got into my father's side. Because of the name > WILLIAMS being so common in Wales I thought I would start with my mother's > more unusual name of POVALL when I first began this "hobby" of ours. > > The other day I found a wonderful site > > http://www.worldwidewales.tv/index2.php > > You can sit at your computer and watch narrated films (in English or Welsh) > of historic events or tours around places all over Wales as well as > biographies of famous Welsh people. If you go to "Historic Events" in Step > 1 and then click on Step 2 "Penryhn Quarry & the Great Strike" you will see > a film clip of the events we have been talking about and also a view of "one > of the largest man made holes on the planet and the largest slate quarry in > the world" Penrhyn Quarry. > > Thanks and Regards > Barbara > > > > > > > Ian Thompson's assessment of the Penrhyn Strike situation is to be > > applauded. What we should remember is that it was not a Black and White > > issue. There were those who returned to the Quarry for good and bad > reasons. > > Some could not bear to see their half starved families, whilst others > > accepted the £1 bribe offered by the Squire (Punt y Gynffon) so they could > > enjoy a few drinks in the Pub. However, at the time both were tarred with > > the same brush and called BRADWYR. > > > > History has not been kind to the former because of the actions of the > > latter, but what should be stressed in no uncertain terms is that EVERYONE > > lost out by the Strike, > > The Squire, the Strikers who refused to return to work on a point of > > principal and those who swallowed their pride and did for whatever reason. > > It was a NO WIN Situation and that is the way the Strike should be > > remembered. Not with malice towards those who broke the strike and towards > > their children, their grandchildren and even great grandchildren. Why > should > > the innocents of today bear a cross for the actions of their ancestors? It > > is time that the people of the area forgot about the mistakes of a century > > ago. Possibly books like Y CHWALFA, T Rowland Hughes, and more recent ones > > written in English have a lot to answer for. > > > > No! Neither I nor my family were interested parties. > > > > T. Meirion Huighes. > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "I Thompson" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 12:26 PM > > Subject: [CAE] bradwyr > > > > > > > Hi there, > > > I was interested to read about strike-breaking in Penrhyn. My > grandmother > > > used to talk about my gt grandfather going out in Birkenhead in the > > General > > > Strike of 1926 to work when many others weren't doing with a red armband > > on. > > > His explanation was that at a time of poor employment, and with 10 > > children, > > > he couldn't afford to miss one day's work. I know that his decision > > > attracted the opprobrium of neighbours and workmates so it must have > been > > a > > > difficult decision to make. Equally so in Penrhyn, I would have > thought? > > > Ian > > > London SW9 > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > > Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon > > > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and > > English are welcome > > > > > > ============================== > > > You can manage your RootsWeb-Review subscription from > > > http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon > > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and > English are welcome > > > > ============================== > > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Gwynedd Family History Society > www.gwynedd.fsbusiness.co.uk/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

Let me just say that the book is an amazing read if you had ancestors working in quarries. In the instance of the Penrhyn Quarry, the men built their own cottages, but Lord Penrhyn owned the land and rented it to them for 9 pounds a month! Also, the English owned the quarries. Arlene Small part of the preface: On a Saturday morning in November 1865, between 1, 200 and 1,500 men gathered on the slopes of Mynydd y Cefn above the small town of Bethesda in CAE to launch a society which they called Cymdeithas Undebol Chwarelwyr Cymru (United Society of Welsh Quarrymen). Although there had been earlier revolts of quarrymen this ws the first recorded attempt to organise a trade union fo rthe quarrymen who worked in the small but important slate industry of north-west Wales. The society failed almost as soon as it was started but an idea had been planted and, despite the most strenuous efforts of its opponents, it was not to be uprooted. This book is about the struggle of quarryment to organise and 'combine' in the slate quarries and mines of north Wales, and particularly in the giant Perhyn quarries. It was often a battle for survival fought in very distinctive communities, but the struggle witnessed some of the most bitter and dramatic disputes in the history of the British working clas n Sep 9, 2004, at 1:54 PM, Mymailbox wrote: > Further to this thread may I point those who do not know about it to > the > excellent website called Gathering the Jewels www.gtj.org which is > self > explanatory ( and time absorbing) when you enter it. > The site contains a number of interesting themes etc about Wales and > has a > lot about the Quarries etc of N Wales. > Of particular interest to this thread of casualties etc will be the > List of > Accidents which lists ( with addresses etc in many cases) the many > hundreds > who died in Dinorwig and in Penrhyn from 1822 to 1878. > To find it. > Select " Slate Industry" in Topics. > then select " Penrhyn Quarry etc" > Go to page 2 > It's the top right entry- select it > then select "this item has pages" > And you will get all the pages of this book to print or save etc. > > The book is in Welsh but I'm sure that list members will translate for > those who recognise a name or address. > > Hywyn Williams > > > > ==== WLS-CAERNARFONSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Cewch ddanfon negeseuon Cymraeg neu Saesneg i'r rhestr hon > This list covers a bilingual area, in which messages in both Welsh and > English are welcome > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >