Owen Gethin Jones

Owen Gethin Jones
Owen Gethin Jones around 1875
Born1 May 1816
Penmachno
Died29 January 1883(1883-01-29) (aged 66)
NationalityWelsh
CitizenshipBritish

Owen Gethin Jones (1816 - 1883), was a Welsh building contractor, quarry owner and prominent poet.

Early life

Jones was born on 1 May 1816 at Tyn-y-Cae, Penmachno, to parents Owen and Grace Jones.[1]

Family

In 1843, Jones married Ann Owen of Bwlch Bach, Dolwyddelan.[1] Their son Owen Jones died in 1877 of liver failure.[2] Their youngest daughter Jeanie G. Jones was married in 1884.[3]

Writer

Jones was a prominent poet in Eisteddfod circles and was a noted local historian. His essay on Penmachno, written in the mid 19th century, was first published in 1884 (after his death) in "Gweithiau Gethin" (The Works of Gethin).[4] The essay refers to the first nonconformist sermon in the parish in about 1784 at Penrhyn Uchaf; it describes the buildings at Dugoed farm (53°03′11″N 3°46′55″W / 53.053°N 3.782°W / 53.053; -3.782) (the oldest part of the farmhouse was built around 1517[5]) and reflects on the possible sites of historical significance on the farm itself, including Tomen y Castell as a possible fort and the field Cae'r Braint ("Field of Honour") which may have contained a great Bardic circle.[6]

In 1875, he was a member of the committee organising the National Eisteddfod in Pwllheli.[7]

Contractor and quarry owner

Tyddyn Cethin
Pont Gethin under construction in 1875
The station building at Betws-y-coed

Between 1861 and 1863, Jones built the Rhiwbach Tramway serving eight of the slate quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog. He also built the Betws-y-Coed and Pont-y-Pant stations and the Pont Gethin viaduct on the Conwy Valley Line[1][8][9] spanning the Lledr Valley, and St Mary's Church, Betws-y-Coed.[10]

Jones built the parsonage at Llandrillo, Denbighshire in 1872.[11]

In the mid 1870s, Jones opened the Bwlch Gordduant quarry in the Crimea Pass between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan. This was not a great success and he sold the quarry to the owner of the Prince Llewellyn quarry in late 1876.[12]

Death

Jones circa 1880

In early 1882, Jones was paralysed and subsequently confined to his home. He died on 29 January 1883, at Tyddyn Cethin in Penmachno (as recorded in 1871 and 1881 Wales censuses and National Probate Calendar for 1883, but currently known as Tyddyn Gethin (transl. Home of Gethin or Gethin House)) .[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jenkins, Robert Thomas. "Jones, Owen Gethin (Gethin; 1816 - 1883), local historian". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Marwolaeth Mr. Owen Jones, mab Mr. O. Gethin Jones, Penmachno". Baner ac Amserau Cymru. 15 August 1877.
  3. ^ "Births, Marriages & Deaths". North Wales Journal. 13 June 1894.
  4. ^ Gethin Jones, Owen (9 April 2012). Gweithiau Gethin: Sef Casgliad O Holl Weithiau Barddonol A Llenyddol... Nabu Press. ISBN 978-1279821398.
  5. ^ Tyler, Ric (18 August 2011). Dugoed, Penmachno, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy - Architectural Record - Final Report. The North-West Wales Dendrochronology Project. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  6. ^ Morris, Olwen; Jones, Gill; Richardson, Frances (2013). Dugoed, Penmachno, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy. Coflein. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  7. ^ "The Pwllheli Chair Bard". North Wales Journal. 10 September 1875.
  8. ^ "Owen Gethin Jones". www.festipedia.org.uk. Festipedia. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Pont Gethin, Betws-y-Coed". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  10. ^ "St Mary's Church, Betws-y-Coed". www.historypoints.org. HistoryPoints.org. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Dyn Wedi Colli yn Lladrillo yn Edeyrnion". Baner ac Amserau Cymru. 13 April 1872.
  12. ^ "Dolyddelen and Vicinity". Cambrian News. 12 January 1877.