St Lleurwg's Church Hiwaun
Hirwaun Town
In November 1757 a lease was taken on some land owned by the Marquis of Bute at Hirwaun, by Mayberry and Wilkins to start iron workings, Thomas Mayberry had been an ironmaster at Powicke in Worcester had had come to Breconshire to exploit the deposits of iron-ore, using new methods. His son John married Anne Wilkins eldest daughter of John Parry Wilkins, they had ironworks in Brecon, Machen, Tredegar and Hirwaun as well as a forge at Pipton and coal mines were also opened up in the county and the southern border of Glamorgan.
Note:
John Wilkins was the founder of “The Old Brecon Bank” the banks were established in: Brecon 1777, Merthyr 1812, Haverfordwest 1828, Cardigan 1831, Carmarthen 1834, Llanelli 1837, Aberdare 1854 and Cardiff in 1856.
In 1830 the then ironmaster of Hirwaun William Crawshay purchase the first railway locomotive steam engine to be seen in the Cynon Valley since Richard Trevithick’s train in Abercynon.
Hirwaun Common
The common itself existed before the invasion of the Normans and it was called “Hyrwenunworgan” is documented under a charter 1203 due to the fact of the grazing rights between the Cistercian Monasteries of Llantarnum (Carleon) and Margam. The effect of the Norman Conquest was the marcher lords of Glamorgan would have assumed the rights of the of the last Independent ruler of Glamorgan Iestyn ap Gwrgant his father Gwrgant ap Ithel was rumoured to have granted the rights of the common of all men.
Hirwaun Common was a waste land of Miskin Manor and Glynrhondda over the common of grazing rulers over by the marcher lords of Glamorgan. In 1547 Edward VI granted the lordships to Glynrhonnda and Miskin to William Herbert whom in 1551 became Earl of Pembroke.
Cadogan of the Battle Axe (Glyn Rhondda)
Cadogan of the Battle-Axe lived at Glyn Rhontha during the time of Owen Glyndwr’s war and was one of the chieftain’s captains over the men of that Vale. Owen would call out to Cadogan, Owen would call out to Cadogan, “Fadandwhet thy battle-axe” and the moment that Cadogan was heard to do so, all living persons, both male and female, , in Glyn Rhontha, collected about him in military order: and from that day to this, the battle-shout of the men of Glyn-Rontha has been, “Cadogan!whet thy battle-axe,” and at the word, they all assemble as an army.
Crawshay Family(Hirwaun Ironworks)
In 1818 was bought on behalf of the head of the Crawshay family. William 1. He left their management to his son, William 11, and bequeathed them along with Cyfarthfa to the latter upon his death in 1834. In 1831 William 11 devoted everyday management at Hirwaun to his own third son, Henry who subsequently married a Penderyn village girl named Eliza Harris to the annoyance of his father. Their first two daughters were christened in Nebo Chapel (Hirwaun).
Anthony Bacon of Cyfartha, who leased Hirwaun Ironworks, decided to manufacture heavy canon for the American War of Independence. However he was a Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, and the law forbade him making arms. He overcame this problem by producing them in the name of his partner, Francis Homfray. It was under this name that the finished product was taken bridle paths by mules and packhorses from Hirwaun to Cardiff. Cast steel was produced in small quantities at Hirwaun Ironworks in 1890.
David Davis Grocer in Hirwaun
There is a tomb in the graveyard at St John's Church Aberdare to David Davis of Blaengwawr who started life as a grocer and draper in Hirwaun. He prospered and sunk collieries as Blaengwawr (1843) Abercwmboi (1851) and Ferndale (1862). David Davis was one of the directors who built the Penarth Docks due to the increase of taxes from Cardiff
Benjamin Evans 1816-1886
A Baptist minister and author, was born of poor but pious parents at Drefach, Cardiganshire. Owing to the death of his father,he found himself, when at a tender youth, handling a pick and shovel in a coal mine. The only education he had was at the Sunday school. He was admitted to Pontypool College in 1839, and in three years he took charge of the cause at Hirwaun, Glamorganshire. There he laboured very successfully forming two English churches as branches until 1857.
He then took the oversight of Mill Street Church, Aberdare, one of the branches referred to, and during his pastorate of four years, two other churches were formed as branches from Mill Street. In 1861 he removed to Neath, where, for a quarter of a century he filled, with honour and success, a difficult sphere of labour building a new chapel, and commencing a new church at Skewen, and acting as secretary to the Glamorganshire United Welsh Baptist Association.
R. Williams 1851-1888
A Congregational minister and author, was born in the parish of Pencareg, near Lampeter, Cardiganshire. Like Livingstone, he was a weaver by trade, and like the Blantyre boy, he plodded day and night at his books. In 1873, he was ordained at Libanus and Cwmcamlais, Breconshire, where he worked hard and successfully. In 1878, he received a call from Nebo, Hirwaun, Glamorganshire, to be the successor of the venerable Rev. W. Williams, and there he laboured with remarkable acceptance. He was a man of great intelligence, and of varied reading. His aspirations were high, and his convictions were deep, and his preaching was powerful and earnest. He had made himself a necessity in the press, and in the pulpit of Wales; his great service to the Sunday school will not soon be forgotten, and his book entitled "Llawlyfr yr Athraw" (The Teacher's Handbook), was very favorably received, and found to be of great practical use.
Thomas Williams 1823-1903
A self-made man, was a native of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, and for many years prior to his death resided at Gwaleod-y-garth, in that town. He began his career as a grocer's assistant, and, in 1844, removed into business at Hirwaun, Glamorganshire, and later on to Aberdare. He was very successful, and, by stint of hard work and perseverance, he became one of the richest men in Glamorgan. He filled many positions of influence in municipal affairs, as well as in religion and politics. He was a prominent Congregationalist, and was the first layman to be elected to the chairmanship of the Welsh Congregational Union. He left the bulk of his estate to religious and philanthropic institutions.
Merthyr Riots (Lewis Lewis)
In 1829, there was a general depression in the iron Industry in Merthyr and there were cuts in wages this reverberated to Hirwaun and by then it was quite possible that Lewis Lewis was involved in the mining industry or the iron industry, he was partied to the terrible depression that followed 1829. As the depression hit Hirwaun many people they had to appear in Court of request in Merthyr, where they were then fined and the fine was usually paid by the removal of goods to the person who was in debt. In other words, Lewis Lewis was one of those and he lost a chest, which was taken to a shop in Hirwaun, when the riot started, Hirwaun was one of the first places attacked and Lewis was naturally involved, emotionally involved because a piece of furniture possible descended from his parents had been taken from him. It’s a small thing that triggers off a sequence of events and Lewis was involved there. But Lucin was prominent from then on in the Merthyr Riots. On June 2nd he was of the party that raided a hundred shops in Merthyr and removed goods and returned them to poor people.
Poem on Hirwaun by Alaw Goch
On Hirwaun, above the Werydd,
On its bounty, we shall spend the day,
Here we see a crowd,
Living amiably without a frown;
The old and the young
All dearly united in praise;
The brave and cheerful sons,
And the valiant men enrich the feast
Made virtuous
By those from Hirwaun.
Everyone is tender hearted,
Every expression fair, frown less.
United in thought and manner,
This is one characteristic to rejoice in.
These qualities are great
They will surely give you long life.
All the sons ever born
Pure since birth,
It is a blessing to be in their company,
In the hope of meeting them;
And to their advantage they will grow
And prosper.
A healthy host, on high Hirwaun
Today we shall plainly see.
Everyone has done well
And more decent people
We shall be.
You must be praised - with sincerity,
United in peace;
Our task is to protect you from indiscretion
To honourably roam till death take us.
Local Eisteddfod's
Monday September 23rd 1895
President: Thomas Richards Esq
Conductors: Mr D.W. Jones “Dafydd Morganwg"
September 6th 1897 (Mabon's Day)
In aid of the new library
Presidents: Sir W.T. Lewis, H.C. Lewis Esq. E.M. Whitting Esq & Capt C.R Powell