Description
THOMAS WATKINS – EDDIL IFOR
BIRTH
Thomas Watkins was born in Pwll-yr-Hyward, Llanfoist, Monmouthshire on May 1st 1801. His father had worked in Abertillery but returned to Llanfoist to work in the limestone quarries belonging to the Blaenafon iron works. The family were members of the Baptist chapel in Llanwenarth.
WORK
Thomas Watkins kept the White Hart tavern in Blaenafon before working as a weigher in the iron works of Blaenau Gwent. After the death of hisd wife in 1859 Thomas returned to Blaenafon to keep the Three Cranes tavern for the remainder of his life.
CYMREIGYDDION Y FENNI
He was an original and leading member, in its early years, of the Abergavenny based group of people, Cymreigyddion y Fenni, who established the series of Eisteddfodau that created such a stir in Gwent between 1833 and 1854.
PRIZE-WINNING ESSAYS
Thomas Watkins was a regular competitor in the Abergavenny Eisteddfodau and won many prizes for his essays, of which this is one. He is best known for his history of Llanfoist parish – Hanes Llanffwyst – which won first prize in the first Abergavenny eisteddfod in November 1834. He was not as successful as a poet but he certainly was as an essayist in these eisteddfodau, winning competions on a dozen occasions. Nine of his essays survive, five in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, and four in Cardiff Central Library.
