Watkins, Tudor Baron Watkins of Glyntawe (1903-1983)
Appointed a Lieutenant for the county of Powys in 1975, at which time he was one of three deputies to the Lord-Lieutenant, Col. J.L. Corbett-Winder. It was then an unusual appointment in that he did not have a military background and rose from a pit worker (between the ages of 13 and 21). After furthering his education at evening classes he then went to Coleg Harlech. He was the Labour constituency agent for Brecon and Radnor from 1928 to 1933. In 1945 he became Labour M.P. for the constituency and represented the constituency for 25 years. During that time he spent 4 years as Private Secretary to two Secretaries of State for Wales, James Griffiths and Cledwyn Hughes. From 1940 to 1974 he was an Alderman of Brecon County Council and 1969-70 was Chairman of the Council. In 1969 he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Brecon. In 1975 he was the first Chairman of Powys County Council. He was made a life peer on retiring from the house of commons.
[Who Was Who; Newspaper Cutting of Radnor Express, 3 Apr 1975]
[Who Was Who; Newspaper Cutting of Radnor Express, 3 Apr 1975]
Watkyns, Rowland (fl.1660)
Born at Longtown, in Welsh Herefordshire sometime in the early 17th century, he held the living of Llanfrynach, Breconshire for nearly thirty years. He was instituted vicar of that parish in 1635 and was one of five Breconshire clergy who were sequestered under the terms of the Propagation Act of 1649. This meant he was guilty of behaviour which was unnacceptable to the puritan overseers of the church during the Commonwealth period. How he survived after ejection from his parish is not known but poems in the collection Flamma sine Fumo which he published in 1662 appear to express his gratitude to local benefactors. The poems express also his loyalist sympathies and his contempt for the puritan lay preachers common at that time, and his view that the locals were "a bad lot, quarrelsome and shrewd".
He was probably returned to his living - which had been vacant since his eviction - on the restoration of the Stuart dynasty. He was succeeded as vicar in 1664 and may have held the living of neighbouring Llanfigan. Little else is known of him.
[Davies, Paul C. "Rowland Watkyns, Vicar of Llanfrynach: a biographical note"]
He was probably returned to his living - which had been vacant since his eviction - on the restoration of the Stuart dynasty. He was succeeded as vicar in 1664 and may have held the living of neighbouring Llanfigan. Little else is known of him.
[Davies, Paul C. "Rowland Watkyns, Vicar of Llanfrynach: a biographical note"]
Watt, James (1736-1819)
Known as the chief “inventor” of the steam engine, Scotsman Watt was a mechanical engineer who made significant developments to Newcomen’s steam engine. Like many successful men involved in industry he purchased estates for the financial security they offered and the social status afforded as a landowner. Watt probably found property in Radnorshire and the borders lower in price and a convenient rural retreat. He purchased Stone House in the parish Gladestry in 1798, with its estate, and let it. To this he added the Harley estate in Gladestry in 1798 and in 1802 he bought the neighbouring Hergest Farm, p. Huntingdon. In December 1804 he was prominent enough as a local landowner to be elected to the Radnorshire Turnpike Trust together with his son James, as a trustee; he also acquired voting rights in Radnorshire and Herefordshire. In 1806 he bought the manor of Burlingjobb from Lord Oxford, then the manor of Badland (his first court leet took place on 24 October 1806). His most famous purchase was the Doldowlod estate in 1803 from Penry Price of Rhayader. By the time he died he owned some 27 estates in Breconshire and Radnorshire.
[DNB; Sinclair & Fenn, "Mr Watt Buys Some Farms", RT, 1994, 1995]
[DNB; Sinclair & Fenn, "Mr Watt Buys Some Farms", RT, 1994, 1995]
Weaver, Arthur (fl.1667)
Of Highgate in the parish of Betws Cedewain. A landowner of Royalist sympathies he had to compound for his estates in Shropshire and Montgomeryshire to Parliament in 1645. This meant he had to pay a large fine to avoid them being confiscated. At the restoration of the monarchy he was appointed a magistrate for the county, and then Sheriff in 1667.
[MC 27]
[MC 27]
Wells, Charles Martin Sydney (b.1908)
Solicitor, MA (Cantab.), LMTPI, Clerk to the Lieutenancy, Secretary to the Advisory Committee, Clerk of the Magistrates' Courts Committee, and of the Breconshire and Radnorshire Joint Fire Brigade Committee, Deputy Clerk of the Peace and of the County Council of Lincolnshire (Parts of Kesteven), Clerk of the Peace and of the County Council of Breconshire (1946).
[Stephens]
[Stephens]