Daniel, Sir Goronwy Hopkin (1914-2003)
Leading Civil Servant and Welsh Academic. The son of a colliery manager, Daniel was born in Ystradgynlais and educated at schools in Ponardawe and Ammanford. He attended university at Aberystwyth and completed an doctorate in Economics at Oxford. He had a long acreer as a senior civil servant. He was the first Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the newly created Welsh Office. He was Principal of the University at Aberystwith from 1969 to 1979, and was a keen supporter of the move to create a Welsh language television station. He was S4C's first Chairman when the channel was formed.
["Awakening the Giants" leaflet]
["Awakening the Giants" leaflet]
Darowen: Parish church of St. Tudur
The shape of the churchyard and the dedication to St Tudur suggest a7th century date for the original church on the site. Tradition says the church was founded personally by Tudur who is also said to have been buried here. The medieval church which is recorded from the 13th century was in such a dilapidated state that it was replaced completely by the present structure in 1862-4.
[Haslam; CPAT website]
[Haslam; CPAT website]
Davies, David (1818-1890)
Born into rural poverty at Draintewion, Llandinam. At first he only spoke Welsh but was taught briefly in the elementary school in the parish church. He helped his father in the sawmill until his father died when he was 20, and he had to support his mother and 8 younger brothers and sisters (from his time in the sawpit he was sometimes known as Top Sawyer). He exploited the opportunities offered by the construction of the railways in Mid-Wales, at first organising labour gangs on the Newtown to Aberystwyth railway and then progressing into a major contractor before turning his attention to the rapidly expanding coal industry.
After near disastrous attempts to find coal seams in the Rhondda he was successful in developing a major mine in Treorcy. After this he created the successful Ocean Coal Company (from which he got his second nickname Davies yr Ocean), in one year making over £100,000 profit from the Ocean collieries. As an exporter of coal he came up against the powerful Earl of Bute who controlled the Cardiff docks and imposed high export charges. His response to this was to develop the docks at Barry. These were so successful that Barry eventually became the bigger port.
He served as Liberal MP for the Cardiganshire Boroughs (1874-1885) and was a major force in the creation of the University of Wales. He was a major philanthropist supporting a great many local and national causes.
[DEW; J.Vyrnwy Morgan - Welsh political and educational leaders in the Victorian era]
After near disastrous attempts to find coal seams in the Rhondda he was successful in developing a major mine in Treorcy. After this he created the successful Ocean Coal Company (from which he got his second nickname Davies yr Ocean), in one year making over £100,000 profit from the Ocean collieries. As an exporter of coal he came up against the powerful Earl of Bute who controlled the Cardiff docks and imposed high export charges. His response to this was to develop the docks at Barry. These were so successful that Barry eventually became the bigger port.
He served as Liberal MP for the Cardiganshire Boroughs (1874-1885) and was a major force in the creation of the University of Wales. He was a major philanthropist supporting a great many local and national causes.
[DEW; J.Vyrnwy Morgan - Welsh political and educational leaders in the Victorian era]
Davies, David (1849-1929)'The Dartmoor Shepherd'
Born the son of a farm labourer in the parish of Llanfihangel, Montgomeryshire, Davies is best known for his long criminal career. Out of a life of 80 years he spent 55 years in prison. His speciality was robbing church collection boxes in places as far afield as Liverpool, Manchester and Macclesfield. During a long sentence in Dartmoor he became a trusted inmate, allowed out to look after the flocks on the moor until he became too old. He was given a long sentence following a theft from the offertory box at Whitchurch, Shropshire in 1909 because he had been released as ticket of leave man for good conduct at the end of his previous sentence and had failed to report to the police on a monthly basis. Re-offending after this failure earned him an extra 10 years and a national outcry followed during which both Winston Churchill and Lloyd George supported his case and visited him in prison. Following this intervention he was released in late 1910 but was again arrested for theft. He died on the open road in his eightieth year having absconded from Llanfyllin Workhouse where he had been put to avoid yet another prison sentence.
[MC 82]
[MC 82]
Davies, David (1881-?) 1st Baron Davies
Plasdinam
Grandson of David Davies "the Ocean" (see above). Born Llandinam 1881. He was educated at Cambridge and followed into the family businesses and the family Liberal non-conformist traditions. Elected M.P. for Montgomeryshire in 1905 he seems to have belonged to the right-wing land-owning interests within the party. He raised and commanded the 14th Bat. Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the 1st World War. In June 1916 he was recalled from the front to become Lloyd George's parliamentary private secretary. He served on various commissions and visited Russia, returning with warnings of revolution. His increasingly critical attitude got him into trouble with Lloyd George, especially after the latter became Prime Minister, and Davies was eventually sacked from his post and accused of cowardice by Lloyd George. Unable to go back to his battalion he worked hard at improving the war effort and became a campaigner for the idea of a League of Nations. Throughout his political career he worked hard for the interests of Montgomeryshire and was active in the community. In later years he felt increasingly out of step with his party, eventually standing down in 1927 after disagreements over Liberal land policy which he found "socialistic". He continued to be active in the local Liberal Association and was made 1st Baron Davies of Llandinam in 1932. He also funded the world's first Department of International Politics at the University of Wales Aberystwyth.
[MC; AE]
[MC; AE]
Mr D. Davies Hunt
Kennels: Plas Dinam, Llandinam, Montgomeryshire. Station: Llandindam. Couple of hounds: 25. Master of Hounds: Mr David Davies. Huntsman: J Davies. Whippers in: S Morris. Secretary: Mr C James, Brynawel, Montgomery. Hunting Uniform: Scarlet coat, green collar, hunt buttons. No Subscription. Hunting days: Wednesday, Saturday, with occasional bye days. Description of Country "Hilly country and woodland, about one-third, the remainder moorland and pasture. Cobby horse from 15 to 15.2". Hunting centres: Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes, Llandinam, Caersws. Principal Meets: Aberbechan Bridge, Abermule, Berriew, Bettws, Bwlch-y-fridd, Clatter, Dolfor, Hafodwen Llanbrynmair, Llandinam Bridge, Llanidloes, Llanwnog, Meifod, Montgomery, Old Hall, Sarn, Pantyffridd, Trefeglwys.
[The foxhunters' yearbook 1930-1931]
[The foxhunters' yearbook 1930-1931]
Davies, Edward (1756-1831) 'Celtic Davies'
Born at Hendre Einion farm in the parish of Llanfaredd, Radnorshire, he was educated by local clergymen and spent a year at Christ College, Brecon where he was a school friend of Theophilus Jones. He became a schoolmaster at Hay and was ordained deacon in 1779, serving various curacies in the area. From 1783 to 1799 he served as a schoolmaster at Chipping Sodbury Grammar School, Gloucestershire, which he left to become curate of Olveston in the same county. He was made rector of Bishopstone on the Gower in 1805 and settled there full-time from 1813. He published volumes of English verse and a novel but is best known as the author of Celtic Researches (1804) and The Mythology and Rites of the British Druids (1809). He collected an important library on “Celtic” culture and antiquity and although a self-taught 'expert' he was one of the first to cast doubt on the claims of Iolo Morganwg for his 'Gorsedd of Bards' and was widely respected, being elected one of ten Associates of the Royal Society of Literature.
[DWB; DEW]
[DWB; DEW]
Davies, Edwin (1859-1919)
Born at Old Parr's Cottage, near Welshpool. At the age of 5 the family moved to Brecon where he was apprenticed to a local printing and newspaper business. He worked his way up through the firm to be foreman whilst making regular contributions to the paper on topics like temperance of which he was a strong advocate. He then acquired the business itself becoming manager-editor and publisher of The Brecon and Radnor County Times. A staunch Liberal he used the papers columns to serve the cause and to champion such issues as dis-establishment of the Church in Wales.
After twelve years he sold the newspaper and devoted himself to publishing historical works particularly long out of print county histories. In particular he compiled, edited and published A General History of the County of Radnor from the notes of Jonathan Williams and other sources, and published two editions of A History of the County of Brecknock by Theophilus Jones.
He published many other works of local importance and amassed a large collection of historical documents of significance to successive generations of local historians.
[Davies; DWB]
After twelve years he sold the newspaper and devoted himself to publishing historical works particularly long out of print county histories. In particular he compiled, edited and published A General History of the County of Radnor from the notes of Jonathan Williams and other sources, and published two editions of A History of the County of Brecknock by Theophilus Jones.
He published many other works of local importance and amassed a large collection of historical documents of significance to successive generations of local historians.
[Davies; DWB]