2013

SO1408 : The Independent Minister and Journalist

taken 11 years ago, near to Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, Wales

The Independent Minister and Journalist
The Independent Minister and Journalist
Evan Jones, 'Ieuan Gwynedd' (1820-1852).

The inscription reads:
Born Near Dolgellau, Evan Jones, 'Ieuan Gwynedd' was an Independent minister and journalist. He became minister at Saron Chapel in Tredegar in 1845 but left after 2½ years to pursue a career in journalism. During his short stay at Tredegar he developed Sunday school classes and took a keen interest in education. Often this was the only education children working in the mines and ironworks received. Evan was a prominent critic of the Report of Commission of Enquiry into the state of Education in Wales published in 1847. The report was produced in blue books and later referred to by it many critics as 'The Treachery of the Blue Books'. It exaggerated and blamed the poor state of education and schools in Wales upon the Welsh language, the influence of non-conformist chapels, and the alleged, low morals and coarse habits of the Welsh people. Evan wrote and published many letters and pamphlets attacking the report and its conclusions. His arguments, always strongly presented, were based on careful study of the facts. Evan suffered from ill-health throughout his life and died in 1852, aged only 31.

O.M. Edwards, the Welsh Historian, Educationalist and Writer paid tribute saying, 'He struck a note that will never be forgotten in Wales. His voice was like the blast of a trumpet, it made every Welshman realise that he was either a coward or a man determined to resent the silent belief that Welshmen were racially inferior to their neighbours.'
The Homfray Trail, Tredegar

The Homfray Heritage Trail was established by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council as part of the Green Mines/Atlanterra project. It is named after Samuel Homfrey (1762-1822) who was responsible, with others, for the establishment of the Tredegar Ironworks.
The trail starts at Bedwellty House which was built by his son, Samuel jnr., who was also responsible for many of the features that can be seen today in the surrounding park.
In 2012 some trail markers were commissioned to encourage the community and visitors to Bedwellty Park to use and enjoy the trail, and to give them a better understanding of the cultural and industrial heritage of Tredegar. Statues, created by artist Tim Ward from laser-cut stainless steel, of famous and lesser known people associated with Tredegar were erected around the trail in 2013


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Robin Drayton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: City, Town centre Place: Tredegar other tags: Heritage Trail Public Artwork Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Articles: · Nonconformist Chapels in Wales Automatic Clusters: · Tredegar Ironworks [8] Other Photos: · Ieuan Gwynedd silhouette, Park Row, Tredegar ·
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Grid Square
SO1408, 272 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Robin Drayton   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 29 July, 2013   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 2 January, 2014
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 1401 0869 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:46.2153N 3:14.8557W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 1401 0869
View Direction
West-northwest (about 292 degrees)
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W Go E
SW S SE
Image classification(about): Geograph
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