DAVIES family, of Bersham, smiths

HUW DAVIES, smith, was living at Groes-foel, Esclusham, in the 17th century. He was buried in the churchyard at Wrexham, 2 September 1702. A handrail of exquisite design in the choir of Wrexham church and a small gate in Malpas churchyard (Cheshire) are attributed to him. He and his wife, Eleanor, had four sons, ROBERT (died 1748/9), JOHN (died 1755), Huw, and Thomas, and six daughters (Anne, Magdalen, Jane, Sarah, Elinor, and Margaret). Robert and John became famous smiths. It is said that they were employed at one time at Drayton House, Northampton, under the direction of the renowned French smith, Jean Tijou, who worked for William III, and by Robert Bakewell of Derby. There is ample proof that they designed the gates of Chirk castle (1719-21), Wrexham church (1720), S. Peters, Ruthin (1727), and Oswestry church (1738). Other gates and screens attributed to them with certainty are at Plas Coed-llai, Mold; Eaton Hall, Cheshire; Erddig Hall, Wrexham; and Emral Hall, Bangor Iscoed; and with a high degree of probability, gates at Castell Coch, Welshpool; Abbey House, Shrewsbury; Malpas church, Cheshire; Carden Hall, Malpas; Plas Llan-rhudd; and a number of others.

Author

• Iorwerth Cyfeiliog Peate, (1901 - 1982)

Sources

• M. Ayrton and A. Silcock, Wrought Iron and its Decorative Use (London 1929) (1929)
• A. N. Palmer, History of the thirteen country townships of the old parish of Wrexham, and of the townships of Burras Riffri, Erlas, & Erddig Being the fifth and last part of "A history of the town and parish of Wrexham" (1903) (1903)
• William Martial Myddelton, Chirk Castle accounts, (continued) A.D. 1666-1753
• Bye-Gones, relating to Wales and the Border Counties (1898)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Davies brothers of Wrexham

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q5241744

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/