Crawshay’s Tomb

The article transcribed below appeared in the Merthyr Telegraph 138 years ago today.

THE TOMBSTONE OF THE LATE MR. CRAWSHAY

A stone, weighing nine tons, and being 11ft 2in long, 7ft 2in wide, and 1ft 2in thick, has been placed upon the grave of the late Mr R. T. Crawshay, in Vaynor Churchyard. The stone, which is a conglomerate, was selected by Mr R. T. Crawshay from the Rhadyr Quarry, near Llandaff. Around the sides are formed a kind of rockery, but the surface of the stone is quite plain, although beautifully polished. The laying of the stone has been carried out by Messrs Malliphant and Morgan. An inscription will be placed upon the stone.

Robert Thompson Crawshay’s Grave at Vaynor

4 thoughts on “Crawshay’s Tomb”

  1. Legend in S Wales had it that he was evil! that because of his bad treatment of his workers and particularly for his lust after t heir women. The sone was placed by workmen so that he could never rise again!

  2. In the song ‘Iron Masters’, which tells the story of the Rebecca riots are, the lines
    Now on a hill in Brecon is
    Crawshay’s ruined house
    And it blackens out the green of the valley
    and on his battered grave is the epitaph they gave
    “God Forgive Him”
    Forgive him, forgive him and all who rot in hell with him

    Certainly not the way to be remembered!

    1. Unfortunately they got the wrong Crawshay!!!! Robert Thompson Crawshay wasn’t in charge of the works at the time of the Rebecca Riots!!!!

  3. Oh wow, that’s interesting- also the epitaph , I see is ‘God forgive me’- so they have taken a few liberties. Still a good song.

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