Born & Raised In Crungoed Cottage
Who knew that Llangunllo had raised one of its own who went on to be Knighted? Sir Charles Edwards, born and bred in Llangunllo, living in Crungoed Cottage and attended the National School here. Born on the 19th February 1867 to John and Catherine Edwards, he was the second youngest of five siblings. Just an ordinary family, Father John was an agricultural labourer or ‘ag lab’ as was recorded on the census when it was taken.
The incredible story of how one man from Radnorshire went on to become a miner in the South Wales coalfields to a long-serving Labour M.P. for Bedwellty and then a knighthood came to light after a couple of people visited The Greyhound Inn and enquired of the landlord if he knew anything about Sir Charles’ history. Like everyone else here, the answer was who? The couple were on a genealogy search for their ancestors and Sir Charles was one of them.
A chap who goes by the name of ‘The Radnorian’ aka Mr Larpin and seems well acquainted with the Edwards family of Crungoed Cottage wrote: ‘Sir Charles left school at the age of 12 and went to work at Lower Sign, a farm in Llandewi Ystradenny.’ From census records of Llangunllo, we can see that Charles
Edwards was certainly born in the village and lived his time here at
Crungoed Cottage. Although Crungoed is still there, the cottage, alas, is no longer.
The Radnorian Website
The 1881 census shows the family together with their 94-year-old
Grandmother and a 1-year-old Granddaughter?
John Edwards 50, was born in Bleddfa, Agricultural Labourer.
Mother, Catharine 47, born in Llangunllo.
Charles, 14, was born in Llangunllo although it is blank for occupation.
Martha, Daughter, 12, Scholar, born in Llangunllo.
Elizabeth Edwards, 94, born in Llangunllo and 1 year old Hannah,
Grd Daughter born in Llangunllo.
Why Did He Move South?
Why or when exactly Sir Charles moved south to find work in the
coal mines of the South Wales valleys is unknown, although later
there is a mention of him being a miner from the age of 14 but by
1891, he is settled in a 4-bedroom house in 280, Upper Mount
Pleasant, Risca, Monmouthshire.
Charles Edwards 24, Llangunllo Radnorshire, Coal Miner
Margaret Ann 28, Tredegar, Monmouthshire
Annie Ellen, 5, Daughter, Mynyydslwyn
Following the census record trail, 1901 shows Sir Charles still living
in Risca, Monmouthshire, but at a different address and with a new
addition to his family.
19, North Trinity, Risca, Monmouthshire.
Charles Edwards, 34 Coal Miner, Hewer – Below Ground, Llangunllo.
Elizabeth Ann 38, Dressmaker,
Daughter Annie Ellen, 15, Dressmaker,
A son (not yet registered) and interestingly, Mary Jane Watkins, Servant, 22, House Maid, Mynyddislwyn.
It seems most unusual for a coal mining family to have a servant.
An interesting fact shows itself about the 1901 census as living next
door to Sir Charles is William Edwards, aged 40, also born in
Llangunllo, Radnorshire! Is this why Sir Charles moved there? Had
his elder brother gone south before him and written home to say about the opportunities he had found by moving from the quiet
agricultural abode of lovely Llangunllo? Perhaps.
William isn’t on the 1881 census of Llangunllo and I can’t find him on any other census
either. I was hoping it would have shown him in Monmouthshire, ahead of his brother.
Looking at when Sir Charles’ mining career began, the 1929 Colliery
Year Book and Coal Trades Directory shows his biography as: ‘…a
miner at Risca Colliery for 22 years and a checkweigher for nine
years before becoming an MP in 1918.’ So 1918 – 31 = 1887.
A checkweigher is described as someone who has earned great
trust between himself and his colleagues. The job entailed checking
the weight of the coal that each shift of miners would have
produced. They needed someone they could count on to make sure
that no ‘short measures’ were given by the employees, thus leading
to a lower wage for the workers. He is quoted in one of his
Hansard’s comments saying that he worked at the ‘Nine Mile Point
Colliery’ when carrying out his checkweigher duties. At some point
he became a Miners Agent for the Tredegar Valley. Again, he must
have been well respected to represent such a large body of workers
in disputes with their employees. It would have certainly been a
difficult job at the time, but one I am sure he managed extremely well.
In 1918, Charles Edwards was nominated to stand as the Labour
Party choice for M.P. for Bedwellty. He was by then a local
councillor. The following is a report at the time from a local
newspaper.