Tom Mathias Photographs 21 March 2007 This remarkable collection of photographs represents the work of two exceptionally gifted photographers from different eras and very different backgrounds. The original photographs were taken by Tom Mathias, a self-taught photographer, at the turn of the 20th Century. Using simple equipment, Tom Mathias recorded the daily life around the Cilgerran district of Dyfed, west Wales. Following Mathias's death in 1940 all his negatives were dumped in an outhouse, where they lay, forgotten, for more than thirty years.James Maxwell (Maxi) Davis, a professional photographer living in the area, discovered them in the 1970s. The glass negatives were in a very poor condition. Many were broken and damaged beyond repair. Most of the reminder were very badly degraded, meaning a slow and painstaking process to print what images could be saved. Enough had survived however for Maxi to appreciate the importance of what he had found and set about the task of conserving and restoring the photographs. It is thanks to these efforts that Tom Mathias's remarkable photographs have been saved for posterity. Click on the thumbnails below for more infomration. Tom Mathias Photographs Tom Mathias (1866 - 1940) Aberdyfan, Pont-rhyd-y-ceirt, the Mathias family home. It was here that the negatives of Tom Mathias's photographs were discovered thirty years after his death. Tom James Mathias, son of Tom Mathias, feeding a robin. Tilla, Tom Mathias' daughter Tom's niece, Helen Baud. Helen and her sister Paulette were frequent visitors to Aberdyfan and feature in several of the photographs. Tom Mathias holding a sparrow hawk. Tom was renowned locally for his knowledge of natural history Tom examining one of the apple trees in his orchard. He is credited with improving the keeping qualities of some local varieties of apple An early photograph of Tom Mathias hard at work shearing Tom Mathias' son, James, hard at work making a garden shed The workshops at Cefn Quarry. Note the turned slate pillars Quarrymen at work, Cefn Quarry A steam crane in operation at Forest Quarry, 1910 Dolbadau Quarry, 1907. Cilgerran was the centre of a small-scale slate quarrying industry from the late eighteenth century to the early 1930's. Tom Mathias took many photographs of the quarries, but unfortunately, because of their condition, only a few were able to be reproduced. Cilgerran coracle-men William Johnson and John Morgan with their haul of fish, 1905. So few coracle photographs have survived that this one has been included despite its poor quality. It shows William Griffiths of Llechryd finishing off the frame of a Teifi coracle whilst his children, Moses and Sarah, look on. 1916. Local coopers Griffith and Thomas Thomas, with baby, Johnny Michael Thomas, taken in 1892. Timber was brought to Cilgerran Sawmill for conversion into planks. This photograph shows the arrival of the largest tree trunk ever to be brought to the sawmill. Forestry was another important local industry which Tom Mathias diligently recorded. Kathryn Davies operating a stocking-making machine Mother and daughter Hannah and Elizabeth Davies, the local quilters. Boy holding a child's hay rake Tom's grand-daughter Nesta playing with her toys. The brothers Hugh and Myrddin Jones, Cilfowyr, loading hay onto a donkey cart Girl Guide patrol leader, Maggie Thomas, Plas-y-Berllan, Llechryd. 1925 Four generations of the Davies family of Banc-y-felin, Llechryd. 1913 Richard Morris of Cefn Lodge, Cilgerran on his horse 'White Bud'. Miss Olivia Griffiths, Neuadd, Cilgerran, shortly after her graduation with first class honours in German from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1910. Evan Peter Morgan of Church Street, Cilgerran, photographed with his wife Elizabeth Jane and son David whilst he was home on leave during the First World War (1914-1918) A convoy of policemen from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan on their way to Cardiganshire to assist the local constabulary during the anti-tithe agitation which broke out in the county between 1888-94 Butcher's delivery van, 1910 Baker's van with delivery boy, Willie Davies, 1910. David Wilson, fishmonger's delivery boy photographed in 1905. He was later to loose a leg in combat in the First World War. He used his compensation to establish his own business in Bridge Street, Cardigan, thereby earning himself the nickname 'Lucky Leg Wilson' Three local women photographed in a pony and trap, 1916. Tom Mathias made his living taking photos of local people, but he never owned a studio, so all his photographs were were taken outside or at his clients' homes. Mrs Ann Williams, 1910. Repairing the spire of Llandygwydd Church. A row of labourers' cottages at Lancych. They stand in marked contrast to the gentry houses that Tom Mathias also photographed. A ride in a donkey cart. Tom Mathias's patience as a photographer is displayed at its best in his pictures of children. This is Teifryn Thomas, the son of Llechryd's postmaster, proudly showing off his new tricycle. An unidentified girl carrying a baby in a shawl 'Welsh fashion'. James Mathias (no relation) taken with his family c.1910. Morgan Mathias, the young man shown in the photograph, was later killed in the First World War. Three generations of a Cilgerran family. The Band of the Cardigan Volunteer Corps waiting at Cilgerran station to welcome Lt. Colby of Ffynone home from the Boer War, c.1902 Onnen-deg, Llechryd. The number of photographs of houses in the collection suggest that there was a lucrative market for them. This is Fernhill, Llechryd. The Band of the Cardigan Volunteer Corps marching down Cilgerran High Street 1902, accompanied by members of the Cardigan Naval Reserve. Cilgerran High Street, taken in 1905 Skating on the old canal connecting the river Teifi and the now abandoned Castle Malgwyn tinworks. Villagers skating on the frozen Teifi during the cold winter of 1891 Cilgerran High Street, taken in 1910 ...These photographs of momen in 'traditional' Welsh costume possibly illustrate Tom Mathias's attempt to break into this lucrative market. ...The most popular postcards were scenes of women knitting, going to the market or having tea... Towards the end of the nineteenth century it became fashionable to publish postcards of women in 'traditional' Welsh costume... Repairing the bridge at Glanarberth in 1912 Repairing the bridge at Pont-rhyd-y-ceirt, 1920. Johnny Michael, the conductor of Cilgerran Children's choir, can be seen standing on the left with his children, Teifryn and Tegwyn. The children of Blaen-ffos School, 1915. The patriotic garb suggests that the photograph was taken on St. David's Day. The title of the Welsh national anthem 'Land of my Fathers', is written on the blackboard in the window. The ladies of Llwyn Adda Chapel Sunday School sporting their 'Welsh costumes' Cilgerran Children's Choir with conductor Johnny Michael A Sunday School class at Glanolmarch House, Llechryd, with the owner, Mrs. Stephens A ladies' Sunday School class, Babell Chapel, Cilgerran, 1906 Penuel Baptist Chapel's annual Sunday School outing to Poppit Sands, 1913. A Sunday School class at Llwyn Adda Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Llechryd. Tom Mathias (on the right) was a lifelong member of the chapel and a Sunday School teacher for many years. The other teacher is Margaret Ann Thomas Penrhiw Supply Stores, Aber-cuch, with owner W.J. Lewis, wearing the white apron. Penrhiw Arms, Aber-cuch, 1914. The landlord, David Owens, and his wife Elizabeth, can be seen standing on the steps. The building has since been demolished as part of a road widening scheme. The Newcastle Emlyn to Cardigan stagecoach outside the Tivy-side Inn, Llechryd, in 1906. Pantdŵr, Llechryd, c. 1900 Bridge House, Cilgerran, 1910. The occupant, Miss Kathryn Davies, is standing in the doorway whilst her brother sits on the parapet of the railway bridge (since demolished). Flooding on the River Teifi, Lechryd, c. 1910. The Tivy-side inn is visible in the middle of the shot. Looking across the river Teifi at Llechryd towards the Tivy-side Inn. The inn, or 'tavarn' has long since closed. A number of the photographs in the collection feature local views and record important or unusual events in the district. The new footbridge at Aber-cuch, 1908 Constructing a new footbridge across the River Teifi at Aber-cuch, 1908 Miss Rita Morgan Richardson fencing with her brother whilst Dr. Stephens, Glanolmarch, looks on. Miss Rita Morgan Richardson, Rhos-y-gilwen, Cilgerran with her German governess and exotic dogs The Lewis-Bowen family of Clyn-fiw, Boncath Mrs Lewis-Bowen, Clyn-fiw, Boncath (on the right), with her children, Dorothea and William, and the family's nurse and governess. The young girl on the left is Rita Morgan Richardson The Rhos-y-gilwen herd proudly displayed in front of the house. C. E. G. Morgan Richardson of Rhos-y-gilwen, standing amongst his prize herd of Shorthorn cattle Mrs Morgan Richardson outside Noyaddwilym, Llechryd. The family later moved or Rhos-y-gilwen A coachman with an 'unusual' passenger outside Castle Malgwyn, presumably at Halloween The wedding of Miss Grace Gower of Castle Malgwyn, and Staff Surgeon Gill R. N. at St. Llawddog Church, Cilgerran, 8 August 1907 Lodge, Castle Malgwyn Castle Malgwyn, Llechryd, home of the Gower family. The house is now a hotel Thomas Daniel posing with his bicycle Thomas Daniel, the gardener at Glanolmarch, Llechryd, with a crop of onions. An unidentified group of domestic servants. The area known as Tivyside, i.e. the Teifi valley between Llandysul and the sea at Cardigan, a distance of less than twenty miles, was famous for its gentry houses. The local gentry families were regular patrons of Tom Mathias. The Tivyside Hunt was the focus of the gentry's social life. The hunt, one of the oldest in Wales, is seen here with the master, Spence Colby of Ffynone. Miss Rita Morgan Richardson, Rhos-y-gilwen, Cilgerran The staff at Clyn-fiw, 1906 An unidentified gamekeeper with his family Pentre, Boncath, 1910 The Coedmore staff in their uniforms. Note how many display the tools of their trade In their heyday the gentry houses provided employment for large numbers of people. This is the staff of the Coedmore estate taken in 1909 The domestic servants in the kitchen courtyard at Coedmore. The area known as Tivyside, i.e. the Teifi valley between Llandysul and the sea at Cardigan, a distance of less than twenty miles, was famous for its gentry houses. The local gentry families were regular patrons of Tom Mathias. A Fowler traction engine on hire to the army from the local agricultural contractor, Dan Lladd of Clunderwen (right) A hay press (an early form of baler) in use. The bound 'bales' can be seen in the background. The original machine found its way into the collection of vintage machinery enthusiast, Geler Jones of Cardigan. His collection has since been purchased by the National Trust for display at its property in Llannerch Aeron. James Evans using a side-rake at Castle Malgwyn Home Farm, Llechryd. Parcyneithw Farm. Mr. Griffith Davies standing in the yard with his wife, seven daughters - Sarah, Margaret, Edith, Ellen, Elizabeth, May and Catherine - their son, Ifan (right) and servant, Alfred. This ingenious manually-operated hay-turning machine was invented by local farmer, Arthur John Davies, Penwenallt. The prototype was made for him by the village blacksmith, but a Dublin firm began manufacturing the machine commercially before Davies could take out a patent. One of the first tractors and corn binders in the district in use at Castle Malgwyn Home Farm The hay harvest was a time when neighbouring farmers combined together to bring in the crop. Often very large numbers of people came together and it was an important social occasion, as this photograph shows. A haymaking scene at Aberdyfan, c.1910. A large number of people were required for the harvest even on a small holding like Aberdyfan. Note the use of a pitching pole to lift the hay from the carts onto the stack. Tractor in military use. Soldiers at work bailing hay. It is probably that they are members of a 'Foraging Company' who travelled the country during the Great War obtaining fodder for military horses. The variety of cap badges show that they were drawn from several regiments. It is possible that they might also be conscientious objectors who had been assigned to non-combat duties.
Mawrth 20, 2007 David Thorpe, 20 March 2007 Wythnos dipyn yn llai bownslyd sydd wedi mynd heibio - mae'n si?r nad fi yw'r cynta' i fod 'chydig bach yn rhy optimistig ar ddechre mis Mawrth. Ei sgil effaith, wrth gwrs, oedd fy mod wedi defnyddio fy nognau egni i gyd erbyn dydd Gwener (ac wedi anghofio, fel ffwl, am y penwythnos prysur o fy mlaen: Caerdydd gyfan, yn sicr o fod â chlamp o Benmaenmawr wedi'r gêm, yn crwydo'r parc fel zombies gwyrdd!)Mae cyfarch a sgwrsio 'da'r cyhoedd yn fusnes blinedig. Mae dewis ei wneud mewn dillad rhy frau, ar ddiwrnod arbennig o oriog, yn fusnes blinedig a gwirion.Ac felly mae'r chill cyfarwydd yn dangos ei ben, ac yn sydyn reit dwi'n teimlo'n swrth ac oer - efo dim ond clogyn brethyn Tuduraidd yn y swyddfa'n gwmpeini cynnes (a hwnnw'n edrych yn wirioneddol sdiwpid ar ben jîns!) Mae gennai got Ray Mears ar sêt deithiwr y car. Peth anferth, bob tywydd. Pob poced yn llawn teclynnau anhepgor, abswrd rhywun sy'n treulio lot gormod o amser mewn Amgueddfa awyr agored - tortsh, matsys, cliciwr-cyfri, cyllell boced, mapiau a phisys o bapur yn f'atgoffa i ffonio 'Catholic Living Magazine'. Dim iws i neb ar sêt y 'Pyrjo' yn y maes parcio. Y clogyn amdani te. Cam amgen i fyd 'dehongli byw' ar bnawn Sadwrn, yn enw cynhesrwydd!Diar mi - fe soniais i, yndo, pa mor hawdd ydi datblygu obsesiwn efo'r tywydd yn Sain Ffagan, a dyma fi, unwaith eto, yn swnian am yr oerfel.Yn fyr - dwi 'nôl yn y Swyddfa Gynnes r?an, ac wedi llowcio cymaint o fitaminau dwi'n gneud s?n fel ratl babi pan dwi'n symud. Maen nhw ar y ddesg, drws nesa' i'n hylif haul - mae o wedi bod yn eistedd yno'n optimistig ers mis Awst diwethaf...
Mawrth 13, 2007 David Thorpe, 13 March 2007 Waw am ddiwrnod braf! Helo! Diwrnod o waith swyddfa sydd gen i heddiw, ond ces gyfle i fynd allan i grwydro'r safle bore 'ma cyn cwrdd â gr?p o ymwelwyr o Benarth.Fe fuom ni'n sbecian o amgylch yr Eglwys - minnau a Ray Smith (Pen Saer - yn yr ystyr llythrennol - yr Amgueddfa) yn ateb cwestiynau a sgwrsio. Mae Ray wedi bod yn gweithio yn Sain Ffagan ers sbelen r?an: a dweud y gwir, mae wedi bod yn gweithio ar brosiect yr Eglwys ers ei chychwyn (h.y. pan oeddwn i'n fabi bach bochgoch).O edrych yn ofalus ar luniau yn ein archifau, gellir ei sbotio, mewn du a gwyn, yn gweithio ar brosiect adeiladu Siop Gwalia, ac ar Institiwt Glowyr Oakdale hefyd. Ei orchwyl, ar hyn o bryd, yw cerfio bywyd Teilo Sant (cewch air am weddill ei gampweithiau mewn post nes ymlaen!) Mae'n defnyddio un darn o dderw Cymreig, un-troedfedd-ar-bymtheg o hyd - a chan ei bod hi dipyn yn gynhesach tu allan, mae wedi symud yn ôl i fyny i'r Eglwys i weithio. Dwi'n falch o gael ei gwmpeini, am ei fod yn llawn hwyl a gwybodaeth am bawb a phopeth yn Sain Ffagan (ac hefyd yn wrandawr da iawn pan fydda i'n troi'n Strempan oriog ar foreuau glawog). Os ddewch chi i fyny i'r Eglwys rywdro, mynnwch sgwrs ag e - ar yr amod y byddwch chi'n glou: mae gwaith 'da fe i'w wneud!Ta waeth, wythnos orlawn sydd wedi mynd heibio (fe fydd raid i chi faddau imi - dwi'n gwybod taw dydd Mawrth yw hi, ond mae Wythnos Sain Ffagan yn wahanol iawn. Ddewch chi ddim o hyd iddi ar gloc na chalendr...) - ac mae'n syndod cymaint yn rhagor o ymwelwyr sydd wedi dod atom ni yn yr wythnos heulog ddiwethaf. O ystyried y cyfarch, sgwrsio, malu awyr, ateb cwestiynau a dwrdio dwi'n ei wneud bob dydd, mae'r Eglwys - er ei bod hi'n wag o gynulleidfa - yn dod, yn raddol bach, yn le swnllyd iawn.
Mawrth 6, 2007 David Thorpe, 6 March 2007 Dwi'n ôl ar ôl tipyn o seibiant yn Lerpwl - ac yn ceisio gwneud pen-a-chynffon o'r holl ymweliadau sydd wedi'u trefnu ar gyfer y misoedd nesaf. Dwi'n si?r i'n hymddangosiad ni ar y Newyddion a'r radio fis Chwefror ddenu llawer o bobl yma - nifer ohonynt yn ymweld am y tro cyntaf â'r Eglwys, sydd wastad yn beth braf.Dwi'n teimlo, mor bell a hyn i fewn i fy nyddiadur bach, y dylwn i gyflwyno prif gonsyrn Eglwys Teilo Sant, er dwi'n siwr eich bod chi wedi sylwi ar hynny erbyn hyn - yn iawn.Eglwys hynafol eithriadol yw hi - wedi bod ar daith, nawr, ers dros ugain mlynedd. Ym mis Hydref eleni, 'dyn ni'n gobeithio datgan bod ei thramwyo ar ben yn swyddogol, a'i bod am ddechrau pennod newydd o lonyddwch gosgeiddig - serch rhyw hanner can milltir yn bellach i lawr yr M4.Er ein bod ni'n ail greu'r Eglwys fel ac yr oedd hi yn oes Harri'r wythfed, mae ei hanes yn ymestyn llawer ymhellach na hynny. Adeiladwyd y rhan fwyaf hynafol yn oes y Normaniaid - ac estyn fuodd arni wrth i boblogaeth Pontarddulais a Hendy dyfu'n araf bach. Erbyn oes y Tuduriaid, 'roedd tua tri chant o bobl yn byw yn yr ardal - y rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn ffermwyr hunan gynhaliol. Sawl un ohonynt oedd yn dilyn cyfraith gwlad, ac yn addoli yno bob sul, wyddwn ni ddim. Yn sicr, roedd atynfa'r Eglwys fel canolfan gymdeithasol yn gryfach i rai na'i rôl fel hafan ysbrydol.Mae'r iard o amgylch yr Eglwys yn ddigon o faint, dwi'n credu, i ail-greu peth o'r naws cymdeithasol hyn - gwyliau ar ddyddiau'r Seintiau, rasus, chwaraeon, gamblo, a phob mathau o weithgareddau Duwiol eraill.Fe geisiaf i dynnu rhai lluniau i'w dangos, i chi gael gwell syniad ar naws y lle - os nad ydych chi'n teimlo fel ymweld, wrth gwrs...
A portrait of a Welsh Squire and his children, by Johann Zoffany, distinguished painter to George III 22 February 2007 There are many portraits of well-known Welsh figures in the art collections of Angueddfa Cymru. However, the Museum also collects portraits of lesser-known people as they can be important works of art in their own right. The study of these portraits often sheds new light on when and how their subjects lived and adds to our understanding of art in the past.During the past 20 years several distinguished 18th and early 19th century portraits have been acquired by the Museum, including Henry Knight of Tythegston with his three children, painted by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810) in about 1770.Henry Knight of Tythegston with his three children by Johann Zoffany Johann Zoffany (1733-1810) Henry Knight of Tythegston (1738-1772) with his Children. c.1770 - oil on canvas The portrait shows the Glamorganshire squire Henry Knight (1738-1772) with his three children Henry, Robert and Ethelreda. Henry was a soldier in the 15th Light Dragoons, and his older son is shown trying on a helmet of that regiment. Henry Knight's father, Robert Knight (1711-1765), inherited the Tythegston estate of the Lougher family through his mother in 1732. Henry divorced from his wife in 1771, then a difficult and expensive process requiring a private Act of Parliament. The painting might have been commissioned to represent Henry Knight's decision to leave the military in order to care for his children. In the picture, he is dressed in civilian clothes, but he holds an infantry officer's spontoon, thrust blade-first into the ground. His sons hold his sword, gorget and helmet. The picture's seaside setting is probably a reference to Tythegston, a couple of miles from the coast, between Bridgend and Porthcawl. The tree motif, frequently used in Zoffany's family groups, allows all the figures to be given equal importance. Showing the boys playing with arms and armour belongs to a tradition that can be traced back to the Renaissance.Johann ZoffanyThis is one of Zoffany's largest family portraits (measuring 240 cm x 149 cm), and is a surprisingly ambitious commission for a Welsh squire of modest means. Zoffany, one of the most distinguished British painters of the reign of George III, was famous for his informal styles. One of his best-known pictures, Sir Lawrence Dundas with his grandson, shows the 17th century Dutch masterpiece The Calm by Jan van de Cappelle, also in the Museum's collections.Born near Frankfurt and trained in Rome, Zoffany moved to London in 1760. Lord Bute, George III's first prime minister, probably introduced him to the Royal Family, where he became the favourite painter of Queen Charlotte. The King nominated him a member of the Royal Academy in 1769. The appeal of Zofanny's work lies in his ability to catch a likeness and his astonishing attention to detail. His perspective, however, can be faulty, and here the helmet held by the older son is clearly too large.Purchasing the portrait for the MuseumThe picture is in a remarkably good state of preservation. X-ray examination reveals that the artist reworked the head of Robert Knight (the younger son dressed in red), but there are only a few other minor changes to the design, and most of the composition was laid on quite thinly. The picture was loaned to the Museum from 1940 until 1958. When it was offered for sale at Sotheby's in 1999 its acquisition by the Museum was a priority. The purchase was made possible by generous donations from the bequest of June Tiley, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Art Collections Fund.
