Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Brass tamping rod or ‘stampiwr’ (as it is know in Welsh), used to stamp black powder or gelignite into blast holes during quarrying. A groove is formed in one end of the rod to accommodate the fuse while tamping (groove is 50mm in length).

The tamping rod belonged to the donor’s father, Mr Twm Jones (or ‘Twm Tai Sinc’ as he was known locally). Twm Jones worked as a ‘creigiwr’ (rockman) in a quarry in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area (donor believes that his father worked at the Oakeley Quarry). Twm Jones began working in the quarry in 1906 (at the age of twelve), and left during the 1930’s following an accident during blasting. He subsequently worked in Bermo (Barmouth), assisting in the construction of the sea wall - where he could use his knowledge of blasting.