Casgliad Robert Griffith, Manchester

Gohebiaeth, hunangofiant a thraethodau eisteddfodol ar amyrw bynciau.

The papers consist of a collection of letters written to and from various individuals. From Nicholas Bennett to Ceiriog, Idris Fychan and Robert Griffith which contain much information on old Welsh verses and harpists etc. From J.H. Davies, Sir Owen Edwards and Gwilym Cowlyd to Robert Griffith. From Robert Griffith to Mrs Ceiriog Hughes, Nicholas Bennett and Mr Robert Davies. From R. Gutyn Ebrill and Ceiriog etc. to others.

The three volumes of autobiography are full of comments about the people of Llanrwst, Denbighshire and the local country industries. Also, they provide details of the life of Robert Griffith in Manchester and his troubles as a writer and Eisteddfod competitor.

The essays cover various subjects such as the history of the interludes of Wales, Idris Fychan, Inigo Jones, Sir John Wynn and Gwydir families, ghosts and fairies. These were entered for Eisteddfod competitions in the 1900's. In addition, there is an interlude by Elis y Cowper, in his own hand, entitled Captain Argulus, 1756.

Yr oedd Robert Griffith yn llenor hunan-ddiwylliedig o radd pur uchel; mwynheai gwmni llenorion er pan oedd yn bur ieuanc; daeth i adnabod Idris Vychan yn Manchester, ac i gwmniaeth a llawer o brif gampwyr cerdd dant.

Tyfodd cyfeillgarwch cynnes rhyngddo a Nicholas Bennett, casglwr "Alawon fy Ngwlad" (1896).

Cystadleuodd gryn dipyn mewn eisteddfodau a chafodd rai profiadau digon anhapus ar eu holau.

Prif waith ei fywyd oedd casglu defnyddiau'r llyfr a gyhoeddwyd gan Wasg Caernarfon (1912-1913) ar ol ei farw ef, sef "Llyfr Cerdd Dannau", 536 o dudalennau. Yn hwn, yn ddiddadl, y rhan fwyaf diddorol a safadwy yw IV (tt. 171-333), sef bywgraffiadau a sylwadau ar y prif delynorion Cymreig. Nid yw y llyfr wedi'r cwbl, un tamaid mwy pwysig na'r tair hunangofiant a adawodd ar ei ol.

Gwyddai cryn lawer am fyd yr Anterliwt a daeth i'w feddiant un o anterliwtiau Elis y Cowper (BMSS/1007) yn ei law ei hun.

Robert Griffith, born in 1847 in Llangernyw, Denbighshire was a man of letters who enjoyed the company of many literary people such as Idris Fychan and Nicholas Bennett. He competed in many Eisteddfodau but is best known for his published work Llyfr Cerdd Dannau (1913).

He worked for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co. in Manchester as a carpenter and died in 1911.

Consult the three manuscript volumes of autobiography within these papers for further biographical information.

Rhoddwyd y casgliad i'r Brifysgol gan y Parch. J. Francis Griffith, Carmel, Treffynnon, nai Robert Griffith.

Anther catalogue description can be found here https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb222-bmssrgm