Ben Davies and Thomas William Llynfi Davies Manuscripts,

Papers, [c. 1913]-[c. 1936], mainly of the Rev. Ben Davies, comprising poetry submitted for eisteddfodau, lecture notes, sermons, and correspondence; as well as poetry of the Rev. Thomas William Llynfi Davies.

Ben Davies, Calvinistic Methodist minister, was born in Cwmllynfell and worked as a coalminer after leaving school. His poetic talent very early proved successful in local literary meetings and eisteddfodau as he mastered the art of cynghanedd at the age of thirteen and won a bardic chair at the age of twenty-one. From 1886 to 1888 Davies studied at Bala Theological College, subsequently ministering at Bwlchgwyn and Llandegla (1888-1891) and Ystalyfera (1891-1926), rapidly becoming one of the most respected preachers of his time. He continued his eisteddfodic successes, gaining the crown at Rhyl in 1892, Pontypridd in 1893 and Caernarfon in 1894, and the chair at Llandudno in 1896. In 1897 he published an anthology titled Bore Bywyd and saw many of his articles printed in contemporary periodicals. Davies spent his latter years in London, continuing to preach until the end of his life.

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 23234-23237.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.

Mrs Agnes Williams; Maesteg; Donation; 1994

Ben Davies, Calvinistic Methodist minister, was born in Cwmllynfell and worked as a coalminer after leaving school. His poetic talent very early proved successful in local literary meetings and eisteddfodau as he mastered the art of cynghanedd at the age of thirteen and won a bardic chair at the age of twenty-one. From 1886 to 1888 Davies studied at Bala Theological College, subsequently ministering at Bwlchgwyn and Llandegla (1888-1891) and Ystalyfera (1891-1926), rapidly becoming one of the most respected preachers of his time. He continued his eisteddfodic successes, gaining the crown at Rhyl in 1892, Pontypridd in 1893 and Caernarfon in 1894, and the chair at Llandudno in 1896. In 1897 he published an anthology titled Bore Bywyd and saw many of his articles printed in contemporary periodicals. Davies spent his latter years in London, continuing to preach until the end of his life.

Title based on contents.

February 2009.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifans for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IX (Aberystwyth, 2003); Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig hyd 1940 (Llundain, 1953);

Usual copyright laws apply.

Another group of Ben Davies papers is included among the papers of T. J. Morgan (see NLW Annual Report 1986-87, p. 60).

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales