5 letters, 1892 - 1897, from Charles Ashton to D.G. Goodwin and John Griffith, Llanberis. The content mainly relates to books and newspapers together with a scathing attack on the Cymmrodorion Society.
Newspaper cuttings of articles on Charles Ashton including obituaries with accounts of his distressing death and details of the inquest that followed.
Charles Ashton was known as the literary Welsh policeman. Born in Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire in 1848 he became a policeman in 1869 and was stationed in Dolgellau and Barmouth amongst other places. He retired in 1894 following 25 years of service.
He was a valued contributor to the magazine, Bye-Gones and the journal, The Montgomery Collections and won several Eisteddfod prizes for his essays. Amongst his publications are, A guide to Dinas Mawddwy (1893) and Hanes llenyddiaeth Gymreig : o 1651 O.C. hyd 1850 (1893).
In the months preceding his premature death, Charles Ashton spent most of his time conducting research at the British Museum and the Cardiff Free Library, compiling a Bibliography of Wales in the 19th century. On 13 October 1899 he attacked his wife and then committed suicide. The newspaper articles which reported the incident described him as the most successful essayist Wales had produced since the days of Thomas Stephens.
Arranged chronologically and incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts
Open to all users.
Item 387 presented to the Archives Department in 1928. Item 25401 received at a later date.
Description compiled by Elen Wyn Hughes, July 2002.
An item level typescript catalogue is available at the Archives Department of the University of Wales Bangor. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 387 and 25401
Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.
