The Letterbook of Richard Crawshay 1788-1797
An edition in summary form of nearly 600 letters written by Richard Crawshay, the ironmaster, which chart the progress of his experiment at Cyfarthfa. This successfully substituted coal for charcoal in the refining of iron ore - one of the major breakthroughs of the Industrial Revolution. The letters also reflect the political and economic crises of the new town of Merthyr in the same period.
South Wales Record Society publication no. 6
Calendared by Chris Evans, with an introduction by G. G. L. Hayes.
Published 1990
ISBN 0 9508676 5 9 (hardback)
Price: £12.50
Review:
Sir Glanmor Williams in Morgannwg: ‘Altogether, this book gives a fascinating pen-portrait, provided ‘in his own write’ by a more than averagely interesting early industrial magnate, beset but by no means overcome by the complexities arising out of economic and political revolution … The editors of the volume and its publishers deserve our gratitude for this valuable addition to what is turning out to be a particularly helpful series of publications.’