GITTINS, EDWARD (Iorwerth Pentyrch ; 1843-1884); local historian;
b. at Llanfair Caereinion, Mont., where he lived all his life. He was a blacksmith by trade and, though he had few opportunities for formal study, he established for himself a considerable reputation as a bard and a local historian. He was a frequent competitor at local eisteddfodau and gained several prizes for englynion. At Christmas 1881 he won a prize at the Llanfair eisteddfod for an essay in Welsh on the history of Llanfair. His work had considerable merit and was translated into English by T. W. Hancock and published in Mont. Coll., xvi and xvii. The author d. early in March 1884 [at the age of forty-one, and was buried on 6 March].
Bibliography:
- R. Williams, Mont. Worthies;
- Mont. Coll., xvi;
- [Llanfair Caereinion parish register.]
Author:
Walter Thomas Morgan (1912-90), Aberystwyth
