DAVIES, GRIFFITH ('Gwyndaf '; 1868 - 1962), poet, tutor of poets and antiquary
Pseudonym: Gwyndaf
Date of birth: 1868
Date of death: 1962
Spouse: Kate Ann Davies (née Jones)
Spouse: Elin Davies (née Davies)
Child: Megan Davies
Parent: Griffith Davies
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet, tutor of poets and antiquary
Area of activity: Education; Eisteddfod; History and Culture; Poetry; Scholarship and Languages
Author: Ifor Owen
Born 5 February 1868 at Llwynpïod, a smallholding in Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire. His father Griffith Davies died before he was born, and his mother experienced great hardship in bringing up her two sons, Griffith and Thomas. After attending the local school, Griffith spent some time at the famous school of Owen Owen (1850 - 1920 at Oswestry. He lived most of his long life farming Bryncaled, a farm near his birthplace. He married (1) Elin Davies, Bryncaled, and (2) Kate Ann Jones, Bryn Coch, Llanuwchllyn, a descendant of John Jones ('Tudur Llwyd'), Weirglodd Gilfach, a local poet and antiquary. They had one daughter, Megan. Gwyndaf spent the last years of his life at Glan'rafon, a cottage at the foot of Carndochan. He was elected a deacon of Yr Hen Gapel (Congl.), Llanuwchllyn, and was a member and alderman of Merioneth county council for 40 years. He was a member of the Penllyn Historical Society and became vice-president of the Merioneth Historical Society. As a poet proficient in cynghanedd and in composing englynion he taught several generations of poets in the strict metres. He was an ardent supporter of eisteddfodau, became a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 1911 and addressed his fellow poets from the Gorsedd Stone on several occasions. He wrote for the local press, and occasionally contributed articles to the Tyst, Dysgedydd, and Geninen. In 1910 he published a booklet containing his awdl to Michael D. Jones. A posthumous volume of his works, Awen Gwyndaf Llanuwchllyn (1966) was edited by James Nicholas. He died 4 February 1962, the day before his 94th birthday, and was buried in the new cemetery at Llanuwchllyn.
Author
- Ifor Owen
- Information from Megan Davies and Ifan Roberts
- Awen Gwyndaf Llanuwchllyn (Swansea 1966)
- personal knowledge
Sources
- Wikipedia Article: Griffith Davies
Further Reading
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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