History
Erected c.1889 in memory of Alfred Crawshay (+April 25th 1864 aged 41), his wife, Jessy (+July 17th 1889), and their grand-daughter, Psyche (+ June 26th 1889 aged 11 months). Artist unknown, but the very unusual rails may have been purpose-made at the Merthyr Ironworks. Alfred Crawshay belonged to the well-known family of ironmasters, being the son of George Crawshay (1794-1873), the youngest son of William Crawshay of Cyfarthfa. George Crawshay, apparently not noted for his business acumen, was largely resident at the Crawshays’ iron foundry at George Yard, London, before becoming a partner in a Durham foundry. Alfred, of Dan-y-park, Crickhowell, was a captain in the 17th Lancers, before his early death aged 41. His elder brothers, George and Edmund were became prominent public figures in Gateshead, while his wife, Jessy was also a Crawshay, being sister of Alfred’s first cousin, Robert Thompson Crawshay, the well-known Merthyr Ironmaster. Among Alfred’s children was Codrington Crawshay, father of Captain Geoffrey Crawshay, who played a prominent role in the attempted economic recovery of Wales during the pre-War depression (Commissioner in Charge of the redevelopment of South Wales 1934-39), and was Chairman of the Welsh Board of Health as well as Herald Bard of Wales after the War.