13.1. Interesting Graves Continued

The Caddick Family (#14 on map):

The Caddick family emigrated from Blaenavon to Hughesovka in Russia during the 19th century, taking their ironmaking skills to the Donetsk valley, where John Hughes of Merthyr Tydfil had established an ironworks.

Thomas Poston (#15 on map):

Thomas Poston served as a gardener to the General Manager of the Blaenavon Company and founded the Blaenavon Horticultural Society in 1907. The Horticultural Society and its annual flower show has been a fixture of the town’s life for over a century. A large silver trophy can be seen in the Blaenavon Community Museum.

Bert and Beatrice Witchell (#16 on map):

Bert and Beatrice Witchell, were well-known shopkeepers in Blaenavon, running a boot and shoemakers’ business in Broad Street in the early 20th century.

Samuel Dankes (#17 on map):

Some of the oldest graves can be found in this part of the churchyard. Look out for the grave of Samuel Dankes, a moulder at the ironworks, who was born in Madeley, Shropshire – which is part of the modern-day Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.

Welsh Language Graves (#18 on map):

Welsh was the major language in Blaenavon at the start of the 19th century. Indeed, the church services at St. Peter’s were originally held in both English and Welsh at the instance of the ironmaster Samuel Hopkins. Some of the old gravestones in this part of the churchyard are in the native language.

Protheroe Grave (#19 on map):

Before finishing, take a look at one last grave. That of the Protheroe family. Have a look at the number of children who died and were buried in that grave. It gives a sobering account of the human cost of the Industrial Revolution.