The Davies brothers of Bersham, near Wrexham in north Wales, were a family of smiths active in the 18th century. They were particularly known for their high-quality work in wrought iron, of which several examples still survive in country homes and churchyards around the England-Wales border.
The "White Gates" at Leeswood Hall, attributed to Robert and John Davies
The family consisted of Hugh or Huw Davies (d. 1702) and his sons Robert (1675–1748) and John (1682–1755), who would both go on to be highly regarded smiths; there were also another two sons, Huw and Thomas, and six daughters, Anne, Magdalen, Jane, Sarah, Elinor, and Margaret.[1] They worked at the Croes Foel forge in Bersham, near Wrexham.
Robert – generally considered the most talented of the family – may have studied under the great French wrought iron smith Jean Tijou.[2] The brothers were also have said to have worked with Robert Bakewell of Derby.[1]
The will of Hugh Sr., dated 13 June 1702 and proved at St Asaph in 1703, left a messuage in Bersham to his wife Eleanor and then to his son Robert along with £7 10s., "for which he is to instruct my son Thomas in the trade and science of a smith which he the said Robert now professeth".[3]
Several examples of work known to be by Robert and John survive, as well as a handful of items attributed to their father. Some of these are of exceptionally high quality; a screen and gates known as the "White Gates", at Leeswood Hall, Flintshire, has been described as one of the finest of its type in the United Kingdom, and has been attributed to the Davies brothers on the basis of distinctive fretwork patterns shared with other of their designs.[4]Nikolaus Pevsner described the Davies brothers' work as "miraculous".[5]
Works by the Davies familyedit
The following are linked to the Davies brothers by documentary evidence:
Gates formerly at Stansty Park, now at Erddig Hall. Robert Davies is known to have made gates for Erddig, but they were removed during a subsequent remodelling of the park by William Emes.[8]
Gates and railings at the now-demolished Carden Hall; the gates have now been removed[10]
The main gates of St Oswald's Church, Malpas were formerly attributed to the brothers, but are now considered to be of a later date.[11] A smaller gate in the churchyard is however thought to be the work of their father Hugh.[12]
Galleryedit
The "Golden Gates", Eaton Hall
Gates of Erddig, originally at Stansty Park
Robert Davies' gates for St Giles, Wrexham
The former gates of Emral Hall, now located at St Mary, Eccleston, Cheshire
Referencesedit
^ abDavies family of Bersham, Welsh Biography Online
^Hilling, J. The historic architecture of Wales: an introduction, University of Wales Press, 1976, p.125. ISBN978-0-7083-0626-0
^Myddleton, W. M. Chirk Castle Accounts, 1666–1753, Manchester UP, 1931, p.144
^Ayrton & Silcock, Wrought Iron and Its Decorative Use, Courier Dover Publications, 2003, p.112. ISBN978-0-486-42326-5. The Leeswood gates have also been suggested as the work of Bakewell.
^Pevsner, N. & Nairn, I. Surrey: v.21 of the Buildings of England, Penguin Books, 1962, p.363
^The White Gates are still in-situ, but the Black Gates were removed by Cadw in 1986 and set up near the entrance to the mansion of Tower, near Nercwys. The two sets of gates were locally known as "Heaven and Hell"
^Matthews, K. Carden Hall and other parkland buildings 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15-09-10
davies, brothers, bersham, near, wrexham, north, wales, were, family, smiths, active, 18th, century, they, were, particularly, known, their, high, quality, work, wrought, iron, which, several, examples, still, survive, country, homes, churchyards, around, engl. The Davies brothers of Bersham near Wrexham in north Wales were a family of smiths active in the 18th century They were particularly known for their high quality work in wrought iron of which several examples still survive in country homes and churchyards around the England Wales border The White Gates at Leeswood Hall attributed to Robert and John Davies Contents 1 Biography 2 Works by the Davies family 3 Works attributed to Davies family 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesBiography editThe family consisted of Hugh or Huw Davies d 1702 and his sons Robert 1675 1748 and John 1682 1755 who would both go on to be highly regarded smiths there were also another two sons Huw and Thomas and six daughters Anne Magdalen Jane Sarah Elinor and Margaret 1 They worked at the Croes Foel forge in Bersham near Wrexham nbsp Chirk Castle gates 1719 Robert generally considered the most talented of the family may have studied under the great French wrought iron smith Jean Tijou 2 The brothers were also have said to have worked with Robert Bakewell of Derby 1 The will of Hugh Sr dated 13 June 1702 and proved at St Asaph in 1703 left a messuage in Bersham to his wife Eleanor and then to his son Robert along with 7 10s for which he is to instruct my son Thomas in the trade and science of a smith which he the said Robert now professeth 3 Several examples of work known to be by Robert and John survive as well as a handful of items attributed to their father Some of these are of exceptionally high quality a screen and gates known as the White Gates at Leeswood Hall Flintshire has been described as one of the finest of its type in the United Kingdom and has been attributed to the Davies brothers on the basis of distinctive fretwork patterns shared with other of their designs 4 Nikolaus Pevsner described the Davies brothers work as miraculous 5 Works by the Davies family editThe following are linked to the Davies brothers by documentary evidence Gates at Chirk Castle 1719 St Giles Church Wrexham gates 1720 by Robert Davies and chancel gates and choir rail attributed to Hugh Davies late seventeenth century 6 Gates of St Peter s Church Ruthin 1727 Gate of Oswestry Parish Church 1738 Gates of Berwick House near Shrewsbury in place by 1760 by Robert Davies now at Newnham Paddox Monks Kirby Warwickshire 7 Works attributed to Davies family editGates formerly at Stansty Park now at Erddig Hall Robert Davies is known to have made gates for Erddig but they were removed during a subsequent remodelling of the park by William Emes 8 The White Gates and Black Gates Leeswood Hall 9 The Golden Gates Eaton Hall Cheshire Gates of St Mary s Church Eccleston from now demolished Emral Hall near Wrexham Gates at Gwysaney Hall near Sychdyn Gates now at Cholmondeley Castle Gates of Hawkstone Hall Shropshire Gates and railings at the now demolished Carden Hall the gates have now been removed 10 The main gates of St Oswald s Church Malpas were formerly attributed to the brothers but are now considered to be of a later date 11 A smaller gate in the churchyard is however thought to be the work of their father Hugh 12 Gallery edit nbsp The Golden Gates Eaton Hall nbsp Gates of Erddig originally at Stansty Park nbsp Robert Davies gates for St Giles Wrexham nbsp The former gates of Emral Hall now located at St Mary Eccleston CheshireReferences edit a b Davies family of Bersham Welsh Biography Online Hilling J The historic architecture of Wales an introduction University of Wales Press 1976 p 125 ISBN 978 0 7083 0626 0 Myddleton W M Chirk Castle Accounts 1666 1753 Manchester UP 1931 p 144 Ayrton amp Silcock Wrought Iron and Its Decorative Use Courier Dover Publications 2003 p 112 ISBN 978 0 486 42326 5 The Leeswood gates have also been suggested as the work of Bakewell Pevsner N amp Nairn I Surrey v 21 of the Buildings of England Penguin Books 1962 p 363 Ayrton amp Silcock p 62 BERWICK HOUSE Pimhill 1055164 Historic England historicengland org uk Retrieved 2023 07 14 Erddig Archived 2012 04 01 at the Wayback Machine COFLEIN The White Gates are still in situ but the Black Gates were removed by Cadw in 1986 and set up near the entrance to the mansion of Tower near Nercwys The two sets of gates were locally known as Heaven and Hell Matthews K Carden Hall and other parkland buildings Archived 2011 07 08 at the Wayback Machine accessed 15 09 10 Ayrton amp Silcock pp 115 117 Ayrton amp Silcock p 64 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Davies brothers of Bersham amp oldid 1211489117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
