Watkin George (1759-1822) was an carpenter, engineer and ironmaster from Trevethin in Monmouthshire. He rose from humble beginnings as a carpenter to have a major influence on ironworks at Cyfartha and Pontypool and is responsible for the design of early cast-iron bridges.
Little is known about George's early life except that he was born in Trevethin around 1759 and that his father, who was also called Watkin George, died in 1787.[1]
CareerEdit
Again, little is known about George's early career but from about 1790 to 1794 he was possibly working on iron girder bridges over the Glamorganshire Canal.[1][2] He was made a partner in Cyfartha ironworks in 1792 by the owner Richard Crawshay. The works expanded over the next few years, developing Henry Cort's puddling process, to become the largest ironworks in the world by 1806.[1][2]
During this period Watkin George also constructed or designed Pont-y-Cafnau (1792-93 - an iron tramway bridge and aqueduct), Gwynne water aqueduct (1793-96 - a timber trestle structure 185m long, part of which ran over Pont-y-Cafnau), Melingriffith water pump[a] (1793-1795), Aeolus waterwheel (1793-97 - a 50 ft diameter cast iron waterwheel), the Merthyr Bridge (1799-1800 - a single shallow arch of cast iron), and Ynysfach Ironworks (1801 - the two blast furnaces bore his initials).[1][2][5]
Around 1805 Watkin George left Cyfartha to become a partner at Pontypool Ironworks where he undertook a number of changes including the demolition of a wire works at Pontymoile, a new tinplate works and waterwheel at Pontymoile and two tinplate works at Lower Mill, near Pontymoile.[1] After George left Cyfartha he was described later (1807) as having ..."lately quitted the concern with from thirty to forty thousand pounds in his pocket. This is one among the most remarkable instances of wealth acquired by the untutored ingenuity of the natural faculties."[6] The partnership with Capel Hanbury Leigh at Pontypool proved successful and after the first two years George received £8,300 in profits.[7]
In 1811 George submitted plans for a bridge at Chepstow. The bridge was eventually built to a design by John Rastrick in 1816.[8]
Family lifeEdit
On 20 September 1789 George married Anne Jenkins (1760-1845, also from Trevethin) at Llanhilleth.[1][5] They had two or three children, Hannah (1793) Anne (1794) and Watkin (1795).[1][5] Watkin George died on 10 August 1822 and is buried at St Cadoc's Church, Trevethin.
^Until recently John Rennie was assumed to be the designer of the waterwheel. Although Rennie was consulted on the waterwheel there is little evidence that Rennie's advice was heeded and the design is that of Watkin George.[3][4]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefgh"Watkin George". engineering timelines. London. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"Melingriffith Water Pump". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ abc"Watkin George". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^Malkin, Benjamin Heath (1807). The Scenery, Antiquities and Biography of South Wales. Vol. I. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme. pp. 207–8. Retrieved 1 May 2016 – via Google Books.
^Barber, Chris (1999). "The Hanbury Family and Pontypool Park". Eastern Valley - The Story of Torfaen (1st ed.). Llanfoist: Blorenge Books. p. 72. ISBN1-872730-23-X. OCLC 43459623.
^Burrows, John (2015). "Chepstow Bridge" (PDF). Welcome to Chepstow. Chepstow Town Council. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
watkin, george, 1759, 1822, carpenter, engineer, ironmaster, from, trevethin, monmouthshire, rose, from, humble, beginnings, carpenter, have, major, influence, ironworks, cyfartha, pontypool, responsible, design, early, cast, iron, bridges, contents, early, li. Watkin George 1759 1822 was an carpenter engineer and ironmaster from Trevethin in Monmouthshire He rose from humble beginnings as a carpenter to have a major influence on ironworks at Cyfartha and Pontypool and is responsible for the design of early cast iron bridges Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Family life 4 Legacy 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life EditLittle is known about George s early life except that he was born in Trevethin around 1759 and that his father who was also called Watkin George died in 1787 1 Career EditAgain little is known about George s early career but from about 1790 to 1794 he was possibly working on iron girder bridges over the Glamorganshire Canal 1 2 He was made a partner in Cyfartha ironworks in 1792 by the owner Richard Crawshay The works expanded over the next few years developing Henry Cort s puddling process to become the largest ironworks in the world by 1806 1 2 During this period Watkin George also constructed or designed Pont y Cafnau 1792 93 an iron tramway bridge and aqueduct Gwynne water aqueduct 1793 96 a timber trestle structure 185m long part of which ran over Pont y Cafnau Melingriffith water pump a 1793 1795 Aeolus waterwheel 1793 97 a 50 ft diameter cast iron waterwheel the Merthyr Bridge 1799 1800 a single shallow arch of cast iron and Ynysfach Ironworks 1801 the two blast furnaces bore his initials 1 2 5 Around 1805 Watkin George left Cyfartha to become a partner at Pontypool Ironworks where he undertook a number of changes including the demolition of a wire works at Pontymoile a new tinplate works and waterwheel at Pontymoile and two tinplate works at Lower Mill near Pontymoile 1 After George left Cyfartha he was described later 1807 as having lately quitted the concern with from thirty to forty thousand pounds in his pocket This is one among the most remarkable instances of wealth acquired by the untutored ingenuity of the natural faculties 6 The partnership with Capel Hanbury Leigh at Pontypool proved successful and after the first two years George received 8 300 in profits 7 In 1811 George submitted plans for a bridge at Chepstow The bridge was eventually built to a design by John Rastrick in 1816 8 Family life EditOn 20 September 1789 George married Anne Jenkins 1760 1845 also from Trevethin at Llanhilleth 1 5 They had two or three children Hannah 1793 Anne 1794 and Watkin 1795 1 5 Watkin George died on 10 August 1822 and is buried at St Cadoc s Church Trevethin Legacy EditPont y Cafnau and Melingriffith Water Pump both survive and are scheduled monuments Pont y Cafnau is also a Grade II listed building 9 10 The Iron Bridge at Merthyr was dismantled in 1963 The remaining parts are stored at Cyfarthfa Castle 1 Notes Edit Until recently John Rennie was assumed to be the designer of the waterwheel Although Rennie was consulted on the waterwheel there is little evidence that Rennie s advice was heeded and the design is that of Watkin George 3 4 References Edit a b c d e f g h Watkin George engineering timelines London Retrieved 1 May 2016 a b c Chrimes Mike 2002 Skempton Alec ed George Watkin p 247 ISBN 0 7277 2939 X Retrieved 1 May 2016 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Malaws B A 12 August 2005 1981 Melingriffith Waterpump National Monuments Record of Wales NMRW Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales RCAHMW NPRN 34441 Retrieved 1 May 2016 via coflein online database of the NMRW a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a External link in code class cs1 code via code help Melingriffith Water Pump Grace s Guide Retrieved 1 May 2016 a b c Watkin George Grace s Guide Retrieved 1 May 2016 Malkin Benjamin Heath 1807 The Scenery Antiquities and Biography of South Wales Vol I Longman Hurst Rees and Orme pp 207 8 Retrieved 1 May 2016 via Google Books Barber Chris 1999 The Hanbury Family and Pontypool Park Eastern Valley The Story of Torfaen 1st ed Llanfoist Blorenge Books p 72 ISBN 1 872730 23 X OCLC 43459623 Burrows John 2015 Chepstow Bridge PDF Welcome to Chepstow Chepstow Town Council Retrieved 1 May 2016 Pont y Cafnau Historic Environment Record HER Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust GGAT GGAT PRN 01090m Retrieved 1 May 2016 via archwilio online database of the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a External link in code class cs1 code via code help Melingriffith Waterpump Historic Environment Record HER Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust GGAT GGAT PRN 00743s Retrieved 1 May 2016 via archwilio online database of the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a External link in code class cs1 code via code help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Watkin George amp oldid 1068452850, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
