Preece Family Tree

Thomas Griffiths, Maesgwyn

While, apart from the very early days, a rise from the ranks to coalownership was comparatively rare, the same was not true of a rise from the ranks to a professional managership in the heydey of the mining valleys. Here, the progression from doorboy to manager was still comparatively common. Philip Jones, for example, who became manager of that vast enterprise the Albion Colliery Cilfynydd, had started work at a doorboy when seven years old. John Thomas Fernbank started work underground when nine years old, became a fireman, then achieved a manager's certificate before becoming manager and agent of Standard Collieries Ynyshir. But Thomas Griffiths's was the most remarkable of such careers. He achieved enormous influence on the life of the valleys, in a wide variety of rules.

He was born in 1849 at Bettws near Bridgend. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Hafod, just south-east of Porth. When he left school at the age of 11 in 1860, Griffiths started in Insole's Cymmer Colliery as a doorboy. Thereafter, he worked for ten years at the coalface, becoming a fireman in 1869. He had already determined to better himself, however, and to that end undertook part-time study, becoming a qualified mining engineer and securing a manager's certificate by examination.

In the early 1870s, he moved away from the area, but returned to Cymmer in 1875 as engineer for the sinking of the Cymmer Old Pit to the steam-coal levels. Within two years he was the manager of the Cymmer collieries. His managerial qualification had served him in good stead, because the Mines Regulation Act 1872 had made this a stipulation for new managers.

By the 1880s, he was heavily involved in the whole Insole mining business, of which he had become a director. While continuing to serve them as a mining engineer (it was he who sank their new pit at Abertridwr, the Windsor Colliery, in the 1890s), he was also involved in their strategic thinking. Meanwhile, in Porth, he rapidly gained the reputation of one of the leading figures in local society. He lived in a large house called Maesgwyn. For over 40 years he was a close friend and associate of W. H. Mathais, and was part of the Welsh-speaking society which was at the centre of Porth life. In 1882, he became a member of the Ystradyfodwg Urban Sanitary Authority, of which he was to remain a member, under its various guises culminating in the Rhondda Urban District Council, for about 40 years, and on which he was to exert enormous influence.

His role had long exceeded that of a manager and became in part that of an owner. His influence stretched throughout south Wales. By 1911, he was president of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Coalowners Association, and playing a leading part in the strike negotiatons of that year. He also became a life member of the South Wales Institute of Engineers.

In 1924, he retired to the Gower, where he died three years later at the age of 78.

Mr. Thomas Griffiths, Cymmer.

Elected President of Coalowners Association.

At the annual meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Coalowners' Association on Tuesday, Mr. Thomas Griffiths (Messrs. Insoles and Sons) was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year.

Mr. Griffiths started life as a collier in 1850 at the Cymmer Colliery, and worked his way up to fireman, agent, and director of the company. During the whole of that time he has been connected with the same concern, which to a large extent owes its prestige to his energy and skill. It is a curious fact that Mr. Griffiths who won fame for daring rescue work on occasions of great disasters in the Welsh coalfield, was so affected by a catastrophe which befell the colliery at which he was working in 1856 that he then resolved to have nothing more to do with underground work. For a few years he was engaged at a fitters' shop, but he returned to his old avocation, and applied himself with characteristic energy and zeal to the acquisition of a thorough knowledge of mining matters, and in 1870 he was appointed manager, subsequently agent, and eventually a director of Messrs. Insole's. He is admitted to have been instrumental in settling more disputes than any other man on the owners' side - a distinction due no doubt to his great and unique experience. Ho has played a prominent part in public life, was a member of the old Rhondda Local Board and is still a member of the District Council, of which he was chairman 1897-98. Since 1871 he has been, a leading figure in rescue work, and many men undoubtedly owe their lives to his courage and resourcefulness in times of great emergency. In 1906 he was presented in recognition of his public services, with an oil painting, illuminated address, and a purse of gold. He has been a member of the Conciliation Board for years, and since the Eight Hours Act came into operation he has been the chairman of the Overtime Committee.