Sketty's Grand Old Man
During 1976, the centenary year of the Methodist church in Sketty (popularly known as Sketty Wesley) I was given a photograph said to be that of George Blundell, one of Sketty's blacksmiths in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Recently I have been able to confirm this in conversation with his grand daughter, Mrs Olive Thomas of Belgrave Court. The photograph is reproduced with this article. It bears the inscription "The Village Blacksmith" and is a commercially produced postcard in A and G. Taylor's "Reality Series" (Swansea and London).
This in itself suggests that Blundell was a significant figure. Norman L. Thomas in his Story of Swansea Districts and Villages has this to say about him — "A strong force in 19th century Sketty methodism was, among others, George Blundell, village blacksmith. He was converted at a temperance meeting held by Rev. Chas. Cook in 1859, and afterwards became an ardent temperance worker within the neighbourhood.
With the coming of the Good Templar Movement, George Blundell worked in close cooperation with Mrs Welby, sister of Mr Dillwyn and an aunt of Sir J.T.D. Llewellyn. Although a nonconformist he became chairman of the Anglican temperance movement as well as the president of the Sketty Temperance Union. When he died in January 1907, the village's registered public houses had been reduced in number from four to two."
An obituary to Blundell, headed "Death of Sketty's Grand Old Man" in the South Wales Daily Post records that he was born in Sketty in 1825 the son of John Henry Vivian's coachman. As a page he rode with his master from Singleton to London and back for the coronation of Queen Victoria.
His childhood days were spent in the family home on the spot where Sketty Church (St. Paul's) now stands. After little schooling he served his apprenticeship in Swansea and from there went to the Vivians' works at Taibach. In 1843 he returned to Sketty and opened a smithy on his own account where for many years without opposition he was the village blacksmith - a title which stuck to him.
The Village Blacksmith postcard. October 24, 1906. Restored by Patrick Mulder.
The writer of the obituary adds "in his early manhood George took too freely of the intoxicating cup", and then goes on to praise his work as a temperance advocate. George was baptised at St. Mary's, Swansea on 10th May 1826 (beneath the date the vicar has recorded "born April 12" which may mean that he was born in 1826 and not 1825). His father's occupation is shown as "coachman at Marino" - J.H. Vivian's residence.
In the household return for the census of 1841, the Blundell family were living at a "Vivian's Esq. Lodge". Father, Robert, born in Upham, Hampshire was described as an agricultural labourer but in 1851, then a widower, he is recorded as resident coachman at Rhyd yr Helig House. It therefore seems very likely that the Blundells were moved from their cottage for the building of St. Pauls Church in 1850.
By 1861, George was head of his own household at Caebank Cottages with his wife Mary and five children — increasing to seven by 1871. Blundell's smithy was on the site opposite Sketty Public Library, now occupied by a car repair firm. It was known as the Old Forge and continued to be used for some smithy purposes up to the late nineteen-fifties.
Mrs. Thomas recalls her mother telling her that the Misses Vivian used to call for Blundell to go to the stables at their residence and that he also looked after Sir Robert Morris's horses. Obviously, George Blundell's main interest, apart from work and family, were chapel and the temperance movement.
The Swansea and Gower Wesleyan Methodist Church Record of May 1903 contains an article by Blundell on early Methodism in Swansea. Referring to his own spiritual life he wrote — "I was not so faithful as I ought to have been — company led me astray. I left the village for six years but thank God I am back again in the fold for over forty years and by His help I will remain to the end, which cannot be long. All the old people are gone - I am the only one left".
His role in the Sketty temperance movement was marked by a village meeting and concert in November 1904 when he was presented with an illuminated address by Iltid Thomas Esq., of Glanmor. Earlier, in 1884, another of Sketty's gentlefolk, Mrs. Crow Richardson of Pantgwyn, gave him a copy of Dean Farrer's Life of Christ inscribed - "as a mark of esteem for his unwearied zeal and faithful efforts during many years of temperance work".
Blundell spoke a great deal at temperance meetings in Swansea; indeed, he should have spoken to the Total Abstinence Society in the Ragged School on the Saturday evening before he died. His grand-daughter says that he used to walk from Sketty regularly to meetings at such venues as the Strand Mission.
In the Golden Jubilee Souvenir of Sketty Wesley a writer remembers with what enthusiasm Blundell was greeted at the great Saturday night meetings in the Albert Hall in the early eighties when there were often two thousand present. "He was as much at home on that platform telling his humorous and pathetic stories, and making his stirring appeals, as he would have been talking to a little group in his smithy".
The respect in which the "Village Blacksmith" was held, was finally shown at his funeral. The procession extended from his daughter's house, 15 Margaret Terrace (now 86 Vivian Road) to the Bethel graveyard. Headed by the Band of Hope it was met by the Vicar of Sketty, Rev G.E. Lillington, at Sketty Cross.
When the funeral rites were being performed, the muffled bells of St. Paul's were rung; the West Wales Bellringers Association having suggested to the vicar that this should be done. Referring to the peal, the Daily Post reporter noted "this is the only time, I believe, when such a tribute has been paid to a nonconformist".
This article was written by G. P. Neilson and was taken from volume 34 Gower journal of the Gower Society, which was originally published in 1983. We'd like to thank Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales for digitally archiving the publication and allowing us to reproduce it here.
