My Great-grandfather, Robert Owen, Master Blacksmith's handbuilt competition plough - having been sold about 80 years ago it was bought back today by the family from an auction at Dolgellau Mart, North Wales. The plough was a legend in its own time and won innumerable ploughing competitions in its day. A collector unfortunately turned up forcing the price up, he'd never seen one like it and was keen to have possession - so we had to fork out the price of a new 50D to make sure we won it. Had to smile at the story I heard from the gossip in the farmers' cafe - rumour had it that "five representatives from the firm that made it had come to view it yesterday and were determined to buy it back for the company" - my Mum, Dad, Sister, the Missus and me ;-)

Mr Trefor W. Jones of Cheltenham very kindly travelled over 140 miles to bring me this copper table that my Great-grandfather made as an apprentice blacksmith about 130 years ago. This is Trefor's short background report on the table:

"This Copper Table was bought by Daniel and Annie Jones of Moelfryn Uchaf, Trawsfynydd, later of Cefndeuddwr, Ganllwyd at the auction of the household good after the death of Evan Jones, Gwynfynydd Farm, at Tyn-y-Groes Hotel, Ganllwyd around 1920.

The table was made by a blacksmith by the name of Robert Owen of Trawsfynydd, that worked at Gwynfynydd Gold Mine at the time, on the instruction of the Gold Mine manager as a gift to his friend Evan Jones who lived at Gwynfynydd Farm nearby. This table was made to match the copper kettle that Evan Jones had at the farm.

Daniel and Annie bought the table for the sum of £1:10:0 (approx. £32 in today's value), they also bought the copper kettle for £1."

Robin's mother, Ellen Owen (1838 - 1915) was a renowned herbalist. The "Old Man" (Artemisia abrotanum) that she used for various remedies still grows in my grandmother's garden. Probably one of her less savory cures was to boil a certain red-spotted slug, this concoction then had to be consumed immediately, a kill or cure solution no doubt!

He made quite a name for himself as a plough-maker and used to take part in ploughing competitions, as illustrated in this photo taken in Llanuwchlyn around 1920. Holding the plough is Tom "Fronoleu", 4th from the left is Gruffydd Owen (Robin's nephew), 5th is W.R. Williams, Hendre, then Robin. Holding the horses are John and Robert Hywel Edwards, Llwyn Mawr, Parc.

In addition to the smithying work, Robin also owned a threshing machine that he used to hire out. This bronze plaque used to be attached to the side of the thresher and was found in the 1960's by a little girl playing in what was by then the ruins of the smithy.

All his bills were made out in Welsh.

Not all bills were settled with cash. One cash-strapped farmer gave Robin this solid silver cup as payment - aptly, one that he had won in a ploughing competition!

Railings and gates - an example of Robin's iron-working skills.

Note the attention to health and safety details displayed by creating the bulbous feature to the rail tops - far safer than the usual "arrow-heads" found on railings of the same period. This also provides an asthetically pleasing ornamental finish to the ironwork.

Examples of Robin's gates

Further examples of Robin's work

Further examples of Robin's work

Close-up detail of gate closer.

An unfinished horseshoe, from its size it was probably for a pony rather than a horse.

So which way around should a horseshoe be fixed to a door frame? Its up to you...if you fix it the same way as the photo, good luck will be held within it for you. However, place it the opposite way around and good luck will pour onto anybody passing under it!

Frost nails were used during icy conditions, the two front nails were removed from the horseshoe and replaced with frost nails. These ensured that the precious draught horses would not slip and potentially break a leg.

Robin and his wife Kate in their back garden. Kate had the humiliating experience of having to wear the "Welsh Not" (Welsh Not Spoken) whilst at school - this was a wooden plaque that any child caught speaking Welsh, rather than English, at school had to wear. More about the wicked Welsh Not: http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/neighbourhood-and-community/language-use/welsh-not/

Also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Not

Robin's brother, Wmffra, had two sons namely Humphrey (on the lower chair) and Isaac (on the higher chair), their cousin Willie is standing. They too were blacksmiths and as can be seen fought in the 1st World War.

This is the smithy where Robin's brother, Wmffra set-up business. Note the horseshoes on the doors.

This garage was intended originally as an agricultural equipment shop. Robin wisely looked to diversifying his business knowing that the age of the horse was rapidly drawing to a close.

All that's left of Robin's smithy, just a few stones denoting where the building once stood - a hive of activity with farmers from far and wide bringing their horses here to be shod....all gone...

This was Robin's home at one time, but he later converted it into a store. It was here that he kept his penny-farthing bike.

To finish this tribute gallery to Robin Go', the words of R.J. Roberts of Gellilydan summing up his memories of Robin: "Bob the blacksmith from Traws was the best by far. He's a credit to the area. Bob and his family in the Stryd Fain smithy - sadly we'll never see their like again."