Welsh Journals

HISTORY ON THE PAVEMENTS Along the pavements of the older streets in Aberystwyth the drain inspection covers and stop-cock covers bear the names of many of the local ironfounders who made them, the ironmongers who supplied them, and the builders and plumbers who installed them. Many of these firms were family businesses with descendants living in the town today. 'The Eagle Foundry Co.' inscription, for instance, refers to the iron and brass foundry started about 1840 by John Ellis in Northgate Street, on the site of the present DHSS office. The main business was the provision of machinery for the lead mines. An Eagle Foundry water wheel can be seen at the Llywernog mine at Ponterwyd and railings outside 35 North Parade bear the name 'John Ellis Ironfounder' John Ellis was born in 1784 and came from Dolgellau. In Aberystwyth he was a staunch member of Bethel Chapel in Baker Street where he was buried when he died in 1853. The business was carried on by his sons, principally Griffith Ellis, and by 1871 twenty-nine men were employed. When Griffith died in 1875 the foundry continued under the direction of his widow Elizabeth and her sons, but it was soon surpassed by the other foundries in the town. It carried on in a small way until about 1913. Griffith's fourth son, Owen, worked for Green's Cambrian Foundry. He was the father of Alderman R. J. Ellis, Mayor in 1950 and 1964; and through another son, grandfather of Dr. Edward L. Ellis, formerly Senior Lecturer in History at UCW, Aberystwyth. A brother of Owen, Robert Roderick, was grandfather to Mrs. Eluned Eldridge, wife of Councillor Ron Eldridge and President of the Llanbadarn Fawr Womens' Institute. Yet another branch of the family stemmed from one of the original John Ellis's sons, another John. He was manager of the Gas Works in 1851, living at Gas House, Mill Street, but later became a lime kiln owner at Trefechan. One of his grandsons was Griffith Ellis who was Mayor in 1930. Another busy foundry was the Rheidol Foundry, Smithfield (now Park Avenue) started by the partnership of Williams and Metcalfe about 1876. James Metcalfe was born in Oswestry in 1848, and came to Aberystwyth in his early twenties. In 1872 he married Helena Jones, a grocer's daughter of Little Darkgate Street (Eastgate Street). He became a trustee and deacon of the English Congregational Church in Portland Street. He won fame as the inventor of a patent steam injector which was used on many railway engines in Britain and on the Continent. He moved to Romily, Cheshire, and went into partnership with a David Davies. The engineering firm of Davies and Metcalfe produced the first two