hbosch1946

By hbosch1946

Unusual memorial

This memorial to Francis Crawshay and his relatives stands in the graveyard of St Martin's church, Brasted Kent. It says that he was from Riverhead, which is nearby, and Treforest in South Wales. He was part of the Crawshay family who were iron masters in Merthyr Tydfil in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Mail Online describes him as an eccentric and unusually humane for his time. He chose not to live in the family house (Cyfartha Castle?) preferring a small cottage nearby. "He became interested in druids and built his own druidic circle near the house, while he left following the closure of the Hirwaun and Treforest works in 1859 and 1867, to retire Kent where it was said he enjoyed walking around in nautical dress."

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