via The Iron Masters of Merthyr- Fact and Fiction.
Graham is a very popular and gifted public speaker and his subject matters never fail to grab his audience. After holding a very successful session on Welsh Legends and Myths last year, he’s back at the Llandeilo Lit Fest with a fascinating subject:
The Iron Masters of Merthyr- Fact and Fiction. – Saturday April 28th 15:00 Angel Inn
In the 18th Century five men created the biggest industrial city civilisation had ever seen. They were the Iron Masters, masters of metal and men. Their cannons saved a kingdom, forged the greatest empire in the world and changed the history of the human race.
Merthyr Tydfil, a town where the furnaces burned day and night, the sun seldom pierced the soot filled sky and the Iron Masters ruled without pity.
Nye Vaughn, a humble farm boy from Llangadog, walked to Merthyr to find his destiny, unaware that a war was coming which would engulf the known world and make bold men rich. To fight Bonaparte, Britain needed cannons, thousands of them. Vaughn built the largest foundry of them all and made his fortune but, when the world changed, the iron behemoth he constructed turned on him.
Author Graham Watkins surprises and entertains with the real stories behind his Welsh historical novel ‘The Iron Masters’.
Yn y 18fed Ganrif creodd pum dyn y ddinas ddiwylliannol fwyaf a welodd wareiddiad erioed. Nhw oedd y Meistri Haearn, meistri ar fetel a dynion. Achubodd eu gynnau mawrion deyrnas, creu’r ymerodraeth fwyaf yn y byd a newid hanes dynol ryw .
Roedd Merthyr Tudful yn dref lle’r oedd y ffwrnesi’n llosgi ddydd a nos a’r haul yn methu torri trwy’r caddug yn yr awyr a lle’r oedd y Meistri Haearn yn rheoli’n ddidrugaredd.
Cerddodd Nye Vaughn, crwt fferm o Langadog, i Ferthyr i chwilio am ei ffortiwn heb wybod fod rhyfel ar fin dod y byddai’n traflyncu’r byd a chreu cyfoeth i ddynion dewr. Er mwyn ymladd yn erbyn Bonaparte roedd angen gynnau mawrion, miloedd ohonynt. Adeiladodd Vaughn y ffowndri fwyaf oll a gwnaeth ei ffortiwn ond, wrth i’r byd newid, fe drodd y behemoth a greodd arno.
Mae’r awdur Graham Watkins yn diddori ac yn synnu gyda’r straeon gwir sydd tu ôl i’w nofel hanesyddol ‘The Iron Masters’.
writerchristophfischer 
Thanks Christoph, After I wrote my memoir ‘My Gentle War’ about evacuation to Merthyr, I read a fair bit about the coal and iron industry in the area and was intrigued about a widow who was nicknamed “Coal Queen”” as she carried on the hard business after her husband died. I seriously wondered how long it would be before someone wrote a book about it.Good for Graham Watkins!. And good for you too. You certainly keep busy and are to be congratulated on your work output. I’ll get round to reading one of your books one of these days (also very busy!) Best wishes.
Thanks Joy. Best of luck with your writing, and likewise, I need to get round to your books sometime soon.
It does sound like a fascinating topic, Christoph. I’m sure Graham’s presentation will be one of the highlights of the event. Hugs all around.
Thanks Teagan. Happy Sunday ❤