Francis Homfray

FRANCIS HOMFRAY ( 1726 -1798 ), of Wollaston Hall, Worcs., having attained ample means by his success as an iron-master in the counties of Stafford and Worcester, and having two energetic and capable iron-workers as sons, Jeremiah and Samuel (see below), sought an outlet for their further perseverance and enterprise by leasing from Anthony Bacon, Cyfarthfa (q.v.), a mill for boring cannon, a foundry, forges, etc. ( Sept. 1782 ). The sons arrived with a number of workers from the Midlands and for a time all went well and their works were prosperous. But on account of a quarrel with Bacon, they transferred their lease to David Tanner in 1784. The same year the brothers together took a lease of one of the richest iron-ore deposits in the district, and with the financial assistance and advice of their father, and with another brother, THOMAS, as a partner in the undertaking, they erected their furnace and other necessary works at Penydarren, on the banks of the Morlais brook. They turned out from their works, over many years, manufactured iron in large quantities, and of the best quality. A mansion called Penydarren House was built on high ground on the opposite bank of the brook for the use of the partners.

But the brothers had to face many handicaps and inconveniences. Their whole taking was small compared with the huge area of the adjoining Dowlais ironworks . The latter, being built higher up the same stream which supplied water to both, and being the older-established concern, had the first call and command of its use, a most important factor during dry seasons. The Penydarren works had very little coal, and had to take a lease for coal from the Dowlais Co. In another case, on the same plot of land, the Dowlais Co. worked the coal while the Homfray brothers worked the iron-ore. Constant quarrels ensued which led to fierce and costly lawsuits, in which the Penydarren partners were generally the losers.

After many years of co-operation the two brothers, Jeremiah and Samuel, as managing directors of the Penydarren iron-works , sought new fields of enterprise for their superabundant energy.

Other References

• Burke, Bernard, Sir. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed. London : Harrison 1879. Vol I. page 803