JONES, GRIFFITH (Glan Menai; 1836 - 1906), schoolmaster and author

Born at Llanfairfechan, Caernarfonshire, 15 March 1836, in a cottage where Castle Buildings now stand. He was educated at the Church school and at the Training College, Carmarthen. He became a schoolmaster successively at Llanddeusant (Anglesey), Llanfrothen, Aberaeron (twice), and Llandybïe. He then bought a house at Caernarvon, where he settled.

He had shown literary ability from his boyhood days and, after coming to Caernarvon, began to write regularly for the press. He was appointed local representative of Messrs. Blackie, the well-known publishers, and went to live at Llanfairfechan, where he died 21 October 1906; he was buried in the parish churchyard. Towards the end of his life he was in reduced circumstances, but was given a national testimonial and a Civil List pension of £30 a year in recognition of his services to the literature of Wales.

Glan Menai was a keen eisteddfodwr and won a number of important prizes in the eisteddfodau of those days. He published several books, e.g. a novel Hywel Wyn (1861), Enwogion Sir Aberteifi (1868), Caneuon (1886), Cyfystyron y Gymraeg (1892), Traethawd Bywgraffyddol a Beirniadol ar Edmwnd Prys (1899), Guide to Llanfairfechan (1901), etc. He also left an autobiography with his daughter in London, but that has disappeared.

Author

• Reverend Gomer Morgan Roberts, (1904 - 1993)

Sources

• Y Geninen, March 1909, 35-8
• G. M. Roberts, Hanes Plwyf Llandybïe, etc (Cardiff 1939), 242
• T. H. Lewis, The History of Llandybïe National School, 17

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733097

Published date: 1959

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