Footprints - Wealth & Power
The Williams Wynns of Wynnstay, Ruabon and the Myddeltons of Chirk castle were the local powerbrokers in the 18th century. They monopolised official jobs and owned huge estates. They competed, often unfairly, to represent the county and the borough in Parliament. In 1741 William Myddelton went to prison for rigging the vote in favour of his relative.
Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 1692- 1749.
© National Museum Wales
The first Sir Watkin Williams Wynn was a Jacobite. He harassed the local nonconformists, even imprisoning one preacher in his kennels at Wynnstay. The second Sir Watkin, in contrast, was a man of the arts. He was friend and patron to the likes of David Garrick (actor), Robert Adam (architect) and Sir Joshua Reynolds (portrait painter). Sir Watkin knew how to live in style. His 21st birthday party in 1770 included a dinner for 15,000 guests in Wynnstay Park.
John Parry, the blind harpist of Ruabon by William Parry, John parry was Sir Watkin's official harpist.
© National Museum Wales
I am writing in the dark
and Mr Parry,
ye famous harpist,
is playing like an angel.
The third Sir Watkin loved farming and fighting. He raised a volunteer army, the Ancient British Fencible Cavalry, to fight in Ireland. His troops were called Sir Watkin's Lambs or the Bloody Britons by their critics.
Together the three Sir Watkins symbolised the dominance of the gentry in Wales
John Mellor of Erddig's coachboy
© The National Trust
Stop, Reader, and poor Vonkelly condole
Whose swarthy outside hid a white, bright soule.
In India born, from whence she hither come
To take her rest under this cold Welsh tombe.
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