Elizabeth Watkin-Jones
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Watkin-Jones was a Welsh
children's book author, who wrote in the Welsh language
.
, Caernarfonshire as Elizabeth Parry, the only daughter of Jane and Henry Parry. Henry Parry was a sea captain who drowned in Iquique
harbour in Chile without seeing his daughter. Watkin-Jones was educated in the school in Nefyn, Pwllheli county school, and in the Normal College, Bangor. She became an infants teacher and taught in several schools, in South and North Wales, including Aberdare
, Onllwyn
, Porthmadog
, Trefriw
and Nefyn . In February 1916 she married John Watkin-Jones, who was also a school teacher. After World War I, she lived for a short time in Merthyr
before returning to Nefyn in 1920 after her husband was appointed headteacher there. She died in 1966 and was cremated at Colwyn Bay
where her ashes were scattered.
for stories, novels and plays for children. She contributed to several Welsh language magazines, including Tywysydd y Plant, Trysorfa'r Plant (The Children's Treasury), Y Winllan (The Vineyard), Cymru'r Plant, Yr Athro, and especially to the comic Hwyl.
Watkin-Jones wrote five books of short plays for children, including Onesimus (1947) and Pwt a Moi (1953). She also wrote seven novels or historical stories, all for children, between 1939 and 1955, her personal favourite being Plant y Mynachdy (1939). All her novels, with the exception of Y Dryslwyn (1947), were set in the town of Nefyn.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
children's book author, who wrote in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.
Life history
Watkin-Jones was born in NefynNefyn
Nefyn is a small town and community on the north west coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 2,619. Welsh is the first language of almost 80% of its inhabitants. The A497 road terminates in the town centre.-History:...
, Caernarfonshire as Elizabeth Parry, the only daughter of Jane and Henry Parry. Henry Parry was a sea captain who drowned in Iquique
Iquique
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Atacama Desert and the Pampa del Tamarugal. It had a population of 216,419 as of the 2002 census...
harbour in Chile without seeing his daughter. Watkin-Jones was educated in the school in Nefyn, Pwllheli county school, and in the Normal College, Bangor. She became an infants teacher and taught in several schools, in South and North Wales, including Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, Onllwyn
Onllwyn
Onllwyn is a small village in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, near Seven Sisters.-History:First developed by the Romans, local village Banwen is confined to the Roman Road of Sarn Helen. There are two Roman forts and the remains of a Roman Road within the community.Legend has it that St Patrick was born...
, Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, Trefriw
Trefriw
Trefriw is a village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. The parish population in 2001 was 924....
and Nefyn . In February 1916 she married John Watkin-Jones, who was also a school teacher. After World War I, she lived for a short time in Merthyr
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
before returning to Nefyn in 1920 after her husband was appointed headteacher there. She died in 1966 and was cremated at Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
where her ashes were scattered.
Writing career
Watkin-Jones first wrote stories in the English language for children, published in children's publications such as Chicks' Own and Fairyland Tales. She then turned her hand to writing in Welsh, and between 1939 and 1949 she won many awards at the National EisteddfodNational Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
for stories, novels and plays for children. She contributed to several Welsh language magazines, including Tywysydd y Plant, Trysorfa'r Plant (The Children's Treasury), Y Winllan (The Vineyard), Cymru'r Plant, Yr Athro, and especially to the comic Hwyl.
Watkin-Jones wrote five books of short plays for children, including Onesimus (1947) and Pwt a Moi (1953). She also wrote seven novels or historical stories, all for children, between 1939 and 1955, her personal favourite being Plant y Mynachdy (1939). All her novels, with the exception of Y Dryslwyn (1947), were set in the town of Nefyn.
Written works
- Plant y Mynachdy (1939)
- Luned Bengoch (1946)
- Y Cwlwm Cêl (1947)
- Y Dryslwyn (1947)
- Esyllt (1951)
- Lowri in the collection Storïau Ias a Chyffro (1951)
- Lois (1955)