Gwallter Mechain
Encyclopedia
Walter Davies commonly known by his bardic name
Gwallter Mechain ("Walter of Mechain
"), was a Welsh
poet, editor, translator, antiquary and Anglican
clergyman.
Davies was born at Y Wern, near Tomen y Castell, Llanfechain
, Montgomeryshire
. He was educated at the village school and was to become a cooper
, but with the help of the poet Owain Myfyr went to All Souls College, Oxford
, graduating in 1795. He took Holy Orders
and became a Church of England
curate in the parish of Meifod
, Montgomeryshire, moving in 1799 to Ysbyty Ifan
, Denbighshire where he met and married his wife Mary. He went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge
, gaining his MA in 1803. He was awarded the living of Llanwyddelan and became vicar of Manafon in Montgomeryshire where he remained for 30 years and did most of his literary work.
In 1797 he had begun a survey of the agriculture and economy of North Wales
, which was published in two volumes in 1810 and 1813. This was followed in 1815 by a report on South Wales
in collaboration with Iolo Morganwg
(Edward Williams). He contributed to Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833).
In 1837, he moved to the parish
of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
, where he died in 1849 and lies buried in the parish churchyard.
Davies was closely associated with the London Welsh, especially the Gwyneddigion Society
. He was a keen supporter of eisteddfodau, where he won many prizes, and he played an important role in establishing provincial eisteddfodic societies.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
Gwallter Mechain ("Walter of Mechain
Mechain
Mechain was a medieval cantref in the Kingdom of Powys. It lay almost in the centre of the kingdom, bordering with cantref Caereinion to the south, the two cwmwds of the cantref of Mochnant to the north, and part of the cantref of Deuparth and the cwmwds of Deuddwr and Ystrad Marchell to the...
"), was a Welsh
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...
poet, editor, translator, antiquary and Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
clergyman.
Davies was born at Y Wern, near Tomen y Castell, Llanfechain
Llanfechain
Llanfechain is a small village located in northern Powys, mid-Wales, between Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain. It has a population of approximately 600 people....
, Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
. He was educated at the village school and was to become a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
, but with the help of the poet Owain Myfyr went to All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
, graduating in 1795. He took Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
and became a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
curate in the parish of Meifod
Meifod
Meifod is a small village 7 miles north-west of Welshpool in Powys, mid Wales, on the A495 road and located in the valley of the River Vyrnwy. The River Banwy has a confluence with the Vyrnwy approximately two miles to the west of the village....
, Montgomeryshire, moving in 1799 to Ysbyty Ifan
Ysbyty Ifan
Ysbyty Ifan is a small but historic village in Conwy County Borough, north Wales. Nearly all the population speak Welsh.-History:Ysbyty Ifan, until 1189, was known as Dôl Gynwal. Then, it came to the attention of the Knights of St John, who set up a hospice...
, Denbighshire where he met and married his wife Mary. He went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, gaining his MA in 1803. He was awarded the living of Llanwyddelan and became vicar of Manafon in Montgomeryshire where he remained for 30 years and did most of his literary work.
In 1797 he had begun a survey of the agriculture and economy of North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, which was published in two volumes in 1810 and 1813. This was followed in 1815 by a report on South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
in collaboration with Iolo Morganwg
Iolo Morganwg
Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg , was an influential Welsh antiquarian, poet, collector, and literary forger. He was widely considered a leading collector and expert on medieval Welsh literature in his day, but after his death it was revealed that he had forged a...
(Edward Williams). He contributed to Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833).
In 1837, he moved to the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is a village in Powys, mid Wales. Population 1,470 , Welsh-speaking 65% .The village is best known as the former parish of William Morgan, then a vicar who first translated the Bible into Welsh and later rose to become a Bishop at Llandaff Cathedral and St...
, where he died in 1849 and lies buried in the parish churchyard.
Davies was closely associated with the London Welsh, especially the Gwyneddigion Society
Gwyneddigion Society
The Gwyneddigion Society is a literary and cultural society founded in London, England by Welsh scholars to further and preserve knowledge of their home country.-History:...
. He was a keen supporter of eisteddfodau, where he won many prizes, and he played an important role in establishing provincial eisteddfodic societies.
External links
- Welsh Biography Online
- Gwallter Mechain and Iolo Morgannwg (University of Wales)
- Gwallter Mechain's reports for the Board of Agriculture
- Notes made by Walter Davies "Gwallter Mechain" (1761-1849) on his journey in Monmouthshire, Brecknockshire and Glamorganshire on behalf of the Board of Agriculture in 1811