Philip Thomas

A gravestone marking Philip Thomas's place of burial today stands in Glyntaff Cemetery. However, a gravestone intended for him also stands on Pontypridd Common. The story behind the stone that overlooks his workplace on the common has become part of the folklore history of Pontypridd.

When Thomas died in 1840, Glyn-taf Church was newly built, and he was the first person to be buried there. The fact there was no stone on his grave was of great concern to Francis Crawshay, the famous resident of Forest House and Manager of Treforest Tinplate Works. Therefore, he took it upon himself to erect a gravestone in Glyn-taf Church. However, Thomas' family were displeased with the ambiguity of the words written on it. Indeed, they were so angry that they made a hole in the graveyard wall, moved the gravestone and discarded it in a nearby field. The eccentric Dr William Price found the gravestone, and with Crawshay's help, he arranged for it to be erected in its current location near cylch yr orsedd (the gorsedd circle). The name, Philip Thomas, has been removed.

This photograph shows the stone located on Pontypridd Common

The stone reads:

STRANGER HALT
I am placed here to commemorate
the virtue and abilities of
who after managing the chain work
on my right hand side for the space of
21 years much to the benefit of all
mankind died and was buried herein
1840
Aged 69