My Grt Grandfather Edwin Sprake was Manager in the Iron Sorting Department at Bleanafon Iron & Steel Works 1840 -1870 His daughter Gwenillian born 1863 married William Flint of Middleton By Wirksworth a Steam Crane Driver and Shunter at his family quarry Killer Bros Hopton Wood Stone Edwin was born in Scotland of Flemish Huguenot origin gaining work at Blaenagon when many hands were recruited from all area of Grt Britain

HIs sons all worked in Coal mines in Ebbw Vale and The Rhondda Edwin married Leah Anne Williams of Trevinith
but soon after my Grandmother was born Leah died and Edwin remarried Anne Fowler nee Dando
My Grand mother did not get on with her new step mother and went to live with her Uncle Rev Thomas at Clifton Street Aberdare where he was a part time Baptist Minister and Pit Deputy at Aberdare Colliery

Grandmother was before marriage a Governess to the family of Lord Llangattock of The Hendre Monmouth who was a fore bare of Charles Rolls who with Henry Royce founded Rolls Royce My fathers cousin Abraham William was a Chaeuffer to the Rolls family he also a Test Driver when Rolls Royce used Greenhill Wirksworth as a Test Hill for their cars..

William Flint was killed DEc 5th 1905 at Killer Bros Quarry when the dace collapsed burying him under tons of stone and dust His son Harry Sprake Flint was my father born 1894 he a Master Grocer at Middleton and Liberal Coucillor for Middleton 1928 - 1949 Dad was also Chairman of Wirksworth Water Board and oversaw the establishment of Middleton's first treated water supply which was taken from of Slaley Moor Springs near Tufa Cottage and then Ram Pumped up Via Gellia into reservoirs on Middleton Moor
Dad had to negotiate a deal to lease land from George Henry Key who owned all the land on Saley Moor previously the land owned by my Henstock family of Slaley Hall and Gells of Hopton Hall

Others of my kin worked down Big Pit Colliery whilst still others worked at the Iron Works

Hi Henry
I have to compliment you on your family research, its very interesting and topical to this website.
I encourage you to maintain you research into your family history with a view to writing a book.

The last Welsh Mines Society fieldmeet was to this area and I found Blaenafon a fascinating place.

In any event I am sure that I speak for everyone when I say:
"Welcome to aditnow"

Kindest regards

Roy Fellows

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