Prior to 1818, the Sirhowy and Tredegar Ironworks had shared a close relationship, with partners Matthew Monkhouse and Richard Fothergill managing the affairs of both works.The Tredegar site was the more advanced of the two but plans were in hand to expand the Sirhowy Works as soon as the lease, which expired on 31st. December 1817, could be purchased .
John and Richard Harford, wealthy Bristol bankers, had acquired the lease earlier and on approach by Fothergill, offered to renew it at £2500 per annum.
Although to many the offer seemed reasonable, Fothergill flatly refused to pay this amount, considering it to be excessive.
On New Year's Day 1818, the Harfords and their agents arrived at the gates of Sirhowy Ironworks to claim possession of what was legally their property.
Fothergill refused them entry and after angry words were exchanged the Harford contingent retired and subsequently instructed their legal advisers to begin proceedings.
Ebbw Vale,
January 15th, 1818
Dear Sir,
In consequence of the unwarrentable detention of our property at Sirhowy we are under the unpleasant necessity of resorting to legal measures against Richard Fothergill with a view of compelling him to do us justice.
Thy esteemed friend,
Richard S. Harford
Fothergill eventually realised his action could not be legally justified and he reluctantly agreed to vacate the premises but not before issuing orders to remove all links, railways and tram tracks between the two works, an action which was later to cost him dearly in court.As a result, the two works now became completely isolated from each other and the new Sirhowy owners erected a ring of marker stones to designate the boundaries of their property.
Original marker stone still in place at foot of Sirhowy Hill
Click on image for fuller location view
The ' bad blood ' between Fothergill and the Harfords percolated down to the respective workforces and a situation arose whereby no Sirhowy man could show his face in Tredegar or a Tredegar man visit Sirhowy without fear of reprisal.Sirhowy now became linked with Ebbw Vale, both socially and economically and it was many years before normal relationships with Tredegar were restored.
©Copyright Sirhowy Valley News Page 2002
