WATKINS family of Mill Hill /Oakwood West Dean (General)

by johnbelcher, Friday, March 05, 2010, 17:35 (5366 days ago) @ slowhands

We must never forget Baden's brother Mostyn (Richard). He was in charge of all the underground operations at the New Dunn Iron Mine, Sling. There was nothing that he didn't know about mining. After retirement he became a farmer at Perrygrove Farm, near Coleford and kept Puzzle Wood maintained and open to visitors. They had to put some cash into a box for Clearwell Church. He also sold bloomery iron and slag and bits of iron ore for church funds. I used to visit him with my father-in-law Mr Reuben Nash (who worked at the engineering works all his working life, ending up as Managing Director) and Mostyn would tell us the history of New Dunn and the surrounding iron mines. Fascinating.
Baden was the clever pen-pusher, but Mostyn was a true Forest miner like his father. The Salt of the Earth. He doesn't deserve to be overlooked.
John Belcher