Myrddin Fardd

Quick facts for kids Myrddin Fardd
Born	John Jones 1836 Llangian, Wales
Died	27 July 1921 Chwilog, Wales
Nationality	Welsh
Occupation	Blacksmith, antiquarian, poet

John Jones (born in 1836, died on July 27, 1921) was a famous Welsh writer. He is much better known by his pen name, Myrddin Fardd. He was born in a village called Mynytho in Caernarfonshire, Wales. Myrddin Fardd was a talented writer and a scholar who studied old things. He also translated texts and collected many old stories and traditions.

Meet Myrddin Fardd

John Jones was the son of John and Ann Owen. He had an older brother named Owain. Owain also enjoyed writing and shared his work in magazines like Y Brython.

Early Life and Learning

John went to a basic school called Foel-gron School in Mynytho. After school, he started learning how to be a blacksmith in Llanystumdwy. A blacksmith is someone who shapes metal, often with heat and tools.

John worked as a blacksmith for most of his life. He even started his own business in a place called Chwilog.

A Talented Writer and Poet

From 1861 onwards, John started taking part in eisteddfodau regularly. An eisteddfod is a special Welsh festival where people compete in music, poetry, and other arts. John competed both as a poet and a prose writer (someone who writes stories or essays).

His very first book was published in 1858. It was called Golygawd o Ben Carreg yr Imbill, Gerllaw Pwllheli.

Collecting Welsh History

When his brother Owain passed away in 1866, John decided to continue his brother's research. He spent a lot of time looking through old church records and visiting graveyards all over Wales. He also collected old handwritten papers and letters.

Many of these important documents are now kept safe at the National Library of Wales. John also gathered many folk tales by talking to people and asking them about old stories.

His book from 1908, Llên Gwerin Sir Gaernarfon, is thought to be his best work. This book is full of folk tales from the area that used to be called Caernarfonshire. He collected these stories from many different places. He also added his own thoughts and explanations to them.

His Important Books

Myrddin Fardd wrote several books during his lifetime. These books helped to preserve Welsh history and folklore.

Here are some of his well-known works:

• Golygawd o Ben Carreg yr Imbill, Gerllaw Pwllheli (1858)
• Adgof Uwch Anghof (1883)
• Gleanings from God's Acre (1903)
• Cynfeirdd Lleyn (1905)
• Gwerin-Eiriau Sir Gaernarfon (1907)
• Llên Gwerin Sir Gaernarfon (1908)
• Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon (1922)

Images for kids

• 

  This picture shows the mother and home of John Jones (Myrddin Fardd) in Llanbedrog, around 1885.