Oliver Cromwell

Researching items for these weekly blogs is always a delight, and the number of strange facts that come to light never ceases to amaze me.

If you were asked to list which important people in history might have a connection to the village you might be left scratching your head. There are recent sportsmen and women who attended our schools, and there are various notable people who have lived in the village in the past. You might even suggest that Benjamin Disraeli and his love affair with the widow at Greenmeadow might qualify.

Nothing prepared me for the fact that Oliver Cromwell might be linked to Whitchurch! Yes, that Oliver Cromwell of Roundheads and Cavalier fame (or infamy). Many know the history of the Civil War when the country was divided into the opposing camps of Royalists v Parliamentarians, and the battles (there was one on the Great Heath in Rhiwbina, and another at St Fagans), all of which culminated in the execution of King Charles I, and Oliver Cromwell being declared Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.

So, how likely is it that Oliver Cromwell’s family were from Whitchurch, and where’s the evidence?

Terry Chard tells me of a television programme on BBC which explains the local story. It’s still available on iPlayer and is well worth watching. If you google ‘BBC The Story of Wales, Episode 3’ and scroll 41.25 minutes into the film you’ll see Huw Edwards in Whitchurch Village, entering into St Mary’s churchyard explaining all in about three minutes!

You might have read the Hilary Mantel book, Wolf Hall, about the scheming Thomas Cromwell and King Henry VIII. You might even have watched the TV series.

Two Whitchurch brothers Morgan and Richard Williams were very loyal to the first Tudor king, Henry VII, and were rewarded with grants of land, and later were connected by marriage to Thomas Cromwell (of Wolf Hall fame). We’re told that Morgan Williams married Katherine who was Thomas Cromwell’s sister (still with me?)

 

Thomas Cromwell was such an illustrious person in the royal court, that Morgan Williams’ children took on the name of Cromwell in order to better themselves. It was Morgan Williams great grandson, who was born in 1599, who was named Oliver Cromwell (otherwise Williams)
John Leland, c1538 in his journals around Wales helpfully wrote:

‘Commotes in Glamorganshire – Kibworth lyeth from the mouthe of Remney up on an hille, in the commote caullid Keyen On, about six miles on from the mouthe of Remney. This hille goith as a waulle over-thwart-betwix the rivers of Thane (Taff) and Remney. About two miles from Cardiff, be vestigial of a Pile or Manor Place, decayed, at Eglius Newith (Eglwys Newydd), in the Paroche of Landaf. In the south side of this hille was born Richard Williams, alias Cromwelle’

So, at this time, Cromwell must have been well known to Leland

 

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