Wattstown

Wattstown in the Rhondda Fach received Its name from a Northumberland ship owner who never lived in South Wales. The town came Into being during the early 1 880s following the sinking, nearby, of two collieries owned by the firm of Watts, Watts and Co headed by Edmund Hannay Watts.

Edmund was born at Blyth in Northumberland in 1830. the son of Edmund Hannay Watts and Sarah Adshead. His great-grandfather was Edmund Hannay, a Scotsman who had been driven from his hon~ by tbe rebellion of 1745 and who, having first taken employment In a shipyard In Lelth, subsequently made his way south. But Scotsmen were not then In favour south of the Tweed and he was compelled to conceal himself amongst the ruins of Bothal Castle near Morpeth. The succeeding events are related vividly by John Wallace in his History of Blyth:

Hannay, after being in conceaLment for some time, ventured some distance down the Wansbeck when he encountered Justice Watson of North Seaton, who, supposing him to be a fugitive rebel, made an attempt to apprehend him. Hannay fled across the river: the Justice who was mounted on a pony, In attempting to follow him stuck fast in the mud. The Justice shouted to the fugitive to stop and help him out of the river. Hannay. seeing his pursuer incapable to follow him, ceased to flee, and after some parley, ventured to return to help extricate the horseman, This act of the young Scotchman won the good opinion of Watson, who then employed him to build a sloop... .we find him settled at Bly the in 1750

He married, and one of his daughters, Mary, married Edward Watts, a Blyth shipbuilder, and they became the great-grandparents of Edmund Hannay Watts, founder of Wattstown.

At the age of fifteen Watts was apprenticed to Boldemann, Bones and Co., a Newcastle firm which was highly regarded as ship-brokers and coal exporters. Having completed his apprenticeship he returned, at the age of twenty one, to his native town of Blyth and started up as a merchant and ship-broker on his own account, soon becoming the owner of a considerable amount of cargo-carrying tonnage. Five years later he decided to establish a business in Newcastle and went Into partnership with William Milburn, a former school-fellow. Thus was born the firm of Watts, Milburn and Co. which, following a period of enterprise and business skill, became one of the leading shipowners In the country. They were, In fact, the first company to use steamers on the London-Australia trade route.

In 1872, in collaboration with William Milburn and Edward Stout, Watts expanded his operations by purchasing the Tydraw colliery at Blaen-y-cwm in the Upper Rhondda Fawn. In the same year, Watts, Milburn and Co. of Newcastle, with branches in London and other towns and cities, was dissolved and the firm of Watts, Watts and Co. established, with Edmund Hannay Watts as the senior partner. The new firm assumed a position of great Importance from the outset with extensive business interests in London, Cardiff and Newport as coal exporters, colliery owners, colliery agents and ship-brokers. The Importance of the firm can be gauged by the fact that they controlled thirty steamers and the output of the United Collieries at Rlsca and Wattstown.

Watts was president of the chamber of commerce of the United Kingdom and of the British Steam Shipping Company.

Although he never lived in South Wales he was for many years a well known figure in the commercial life of the district and took a keen interest in the ports of Cardiff and Newport. He was one of the original promoters of the Barry Dock and Railway undertaking and was for a number of years one of its directors. He was also president of the Newport chamber of commerce and in 1885 became a J.P. for Monmouthshlre. He was a member of Lloyds when he was elected president of the chamber of shipping in 1887 he proposed that there should be a fund of £1 00,000 to form the nucleus of a pension scheme for the relief of the widows and orphans of deceased sailors. He urged that shlpowners and sailors should contribute towards this permanent fund and later went round several ports in England, Scotland and Wales to promote the Idea but failed to get the support from the seamen themselves.

Watts was generous with his wealth and founded a Dr Barnados training school for young sailors In Norfolk.

In 1856 Watts married Fanny Ward Shadworth. Two of the Watts’ five sons lived at Newport for a while as did two of his three daughters, Fanny and Emily. Fanny married Col. James Williams who was a partner in the firm of Watts, Williams and Co. Emily was married to the Revd. W.M. Munro. first vicar of All Saints Church in Brynglas Road. This church was built and endowed by Watts at a cost of £16,000; he later presented It with a fine peal of bells.

Edmund Hannay Watts died at his home in St Leonards on Sea in 1902.