Historical information

This Welsh Bible belonged to Ellen Hughes who was Welsh-speaking and the daughter of a farmer from Caernarfonshire, Wales. In 1874 she married William Jones of Warrnambool and became a stepmother to Robert Jones who was to become the owner of the property The Union, near Woolsthorpe. Robert’s daughters, Gwen and Edna Jones, gave this Bible to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. They were both members of the Society.

Significance

This book is of great importance as a beautiful memento of the 19th century when the Welsh Calvinistic tradition was strong in the Warrnambool district and a Gaelic church was operating in Woodford and services in Gaelic services were held regularly in Warrnambool.

Physical description

This is a hard cover book with a brown leather cover with gold metal edging and a gold clasp. The cover has embossed patterns on the front back and spine. The pages have gilt edges. The text is in the Welsh language and is presented in two columns per page. There is one blue stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page. The inscription is handwritten in black ink.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Presented to Miss Ellen Hughes by her wellwishers Hugh and Kate Pritchard, Llanfairfechan, July 14th 1871’