              Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
|
of Hensol and
Abercarn
(1778 -
1817) |
| Benjamin Hall (the second) was
born in Llandaff on September 29th, 1778. He was
the elder son of Dr. Benjamin Hall, Chancellor of
the diocese of Llandaff, and his wife Elizabeth
(née Grant). He was educated at Westminster
School and Christ Church, Oxford, obtaining his
B.A. in 1798 and his M.A. in 1801. That same year
he was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, and on
the 16th December 1801 he married 17 year old
Charlotte Crawshay (1784 - 1839). A notice in The
Times dated 21st December 1801 reads as
follows:- |
| 'Married on
16th instant Benjamin Hall, Esq., of Lincoln's
Inn to Miss Charlotte Crawshay, second daughter
of Richard Crawshay, Esq., of Cyfarthfa,
Glamorganshire.' |
| Their first
child was born on the 8th November 1802 at his
parents' home, 14 Upper Gower Street, London, and
was named Benjamin (later Sir Benjamin, then Lord
Llanofer). |
| In 1806 Benjamin Hall
II became Member of Parliament for Totnes,
serving until 1812 when he lost his seat. He then
was elected as M.P. for Westbury but in 1814 the
member for Glamorganshire died, and Benjamin
decided to seek election there. He was criticised
for being a 'Monmouth-shire Lad', in spite of his
having been born in Llandaff, and following his
election he bought Hensol Castle, 'formerly the magnificent seat
and favourite residence of the last William Earl
Talbot'. |
Hensol
Castle |
| From 1808
Benjamin and Charlotte's home was at Abercarn, Charlotte's father, Richard
Crawshay having given them the Abercarn coal
mines and iron works. |
| In
about 1812, according to an anecdote about Benjamin Hall II,
related by his son Lord Llanofer, he (i.e. Benjamin Hall
II) '... endeavoured to persuade his tenantry
in the hilly district to grow turnips, that their
sheep and cattle might eat them. He was told in
very strong and emphatic language by the
inhabitants of the district that a Welsh sheep
would not look at a turnip, and would scorn to
eat one. (A laugh.) The difficulty was to
overcome that prejudice and induce the people to
grow turnips in order that their sheep might eat
them and prosper more. He took the wisest course
... |
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