Blue plaque unveiled at Sketty Hall

The man who oversaw the creation of the world-renowned Cambrian Pottery has been honoured with a blue plaque at Sketty Hall, the Swansea landmark he once owned.

The blue plaque was unveiled in honour of Lewis Weston Dillwyn, also an eminent botanist, on 2 July.

Dillwyn was born in 1778. His father, a Pennsylvanian Quaker, returned to Britain the year before during Philadelphia’s worst period in the American War of Independence. He was a vociferous anti-slavery campaigner and toured England and South Wales in his work for the Anti-Slavery Committee.

Dillwyn, who died in 1855, oversaw the production of the renowned Swansea porcelain during his time as Cambrian Pottery’s owner. He was also well-respected for his published works on botany and conchology, the study of mollusc shells.

Dillwyn became High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1818 and was elected as MP for Glamorganshire in 1834. He bought Sketty Hall and was elected Lord Mayor of Swansea in 1839. Dillwyn was also one of the founding members of the Royal Institution of South Wales and its first president. He published a short history of Swansea in 1840.

Swansea Council is behind the city’s blue plaque scheme. Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, presided over the unveiling event and said:

“Our burgeoning blue plaque scheme is important because it marks Swansea’s rich and fascinating heritage. Lewis Weston Dillwyn is thoroughly deserving of this accolade - his track record in business, botany and politics made him a stand-out figure among his peers."

"This is the tenth blue plaque that will have been unveiled in the last two years. Other Swansea sons, daughters, events and places to have put the city on the map will be honoured in future as we look to further celebrate our captivating history.”

Other people to have recently received blue plaques in Swansea include Badfinger singer Pete Ham, women’s rights campaigner Emily Phipps and missionary Griffith John. Have a look at www.swansea.gov.uk/blueplaques for more information.

PR: courtesy of City and County of Swansea.