Partridge Jones and John Paton Ltd

 

In 1864 William Bailey Partridge, Edward Jones, Charles Herbert and William T. Henley were co-directors of Varteg Works and Colliery.   (William Bailey Partridge was a nephew of Crawshay Bailey of Merthyr fame.)

 Partridge, Jones and John Paton held shares or owned many firms around the valleys. Although John Paton’s involvement with the Company began as early as 1895, his name was not included in the Company title until 1920 when their interests were amalgamated to form Partridge, Jones & John Paton Ltd.

Below is a list of some of the companies owned by these wealthy entrepreneurs:

Llanhilleth Colliery
Llanerch
Blaenserchan
Gwenallt
Marine Colliery owned from 1935 until 1947, 1540 employed 1947
Navigation Colliery Crumlin
Pontypool
Pontnewynydd Iron Works
Victoria No. 1 Pit (The Prince of Wales, Ebbw Vale)  Production ceased 1929
Waun Llwyd Colliery  owned from 1935, employed 1,123 in 1938. 

Ebbw Vale Iron & Steel Co.  purchased 1938

Harsh Penalties

                  “A Free press report in 1919 is witness to the harsh penalties imposed on anyone caught         ‘picking coal’ – a Cwmffrwdoer widow convicted of stealing coal valued at 1s.(5p) from  Messrs Partridge, Jones & Co. Ltd. was fined 10s. (50p).  It was her first offence.”

This extract was taken from “See you in the park in August ....” Page 8

No Author, 1986, "See you in the park in August….," Gwent, Village Publishing

In 1947 Nationalisation of Britain's coal mines passed ownership from Partridge, Jones & John Paton Ltd. to the government.  This was greeted by the men as they believed conditions would improve now that they (the tax payers) owned the mines.  Unfortunately some were soon disappointed.

As can be seen from the advertisement in this article, the company still maintained a presence in South Wales.