Chartist, heretic, arch druid and pioneer in the legalisation
of cremation, Dr. William Price was undoubtedly one of
the most flamboyant and indeed eccentric characters in
Welsh history.
Born in Rudry near Caerphilly in 1800 and the fifth child
of Rev William Price, he was an apprentice to a local surgeon
at the age of 13 and later studied at St Bartholomew's
Hospital, London where he was made a Licentiate of the
Society of Apothecaries and a Member of the Royal College
of Surgeons before turning 22.
In 1827 he moved to Nantgarw and became the surgeon for
ironmaster Francis Crawshay, practising medicine at the
Brown Lenox chainworks where he allegedly performed one
of the first skin-graft operations on an injured worker.
Dr. Price was ever in and out of the courts, both as a
defendant and petitioner. He was charged with the manslaughter
of a patient and had his father's body exhumed to prove
mental illness. Possessing an extensive knowledge of the
law, and draped in a shawl of royal tartan, he would conduct
his own defence brilliantly to the crowded gallery.
He was a leader in the failed Chartist rising of 1839,
condemning any brute force used by fellow leaders and,
dressed as a woman, was obliged to flee to France. Proclaiming
himself Archdruid of Wales he regularly held druidic ceremonies
on the site of the Rocking Stones, Pontypridd.
With a deep interest in the well-being of the local people,
he established one of the first Co-Operative stores and
also formed an embryonic National Health service for local
workers – but would refuse to treat smokers!
Dr Price went on to build the famous Round Houses at
Glyntaf, Pontypridd as an entrance to a planned stately
home and museum to druidism which failed and when rejected
from the land by owner Lady Lanover, the time was right
to leave the market town altogether. In 1873 he settled
in Ty'r Clettwr, Llantrisant, joined by his 16-year-old
housekeeper, Gwenllian Llewellyn who gave birth to their
first child, named Iesu Grist (Jesus Christ) in August
1883, when the good doctor was 83-years-old.
The infant died suddenly on January 10, 1884 and Price
took the body onto the hilltop of East Caerlan where he
cremated it in a container of paraffin oil.
This 'vicious act of blasphemy' caused a riot in the town,
and crowds led by chapel deacons, dragged the corpse from
the flames as the 'blasphemer' was arrested. The criminal
trial that followed aroused interest not only in England,
but throughout the world.
In March, he conducted his own defence brilliantly at the
Cardiff Crown Court trial over his son's cremation, a typical
showman who played to the crowded gallery, claiming, 'It
is not right that a carcass should be allowed to rot and
decompose in this way. It results in a wastage of good land,
pollution of the earth, water and air, and is a constant
danger to all living creatures.'
Justice Stephens, paving the way for the passing of the Cremation Act of 1902,
by acquitting him.
Fathering numerous children, he was well into his 80s
when his housekeeper, 60 years his junior, bore him two
other offspring called Penelopen and Iesu Grist II (later
renamed Nicholas). After a fall he took to his settee and
died at 9pm on Monday, January 23 1893 uttering the last
words, 'Give me champagne.'
His own cremation, for which he left full instructions, took
place on the same hilltop; with 20,000 people assembling
to watch the iron coffin set alight. A carnival
atmosphere prevailed and the twenty or more pubs in Llantrisant
ran dry during the height of the day-long festivities.
