File NLW MS 13706C - Monastic houses

Robert Richards (1884-1954), Labour MP for Wrexham, and historian, was born at Tan-y-ffordd, Llangynog, Montgomeryshire, the son of John Richards, a slate quarryman, and Ellen. He was educated at Llangynog elementary school, Llanfyllin country school, and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He was a lecturer in political economics in the University of Glasgow until 1911, and later in the Department of Extra-Mural Studies at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. In 1916, he was attached to the War Office and the Board of Agriculture, before returning to Bangor to be Head of the Department of Economics in 1921. In 1922, he was elected the first Labour MP for Wrexham. In 1924, he briefly became Under-Secretary of State for India. He lost his seat in 1924, regaining it 1929-1931, holding it from 1935 until his death. During World War II, he was Head of the Civil Defence Service for North Wales. In 1946, he led a parliamentary deputation to India. He contributed essays on India to Yr Eurgrawn in 1951. With Sir Ifor Williams, he edited Y Tyddynnwr, 1922-1923, and contributed in Welsh to the Cymru'r Oesau Canol in 1933. In his later years, he researched the history of monasteries in Wales and had published an article on Cistercian Abbeys in Transactions of the Denbighshire Society (1925). He was also interested in antiquities, elected FSA in 1940. He was Chairman of the Committee of the Cambrian Archaeological Association and President in 1953, Chairman of the Commission on Ancient Monuments, member of Council of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion and Vice-President in 1951. Along with his political duties, he was tutor in economics at Coleg Harlech. He married Mary Myfanwy Owen (d.1950) of Llangynog. He died 22nd December 1954 and was buried in Peniel Cemetery, Llangynog.