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Benjamin
Hall III ... continued
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page 2
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While working hard on behalf
of his Marylebone constituents, he ‘upheld in Parliament the right of the Welsh
to have the services of the Church rendered in their own tongue......'
So strongly did he and his wife feel about this that in 1854 they funded
the building of a church at Abercarn in which, they insisted, the services
should be conducted entirely in Welsh. When, in 1862, the vicar
decided that the services should be offered through the medium of English,
the Halls were so annoyed that they closed the church. Having discovered
that the building was not consecrated, they transferred it to the Methodists.
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Benjamin Hall, although born
in London, 'never thought of himself
as an Englishman, and in describing sights and scenes in England, he
frequently compared them with similar or dissimilar sights and scenes in
"my country" - Wales. Welsh people may well take pride in
this fellow-countryman who identified himself so closely with Wales, and
yet did so much for England's greatest city'.
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In 1849 Sir Benjamin was
forced to take life quietly following a serious shooting accident, which resulted
in the loss of an eye. In 1857, he described this as 'the time when it pleased God to visit him with a great
affliction - ... the time he was deprived of sight ...'
However, he resumed his busy life and for several more years presided ably
over the Office of Works. Following his elevation to the peerage in 1859,
he was able to spend more time at Llanofer, indulging in his favourite
sporting past-times and improving his estates.
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In late 1866 Lady Llanofer's
devotion and nursing skills were severely tested when her beloved husband
began to suffer from an abscess on the jaw, following a blow from the
“kick” of a gun. He endured great agonies with courage while Lady Llanofer
strove to put on a brave face for the sake of those around her; but
Benjamin died in London
on 27th April 1867.
He had become far too weak to be moved back to Llanofer, for which he
longed, but he was buried there in the handsome tomb at St. Bartholomew's
Church, Llanofer.
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* Here
lie the remains of Benjamin Hall of Llanover & Abercarn, Baron Llanover
& a Baronet Lord Lieutenant of ye County of Monmouth & a Privy
Councillor, born November 8th 1802, died April 27th 1867. Eldest son
of Benjamin Hall of Abercarn and Hensol Castle Esq. MP for County of
Glamorgan & son of ye Rev. Benjamin Hall DD, Chancellor of Llandaff,
both buried in Llandaff Cathedral .
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The Tomb at
St. Bartholomew's, Llanofer
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* Taken from 'Monumental Inscriptions', Gwent
Family History Society
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