Owen Morris Roberts

• Birth date            1833 at Llanllyfni, Caernarfonshire (Census)
• Marriage (1)         No details (in the 1861 census O M Roberts described as a widower)
• Marriage (2)         April-June 1862 to Ellen Ellis (1842-1924) at Ffestiniog
• Death date          15 December 1896
• Burial                  Porthmadog Cemetery

A capable architect, well known in North Wales, Owen Morris Roberts, of Porthmadog, designed many important public buildings and chapels, and was the architect for the proposed county buildings for Anglesey. He was a Welshman to the core, a Nonconformist, and able to speak, read, and write the language. In politics he was Liberal and at one time represented Porthmadog on the Carnarvon County Council.

Owen Morris Roberts was born in 1833 at at Llanllyfni, Caernarvonshire, the son of Edward Roberts, a joiner and his wife Tryphena. His mother's family came from Llanfrotheu, Merionethshire, and lived at the Pare and Hendregwenllian Farms; his father's family came from Llecheiddior southern Caernarfonshire. When their son was about twelve months old, they moved to Birkenhead, thence to Liverpool, and about ten years later returned into Wales, taking up residence at Llanberis. When a boy at Llanberis, Owen Morris Roberts worked for a short time in a slate quarry. English being scarcely known in the district, he was frequently engaged by tourists during the summer months to act as a Snowdon guide. In winter he attended the only school in the place, which was kept by an invalided quarryman, to whom the rudiments of the three R.'s.

When he was about twelve years of age, his parents again returned to Birkenhead, where he attended the National School, and subsequently a private school until fourteen, when his education was considered complete. He then commenced life as a clerk in a merchant's office, but his master failing in about two years, and the young man thinking it desirable to acquire a trade. went to work as joiner with his father, who was a builder in a small way of business. Within two years he had learnt the trade sufficiently well to enter Laird’s ship-building yard, commencing with a wage of 21s. per week, which in three months was increased to 27s. (the wages of a full journeyman), and eventually to 33s. per week, which he received when about nineteen years of age. Wanting adventure, he next joined the crew of the steamship Brazileira, sailing to Brazil. On his return he worked in Vernon's ship- building yard for a short time and, then in company with his brother, as speculating builders, erected two lots of cottages at Liscard, Cheshire. Finding that business to be un-remunerative, he undertook a journey through parts of Wales as commercial traveller for a Liverpool ironmonger, but finding his employer in financial difficulty upon his return, obtained a berth as ship-carpenter in a brig bound for Trieste. After an absence of about seven months, Mr Roberts found that his parents had removed to Portmadoc, and went to that town to see them, and a few days after shipped as able seaman on a schooner for a voyage to Holland. On returning home again, he applied for and obtained the situation of pattern maker at the Portmadoc foundry, and in less than six months was in charge of the principal works as pattern maker and fitter. Having filled that situation for nearly two years, Mr Roberts was induced to join a friend (who had bought a small schooner) as his mate or sailor, and went with him on a four months' coasting voyage.

On his return from this voyage, he became member of the Porthmadog branch of the Carnarvon School of Art in connection with South Kensington Museum; and at the end of ten nights' instruction, having undergone an examination held by an inspector from London, succeeded so well that he was made prize student and assistant teacher of art for five years at an annual salary of £20. Owen Roberts subsequently passed all the art examinations available in Wales at the time, and his work was exhibited with that of others (as the production of the best pupils) at the Kensington Museum during the exhibition of 1861. Before his term expired, Owen Roberts had commenced business as contractor and builder at Porthmadog, declining an offer to go to London to complete his studies at South Kensington. Subsequently he stated that his knowledge of art in designing and planning, together with his practical experience as joiner, allowed him to take upon himself the title of architect.

Obituary        North Wales Observer and Express 18 December 1896 page 8
Obituary        Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald 18 December 1896 page 5
Obituary        British Architect 25 December 1896 page 470

Reference      Cambrian News 1 February 1884 page 6