Welsh Journals

discovered, of which Lilac Cottage (p. 159), Middle Hills (p. 167) and Corner House (p. 171) are typical. One cannot quote all the varied types of buildings included without writing another book. I first met Bernard Morris when the Royal Commission was beginning the survey of Glamorgan houses in the 1960s and was always rejuvenated by his enthusiasm for Gower, receiving from him fascinating and valued information that led us to discover many of the hidden secrets of the peninsula. From the content of this splendid book, the reader will soon find that that enthusiasm has not diminished and I am sure, whether they be native or visitor, they will begin to view Gower from a new angle. Congratulations to the author on a book that is pleasant to look at and an excellent size to handle, while being well balanced throughout with a lucid text that is enhanced by clear illustrations and photographs. In total, the volume presents all the information that adds up to prove Gower still retains much that makes it unique. Harry Brooksby RHONDDA COAL, CARDIFF GOLD: THE INSOLES OF LLANDAFF, COAL OWNERS AND SHIPPERS, by Richard Watson. Merton Priory Press, 1997. viii + 200pp. illustrated. £ 14.95. It goes without saying that the South Wales coal trade during the nineteenth century would not have grown without the actions of certain pioneers. This book examines the contribution of Worcester- born George Insole (1790-1851) and three subsequent generations of the Insole family, spanning a period of over a hundred years. The four generations of Insoles provide a variant of the traditional three- generation view of British entrepreneurship during the nineteenth century: George Insole (1790-1851) was an entrepreneur, pioneering the growth of the South Wales coal trade in the 1830s and 1840s and undertaking coal production, most notably at the Cymmer colliery in the lower Rhondda valley; his son, James Harvey (1821-1901), was a consolidator who increasingly became more concerned with using the income from the family businesses to acquire land and gentry status; his grandson, (George) Frederick (1847-1917), showed enterprise, but perhaps too great a willingness to take risks (e.g. the sinking of Windsor colliery, Abertridwr); and, finally, Eric (1889-1946), who