the line can be traced back to the large bequest left by richard crawshay, proprietor of the cyfarthfa ironworks, to his nephew, joseph crawshay, in 1810. with his inheritance, crawshay together with matthew wayne acquired the nantyglo ironworks from hartford, partridge and co. in 1811 for £8,000. when wayne retired from the partnership in 1820, crawshay bailey took his place. crawshay bailey became sole proprietor in 1833 upon the retirement of his brother. in the same year, he acquired the beaufort ironworks.