Jeremiah Homfray

Sir Jeremiah Homfray (1759–1833) was an 18th-century ironmaster, best known for mineral developments in South Wales for and starting the Ebbw Vale ironworks.

The third son of Francis Homfray of Stourton Castle, joint owner with his younger brothers of the Penydarren Ironworks. On the death of his father, he was made co-owner and joint Managing Director of the ironworks with his brother Samuel Homfray, M.P., of Coworth Park, Berkshire.

In 1787 he married Mary, the daughter of John Richards of Llandaff, and after this for many years resided at Llandaff House.

In 1789, Walter Watkins was the owner of a forge at the Clydach Ironworks in Glangrwney, Clydach Vale near Crickhowell, which lacked an adequate supply of pig iron. In agreement with two business parters, his son-in-law Charles Cracroft and Jeremiah Homfray, the three leased land at Pen y cae farm in the parish of Aberystruth from John Miles. Situated on the northern tip of the South Wales coalfield, with iron ore obtainable from patch working, and located next to the Ebbw fawr river, they had easy access to the basic iron making materials: coal and iron ore locally mined, plus water and power from the river. Limestone was to be transported by mule train from Llanelly Hill in Blaenavon. The partnership erected a single blast furnace and casting shop against the hillside, which created an output of 25 tons of pig iron per week. Called "Pen y cae" after the original river by the locals, the partners anglicanised the rivers name to the Ebbw Vale Furnace Company, hence naming both the works and the developing township.

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