A FULL-sized cannon cast which stood at an ironmaster’s Forest mansion has come up for sale.

The cannon was cast at Cinderford Ironworks in 1850 for Henry Crawshay – and could be yours for £6,000.

Crawshay (1812-1879), the son of William Crawshay the ‘Iron King’ of South Wales, was the largest ironmaster in the Forest at the time of his death.

The carriage is inscribed H Crawshay 1850 while the barrel – which weighs an estimated three-quarters of a ton – is inscribed “Growler”.

It was made for the owner of the works Henry Crawshay personally for his home at Oaklands Park near Newnham.

The cannon is being offered for sale by West Wales-based dealers Robert Pugh Antiques.

Mr Pugh said: “Such cannons made especially for the ironworks owners to display are rare things, and to have one in excellent condition inscribed with the name of the ironmaster is rarer still.

“This is a superb item of Gloucestershire, and to some extent Welsh, history.

“It is made more interesting by having its original carriage made of cast iron rather than wood.

The Crawshay dynasty are best known as the proprieters of the great Cyfarthfa Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil and the main family home, built earlier in the century, and occupied by Henry’s father William was Cyfarthfa Castle.

However, there were other homes scattered about including Oaklands Park near their Cinderford Ironworks and Langland Castle near Swansea used by Henry as his Welsh home.

Henry Crawshay came to the Forest in about 1835 and began his association with the Cinderford ironworks shortly after.

He also had valuable mineral and coal rights at Buckshaft and Lightmoor.

According to an obituary at the time he had a reputation as a good employer.

When Forest miners went on strike in 1874, he wrote to the newspapers urging other employers to allow their workmen “bright hearths and joyous hearts” at Christmas

The cannon is available from Robert Pugh Antiques at £6,000 including delivery.

For more information e-mail [email protected] or call 01267 236569.