USK OBSERVER – Glascoed People & Places

The Illustrated Usk Observer (later the Usk Observer and then the County Observer), was printed and published at Usk by JAMES HENRY CLARK (1818-1913), a son of James Clark.

J. H. Clark and his elder brother GEORGE A. CLARK had started business at Usk on 1 January 1834. Both brothers had learned the craft of printing at their father’s office. J. H. Clark was born 23rd January 1818 in Gloucester and lived a long life, dying at the age of 95 on 16th February 1913. Sadly, his brother George died very young, at Chepstow on 12th April 1835, barely a year after their printing career had started.

During James Henry Clark’s long life as printer and publisher he wrote and published several books, including:

For further details see Ifano Jones, History of Printing and Printers in Wales and Monmouthshire, and the Monmouthshire Bibliography of William Haines (q.v.) (in manuscript in N.L.W.). The newspaper continued until 1907, although changed its name to the County Observer in 1866.

J. H. Clark married Sophia (d. 1901), the eldest daughter of William Howell of Chepstow. For some years he had a book-selling shop in Cardiff also. In August 1875 he began to publish a monthly, The Usk Gleaner and Monmouthshire Record, which continued to appear until the end of 1878. The Usk Gleaner was a compilation of highlights from stories in past years.

The Usk business was continued by his daughter, ELIZA BLANCHE CLARK.

J.H.’s son, WILLIAM HENRY CLARK, left Usk in 1866 for Brecon, where he founded The Brecon County Times
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LINK TO 1855 and 1856 pages which you will create.

This article has drawn heavily on earlier text published by William Llewelyn Davies, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A. (1887-1952), Aberystwyth, with thanks.