Casgliadau Arlein

A rectangular piece of green card, folded in the middle, with lettering printed in black ink on front, back, and centre. This membership card records the subscription paid by a quarryman to the Cymdeithas Cronfa Ddafad Wyllt Chwarelau Dinorwic a’r Cylch (Dinorwic Quarries and District Epilhelioma Fund Society). The subscription contributions are recorded in the centre of the membership card, and records payment made between 1951 and 1964. On the back of the membership card there is a list of eight rules relating to the society.

The membership card belonged to Mr Goronwy Owen Williams, a quarryman at Dinorwig Quarry who worked at ponciau Hafod Owen and Harriet during the 1950’s. He worked in partnership with his father, Ifan Williams, and brother, Richard Williams.

Meddygon y Ddafad Wyllt were ‘wild wart’ practitioners from the Pwllheli area of north Wales - offering cures for various forms of skin cancer, passing on the secret medication from generation to generation. There was great secrecy about the nature of the medicine used, with many suggesting it had a herbal origin, and other believing it contained arsenic. Cymdeithas Cronfa Ddafad Wyllt Chwarelau Dinorwic a’r Cylch was established following the disbandment of Cronfa Ysbytai Chwarelwyr Dinorwig (Dinorwig Quarrymen’s Hospital Fund) in 1949. The remaining funds were dispersed between various hospitals, and £50.00 was given to initiate Cronfa’r Ddafaf Wyllt (wild wart fund). Meddygon y Ddafad Wyllt did not charge for their services, but contributions were made. By paying money into this fund quarrymen could secure treatment for various types of skin cancer.