Tracked down – the story of Sardinia railway’sWelsh father
A documentary on S4C sheds light on one of Wales’ forgotten heroes. Chief reporter Martin Shipton tells the story of Benjamin Piercy...
ANEW programme on S4C draws attention to one of mid-Wales’ greatest men – who has been forgotten in his own country.
But Benjamin Piercy is remembered in Italy, where he is still praised for transforming life in Sardinia by designing and building the island’s railway system almost 150 years ago.
President of Sardinia Francesco Pigliaru is among the Sardinians appearing in the next episode of the travel and history series Dylan ar Daith, where he praises Piercy, from Trefeglwys, near Caersws, in Montgomeryshire.
The programme, Dylan ar Daith; o Drefeglwys i Sardinia (Dylan’s travels; from Trefeglwys to Sardinia) follows the great engineer’s journey, from his pioneering work on early Welsh railways, to how his rail network is still a vital part of Sardinia’s public transport system.
“The development of the railroads in those days was similar to the development of the internet today, and Benjamin Piercy was a major player,” said the series presenter, the journalist Dylan Iorwerth.
“The strange fact is that very few people in Wales have ever heard of him, but people in Sardinia – including the President – keep his name alive.”
On his own journey, Dylan visits He was also responsible for the fine stations at Oswestry and Welshpool. Following his projects overseas, Piercy stood unsuccessfully as a parliamentary candidate in Peterborough in 1883. He died in London in 1888. Dylan ar Daith: o Drefeglwys i Sardinia will be shown on S4C at 8pm tomorrow. Subtitles will be available