Tredegar House on the edge of Newport, was home to Courtenay Morgan, who inherited the title of Lord Tredegar in 1913. Courtenay Morgan made adaptations to Tredegar House as his sight diminished.
For example, he added handrails inside and outside the house. He also removed the glass cover from this watch so that he could feel the time.
Lord Tredegar Courtenay Morgan’s watch ©National Trust Tredegar House, Newport Museum and Art Gallery
Courtenay was clearly close to his servants, fostering a supportive working environment for his employees and the estate residents who had a range of impairments, enabling them all to live active lives. A footman recalled Courtenay laughing with deaf stud groom Jack Vaughan while out hunting about the fact they made ‘a bloody fine pair… I’m blind and you are stone deaf!’
Transcript from an interview conducted in 1988 with James Bonsey, a footman who worked at Tredegar House
Courtenay and his uncle both supported the Cardiff Institute for the Blind and the Newport and Monmouthshire Blind Aid Society, with his uncle setting up guided visits to the estate for blind visitors.