The lives of the Casson brothers of Blaenau Ffestiniog have been captured in a new book.

The Casson Family in North Wales, a story of slate and more... goes back to 1800 when the brothers, William and Thomas, arrived in Ffestiniog from the Lake District, with their friend William Turner.

They had bought the first slate quarry there. From early struggles they turned it into a thriving business.

For four generations, and 150 years, the Casson family lived in north Wales, spreading from Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, Pwllheli and Denbigh.

This book traces their history, showing how they affected, and were affected by, their adopted country, moving on from slate to banking, the law, music, soldiering and, finally, theatre.

The book has been written by Diana Devlin and published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.

Diana was born in her grandfather’s house at Bron y Garth, Porthmadog.

She studied English at Girton College, Cambridge, and was later a Fulbright scholar at the University of Minnesota, from where she holds a doctorate in theatre arts.

For most of her career, she has lectured and written on theatre and drama.

She wrote a biography of her grandfather, A Speaking Part: Lewis Casson and the Theatre of His Time, and that inspired her to explore his Welsh roots.

In the book, Diana says: “I started researching and writing about the Cassons in north Wales while attending Faber Academy... Many members of the Casson have encouraged me in the enterprise. In addition, Glynis Casson and Penny Pocock have accompanied me on field trips; David Ritchie has supplied valuable family material. Liz Muldoon shared information about our Holland Thomas ancestors. My late stepfather, Ian Haines, safeguarded many family documents.”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online now