Ernest Muxworthy: The Boer War Veteran Who Brought Sketty Library to Life

Early Life in Swansea

Ernest Muxworthy

Ernest Muxworthy was born in 1874 in Swansea, the middle child of a family whose roots lay in the Devon countryside. His father, William Muxworthy, worked as a Gardener, and his mother, Eliza Priscott, maintained the home.

1881 Census

The 1881 Census places the family at Penyrheol, Sketty, with three children—William J., Ernest, and Lionel—raised within sight of the gardens and fields that shaped their father’s livelihood.

1891 Census

By 1891, the Muxworthys had moved to 1 Bryn Gola, Swansea. William, now 54, continued his work as a Gardener, and Ernest, aged 17, had joined him in the trade, developing the deep affection for nature that would remain with him throughout his life.

Award Rolls

Service in the Second Boer War

Ernest does not appear on the 1901 Census, for he was serving overseas during the Second Boer War (1899–1902). His military service is firmly recorded in the Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, which confirm his role in the South African Constabulary, a mounted force established by Lord Baden‑Powell to maintain order in the newly annexed territories.

These years in South Africa left Ernest with vivid memories—stories of hardship, camaraderie and adventure—which he would later recount with warmth and humour to generations of children at Sketty Library.

Marriage and the 1911 Household

1911 Census

After returning from the war, Ernest married Sarah Rhoda Calladine in 1904 at Tonbridge, Kent. By the 1911 Census, the family were living at Cullden, Carnlas Road, Sketty, where Ernest (37) had returned to his earlier occupation as a Gardener. Sarah Rhoda (44) kept the home, and their only child, Kenneth Prescott (4), completed the household.

Also present were Ernest’s parents—William (74), a Retired Gardener, and Eliza (66)—creating a three‑generation home rooted in quiet domestic continuity.

The 1921 Census: A Family in Transition

1921 Census

By the 1921 Census, the Muxworthy family were still residing at Culloden, Carnglas Road, Sketty, where Ernest (47) was employed as a Clerk with the Elms Colliery Co. His wife, Sarah Rhoda (54), continued to keep the home, while their son Kenneth (14) was working as an Errand Boy for W. E. Brown, Monumental Mason. Also present were two visitors—Alice Calladine (44) and Gladys Matthews (4)—reflecting the continued closeness of the Calladine family and the home’s role as a centre of extended family connection.

Sketty Library 

Ernest at Sketty Library

Although Ernest later became one of the earliest managers of Sketty Library, his life story reveals a man shaped by many roles: Gardener, Soldier, Clerk, Storyteller, Nature Lover, and Librarian. His office at Sketty Library, filled with plants and greenery, and his habit of rescuing wild birds in winter made him one of the library’s most distinctive early custodians. His Boer War stories—told with warmth, vivid detail and humour—became part of the library’s oral tradition and left a lasting impression on generations of young readers.

1939 Register

The 1939 Register: A New Life in Kent

By the 1939 Register, the Muxworthy family had left Swansea and settled in Tenterden, Kent, residing at Oakdene, Tent Road. Ernest (65) was once again recorded as a Gardener, returning in later life to the occupation that had shaped his youth and remained central to his identity.

A Legacy Rooted in Humanity

Ernest Muxworthy remains an important figure in the early history of Sketty Library. His life—spanning horticulture, military service, clerical work and community librarianship—embodies the idea that libraries are shaped not only by their collections, but by the people who care for them. His story reminds us that public libraries have always been places where community, memory and kindness come together.