Welsh Tramroads

Tramroads, the precursor to the modern day railway, at one time, criss-crossed the Welsh valleys like snail trails.   Long wooden rails resting on wooden sleepers have been recorded as far back as 1695.
The beechwood was quickly worn away by iron wheels, so around 1738 iron plates were used to repair them.   Gradually iron rails replaced the beechwood completely.   Styles of track varied with the local Engineer, but the cost of iron rails with stone sleepers surrounded by stones and gravel, in the 18th century was around £1,000 per mile.

Many iron forges were constructed along the river banks, allowing easy transport by barge to the sea.  Unfortunately, this was not possible for every forge, as rivers were not conveniently situated on steep hillsides.   Also, coal and limestone needed to be transported to the forge, as well as the iron to their customers.   

Tramroads were the result of manufacturers struggling to transport heavy iron, limestone and coal to market.   Mules hauled trucks along rutted unmade roads, eroded by wear, and littered with loose rubble.   Roads that were often flooded by heavy rain, and many unpassable in winter, by subsidence on the steep hillsides.   Rails made life much easier for the poor mules to haul a series of up to four trams.   They would not become bogged down, and the connection of wheel to rail made it less likely the trucks would over-turn.

Trams consisted of 4' wide wooden boxes mounted on iron wheels, and they carried between one and six tons of cargo.   Steep inclines were often organised with a counterbalance, full, heavy trucks going down hauled empty trucks back up the hill on a parallel track, such as the one from Blaenavon to Llanfoist.

Richard Trevithic (1771-1833) was born in Cornwall.   When he took an engineering job in Merthyr, with Samuel Homfray, who would have known his importance to our tale?
He designed the first steam locomotive.   In 1804 it hauled wagons from Pennydarren Works to the canal head at Navigation.


By 1820 Newport, Cardiff and Swansea were all linked to the major producers .   Imports of food, textiles, etc. increased to cater for the huge population explosion:

Population                                                1601              1801                 1841
Glamorgan & Monmoluthshire                                     126,447            305,556
Cardiff                                                                               2,000              10,077
Newport                                                                             1,135             12,000
Merthyr                                                                              7,707             34,978
Wales                                                      5,000,000    8,900,000      15,900,000

Pic of steam locomotive from:  http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/steam_loks1.php3?v=2
Other interesting sites:
www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/59/Penydarren.htm
http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/chronicle/english/onthemove/tramroads.htm

Hedgehogs

We have always had hedgehogs in the garden.   They wander down from the canal along the row of hawthorn trees at the back of the garden.   Huge snuffling, snorting noises can be heard in the spring when they are finding a partner.

Last summer I was delivering a knitting pattern to a friend and as a I walked along the pavement to her house, I found hedgehog in the middle of the pathway.   It was early morning, but the sun was getting quite hot, even then, so I picked him up and placed him under the hedge, thinking he would wander off.

I went back to my car, but as I drove past, I noticed, he hadn't moved.   I retrieved him and placed him in a large shopping bag I had in the boot of the car.

I rang the Hedgehog Protection people and took him home.    He enjoyed a meal of cat food (I have two cats), and promptly scurried up the garden path and into the greenery.   We already have a wooden hedgehog house at the end of the garden, since one decided to move into our compost bin for the winter, scattering soil all over the garden and the lawn.

The Hedgehog people came and brought another one with them, as he was looking for a home.   My garden, apparently, with all the bushes and shrubs makes a safe sheltered retreat, with an escape route under the hawthorn trees to the canal bank.

Apparently their favourite food, apart from chocolate biscuits is mealworms mixed with cheap cat biscuits.   Please do not feed any hedgehogs that you may see passing by with bread and cows milk.  Contrary to rumour, this can kill the little creatures. 






I leave a dish of food in the garden surrounded
by four bricks with a slab on top to prevent cats
and other animals eating it.  We took these
pictures over the Christmas holidays.

Where to today ??

These blank pages are wonderful.      Where shall we go? 

I have lived all my life in one place, but due to Government decisions, I have lived in three counties:
Monmouthshire, Gwent and now Torfaen.   Who knows, in the future, where I will end up, just by standing still.  

Living on the border of Wales and England, I never really understood who I was.  Was I English or Welsh?    My grammar school teachers kept correcting my speech, because what came out of my mouth definitely was not English, but I didn't speak Welsh either.   What was I?   

Photographer appreciated the back of my head more than my face !

As a writer, I still find I have problems with my phrases and words, and the way they come out.

    "Upset, he was."
    "Make two of him, she would."
    "She wasn't sorry, a bit."

Welsh phraseology, I'm told.   Harking back to grandmothers and greatgrandmothers being forced to speak English without any training.   Their collier husbands weren't allowed to speak Welsh down the pit in case they were secretly plotting against the English owners.   School children weren't allowed to speak Welsh in school, because English was the 'proper' language.   Signs were hung around the neck of children caught speaking Welsh.

But now I know who I am,
and I'm proud to be
an English speaking Welsh woman.




My Dad had worked down the pit, before
I was born, but I had never seen one.   Only
the coal, pictures of those huge wheels and
all the stories he would tell.   I had seen
plenty of tips, though.   Shale, slag and ash
was dumped in great pyramids all over the
Welsh Valleys.   I grew up believing they were everywhere, not just where I lived.   A bit like Italian cafes, but that's another story.

Mum, Dad & me

Now the tips or slag heaps have mainly been removed and vistas and horizons are visible that were blocked for fifty or a hundred years.   Tips were not only created on the mountains, glowering above rows of cottages, but were also created on any available piece of land amongst the houses.   Maesderwen, near Pontypool had a lovely tip, right next to the bus stop.   Its gone now,   Naturalists have recently found an interesting array of animal and plant species growing on these old dumps, so a few (some in Blaenavon), are being preserved and studied.  

Off-roaders and motorbikes driving around the mountainsides, often illegally, churn up the delicate top coating of grass and mud, creating ruts and grooves in the hillsides, revealing the black ash beneath.   These scars would take many years to heal if left untouched, but they are continually being driven over and worsened by the natural wind and rain.

  

Witches Hats & Terracotta Finials

Llanhilleth Miners Institute has been renovated in its original style from 1904 when the foundations were laid.  

Grade II listing was granted in 1999 in recognition of the building being a

"well designed and prominently located former colliery Workmen’s Hall, its detail and large size testament to the importance of the local coal industry during the Edwardian period."

(Grade II being of Regional significance and Grade I of National significance).

Cadw describes the building as follows:

"Cadw Information:  22671 AA     Former Colliery Workmen’s Institute 

The Institute has a range of rooms which are hired by organisations: the Ithel Hall

"capacity 120), the Ebbw Suite (capacity up to 40 depending on layout) and the Youth
Room (capacity up to 20).   Buffets are frequently provided as part of the chargeable
service."

The façade of the building has been described variously as Romanesque, and Queen Anne revival, but everyone agrees it is faced mainly with grey/blue Pennant sandstone with extensive red brick and terracotta detailing and stringing to add relief and interest to the elevations.   All the windows are now restored to their original pattern of the 1906 structure, using much of the original metalwork, although for several years they were partly boarded over to provide square fenestres.  

In 1951 Sir Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-83) started Pevsner’s Architectural Guides.   They provide a portable guide to the most significant buildings around the country.   He felt Llanhilleth Institute was worthy of comment, albeit rather brief.    The full quotation is included below.   There is no mention of the interior or elsewhere in the building, so presumably it was closed at the time of his visit.    It is interesting that he points out the porch as an afterthought.

 “The Institute has a lively facade of two tall storeys over a basement.  
An intricate network of pilaster strips and string courses frames the round
headed windows.   Fancy gable crowned with balls and acroteria.   The
lofty redbrick porch looks like an after thought.”

A fuller description is referenced to S.Eckley, Abertillery and District Museum Society:

“Very prominently located off the east end of Meadow Street, dominating terraces of housing along valley bottom.”

“Simplified Dutch style, built of grey Pennant stone, with extensive red brick detail.   Slate roof with two large ventilators to ridge.   East end gable chimney of red brick;    also low stack on south side.  Two storeys, set on high basement.  Entrance front (west) of five bays, divided by red brick pilaster-strips.   Moulded brick stringcourses between storeys, also at sill and window-head levels.  Moulded brick cornice with shaped gable above, divided into five bays by pilaster strips terminating in terracotta finial at apex.   Clock in centre of gable, with brick surround." 

"Basement and ground floor windows with 20th century glazing, segmental heads, brick surrounds.   Tall round arched first floor widows, brick surrounds and terracotta keystones.   Centre bay has projecting square red brick porch rising to base of gable.  Round arched openings to ground floor stage, with door facing west; windows to sides (door and windows all 20th century)."      Windows now replaced to appear original.

"Tall upper stage of porch has angle-pilasters, with small round windows set high upto each side.   Moulded brick cornice.   North side of six bays and three storeys.   Pilaster strips and stringcourses as front.   Windows as facade, the tall upper windows with smaller windows inserted.   Similarly details south side;  attached towards east end is lower four storey former caretaker’s house, now used as medical centre.  House is of three narrow bays, rendered with brick detail to quoins, and window surrounds:  20th century glazing.  Slate roof and broad south end gable brick chimney stack.”

As you pass by, you may notice black pointed metal structures on the roof.   These were dubbed "witches hats" by Sophie Teague, the architect in charge of the renovation.  

They are part of the ventilation system, allowing air to escape to help control the temperature of the building.     These vents are operated from the large ballroom as in the original design. 

The walls have lime plaster, which needs to 'breathe' and allow moisture to be absorbed and evaporate.   During the 1960s repairs were made using cement.   Unfortunately, this sealed the walls, ensuring any rainwater that soaked in would be trapped, causing dampness and mold.   The latest renovation removed the cement and repointed and replastered with suitable materials.

A very splendid building, worthy of any commercial or private event.

Blenheim Bomber Crash

WW2 Plane Crash at Devil's Heap of Stones, Abersychan

      

The Abersychan & Garndiffaith local history group

produced a booklet on the subject in

January 2001, by Ken Clark.

Along the mountain from Pontypool Golf Club towards Abersychan, accessed along Water Works Lane, Cwmavon, lies the Garn Wen memorial stone organised by the Abersychan & Garndiffaith local history group.  

Time had been spent by the group researching the incident before the Memorial Dedication Service was held on 22 September 2000, sixty years after the actual crash on the mountainside.

Devil's Heap of Stones

On the eastern boundary of the South Wales Coalfield, near Abersychan, lies Mynydd Garnclochdy, 427 mtrs high leading to Garn Wen, 448 mtrs high.   Garnclochdy is known locally as the Devil's Heap of Stones.   According to legend this area was a favourite haunt of the Devil, not only did he leave his footprint, but his chair sits on top of the heap.

The Blenheim L8610

The Blenheim L8610 aircraft took off from Upwood on a training exercise on 22 September 1940, a Sunday.  The plane was piloted by Sergeant H. Wilson.   Low cloud covered the mountains during the afternoon when various local people reported hearing the low rumble of plane engines and then a crash.   Children were prevented from exploring as they had to attend Sunday School. 

The air crew who died were:
   Sgt H. Wilson, aged 22:          Pilot
   Pilot Officer Anthony Drake Copplestone, aged 29:  Observer
   Sgt John November, aged 20:  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner:

Despite the wreckage being guarded by members of the RAF, souvenir items have found their way around the valleys and into people's houses.

The photographs in this piece were taken on 13 November 2011 after a memorial service was held at the site.  More information is available on the following link:

http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/17otulosses.html

Teamwork

Camelia in flower in January 2012

We all enjoy being alone sometimes, but in our hearts we know that often its better to do things together.   When we have a job to do it can be easier when we work as a team.   These little films illustrate this in a clever and amusing way, although I don't think, personally, they do much as an advertising campaign for their particular product. 

http://www.youtube.com/v/LuVPnW0s3Vo?hl=en&fs=1&autoplay=1

http://www.youtube.com/v/gBnvGS4u3F0?hl=en&fs=1&autoplay=1

http://www.youtube.com/v/mgCIKGIYJ1A?hl=en&fs=1&autoplay=1

An interesting blog:

http://how2beawriter.blogspot.com/2012/02/lilith-smiles-in-garden-of-eden.html

Titanic and Arthur Moore radio operator

Arthur Moore and the Titanic

I had never heard this story until this week, even though Arthur Moore lived only a few miles away.  I hope you find it interesting. 


Artie, as he was known in Blackwood, South Wales, was a young lad living at The Mill, Gelligroes and in the early twentieth century he was experimenting with radio communication, which was in its early days.   He was reknowned for providing national news to the local area a day or so before it was available through the newspapers.  

On 15th April 1912, Artie received a very faint transmission of morse code, "CQD SOS 11.50pm from MGY we have struck an iceberg sinking fast come to our assistance position lat 41.46 north Lon 50.14 west MGY.”    It continued, "Sinking we are putting passengers off in small boats weather clear."    With wireless communication in its infancy and the Titanic being 'unsinkable,' his message was received locally with disbelief.   Two days later, when the story of the tragedy was reported in the newspapers, Artie achieved notoriety.

His abilities were recognised and went on and achieved further advances in the field of radio during his career (1887-1949).

Further information on Artie and the 100 year celebration of his achievements can be found at the following link for Blackwood Amateur Radio Society: 
http://www.gw6gw.co.uk/local_history.html

Details of the sinking of the Titanic can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic

There is also an unconfirmed rumour that the coal on the Titanic was from Six Bells.  Someone is reported to have purchased a piece of the coal raised from the wreck, and it had subsequently been labelled "Six Bells."

Myths & Legends of Llanhilleth

1947

In 1947 Harold Wm Bailey, a teenager living in Llanhilleth, wrote a thesis for Caerleon Teachers Training College.   The college was later to become part of the University of Wales Newport.   His thesis covered the history of Llanhilleth from Roman times, and included an interesting section on the local myths and legends:

             “...the people (of Llanhilleth) until comparatively recent times were very superstitious and their lonely existence coupled with the vivid Celtic imagination (and perhaps, the presence of a large number of public houses per head of population) makes it easy to understand why Llanhilleth came to be regarded as the haunted mountain.”

            His material was gathered by Bailey from several folk-lore sources.   One, was Prophet Edmund Jones, who was for many years pastor of the congregation of Protestant Dissenters at the Ebenezer Chapel, near Pontypool, and lived at 'The Tranch,' nearby.   He wrote and published two books, an Account of the Parish of Aberystruth, printed at Trevecca, and a Relation of Apparitions of Spirits in the County of Monmouth and the Principality of Wales, printed at Newport;   Bailey’s second source book was Wirt Sikes' British Goblins.     Wirt Sykes, (or Sikes) was the American Consul in Cardiff in the 1870s.

Ithel the Giant
This story is taken from  “St. Illtyd’s Church, Llanhilleth”, Archaeologia Cambrensis XXVI, Pages 153-8. Dated 1872, unfortunately the writer was anonymous.

"Ithel and Phillis were two friendly giants who lived in the Parish.   Ithel feeling the need for a dwelling-place set off for Cefn Crib to collect some stones which he carried back in his apron.   On one return journey however, he let fall a load – thus forming the mound which is still to be seen next to the old Parish Church.   Thus, according to legend, did the place take its name and become known as Llanithel while Phillis in like manner gave her name to Caerphilly."

This mound has been researched by various authorities and is generally known to have been a castle.   Stories abound of tunnels running from here to nearby farms. 

‘Peggy’ Evans

The next tale were related to me by a resident of Llanhilleth.    I have been unable to identify the particular  Dr Frost mentioned.   I have names of several who practiced in Llanhilleth, including one who laid a foundation stone at the Institute in 1904.

Some years ago, Dr Frost the new GP of Llanhilleth was relating his urgent wish for a telephone to a local parishioner.   He found it very difficult having to go to the Post Office or the Police Station every time he needed to make a call.   He felt it was even more difficult for his wife, isolated in Wales from her friends and family.  

The parishioner decided it was time the Doctor was told of Peggy Evans.   Apparently there was a young lad who went to work down Llanhilleth pit.   He was there for a few years before losing his leg at age 13.   (Hence the name ‘Peggy.’)   When he recovered, the supervisor found him a new job signalling.   The men organised for him to move about when necessary, but mostly he sat and sent signals around the pit.   This job he did very successfully until he died, aged 42.   Then, according to the parishioner, he started visiting the local doctor, Dr. Reynolds, (Dr Frost’s predecessor).    The Doctor didn’t quite understand the visits at first,   But he later claimed that if ever he was needed urgently at the pit, Peggy Evans would appear in Dr Reynold’s lounge and signal by pulling the thick red bell-rope with the big tassel at the side of the fireplace.   Hence, Dr Reynolds had no need of a telephone.   Dr Frost reportedly only saw Peggy Evans once.

Old Ben

            Dr Frost had been up the mountain to visit a patient.   He usually took his pony Jason, but the roadway was rough and unmade, so he decided to walk up.    As he returned, it was turning dusk and he decided to take a shorter route home.   It was then he came upon a tunnel of tall trees covering the lane.   Inside was black with not a chink of light.   He tried to enter several times, telling himself it was only trees, but he retreated back into daylight.   Suddenly he realised there was a black and white sheep dog standing next to him.   The dog licked his hand and they entered the dark tunnel together.   In the darkness the Doctor felt the dog beneath his hand.   They walked together until the Doctor emerged at the other end.   Looking around, he found he was not fifty yards from Maescynew Farm gate.   A thatcher saw the Doctor, and thought he appeared quite pale and shaken, so offered him a drink and a seat to recover.   The Doctor approached, but looked around for the dog beneath his hand.   Not finding the soft fur, he thought the dog had changed sides.   But there was no dog.      He questioned the Thatcher about the dog. 
             “Oh, that’s old Ben,” said the man.  “He won’t go any further than this.   He only comes this far when he knows the children are afraid.”     They chatted for a while, the Doctor being a little upset at being compared to a child.   When the Thatcher felt Dr Frost had recovered sufficiently from his scare, he explained that Ben had died at the age of sixteen, three years earlier. 

The Railway Man

This tale was told to me a few years ago by a well-known local resident who sadly died in 2011.

            (This happened almost within living memory, so no names), "a railway worker approached and held a conversation with his colleagues, who knew him well.   They carried on with their lunch break and he left with a cheery word and a wave.    But later, according to others, he had been killed a few hours earlier in a tragic train accident further down the line."

 

South Sebastopol Plan & other stuff

Penarth beach

Found a fascinating video on YouTube (via Mab Jones blog) which gives a whole new vision of books.    I always suspected they had a life of their own when left alone.   You never find them where you left them last.   They also seem to multiply exponentially when you're not looking. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&feature=player_embedded
Thanks everyone for taking an interest in the ramblings of this Welsh Dragon.   I may even be brave enough to add some short stories and poetry.

View into Lansdowne from the canal

South Sebastopol Plan

Had an update yesterday on the South Sebastopol Project from a lovely lady from Friends of the Earth.   It seems although the Council rejected the last Planning Application, it could be raising its ugly head again.   Its important we keep our green spaces, including the remainder of the Monmouthshire and Brcon Canal.   With hundreds of houses  in the process of being built on the old Steel Works site, surely there can be no real need to pursue this one.   Also, all the people moving into the Steel Works site will want somewhere to walk their dogs, play with their children, fish, listen to the birds, enjoy the views of the mountain and the channel.   I hope the Torfaen Council aren't swayed by money and keep our green wedge for posterity.
Anyone interested, please lobby Torfaen Council not to build on this precious countryside.

Wales Coast Path

Small sections of our coast have been accessible via pathways, but now the Wales Coastal Path is due to open in Chepstow on 5 May.   It will extend 850 miles from Chepstow, and end in Queensferry in North Wales.    Opening events are planned for Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Flint on 5 May 2012.   Happy walking !




http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/

Sebastopol, named after Sevastopol

South Street, Crown in centre of image

Sebastopol is a small village in South Wales, UK., but how was the name decided upon?   

Its name is derived from Sevastopol (originally spelt 'Sebastopol) on the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine.  This has always been a strategic port with a current population of over 300,000.     There were several towns and villages called 'Sebastopol,' across the world, but many have disappeared.  The internet, however, reveals we are not alone, there is another thriving community in California, USA.

The news of the fall of Sebastopol in 1855, with victory achieved by the British and French against the Russian forces, reached Pontypool in the South Wales valleys, on the evening of Monday, 11th September of that year.   Great celebrations ensued in the town itself and surrounding district.

Woodland Terrace facing Greenhill Road

The population of the Parish of Panteg just south of Pontypool, had grown rapidly in size from 550 in 1801 to 2432 in 1851, due to the success of the iron works, the canal, the railways, and the local farm produce being in great demand to feed everyone.

Cottages on Greenhill Road adjoining Woodland Terr.

Two rows of houses, were built close to the Old Crown Public House.   A row of houses south of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, known as Steedman's Terrace and a small row of 11 houses just north of the same canal, known as Woodland Terrace (later Whitewash Row).   These, with a few outlying farms and cottages were the original structure for the village of Sebastopol.

Page's Fish & Chip Shop, South Street, Sebastopol

Alas, little remains of Steedman's Terrace. Woodland Terrace has been demolished and replaced with houses and a block of flats.   However, one original structure still exists and houses Page's Fish & Chip Shop, opened in 1949 and widely renowned throughout the area.

How do you choose a name for a village?
 
It is believed a group of tenants and landowners, including Mr Steedman of Steedman's Terrace, held a meeting, possibly at the Waterloo Public House.  They decided on the boundaries, and the unusual name that was the current news of the day, Sebastopol.

Two Facebook Groups that may be of interest: 
'Old Pontypool,'  
'Pontypool Past & Present'

www.pontypooltoday.co.uk

Sebastopol, A Local History by W G Lloyd, published 1992.

The Old Collier

Uncle Ted

Uncle Ted smelled of cigarette smoke, not the acrid stale smell of the unwashed, but  fresh, healthy, live-before-you-die cigarette smoke, probably conjured by advertising observed as a small child in the 1950s.

His collier’s house glowed from his miner’s coal allowance.   The smell of mouth-watering cooking lingered as Aunty Ade struggled to feed the mountains of mouths;  children, grandchildren, visitors and their children, neighbour’s children...

Cats rubbed your legs as you entered, while dogs were held back from causing you death by licking.  Cages bulging with gerbils, hamsters, and mice were stacked on tanks of goldfish.   More cats scratched the window to come in after catching slow worms in the garden.

Uncle Ted’s passion was male voice choirs.   His high tech, battered old radiogramme dominated one side of the room.   After moving small stools, piles of washing and possibly a cat, a record would be dug out from his prized, well-used collection.   As it was unwrapped, he’d explain  almost second by second, the highlights, and  joys of “Treorchy Male Voice, at Aberamman.”    After lovingly wiping its grooves with his chamois, he'd eventually place it on the turntable and wait.

The sound echoed through the row of houses.   But no banging on walls or front doors, no protest more than a smile and “Ted’s playing his records again.”

Aunty Ade had a habit of sitting outside on the wall on summer evenings.  “The only place to listen to it.   He has it too loud.”   Inside, from his well-worn armchair, eyes closed with an expression of pure bliss, he would conduct the massed choirs at the Albert Hall in stereo.  

“Listen, listen, bloody beautiful, mun,” as the music reached a particularly difficult part.   The crescendo  would see him join in the singing and expand his conducting with gusto.

Afterwards, visually tired by the experience he’d wipe the record again with the chamois and return it to its place, folding the chamois carefully.

Uncle Ted died, as many others, from cancer, caused by coal dust and cigarettes, but his spirit still fills the small living room, now crowded with plastic flowers and chalk ornaments brought from Aunty Ade’s holidays in Porthcawl at the Miners’ Rest.   is porH His portrait sits in a gold frame, pride of place atop the now silent, highly polished,  radiogramme.   I will always have a lingering voice in my head, “Listen, listen, Bloody beautiful!”

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Canal Basin at Pontnewydd

200 Years

The Monmouthshire Canal was joined to the Brecknock & Abergavenny Canal in 1812.  

To commemorate the 200th anniversaryof this event, on Friday, 10 February 2012, between 12 and 7pm, churches along its route reconstructed part of the original ceremony by ringing their bells.  

During the Industrial Revolution, the introduction of canal barges increased both capacity and speed of transport for iron and coal, over the horse & cart.   Trains, and later, improved road transport, were to make the canals redundant.   Now we can enjoy their slow pace of life as recreation rather than work.

Thomas Dadford Jr. (1761-1801), the canal engineer for the project, worked on the Monmouthshire and Brecon canals from 1792 to 1798.

Because of the hilly welsh terrain, unmade roads and water cascading down the steep slopes after rain, the earliest iron works in South Wales had been built on river banks and the iron transported on small barges to the coast.   As production increased mules were employed, but still transport was slow and tedious.   In 1792 the canal was sanctioned as cheap and easy transport.   Due to the terrain, it ran from Newport to Pontypool in the Eastern valley and to Crumlin in the next.   This was then supplemented with tram roads where necessary.

Canal Basin at Pontnewydd looking towards Pontypool

The difficulty of the engineering task can be seen by the difference in height from the bottom of the valley at Crumlin (the site of the old canal), and the old Viaduct above, created in 1857 crossing the valley at right-angles joining Pontypool to the western valleys.  Part of the stone buttresses can still be seen high above the valley floor.

Later New Town development has seen sections of the canal disappear altogether under roads and houses.  


Sadly, it would not, I feel, be financially viable to see the whole structure restored to Thomas Dadford Jr. original plan.

Fallen leaves on the canal
http://www.crumlinviaduct.co.uk/History.htm

http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/mon_brec.htm

Unsolved Pontypool murder

Update November 2012

"Who Killed Dripping Lewis?" published by Book Midden Publishing is on sale exclusively at Pontypool Museum from Tuesday 7 November 2012 with proceeds donated to the museum.  A book signing was held at the museum on Saturday 10 November 2-4pm.

Monty has already started work on her next murder mystery project, the crime took place in Abergavenny in 1920.

------oo0oo------

Mr Lewis lived in Plasmont House, a 22-roomed mansion in Pontypool.   He was a wealthy property owner and draper.    Many think he was a butcher, presumably because of the 'Dripping' nickname.   One reason for this could have been he gave pots of dripping (beef fat) to the poor.  Killed in the 1930's, his murder was never solved.   Can you help?  Do you have information, perhaps passed on by an elderly relative?



------oo0oo------

 



Monty Dart will be presenting her findings and evidence revealed during her research.

"Who Killed Dripping Lewis,"

on Wednesday, 15th February 2012

 at

2pm

at

St John's Church Activity Centre,

Penywain Road, Wainfelin,

Pontypool.

A book revealing all will be published in September 2012.   I'm sure it will be a riveting read.

Various theories exist but can her research bring the culprit (or culprits) to book?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwFcisWAW-A

Things people say

It was like the Klondyke !!
 
Over the months I have been researching Llanhilleth Institute, people have used phrases that remained in my thoughts.   I made a note of them as I feel they should not be wasted.

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal near Sebastopol

Tyrone O'Sullivan in his speech at the Miners Reunion in July 2011 commented on the atmosphere in the South Wales Valleys when coal was king and funded the industrial revolution:

“It was like the Klondyke.   If these events had taken place in America, John Wayne would have played all of us.”  

 “You only get out of life what you put into it."This was said in a light-hearted way, but there is a great deal behind this thought.   Many expect life to come to them, and opportunities to open up for them.  Life isn't like that.   Its amazing that the people who often appear to be the luckiest are the ones who have worked the hardest.

"Such a wonderful building, trying to do things with it, they don’t seem to get the backing."We are all so busy living our lives we often don't have time to stop and look around and see what we should be doing.   Taking time to join that club or group, phone up and book tickets for that event that sounds interesting.   Apply for funding to support that rather outrageous scheme that might actually work if it was given time.

"Restored to its former glory."Yes, the building has been renovated to a very high standard, but it will only remain so if people use it, visit it, buy a cup of coffee there, actually support it.   If you haven't been, why not take a trip and see this wonderful building.

"Years ago Ladies were allowed in for shows but not much else.  
They were allowed in the Con Club but had to go ‘round the back!"See what Women's Lib did for us, Ladies, all those burnt bras!

A book on Llanhilleh Miners’ Institute – that’ll be a thin one!Well not if I have anything to do with it.    People's memories are wonderful things, like an old tea chest in the attic, you never know what will come out next .

"Llanhilleth Institute had a good side, really good."They may have been referring to the front facade, commented on by Pevsner, but I suspect it was the generosity of the members.   Not that many had a great deal of cash, but they would help where they could.

"I remember Mum coming home from working at the Institute with coke in those wavy glass bottles." Does it still taste the same today?  Many things have been changed over the years - Wagon Wheels, Mars Bars.                              

"I feel at home.   There’s a really friendly atmosphere.   I bring my little boy to nursery and stay all day, even though I hadn’t intended to."Friendship and warmth, surely the founding fathers would be smiling down to see the building and its people today.

A comment passed about a house in The Fields:
"I’m surprised there were any windows in the house opposite.   Nobody cleaned windows like Mrs Summers.   I don’t know how the glass didn’t wear away."

The sign of a good housewife was to ensure your front step was scrubbed and your pavement washed.   Next came the windows and net curtains.   Praise indeed was to be described as having "a bit of grain about her."

http://www.valleysgirl.co.uk/llanhilleth.htm

Valleys of South Wales

Despite modern transport and communication systems, many South Wales residents rarely travel from valley to valley, preferring to shop and socialise within the valley in which they live.    Locals visit Newport or Cardiff, totally unfamiliar with towns only fifteen minutes drive away across the mountain.

An old lady who regularly travelled from Merthyr to Cardiff, on seeing a photograph of Newport commented "Mmmh, looks big."

Tourists visiting Wales enjoy the North and Snowdon, mid Wales and Aberystwyth and even Pembrokeshire in the south.   Few venture into the valleys of South Wales with their fabulous mountain views and interesting towns and villages.   They are missing a wonderful experience.

Now that our industrial past has been sanitised, unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer smoke and soot laden air, chimney stacks, slag heaps and revolving pit wheels, although some male voice choirs can still be heard on dark evenings in community halls.   Many towns are seeking a new identity.   Most have close up views of magnificent mountains complete with ancient woodland, sheep and rock escarpments, making ideal walking country.   Quaint rows of multi-coloured terraced houses snake interminably, or lie scattered on the steeply sloping hillside, resembling a heap of discarded children's building blocks.

The Eastern valleys of South Wales provide an inspirational experience for the tourist, with many unique places of  interest along the way.

Within minutes of the Brecon Beacons and Talybont Reservoirs, the valleys provide facilities for action holidays, with rock climbing and off-road cycling.   The town of Blaenavon at the top of the Eastern valley, with its Steam Railway offers scenic walks around Garn Lakes.   Historic buildings including Llanhilleth Miners' Institute, the Abertillery Metro Theatre and Bedwellty House, provide an enjoyable day out, topped off with a visit to Cwmcarn Scenic Drive.   Check on opening times, but this park provides motor car access to picnic areas and walks, as well as down hill cycling.   Park at the top car park and enjoy a flat walk across the open mountainside to Twm Barlwm with its contentious history; Norman, Celtic, Roman?

I was born in South Wales, and it is a wonderful place to live. 

Why not enjoy it with me?