The Kleeneze Man

We are all perhaps familiar with the Betterwear catalogue dropping through our letterbox.  The catalogue is full of gadgets that we have probably managed perfectly well without, but when we see them we suddenly can't live without them.

In the 1950's and 60's the consumer society was just in its infancy.  Shops had very few luxuries so when the Kleeneze Man arrived at our front door, not with a small catalogue, but with a rather large suitcase and an armful of brushes and mops, it was an opportunity for housewives to spoil themselves by purchasing a new sweeping brush, floor mop, or tin of polish.  The gentleman was always dressed very smartly, generally with a trilby hat, suit and gaberdine mackintosh. (I never did see a Kleeneze lady!)

Kleeneze Christmas trees

My favourite free gift, as a small child, was a small round tin of polish around the size of an old penny. I can't really remember doing much with it, but it was lovely just to have a gift from a strange man who came to the door.  Can't really see mothers agreeing to that these day.

Anyway, one Christmas they must have decided to be creative with their brush making machine.  They brought out a group of small Christmas Trees.



Christmas tree decorations in those days were quite a luxury, and kept for many years.  One of the first mass-produced decorations was made from flat metal stamped into shapes and spray-painted with metallic paint.  A hole enabled them to be attached to the tree using wire, ribbon or thread.

Not quite as sophisticated as some of today's decorations, but they still have a charm.

The Crumlin Arm

No, don't get upset.  Its not a fossilised bone or dismembered body part.  The Crumlin Arm is the name of a section of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which used to extend from Crumlin to Newport Docks.

Unfortunately now it no longer reaches Crumlin or Newport Docks, but extends 16 km from the outskirts of Newport.

The towpath skirts the contours of the mountain and takes you high above the valley town of Risca, once descending through a series of  21 locks to sea level.

The Fourteen Locks Heritage Centre is situated at Lock 21 with a trail down to Lock 8 approximately 1000 mtrs away, just before the underpass for the M4 motorway.  The Centre is the hub of a regeneration scheme for the locks as well as a cafe and information centre selling books on local history.  This time of year its even possible to see Santa in his Grotto and have your picture taken with him.

Unaware of the extent of this section of the waterway, we only covered a short distance the other day, but  we plan to continue along its length in the New Year.

Harry Roberts' Bridge seemed a good place to end our walk.  Who was Harry Roberts?

Alfred Russell Wallace - 1823-1913

Alfred was one of the first men to think about and document biogeography.

He was born in London but his family due to financial problems, moved to Usk.  I understand his sister is buried there.  He was raised at a time when Creation Theory was highly thought of and people could be pilloried and made a laughing-stock to talk of evolution.

Alfred became friends with Henry Walter Bates and developed an interest in beetles.  They met regularly at Leicester Library.  Here he developed an interest in natural history through an anonymous 1844 publication "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation," and "Voyages up the River Amazon," by W H Edwards.

Through study and his travels abroad he developed the idea of geographical distribution of animals.

Wallace created a line between Australasia and the African continent. 

Wallace's map of the world, showing his 'lines' of division between species is not very different from the lines which have been developed today after many years research.

On 1 July 1858 Darwin after discussions with Wallace, presented "The Big Idea," to the Linnean Society in London.  It was the theory of natural selection.  Darwin went on to present his "Origin of Species" which was published in 1859.

Unfortunately Wallace lost much of his credibility as he become interested in Spiritualism and became a Honorary member of the Central Association of Spiritualists in June 1882.

The idea of evolution was not new. Pierre Belon (1517-1564) compared bird skeletons with that of man.

Model beetles in the Cardiff Museum exhibition

Until recently Charles Darwin took all the kudos for discovering and publicising evolution, but Bill Bailey the performer and comedian has brought Wallace's papers to light and obtained recognition for his work.

Cardiff Museum recently held an exhibition illustrating Wallace's life, his beliefs and discoveries, along with a film on Bill Bailey's part in recognising this fantastic man who spent some of his life in Wales.
 Wouldn't it be nice to think that the Usk countryside actually had a part to play in developing his ideas.

http://wallacefund.info

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21549079

Caribbean Pirate's House for Sale

Henry Morgan (1635-1688), was born in Llanrhymney, Glamorgan, and lived at Penllywn Manor, in Pontllanfraith near Blackwood. He travelled to the Caribbean in the 1650s and developed a reputation for raiding Spanish settlements. He probably died in Lawrencefield, Jamaica.  He led an interesting life which is catalogued online. I include links below.

The house was built in the 16th century by Thomas Morgan of Machen. The family also have connections with Tredegar House in Newport, (now open to the public).

Henry Morgan

During its 500 year history, Penllywn Manor has been a convent and welfare clinic.  Until recently it was known as the Penllywn Arms, and served the area as a pub and restaurant.

This stone property retains many original features including fireplaces and beams and is now available for purchase.  I wonder if its haunted?

http://www.cavazzi.com/morgan/


Brief Bio Henry Morgan

Details of a report on the haunting of Penllwyn Manor:

http://www.webster.uk.net/SpecialInterest/RIPSouthWales/Penllwyn%20Manor%20Inn.aspx

H A P P Y C H R I S T M A S !!

Just to say THANK YOU for all the support and encouragement you have given me.

My intention was to write about places I know and love, and some places I always intended to visit and never quite got round to it.  I try not to concentrate on the most popular locations or events you may know of already.

I have been surprised at the response I have received from readers from around the world.  People enjoy my photographs of Wales because they lived here and moved for work;  their parents lived here and moved for work;  they visit regularly and are looking for places to visit;  and some are just curious about this beautiful place.

Whatever your reason for reading, may I wish to

a Very Happy & Peaceful Christmas.

Farteg ??

A village at the top of the eastern valley is known as Varteg.   Now, because of our Welsh Heritage, it has been mooted by the Welsh Language Commissioner that it should be known as Farteg. (No, please don't tutter, this is serious.)  The argument goes that we need to have bilingual road signs and as there is no 'v' in the welsh language, then we have to use 'f.'

NOTE:  There appears to be no evidence that the name Farteg 

was used in the past, so perhaps Varteg 

derives from the language of some other invader/visitor 

to the area, now lost in time.

Originally I was against this name change.  The village would become a laughing stock with people making silly jokes about smells and flatulence.  Children would grow up disowning the place of their birth.  Embarrassment would be caused all round.

BUT, publicity of this suggestion has spread as far away as Canada, and Minnesota, USA.

Despite the statistics that 99.9 per cent of residents do not want the name, this could perhaps become a money spinner for the area, bringing tourists flocking to have their photograph taken alongside the road sign.  They may even look for souvenirs such as sticks of rock - Farteg right through, of course.

One interesting definition (farting about):

"To waste time with idle and inconsequential tasks; 

to go about one's activities in a lackadaisical manner; to be lazy.."

So people could visit this re-named village just to laze around and enjoy the wonderful views from this Top-of-the-valley location.  It could become a retreat from everyday stress and bustle.  

I'm beginning to think there could be great advantages to this new name!

A quote from Wayne Tomlinson: "At the end of the day it's the residents' opinions that matter." 
I agree, so please Welsh Language Commissioner take note.

Update January 2014:   The local Council have advised the Welsh Language Commissioner that they will keep the name Varteg.  Many local residents are very relieved.

Senghenydd new miners' memorial

Unveiled one hundred years after the horrific pit explosion, in September 2013, the national miners' memorial sited at Senghenydd is well worth a visit, especially if you approach over the common from Nelson, enjoying the scenery and fantastic views beforehand.

The car park is small, but there are no parking restrictions on the road outside.

The two miners depicted in bronze are very well sculpted and each holds a miner's lamp.

Implanted in the top of a wall surrounding the sculpture is a series of engraved tiles, each naming one of the miners killed in the explosion in 1813.

Surrounding this wall are two circles of engraved tiles at ground level.  These each provide the names of collieries, the dates of disasters which occurred and the numbers killed.

Each tile has been sponsored by families or companies named on the tile.

I can't help feeling that although impactful, the impact would have been so much stronger if the tiles had been arranged en bloc, rather than spread in rows.

The whole arrangement is surrounded by gardens, making a place of contemplation and thought.  When planted up will add to the serenity to the whole area.

Hill's Tramroad - Blaenavon to Llanfoist

Hill's Tramroad was an important highway from the early 1800's.  It ensured the efficient and speedy transportation of iron from Glandyrys ironworks, limestone from Pwll Du Quarry and coal from Big Pit to Llanfoist quay where it could be loaded onto barges and taken by the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal down to Newport for export.  Previously cargo had been taken down the valley to join the canal at Pontypool, but the Mon & Brecon managers made a deal to take goods at a cheaper rate, even though the goods would still need to be hauled through Pontypool to Newport.

Keeper's Pond, Blaenavon

Our walk was part of the Living Landscapes Project and we started at Keeper's Pond on the road from Blaenavon to Abergavenny. On a clear, sunlit winter's day, we were surrounded by wide views extending many miles into the welsh landscape. A wonderful day for exploring with a knowledgeable guide and adequate clothing, but this mountain is exposed to all winds and weathers.  It would have been an extremely hard life working here every day in clothing made from wool.  Very little shelter would have existed for the men walking or riding the tram road.

We descended on a pathway on the opposite side of the road from the car park. Gradually we descended until we were surrounded by the walls of a deep valley.

Representation of Garndyrys Ironworks, image located at Keeper's Pond

Iron 'bears' left below Garndyrys

The tram road followed the contours of the mountainside like a bright green ribbon against the browning bracken banks. The metal rails have all but disappeared, but the stones which anchored them, if you look carefully, can still be found along the route.  Sometimes they still lie in long rows with bolt holes and on the incline grooves can be found from the ropes or chains which helped haul the trams.

Along the way our guide, Tom Maloney, pointed out piles of stone which would have been strategic buildings along the tram road. There were also the remains of well-structured retaining walls, still holding the bank at bay. He explained that where the tramway dropped below the slag dumping areas, the men built tunnels to protect the tramway and users from debris from the works.

Its difficult, standing on a green mountainside, surrounded by glorious views and peaceful countryside, to imagine it as the site of a busy, noisy ironworks full of men taking large amounts of ironstone, limestone and coal and producing iron.

Trees now mask much of this industrial roadway and almost hide the slope of the incline, but if trees were here when the tram road was in use they would have caused problems of leaf-litter, obstruction by growing too close to the tram road, and delay by falling on the tramway. Any of these problems would have delayed the horse-drawn trams and cost the owners and leaders money.

Remaining stone built tunnel, possibly to protect the tram road

Tom pointed out a couple of tunnels, but they would be almost invisible to anyone walking the pathway without knowledge of the scene.

The exact description of the transport is unknown, but could have consisted of between one and three trucks, being hauled by between one and three horses, depending on the cargo. The lead horse would probably have had a man walking alongside.

Depending on the terrain, the track could have been single in places and double in others, allowing traffic both ways.

Stones extending into the distance, spaced at regular intervals,
The ground in constant shadow, still covered in frost.

At Llanfoist a mock-up of trucks awaits our debate. Unfortunately, we have more questions than answers.
How big would they have been?
How many would have been linked together? How much iron would they have held?
How many horses would have been used?





Our first glimpse of the canal appears with a  canal-keepers cottage, sited to view traffic approaching from the tram road as well as along the canal from Brecon.

An ancient tunnel still exists underneath the house and the canal.  A strange place to walk, thinking of all those who have been through there over the last 200 years.

a mock-up of trams 

The entrance to the tunnel beneath the canal and then the house.

www.visitblaenavon.co.uk

Blaensychan Valley (Cwm Nant Ddu Valley) also Blaenserchan

Drive north along the eastern valley and at Pontnewynydd, turn towards Cwmffrwdoer. Follow the narrow road up the hill past the cricket club, and at the crossroads turn left. The lane ends in a small car park and a cycle gate leads to a metalled footpath.

View towards Pontnewynydd and beyond

reeds and pond life returning

This footpath takes you along an almost flat walk up into the narrowing valley.  Our industrial heritage has a heavy presence for those looking for it;  slag tips, demolished buildings, sealed mine shafts and more.

But despite this dour sounding detritus, nature is ever present, gradually covering the scars left by miners earning their living.

cottoneaster

prickly gorse taking hold

Abandoned bricks from demolished buildings, proudly display their place of manufacture; "Abersychan," or "Ebbw Vale." Both brickworks now long gone.

mushrooms

The slag, dumped on the mountainside as waste, is now becoming naturalised, but motorbikes and four-by-fours erode the delicate greenery, allowing the black slag to leach and erode down the valley with every rainfall.  Even this can still look beautiful…

These holes seem to indicate yet another hazard !

Rubble of baths or canteen, white tiles still prominent

'Guardian' book signing, Sebastien Boyesen

Sebastien Boyesen,

(Update) 

Everything went to plan on Sunday.  Fans of Sebastien and admirers of Guardian queued to purchase a pictorial history of the memorial's creation.  Then they queued to meet Sebastien for a personal signing.  He greeted everyone with a genuine smile and spent time to find out a little of who they were. 

As an artist who spends his life creating sculptures, he feels Guardian is something special. He mentioned getting goose-bumps as he drove down the road within sight of it.

A few signed copies of 'Guardian' are still available for sale at Ty Ebbw Fach, Six Bells. They would make a wonderful Christmas present, or just a coffee table book to browse through.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Previously)

The renowned artist Sebastien Boyesen, will be signing 1st edition copies of his new book.

Why not come along and meet the sculptor who designed and built
this magnificent iconic statue.


‘GUARDIAN’ 

on

Sunday 8th December 2013

at

Tŷ Ebbw Fach. Chapel Road, Six Bells, NP13 2ND

4.30pm – 7.30pm

ALL WELCOME

Come along and get a 1ST Edition signed copy of this beautiful photographic record of Guardian, Six Bells Miners Memorial.

The Café at Tŷ Ebbw Fach will be open for beverages and home made cakes.


Free car parking opposite.

All profits from sales go towards supporting the regeneration of Six Bells.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cafe-at-Ty-Ebbw-Fach-/149557788572722?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTyEbbwFach

Dare Valley Country Park, South Wales

Dare Valley Country Park is just down the road from Aberdare. Set on the mountainside there are gentle sloping pathways taking in lakes and a river with more testing grassy slopes for the adventurous hiker.


A recent activity weekend gave visitors the opportunity to try things they may not have had the opportunity to try before.  They included caving, archery, orienteering, bush craft and a zip wire.




Along the entrance driveway are a stables and caravan park and opposite the car park an adventure playground.  Supervised canoeing can be arranged on the lakes.


The two tier cafe provides a range of snacks and meals (the coffee and walnut cake comes in huge portions) with plenty of seating always available.

Just a wonderful place to wander and enjoy the welsh countryside and wildlife.

www.darevalleycountrypark.co.uk/