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Archive for the ‘Local History’ Category

When living where we live, with so many areas being very isolated, you come to understand some of the many challenges that the RAF and other rescue agencies deal with.

I have always had a great respect for the emergency services, and feel that this is a wonderful gesture, of Art, meeting religion, meeting rescue…

“A stained glass window which took eight years to come to fruition has been dedicated at a church on an RAF base.

The two-part window, depicting rescue work, is sited to the side of the altar at the RAF Valley church on Anglesey.

It was the brainchild of 38-year-old Simon Allen, a former winchman who now trains air crew instructors.

The window was created by Karen Newby, who makes stained glass windows, and Lindsey Abbott, who paints and restores them.”

source :http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8473055.stm

Popularity: 4% [?]

Since December I have been really very sloppy in keeping note of what “education” we have done.

This is partly because of the christmas spirit, and partly because Asha has had a snuffly cold for a while, so were still not onto “written work”

However she now has full command of the following three works of literature :

Little Women – Louise Alcott.. to the extent that yesterday, when I asked her which was her favourite book, she informed me that ” little women is, because Joe is like you and me mummy” Slightly abashed I asked her what she meant by this” she has a tempor which rises up and we both try and control it.. but fail misserably” Well there you go…

She also asked why daddies cant always be around, and what the war was in the story. She seems to empathise a lot with the girls when they are sad..

The secret Garden – Frances Hodges Burnett. She has loved this title for some time now, and I am seriously starting to tire of it. But her games have gone from Colin;s nautyness to being an Animal Charmer.. She is no longer wanting to be like Mary Lennox, recognising that Mary has a terrible temper, which Asha says isnt like a princess… It has also encouraged a great amount of interest in india, and if anyone has any recommendations for indian literature suitable for a 5 year old i would like to hear them!!

The Little Princess, also Frances Hodges Burnett.
This is interesting as it is encouraging her good behaviour and her love of literature and her sympathetic nature. Its also bought up questions about mineing, death, quarrying.. and slavery / maids… Wonderful stuff!

She also has some command of the following works.

The Hobbit. – daddy is currently re-reading it to her.
Winnie the poo.
Hiawatha.. All these have developed a lot since November and I am pleased with these outcomes.

In December we went to a violin concert in liverpool held by the Liverpool Suzuki group, it was wonderful. Asha had a lovely evening, though she was fidgetty, after a long day in birkenhead and liverpool, visiting such wonderful places as Woodside, Birkehead, etc..

Her violin practice has been slow this month, but hopefully we will get back on track once her snuffle has gone.

Currently Asha is not interested in reading or writing. Were encouraging these skills by ensuring she always has access to pens, paper and reading fodder… I am not worried about these skills, as last time I worked on them with her, she was well within her age group needs… and well.. there is more to education!

Her fascination with local birds is continuing.. we feed them every day, and she watches them every day.. often for hours at a time.. I plan on doing more work with bird life, once I have found some more resources on it.. We certainly seem to enjoy talking about there shapes, feet, wings etc….

Crafts, before Christmas we made loads of decorations.. snowmen, candles for on the wall, birds to hang up.. all sorts, since christmas we have done some painting, some drawing and talked about the chemical reaction needed to make a crystal snow tree.

Asha has contined to spend much time doing skateboarding, walking and enjoying time outside. We have also enjoyed a trip to portmerion…

I am generally more than happy with Asha’s level of education. She is a sociable, happy child.. what else can I want?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Portmeirion is an “Italianate” resort village in Gwynedd, on the coast of Snowdonia in Wales. Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, was Portmeirion’s designer. The village is located in the community of Penrhyndeudraeth, on the estuary of the River Dwyryd, 2 miles (3.2 km) south east of Porthmadog,

Portmeirion has served as a location for films and television shows, most famously serving as the Village in The Prisoner.

Williams-Ellis designed and constructed the village between 1925 and 1975. He incorporated fragments of demolished buildings, including works by a number of other architects. Portmeirion’s architectural and fanciful nostalgia have been noted as an influence on the development of postmodernism in architecture in the late twentieth century.

The main building of the hotel, which in 2009/10 has its incurvilinear entrance lobby rebuilt having been destroyed in a fire in 1981. It was not rebuilt when the hotel reopened in 1988.

Clough Williams-Ellis’ bigorapher and Architectural Historian Richard Haslam has advised on several aspects of the project including floor finishes and authentic detailing.
source : http://www.portmeirion-village.com/content.php?nID=8;ID=189;lID=1;offset=

and the cottages called “White Horses”, “Mermaid” and “The Salutation” had been a private estate called Aber Iâ (Welsh: Ice estuary), developed in the 1850s, itself on the site of a foundry and boatyard which was active in the late 18th century. Williams-Ellis changed the name, which he interpreted as “frozen mouth”, to Portmeirion – Port to place it on the coast, Meirion from the county of Merioneth / Meirionydd in which it then lay.[2]. The very minor remains of a mediaeval castle (known variously as Castell Deudraeth, Castell Gwain Goch and Castell Aber Iau) are in the woods just outside the village, recorded by Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) in 1188.

In 1931 Williams-Ellis bought from his uncle, Sir Osmund Williams, Bt, the Victorian castellated mansion Castell Deudraeth with the intention of incorporating it into the Portmeirion hotel complex but the intervention of the war and other problems prevented this. Williams-Ellis had always considered the Castell to be “the largest and most imposing single building on the Portmeirion Estate” and sought ways to incorporate it. Eventually, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund as well as the Wales Tourist Board, his original aims were achieved and Castell Deudraeth was opened as an 11 bedroom hotel and restaurant on August 20, 2001 by Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel.

The grounds contain an important collection of rhododendrons and other exotic plants in a wild-garden setting which was begun before Williams-Ellis’ time by the previous owner George Henry Caton Haigh and has continued to be developed since his death.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Popularity: 4% [?]

The trusted hound of Prince Llewellyn the Great of Wales.

Llewellyn the Great (in Welsh, Llewellyn Fawr) was a prince of north Wales who united all of Gwynedd. He was born in 1173, probably in either Dolbadarn or Dolwyddelan castle, and died in 1240, of a stroke, in Aberconwy.

Llewellyn was married to Joan Plantaganet, the natural daughter of King John of England, with whom he had a son Daffydd. He was also married to a Welshwoman named Tannsgwyl Roch, with whom he had another son, Llewellyn, and a daughter, Helen.

He is also thought to have built the castle at Criccieth, on the Llyn Peninsula, around 1230.Having been left to guard his master’s infant son, the hound,  Gellert killed a wolf that attempted to attack the child Daffyd. Llewellyn, returning home to find the baby missing and Gellert’s muzzle stained with blood, assumed that the dog had destroyed his son, and stabbed it. He later found the child unharmed beneath the overturned cradle, with the wolf’s corpse beside him. The remorseful prince caused Gellert to be honourably buried on Mt. Snowden, and he named the place Beddgelert (Grave of Gellert).

If anyone fancies correcting this or adding to it, please comment it!

The Grave of Gellert..

Popularity: 10% [?]

During Elizabethan times, Shakespeare refers to the custom of wearing a leek as an “ancient tradition”, and his character Henry V tells Fluellen that he is wearing a leek “for I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.”

Even earlier than this, entries in the household accounts of the ‘Welsh’ Tudor Kings of England, record payments for leeks worn by the household guards on St. David’s Day.

Earlier still in the fourteenth century, it is known that the feared Welsh archers adopted the green and white colours of the leek for their uniforms, perhaps at the Battle of Crecy.

Earlier than this however, myth and legend begin to intertwine. According to one legend recorded by the English poet Michael Drayton in the early 1600’s, the leek was associated with St. David the Patron Saint of Wales who died in 589 AD. It is possible that the poet made up the story; however it tells how St. David ordered his soldiers to wear the leek on their helmets in a battle against the hated pagan Saxon invaders of Britain. The battle itself is also said to have taken place in a field full of leeks.

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Wales-History/TheLeek.htm

Popularity: 44% [?]

It would be far less painfull for Gwynedd council to just tell all  independant traders, that they are not interested in there counciltax or income in general, and just kill the great independance which has been central to Pwhelli as a Town for Many Many years.

Its amazing to think that in the 1940’s it was one of the Main farmers markets in north wales isnt it…

Well now Gwynedd council, having put an Asda and a Aldi there are adding a whole host of tourist items to it.. Small trader, QUIT whilst your ahead.. Oh and sue the council if you can as well

Developers have unveiled plans to regenerate a retail park at Pwllheli in Gwynedd.

The proposal by St Malo has a food superstore along with non-food shops, a car park and a road link between Cardiff Road and Ala Road in the town.

A spokesman for Gwynedd County Council said there would be “considerable constraints” to developing the site.

St Malo is also linked to a plan to build a bowling alley, cinema, hotel, restaurants and shops on Anglesey.

The company said it had secured 40 acres of land south of Ala Road in Pwllheli in 2006.

It said the proposal for a food superstore along with other shops would be on 18 acres of “developable land” which comprises low-lying grazing enclosures and brown-field land.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7795932.stm

Popularity: 14% [?]

I have recently been reading this fantastic book by Thomas Firbank, originally written in 1940.

A fantastically comical, yet interesting insight into sheep farming in the snowdonia national park pre and during the wars.

It also covers there journey over the 14 13,00 mountains,  and is a great read.

Whilst trying to find the exact location of the farm on google, I came across this article.  dated 2005.

A Snowdonia hill farm made famous in a best-selling book has been acquired by a conservation body.

Dyffryn Mymbyr near Capel Curig was left to the National Trust in a bequest by hill farmer, Esmee Kirby.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4215429.stm

Now why isnt it listed on the national trust web site as somewhere in gwynedd to visit?

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-property-searchresults_2.htm?type=region&target=10

Answers please. As I actually would love to go and see the place!

Popularity: 15% [?]

Ginger is a spice from Indo-Malaysia. The ginger root was believed to sooth an upset stomach or to prevent a cold.

Each ginger species has a different culinary usage; for example, myoga is valued for the stem and flowers.

Myoga ginger

Garden ginger’s rhizome is the classic spice “ginger”, and may be used whole,

candied (known commonly as crystallized ginger), or dried and powdered. Other popular gingers used in cooking include cardamom and turmeric, though neither of these examples is a “true ginger” – they belong to different genera in the Zingiberaceae family.

More ….

Popularity: 22% [?]

Dawn here Maldwyn Jones’ Daughter the fisherman who went missing back in April. i’m after a favour, i’m doing a walk up Snowdon 2 May 09 and wonder if you could post it on here for me to get the sponsorship money up, i’m doing it for the Porthdinllaen Lifeboat who were out looking for my day, it was also printed in the Caernarfon Herald today

For more information on the walk, or to donate money, email Dawn at mcfc_76@hotmail.com

Popularity: 21% [?]

removed for now

Popularity: 23% [?]

following a search on local history I came across this site.

Hidden Lives Revealed provides an intriguing encounter with children who were in the care of The Children’s Society in late Victorian and early 20th Century Britain. Find out more

Its really very interesting!

Popularity: 14% [?]

A red rose on a white background is regarded as the official flag of Lancashire. The red rose was the emblem of the Duchy of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. The rose sits on two points which shows that the flag is the right way up.

Cheshire County flag

The cheshire flag is a banner of the arms of the county council. I will put more information online about the signficance of the county flag in due time.

Popularity: 15% [?]

When it is 609.6 meters above sea level.

A Welsh hill has been upgraded to a mountain after three walkers found its official measurement was just too low.

Mynydd Graig Goch in Snowdonia was originally put at 1,998ft (609m), just short of the magic 2,000ft (609.6m) that qualifies as a mountain.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7623904.stm

Popularity: 20% [?]

It is boring, I am sat, with another two mums in a helicopter, bored. Steve is wandering around trying to find something to amuse himself and one of the other parents. The kids? Running around the air museum jumping in and out of aeroplanes and pretending they are in fact in the middle of this terrible war!

I was always told that museums were for older people. In fact i have realised that museums are for those interested in what the museum is showing, or in the case of the air museum in caernarfon. Its fantastic for a group of home edd kids

Vicki xx

Popularity: 17% [?]

This morning I woke mummy up with a kiss, then went to see Granny. It was 6.45 what else does she expect?

Granny and I ate breakfast, and then i watched some olympics and played in the lounge. At around 9.30 mummy came down stairs and helped me get ready for a day on the beach at Dinas with Granny.

Mummy dropped us off, andup camp just under the shadow of the iron age hill fort.

Dinas Dinlle Iron Age hillfort has been built on an isolated hill of glacial drift near the village of Llandwrog and has been eroded considerably by the sea. Originally, the fort was surrounded by two earthen ramparts with a deep ditch between. Where the defences survive, they are of impressive size, with an overall height of 6 meters. The interior of the fort contained circular buildings and other structures towards the eastern side. The site has not been fully excavated, but sherds of Roman pottery have been discovered in the past, suggesting occupation or reoccupation in the 2nd or 3rd centuries AD. A large mound in the north-east corner may be a Bronze Age barrow. This description is based on: Frances Lynch, A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Gwynedd, 2nd edn, (London: HMSO, 2001), pp. 74-75.

http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/small/item/GTJ25095/

I played in the sand dunes, and did cooking on the beach for my “big up to the sky suzie” I also enjoyed a teacake with granny and mummy bought me a new bucket and spade.

Although it was windy, with a windbreak up and long trousers it was good fun today.

After a day on the beach, granny went home and I went to bed early again. I love all this great time we get to have outside in the summer.

Now if anyone knows anything about a wreck on the beach… please let me know!

Popularity: 19% [?]

Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.
Cytgan

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwl
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r hen iaith barhau.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn i’m golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd i mi.
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwald tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ac erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad

And in English?

The land of my fathers is dear unto me,
Old land where the minstrels are honoured and free:
Its warring defenders, so gallant and brave,
For freedom their life’s blood they gave

Land!,Land!,True I am to my land!

While seas secure,

this land so pure,

o may our old language endure.

O land of the mountains, the bard’s paradise,
Whose precipice, valleys lone as the skies,
Green murmuring forest, far echoing flood
Fire the fancy and quicken the blood

For tho’ the fierce foeman has ravaged your realm,
The old speech of Wales he cannot o’erwhelm,
Our passionate poets to silence command
Or banish the harp from your strand.

Popularity: 11% [?]

The Irish Mail train ploughed into six runaway trucks at Llanddulas.

Thirty three people died on August 20, 1868, when the Irish Mail train ploughed into six runaway trucks at Llanddulas, near Abergele.

Most of the bodies were so badly burned they could not be identified.

The victims were buried in a mass grave at St Michael’s Church, Abergele, where the service will be held on August 24.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7571806.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abergele_rail_disaster

Popularity: 17% [?]

After a small lie in, we trapsed down to pwhelli, as the post office Van had forgoten to arrive on time last wednesday. After some food, in our normal cafe in Pwhelli we then did a back road drive to Caernarfon, then approaching Caernarfon there was a queue of traffic so we diverted again, and arrived in Bangor for a trip to the Pier. Followed by a visit to friends.

Bangor Pier was re-opened in 1988. Almost 100 years after it was first built.

pdf done on history of Bangor Pier here.

Asha enjoyed herself, playing on the Pier and doing forwards rolls and handstands allong the length of the Pier. She was greatly amused at having a wee wee and watching the water underneath her feet whilst she did it!

There was loads of kids crabbing along the lenght of the pier and they were all catching things, and there was some lovely sailing boats sailing past.

The view of the Menai was clear and beautifull, and it was lovely.

After our trip, we left Asha with L, F and J who Asha loves, and had a great time with whilst we dealt once more with the DWP.

Vicki xx

Popularity: 28% [?]

I have uploaded two new PDF files tonight. One is information about some of the butterflies used in the RSPB summer project. The other is a short peice on the lighthouse “Roman Rock” in Simonstown, which Steve’s Grandad used to be the keeper for.

I hope you enjoy them both, as much as I have enjoyed creating them!

Vicki xx

Popularity: 19% [?]