N E W S L E T T E R Cymdeithas Ddinesig Bro Porthaethwy Menai Bridge and District Civic Society C Y L C H L Y T H Y R Dates for your diary: Spring/Gwanwyn 2013 Page/Tudalen 1 More details on page 3 January 25th Mr. John 40th Anniversary - what did we look like then? Vernon Jones, Trefor Isaf Farm, 2012 Chairman Angle- Foreshore, cot- sey Show. History of the tages and the old Anglesey Show. bridge at Cadnant February 28th THURS- ((1960s) DAY 7.30pm Annual Below - new Dinner Mrs. Wendy Cadnant Bridge Rees, Director BBC North and close up of Wales. The BBC Opera- tions in North Wales. the old bridge. March 23rd Ian Haw- kins, RSPB. Malltraeth Marsh: Developing a wetland April 26th 7pm Menai Bridge Band. Mr. Gwilym Below - close up of Roberts (senior band mem- ber) History, old instru- the old bridge. ments and quartet entertain- ment. May 24th AGM Mrs Julie Stone, ‘Building the Bri- tannia Bridge—some family stories’ Lectures start at 7.30pm (unless otherwise stated) and are held in the Community Centre, Water Street, Menai Bridge. Our Civic Society was founded 40 years ago this year. We were not amongst the first in Wales; Conwy Valley Inside this issue: was founded in 1969, Ruthin and District in 1988, Car- marthen 1968, Llandaff 1977 and The Gower Society 40th Anniversary 1 (which also operates as a civic society) began in 1947). The founders of our Society were active advocates of Civic Trust—national 2 conserving the best of our heritage long before the news 1970s but perhaps the additional pressures of ‗development‘ such as the new bridge and the flats at Programme notes 2 Glyn Garth Court encouraged a more formal approach. The new bridge is an improvement from the point of view of traffic flow but would you wish Award Nomina- 2 to see similar ‗improvements‘ all along the road to Beaumaris? The road is difficult for tions coaches on their way to Beaumaris and I would imagine the High Street in Beaumaris is awk- Future Events 3 ward too. We will be celebrating our Birthday later in the year and would like you to join in by letting News from our 3 us have your photos, memories of life in the town in the 1960s and 1970s and especially of the County Councillors activities and events organised by the Society and other local groups and clubs. Planning , Local 4 News, Public Meeting Memories of Menai Bridge - Mair Jones, 12 Rhyd Menai, Menai Bridge. The late Mair Jones, youngest of three sisters, was born in 1913 at 31 Cadnant Road, Menai Bridge. The Contacts 4 property, one of a row of cottages, was demolished in 1972 to make way for the ‗new‘ Cad- nant bridge. Page/Tudalen 2 CIVIC TRUST and NATIONAL NEWS Historic waterfronts – the products of time and chance ―For thirty years or more, the idea rather than urban design. Is it familiarity that makes us see that people‘s fascination with artfulness in places such as Conwy or Aberaeron? By and water can provide the motor for large our interventions have been careful – at Llangollen urban regeneration has had an for instance, or at Bridgend, where an unashamedly mod- hypnotic influence over develop- ern approach has created a riverside walkway on the edge ers, planners, designers and politi- of the historic town centre.‖ Thanks to the Welsh Civic cians. The Welsh quest for this Society for this extract from their Newsletter. talisman began in Swansea in the And also timely reminder that our own waterfront - in a early 1980s. Since then redevelopment of industrial or his- conservation area - has become a hotch potch of build- toric (or both) waterfronts has touched towns and cities in ings where new buildings should complement the old. north, south and west Wales. It has inspired more modest No one could say the old timberyard buildings should be schemes in inland towns with a canal or river frontage handy. preserved for posterity but what a sad state of affairs that Some features of traditional waterfronts have been well we are replacing them with concrete slabs. received , such as Swansea or Penarth; others have had a mixed response (Cardiff? Newport? Caernarfon?). Liz Moyle AUTUMN PROGRAMME NOTES Nov. 23rd What is our local environment? An Sept. 20th Thursday Visit to Plas Cadnant. environmental forensic introduction to Anglesey by Many thanks to all at Plas Cadnant for making us so wel- Dr. Stephen Mudge proved an exciting introduction to come. The new Information Centre is splendid and so are environmental detective work by an acknowledged na- the home made refreshments in the tea room! It‘s a con- tional expert. His skills are in great demand and we hope stant delight to see how the gardens and facilities for visitors he will return next year with more information of his develop. work locally and internationally. Sept. 28th The rivalry of Plas Newydd and Baron Dec. 14th Menai Bridge’s Conservation Area-how Hill. Rev. Neil Fairlamb provided an enthralling and au- it works. Thanks to Dave Jump, I of ACC Planning Office thoritative description of the relationship between these two for providing more information about the new families over the years. ‗Supplementary Planning Guidance‘. The detailed informa- Oct. 26th Fish Weirs in North Wales. David Hope- tion given in the Character Appraisal is worthwhile well, Gwynedd Archaeological Trust showed us just how reading it its own right. We have copies you can borrow many there are in North Wales and of their importance to or it should be available on the Council‘s website shortly. the local economy for the past 100 years (or more) up until Concern was expressed that the Council lacks resources the 1920s. Now we know what those strange remains/ to ensure the Guidance is implemented. structures are on the foreshore. Menai Bridge and District Civic Society 40th Anniversary Awards Nominations invited. Our second Award continues - to recognise good design and celebrate excellence in local endeavour, that makes a contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment, in Menai Bridge and District A further prize will recognise the contribution by an individual or group towards improving community life. The Competition rules are quite simple : 1. The building work or activity must have taken place in Menai Bridge and District within the year i.e. January 2013 to January 2014 2. You cannot nominate yourself or a family member. 3. Send details to the Hon Secretary by 30th June 2013. There is no form to complete; just explain the reason for John Hemingway portrait restored. John He- your choice in not more than 50 words and add details of mingway (1795-1872) was the contractor responsible for the location/site and name(s) of those nominated. Decision by the Committee is final and results will be announced in construction of the masonry towers and abutments at Bri- the Autumn Newsletter. tannia Bridge. Portrait on its arrival at Menai Bridge with (l This year we would like to emphasise the contribution of gardens to r) Julie Stone, historian; Bob Daimond, Chair MBCHT; to town life— these can be public gardens or the garden of a Mark Johnson and Stuart Phillips - great great grandsons of house, but should be open to or visible to visitors or passers by. John Hemingway. Born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, John He- Gardens by their very nature are seasonal so if you want ‗your‘ mingway moved to Menai Bridge to supervise the work at garden to be seen at its best take photos and ask a member of the Britannia and remained living in Craig Owen (now Oriel Committee to come and have a look. Tegfryn Art Gallery) in the town for the rest of his life. He is buried on Church Island. Autumn/Hydref 2012 Page/Tudalen 3 FUTURE EVENTS Mrs R Hufton, Treasurer, 2 Beach Rd. Menai Regular meetings are held in the Menai Bridge War Me- Bridge, LL59 5HB. , 14th February 2013 at the morial Community Centre and start at 7.30 p.m. unless latest. stated otherwise If anyone doesn’t have transport or is willing to January 25th Mr. John Vernon Jones, Trefor Isaf Farm, 2012 share transport please contact Jane Cherrett now Chairman Anglesey Show. History of the Anglesey Show. on 01248 713440 February 28th THURSDAY 7.30pm Annual Dinner March 23rd Ian Hawkins, RSPB. Malltraeth Marsh: Mrs. Wendy Rees, Director BBC North Wales. The BBC Developing a wetland Operations in North Wales. April 26th 7pm Menai Bridge Band. Mr. Gwilym Our Annual Dinner will be held at the Carreg Mon Roberts (senior band member) History, old instruments Hotel (formerly Carreg Bran), Llanfair PG. and quartet entertainment. Meet at 7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. Completed booking May 24th AGM Mrs Julie Stone, ‘Building the Britannia forms and cheques made out to the Menai Bridge and Bridge—some family stories’ Jane Cherrett District Civic Society should be sent to NEWS FROM OUR COUNTY COUNCILLORS News from Councillor Keith Evans, Local Member for the Cadnant Ward. Council Elections . across Anglesey, at the County Council and Town/Community Council levels, are planned for early May and major changes will happen this time, at least on the County Council scene. Eleven new multi-member wards will be introduced, to return 30 Councillors, instead of the traditional single-member format of 40 Councillors, and this means that in Menai Bridge the Cadnant and Tysilio wards have been scrapped. The Welsh Assembly Local Government Minister's dictat is for Menai Bridge, Llanfairpwll and Penmynydd to be merged, forming an electorate estimated at 5,035, and to retum three Councillors, one less than at present.