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Home , Bwlch, Llanspyddid

ISSUE 63 FEBRUARY 2019

Introducing The Forum BRECKNOCK MUSEUM Contact: Nigel Blackmore, Senior Curator Tel. 01874 624121

BRECKNOCK SOCIETY AND MUSEUM FRIENDS Contact: Elaine Starling Tel. 01874 711484 email: [email protected]

BRECON LIBRARY Tel. 01874 62334 Editorial BRECONSHIRE LOCAL & FAMILY It's snowing outside while I'm writing HISTORY SOCIETY this edition but it will soon be spring Mr Robert Eckley, 42, Pendre Close, and you will all be looking forward to , LD3 9EW. getting out and about across the county email: [email protected] to all the wonderful history events presented below. Enjoy! Welcome to & DISTRICT HERITAGE entries from newcomers Cusop History SOCIETY Society and Herefordshire FHS. Contact: Anna Page Tel. 01982 553376 Mal Morrison [email protected] Hanes is published every 3 months. The st next edition is to be published May 1 CHRIST COLLEGE ARCHIVE 2019. Please email any articles or Contact: Felicity Kilpatrick information about events etc. with the Tel. 01874 615440 heading "HANES" to [email protected] by DISTRICT ARCHIVE CENTRE April 31st 2019 Secretary: Wendy Parker. Contact: [email protected] CRICKHOWELL & DISTRICT HISTORY & DISTRICT HERITAGE SOCIETY & ARTS CENTRE Contact: Carol Jenkins Contact: Rob Thomas Tel. 01873 812184 Tel. 01591 610661 email: [email protected] CUSOP HISTORY GROUP www.llanwrtydhistorygroup.com http://cusophistory.wix.com/cusop LLYN SYFADDAN HISTORY GROUP CYNON VALLEY MUSEUM Contact: Roger Reese Depot Road, Aberdare CF44 8DL. email: [email protected] Tel: 01685 886729 Email:engagement@cynonvalleymuseu COUNTY ARCHIVE OFFICE m. email: [email protected] www.powys.gov.uk/archives HAY HISTORY GROUP Tel. 01597 826088 Contact: Peter Ford Tel. 01497820676 POWYS FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY email: [email protected] Contact: Sheila Leitch Tel: 01497 847354 www.Hayhistorygroup.co.uk www.haytours.co.uk REGIMENTAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL WELSH HEREFORDSHIRE FHS and POWYS FHS Contact: Richard Davies / Celia Green email: [email protected] Tel. 01874 613310 3, Cagebrook Avenue, Hunderton, Hereford. HR2 7AS AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL Tel. 01432 355723 SOCIETY Contact: Sheila Lovell LOCAL Tel. 01874 711096 HISTORY SOCIETY Email: [email protected] Contact: Sue Lilly Tel. 01591 610792 WELSH HISTORIC GARDENS TRUST Email: [email protected] Contact: Elizabeth Siberry Tel. 01873 812169 LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Contact: Ann Jessopp FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Tel. 01874 730431 Contact: Caryl Jones Tel: 01269 email: [email protected] 825306

LLANTHONY HISTORY GROUP Contact: Oliver Fairclough Tel. 01873 890 540 [email protected]

News AND EVENTS

Young Archaeologists’ Club The Brecon Beacons Young Archaeologists’ Club is part of a network of Young Archaeologists’ Clubs across Wales, and the UK, administered by the Council for British Archaeology. YAC is the only UK-wide club for young people up to the age of 17 interested in archaeology. YAC’s vision is for all At the Council Chamber, Guildhall, young people to have opportunities to Brecon. Free Entry :. If you would like be inspired and excited by archaeology, more information contact John Gibbs and to empower them to help shape its (018747 30747; [email protected]) or future. The Brecon Beacons Young Elaine Starling (01874 711484 or Archaeologists’ Club was established by [email protected] ) a group of local volunteers in order to fill a gap in the provision of YAC Fri. 22nd March 7.00pm branches in the Brecon Beacons and the Sir John Lloyd Lecture Writing History. Usk Valley. Brecon Beacons YAC is "Writing History- The world of supported by the Brecon Beacons Theophilus Jones, our County National Park Authority. Historian." Prys Morgan, Emeritus You can find out more about the Brecon Professor at Swansea Universit Beacons Young Archaeologists’ Club by Theatre Brycheiniog ( Tickets are free visiting our blog but have to be booked in advance) http://bbyac.wordpress.com/ Sat. 30th March 7.00pm ‘Llanspyddid through the ages’ - Brecknock Society & Illustrated talk by local historian Museum Friends Jonathan Williams on the history of the church and village from Roman times Tue. 19th February 3.00pm onward, including an update on the Merthyr, Brecon’s Great Neighbour future use of the church. In association - Joe England. Merthyr Tydfil, the first with the Friends of . wholly industrialised town in Wales, Admission free. St Cattwg’s Church, symbolises entrepreneurial energy, Llanspyddid, LD3 8PB persistent radicalism and civic advancement. Two centuries cover Mon. 8th April 2.30pm rising prosperity and then a swift Annual General Meeting. Venue TBA. descent into poverty and uncertainty.

24th-25th April Tue. 7th May - History of the Gurkhas A Conference at Brecon Cathedral( in Brecon. Major (Retd) Guptaman Society are partners) Gurung will speak about the long and Reading ,Writing and Collecting: Books valued relationship between the Town and Manuscripts in Wales and the Gurkas. Y Gaer Further details to be announced. Tue. 4th June AGM and Talk Sun. 28th April 3.00pm Annual Full details of Talk nearer the event. memorial evensong to commemorate Y Gaer the death of Breconshire poet and physician Henry Vaughan, including Research advice for both family and wreath laying at his grave, address by local history is available on the third Rev Dr Peter Pike and refreshments. Saturday in the month, at Brecon Admission free; retiring collection. St Library, between 11am and midday. Bridget’s Church, , LD3 All are welcome. 7YF Find us on Facebook: Breconshire Local & www.facebook.com/breconblfhs Our Website details are: Family History Society www.blfhs.co.uk - For more details Tue. 5th February 2pm. about our Society, e-mail: A Guided Tour of the Guildhall in [email protected] Brecon with Cllr Ieuan Williams. Venue: Guildhall, Brecon The Society meets monthly at 2pm, upstairs in Brecon Library, Ship Street, Tue. 5th March - Research and Brecon. Members attend the Talks for presentation: a family story. free and visitors can attend on Janet Robinson has researched her payment of £1. family history and has produced a book “Family Matters” on the subject of her family research. She will pass on tips regarding her research. Brecon Library

Tue. 2nd April - Letters from the Front – Boar War and World War One. Ann Reese has a collection of these letters sent home by soldiers on the front line and she will share some of these with us. Y Gaer

Fri. 12th April Builth Wells Heritage AGM followed by Builth Motor Club – Society Brian Jones Fri. 8th February 7.30pm Change to previously advertised Fri. 10th May programme: From the Cradle to the Grave and The speaker Malcolm Morrison talking Back Again – Philip Hughes about Buffalo Bills Wild West’s one and only visit to Powys in 1904. The Fri. 14th June illustrated talk will detail the logistics The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park – and newspaper reports of what was Richard Davies (Brecon Museum) undoubtedly the biggest single event ever to come to Powys. Recent All meetings are at 7.30pm and are discoveries of genuine artefacts from held at The Wesley Church, Garth Rd, the Builth Wells event will be on Builth Wells LD2 3AR. display. at Wesley Church, Garth Tea & coffee. Visitors Welcome £3 Road, Builth Wells. Visitors £3

Crickhowell & District History Society Wed. 20th February - (Annual General Meeting) Robin Williams:Coastal Shipping from Gloucester to Bude

Wed. 20th March - Hugh Purcell:’Up Top’, the History of the Mid wales Hospital, Talgarth

Wed. 17th April - Dr Celyn Gurden Williams: Lady Llanover and her Circle

Wed. 22nd May - Brian Davies:The View from the Rocking Horse, Pontypridd and its surroundings

Wed. 19th June - William Gibbs Fri. 8th March Seeing landscape-how artists have The Cistercians of Abbey Cwm Hir – recorded the landscape of Julian Lovell Breconshire through time

Meetings are held on Wednesday rarely seen. Places are limited so early evenings in the Parish Hall, Church booking is essential. Car sharing can Lane. There is an admission charge. be arranged and we have access to some parking nearby for a few cars.

Cusop History Group Fri. 12th April 7pm Voices of the River Wye - an oral history project by Fri. 15th February 7pm Marsha O'Mahony. Cusop Village Hall Film."Stories From The Hopyard"

From the makers of “Chewing The Our research group continues to Cud: Memories from Hereford’s old thrive and more topics keep adding to livestock market” comes a brand-new our list of projects. We will provide an heritage film about the glorious update following our meeting of traditions of hop picking in the county. researchers on Saturday 2nd Feb Visit With their distinctive aroma and our website at connections to beer and the turning of http://cusophistory.wix.com/cusop the seasons, this film mixes archive and facebook page to see the latest photographs, films and newly information, including the research recorded oral history interviews from and our photos of historical Cusop. farmers, traders, pickers and brewers.

With the renaissance of interest in hops, we listen to stories of days past Hay History Group and present from Herefordians, Hay Castle Restoration people from South Wales, the Black Country, Polish migrant workers and Gypsy Roma travellers. This film is a part of the ‘Herefordshire Life Through A Lens’ project. Free to members, £3 for non-members. (1 hour 30 mins). Refreshments available.

Sun. 3rd March 3pm Visit to Redwing, Cusop Dingle hosted by Celia Cundale. Since the white weatherproof

covering was installed over the Thu. 7th March - we have booked a scaffolding structure, it has been very visit to the Ashmolean Museum, difficult to see what is going on Oxford when we go behind the underneath. Here’s a short summary scenes with Denise Derbyshire who of the work that is being undertaken. will be leading a handling session of In the mansion, floor boards have rare and beautiful historic objects been removed to install under floor heating and the walls and floors heating and the walls and floors throughout have been taken back to throughout have been taken back to the original stone. Drainage has been the original stone. Drainage has been put in for the new kitchen, and the put in for the new kitchen, and the servants’ staircase has been partially servants’ staircase has been partially removed as it was found to be removed as it was found to be extremely rotten. It will be rebuilt and extremely rotten. It will be rebuilt and put back in the same position with put back in the same position with damaged timbers replaced. In the damaged timbers replaced. In the derelict section of the mansion, the derelict section of the mansion, the walls requiring repointing have been walls requiring repointing have been assessed and are being pointed with assessed and are being pointed with hot lime mortar. In the medieval hot lime mortar. In the medieval tower, a Victorian-era wine cellar has tower, a Victorian-era wine cellar has been removed and wall areas been removed and wall areas damaged by this structure have been damaged by this structure have been rebuilt using existing stone. On the rebuilt using existing stone. On the first floor, the apartments have been first floor, the apartments have been stripped back and the stud walls are in stripped back and the stud walls are in place for the offices and public toilet place for the offices and public toilet facilities. Across the exterior of the facilities. Across the exterior of the entire structure areas requiring entire structure areas requiring attention are being repointed. attention are being repointed.

All the stone roof tiles have been removed as have the felt and battens that lay beneath. Roofer Dilwyn Thomas found the roof structure in very good condition and currently the process of undertaking minor roof repairs is taking place. Once this is completed, the insulation will be put in and the stone tiles replaced. Once the roof is watertight again, the scaffolding roof cover can be removed in readiness for the insertion of supportive steels across the whole of the mansion.

In the mansion, floor boards have been removed to install under floor

Trenches for drainage and services – Fri. 19th April Speaker: Marsha gas, electricity and communications – O’mahony. River Voices – are being dug across the site by Extraordinary tales of the River Wye. Brecon-based Seer Construction. River Voices is filled with stories of the Drainage has turned out to be one of Wye told through the words and the more troublesome elements of photographs of those who have the project and has required high known the river all their lives – levels of discussion, planning and ferrymen and ferrywomen, boat oversight. The rainwater that comes builders and bridge builders, rowers from the roof structures of the and swimmers, anglers and poachers, building all has to go somewhere in an ghillies and river bailiffs, otter hunters efficient and ecologically sensitive and more. manner. The old pipes were blocked and inadequate, and a new drainage Herefordshire Family History Society system using a large soakaway has Monthly open meetings are held on been integrated into the the third Friday of the month at the groundworks. At this time of year, all Kindle Centre, adjacent to Asda this digging has resulted in an amazing superstore Hereford. For those with amount of mud. Archaeologist Peter satnav the post code is HR2 7JE. Dorling has been on site whenever ALL Future meetings will take place digging is taking place. upstairs in Room Q, this Room has better acoustics and will mean better appreciation of the talks and Herefordshire FHS speakers. Fri. 15th February Speaker: In the Sticks Talks: The Empress of Ireland, What really Llangynidr Local History happened. The fascinating story of the forgotten ship The Empress of Ireland Society that sank with a greater loss of Thu. 2nd May 7.00pm passengers than the more well-known Spring Meeting and AGM at Titanic. Find out the When, Where Llangynidr Village Hall. Dr Ann Benson and How. www.inthestickstalks.co.uk - The Somerset Family, Dukes of Beaufort, in South Wales. A richly Fri. 15th March Speaker: David Hill. illustrated talk tracing the family in Completely Lost in Herefordshire. their three Welsh homes, Raglan David Hill will present in his own Castle, Troy House and LLangattock inimitable style views of Herefordshire Park we all should know, but cannot think where there are exactly.

Llanthony Valley and Llanwrtyd Heritage and District History Group Arts Centre

Wed. 27th February (change of date) Wed. 6th February - a talk by Rob Panel discussion: Stephanie Tyler Thomas on “Burial or Cremation?: The (Gwent Wildlife Trust), Jeff Davies, story of Dr. William Price, surgeon, others tbc ‘Changes in our local radical, eccentric, visionary, natural environment – past and Archdruid”. future’ Fri. 1st March - we are inviting people Wed. 20th March Rupert Otten, Local to a coffee morning to celebrate St. recusancy and the Gunter project David's Day. There will be an Wednesday opportunity to sample Welsh fayre and see a display on the Tue. 16th April Clive Williams - The refurbishment work being undertaken history of the local influence of the at the Old Parish Church, St. David's, National Park situated on the Road. 2019 history walks: Wed. 6th March - Val Loveridge on Wed. 15th May The Ffwyddog “Emotional Intelligence in Education”. starting from the Pant – led by David Austin; time to be confirmed. Sat. 23rd March - we will be hosting the Builth Wells Ladies' Choir. This June and July – months, dates and starts at 7.30 p.m. and tickets are times to be confirmed: (1) Cwmyoy to £6.00 to include refreshments, Ty-Hunt-y-; (2) Llanvihangel available from the Centre or Caffi Crucorney including Llanvihangel Sospan in Llanwrtd. Court. Wed. 3rd April - a talk entitled “ My History Group projects: We are Career in HM Diplomatic Service; my planning to start a new project about experiences around the world” with the history of the houses and their Alan Huckle. residents in the Llanthony and Grwyne Fawr Valleys and Forest Wed. 1st May - “Dame Adelina Patti: Coalpit and Bettws. Contact Pip Bevan one of the greatest sopranos in the [[email protected], 01873 world” with John Rath. (We plan to 890609]. share this talk with Llangammarch History Society and the venue will Annual membership: £10 a household, be announced later as either at the £7 an individual; visitors £4. Llanwrtyd Heritage Centre or the

Alexandra Hall). Talks start at 7.00 Mixed School, Form 2, September p.m. and admission is £2.00 to include 1940 with names; Senior refreshments. and Endowed Primary School 1947; Defynnog residents with The Centre will be open to visitors as names n.d. (Acc 2532) from Thursday 4th April when we will also be showing our first two Breconshire County Council Minutes exhibitions in the Art Gallery featuring April 1927 - January 1929 (Acc 2533) landscape paintings by Ray Burnell and painting and fabric design from Genevieve Caminade. In May “New Powys Family History Start Art” will be displaying in both Society - Brecknock Group the upper and lower galleries and include a number of participating Mon. 25th February Mr Steve artists. Roderick will give a talk on T C Thomas and the Llynsafaddan Players As previously, the Centre will be open through the season into October, from Details of the March and April Thursday to Sunday (10.00 a.m. to meetings not yet finalised 4.00 p.m.) plus Bank Holidays. All meetings are held at Kensington Church, Brecon at 7.30pm Llyn Syfaddan History

Group y Gaer Thu. 18th April 7.30 pm “Someone's Watching Over You” A Interpretation Project for Brecknock history of aerial photography over Museum & Art Gallery Wales. Given by Medwyn Parry of the Royal Commission for the Ancient The Volunteer Task Monuments of Wales. All welcome £3 Volunteers on the Interpretation at the door for non members. At Project are asked to research and Llangasty Village Hall. assemble information on one or more of the exhibits to be covered by the information terminals. The Powys Archives accompanying illustrated list gives Recent accessions relating to some examples of the range of Breconshire: exhibits to be covered. Some 4 photographs relating to Breconshire volunteers will have some special - Sennybridge football team 1910 with expertise or will perhaps be names; Sennybridge Senior Council knowledgeable about a particular part of Breconshire, others will simply like An Information Project webpage is the idea of delving into the being developed where supporting background of a person, painting or information will be available about artefact! Volunteers will each have a the Information Project. If you have mentor from the project team who any queries about being a volunteer will either allocate or help them on the Interpretation Project, please choose particular exhibits to work on, contact Dr Liz Bickerton 01874 636926 and to whom they can turn for further / [email protected] guidance or feedback. Brecknock Society & Museum Friends Volunteers will be expected to work www.brecknocksociety.co.uk largely from home and need to have access to a computer and the internet. They are asked to deliver a relatively simple initial layer of interpreted material on each of the exhibits to be covered by the information terminals in time for the opening of y Gaer in late February / early March 2019. They will go on to assemble additional layers of interpreted material, including carrying out any additional research. (‘Interpreted material’ includes photos, sound recordings and videos as well as text.) BS&MF will issue guidance and organise training workshops to help volunteers in planning their research and in obtaining and assembling information. The actual task of uploading the interpreted material onto the tablets will be done by others on the project team. The Interpretation Project will finish at the end of March 2020. All volunteers are asked to complete a registration form which includes terms and conditions, data protection etc. On finishing their task, volunteers are also asked to hand over and assign to the Museum an ‘e-file’ containing material from their researches for future use.