Category: Readers Articles of Interest

Samuel Finley Breeze Morse

 


SAMUEL MORSE

 

 

Samuel Finley Breeze Morse was born in Charlestown, Mass. on 27th April 1791. He was not a scientist – he was a professional artist. Educated at Phillip’s Academy at Andover, he graduated from Yale in 1810 and he lived in England from 1811 to 1815, exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1813. He spent the next ten years as an itinerant artist with a particular interest in portraiture. He returned to America in 1832 having been appointed Professor of Painting and Sculpture at the University of the City of New York. It was on this homeward voyage that he overheard a shipboard discussion on electromagnets. This was the seed out of which the electric telegraph grew. Morse is remembered for his Code, still used, and less for the invention that enabled it to be used, probably since landline telegraphy eventually gave way to wireless telegraphy.

The first message sent by the electric telegraph was “What hath God wrought”, from the Supreme Court Room in the Capitol to the railway depot at Baltimore on May 24th 1844. For his 80th birthday in 1871 a statue was unveiled in Central Park on June 10th, with two thousand telegraphists present. Morse was not, but was that evening at the Academy of Music for an emotional acclamation of his work.

Although most people nowadays would think of Morse code being used for long-distance radiotelegraphy, the land-line telegraph was standard until about 1880 for short-distance metropolitan communication. Over longer distances the telegraph tended to follow the line of the railways because there were no difficulties over rights-of-way. The lines were mostly overhead, since the problems of insulating underground lines proved insuperable for many years – indeed the development of the original line was hampered owing to this problem.
The telegraph, of course, came to be important for the military, being used first at Varna during the Crimean War in 1854. It was widely used in the American Civil War, where rapid deployment techniques for land-lines were developed; the Spanish-American War found the first use of telegraphy for newspaper correspondents (1898). The first military use for radio telegraphy was during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 – 5.

Cardiff And The Bute Family

 


CARDIFF AND THE BUTE FAMILY

 

Anyone living in the Cardiff area will have heard the word Bute. It is associated with many areas such as Bute Docks, Bute Street, Bute Park and many more. But how many of us know where the Bute family came from and how they came to own so much land in South Wales?

In October I joined a party from the Contemporary Arts Society of Wales to travel to Scotland to visit the ancestral home of the Bute family, which is called Mount Stuart, on the Isle of Bute.

The story begins in the 18th century with John Stuart, the 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792), who was not only a powerful statesman but also a passionate patron of the arts. In 1761, he became the Prime Minister of Great Britain and guided the young King George III. While his political career took him to the heights of power, his heart always belonged to Scotland and the beautiful Isle of Bute.

John Stuart’s son was also called John Stuart and he was the 4th Earl of Bute and the 1st Marquess of Bute. He married Charlotte Windsor (1746-1800) from whom he inherited vast tracts of land across South Wales including Cardiff Castle, Caerphilly Castle, and Castell Coch. Much of this land contained minerals including, of course, coal.

It was his grandson, John Crichton-Stuart, who would become the 2nd Marquess of Bute, that truly left an indelible mark on the family’s history and their connection to Cardiff. Born in 1793, he inherited the Marquessate at a young age and was determined to honour his family’s Scottish heritage while embracing new opportunities. He saw the opportunity to lease his land and received income from the extraction of coal and other minerals.

In the early 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was sweeping across Britain, transforming cities and landscapes. One of these cities was Cardiff, which was transitioning from a small port town into a bustling industrial hub due to its coal exports. The Marquess saw the potential in Cardiff and decided to invest in the city, turning it into a thriving metropolis.

The Bute family poured their resources into the development of Cardiff, including the construction of the Cardiff Docks, which became one of the world’s largest coal-exporting ports. They also financed the construction of numerous buildings, parks, and cultural institutions, leaving an enduring legacy in the city.

But the Bute family’s most famous contribution to Cardiff is undoubtedly Cardiff Castle. The Marquess and his architect, William Burges, undertook a massive restoration and renovation project that transformed the castle into a neo-gothic masterpiece. The interiors of the castle were adorned with

intricate designs, stained glass, and opulent furnishings, creating a stunning testament to the family’s commitment to art and culture.

As time went on, the Bute family continued to shape Cardiff’s growth and prosperity. They played a pivotal role in the development of the railways, enabling even greater access to the city’s coal exports. They also supported the establishment of schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions, ensuring that Cardiff became a city known not only for its industry but also for its vibrant culture and community.

The Bute family’s connection to Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute remained strong throughout the generations. The stunning Mount Stuart House, with its beautiful gardens and rich history, became a symbol of their enduring love for Scotland. On our visit on a sunny day in early October, the gardens looked magnificent while the house itself was a veritable palace. The style is called Gothic Revival and the scale of it is simply vast. The ornate ceilings are as high as the roof of a cathedral, the marble was carved in Italy and the craftsmen brought their work to Bute. The stained glass is superb, and the intricate wooden panels were carved in the Bute workshops in Cardiff before being shipped to Scotland. If you are ever in Scotland, it is well worth the effort of taking the short ferry ride across to the Isle of Bute to visit this exceptional Mount Stuart.

Here in Cardiff, we can explore the legacy of the Bute family by wandering through Cardiff Castle’s opulent rooms, strolling along the picturesque Bute Park, and learning about the city’s industrial heritage. Meanwhile, on the Isle of Bute, Mount Stuart House stands as a testament to the family’s deep-rooted connection to their Scottish roots.

In September 1947, the Fifth Marquess of Bute handed over the keys of Cardiff Castle to Lord Mayor, Alderman George Ferguson. In what was described as “a gesture of truly royal nature” the Castle, along with its parkland, was presented as a gift to the people of the city. As reports at the time reflected, it was “no longer Cardiff Castle but Cardiff’s Castle”. Did you know that if you live or work in Cardiff then you are entitled to your very own Key to the Castle with free admission to this world-class heritage attraction for 3 years? To obtain your own key you simply have to visit the Castle ticket office with proof that you live or work in the City.

The Bute family’s story is one of ambition, vision, and dedication to both their Scottish heritage and the city of Cardiff. Their contributions continue to shape the cultural and architectural landscape of these two remarkable places, ensuring that their legacy lives on for generations to come.

Alun Davies

A Resident Remembers


A RESIDENT REMEMBERS

After bombing raids on Cardiff in 1941 which saw houses in Grangetown flattened by the use of parachute bombs; these explosives were naval mines that were dropped by parachute and would explode at roof level causing maximum impact to the surrounding area. An 8 year old Brian Williams was evacuated, along with the other children. Brian was sent to The Marish Farm in Brecon where he spent the next 18 months getting to grips with farming life in rural Wales. The farmer’s first words to him were “you’re in the country now boy so make sure you shut the gates”. He made a nostalgic return this year, 82 years after his first visit, where he met with the farm’s current owners and told them of his time there. Threshing wheat, shearing sheep, riding horses and by all accounts thoroughly enjoying his time on the farm.

 

 

Beauty And The Beast

Beauty And The Beast

Whether you’re enjoying a ramble along this stretch of the Wales Coastal Path, enjoying a coffee or hot Welsh cakes from the café, or just stopped by to take in the views, Nash Point continues to wow visitors every day. With a large bedrock beach full of fossils and fertile rock pools, stunning rugged cliffs and rock formations, the views are topped off with the majestic Nash Point Lighthouse. In 1977 a rare plant, the Tuberous Thistle, was even discovered growing within the lighthouse station and the grounds were subsequently declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest. However Nash Point has a much darker, even tragic history, meaning walkers and seamen still need to keep their safety firmly in mind.

For those walking the coastal path the Summer experience, of course, changes dramatically in the Autumn when the reason for the Nash Point lighthouse becomes increasingly clear. Together with frequent storms and thick fog, the strong currents have led to many a shipping disaster with many vessels driven aground on the Nash Sands. There is in fact a long history of shipwrecks in the area. In 2019 excavations carried out near Nash Point by Cardiff University unearthed bones thought to be from shipwreck victims from Tudor and Stuart times. There are many local tales of the period when smugglers and wreckers apparently lured vessels onto rocks, attacked the crew, and looted the cargo.

It was a shipping tragedy in 1831 which led to the building of the Nash Point lighthouse. Frolic was an early wooden, steam powered vessel based in Bristol and used for a cargo service between West Wales and Bristol. It was also one of the first paddle steamers to be operated in the Bristol Channel as a ferry service. Frolic was very popular because before the age of the railway it was quicker to travel by sea than road. It’s life came to a violent end whilst sailing from Haverfordwest during a violent storm on the night of 16th March. The 34 metre long ship came to grief on Nash sands at around 3.00 am. In all, 78 lives were lost, consisting of 63 passengers, including high ranking officers and a General, many women and children, and 15 crew. Their remains were washed ashore from Barry to Southerndown and buried in various churchyards along the coastal area of the Bristol Channel.

The public outcry at the loss of the Frolic led to the Nash Point Lighthouses at Marcross being built by Trinity House in 1832 to warn shipping of the danger. Originally, two towers 300 metres apart had fixed lights powered by paraffin. When navigating the Bristol Channel the pilot would sail so that these were lined up in his sights, ensuring that the vessel would be south of Nash Sandbank. The Lighthouse Tower (originally painted black and white stripes) near the lighthouse keepers’ cottages, once housed the west or low light and was 25 metres high. The Lighthouse Tower with the east or high light is 37 metres high and is nearer the fog horn. At the beginning of the 20th century the low light was removed and the high light was changed to a catadioptric lens with white and red group flashing. It was modernised again in 1968 when it was electrified. Interestingly Nash Point Lighthouse was the last manned lighthouse in Wales to go automatic when it became computer controlled in 1998 and the keepers left two years later. The fog horn is no longer used for shipping purposes but is heard when it is sounded on special occasions.

Shipwrecks and other related debris still litter the beaches and coastal waters. In 1948 there were 24 notified wrecks in the Bristol Channel. By 1950, 14 had been cleared by either demolition charges being placed on board, or if sunk on a muddy bottom, by placing explosive charges around them, and covering them by exploding the charges and depositing a thick layer of mud over them. One ship, a tanker of over 10,000 tons that was sunk off Nash Point, required the use of 129 tons of explosives by HMS Tronda to breakup the wreck. We were given a sharp and somewhat surprising reminder of just how strong the Bristol Channel currents can be in 2004. After the flood disaster at Boscastle, Cornwall in that year, a boat from the area washed ashore at Porthcawl and along the Heritage Coast a number of different items were found such as “Boscastle Tourist,” “Fish & Chips” and “Car Park” signs.

 

PEOPLE’S COLLECTION WALES

 

PEOPLE’S COLLECTION WALES

 

People’s Collection Wales is a free website dedicated to bringing together Wales’s heritage. The Collection is full of fascinating photographs, documents, audio and video recordings and stories that link to the history, culture and people of Wales. These items have been contributed to the website not only by national institutions but also individuals, local community groups and small museums, archives and libraries across Wales. This endeavour was established in 2010. It is Welsh Government funded, and the three leading partners organisations are Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, National Library of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Each local authority in Wales has a small team of volunteers dedicated to collating, scanning, describing and then uploading to the website historical photographs and documents pertinent to its locality.

So far many locations of the Vale of Glamorgan are generally well represented: but as yet not so Wenvoe! These three are the only images of Wenvoe which have been uploaded to date Therefore, if you are in possession of old photographs or pictures or postcards that you would like to see  preserved for posterity and shared with the world, then please loan them to Ian Moody (28 Walston Road  –  20594573) or Tony Hodge (10 Walston Road  –  07532 222 381) each with a note to describe them on the  website: Who?, Why?, What? and When? We will look after them as if they were our own and return them  safely to you. Thanks

 

WENVOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.


WENVOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

 

Maybe not, but 80 years ago it was a different story. As a child I remember my mother who at the time was living with her parents in Ely, telling me that they had a rather handsome American serviceman billeted with them.

Much to the consternation of my father, who at the time was fighting his own war in Jamaica, and judging by the photographs of the time, involved a lot of sun bathing, sipping Blue Mountain coffee and consuming copious amounts of locally brewed beer. Following the recent anniversary of the D-Day landings, I started to ponder the story that my mother had told me as a child. Where would this American serviceman have been based? Well I need not look any further than our own village of Wenvoe. Just to the west of the Wenvoe Castle estate was a military base made up of huts and tents, with its own airfield running alongside Port Road East.

THEN

NOW

1943 it was the Air Observation Post L4 that accompanied the U.S. Army Artillery Battalion. 1944 the 115th. Field Artillery Battalion U.S. Army. A division of the 90th. V11 Corps.

After they departed to the D-Day embarkation ports they were replaced by follow up troops of the 38th. Field Artillery Battalion of the 2nd. Division V Corps.

For a short time the base was used to house German and Italian POWs. Today there is nothing left to show of the airbase that housed a small town larger than Wenvoe. Nature has taken back control, the concrete parade ground and hut bases no longer visible.

The memories of our American allies who, for a short time made Wenvoe their home will now all have gone. But let us not forget them or the sacrifices made by those who did not return to their families and loved ones.

Robert Bird F.B.H.I. (retired)

For those wishing to explore the area Grid Ref. ST12470

(Photograph courtesy of the Welsh Assembly Photographic Archive)

 

CELEBRATING BRIDGES

CELEBRATING BRIDGES

6 July saw an international celebration following the conclusion of three years of restoration work on the Union Chain Bridge linking England and Scotland across the river Tweed and the unveiling of an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). There is also an important Welsh connection as all the ironwork was made in Wales, at the Pontypridd chainworks of Brown Lenox. Now 203 years old the extensive restoration work saw some of the ironwork replaced in a complex project costing £10.5m. The bridge is now the oldest vehicle-carrying suspension bridge and with a 449ft (137m) span and was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1820. It was designed by Captain Samuel Brown who introduced iron chain cables into the Royal Navy.

The structure is Grade I listed in England and a Grade A listed structure in Scotland and was singled out for honour by the ASCE, supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Japanese Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE), along with many members of the local community from both sides of the Tweed. In terms of this accolade, it now joins the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. Amongst the supporters were the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge who had campaigned for many years to support the preservation of the Union Chain Bridge and to conserve, protect and enhance its immediate environment for public benefit. See https://www.unionbridgefriends.com/ and http://union chainbridge.org/

Closer to home the website; Crossing the Severn Estuary severnbridges.org/ has been taken forward by the South Wales Institute of Engineers Educational Trust (SWIEET 2007) to continue the work by the Severn Bridges Trust (SBT). SBT trustees are all Chartered Civil Engineers who have enjoyed an involvement in the design, construction and maintenance of one or both of the Severn bridges. The Trust have sought to provide a permanent record of the many professions and disciplines involved in the First Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing [now called ‘The Prince
of Wales Bridge’] together with approaches, the Severn Tunnel and former ferry crossings of the Estuary.


In 2016, the year marking the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Severn Bridge and the 20th Anniversary of the completion of the Second Severn Crossing, the website was launched to provide a permanent public display expanded with engineering detail for those who are interested and to provide information on the background to both bridges as well as information on earlier crossings of the Estuary. It celebrates the broad spectrum of engineering disciplines and other professions involved, and the environmental and construction achievements of these two crossings. The website has been added to since then but is now complete.

Like the story of the Union Chain Bridge Crossing the Severn Estuary presents an inspirational example of the work of engineers and what they can achieve and contribute to society.

Stephen K. Jones

BIG TREES FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW

BIG TREES FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW

Can you recall what you were doing and where you were, when the dreadful tragedy of 9/11 occurred? It shook the world, and anyone watching the event on TV could hardly believe their eyes when the second plane hit the second Tower. It was so very hard to comprehend the scale of the tragedy, the loss of life, the fear that it might happen again…in USA or anywhere else in the world.

Over the years, even those here with no close ties in USA have been affected in some small way by this monstrous evil, even those in our quiet village. My younger son, Mark Roberts, grew up in Wenvoe, but later went to London to work, and became a TV cameraman for a Japanese News TV Company called TV Asahi. He filmed crime scenes, everyday dramas, earthquakes, floods etc all over the world, recording visually interviews by his colleagues of all sorts of people in all sorts of situations.

Soon after 9/11, Mark and the TV Asahi team, flew out to Toronto with BBC, ITN and other news teams, as all US airports were closed. They travelled straight down to New York by coach, and as they approached New York, they saw U.S. F-16 fighter planes circling the sky, in fear of a repetition of the Twin Towers disaster, a chilling sight. The area around the disaster was a scene of total devastation, but the news crews had to speak to anyone at the scene for their thoughts and comments. I asked him later if he felt intrusive and voyeuristic, filming people’s raw emotions and grief and anger, and he said simply “The world has to know, Mum”.

The following March, I visited USA on a Travelsphere tour of the Canyons, ending up in Las Vegas, with my friend, the late Mrs Maureen Hunt, whom many of you will remember. (We had booked the holiday long before 9/11). We sat having a coffee one day in Las Vegas opposite the New York, New York Hotel, and noticed a long line of people, with their backs to us, seemingly examining the wall around the hotel, so we went to investigate. We found a small, temporary, improvised Memorial had been set up, with mementoes from the Twin Towers, photos of the site of Ground Zero, letters and poems, even photos of some of those killed. It really brought all the memories rushing back, and we were both deeply touched by this humble display, and the solemnity of the long line of locals and tourists paying their respects.

More recently, many of you, like me, admired plants etc at the Wenvoe Open Gardens Event, and I was fascinated by the oak tree sapling grown by Mr Mike Tucker in his greenhouse. He explained that it had been grown by Mr Bruce McDonald, who, about 6 years ago, had collected some acorns from the Memorial Site at Ground Zero which had literally hundreds of these Swamp White Oak trees growing there. After checking it was (at that time) not illegal to bring them into UK, Bruce brought a few home to plant in pots. Only 2 “took” and Bruce gave 1 each to 2 friends, one of whom was our green-fingered Mike! He has nursed it tenderly ever since, and it looked very healthy when we saw it in June. The conditions at Ground Zero seem to suit the swamp oak tree , but it refuses to grow in many places so it is odd that it has settled in Wenvoe!
The plant certainly brought back many sad memories, and I am sure we all hope that the wars in Ukraine, Syria and Sudan will soon be over and that peace will prevail.
Thank you for reading this. and perhaps you could tell us of your experiences?

Val Roberts.

 

SILVER FOX OUTING – No 1: 25 May, 23

SILVER FOX OUTING – No 1: 25 May, 23

 

The outing was suggested and planned by Iain Pate. It
was a highly successful trip and early indications are
that Iain will organise another day-out. There were 10
foxes and one vixen, all proudly waving a Senior Rail
Card. The fare for the Day Ranger was £9.20. A
‘Ranger’ ticket, this got us off to a good start!
It was a lovely sunny day. Shorts were to be seen,
white legs were to be seen, old fashion slacks were to
be seen.
Itinerary
Cardiff Bus, No.96, Depart Wenvoe, Station Road (bus
was late). Arrive Barry station 9.25.
Depart, Barry station, 10,00 for Bridgend.
Arrive, Bridgend station, 10.38.
Depart, Bridgend station, 10.42.
Arrive, Maesteg station, 11,04
Depart, Maesteg station, 11.15.
Arrive, Cardiff Central, 12.06
45 minutes lunch break in Cardiff. (A few said they had
had a salad in the upmarket Pret A Manger fast food
shop, but they were seen in Greggs
with a sausage roll!)
Depart, Cardiff Central, 13.16.
Arrive, Rhymney station, 14.16.
Depart, Rhymney station, 14.27.
Arrive, Cardiff Central, 15.31
Depart, Cardiff Central, 15.41
Arrive, Barry station, 16.05.
Depart, Barry on 96 bus.
Arrive, Wenvoe, later than planned.


Preparation – Iain was meticulous
in planning the outing and created
a WhatsApp group to keep all
informed. However, three of the
group didn’t know how to use WhatsApp. One of the
three asked what’s WhatsApp? Iain explained it was
a modern way of communicating with all in the group
through iPhone. He went on to recommended taking
bottled water, a snack and Tena. Iain kindly agreed to
bulk buy a pack of 10 Tena pads from Amazon.
Everyone turned up at Barry station in good time for
the train. Three of the group took the lift from
Platform 1 to Platform 3, all with walking sticks. An
old ‘Sprinter’ train was the journey to Bridgend
station. The Bridgend ‘Turbostar’ train to Maesteg
went well and the return journey to Cardiff, in time
for lunch.
Prior to lunch at Cardiff, a decision had to be made
on choice of journey for the third leg. The choice was
between Rhymney or Ebbw Vale. Rhymney was
considered the best choice, as it was a two-hour
return journey, whereas Ebbw Vale was almost four
hours; and by this time several in the group were
flagging, mainly those with walking sticks.
So, Rhymney it was to be. To the delight of the group
the Rhymney train arriving at Platform 6 was a
Transport for Wales brand new train, named the
‘Flirt’. Gareth Williams was tickled by this name.
Half an hour into the Rhymney journey, one in the
group started mincing along the carriage; we all knew
why. Tena saved the day until the location of the
onboard toilet in the new train was found. Iain
pointed out that the Rhymney train terminated at
Penarth. Mike Harvey provided a fact of interest, that
Rhymney is one of the poorest towns in Europe,
while Penarth is one of the wealthiest towns in
Europe. Mike is always correct with his facts.
On the one-hour return to Cardiff, we became rather
noisy, with whimsical observations. It took the
group’s Barrister to warn that we speak quietly. No
sooner had he spoken, that he uttered the most risqué
remark of the outing on a passing young passenger.
The group’s vixen came into her own and told him to
shut up.
Arriving at Cardiff Central from Rhymney on
Platform 8 required a change of platform to the Barry
train. The same three who took a lift in Barry station
at the start of our outing, took a lift to change
platforms in Cardiff. Easy. Not so! Exiting the lift at
ground level, they became completely disoriented,
almost missing the Barry train. This was the only
mishap of the outing.
The final train journey was to
Barry, leaving from Platform 6
for the 96 bus to Wenvoe. It
was a great day-out, made
better by all trains being on
time.
Observations – It was a journey
that showed a wedge of the
diversity of south Wales. This
even included the weather. It
was warm when we departed
Wenvoe and remained so along
the coastal belt to Bridgend and Cardiff. The mean
annual temperature in Cardiff is 14 ©, and higher up
the South Wales valleys it is 11 ©. Therefore, more
than a coincidence it became cloudier and cooler the
closer we got to the towns of Maesteg and Rhymney.
Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi
Valley, and Rhymney towards the northernmost end
of the Rhymney Valley.
The railway-line of each valley snugs the western
side of the mountain. Reduced speed as the train
progressed up the valleys, due to stations being just
several miles apart, allowed views of farms, villages
and towns. Being late Spring came the beautiful
greenery of the valleys. Of interest was how close the
trains were, in many places, to rail-side trees brushing
the carriages. Further from the coastal belt, in both
valleys, there were increasing signs of bygone
industries.
Thank you, Iain…By next morning Iain had received
seven plaudits on WhatsApp. The other three who
still couldn’t use WhatsApp thanked him in person at
our Friday, Silver Fox meeting.

 

 

Place-Names Derivation – ABER, BRYN, CWM, PONT

THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES

We’ll now look at some common elements in Welsh Place-names.

ABER

I’m sure you’ve seen this element in many placenames. The word ‘aber’ means ‘the confluence of two waters’ and because so many places containing this word are situated on the coast, it is often translated as ‘estuary’. ‘Aber’ usually precedes the name of the river. There are plenty of examples from which to choose – Abertawe (Swansea), Aberafan, Aberaeron, Aberdaron, Aberdyfi, Aberystwyth.

But some places are situated inland and, in such names, ‘aber’ translates as ‘the confluence of two rivers’ – where one river flows into another – eg

Abercynon – the confluence of the rivers Cynon and Taf.

Aberdâr – the confluence of the rivers Cynon and Dâr.

Aber-fan – the confluence of the rivers Taf and Fan

Aberhonddu (Brecon) – the confluence of the rivers Wysg (Usk) and Honddu.

The name Abertridwr is an interesting one. It is made up of three elements -aber – confluence, tri – three, dŵr – water.

It refers to the confluence of three streams – Ilan, Cwm-parc and Cwmceffyl.

This element is seen in placenames in many different parts of Britain – where the Celts have left their mark – Aberdeen, Aberfeldy etc.

 BRYN

‘Bryn’ is the Welsh word for ‘hill’ and the element that follows it can be an adjective or a geographical position – eg

Bryn-mawr – big hill

Bryn-teg – fair hill

Brynna – hills – from the plural form ‘bryniau’

Bryn-glas – blue (i.e. green, verdant) hill

Brynbuga (Usk) – the hill of Buga. The identity of Buga is lost.

Brynaman – the hill near the river Aman

CWM

‘Cwm’ is the Welsh word for ‘valley’. It is often seen in English place-names with Anglicized spelling -‘coombe’ and it is also used in its Welsh form as a mountaineering term.

Cwm-bach – little valley

Cwmafan – valley of the river Afan

Cwmbrân – valley of the river Brân

Cwm-du – black,dark valley

Cwm-ffrwd – valley of the swift flowing stream

Cwm-yr-Eglwys – valley of the church

Cwm y Glo – valley of the charcoal

PONT

‘Pont’ is the Welsh word for ‘bridge’.

Pontardawe – bridge on (the river) Tawe

Pontarddulais – bridge on ( the river) Dulais

Pont-y-Clun – bridge on ( the river ) Clun

Pont-Rhyd-y-Fen – bridge at the ford of the wagon.

(Traditionally the ford was known as ‘rhyd-y-fen’ as

it was used by wagons. It was eventually replaced by the bridge.)

Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr (Bridgend) – end of the bridge (over the river) Ogwr

Two local place-names are worth a special mention.

Y Bontfaen (Cowbridge) – the stone bridge.

The Welsh name refers to a stone bridge whereas the English name refers to the bridge over which the cows walked to the market – the Cow Bridge. It is possible that these were two different bridges.

Pontypridd – As it stands this name translates as ‘bridge of soil, earthen bridge’. But the present name is a contraction of the original name which was ‘Pont y Tŷ Pridd’ which translates as ‘the bridge (near) the earthen house’.

Next month – the last contribution – Caer, Pen, Tre, Ystrad, Ynys.

Ann. M. Jones

 

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