Month: July 2024

Sully Island

SULLY ISLAND

 

Most people in Wenvoe will know of Sully Island and many will have visited it, but for those who do not know it, here are some facts about it. It is a small tidal island of 14.5 acres by the hamlet of Swanbridge. It is located 400m from the shore and midway between Penarth and Barry and is registered as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Sully Island is one of 43 tidal islands that can be reached on foot from the mainland of Great Britain.

Over the years many people who have walked over to the island at low tide have been caught out as the incoming tide rushes over the rocky causeway. Some have been rescued by a lifeboat from Penarth RNLI and some have waded back through the waves, which is not a good idea, and some people have drowned. The danger is that the rise in the sea level can be as much as 6 feet, almost 2 metres in one hour. To make it worse the rise is so fast on the seaward side of the causeway, the tide has to go around the island, where the level is several inches lower and when the tide starts to run across the causeway it forms a race, or rapids, which becomes much stronger as each minute passes. It is strong enough to sweep you off your feet, especially as underfoot the uneven, rocky surface, covered in seaweed is very slippery. So, nobody should ever attempt to cross to the mainland when the tide is close to running across the causeway – even though the path might be clear and beckoning.

There have always been warning signs to make people aware of the dangers, but in recent years National Resources Wales has installed a board, with a traffic light system, which tells visitors when it is safe to cross, and when it would be too dangerous.

Some people have slept overnight on Sully Island to enjoy having the island to themselves, and the feeling of isolation. Then at high tide, they can marvel at the waves crashing against the rocks with spray flying high in the air. In the trips we have made to the island, there has not been much litter as people realise that they need to take any rubbish back with them.

Looking back in time there is evidence that the island was frequently visited by both Romans and Vikings. There is archaeological evidence of the remains of a Saxon fort occupying the eastern end of the Island, on the summit of which is a Bronze Age barrow. It has been suggested by some that this was an armed stronghold, but it was more likely to have been a defended residence and farm homestead.

During the 13th century, the island was the base for Alfredo de Marisco, a Norman pirate known locally as The Night Hawk. Over the centuries the island was well known for its involvement in the local smuggling trade. Smuggling was an endemic problem along the Glamorgan coastline and a constant headache for the port authorities of the Bristol Channel, especially during the eighteenth century. Criminal gangs sought to profit by smuggling in contraband from the Continent and avoiding the high tax imposed by the Government. Alcohol and tobacco were the most smuggled contra-band, but the smugglers would attempt to conceal anything which made a profit.

There have been several shipwrecks around the island over the years owing to the tricky tides and narrow access. Several sources record that the famous Antarctic survey vessel, the SY Scotia, was wrecked on the island on 18 January 1916. Local elderly residents from as far away as Barry re-member arriving at Swanbridge as children, with sacks, to harvest coal spilt on the foreshore from the wreck, over several weeks. A skeleton of a wreck is still visible on the island’s north foreshore facing Swanbridge, but this vessel’s keel is too short to have been the Scotia.

Sully Island is fascinating and if you are fit and agile take a walk over there and enjoy a drink at the Captain’s Wife on your return.

 

Welsh Traditions 4 Gwau Hosanau – Knitting Stockings

WELSH TRADITIONS 4

GWAU HOSANAU – KNITTING STOCKINGS

In rural Wales, one of the main cottage industries which flourished during the 18th Century was that of knitting stockings – not only for the family – but for selling in the local markets – and further afield. The towns of Bala, in southern Gwynedd, Llanrwst near Conwy and Tregaron in Cardiganshire were the main centres of the knitting industry, but we know that it also existed in many other locations all over Wales. It was said that Welsh women knitted stockings whenever they had their hands free. But it was not only the womenfolk who knitted; the men and the children, who were old enough, did so too.

Before anyone could start knitting, the yarn had to be prepared. Sheep farmers’ wives had enough wool for their needs, but the poorer cottagers were not able to afford to buy wool. So, as we heard last month, they would go out on wool gathering journeys, before the sheep were sheared, to collect tufts of wool snagged in the hedges and on gorse bushes and elsewhere. The right to gather the wool was valuable and young women who were employed as servants would make sure that they were given the two weeks off for wool gathering each year.

Once they had gathered a good supply of wool, they would carry it home, wash it and when it was dry, begin the process of carding it. This was often done with teasel heads – combing it or brushing it out until it was ready to be spun into yarn. It was now ready to be knitted – but at this stage, it could be dyed, using plants from the countryside.

Here are some of the colours that could be obtained:

  • Different lichens would produce green or a deep pink, depending on the type of lichen
  • Sloes would also produce a rose colour
  • Elderberries and alum would produce a turquoise colour
  • The roots of some types of straw would produce a red colour
  • The bark, flowers and leaves of gorse would produce yellow
  • Bracken would produce brown
  • Dandelions produced magenta
  • Onion skins can produce a range of colours from red to orange to brown – and more

 

As you can see, many colours could be produced by dyeing, but the stockings knitted tended to be plain black, grey or white – although, apparently, blue with white stripes was very popular. Many women of rural Wales were proficient spinners and highly skilled in the art of knitting. Despite the time-consuming labour involved in carding and spinning the wool into yarn prior to knitting, many were able to support themselves by knitting and selling stockings. Such was the demand that a Walter Davies, in 1799, estimated that annual production ran to approximately 192,000 pairs.

The late Minwel Tibbott, of the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans, stated that ‘Knitting stockings became a vital industry for many families throughout that time, and during famine periods, saved many a family from starvation – and this cottage industry continued to support families economically up until the early twentieth century’.

Between the financial benefits of knitting stockings and the lack of transportation in rural Wales during the 18th and 19th centuries, women often knitted while they walked or performed other duties. Using a yarn hook in the shape of an ‘S’, women would attach the upper hook to the waistband of their apron, then hang a ball of yarn from the lower hook. In this way, both hands would be free for knitting while they walked, often with a basket on their back, travelling to market, tending to animals, or collecting peat’. Knitting sheaths were popular; suspended from the hip, they bore the weight of the garment being knitted. These were handmade, carved, and given as love tokens, much like Welsh love spoons.

Knitting evenings were always popular – social evenings when knitters of both sexes gathered in someone’s house to enjoy a few hours of knitting accompanied by storytelling and singing. A good storyteller was always in great demand for these occasions and some of them had a great store of tales. Storytellers have been given pride of place at such gatherings in Wales for hundreds of years. We know that two of the most highly regarded members of the courts of the Welsh Princes in mediaeval times were the ‘Cyfarwydd’ – storyteller – and the Court Poet.

When the knitters had a good supply of stockings, they took them to market to sell to middle-men or dealers, who probably sold most of them at English markets, from where, it is said, many were exported to Europe and beyond. We know that some were exported via the port at Barmouth to Charleston, USA, the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. We know that stocking markets were held in many towns in Wales, from Llanilltud Fawr – Llantwit Major in the south, to Caergybi – Holyhead, in the north. The price of a pair of stockings varied from 6 pence (2 ½ pence in today’s money) – to ten shillings (50p today). But the average price for a plain pair of stockings was about 1 shilling (5p today).

Some stocking knitters would stand along the stage-coach highways to sell their wares to passing travellers. It is said that Welsh stockings were of high quality and long-lasting. Several members of the gentry purchased pairs as souvenirs during their tours of Wales – and tradition maintains that King George III insisted on wearing Bala stockings to relieve his rheumatism!

Today, the internationally known Corgi Socks factory in Rhydaman – Ammanford – which holds a Royal Warrant, and which has been producing socks, stockings and other items of knitwear since 1892 – is a worthy exponent of the Welsh stocking knitting tradition.

Ann M. Jones

Monmouth

Monmouth

Monmouth’s history goes back at least 2000 years to the presence of a Roman garrison. Its position at the meeting place of 3 rivers – the Trothy, Monnow and Wye, and one of the few places where the Wye could be safely crossed, allowed it to grow from a market town to the seat of legislature. Parts of the medieval town survive at Monnow bridge, the priory buildings and the castle where Henry V was born. In Agincourt Square his statue overlooks that of another famous citizen, Charles Rolls, an early pioneer of aviation and co-founder of Rolls Royce.

We were lucky to park as, we chose the day of the Monmouth Regatta for our walk. The beginning of the walk along the river was very busy with many people participating in the regatta (some from as far away as Staines) and spectators.

A few of us went into the Church of St Peter, its history stretches back to early Welsh Christianity with the first mention of a church, Llan Tydwg, in AD 750. It was on the border of a small Welsh kingdom of Archenfield, a stronghold of the early Celtic Church. The current church was probably rebuilt in the 11th Century after it was destroyed by the Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Llywelyn who, in 1054, led a raid up the Wye to Hereford, devastating riverside settlements. Historically the church has passed back and forth between the dioceses of Llandaff and Hereford. Now, although the church is in Monmouth (Wales), it is part of the diocese of Hereford (England) as the parishioners voted for this in 1921.

The church was full of interesting information and articles. One of my favourite nuggets was ‘customs included the payment of rent in honey; the Welsh believed that bees came from Paradise and so candles for Holy Communion were always made from beeswax.’ The old font was discovered in the rubble of chapel farm, it is possible that after leaving the church it was used to press apples or as an animal trough. There is a leper’s bench and door. A beautiful, variegated tree stands in the church yard.

It is thought that the church has been flooded 64 times in the last 95 years. In the 2020 flood (1.6metres) the pews damaged the reredos and in 2023 the pulpit was lost. The floor is regularly being replaced.

Leaving the river, we went through a tunnel under the A40 where the walls were decorated with painted mosaics created by local groups and schools; they depict the heritage of Monmouth and the Wye valley AONB. We travelled along tracks on the edge of the town until we passed the ‘the Manor on the Monnow’. We soon came to a feat of engineering, where the Monnow was channelled creating a hydroelectric scheme with a fish pass. Monmouth’s lights were water powered in 1899! In the 17th century a forge was powered at this site. At one point the river went over a lip creating an infinity pool effect.

Continuing we enjoyed fields of buttercups, welcome shade from trees along the river, and extensive views of the countryside. Climbing a steep road, we passed a small holding with a peacock and other birds, and someone spotted a few deer. Crossing a couple of fields, we stopped for lunch in a meadow covered in a red and yellow carpet of flowers and grasses. As we sat, we were excited to spot a herd of about twenty deer in the distance.

Walking again along a road, we saw the roe deer race across a field next to us before they disappeared. We passed Westwood Archery Centre where we were warned ‘ No trespassing – Violators will be shot; Survivors will be shot again’. We continued to have excellent views of the Black mountains and found some wonderful examples of trees, foxgloves and other wildflowers beside the paths. Emerging onto a road we were admiring a barn which had been weather-proofed with a new roof when the farmer told us it was for sale, if we were interested.

Near the end of the walk, we crossed the A40 and walked along the river Wye catching a few races of the regatta, as we walked, before returning to the cars. One race consisted of two mixed teams of eight rowers, the first of these any of us had seen. Someone in our group had to comment that ‘everyone seemed to be wearing old fashioned swimming costumes’.

An interesting and sunny walk was topped off with refreshments at a local garden centre

Walk 8.3m, 1100ft. Map OL14

 

What About The Other Swifts?

What About The Other Swifts?

Many people are very excited by Swift – well, Taylor Swift, to be precise. But what about the other Swifts?

The poet Ted Hughes wrote:

A bolas of three or four wire screams

Jockeying across each other

On their switchback wheel of death.

They swat past, hard-fletched

We seemed to wait an age this year for our Swifts, House Martins and Swallows to return but they made it in the end. Our Swifts have flown from sub- Saharan Africa, a journey of some 3,500 miles each way. They eat, sleep and mate on the wing only pausing to nest – some can go for 10 months without landing anywhere. They are more closely related to Hummingbirds than Swallows and can fly at speeds over 100mph. They typically live for 10 to 20 years and have been known to make it to 30. If you want to help them consider putting up a Swift nest box. They can be purchased or you can make them with some simple carpentry. Alternatively you can now buy Swift bricks which can be incorporated into brick structures, which look very neat and require no maintenance.

 

Intriguing Ideas For Repurposing

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

“Intriguing Ideas For Repurposing”

 

 

A visit to the opticians this morning set me thinking. It was 2019, that I last had my eyesight checked. I do know the recommendation is that you go for a check-up every 2 years. I am sure that there were many more tests and checks carried out today than in 2019 even and reading the bottom line of the chart on the wall is a practice that has completely vanished now, to be replaced by machines that check for other health conditions detectable through your eyes. Thankfully this morning they found only slight changes in my prescription and nothing to worry about. However I did worry a little about “consuming” yet another pair of glasses. As I wear them only for reading/screen work or driving my specs tend to stay in pretty good condition. I do try to reuse frames but sometimes it is not possible and often there is a good reason to buy new ones. With several pairs in various drawers, no longer of use to me, I thought it time to do some recycling/reusing research.

As expected, avoiding using resources unnecessarily, by reusing old frames for your new prescription lenses is the best option. This of course supposes that you can manage without your glasses for a week or two while the new lenses are set in the old frame.

According to US charity “All about vision” around 1,000,000,000 people globally live with vision impairment that could be rectified by a pair of glasses that they can’t afford. Your old reading glasses are very likely to need no more than cleaning up for someone else to benefit from using them. Even lenses with complex prescriptions can be matched with patients by specialists. Opticians and charity shops often belong to schemes to reuse pairs of glasses where they are most needed, so take old ones with you when you have your check up, the optician’s recycling box starts with reuse. Any that can’t be used in this way will be broken down and their components reused or recycled appropriately.

As I was searching up popped information about what to do with your old mobile phone. Much of it was pretty standard recommendations but amongst all that there were some intriguing ideas for repurposing mobile phones. Here’s a few from the list, turn your old phone into:-

  • a security camera
  • a baby monitor
  • a web cam
  • an audio player
  • a GPS device
  • a remote control

 

and if you’ve had enough of those you can always make sure the phone is properly recycled by a reputable recycling company who will ensure reuse of the valuable, scarce components in particular.

And the Keys?

Well, with keys best of all keep them with the lock, then they will always be useful. Except of course, if lock and key are together they are not doing their security job. Inevitably you end up with keys that you have no idea what for. They are mostly metal and can join the metal scrap at the recycling centre, cut off any plastic covers first.

Keys, as symbols of abstract ideas find their way into in lots of creative artwork. How about considering a garden sculpture?

The key to being a successful minimal consumer is awareness and motivation. So here’s a suggestion how about arranging a collection in your street of the unwanted spectacles, or phones and volunteer to get them to the right recycle/reuse/repurpose project.

You will motivate others and repurpose yourself for a short while.

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To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the Gwen Fo account @ https://www.facebook.com/ gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/635369267864402

Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join.

June Report

JUNE REPORT

 

At the recent Church Council (JCC) the Treasurer pointed out the current state of the church’s finances which is giving cause for some alarm. Expenses have increased for us in our homes and lives, and the church is no exception to inflationary hikes in utility bills.

One possible reason for this is that many of the congregation’s offerings have been converted into the Church in Wales Gift Direct scheme, which we have written about in previous newsletters. This results in no offering being made on the collection plate when it goes around, and it can give the impression to any visiting or casual member of the congregation that the collection plate can be passed by without any contribution made. It was the practice by the C in W Office to issue Stewardship Cards when the individual’s amount per month was set up, but because in so many churches now a collection is not made, the cards have not been made available. However we have arranged for a supply to be available in church, which can be taken to place on the collection plate to show to others that they are supporting the church in its mission to the world. It is the money given on the collection plate that helps to fund the contribution we have to make towards the Fair Share to the expenses of financing the Diocese. This fair share is under consideration for a change to what will be called the Common Fund and we being a ‘wealthy’ church will no doubt see an increase. So please, it is up to all who have an allegiance to St. Mary’s to review the amount we are now offering.

It is not easy to ask our people for extra cash week by week, but we have to face the fact that your church needs funding if we are to keep the building fit for purpose, in good repair, warm and welcoming. A Gift Day is planned to coincide with our Harvest Celebration in September.

On a lighter note, resulting from the council meeting we are opening the church on Saturday afternoons 2.00pm-4.00pm in July and August. A list has been provided for volunteers to offer their time during those hours, with others to show our lovely church. As a result of the Oxford Movement in the late 19th century we have a unique interior in this part of the diocese. Do please join us and encourage your friends and visitors to make a visit when we are open.

Bishop Mary’s report extracted from Llandaff Matters.

I had the privilege to spend last week in Richmond, Virginia at the first part of a training course for new Bishops called “Living our Vows”. I was with recently elected bishops from a range of churches including America, Mexico, Canada, and the UK. We spent the week praying, learning, and sharing together supported by some senior bishops, and by lay Christians with helpful experience in leadership, people-skills, and communications. The whole training focused upon the promises that bishops make at ordination, and there were frequent references made to the promises that all Christians make at our Baptism. At its heart the learning was all about how together we seek to realise our call to be Christ’s body here on earth, and about faithful leadership.

I was struck by the dedication, openness, and sense of mutual support that came from a group who were dedicated to mutual ongoing learning. I also received a

great welcome and much kindness, including from one of the bishops who kept supplying me with tea bags that she had brought from home to help me feel welcome!

The training was bilingual supporting the ministries of both English and Spanish-speaking bishops. The two-language dimension was helpful, mirroring for me something of our own bilingual culture. Working in more than one language is a great reminder of the gift of diversity. It also enables conversations, to be at a slightly slower pace, which can help everyone to be a little more reflective and perhaps to listen with greater care.

I will continue to meet with the same group of bishops over the next three years. Many of our meetings will be online, but it was great to have the opportunity to meet face-to-face last week.

The whole experience was a wonderful reminder of our connection with Christians across the world. I have come back encouraged in prayer and learning, and with a renewed sense of gratitude for the many gifts God has given to the Church in every place.

God who calls, thank you for the gifts of faith: For friends who pray for us, and with us, and who encourage us. Thank you for those who show us the variety of your gifts, those who speak to us in ways that are unfamiliar and new, as well as those who are easy for us to understand. Help us to be faithful to our calling, to keep on learning about your love and grace. Help us to support and encourage others so that your church may grow in love and service after the pattern of Jesus our guide. Amen

News from the Diocese is published online in Llandaff Matters every Tuesday afternoon. Please contact the Communications Team if you would like something included in a future edition: Nicola Bennet and Mary Mann (nicolabennett@cinw.org.uk and marymann@ cinw.org.uk).

Congratulations to Jude Billingham and her team for all their hard work with the Christian Aid Appeal and to those who gave so generously. (See page 4)

At the picnic by the Friends of St. Bleddian’s on Sunday June 9th, the breezy conditions brought families together in church for a short account of the church’s features which portray the changes made through the centuries. Lots of lovely cake and an excellent raffle brought the proceedings to a close. Well done and may we have more in the future.

Parry

 

The Humble Hoe Is Your Best Friend

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

The Humble Hoe Is Your Best Friend 

The humble hoe is your best friend when it comes to keeping weeds under control during the Summer. On dry days just run the hoe between your flowers or veg beds. Not doing this at least a couple of times a week will leave you wondering where all the plants have gone. As we soon realise, weeds grow at a phenomenal pace at this time of year.

Another important task is dead heading, this is so important to keep the flowers producing new blooms. Not doing this will make the plant think its task is done and it will stop flowering. Pick as many sweet peas as you can for the house, the more you pick the more they flower. Cut back hardy geraniums now and they will produce another display before the season ends. Sunflowers definitely produce bigger blooms with a bit of tomato fertiliser fed to them. Wisteria can be cut back to within 8 inches of the main stems.

If you’re cleaning the weed from your pond, leave it on the side for a while, to allow any life form to return to the water.

There are some lovely gardens in and around the village. The way they keep them so nice is an absolute credit to them. Lyn and Sid Cottle always put on a good display even when people try to prevent them. The Warrior and his wife in Greave Close love their garden and it shows. Heather and Charlie put a lot of effort into their outdoor space which reflects their personality.

Allotments and veg gardens are bursting with produce. Strawberries, raspberries, peas, potatoes etc are all ready for harvesting. Be prepared to share your produce with the wildlife if you haven’t put in measures to prevent their invasion. Time now to fill empty spaces by planting Kale, carrots and some potatoes and these will be ready for Christmas.

A big problem will be with potatoes. If we have damp weather, there will almost certainly be blight which can ruin your crop. There will be dark blotches on the leaves starting at the tips, if you see this then immediately remove the foliage and put in your green bags for the council to dispose of. Do not compost it because, unlike the council you will not be able to get the heap hot enough to destroy the organism. The potatoes can then be used but will not store well. Do clear any debris up thoroughly. There are some things you can do to minimise the problem. Firstly, plant as early as you can so that harvesting can be done before blight hits. Secondly, when planting, space out the tubers to give the foliage more room which will allow air to flow between the plants. If you need to water the potatoes, try to keep the foliage dry. These methods work well in your back garden but on an allotment, you need everyone singing off the same hymn sheet.

The Village Show is on 7th September so please enter some produce to show off your prowess.

Take care and happy gardening

 

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

 

False Alarms In Barry Island

False Alarms In Barry Island

On Saturday May 18th the media reported that hundreds of beachgoers on Barry Island were advised by a tannoy announcement to ‘get out of the sea’ due to concerns over water quality. Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water confirmed that an announcement was made but it was a false alarm. No doubt the newspaper and TV reports will have put some people off a visit to our local beach.

There is a precedent for this sort of thing. In the Summer of 1964 rival gangs of Mods and Rockers descended on seaside towns causing the media to create a national panic over what was happening to society. Many curtailed their visits to the seaside as a result. But was it just another false alarm?

Mods and Rockers were not really about violence. The Rocker subculture was all about motorcycles, with members decked out in black leather jackets and motorcycle boots or winkle pickers. This style took cues from Marlon Brando’s iconic look in the 1953 film “The Wild One.” Rockers typically sported a pompadour hairstyle and grooved to 1950s rock and roll and R&B tunes, favouring artists like Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Bo Diddley, as well as British rock and roll stars such as Billy Fury and Johnny Kidd.

On the other hand, the Mod subculture focused on fashion and music, with many opting to ride scooters. Mods were known for their sharp attire, often wearing suits and other neat outfits. They listened to a variety of music genres, including modern jazz, soul, Motown, ska, and British blues-rooted bands like the Yardbirds, the Small Faces, and the Who. Amen Corner’s Andy Fairweather Low, guitarist, songwriter and producer remembered the time. ‘I used to ‘mitch’ off school to go to Barretts music shop in Cardiff. There were lots of mods around, certainly in the cafes around the city. I loved the style, the mohair suits, button-down shirts, the smell of Brut aftershave.’ In the Valleys, the Italian cafes proved popular meeting places for mods to park up their ever impressive scooters and discuss the latest in mod fashion and music. You can read more in ‘Welsh Mod: Our Story’ by Claire Mahoney, which documents the roots and Mod revival in Wales.

The Summer of 1964 saw the clash of cultures turn to violence in the coastal towns of the south east of England. Things really kicked off on Whitsun weekend, with newspaper headlines reporting the ‘Battle of Brighton’, and ‘Wild Ones ‘Beat Up’ Margate’ accompanied with detailed reports of violent clashes. In fact, only c1000 people congregated at Brighton Beach that day and the police made just 76 arrests. The country burst into what sociologist Stanley Cohen called a moral panic. Newspapers started warning about Mods and Rockers, calling them “vermin” and ‘mutated locusts wreaking untold havoc on the land.’

Welsh youth made their own Bank Holiday pilgrimages to Barry Island and Porthcawl. The South Wales Echo joined in the media frenzy, reporting what went on in England, but finding little to sensationalise about in Wales. Here it was all about fashion and transport. Mods and Rockers made their way to the seaside to show off their outfits, scooters and motor cycles. The local police kept a watchful eye; but there were few reports of violence. One weekend, The Echo, no doubt hoping for some attention grabbing headlines, was reduced to reporting on the heavy rain, which dampened the enthusiasm of Mods and Rockers at Welsh seaside resorts. This was hardly the stuff reported by a Birmingham Post editorial in May 1964, which warned that Mods and Rockers were ‘internal enemies’ who would bring about disintegration of a nation’s character