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With the recent revelations about new Roman finds at Caerleon I thought it might be a good time to revive an old post from the AmeriCymru blog. Certainly it seems that the Romans left their mark on that part of Wales in a big way.
As a Welshman and a student of Welsh history I am in the habit of raising a glass or two on significant dates in the Welsh calendar. In order to facilitate my predeliction I am in the process of developing an easy reference for celebrants of the Cymric heritage on these pages on our Welsh calendar blog. The concept of 'significant dates' is interpreted very liberally both in order to fill the available spaces and of course to maximise excuses for revelry.
I am endebted to the memory of Arthur Machen for one such recent opportunity. He was born on March 3rd 1863. Anyone not acquainted with the works of Arthur Machen should seek to remedy that deficiency immediately. There is plenty of info on his Wikipedia page here . He wrote several masterpieces of Gothic whimsy outstanding amongst which is "The Three Impostors" (1895). He is regarded as the 'missing link' between M.R. James and H.P. Lovecraft by many afficianados of the genre. He is also the author of "The Hill Of Dreams" a semi-autobiographical novella which is by turns one of the most sublime, profound and hilarious products of late Victorian literature. Additionally his work offers fascinating insights into the social mores and customs of provincial life in late 19th century Gwent.
When I was an undergraduate, many decades ago, I had the pleasure and privilege to be tutored by the late great Gwyn A. Williams author of "When Was Wales", one of the definitive works on the subject of Welsh history and national identity. He was fond of referring to the present day inhabitants of Wales as "Romano-Celts", suggesting perhaps that the Welsh are in some way the beleaguered remnants of the once mighty Roman empire. Certainly pockets of something resembling Late Roman civilization may have lingered for a few centuries in places like Caerwent and Caerleon but for the most part I remained sceptical. It seems doubtful that the Roman influence penetrated the Welsh hinterland extensively and may only really have been significant in the immediate environs of the legionary forts and civitas capitals. Most of Wales' modern day inhabitants, in the South at least, are descendants of the English, Scots and Irish immigrants who came looking for work during the 'coal rush' from the 1850's onwards. It seemed fanciful to imagine that anything of Romano-Celtic vintage could have survived into the modern age.
Then I came across this fascinating passage in a volume by Machen:-
" When I was a boy, which is a good many years ago, there was a very queer celebration on New Year's Day in the little Monmouthshire town where I was born, Caerleon-on-Usk. The town childrenvillage children would be nearer the mark since the population of the place amounted to a thousand souls or thereaboutsgot the biggest and bravest and gayest apple they could find in the loft, deep in the dry bracken. They put bits of gold leaf upon it. They stuck raisins into it. They inserted into the apple little sprigs of box, and then they delicately slit the ends of hazel nuts, and so worked that the nuts appeared to grow from the ends of the box-leaves, to be the disproportionate fruit of these small trees. At last, three bits of stick were fixed into the base of the apple, tripod-wise; and so it was borne round from house to house; and the children got cakes and sweets, andthose were wild days, remembersmall cups of ale. And nobody knew what it was all about.
And here is the strangeness of it. Caerleon means the fort of the legions, and for about three hundred years the Second Augustan Legion was quartered there, and made a tiny Rome of the place, with amphitheatre, baths, temples, and everything necessary for the comfort of a Roman-Briton. And the Legion brought over the custom of the strena (French, trennes) the New Year's gift of good omen. The apple, with its gold leaf, raisins and nuts, meant: 'good crops and wealth in the New Year.' It is the Latin poet, Martial, I think, who alludes to the custom. He was an ungrateful fellow; somebody sent him a gold cup as a New Year's gift, and he said that the gold of the cup was so thin that it would have done very well to put on the festive apple of the day.
Well, I suppose the Second Augustan was recalled somewhere about a.d. 400. The Saxon came to Caerleon, and after him the Dane, and then the Norman, and then the modern spirit, the worst enemy of all, and still, up to fifty years ago, the Caerleon children kept New Year's Day, as if the Legionaries were yet in garrison. And I suppose that Caerleon was the only place south of the Tweed where people took any festal notice at all of the first day in the year. For it is not an old English festival at all. It is distinctly Latin in origin ."
So, it appears that in one small corner of Wales an ancient Roman tradition survived until the late 19th century...nearly 1600 years! A small thing, granted, but nevertheless perhaps I should raise a glass to Gwyn Williams on September 30th ( his birthdate) this year.
( The above quote is from "Why New Year?" anthologised in "Dog And Duck" by Arthur Machen. The complete text can be found on Project Gutenberg Here .)
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David Western's Portland Eisteddfod Lovespoon: THIS is a lovespoon!!! : "With the Left Coast Eisteddfod lovespoon somewhere in the air over the continental USA, I thought I would use the time before Laura gets ..." more here 
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The above article illustrates well the monstrous nightmare that our welfare system has become. A great and humane idea has been abused and misused.
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FREE HIGH QUALITY MP3 DOWNLOAD! - Click on my Marcato Musician profile, scroll to bottom of page to 'Downloadable Files' and click on "Reality" (then right click and 'Save As')...easy!
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...the winner of our 'Welsh-Argentine Guitar Duo' giveaway competition is Mr. Jeremy Davies. We will be contacting Mr. Davies via email today and mailing his prize shortly.
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Hello Everyone,
My Company is offering a limited number of investment opportunities for our latest production. "Toy Soldiers" is a short film about the human cost of the continuing conflict in Afghanistan. The short will be filmed in South Wales in September and we are currently raising the production budget through product placement opportunities.
We are seeking a maximum of THREE investments of 5,000 plus a small number of 1,000 investements from UK-based companies and individuals. We have identified 8 film markets and festivals that we will target as routes to market, as well as potential television broadcasters in 15 countries and a number of online platforms.
Please message me to request a copy of the Investment Pack detailing the Proposal and ROI. Serious enquiries only.
Regards,
Daniel Lyddon
Company Director
Seraphim Pictures
My Company is offering a limited number of investment opportunities for our latest production. "Toy Soldiers" is a short film about the human cost of the continuing conflict in Afghanistan. The short will be filmed in South Wales in September and we are currently raising the production budget through product placement opportunities.
We are seeking a maximum of THREE investments of 5,000 plus a small number of 1,000 investements from UK-based companies and individuals. We have identified 8 film markets and festivals that we will target as routes to market, as well as potential television broadcasters in 15 countries and a number of online platforms.
Please message me to request a copy of the Investment Pack detailing the Proposal and ROI. Serious enquiries only.
Regards,
Daniel Lyddon
Company Director
Seraphim Pictures
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Castell Coch (the Red Castle) sits proudly on the side of a hill overlooking North Cardiff and the valley that carries the River Taff.
Its fairytale appearance belies the history that the building contains in its stones. There has been a fortress on the site since the end of the 11th century when an earth and timber motte castle was built there by Norman lords to defend their land. Both Ifor Bach and Gruffud ap Rhys are two Welsh rulers of Senghennydd whose names are linked to the castle.
During the 13th century, the de Clare family, the Norman lords of Glamorgan made great gains against the Welsh in the upland regions of their disputed territory. It was during this time that it is thought the castle was reconstructed into a stone one, with a small oval courtyard with three circular towers. It was probably Gilbert de Clare (the builder of Caerphilly Castle) who added the towers in the 1280s. It is the spur buttresses at the base of the round towers that suggest it was of Norman design, but it seems that the castle was abandoned in 1316 after Llewellyn Bren led an army against the de Clares in 1316. It was never repaired and the castle fell into ruin.
Its fairytale appearance belies the history that the building contains in its stones. There has been a fortress on the site since the end of the 11th century when an earth and timber motte castle was built there by Norman lords to defend their land. Both Ifor Bach and Gruffud ap Rhys are two Welsh rulers of Senghennydd whose names are linked to the castle.
During the 13th century, the de Clare family, the Norman lords of Glamorgan made great gains against the Welsh in the upland regions of their disputed territory. It was during this time that it is thought the castle was reconstructed into a stone one, with a small oval courtyard with three circular towers. It was probably Gilbert de Clare (the builder of Caerphilly Castle) who added the towers in the 1280s. It is the spur buttresses at the base of the round towers that suggest it was of Norman design, but it seems that the castle was abandoned in 1316 after Llewellyn Bren led an army against the de Clares in 1316. It was never repaired and the castle fell into ruin.
By 1871, like many other castles in Wales, the castle was an overgrown ruin. Crucially however, it happened to be owned by John Crichton-Stuart, the 3rd Marquess of Bute - one of the richest men in the world. The Marquess was a landed aristocrat and an industrial magnate, owing a lot of this wealth from his father who had risked a long-term strategy in building Cardiff into one of the busiest coal-exporting ports in the world. Lord Bute had a great interest in religion, medievalism, the occult, and architecture. He had already enlisted the services of William Burges to remodel Cardiff Castle in his own unique style of gothic fantasy.
In 1872, Bute began his project of Castle Coch by asking Burges to look into the possibility of restoring the castle. Burges produced the report and work began in 1875. The castle was to be transformed into a summer home for the Marquess. The restoration was a complete one, but Burges was not to see the finished article. He died in 1881, ten years before completion of the work. His detailed drawings of the interiors allowed his team of craftsmen to complete the task without him. It took sixteen years for the castle to be transformed into the building we know and recognise today.
The castle may have an authentic medieval look to the exterior but the interiors are Victorian fantasy, richly decorated and highly imaginative. After a visit to Castell Coch, it is worth visiting nearby Cardiff Castle to see the ultimate example of the collaboration between Lord Bute and William Burges. At the time of completion, the castle represented a medieval structure, but it did have all the modern conveniences of its time - flushing toilets, central heating and a working kitchen made it habitable. Burges also left behind some justifications for his use of the conical towers, which some historians question for authenticity. Burges wanted them simply for visual effect.
The Keep Tower, the Well Tower and the Kitchen Tower incorporate a series of apartments; of which the main sequence, the Castellan's Rooms, lie within the Keep. The Hall, the Drawing Room, Lord Bute's Bedroom and Lady Bute's bedroom comprise a suite of rooms that exemplify the High Victorian Gothic style in 19th century Britain. However some of the poorer interior decorations can be attributed to work carried out after Burges' early death in 1881. Some of the painted decoration is based on patterns found in Welsh castles. The Drawing Room and Lady Bute's bedroom have ceilings and wall paintings that are almost equal to the best achieved at Cardiff Castle.
The decoration and even the smallest details - such as the door handles and the window latches were carefully considered. Even some of the walls feature paintings of various animals, including birds, monkeys and squirrels, as well as mythological beings.
The uppermost story of the Keep Tower holds Lady Bute's Bedroom, painted in brilliant colours with gilt and mirrors lighting up the double-domed chamber. Apart from the large bed, the furniture in Lady Bute's Room is simplistic and uncomfortable - a result of Burges determination to keep true to the medieval character of the castle.
In 1950, the 5th Marquess of Bute placed the Castle in the care of the Ministry of Works. It is now administered by CADW on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales.
Castell Coch has made numerous appearances in TV and film productions. Drivers can also spot the magical- looking castle from the M4 as they pass the Coryton Interchange.
In 1872, Bute began his project of Castle Coch by asking Burges to look into the possibility of restoring the castle. Burges produced the report and work began in 1875. The castle was to be transformed into a summer home for the Marquess. The restoration was a complete one, but Burges was not to see the finished article. He died in 1881, ten years before completion of the work. His detailed drawings of the interiors allowed his team of craftsmen to complete the task without him. It took sixteen years for the castle to be transformed into the building we know and recognise today.
The castle may have an authentic medieval look to the exterior but the interiors are Victorian fantasy, richly decorated and highly imaginative. After a visit to Castell Coch, it is worth visiting nearby Cardiff Castle to see the ultimate example of the collaboration between Lord Bute and William Burges. At the time of completion, the castle represented a medieval structure, but it did have all the modern conveniences of its time - flushing toilets, central heating and a working kitchen made it habitable. Burges also left behind some justifications for his use of the conical towers, which some historians question for authenticity. Burges wanted them simply for visual effect.
The Keep Tower, the Well Tower and the Kitchen Tower incorporate a series of apartments; of which the main sequence, the Castellan's Rooms, lie within the Keep. The Hall, the Drawing Room, Lord Bute's Bedroom and Lady Bute's bedroom comprise a suite of rooms that exemplify the High Victorian Gothic style in 19th century Britain. However some of the poorer interior decorations can be attributed to work carried out after Burges' early death in 1881. Some of the painted decoration is based on patterns found in Welsh castles. The Drawing Room and Lady Bute's bedroom have ceilings and wall paintings that are almost equal to the best achieved at Cardiff Castle.
The decoration and even the smallest details - such as the door handles and the window latches were carefully considered. Even some of the walls feature paintings of various animals, including birds, monkeys and squirrels, as well as mythological beings.
The uppermost story of the Keep Tower holds Lady Bute's Bedroom, painted in brilliant colours with gilt and mirrors lighting up the double-domed chamber. Apart from the large bed, the furniture in Lady Bute's Room is simplistic and uncomfortable - a result of Burges determination to keep true to the medieval character of the castle.
In 1950, the 5th Marquess of Bute placed the Castle in the care of the Ministry of Works. It is now administered by CADW on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales.
Castell Coch has made numerous appearances in TV and film productions. Drivers can also spot the magical- looking castle from the M4 as they pass the Coryton Interchange.
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I bought this book (published by Gwalch) at the Eisteddfod. I was interested to see that Abraham Lincoln and John Adams, amongst other politicians and military people, had Welsh ancestry. Obviously, George Bush Jr is not included; as you may recall, he asked Charlotte Church which state Wales was in.
Still on the subject of books, anyone visiting Caerdydd might like to go to these two bookshops: The Wellfield in Wellfield Road, Roath (No. 58 bus from the centre of Cardiff) and Y Caban at 169 King's Road, Pontcanna. To get to the latter, you can take any bus that goes up Cathedral Road from the centre of town and there's a stop near to King's Road (rather a pleasant street).
All the best
Gaynor
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Situated near the bottom of the Wenallt lies what is probably the biggest historical monument in Rhiwbina today. The Twmpath is a late 11 th century Norman motte and is shrouded in legend and lore. Historically, the Twmpath's enduring story centres around Iestyn ap Gwrgant then King of Glamorgan, and his downfall.
Towards the latter part of the 11th century, a group of Normans, led by Robert fitz Hamo, Earl of Gloucester, were sent by William I to suppress the Welsh in the South Wales lowlands. Legend has it that fitz Hamo sought the help of a Norman knight by the name of Eynion. His job was to forge a false alliance with Iestyn ap Gwrgant. The apparent aim of this alliance was to drive the Normans back towards Bristol and the West Country.
At Rhiwbina, Iestyns and Eynions armies entered into battle with the Norman army in a field not far from the present day Butchers Arms pub. However, no sooner had battle commenced than Eynion withdrew his men and marched to Swansea. Iestyns army were left to defend for themselves but were hopelessly outnumbered. The dead were piled in one great mound and covered with mud. One version of the story tells that Iestyn was placed on his horse and buried upright in the mound that is known as the Twmpath. The battle was so fierce that the local stream ran red with blood. To this day, its known as Nant y Weadlydd or Bloody Brook.
The Twmpath would have commanded good views of the area in its day. It can be found off Wenallt Road, a hundred yards or so south of the bridge crossing the M4, and a hundred yards or so West of Wenallt Road. You can still see the ditch around the Twmpath, but there are no visible signs of any other buildings.
The bailey of the Twmpath still stands a impressive 30 feet high, although it is somewhat overgrown these days.
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Cardiff City legend and not a player in the team now fit to clean his boots.
RIP
Your name is carved in Folk law.
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