Save Llancaich Fawr!
Llancaiach Fawr at Risk of Closure
Caerphilly council is proposing to ‘mothball’ stunning Tudor mansion Llancaiach Fawr, in an effort to save money. There are a lot of voices raised against this, and against the imminent closure of Blackwood Miner’s Institute in Blackwood.
The manor house is such a community hub, offering a wide variety of events, workshops, ghost tours etc… as well as meals in their lovely restaurants, the Lounge and the Conservatory. Apart from anything else, it seems to me that rather than saving money, they will be cutting off a means of bringing money in, not to mention the loss of jobs when those currently employed there lose their positions.
That this is even being contemplated is unbelievable to me. Llancaiach Fawr is always so popular, you have to get in quick if you want to take part in their events. Especially at Christmas, when the house is even more beautiful than ever. I understand the need to budget, money is tight and so on, but to close down such an historically important venue that brings money in makes no sense to me. All of which also applies to Blackwood Miner’s Institute. I have enjoyed several shows there. My little granddaughter has seen shows and pantomimes there. The thought of losing it makes me very sad.
It is worth noting that the same council also proposed stopping a meal delivery service, which delivers meals to some of the most vulnerable people in the community, again in a bid to save money. Why does it always seem to be the case that the most needy are the first to suffer? Thankfully, this proposal has recently been reversed.
The word ‘mothballing’ bothers me here. I have a feeling that once mothballed, these places will remain closed permanently, being sold off to some rich developer or private buyer or something.
Something similar happened years ago now, to a building called Insole Court in Radyr, Cardiff. That wonderful place was saved by the community and is now a thriving hub, with all kinds of amazing things going on there, including a community garden, which I personally think is fabulous. If they saved Insole Court, then they can save Llancaiach Fawr and Blackwood Miner’s Institute too.
I will watch carefully, with fingers crossed, to see what happens regarding this important and beautiful buildings. I hope that when I report back, it will be with good news. Surely, there are other ways the council could cut back, without causing such upset and damage to the communities involved, and without depriving necessary causes such as schools, medical facilities and so on. I hope so.
https://blackwoodminersinstitute.com
Llancaiach Fawr by S P Oldham
A Mystery Death at Montgomery Castle…
Montgomery Castle - A Mystery Historical Death
The curious death of Maud Vras, as told by Cadw. You may know by now that I love history as much as I love writing, and where possible I try to include or allude to historical periods, events, folklore and mythology in my work, when I can. As a side note, Montgomery in Wales is an incredibly pretty part of the world, crammed full of history. I should also add that I am not entirely sure that the photo above (I took it) is the precise spot of the incident.
Been away, going away…
I have just spent a lovely five days with my sister, helping to look after my nephew’s house, cats, dog and chickens in West Wales. A beautiful part of the world. Now I am home for ten days, before going away again, this time to Llanberis, with my oldest son, my youngest son and his wife, and our gorgeous little granddaughter! Lucky me!
I am editing at the moment, my new book due to be released around the end of September, with luck and a fair wind!
If you would like an ARC copy (download) in exchange for a timely, fair and honest review, just let me know below, or message me, whichever you prefer. It is another zompoc novel, my last for a while as I intend to move on to other things.
In the meantime, here is me on the beach at the stunning Pembrey Sands, because if there is not a photo, then we all know it didn’t happen!
Ghosts of Pentyrch
Disappearing Spitfire. Y Ladi Wen. The White Lady. Ghosts of Pentrych. St Fagans. Acapela Studios.
My sister Wendy was having a sort out recently, when she came across an old copy of Community Link, a popular local (to Pentyrch and its environs) community magazine. In it, she found these articles, the first relating to a 1949 sighting of ‘The White Lady,’ the second about the mysterious disappearance of a Spitfire.
If you follow my blog and my writing, you may have by now gathered that I have a love for and interest in such stories of folklore, myth and legend, so I just had to share it with you here. Unfortunately, there are no names to credit the articles to, at least not that I can see. It comes from the 1994 edition of Community Link, its centenary year. If you happen to know who was relating the stories here, just let me know and I will gladly credit them.
Make of the stories what you will. Genuine sightings? Overactive imaginations? Perfectly explicable with the application of a little science and/or common sense? You decide. Feel free to let me know!
The photograph below is of the first article. For ease of reading I have transcribed it below.
“Two frightened young sisters and their cousin, a boy obviously frightened out of his wits but unwilling to admit the fact, rushed down the lane and knocked the front door of Mrs Morgan’s house in Cefn Bychan at 7 o’clock last Saturday evening and blurted out their strange story.
The children had been playing near Pwll Mwyn, throwing stones into the deep water, when they saw above them what they thought was the figure of a woman dressed in a white robe, sitting on the branch of a tree. They also thought that she was holding a block of wood in her hands.
There has been much discussion about the event and as usual some believe it, others do not. I was with Mr John Matthews at his house when David Richard Davies called to ask him his opinion.
“Nonsense, pure nonsense!” Was Mr Matthew’s predictable answer.
“Well I’m not so sure,” retorted Dai Davies, “It sounds like the Ladi Wen to me.”
If Mr Davies is right, it will be the first sighting of Y Ladi Wen since the 1930’s, when it was a regular occurrence.”
* Y Ladi Wen - The White Lady
The photograph below is of the second article: ‘1942 Disappearing Spitfire.’ For ease of reading I transcribed it below.
‘The sight of aeroplanes has been a familiar one since the war began and hardly a minute goes by without some flying machine passing overhead. However, last Thursday afternoon in the first week of the summer holidays, a small group of lads were standing on the corner near Horeb when something happened in the sky that caused them to take an interest immediately. A Spitfire, at roughly a thousand feet or so, roughly above the area of St. George’s, whilst issuing a very loud and distresses (sic) sound from its engine. In a very short time it must have crashed to the ground for it could clearly be seen to come down that far before becoming hidden at the last moment by the trees which spread out westwards from St. Fagans.
Obeying their natural curiosity, at least five of the boys (the ones who possessed bikes) set off to investigate. Although they searched a wide area for several hours together with police and volunteers, no trace of the aeroplane was found… and it remains a mystery.’
Incidentally, St Fagans is a beautiful and very interesting place to visit should you be looking for a day out: St Fagans National Museum of History
Horeb was a chapel I knew well as a child, often playing near it as it was close to the village park. However, now it is better known as Acapela Studios