Gwytherin, Pandy Tudur, Llangernyw, Nebo and Capel Garmon seem to be just a stone's throw from Melin y Coed and Nant y Rhiw, and in times past were just a brisk walk or a pony ride away. The families intermingled and moved house from one area to the other as circumstances dictated. One generation might move house and the next move back again. The people of the Hiraethog also moved to distant parts of the world, but their roots remain in the tops.
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TOP PLACES
Drive through the local countryside
A view of the windmills near Bryn Gwynt followed by a drive through Gwytherin to the other side of the windmills overlooking Pandy Tudur and showing Afon Derfyn and the border of the Pentrefolas and Gwytherin parishes, Moel Gydia, Mynydd Hiraethog. Tai Pella was once a monastery and has a legend about a nun who died being carried to Holywell. Dyffryn Cledwen, Bryn Clochydd, Dol Fadryn, Bryn Tan, Tyddyn Deicws, Pentre Cottage, Graig Bach, Mologen Fawr, Ty Ucha'r Ffordd, Tyn Ffrith, Moelogen Bach, Pen Ffrith, Bryniau Pair Ucha and Isa, Bodrach and Foty, also showing Bwlch y Ddwyfain with pylons, Tal y Fan and Drum, the Roman Road to Abergwyngregyn and Pandy Tudur Village.
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Here is a verse which was scribbled on the door of the mill at Gwytherin many years ago as a message to the miller, who was out when the customer called. The mill is long gone.
Dafydd Davies chi yw'r bachgen
Gorau welais yn fy nydd.
Newch chi falu pwn i'r Merddyn
Erbyn bore fory, brawd?
Nid oes dichon pesgi mochyn
Ar ychydig bach o flawd.
David Davies, you're the best
Fellow I saw in my life.
Will you grind half a sack for the Merddyn
By tomorrow morning, brother?
There's no way to fatten a pig
On just a little bit of flour.
Pennill i roid ar bedd Morris Morris
A verse written as a memorial inscription.
Yn fan yma gorweddai'r anfarwol Moi Mor
Cwnhingod yr ardal yn gweiddi "encore!"
Er huno ohono a llwyted ei wedd
Os clyw sŵn peterisen fe sgythra o'r bedd.
Here lies the immortal Moi Mor -
Local rabbits shout "encore!"
No matter how deep his sleep or pale his face
At the sound of a partridge he'd scramble from this place.
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MISS EDITH LUSET FIELD - LLANGERNYW SCHOOL
Above: Miss Field and her Class at Llangernyw School in the 1934/5 school Year.
Miss E. L. Field is on the left, and the girl next to her is Catherine Eleanor Davies of Fron Wen and Cefn Coch.
The original photo was reproduced in Hanes Bro Cernyw, published 2001, and was probably sent in by Catherine Eleanor herself.
Miss Edith Luset Field a’i dosbarth crynedig!
Fe’i maged gan ei hewythr a’i modryb yng Nglyn Ceiriog.
Er ei bod yn fechan roedd yn medru rhoi bonclust syfrdanol.
Rhes Flaen (Front Row):
Gruffydd Jones, Pentre Wern; John Hughes, Cwm; William Edwards, Pen Bryn; Tom Evans, Garnedd Bach; William Arthur Roberts, Llannerch; Sam Davies, Tyddyn Uchaf; Gwilym Williams, Minafon;
Yr ail res (Second Row):
Kate Jones, Bryniau Gleision; Diana Williams, Rhyd Eden?; Jessie Davies, Pen Ucha Llan; Gwenda Jones, Llais Afon; Gwyneth Davies, Bont Syllty; Mary Edwards, Rhos Mawn; Enid Brownsell, Ty’n Pwll;
Trydydd rhes (Third Row):
Eleanor Davies, Cefn Coch; Mair Roberts, Ddôl Wen; Gwen Thomas, Plas-yn-Trofarth; Nellie Rowlands, Cefn Ucha; Menna Roberts, Tŷ Capel Ainon; Eirwen Thomas, Fron Wen; Margaret Roberts, Tan-y-Clogwyn; Elsie May Rowlands, Cefn Ucha?; Marian Jones, Tan Ffordd;
Rhes ôl (Back Row):
Glyn Davies, Foelcadeiriau; Stanley Davies, Ty’n Pwll; Edward Owen, Wenlli; Trefor Jones, Llais Afon a John Matin, Pen Dre.
Judith Mair, who sent the above photo to us, is Miss Field's great niece, and says of the above picture:
"My mum is the child standing beside Miss Field and she always spoke very highly of her - in fact Miss Field was her favourite teacher. I suppose she had to be tough to deal with all the little terrors, including my 2 uncles. The strange thing is that it was because of Miss Field that my parents met. She was born in Islington, but by the age of 11 had been sent to Glyn Ceiriog to be brought up by her mother's sister and husband. The rest of the children stayed in London.
When she died in 1951, my father and his father, Edith's brother, came to Llangernyw to clear up her house and effects, and it was then that they met my mother. And the rest, as they say, is history!"
The reference to Miss Field's toughness arises out of the writing below the photo, which says:
Miss Field a'i dosbarth crynedig! Fe'i maged gan ei hewythr a'i modryb yng Nglyn Ceiriog. Er ei bod yn fechan roedd yn medru rhoi bonclust syfrdanol.
This translates as: "Miss Field and her trembling class! She was raised by her uncle and aunt in Glyn Ceiriog. Although she was small she could deliver an amazing box to the ears."
Above: Miss Field little thought at the time that after her death Eleanor, the pupil next to her, would become her niece by marriage.
Judith goes on to say:
I found the original among my mum's effects, but it was reproduced in Hanes Bro Cernyw, published 2001. I think she sent it in to them, but could be wrong!
Yes, my surname is Mair, my husband being of Scottish descent - it causes much hilarity and confusion amongst my Welsh relations!
I live in N.London, where I was born.
Miss Field died September 18th 1951 at Noddfa, Llangernyw aged 63.
My parents lived in Stanmore, Middlesex. My Mum was born at Fron Wen, Llangernyw and then the family (William Anwyl and Elizabeth Davies, sons Gwilym Anwyl and Robert Edwin and Catherine Eleanor moved to Cefn Coch Isa.
We still have the clock Miss Field was presented with when she retired.
Miss Field was one of six children, and why she was sent to Wales I do not know. Possibly her aunt Mary Ann, the sister of my great grandmother, Elizabeth (nee Jones, b 1856, Glyn Ceiriog) who married Evan Evans had no children and they offered to bring her up? Edith (aged 13, scholar) was living at Glan Dwr, Glyn Ceiriog on the 1901 census with Evan (32) and Mary A (36) Evans. He was an assurance agent and his wife was a dressmaker. I don't know when she went to Wales as I can't find any of the Field family on the 1891 census!
I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers Miss Field as their teacher - she has 2 nieces still alive who are interested to hear news of the family tree ancestors.
Best wishes, Judith
Judith can be contacted on jpmair (at) tiscali.co.uk
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AUGUST 2007 - LLANGERNYW SHOW
PANDY TUDUR: Faces from the past.
Above: Pandy Tudur Choir
Above: Pandy Tudur Chapel Deacons and Minister.
Standing: R. D. Aubrey, Isaac Williams, William Jones, John Roberts.
Seated: Evan Evans, Rev J. Llewelyn Hughes, B. A., John Morris.
Above: Lizzie Roberts with Bess at Foty Gerrig, Nebo.
Above: Wedding of Lizzie Roberts Fotty Gerrig and Herbert Roberts Graig Bach, Pandy Tudur.
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Above: Herbert and Lizzie Graig Bach in 1964.
Above: Gwynfor, Lizzie and Herbert Graig Bach.
A STORY FROM CORNWALL ISA, GWYTHERIN
Above: At Fronwen, with the Conway Valley in the background: William Evans Fronwen, Mr John Davies Cornwall Isa, and David Trebor Evans (Dei Fronwen).
Mr Davies would walk down to Fronwen (Nant y Rhiw) from Gwytherin to visit when his wife had a new baby.
Annie Ceridwen was there to overhear the conversation one time.
"Faint o blant sydd gen ti rwan, Jac?"
"Mae'r wraig yn disgwyl un heddiw, wedyn mi fydd yna deg."
("How many children hast thou now, Jack?"
"The wife is expecting one today, then there will be ten.")
Then the proud father would be presented with a guinea for the new baby.
Mr Davies ended up with a beautiful and rather large family. Here they are:
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BELOW: The Children of Gwytherin School through the years.
PEOPLE OF THE TOPS - Through the Years.
Above: John Morris b. 1819 and Gwen b. 1823
Above: Elizabeth Roberts Ty Newydd b. 1851 and Robert Roberts b. 1848
Above: Jane Morris b. 1893
Above: Moses Roberts b. 1871 and Margaret b. 1877
Above: Moses Roberts b. 1871
Above: Osborne Morris b 1913 and John Roberts b. 1900
Above: Moses Roberts b. 1903
Above: Wedding of Margaret Evans (Maggie) Chwibren Isa
Above: Jane Morris, who was born 1853.
Above: Morus Morris b. 1888
Above: Postman Morus Morris
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Above: John Robert Morris, b. 1900
Above: David Roberts b. 1911, Jane b. 1914, Robert b. 1908
Above: Robert Davies b. 1877
Above: Sons of John R and Jane Morris.
Above: Eleven children of John R and Jane Morris: John Emyr Elwyn Hugh Robert Merfyn Glyn Gwynfor Meta Elizabeth Mary
Above: Wedding of Joseph Davies Nant Merddyn Uchaf and Abigail Jones.
Wedding of John Morris.
Above: Wedding of Evan Roberts, Cwm Canol, b. 1896, and Jane Wynne with Mary Roberts (sister of Evan) and John Wynne (brother of Jane).
Above: John Roberts, Mary Jane Jones Sally Roberts, Jennie Wetton, Mary, Ernest Roberts, John.
Above: Kate Morris and Trevor.
Above: Cwm Canol, Gwytherin
Cwm Canol, Gwytherin, nowadays.
Above: Chwibren Isa, Llansannan.
Above: W O Davies, Dolgarrog PO
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Gwytherin Post Office
A LETTER FROM GLYN E JONES HAFAN and SIOP GWYTHERIN TO MYC
Above: Glyn having dinner on the banks of the River Kwai.
Sawasdee kap, syt ma'i?
I was born in Hafan, Gwytherin but grew up in Rhyl. I spent a lot of time when I was a kid in Gwytherin as my aunt and uncle ran the post office there (before it moved to the shop).
I moved back there in the 80s with my wife and two children. We lived in the shop and post office for a few years and I tried to make a living as an insurance agent. I hated the job from day one and, in the last two years there, went to Llandrillo College to do a full time computer course. I moved to Dolgellau to take up a teaching post. I've been teaching for over 20 years now and decided to move to Thailand when I saw what lows the youth of today had come to.
Above: Glyn's home in Thailand.
The last place I taught at was at a college in Amersham, just outside London. I think the word 'zoo' would be more appropriate given the behaviour of the students.
Above: Glyn receives his TEFL Certificate (Teaching English as a Second Language).
I did a TEFL course when I first arrived here and now teach English at the Mahanakorn University just outside Bangkok. I love it here - the people are nice and the students wonderful.
Above: Glyn with his students in Thailand.
If I return to Wales for a visit, I shall probably call in on Gwytherin and stay at the Lion for a couple of days.
Until then, keep in touch.
Kop kum kap - hwyl.
Glyn E Jones (Glyn Siop gynt)
glyn.jones @ hotmail.co.uk
Above: Loi Khratong is a Buddhist festival where one buys a Khratong, puts money on it, lights the candle, then makes a wish before putting it on the water and letting it float away, when all one's problems are supposed to float away with it. Over here, people have to make do with the Duck Race on the River Conway.
Above: Not a Zebra Crossing.
Someone's son or husband. Thomas Davidson was aged 33 when he died in 1943.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery - River Kwai
Tomorrow the dawn of a new day.
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Thanks to Lee Wetton for permission to use his photos.
www clwyd-mi.co.uk
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CARREG Y FRAN, SILOAM
Maria Ann, Carreg y Fran, 1915
A photo from the Collection of Margaret Jane Roberts, Cefn Cestyll etc.
Written on the reverse: "Nadolig Llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda iti".
Below this in Margaret Jane's writing, "Maria Ann, Careg y Fran, Siloam. In very small writing at the bottom in the original handwriting of the sender: Xmas 1915.
Larger file sizes of this photo are available on request, original or edited, for making a good print.
Write to www. melin-y-coed. co.uk (close anti-spam gaps) with clear heading: MYC PHOTO PLEASE and details of the photo you want. This heading may help prevent deletion of a genuine email among the vast quantities of spam.