The Pit Pony Memorial and the memories of "Dai"

Visit Date: September 2021

I visited my local nature reserve again which was prompted by a notice in the local paper of a memorial service that is held every year at 8.20 am on the 26th of August on the anniversary of the time and day when 146 men and boys died when there was an explosion in the coal mine.

I was happy to see that the area has had a facelift and a new memorial bench has been placed in the area.

The carving is of a miner and his "Pit Pony".

It was shining in the warm late summer sunshine and it got me thinking of the area where I grew up not 10 miles from here.

I Digress:-

The area was very much a mining valley and back in the late 60's, it was common to see men in the street with "Blue Scars" where coal dust had gone in beneath their skin and cause scars that looked like tattoos permanently on their face and arms.

But the Pit Pony sculpture reminded me of the stables that were behind the row of our houses and that still housed a number of Ponies and I was told that they were Pit Ponies that I assumed now were there in their retirement. No open field for these old boys, I believe they spent their last years in these stables, as I never saw them outside on a single occasion.

I am not sure when the last ponies would have been used here underground but I would guess, these ponies would have been quite young when retired.

This led me to think of the man who looked after the ponies or horses. His name was David Thomas.

In Wales David is a very common name and anyone called David would be known as "Dai" also it was very common to have this as the first part of your nickname and your job or some other "theme" as the second part, One chap in my street was called "Dai Bad Back", yup you've guessed it for years he could not work because of a bad back (I still can't recall his real surname). We also had an "Alan Potcher" who could turn his hand to any odd job and fix it up or "potch it up". Now I think of it there did seem to be many "Dai's" who had something attached to their name (Or maybe I can recall them easier as I was called "Dai" for the first 25 years of my life)!

For the first few years, I knew him I only knew Mr. David Thomas as "Dai Horse" and everyone knew "Dai Horse".

A few years later Mr Thomas started to look after the deliveries of the local Evening newspaper (The South Wales Echo). The papers would come from Cardiff (about 25 miles away) by train to Bridgend and then by bus up to the valleys. The conductor of the bus would then throw the papers from the bus at the main but stop in the village where "Dai" would be waiting. He would then distribute the papers to houses or local shops where we paperboys would take over and deliver them to the houses.

Of course, this meant that "Dai Horse" soon became known as "Dai Echo"

I remember fondly many people having this type of nickname back then but the strangest one I think I heard was the David who bought the biggest house at the head of the valley which at one time would have been the mine managers house. His nickname? Well "Dai Big House" of course.

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Google Reference
51.539548735113236, -3.618187109403901

Google Search reference: Parc Slip Memorial

What Three Words reference : ///ranks.fixed.rally

The site is easy to find just 15 minutes from M4 motorway at junction 46

The car park //////joystick.plod.painting
Google Maps (51.54538490015156, -3.6143532913911733) is free and there are toilets and a café nearby.

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" A column of water that lifts a hundred tons" Brunel Docks Briton Ferry.

Visit Date : August 2021

Isn't it strange and interesting that sometimes you take a more detailed look at something familiar that a whole host of history is revealed?

This happened to me recently as I passed over the Briton Ferry Bridge on the motorway from Port Talbot to Swansea.

I have passed this way what must have been hundreds of times without giving the view before a second thought but a recent article on the TV whetted my appetite to get a closer look, and I was not disappointed.

This is Briton Ferry docks, built in the 1850s.

This area was close to Ironworks and massive coal production so docks were built in lots of places around this coast. So what was special about this one well the first thing to catch my attention was that this was designed and built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel ***( an English civil engineer who is considered "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history, one of the 19th-century engineering giants, and "one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution, who changed the face of the English landscape with his groundbreaking designs and ingenious constructions. Brunel built dockyards, the Great Western Railway (GWR), a series of steamships including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship, and numerous important bridges and tunnels. His designs revolutionised public transport and modern engineering.*** (thanks to Wikipedia))

The dock was completed by Brunel's chief assistant, Robert Pearson Brereton in 1861 two years after Brunel's death in 1859.

The dock was originally called the Briton Ferry Floating dock but has been renamed as The Brunel Dock.

Some of the design for the dock was remarkable as it marked his experimental work on buoyant lock gates, and the move from wooden gates to Iron and this is thought to be the only surviving example of this work.

The power for this was housed in Brunel's tower which contains the hydraulic accumulator which powered the lock gates and cranes of the unique Briton Ferry floating dock.

The tower housed this accumulator, supplied by Sir William Armstrong. Inside, a weight pushed down on the water in a cylinder. The high-pressure water then operated the lock gate, cranes and other machinery. The weight gradually descended as the water was used. It was moved back up the tower by power from a stationary steam engine nearby.

The engineering savvy amongst you may well understand how this was done but for us normal folk the plaque on the tower states:-

" A column of water that lifts a hundred tons".

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Google Reference
51.626406, -3.828599
Google Search reference: Brunel Docks Briton Ferry

What Three Words reference : //////alien.comet.decreased

The site is easy to find leave M4 motorway at junction 41 Follow signs to Briton Ferry then A48 to the "McDonalds roundabout then left onto Brunel Way.

The car park ///eating.tester.shark (51.626114, -3.826099) is free but with only 4 places

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Carreg Cennen Castle

Visit Date : August 2021

WELSH: Castell Carreg Cennen meaning castle (on the) rock (above the) Cennen) is well named as this fortress is well above the outlying land high upon a limestone cliff.

The site has a long history and may well have also been the site of an Iron Age hillfort.

There is also some Roman history as Roman coins have been found in the area, although it is unlikely the Romans occupied this site on a permanent basis.

Legends of the original fortress goes back to the Dark Ages, held by Urien Rheged, Lord of Iskennen, and his son Owain, knights during the reign of King Arthur.

Stories claim that there is a warrior (perhaps one of the knights, or Arthur himself?) asleep beneath the castle, awaiting a call from the Welsh.

As with many Welsh castles, they will have been built, rebuilt and altered through the ages.

The first "castle" on the site was probably built by the Welsh Lord Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth, in the late 12th century, but was taken in 1277 by King Edward I.

The castle we see today replaced the demolished previous structure in the late 13th century by John Giffard and his son.

It was involved in many battles and was besieged during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr in about 1403 and was considerably damaged.

Around 1461, the castle was deemed too much of a threat to the monarchy and was destroyed the following spring and is basically in the same state today.

Despite being in a ruinous state in the 18th century it started to attract artists (Turner sketched the castle in 1798).

In the 1960s Carreg Cennen Castle was acquired by the Morris family of Castell Farm, when Lord Cawdor's legal team made a mistake in the wording of the deeds and included the castle as part of the farm.

The image below is an interesting feature (at least to me) was this tower with the hole at the bottom. It was the outlet for the latrine.

Although today the Castle is maintained by CADW: (Welsh Historic Monuments) the castle is still privately owned and managed along with the farm and tea rooms by Margaret & Bernard Llewellyn and their Daughters.

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Google Reference 51.854408996393424, -3.935643592179748

Google Search reference: Carreg Cennen Castle

What Three Words reference : ///reason.winners.routs

The site is easy to find Leave north from Ammanford and turn left onto Ffordd Wern Ddu it is signposted from here.

The car park (51.85656999860168, -3.9376914809885473) is free with many spaces and overflow spaces. There are toilets and a "must visit" tea room and gift shop.

 

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Maen Llia

Visit Date: December 2019

This is a post from a visit I made to this site in 2019.

This standing stone is situated in Brecon.

As you approach Maen Llia, the megalith is in a large area of scrub and does not look so large but gets more and more overwhelming as you get closer and close up is it very impressive. The stone is actually 12 foot high and 9ft wide.

The stone is made of Calcreate which is a form of old red sandstone which is found some distance away.

The stone is likely to have been brought to this location by a glacier many thousands of years ago and then placed upright in its exact position during the Bronze Age.

The myth associated with this stone is that on mid-summers eve the Maen Llia walks to the river to drink.

It is said that this myth stems perhaps from the shadow getting longer as the sun goes down and stretches down to the river before sunset.

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Google Reference 51.860873062740495, -3.5636886724985617

Google Search reference: Maen Llia

What Three Words reference : ///compress.maple.display

The site is easy to find on Sarn Helen, in the Brecon Beacons.

Head north from Glynneath briefly on the A4019 and then the B4242 and Maen Llia is right next to the road, well marked and easily visible from the road.

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CARN LLECHART RING CAIRN

Visit Date:- August 2021

Today my short outing was to visit the small stone circle called Carn Llechart.
This is within the Brecon Beacons National park and is high on the hills overlooking the village of Rhyd Y Fro.

Click on images for larger view

The site comprises the remains of a burial cairn probably dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC).

Click on images for larger view

On observation, the ring is not really that impressive as other circles with the stones being not more than a few feet high and the ring not nearly as large as many others.

The reason for this is likely to be that the circle is not of the same sort of group ceremonial use that we see from the larger circle sites but is more likely that this circle is just the border of a burial site. But it does have significance in the history of this site.

Click on images for larger view

An important ring cairn, It measures 13 metres in internal diameter

with its unusual circle of contiguous slabs, about 25 in number, around a large rectangular cist (A cist is a small stone-built coffin-like box or ossuary used to hold the bodies of the dead. Examples can be found across Europe and in the Middle East),

This site is important as it has the distinction of being mentioned in one of Britain's earliest antiquarian books, William Camden's 'Britannia' (1695 edition).

The twenty-five stone slabs leaning outwards slightly create a 'crown of thorns' effect. The circle is very slightly above the surrounding ground level. At the centre is the robbed-out rectangular cist measuring 2 metres by 1 metre Approx.

The cist was originally topped by a large stone slab, but this has been lost. Although I did read that it had been "moved" to a site 100 yards away.

I wish I had realised that the circle was so close to the ground as I would have taken a light ladder to get above the site to show it better, especially as the site was overgrown today at the height of summer, Maybe a return winter visit is on the cards?

There have been some interesting visit mentions for this site.

One of the visits was recorded by a couple who said "I have never seen anything like it. Claire was bodily thrown from the centre of the circle by some kind of force. I felt it too. It was like being punched in the stomach."

"Since our visit we suffered severe headaches, stomach problems, lethargy and general illness. It was almost as if our energy was completely sapped by whatever was in the centre of those stones."

By contrast, another reads:-

" I visit this place regularly and have found no ill effects when visiting, in fact, quite the contrary... I find the energy there is very warm and welcoming, not at all malicious, I leave with a renewed sense of wellbeing.

======================================================

In an adjoining farm field to the southwest of the circle, you will see another stone circle with much larger stones. A more impressive site this has often been in reports mistaken for the actual site. The stones are much larger and set out not in a proper circle so you have to be more open to the circle description.

Click on images for larger view

This is almost certainly more recent, however, it is likely that these large stones did mark something in the distant past but have been moved considerably.

One local resident stated that this was constructed by the gas board to stop the farmers cows from rubbing against the machinery that was stored there. This was going to be the use for the large flat stone. Although this may have been the recent use it is difficult to believe that these stones would have been brought here when the field with its dry-stone walls could have been secured more easily.

Another report was of a farmer building a stone circle in a field south of Carn Llechart ring cairn in 1985. Either way, I think these may have been of importance before being repurposed and the original position and purpose has now sadly long gone.

That said they are impressive to look at. Oh yes, the views are also great from up here but the light was very flat and not good for the long landscape shots.

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Google Reference 51.73995923556227, -3.8880360662304243

Google Search reference: Carn Llechart Stone Circle & Cairn

What Three Words reference : ///fight.lucky.geek

To visit the site is quite easy, but it took me quite a time to find it but this should make it easier for you.

When entering the village of Rhyd Y Fro with the "Traveller's Well" pub on your right-hand side, take the turning left just past the pub. Go up the hill on the small farm track until you pass over a cattle grid. A little way after this is a sharp hairpin bend to the left, take this up the hill further.

Next, there is a right-hand hairpin turn with a larger tuning space. Here you can park or just a little way further up the hill there is an entrance to the hill with a yellow grit box on the right-hand side, you could park here also.

Take a walk through this entrance by the grit box with the wall on your left and then follow the wall 90 degrees around to the left. When you reach the second metal gate with the "walkway markings" and style stop.

You will see the false circle and stone in the field if you wish to visit but Carn Llechart is not in this direction.

With this gate at your back look opposite and slightly to the right and the Circle is just a few hundred yards away up the hill slightly. I visited in summer and could hardly see the stones of the circle from the gate as they were overgrown but in winter you may possibly see them.

The google map reference is very good and I found it from that.

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The Wreck of the Altmark

Date of visit: April 2021

This is a wreck on my favourite local beach.

It is located along the coast heading west from Sker beach where the S.S Santampa was wrecked.

This part of the South Wales coast is very treacherous in stormy weather and there are quite a few wrecks here.

There is not much showing of the wreck today because the level of sand on the beach does vary during the year.

The Altmark was a fishing vessel that was travelling from Briton Ferry to Barry in June 1960 when it developed engine trouble and ran aground.

Luckily there was only one person on board and he was rescued safely.

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Google Reference
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Google Reference
51.528958947924274, -3.760627107183939



What Three Words reference : ///haunts.mule.disgraced

Additional information



Visiting:
Easy but quite a way from any parking.
You can park at the Kenfig Natural Nature Reserve (51.51590589843503, -3.72832430176402) there is now a fee that needs to be paid for parking and on last visit it was card only.
From the car park you need to follow the yellow signs to the beach and then turn left on the beach until you reach the wreck (2.5 Miles Approx).
There are facilities at the nature reserve, toilets and café and also visitor centre information.

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The Keeper of the Woods (Bridgend Nature Keepers Project)

 Visit Date: April 2021

This is one of the ‘Nature Keepers’ oak sculptures.

The Nature Keepers project has been led by Bridgend County Borough Council, working together with local community groups.

They add interest to our beauty spots, and with the accompanying poetry, they capture the imagination of younger visitors by interweaving mythology into the sites.

Their aim is to spark an emotional connection to our green spaces, and so encourage people to visit as well as care more for them.

The Nature Keepers were carved out of Welsh oak by local sculptor Dai Edwards.

This will be a first of a series of posts on this topic

This keeper can be found in Tremains Wood Nature Reserve.

Brackla housing estate expanded greatly in the latter half of the last century and now accounts for nearly a quarter of the Bridgend town with a population of 11,749 at the 2011 Census.

Tremains Wood is a lowland mixed broadleaf woodland in the middle of the Brackla estate. It’s an easily accessible, leafy haven from town life and the meandering pathways through woodlands are a perfect place for children to explore. It is managed so the local community can access nature.

An area of ancient, semi-natural woodland, Tremains Wood is listed in the provisional ‘Glamorgan Inventory of Ancient Woodland’

THE KEEPER OF THE WOOD

I am a calendar, watch the seasons grow,

Warmed by summer sun, blanketed in snow.

I am a wardrobe full of things to wear,

Woven mossy blankets, woolly underwear.



I am a market full of tasty grub,

Caterpillar sandwiches, desiccated slug.

I am a mansion, fit for popstar folk,

Bunches of ash keys, wall to wall oak.



I am a classroom, open to the skies.

History surrounds me, imagination flies,

Woodland interface, nature’s open book,

Ancient hub of knowledge, welcome to the wood.”

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Newcastle Castle (Bridgend)

Visit Date : July 2021

I visited another of the South Wales Castles, this time Newcastle. This should not be confused with the towns of Newcastle in the UK or the very famous northern city of Newcastle-Upton-Tyne.

This Newcastle now stands on Newcastle Hill overlooking the town of Bridgend and the river Ogmore that flows through the town.

The Norman castles throughout Wales were built hastily of wood with an earthen embankment but this castle like so many others was later reinforced by stone.

Above you can see the Southern wall incorporating the south tower that is the part of the castle that has survived the best. (In the background you can see St. Illtyds Church).

Click on any image to enlarge

The west tower would have stood here, sadly most of it has gone now but this would have looked onto the keep which is now completely destroyed and there is no visible remains of the keep.

Click on any image to enlarge

On the eastern side, the remains of domestic buildings can be seen.

Although the castle overlooks the strategic River Ogmore which flows down past Ogmore Castle it is more likely that this Newcastle was more of a great residence than a defensive stronghold.

Click on any image to enlarge

After the invasion and conquest of England in 1066 by the Normans, a buffer was created between England and Wales along what is known as the Marchers or Welsh Marchers. The leaders at the time were given authority and were encouraged to take land from any Welsh rulers.

The invasion of South Wales was led by Robert Fitz Hamo and this led to the destruction of the Welsh Kingdom of Morgannwg and the Lordship of Glamorgan was born.

According to legend, The lord was accompanied by a dozen knights who would be later known as the "Twelve Knights" and much of the early castle building was done by The Twelve Knights".

Later in the Castles history, Lord Roberts grandson William died leaving a daughter but no male heir and that led to the Welsh tribes led by "Morgan ap Carradog" (Morgan son of Carradog) to rise up. This disorder was soon quelled and King Henry was forced to take over the rule of Glamorgan in around 1183 and it is likely that the decorated stone gateway was built at this time.

Click on any image to enlarge

Another of the Castles of South Wales which sadly is in ruin but is now protected by Cadw

(Cadw is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. Cadw works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage sites of Wales, so that the public can visit them, enjoy them and understand their significance. )

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Google Reference: -
51.50892482554663, -3.583186606287954


Google search:-
Newcastle Castle Bridgend

What Three Words reference: -
///latter.sweat.brings

OS Details: -
OS Grid Ref : SS 90221 80079 :Altitude:159 ft

Additional information.

Parking is not easy here as you will need to park on the street. There is a small lay by (51.50899382089056, -3.5836980556567433) There is plenty of parking in the town if you do not mind a 15 - 20 minute walk up to the castle.

A full list of blogs can be found at my website

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