Cwmllynfell Lime Kiln Works

 Visit Date March 2022: 

 

Today's walk took me on a journey alongside the river Afon Twrch up to the disused lime kilns at Cwmllynfell.

The area is above Swansea and on the southwest border of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

South Wales covers seams of limestone and as lime is a highly useful product in a diverse range of industries such as iron smelting, land improving and building, it is not surprising that the lime industry did well here.

There are several old ruins of lime kilns in the area and what is now left at Cwmllynfell is only part of what would have been quite a large site for the area.

There is not much history known about these lime kiln works but they date to the early to mid 1800s

The lime kilns themselves would have been part of larger works where perhaps coal was mined along with the limestone which would have been quarried close by.

Archaeologists have studied the site and come to the conclusion that there were once three chimneys on the site. One alongside this remaining chimney and one on the hill above.

Although the exact use of these chimneys is not fully known the theory is that they were part of the former engine houses that were used to work the incline hauling the coal or lime.

The second theory is that they were used as air ventilation shafts used in the associated coal mines.

The site is now much smaller and only a few ruins remain.

The remaining chimney is the most impressive part of the works and can be seen in the distance as you walk up to the site.

There are some smaller buildings further up the slope on what was called the John Hays incline that would have gone up the third chimney. These are now almost gone.

Interestingly I saw this small tree growing from the side of this wall. Seems like it has just emerged from the wall?

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Visit Information:-
Google Reference
51.80871833544981, -3.796753579869776

What Three Words reference:-

///trespass.digitally.rust

Additional information
Visiting the site is quite easy with good footpaths.

You can park the car in the village alongside a park 

(51.79688942023502, -3.8104205095605574) 

You then leave the park and turn right down the road. Google maps will direct you to take a path on the left-hand side up the hill however a better way is to continue on down the hill and across the bridge. 

Immediately after the bridge take the footpath to the left and follow this to the site. The walking is quite easy and around 1 mile. 

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Candelston Castle.

 Visit Date March 2022.  

Today's visit was to Candelston Castle. The first this to say about this old structure is like many "Castles" in Wales it is not actually a castle but a fortified manor house.

The castle was built in around 1320 by the Canteilupe family, Robert de Canteilupe III or possibly his successor John de Cantilupe, who may have been the Abbot of Margam in 1315

Candleston's original long and narrow rectangular structure lay across the western end of a low narrow promontory, suggesting a defensive position. This type of place is often referred to as a "Promontory Fort"

In the 16th / 17th centuries, the castle moved ownership into the Herbert family who added the west wing to the structure.

In the image above you can see where the upper floor was situated and this would have been the main hall.

Between 1806 and 1808, Sir John Nicholl resided at the manor while his manor was built.

Candleston Castle was sold by Richard Franklen to Nicholl in 1830, when it was said to have included a drawing room, dining room, breakfast rooms, four bedrooms and a coach house

In the early 19th century modifications included the construction of a stable, the castle was Crenelated for ornamental purposes and a defensive tower was built. The stepped base of a Cavalry Cross of  an unreported date, with the fallen cross itself lying alongside, was found near the windmill uncovered by sand in 1823.

The Ruins of the windmill can still be seen close by although almost overgrown. What can be seen here now is the round base of the windmill.

Below are images of the ruins of the Windmill

The castle is just about a quarter of a mile (1.21 km) northwest of Ogmore Castle and is on the opposite side of the river Ogmore

My Final image today shows both structures, well overgrown now with the top of Candelston Castle in the lower left and the top of Ogmore Castle in the upper right.

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Visit Information:-
Google Reference
51.482938237069156, -3.6268995640008748

Windmill Reference:-

51.483278569393356, -3.6329086357555718

Google Search reference: Candelston Castle
What Three Words reference:-

///averts.eyelashes.varieties

Windmill What Three Words Reference:- 

///uptake.disbanded.lions


Additional information
Visiting the castle is easy as it is alongside a car park (51.48240479235045, -3.6264289697351897)

The Windmill site can also be visited from the same car park but there is quite a climb to get to it from the car park.


This can get very busy during holidays and the roads are quite narrow so take care.

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A Celebration 100 Years of the British Society of Master Glass Painters

Visit Date: March 2022.

For a hundred years the British Society of Master Glass Painters has been devoted to the art and craft of stained glass, inspiring the future by illuminating our rich stained glass heritage. Swansea has a rich history when it comes to glass art and many of the members would have studied in the city.

All the images below were taken at an exhibition in the Maritime Museum in Swansea celebrating the anniversary

Pierrot by Gwendoline Payne - Painted, acid-etched, and leaded, hand blown Lamberts glass.

Painted, acid-etched, and leaded, hand blown Lamberts glass. 'This Pierrot is a portrait of Jamie Raskin, the American lawyer who led the impeachment trial against Trump. His is a face, which despite the onerous nature and seriousness of his task, forced me to smile.'

Description taken from British society of master Glass Painters website.

The Alchemist by Natasha Redina.

Stained glass painting. ‘The theme is transmutation and the interwoven historical roots of glasswork and alchemy. The images were inspired by three pieces, the woodcut of glass workshops by Jost Amman (Frankfurt 1586), The Flammarion wood engraving and the oil painting of 'An old man holding a pilgrim bottle' in the National Gallery London (circa 1650's) both by unknown artists.'

Description taken from Facebook page "The British Society of Master Glass Painters"

Metoo by Muna Zuberi

This is my piece for the British Society of Master Glass Painters Centenary Exhibition. It is a response to the Me Too movement and questions attitudes to the female form. The figure is painted on English Antique Glass offcuts and surrounded by glass applique consisting of both antique glass and commercial textured clear glass.

Description taken from munazuberi.co.uk

Peter’s vision Acts 10:11 by Benjamin Pascal Finn AMGP

Mainly Wissmach glass, glass paint and silver stain. 'Peter’s vision on the roof of a house near Joppa of ‘unclean’ animals descending accompanied by a voice saying ‘what God hath made clean call not thou unclean’.'

Description taken from British society of master Glass Painters website.

Crystal Ball by Janine Greenberg

Degussa painting Enamels on two layers of float glass, silver foil. ’Inspired by M.C. Escher. Gazing from the crystal ball, a longing for connection with friends and loved ones, engulfed by the tranquil woodlands of the surrounding area, my daily walk through the woods gave me relief and hope from the confining and difficult year of lockdown.’

Description taken from British society of master Glass Painters website.

La Danse' by Sarah Knighton

Painted and stained etched flash glass. Framed within a mechanism which allows the two layers to rotate in opposite directions. 'The turning circles create a kaleidoscope effect of movement and colour. Theme is the Memento Mori tradition of remembering death as inspiration to live.'

Description taken from British society of master Glass Painters website.

Summer Breeze by Nicola Kantorowicz FMGP

Painted and leaded antique stained glass. 'An abstract interpretation of decorative elements found in the natural landscape.'

Description taken from British society of master Glass Painters website.

Kindness by Jill Fordham

Coloured glass vitreous glass paints, copper foil. 'Having been an active environmental campaigner over the last couple of years and having experienced the suffering of the pandemic, I feel that kindness and reaching out to each other and our planet is essential at this time. It feeds us, makes us grow and keeps the world turning round.'

Description taken from British society of master Glass Painters website.

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Nash Point Lighthouse

 Visit Date: September 2019

Nash Point Lighthouse is to be found on the South Wales Coast. It's an iconic and historic building that has now been given Grade 2 listed status.

The lighthouse was built between 1831 -1832. And was first turned on On September 1st 1832.

This lighthouse was constructed after the loss of "The Frolic" a shipwrecked here in 1831 with the loss of 78 lives.

 

There are two towers. The tall lighthouse and a smaller tower. Both initially gave out light..

The lower tower was decommissioned in the 1920s and the main tower ceased to be manned in August 1998

The lighthouse is made of local "Blue Lias" Stone and was quarried from the cliffs that it stands on.

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Visit Information:-


Google Reference
51.40094650459908, -3.552126744084211


What Three Words reference : ///bloodshot.clotting.handicaps


Additional information


Visiting this site is very easy and there is a car park with a small shop/café where you will need to pay a small charge (51.403908670782236, -3.5590157508222844).


The B4265 which spans between Cardiff and Bridgend would be the main link. From this road head for the village of Macross and then onto Nash Point.

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Ogmore Castle

 Date of Visit: 05/2019 

Wales has many castles most of which are in ruin.

In 2019 I visited the ruin of Ogmore castle.

The building of Ogmore Castle was started in the early 12th century and looks to have been started around 1106, however, this would seem to pre-date the Norman conquest of the area. It is noted that the Manor and Castle were given to William de Londres, one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan, by Robert Fitzhamon, the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan in 1116.

In the 13th century, the castle was extended with another level added to the main building.

Ogmore castle is situated near the coastal village of Ogmore-by-Sea. The river that runs close to the castle is the Eweny River which flows through Eweny Village and near its priory on it's way to the sea.

The larger Ogmore river which gives its name to the area is also close to the site running slightly north-west of the castle before joining with the "Eweny" before reaching the sea.

#4

 
 
 

The river is tidal and perhaps the most famous feature of this castle site is the stepping stones that cross the river at the castle allowing access to the small picturesque area of Merthyr Mawr which has it's own Candleston Castle (a future post no doubt).

The "stepping stones" however disappear all too quickly as the tide comes in.

A carved stone discovered at the castle in 1929 is part of an early 11th Century shaft of a cross-slab, with inscriptions on both faces.

Supposedly, the inscription reads: EST / QUOD.DED[IT] / ARTHMAIL /AGRUM DO / ET GLIGUIS. / ET NERTAT ET FILIE : SU[A]

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Visit Information:-
Google Reference
51.48063551125546, -3.6114926695121103

Google Search reference: Ogmore Castle
What Three Words reference : ///salsa.others.oval


Additional information
Visiting is easy and there is a small parking area.


This can get very busy during holidays.

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Caerphilly Medieval Characters.

 Date of Visit: July 2020

During the summer Caerphilly Castle holds medieval events .

There were medieval crafts exhibitions and enactments.

Back in 2020 I visited one of these events and here is a small example of some of the characters seen on the day.

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Visit Information:-
Google Reference
Caerphilly Castle - 51.5762589849726, -3.220206076581159
Google Search reference: Parc Slip Memorial
What Three Words reference : ///smiled.wages.staple
Additional information
Castle open most of the year.

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