It is a surprising fact that one of Flintshire’s most important historic finds, the Caergwrle Bowl, has received virtually no recognition or commemoration either within the locality or within the County itself. We have to thank whoever named the Abermorddu Council-built housing estate ‘Maes Cibyn’, the ‘Field of the Cup’, for the only hint of recognition which this artefact has so far received within Flintshire. The Bowl itself takes pride of place in the ‘Origins: in search of early Wales’ gallery of National Museum, Cardiff, where it is considered to be a star treasure. It is invaluable because of the insight which it gives us to the thinking of our ancestors. The inlaid gold and associated carvings almost certainly represent a boat, decorated by shields, powered by oars which take the craft across carefully carved waves. The fact that the bowl seems to have been deliberately placed in water is a reminder of the ancient association of ideas of spirits, healing and water. Clearly carved eyes or ‘oculi’, which have parallels in finds made elsewhere, reveal a belief in the need to ward off some form of evil and have led to suggestions that the Bowl itself contained, what was believed to have been, a deity. It is a votive object, placed or thrown into water, as part of a spiritual ritual. It is almost certainly associated with a religious ceremony that was important in the customs of some of the area’s early inhabitants. Thanks to the Bowl we now know that Bronze Age craftsmen used dies to carefully stamp the concentric circular ‘shields’ onto the gold foil, with smaller dies being used for the markings inside the ‘boat’ and larger ones being used for the outside. Some additional insight has also been gained with regard to the techniques employed in the construction of the gold and tin infill used as decoration. The Bowl has therefore added a new dimension to our understanding of craftsmanship of Bronze Age people. The Bowl was discovered in 1823 but the exact location of the find is uncertain. In one of the earliest references to the find (1875) E. L. Barnswell said that it was found “In a field to the south-west [of a steep hill on which the ruins of Caergwrle stand] which was occasionally flooded, and during some draining operations, the cup was discovered.” Other locations have been suggested from time to time, and those who conceived the name of ‘Maes Cibyn’ rightly, or wrongly, felt that the new development was somewhere in the general vicinity of the find. Discussions now centre on the need to give some recognition of this find within the local area. The find was made somewhere to the south of Caergwrle Castle and it does appear that Abermorddu’s Crossways Play Area, which is adjacent to the Maes Cibyn housing estate, would appear to be the most promising location for a plaque or commemorative feature. Indeed, local knowledge of the heritage of Abermorddu itself is fast disappearing and such a feature could also be accompanied by another interpretation panel which highlights aspects of the history of that community. Some months ago I asked Michael Roberts if he would provide a sketch of the Bowl as a possible piece of play art which could be accommodated at the Crossways Play Area to serve both as a commemorative feature but also as a unique addition to the play equipment of that area.I am indebted to Michael for this initial sketch for what is being called the Abermorddu Cibyn Project – a project designed to commemorate the Bowl but also add additional play facilities to the rather meagre provision that currently exists on Crossways Play Area. Michael’s drawing is merely for illustrative purposes to stimulate discussion. He has show the feature being accessed by a ramp but a climbing net and slide could easily be included. Discussions at a County level suggest that the mast, crow’s nest and higher climbing nets would not be acceptable on grounds of health and safety. Michael has also drawn a labyrinth to represent to water into which the Bowl was thrown. This is a design which was known to Bronze Age people of the time. A labyrinth could include a means of approaching the feature by sunken logs, enabling children to jump from one to another. Other ideas include the idea of the ‘deck’ serving as a stage for performances by older children and seating to be included in the area of the labyrinth. Ideally the community itself would be closely involved in the Project and, whilst it may not be possible for young people to actually construct the feature, they may be able to paint it and develop a sense of ownership over it. The Play Area did benefit from £10K funding from Hope Community Council and an additional £5K from Flintshire County Council two years ago. However most of this was spent on levelling the field to allow for football and it was always recognised that a Phase 2 development would be needed in order to provide for further equipment. Hope Community Council has now allocated a further £10K to this site and we await to see to what extent the County will be able to match fund this allocation. However, this has to be spent this financial year and will not be used to fund whatever may be agreed as a commemorative play feature or plaque. At this stage the proposal is merely an unfunded aspiration which would hinge of funding being provided by other grants or by a sponsor. The author would welcome communication from anyone who is willing to play a part in the development of this project or in the commemoration of the heritage of Abermorddu. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523.
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The Local Heritage Archive, which is based in Hope Community library, has undergone a makeover which means those accessing the information should find it easier to find what they are looking for. I am indebted to an enthusiastic team of volunteers for doing the work needed to establish this archive. Thanks must go to Jane Tilston, Janis Gerken and Kate Williams for their invaluable assistance with this task. We have also worked closely with Flintshire Record Office who now have several of the original documents which were lodged with the archive.Stage one of the project involved sorting out an immense amount of miscellaneous material and getting it catalogued and put into folders. This took a great deal of volunteers’ time but it did enable the Local Heritage Archive to be officially launched earlier this year on 25th February. At this stage, however, it was apparent that, whist all the material was in folders, there was not a great deal of order to the material and virtually every folder was a ‘miscellaneous’ one consisting of a somewhat random selection of documents. It was therefore decided that the team would move to stage two of the project, which involved grouping the documents into files in a way which produced a degree of order from the chaos which existed.Now we have several folders which are devoted to particular themes. There are two folders devoted to local churches, chapels and religion, two folders containing material on Caergwrle Castle, a folder which includes information on Caergwrle Spa, one on Transport and Industry, one on the Packhorse Bridge and so forth. Inevitably there is still a great deal of material which is grouped in ‘miscellaneous’ folders. However this material is now reduced in volume and it is easier for the researcher to see what is available. Two further folders have now been added to the collection. They contain hard copies of all of the ‘Our Heritage’ articles which have been written for Hope Parish Magazine going back to 2010 when they began. The Local Heritage Archive contains a considerable amount of material that what used in the compilation of A Ramble Around the Historic Village of Caergwrle and it is very good to hear that Pete Evans, author of Resurrection River – A 4,000-year walk along the River Alyn, also found material in the Archive which was helpful. Let us hope that future authors are able to tap into this resource in order to make the story of our heritage more assessable to the community. The following guidelines for use of the Local Heritage Archive have been agreed by members of Hope Community Library: 1. Members of the public wishing to view files in the Local Heritage Archive should view the catalogue available at the main desk. 2. Single files can be requested and should not be removed from Hope Community Library. 3. Files should be returned to the main desk after use. 4. Only one file can be viewed by an individual at a time. 5. Any member of the public wishing to donate items to the Local Heritage Archive should contact the Archive Officer and complete a form which includes contact details and a description of the item involved. 6. Items are considered to be on loan to the Local Heritage Archive and should be returned to the owner upon request. 7. The Local Heritage Archive can only accept items which are documents, not artefacts. 8. Contact details of the Archive Officer are given at the end of this article. Hope Community Library is open to the public on Monday 9:30am – 12:30pm, 3pm – 7pm Tuesday & Wednesday 9:30am – 12.30pm Saturday 10am -12 noon The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. October’s heritage article has been contributed by Allan Poynton. In October 1951 the Liverpool Daily Post contained articles headlined “Relics found in Hope Church” and “1533 Murals uncovered in Hope Parish Church”.The articles referred to extensive restoration that had been carried out in the previous 7 weeks during which workmen had initially uncovered small fragments of colour and then, as they proceeded carefully, more wall painted texts were revealed. A London expert was consulted who visited Hope Church and she confirmed the significance of the findings. We are grateful that she treated the two areas of text on the arcading, thus ensuring that they have been available for us to admire and ponder over since their discovery. Some 60 years later, in 2012, current members and friends of Hope Church agreed to set up Friends of Hope Parish Church with the intention of conserving the fabric and our most important artefacts. Our current project is to establish the status of these wall painted texts; perhaps a modern scholar could establish the current state of conservation, advise on if and how we can safely improve the appearance and clarity of the texts, and identify what the texts actually relate to. So, on 29th August 2017, Dr Andrea Kirkham spent most of the day inspecting the two areas of text, plus the now very obscure fragments mounted on the wall opposite the vestry door.Andrea is a Registered Conservator specialising in wall texts, and has over the 30 years’ experience in this area. She was recommended to us by senior people at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments for Wales. She made a number of significant findings: She believes the texts date from around 1630 (She suggests that the figures “1533” previously thought to refer to a date might actually be a Biblical reference) As hinted in the 1951 reports there are earlier texts also partially exposed. The 1950s treatment was wax based, a process no longer used and actually banned in the later 1950s since it attracts dust and reacts badly in damp conditions. In small test areas Andrea was able to remove the wax to reveal a much clearer image.
As an aside, she remarked on the fact that the pulpit dates from the same period. We now eagerly await the considered report from Andrea to provide us with more information and provide recommendations about how we might proceed. The Friends have already sponsored the conservation of other church artefacts; it is likely that conservation of these texts would be significant but also a technical challenge and a correspondingly significant financial challenge. However, we have also discovered that there are many trusts around that are prepared to help by sponsoring work which enhances our understanding of the local heritage. Friends always welcomes new members, and all members of the community are welcome to join. Application forms are available in church and on this website. Click here Guided tours of both Caergwrle Castle and the village recommenced during August. With the help of Sophie, our eldest granddaughter, aged 10, it has been possible to add an element of costumed drama to the event. One episode which we particularly enjoyed was an activity which we developed to represent the local protest which took place against the collection of tithes. Tithes were a tax of one tenth of a person’s income which were payable to the Church. There are several Biblical references to support this tax but it became particularly controversial in the course of the nineteenth century. Originally tithes were paid in kind which meant that crops collected had to be stored in a specially constructed tithe barn. In some places, such as Hawarden, the original tithe barns still exist. However, in the case of Caergwrle the three buildings of Florence Cottage (1895), May Cottage (1898) and Ty Llwydd (1899) in Castle Street are said to be on the approximate site of the old tithe barn. As a result of the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 the system of payment in kind was replaced by one of monetary payment in England and Wales. This meant that Tithe Commissioners had to visit each village in order to draw up a Tithe Award and produce a Tithe Map to show land ownership so that the payments could be calculated. Locally this happened in 1843. Technically tithe barns were now redundant; however, the tithe officials would still take crops or cattle for auction if they were unable to receive the correct monetary payment. The tithe was paid to the Anglican Church and was unpopular in Wales which was predominantly Nonconformist. The situation was aggravated by the period of agricultural depression which set in after the 1870s and there were outbreaks of violence in the 1880s, known as the ‘Tithe War.’ Clwyd Record Office publication (1978) The ‘Tithe War’ came to Caergwrle in 1888 when a local resident, Mrs Braithwaite, a widow, who was said to have had eight children, one of whom was disabled, had difficulty in paying the full amount. The village saw a build up of tension in the weeks leading up to the collection of the tithe and Mrs Braithewaite’s sympathisers made preparations for a protest.The commotion was witnessed by local man William Roberts, who had been born in 1878 and was himself ten years old at the time. He later wrote: One of those (who refused to pay the tithe) was Mrs Braithewaite, a widow, who rented a few acres from Mr Hughes of Ty Cerrig. She had a few cows and a horse. She refused to pay the tithe. Consequently the authorities distained on her. The bailiff came and took one of her black cows. Eventually they drove the cow to Rossett market to be sold under the hammer. I can remember seeing crowds booing and making a regular riotThe memoir of William Roberts is an important local source but we are also indebted to the report of 21st April, 1888, which appeared in the Wrexham Advertiser, for further details of what happened. Local people constructed two effigies to make their point, one of a vicar and the other of a bespectacled auctioneer. A placard tied to the effigy of the vicar read: Dearly beloved brethren – It’s money I want I must have it now If I can’t get it I’ll sell the black cow The placard on the auctioneer had the words: Your Lordships – I am authorised by dearly beloved brethren to sell widows and orphans in order to get my pound of flesh – a Cockney Lawyer Sophie uses miniature models of the vicar, the auctioneer and the cow to help depict the story of Mrs Braithewaite’s cow A crowd of local people hooted horns and beat tins in a bid to prevent the black cow from being seized. However, with the protection of soldiers, the authorities managed to seize the cow. They drove it to Rossett market but were apparently unable to sell it there and it had to be taken to Chester. The effigies, used in the protest, were later taken to the Assembly Room of the Derby Arms where an ‘indignation meeting’ was held. The Wrexham Advertiser gave quite a detailed account of the proceedings. The Chair was taken by Mr Bowman, of Hope Hall who was supported by Messrs Bellis, Speed, Swetenham and the Rev Morgan Jones. Mrs Braithewaite also occupied a prominent position. The effigies were placed in the background of the platform The account summarises some of the speeches made, which were largely in favour of disestablishment of the Church in Wales as a means of resolving the issue. It is apparent that there was considerable local sympathy and support for Mrs Braithewaite. Mrs Braithewaite, the heroine of the meeting, expressed her thanks for the sympathy extended to her, and thought it was a pity that Wales was connected with England. She also complained of the cruelty of the emergency men on the cow on the road… The Caergwrle episode was part of a much wider agitation that was taking place and it was clear that something had to be done. In 1891 an Act was passed which made landlords, rather than tenants, responsible for the payment of the tithe. The landlords could pass the charge on to tenants by increasing rents and the tenants could scarcely refuse to pay for fear of eviction. This has the effect of ending the protests but the resentment remained. The issue rumbled on until the Welsh Church Act of 1914 came into effect in 1920. This disestablished the Church in Wales and brought payment of tithes in Wales to an end. It was not until 1936 that an Act was passed that actually ended tithes completely in England. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. A number of local people have commented favourably on the new Carreg Gwalch publication of Resurrection River by local author Pete Evans. I was delighted to see this book about the River Alyn for sale at Theatre Clwyd and took the opportunity to purchase a copy. Apparently Pete is a first-time author whose book is the product of a Creative Writing class run at Wrexham Library. It is written in a highly original, almost poetical style which many readers will find very appealing. It is also laced with good humour and a rare candour which gives an insight into the personable nature of the author. The book was called Resurrection River because the River Alyn actually disappears underground for part of its course – an occurrence which adds to the intrigue of the journey. I know the expression has lost its potency but it has to be said: once I started to read the book it had me gripped and it was difficult to put it down. The book is an absolute mine of information. The author takes us on his adventure to trace the source of the river. In the course of this adventure we encounter the extremely rich heritage that lies beside this captivating feature of our landscape. I personally learned a great deal from the book.I had a brief encounter with Pete in Hope Community Library before the book became available and he told me that it was due to appear. He has subsequently told me that he found the material in the Local Heritage Archive, which is stored at the Library, to be of great assistance in the task of researching material for the publication. It is particularly heartening to see that the Archive, which is one of the outcomes of the HLF-funded Caergwrle Sense of Place Project, has contributed towards this achievement. In email correspondence with Pete he told me that: “The book is a result of my chief hobbies of walking, natural history, history and daydreaming. It evolved considerably as it was being committed to paper, I originally intended it to be a Robert Macfarlane style celebration of the joy of walking through the glorious countryside on our doorstep, interspersed with some historical notes.” “Whenever I looked for information on some point of interest I had come across, I found myself being drawn on wonderful tangents. The draining of the lead mines in the Loggerheads area took me to St. Winefride’s Well, St. Mary’s Church in Mold led me to the amazing Margaret Beaufort. Every time I picked up a book there seemed to be a connection with the Alyn, I’m a great fan of our Victorian engineers, while reading a biography of Thomas Telford, I discovered there was a plan, sadly not followed through, to build a canal from Pontcysyllte to Chester, which would have flowed through the Alyn valley past Gresford, this would I’m sure have complemented his masterpiece aqueducts on the Llangollen canal and the Menai Suspension Bridge. All Saints church in Gresford took me on a medieval pilgrimage, while numerous historical routes took me across the packhorse bridge. The book just kept expanding, I spent many happy hours in all seasons walking her banks and researching her secrets.” The book is lavishly illustrated with a total of 91 photographs and a map. Many of the photographs are the work of Pete’s wife, Sophia, and include the cover photograph of the lake at the former Fagl Lane Quarry site. Again it is heartening to see this local feature receiving a prominent position in the publication. It is clear that Pete pursued the course of the river in all weathers but his stories of explorations during blizzard like conditions, with deep snow on the ground are a tribute to his stamina in achieving his mission as are his episodes of falling head-over-heels down icy banks.Pete continues: “The Jewel of the Alyn must be the Mold Cape, (not wishing to take anything away from the Burton Hoard and Caergwrle Bowl which are exceptional finds). The Mold Cape is the largest piece of prehistoric goldwork to be found in Britain – it is internationally significant. Its tale is a fascinating one, unearthed from its burial mound after millennia, its fragments were almost immediately lost save for the efforts of a curious vicar and painstakingly reconstructed over decades to transform it from what was initially thought to be a horse peytrel or breasplate into the magnificent cape we see today – it truly is unique and a testament to the goldworking skills found on these Isles from antiquity to the modern day.” “The quest for the elusive otter delivered many glorious sunrises on the river, whenever my legs tired or the going got tough, a kingfisher or dipper would magically appear to lift the spirit.” Does the author eventually achieve his goals? Where is the actual source of the River Alyn? And does he actually achieve a sighting of an otter? Those are just a couple of reasons for reading this very worthwhile publication.
Adding a concluding comment to his email Pete said: “I’m incredibly lucky to live in Hope (In both senses of the word). From my front door, I am gifted a walk for every mood. The Wat’s Dyke path can be followed North or South – the latter following the Alyn with a convenient resting point at the Holly Bush Inn. I can select walks which take in Caer Estyn for trees/hill fort, Caergwrle Castle for history, Fagl Lane for lake life, Hope Mountain for uplands and I have 2, 3 and 4 bridge variations on walks along the Alyn. I am very much looking forward to walking the length of the new Wales Link Path (Llwybr Cyswllt Cymru) which links the Wales Coastal Path at Saltney Ferry with the Offa’s Dyke Path, and runs across the fantastic path-magnet that is the Packhorse Bridge. I’ve so far got to Dodleston (twice) before being tempted away from those green and red chain-link markers. So many paths…so little time! The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. Readers may have read recent news about vandalism at Caergwrle Castle. Concerns about divot holes, left by metal detecting, were raised by a member of the public who passed a note to me at a recent meeting of Hope Community Council. I went to the site to investigate and was shocked to see that, not only was the information correct about metal detecting, but there had also been a fire made in the bread oven of the Castle itself and that some damage had been done to the masonry of the feature.It has to be stressed that it is illegal to use a metal detector or light a fire within the area of a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The bread oven itself was discovered during the period of archaeological excavation that took places under the auspices of Clwyd Archaeological Trust between 1988 and 1990 and was the subject of a report written by the Principal Archaeologist, John Manley (Manley. J. 1990. ‘A medieval bread-oven from Caergwrle Castle. Clwyd’. Archaeology in Wales 30. 21-24.) The feature is of particular note because it was almost certainly used to provide bread for the large number of workers who were employed to reconstructed the Castle by Edward I after it had been damaged by its initial founder, Prince Dafydd ap Gruffudd. The good news is that the event has acted as a catalyst further consideration to be given to the issue of the long-term management of the Castle itself. It is currently the responsibility of Hope Community Council, as owners of the site, to address issues associated with both the woodland and the monument itself. The Castle, however, is a monument of national importance – it is the last Castle built by a native Welsh Prince and its story provides an entry point to an understanding of a critical period in the history of the Welsh nation. That Prince was himself the first person in British history to be hung, drawn and quartered for the crime of High Treason. Given its national importance it is being argued that Caergwrle Castle should actually be cared for by CADW and the case is being made for this to be given consideration. From the local point of view there is concern that local residents should not be required to foot the bill for the upkeep of a national monument. Expertise in managing a national monument has never been a requirement for those standing for election to the Community Council! The incident did give rise to a very positive meeting between representatives of CADW, Flintshire Countryside Services and Hope Community Council at the Castle site recently. The damage was examined and discussions about repair and future management of the site were very encouraging. Let us hope that from the challenge presented by the current vandalism may act as an opportunity to secure a much better deal for the long-term management of the site. There is, of course, the need for an over-arching strategy to ensure that young people, who might otherwise be involved in anti-social behaviour and vandalism, are more fully engaged within the local community. This is for a discussion elsewhere. Among the strategies to ensure that our heritage is better protected from vandalism one approach must include that of continuing to encourage visitors to the Castle site so that an increased public presence acts as a deterrent. Again this is in addition to other measures which are outside the scope of this article.The HLF-funded Caergwrle Sense of Place Project provided the opportunity for a number of bilingual leaflets to be produced which help to show the importance of the Castle within the context of events of crucial significance in the story of the Welsh people. Caergwrle Castle is far too easily overlooked but it should be viewed as one of the archaeological gems of Wales. Readers who have access to any venues or locations where they may be able to place copies of the leaflet, in order to encourage tourism to the area, are encouraged to contact author. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. Services in Flintshire have been going through a big period of change. Due to financial pressures, where reductions in budgets mean hard choices and the possible loss of services, alternative delivery models have proved to be a solution to keeping services alive whilst managing the budget. The Council has worked to prevent several amenity closures by encouraging its professional teams to break new ground with innovative ideas. This has involved the Council working with a number of community groups on several successful Community Asset Transfers (CATs). Public assets transferred from Council ownership to community or charitable groups to be run for the benefit of the community have so far included a community centre, libraries, leisure centres and a swimming pool. Hope Community Library is shining example of the success of this strategy. Since May last year, Castell Alun High School and the Friends of Hope Community Library have operated a community run library and school library in Hope Library at Castell Alun High School. The model has proved to be immensely successful because the School has taken on the responsibility of overall management of the building itself. Volunteers have been extremely valuable in putting additional systems in place and in ensuring that the Library is able to offer more hours of service to the community with an attractive and refreshed stock of books. The community of Hope is fortunate in having volunteers who have considerable experience of having worked in libraries and this local expertise has proved to be a valuable resource. It is also important to acknowledge the initial financial support of £4,000 from Flintshire County Council, £2,000 from Hope Community Council and £1,000 from Hope, Caergwrle & Abermorddu Carnival Committee as being of great importance. However, extensive community support has also enabled Hope Community Library to add considerable value to what the Library offers and the Library itself has developed to become a very important hub in the local community. I am indebted to Sadie Waterhouse of the Friends of Hope Community Library for collating details of the following events which took place during the first year of the Library as a community venture. The scene was set when 9-year old Sophie Pritchard agreed to present a Meet Hetty Feather Event in which Sophie, dressed as Jacgueline Wilson’s character, described what she found enjoyable about the author’s books about Hetty. This event proved to be a popular success and it became quite apparent that there was a local demand for such activities.The Roald Dahl Centenary event provided the opportunity for another event and Peter Smith, who had himself once worked in a chocolate factory, led a popular story-telling session about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Around 10 children joined in a craft session which enabled them to make characters and scenes inspired by the story. Halloween 2016 presented the opportunity to offer a Library open day with art activities. Members of the community were able to see what the Library has to offer and put forward ideas on what they wanted from their Library. A number of these such as rhymetime are now being run by the volunteers. Art sessions were run with local artist, John Roberts. Around 20 people attended this event with coverage in the local press. The Christmas Holiday provided the opportunity for a Film screening of Arthur Christmas This proved to be very popular community event with around 35 children and adults enjoying the festivities. Craft activities and games sessions were also run by volunteers throughout the holidays. The Local Heritage Archive was officially launched as part of the Caergwrle Sense of Place Project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. During the morning members of the public were able to view documents held in the local archive as well as try their hand at jigsaws of local places and meet a medieval scribe played by Charles Evens-Gunther of the Samhain Welsh Medieval Society. The Local Heritage Archive has been a valuable resource for the published ‘A Ramble Around the Historic Village of Caergwrle’ which may be purchased from the Library for £5.00. All proceeds from sales in the Library go towards the Library. The Archive has added a new dimension to what is available in the Library and has proved to be very popular.To celebrate World Book Day in March 2017 the Library held story telling sessions and craft activities. Children enthralled in making models of their favourite characters or scenes from their favourite books. Several children came dressed as their favourite characters and brought life to the occasion. Easter provided the opportunity for volunteers to provide craft sessions, games and an Easter egg hunt through the library throughout the Easter holidays. Once again these events proved to be popular and helped to demonstrate the added value which the Library is adding to community life.
With equipment provided by the British Heart Foundation, local community member Alison Dunlop provided the opportunity for members of the public to practice their CPR for adults and children and also provided guidance on general first aid, which included dealing with choking. Those taking part found this to be a worthwhile session and agreed that difficulties in accessing emergency services make it increasingly important for members of communities to be trained in these skills. The Library has served as a venue for Cwtch a chanu, a bilingual rhymetime involving stories and singing sessions once a month. The sessions are run by volunteers, some of whom are Welsh speakers and some who are Welsh learners, and have been supported by Menter Iaith who have advertised the sessions as part of the Welsh on Tour month. Volunteers will also be starting a monthly Paned a Sgwrs (cuppa and chat) session with support from tutors at Coleg Cambria. The first session will be held on 31st May at 7pm. The Community Library held its first birthday celebration on the 6th May. The amazing Mr Magico put on an enthralling magic show which entertained young and old alike. Around 35 children and adults enjoyed the magic and birthday cake with the local press providing coverage of the cake cutting. The Library will be running its own Summer Reading Scheme throughout the summer holidays. The theme will be myths and legends inspired by the Wales Year of Legends. Considerable thanks must go to Castell Alun High School and to the tremendous team of volunteers of Friends of Hope Community Library for making the first year of the Library such a success and a model of community resilience during challenging times. Hope Community Library is open to the public on Monday 9:30am – 12:30pm 3pm – 7pm Tuesday & Wednesday 9:30am – 12.30pm Saturday 10am -12 noon. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. This month’s article centres around one picture, which has not been previously seen by the current fraternity of those who delve into the heritage of our locality. It is a copy of a watercolour, dated 1904, which is attributed to ‘A.R.’ The original has been in the possession of Mr David H. Sherwin of Leicester for over fifty years. On Palm Sunday Mr Sherwin made the journey to Hope. He was hoping to arrive in time to be able to show the picture to those who were gathered in the Church Hall after the service. In stark contrast to the tranquil scene which the picture shows Mr Sherwin’s plans fell foul of modern traffic problems. By the time he arrived he found the Hall was empty. I am therefore indebted to John Ferrari who encountered Mr Sherwin and spent some time with him before directing him to my house where the original was taken out of the glass and photographed. Mr Sherwin has given permission for the photograph to be used in Hope Parish Magazine but he retains the copyright and it may not be used for commercial purposes. My thanks go to Mr Sherwin for making so much effort to share this important part of our heritage with us. The original has an interesting provenance. It was given to Mr Sherwin by his aunt whose father was a groom at Plas Teg Hall. Plas Teg Hall was, of course, owned by the Trevor-Roper family but a search of relevant census material has not yet revealed a possible candidate with the initials ‘AR’. The name of the artist therefore currently remains a mystery. Hope Parish Church has been at the centre of the community of Hope for centuries and its sixteenth century tower is seen to be the single-most important feature of the 1904 watercolour. John Ferrari has contributed his own research on the history of the Hope Hall Estate in articles which have appeared in the magazine and was quick to identify the other buildings which can be seen in the picture.
From the far left we see the White Lion which stands at the corner of Stryt Isa. The 1901 census lists 34-year old Arthur Hill, who was apparently a cattle dealer, as being the head of the household. Also in residence were his wife, Emily aged 35, a daughter also called Emily (12) and sons Arthur Edward (8) and Thomas Percy (5). The White Lion apparently also accommodated Arthur Hill’s brother-in-law Thomas Davies (42), who was a general labourer, and his nephew Edward Lewis (9). Then, moving right, we have the Rectory, which is now Chestnut House. Thomas Evans Jones was listed in 1901 as the 56-year old resident clergyman. His wife (50) was Frances Margaret and their children were Loiusa Mair (19), Austin Lloyd (16), Catherine Sophia (14), Frances Margaret (11) and Charlotte Wineford (7). Bertha Davies was the 26-year old cook and the resident family was also supported by a 15-year old housemaid, Annie Bleiddys. In front of the Church and slightly to the right, is the old thatched Red Lion. The publican was the 63-year old, widowed Elizabeth Moses. Also in residence, are her grandsons, William Frederick Maddock (18) and Percy Maddock (12). William was listed as a brewer’s clerk at the time. Sadly William was one of the sixty men of the parish who lost their lives during World War One. William is believed to have been killed on 9th July 1916 at Marmetz Wood. His story has been researched by Andrew Moss for www.flintshirewarmemorials.com and may be seen at: http://www.flintshirewarmemorials.com/memorials/22549-2/hope-soldiers/maddock-william-frederick/ In the distance we see what was known as Hope Hall Cottage Farm (now Hope Cottage Farm) and, on the corner of Kiln Lane, Japonica Cottage (now often referred to at the ‘Old Post Office’ and currently a private residence.) The picture shows the heart of the nucleated settlement of the village of Hope as it was in the early years of the twentieth century. It is a scene of blissful tranquility and it is obviously one the artist, who seems to have positioned him or herself somewhere in the vicinity of what is now St Cynfarch’s Avenue, felt worthy of capturing. Thanks must also go to Rev. Adam Pawley who was initially contacted by Mr Sherwin and passed on his contact details. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. Dave Healey has expressed thanks to the large number of people who are contributing to the HLF-funded Caergwrle Sense of Place Project. The response has been overwhelming. The publication of A Ramble Around the Historic Village of Caergwrle represents an important achievement for a community with a strong sense of the past.The booklet draws upon information gained as a result of the Project’s Memories Days and considerable interaction with enthusiastic members of the local community during guided tours of the village. It has also drawn upon a wealth of information that is now stored in the Local Heritage Archive which has been developed at Hope Community Library as part of the Project. Dave expressed thanks to the team of volunteers that have put in hours of work in preparation for the successful launch of the Archive at a recent event. The Flintshire village of Caergwrle has features which take visitors on a journey from medieval to modern times. The booklet’s back page summarises they key features described: The distinctive features of the medieval Dyke system and the Castle itself are reminders of the importance and close proximity of the border. The Packhorse Bridge is symbolic of changes in transport which anticipated an era of growth and later industrialisation. The arrival of the railway provides us with a case study of the impact of cross-border travel and of tourism on a traditional Welsh community: the winners and the losers and the challenges to the Welsh language.We see evidence of the Nonconformist religious revival, of conflict over the payment of tithes to an Anglican Church and of the subsequent decline of the religious movement and the closure of chapels. We see the rise and fall of the Temperance Movement which challenged what it considered to be the social evil of its time. There is evidence of the vital role which Friendly Societies played in promoting the well-being of members before the establishment of the National Health Service. The War Memorial testifies to the sacrifice made by the brave men of the village in two World Wars. There is evidence of the world of work, of industrialisation and differences of social class. There are stories of criminal activity and of traditional methods of crime detection and law enforcement. We gain an insight into early schooling and forms of childhood activity and amusement. We see a village community that was self-sufficient and met its own needs before the age of supermarkets, the revolution in communication and the growth of internet buying and changes in the way services are delivered. It is a nostalgic tour: it tells us much about what we have both lost and what we have gained, but also about ourselves and the journey that we have made into modern times.
In introducing the booklet, Dave said: “During the writing of this Ramble it has become apparent that the village of Caergwrle has surviving features which relate to significant themes and episodes in the national history of Wales. Indeed, because comparisons can be made with communities in other parts of country, the story of Caergwrle is likely to resonate with a much wider audience than that of the village itself.“ Although Dave himself conducted guided tours of Caergwrle last summer he said individuals and groups should feel free to use the booklet for their own guided tours of the village. He especially welcomed the idea of volunteers becoming ‘Caergwrle Ambassadors’ and giving guided tours as fund-raising activities in support of local causes. “It all helps to raise the profile of the local heritage, help good causes and promote vibrancy within the community. There are many people who have a knowledge of the village and I hope this booklet will encourage them to continue to share that knowledge for the benefit of future generations.“ Copies of A Ramble Around the Historic Village of Caergwrle are available for sale at Hope Community Library at a price of £5.00. All funds raised from sales at this venue will be used in support of the Library. A Welsh translation of the book will also be available shortly. Hope Community Library is open to the public on Monday 9:30am – 12:30pm 3pm – 7pm Tuesday & Wednesday 9:30am – 12.30pm Saturday 10am -12 noon The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the policy of Flintshire County Council. Readers are welcome to contact the author with any news or views on the local heritage at DHealey204@aol.com or by telephoning 01978 761 523. |
AuthorDave Healey Archives
December 2020
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