London - Bath - Wales - 2019
Sunday 6 October 2019
Saturday 5 October 2019
Wales National Anthem
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.
Lyrics:
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Translation:
The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;
Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,
For freedom shed their blood.
Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation.
While the sea [is] a wall to the pure, most loved land,
O may the old language endure.
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.
Lyrics:
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Translation:
The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;
Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,
For freedom shed their blood.
Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation.
While the sea [is] a wall to the pure, most loved land,
O may the old language endure.
Friday 4 October 2019
Wisley Gardens
RHS Garden Wisley lies between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey, off the main London to Portsmouth road (A3) south of Junction 10 of the M25. Follow the brown tourist flower signs on the A3 and M25 to the RHS Garden. Car parking is free. For SatNav users the address is: RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB.
18 March 2019 – 20 October 2019 -Monday – Friday- 10am – 6pm
Family 2+2 - 2 adults + 2 children - £37
Monday 30 September 2019
Churchill War Rooms-
Step back in time - Opening Times-9.30am to 6pm, last admission 5pm
Address:- Clive Steps, King Charles Street ,London
SW1A 2AQ -Nearest Tube stations :-St James's Park, Westminster
SW1A 2AQ -Nearest Tube stations :-St James's Park, Westminster
Concessions :-Senior 60+ | Standard £17.60 |
During WW2 the government was forced underground when Nazi air raids threatened every building in central London. These huge underground fortresses were constructed beneath important government buildings and were used to plan the war effort. Known as the Churchill War Rooms, the secret underground maze still exists today and is now a museum to the war effort and the great war time leader himself.
The War Rooms have been faithfully reconstructed with original war time objects so you can experience what life may have been like for those working to defeat fascism whilst being bombed constantly from above.
Getting there
The War Rooms are very centrally located, just 10 minutes from either Westminster Station or St James’s Park station. The entrance is small but don’t let this deceive you, the museum itself is massive!
The War Rooms
I arrived just before the museum opened at 9:30am and there was already a small group of people waiting to enter. These were mostly tourists, perhaps enamoured by Netflix’s recent British Drama The Crown, which features Winston Churchill heavily. In any case, this is one of London’s most popular paid museum and it’s not hard to see why.
As you enter you’ll immediately begin your decent underground, just a few short flights of stairs. You can either purchase a ticket at the desk or show your pre-booked ticket. You can then make your way into the War Rooms and begin exploring the underground cavern.
You’ll be provided with an audio guide (available in many languages), which will provide you with information about the rooms, what happened in them during the war and other interesting factoids. I usually hate audio guides, I prefer to explore at my own leisure, but I gave this one a go and it was actually very interesting. If you don’t use the guides you may miss out on some interesting features that you will likely otherwise miss.
The first room I came across was the Cabinet War Room; this is where Churchill would meet with his cabinet in times when doing so above ground proved too dangerous. The room is faithfully recreated with the actual objects used during the war. Some very important decisions the affected the world for decades were made in these rooms and its fascinating to see them in person; then again I am a bit of a history geek, so maybe it’s just me.
You’ll find yourself walking through corridors and hallways attached to rooms hidden behind barriers. You can’t actually enter the rooms for fear people may disturb the artefacts, however you do get a real sensation that this is what it would have looked like. The whole place feels very authentic and militaristic.
Some of the more fascinating rooms are the quarters of some high profile government officials. These are the rooms the leaders of the country would have lived in whilst working in the underground bunkers. They appear to be little more than prison cells with a bed, desk and basic amenities. Even Churchill was reduced to a small square hole in the wall room, but then again he did get his own private bathroom.
After about 20 minutes of exploring various hallways and corridors you’ll be directed to the Churchill Museum, which I guess is a museum within a museum! This huge room is dedicated to the live of Winston Churchill from birth till death. The sheer size of the room is daunting and a testament to the extraordinary life Churchill led.
The museum features videos, interactive screens, artifacts from his life and recordings of his most famous speeches. I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting and enthralling this exhibition was; I must have spend 45 minutes exploring the life of this one man.
After you’ve had your fill of Mr Churchill you can return to exploring the underground War Rooms. You’ll see the various map rooms where battles were planned and plotted.
I found these to be the most interesting part of the exhibit as they are filled will real documents pertaining to the war effort and how the government utilised the country’s resources to win the war.
After another 20 minutes of exploring you’ll come to the end of the rooms and through the gift shop. For once I was actually tempted to buy a Churchill Mug or t-shirt, but I resisted! The exit brings you back to the same street as the entrance and you can continue exploring central London withe the knowledge that it’s all still here largely thanks to the efforts of the people who worked in those War Rooms.
Time needed to visit the War Rooms-As for how long you should give to visit the Churchill War Rooms, I suggest allowing at least an hour, possibly an hour and a half if you want to really explore every corner of the museum. The War Rooms are located within walking distance of other major London landmarks and two tube stations.
Verdict
There are a lot of free museum in London, this isn’t one of them, however worth every penny as far as I’m concerned. Visiting the Churchill War Rooms is as close to stopping back in time as you can get, and I think its very important to step back to a time when the country (and the world) was in its darkest hour.So authentic, so faithfully recreated, I can’t think of a negative thing to say about the War Rooms! It does what it sets out to achieve. Perhaps one suggestion would be to include interactive screens throughout the museum so provide a more immersive experience.
If you couldn’t care less about history, the war, or Britain’s role in it, then this isn’t the place for you. If you want to experience a taste of life during the greatest struggle this country has ever seen, and how we overcame it, then the Churchill War Rooms is the place to go.
Sunday 29 September 2019
Kew - Gardens
Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park in Middlesex, England, its living collections include more than 30,000 different kinds of plants, while the herbarium, which is one of the largest in the world, has over seven million preserved plant specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London's top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site.Kew Gardens, together with the botanic gardens at Wakehurst Place in Sussex, are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an internationally important botanical research and education institution that employs 750 staff and is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Kew site, which has been dated as formally starting in 1759, though it can be traced back to the exotic garden at Kew Park, formed by Lord Henry Capell of Tewkesbury, consists of 132 hectares (330 acres) of gardens and botanical glasshouses, four Grade I listed buildings, and 36 Grade II listed structures, all set in an internationally significant landscape. It is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Kew Gardens has its own police force, Kew Constabulary, which has been in operation since 1847.
Friday 27 September 2019
Brooklands Museum
From the M25 -When leaving the M25, take the A3 towards London for approx. half a mile and leave by the Painshill junction, taking the A245 towards Byfleet. Follow the brown ‘Brooklands Museum’ signs until you reach the en-trance to Mercedes-Benz World, marked by our Con-corde Gate Guardian. The main visitor entrance of the Museum is reached via Brooklands Drive - follow the road round the back of the Mercedes-Benz World building until you reach the Museum car park.Summer opening hours start from 1st March and end when the clocks change in October.
SUMMER WINTER
10am - 5pm 10am - 4pm
Last admission is one hour before closing. Opening Times may be extended on event days!
Senior (60+) (£13.50)
Brooklands Aircraft Factory - Inside the Bellman Hangar an ‘Aircraft Factory’ environment has been created, harking back to the Hangar’s original use as a manufacturing building. Exhibitions explore the history of aircraft manufacture - from the pioneering early aircraft of wood and fabric, to the supersonic airliner and the technologies of the future.
The Factory Floor is designed to evoke an authentic factory atmosphere and is packed full of activities, enabling visitors to try out aircraft-building skills for themselves, drawing on the Brooklands spirit of experimentation and creating an unique learning experience. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the Loch Ness Wellington, with additional areas focussing on the factory floor in early and later years, life for the factory employees away from work, and displays on the development of Wings, Fuselages and Propulsion.
Access to the Brooklands Aircraft Factory is included in general Museum admission. The exhibition is part of the Re-Engineering Brooklands Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project.
Stratosphere Chamber -The Barnes Wallis-designed “Stratosphere Chamber” was built in 1946 to investigate high-speed flight at very high altitudes. It was restored and re-interpreted using a grant of £120,000 from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) Biffa Award Scheme, with a new exhibition highlighting Wallis’ research work for the Vickers aircraft company after 1946. Access to the Brooklands Aircraft Factory is included in general Museum admission. The exhibition is part of the Re-Engineering Brooklands Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project.
For many years the Chamber was only able to be viewed in a limited way and much of its operating machinery was disposed of or moved to make way for other developments. However, all the areas surrounding the chamber, including the elevated Control Room and the refrigeration/vacuum plant room, have now been made accessible, giving a ‘backstage’ view of this extraordinary area of industrial heritage.
Also on display in the Stratosphere Chamber building is the Museum’s collection of aero engines ranging from the simplest early piston engines up to advanced turbofan jet engines and, in the Chamber itself, the forward section of a Vickers Vanguard airliner just as it could have been seen on test in the 1950s. Next to the Control Room, the Brooklands Radio Display can be found - see www.brooklandswireless.com for more information.
The intention is that this exhibition will inspire people of all ages, including young people who may be considering careers in science and technology, using the technological achievements of people at Brooklands, both in the days of the motor racing circuit and during the 80 years of aviation on the site. This project will further this aim by sharing the inspirational story of Barnes Wallis, especially now that the extensive archives owned by the Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust have been placed on loan with the Museum and will be available for display and research.
Explore the history of the Stratosphere Chamber
Also on display in the Stratosphere Chamber building is the Museum’s collection of aero engines ranging from the simplest early piston engines up to advanced turbofan jet engines and, in the Chamber itself, the forward section of a Vickers Vanguard airliner just as it could have been seen on test in the 1950s. Next to the Control Room, the Brooklands Radio Display can be found - see www.brooklandswireless.com for more information.
The intention is that this exhibition will inspire people of all ages, including young people who may be considering careers in science and technology, using the technological achievements of people at Brooklands, both in the days of the motor racing circuit and during the 80 years of aviation on the site. This project will further this aim by sharing the inspirational story of Barnes Wallis, especially now that the extensive archives owned by the Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust have been placed on loan with the Museum and will be available for display and research.
Explore the history of the Stratosphere Chamber
Weapons and Missiles -Having been the hub of Barnes Wallis’ secret weapons production during World War 2, weapons development continued at Brooklands during the Cold War era. Engineers at Brooklands developed a range of guided weapons for a variety of purposes during the 1950s and ‘60s. These included cruise missiles, TV-guided bombs, and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Vickers also had a team in Australia conducting trials at Woomera using Canberra and B-29 Washington bomber aircraft. Guided weapon development at Brooklands ended when the department was moved to the English Electric site in Stevenage and combined with their existing operations.
Our Guided Weapons exhibition was housed in the Wellington Hangar, where many of them were designed, before its closure as part of the Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project. The collection returned to the hangar as part of the new exhibition, the display includes: a Red Dean air-to-air missile, Blue Boar 5,000lb air to ground TV-guided gliding bomb, Red Rapier surface to surface radar-guided missile, Vigilant anti-tank weapon, and Rapier low-level anti-aircraft missile.
Engine Collection -Our aero engine collection, mainly housed in the Stratosphere Chamber building, illustrates over 100 years of development in aviation engines. Many of the exhibits are sectioned or motorised to give an insight into the workings of these feats of engineering.
There are examples of a wide range of engines relating to aircraft with Brooklands history, from the 1909 Anzani 25 hp that propelled Louis Blériot over the English Channel in 1909 to the Rolls-Royce Olympus which carried Concorde to Mach 2. Other highlights are the Rolls-Royce Merlin, which powered some of the most iconic aircraft of the Second World War, and the Rolls-Royce Avon, which powered the Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift to World Air Speed records in the 1950s.
Our Concorde
G-BBDG or 'Delta Golf' was the first Concorde to carry 100 passengers at Mach 2. She was used in the early development of Concorde for testing and certification. Delta Golf had a flying life of seven years, from the 13th February 1974 to the 24th December 1981.The Brooklands Concorde was known as a 'production' aircraft, as she was developed from the prototype, and used to complete the majority of certification work specified for airline service. She was never used commercially, but Delta Golf was flown around the World to attract sales from international airlines.
After her final landing on Christmas Eve of 1981, Delta Golf was stored, initially serviceable, in a hangar at Filton. In 1984, British Airways acquired the aircraft, and used her as a source for spare parts for their fleet. Delta Golf was offered to Brooklands in 2003, and, after delivery of major sections of the aircraft in June 2004, a two-year restoration project commenced to recover G-BBDG to her former glory. On the 26th July 2006, Delta Golf was opened to the public at Brooklands Museum by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
Aircraft Collection
Dates in brackets indicate the date the replica was built.
If you are coming to see a specific exhibit, please ring ahead to make sure that it is on display. Call the Museum on 01932 857381
If you are coming to see a specific exhibit, please ring ahead to make sure that it is on display. Call the Museum on 01932 857381
Flight Shed
NEW - The Wellington Walkthrough is now open!
The new two-storey ‘Flight Shed’ has been constructed next to the site of the relocated Bellman Hangar. It is accessed via a footbridge from the upper level inside the Aircraft Factory. The centre piece inside the Flight Shed is the Museum's Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA which was built in 1940. Other completed aircraft on display include the Hawker Fury, Hunter and Harrier, Sopwith Camel and a virtual Vickers Wellington walkthrough exhibit. A more detailed history of the Hurricane can be found here. Smaller exhibits will tell the stories of the pilots and navigators who flew these aircraft and some of the technological developments that helped them do so. With level access onto the Finishing Straight, these live aircraft will be moved out of the Flight Shed for engine runs and taxying displays.Entry to the Flight Shed is included in general Museum admission. The exhibition is part of the Re-Engineering Brooklands Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project.
Engines
de Havilland Gipsy I 1926 On long term display Stratosphere Chamber
Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800 1937 On long term display Stratosphere Chamber
Rolls-Royce Nene 1944 On long term display Stratosphere Chamber
World War Two
Bellman Hangars
Besides being supplied to numerous Royal Air Force airfields in Britain and overseas, Bellman hangars were also supplied by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to aircraft factories including Hawker Aircraft Ltd and Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd at Brooklands. Here they provided valuable extra floor space for the hard-pressed aircraft industry and, most important in wartime, they could also be erected and camouflaged at dispersed locations away from the main factory sites.Click the link to find out more about the construction and use of the Brooklands Bellman Hangars.
WW2 Defence Structures
As a major centre of aircraft production, Brooklands was a clear potential target for enemy attack. To defend against such an event, a series of defences were built around the site which are still visible today.
The largest air raid shelter provision for Vickers workers was in the ‘Sand Pit Shelters’ on the opposite side of Brooklands Road. These shelters were capable of housing over 5,000 people in the event of an attack and were in use throughout the Second World War.
Pillbox -
To defend against a potential attack by enemy paratroopers intent on sabotaging the factory, a pillbox was erected close to the bridge across the River Wey which was used to move aircraft from the factory to the airfield. This is believed to be a unique design with loopholes on the corners and a mounting for a machine gun on the roof.Anti-Aircraft Tower
To defend against attack by enemy aircraft, a series of concrete towers were erected on which 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft guns were mounted. Whilst these guns were unlikely to shoot an enemy aircraft down, they were intended to prevent attacking aircraft from having a clear bombing run.Shelters
The threat of attack by enemy bombers led to the construction of a series of shelters around the Vickers aircraft factory. These include the small shelters at either end of the original location of the Museum’s Bellman Hangar and the small brick structures at the base of the Members Banking, once the site of another Bellman Hangar.The largest air raid shelter provision for Vickers workers was in the ‘Sand Pit Shelters’ on the opposite side of Brooklands Road. These shelters were capable of housing over 5,000 people in the event of an attack and were in use throughout the Second World War.
The Wellington Bomber
Thursday 26 September 2019
Croydon Market and Croydon Library
Surrey Street Market
Located on Surrey Street in Croydon Town Centre, the historic Surrey Street Market is one of the oldest markets in Britain, trading since 1276. It operates 7 days a week, selling a range of items, including fresh produce, fruit and vegetables Monday to Saturday as well as an alternative artisan market on Sundays. See the Surrey Street Sundays programme for details of upcoming events and information about the Sunday market.Surrey Street has a great atmosphere and is bursting with independent traders, street food, homemade and artisan produce, arts and crafts. The market has recently been refurbished to help create a vibrant, pedestrian friendly zone, making it a great destination for shopping and relaxing in the heart of Croydon.
Croydon Central Library
is Croydon's main public library located inside the Croydon Clocktower in Croydon, south London. It is owned by the London Borough of Croydon on behalf of Croydon Council. The library is located on four floors inside the Clocktower. On Level 0 there is the customer service desk and the level includes a large children's library.
It was the third-most-used in the UK in 2010.
Croydon Central Library offers a wide range of books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs and videos for reference and loan, the largest range of these in any Croydon Library. It also includes a wide range of free-to-access PCs which includes internet connection. Other features include a Wordwise collection of books for children who suffer from dyslexia. A local studies library and extensive archives, that are also present in the Museum of Croydon. An enquiry service is available. The Clocktower Café is situated just outside the library, and is very popular. A large and extensive gay and lesbian collection is available in the library, the largest range in London. Books are available in most of the languages spoken in the borough. There is a large newspaper archive on the top floor of the library which includes all the major newspapers dating back to the 1990s. Other features include community information, homework help clubs and reading groups.
Tuesday 24 September 2019
Monday 23 September 2019
Day in Fishguard
The Last Invasion Tapestry Gallery
Town Hall, Market Square | Just off public library in gallery on first floor, Fishguard, Wales
The Last Invasion of Britian -April - September
Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Thursday: 10:00am - 6:00pm- Friday: 10:00 - 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
When one of the French ships entered Fishguard Bay, the alarm was raised and one of the “Fishguard Volunteers” rushed to Tregwynt Mansion to alert Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knox who was dining there. At first he gave it little credence, but as the seriousness of the situation dawned on him he instructed volunteers to make for the Fort. Lord Cawdor set off from Haverfordwest to reinforce Knox.Following the landing, the French had moved a further two miles inland and occupied two strong defensive positions at Garnwnda and Garngelli.
Thus far all had gone well for Tate. Knox being heavily outnumbered, abandoned Fishguard .
Knox and his men met reinforcements at Trefgarne, and Lord Cawdor led the forces back towards Fishguard. By this time Tate’s fortunes had changed . Many of the foraging parties resorted to pillaging local farms and Llanwnda Church. French orders had instructed Castagnier’s squadron to sail away leaving the soldiers isolated, with no means of escape and increasingly demoralised.
Meanwhile British Soldiers were gathering at Fishguard where the officers were stationed overnight in what is now called the Royal Oak Inn. The local heroine, Jemima Nicholas, is said to have captured soldiers single-handedly and secured them in St Mary’s Church.
That evening, two French delegates arrived at the Royal Oak to negotiate a conditional surrender. But Cawdor, with magnificent bluff, replied that with his superior numbers he would only accept an unconditional surrender, otherwise the French would be attacked. The following morning the British forces were lined up in battle order, reinforced by hundreds of civilians to await Tate’s response. Tate accepted the terms and finally with drums beating, the French marched down to Goodwick Beach, where they stacked there weapons.
The MythThere is strong evidence to support the story that the French were deceived into thinking they were facing a large British army when they saw red and black movements in the distance. In truth, these were said to be local women in traditional red shawls and black hats marching around a prominent hill in Fishguard – The Bigney – now covered in houses.
The Tapestry
The Last Invasion Embroidered Tapestry is 30 metres / 100 feet long by 53cm / 21 inches deep and took four years to complete. It was commissioned by the Fishguard Arts Society as a permanent legacy of the Bicentenary Commemorations. It is now owned by a charitable trust – Fishguard Invasion Centre Trust Ltd.
The Tapestry was designed by Elizabeth Cramp and the embroidery advisers were Rozanne Hawksley, Eirian Short and Audrey Walker. Seventy-seven local people helped to make it. It was designed in a simple format and is the same depth as the Bayeux Tapestry, (which tells the story of the 1066 Norman Invasion). The embroidery stitches are mostly the same as those used by the medieval embroiderers. 178 shades of crewel wool were used and subtle colour changes indicate late winter days, night-time or candle light.
Historical facts and popular legends combine with Elizabeth Cramp’s sense of humour and eye for detail to provide an imaginative interpretation of a little known, but significant, moment of Welsh and British history.
How It Was Made
Design work started in 1993, when Elizabeth Cramp was asked to design a 100 foot long by 20 inches deep embroidery, depicting the 1797 invasion of West Wales by the French. It was planned as a community project to celebrate the bicentenary of that event, in 1997. Elizabeth Cramp researched the history of the event which she then drew onto a quarter-size cartoon in soft 4b pencil. The next stage was using 3 rolls of paper to convert the quarter-size design to the full size cartoon.
The Invasion Tapestry was worked on a natural cotton which looked like linen. For the Tapestry Appleton’s Crewel Wool was used; it is moth-proofed, does not fade and comes in hundreds of shades. It is a fine thread so that one, two, three or more strands can be used in a needle. The Tapestry was worked as 37 separate, manageable sized panels which were joined together afterwards. Simple wooden frames were made and the fabric stretched and stapled over the frames. To transfer the design to the fabric a careful tracing was made from Elizabeth’s painting on to ordinary tracing paper. Dressmaker’s tracing carbon was placed between the fabric and this tracing. Using pens it was then transferred to the fabric. These faint carbon lines where then “inked over” using a very fine waterproof drawing pen.
All the embroiderers were women ranging in age from around thirty to eighty-two years old. The embroiderers organised themselves into groups who would work together on their panels in their own homes. A local builder’s merchant donated suitable wood and Philip Chivers and Denys Short constructed the frames. By December 1994 there were 12 panels ready, complete with instruction charts and allocated wools. Meetings were called from time to time so that embroiderers could compare notes and share ideas.
In the Autumn of 1996 the tapestry came together in one piece and the “overlap” embroidery was completed. In January 1997 a cotton lining was hand sewn to the Tapestry, ready for display.
The Tapestry was unveiled to the public on February 22nd 1997 – the bicentenary of the date the French forces landed at Carreg Wastad.
Fishguard Fort
HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS: Played a part in the Last Invasion of Britain in 1797
Fishguard Fort from the coastal path
Fishguard Fort is an 18th-century fortification on the rocky promontory of Castle Point, overlooking Fishguard Harbour to the south-east. In a roundabout way, the fort owes its existence to a pirate, and to the American War of Independence.
History
In 1779 an American privateer named the Black Prince captured a local ship and demanded a ransom of 1000 pounds from the townsfolk of Fishguard. The Black Prince and its captain, Stephen Manhant, were commissioned by the US government to attack British targets, as part of their efforts to gain independence from Britain.Manhunt was a native of Boston, but the Black Prince sailed under a French flag, in support of the American revolutionary efforts. The Black Prince was very successful as a privateer, destroying more than 30 British ships over the course of three months.
The townsfolk of Fishguard refused to buckle, however, and rejected Manhunt's demands for a ransom. The Black Prince responded by bombarding the town, damaging St Mary's Church and several houses. A local ship fired back, followed by cannon fire from the shore. Manhunt decided it wasn't worth the trouble, and the Black Prince sailed away.
To prevent similar attacks in the future, an artillery fort was built on Castle Point, at the eastern approach to the harbour. Fishguard Fort was completed in 1781, just two years after the attack.
The fort was armed with eight 9-pounder cannons. It was manned by three invalided gunners from Woolwich, London. The fort later became the headquarters for the local militia, known as the 'Fishguard Fencibles'.
The Last Invasion of Britain
On 22 February 1797 a French invasion force appeared off the Welsh coast. The garrison of Fishguard Fort fired blanks to warn of the French approach, conserving their small supply of cannon balls.
The sound of the cannon fire convinced the French to avoid Fishguard harbour, and they sailed further south along the coast to Strumble Head before landing.
The peculiar story of what happened next is told in the Fishguard Last Invasion Tapestry in the Fishguard library. The traditional story is that the French ravaged the countryside for a few days, burning farms and pillaging where they could. The local militia gathered quickly and forced the French to surrender.
In one famous - and probably imaginary episode - a local woman named Jemima Nicholas captured a dozen French soldiers single-handedly, armed only with her pitchfork. The French soldiers may have mistaken local women wearing their traditional tall black hats and long red cloaks for Grenadier Guards, and surrendered before they realised their mistake.
The Last Invasion was the only action that the fort ever faced. The fort continued to be manned until the early 19th century, but was then allowed to decay.
The ammunition storehouse
What to See
The fort occupies a small, relatively flat area on the top of Castle Point. The site is roughly 30m from east to west and 25m north to south. It is composed of a single gun battery facing north and west along the coast. A simple curtain wall runs across the promontory neck, pierced by a single arched opening.
Within the fort is a rectangular vaulted ammunition storehouse set into the hillside. At the far end of the vaulted chamber is a small area where gunpowder was stored.
There are four restored cannons mounted on the gun battery, but what really makes Fishguard Fort worth visiting is the wonderful coastal scenery, with marvellous panoramic views over Fishguard Harbour and Goodwick on the far shore.
Inside the ammunition storehouse
Getting There
The fort is located a short walk downhill from the free parking area on the A487 coastal road, at the eastern edge of Fishguard. The small (16 vehicles) parking area is at the top of the hill outside Old Fishguard (Lower Town). From the car park just follow the signposted trail that winds north and downhill and the fort will come into view below you after 100 yards.
The fort is directly on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail and Wales Coast Path.
The Last Invasion Tapestry at Fishguard Library
More Photos
Location: At the top of the hill east of Old Fishguard, on the A487.
Website: Fishguard Fort -
Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber, Nevern, Crymych SA41 3TZ, UK
Pentre Ifan is the name of an ancient manor in the community and parish of Nevern, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It contains and gives its name to the largest and best preserved neolithic dolmen in Wales. The Pentre Ifan monument is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and was one of three Welsh monuments to receive legal protection under the Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882.
The dolmen is maintained and cared for by Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments Agency. It is about 11 miles (18 km) from Cardigan, and 3 miles (5 km) east of Newport, Pembrokeshire.
The dolmen dates from around 3500 BC, and has traditionally been identified as a communal burial. Under this theory the existing stones formed the portal and main chamber of the tomb, which would originally have been covered by a large mound of stones about 30 m (98 ft) long and 17 m wide. Some of the kerbstones, marking the edge of the mound, have been identified during excavations. The stone chamber was at the southern end of the long mound, which stretched off to the north. Very little of the material that formed the mound remains. Some of the stones have been scattered, but at least seven are in their original position. An elaborate entrance façade surrounding the portal, which may have been a later addition, was built with carefully constructed dry stone walling. Individual burials are thought to have been made within the stone chamber, which would be re-used many times. No traces of bones were found in the tomb, raising the possibility that they were subsequently transferred elsewhere.
Pembrokeshire Candle Centre
3 Upper W St, Newport SA42 0QN, UK
THE PEMBROKESHIRE CANDLE CENTRE, LOCATED IN THE HAMLET OF CILGWYN ABOUT TWO MILES FROM NEWPORT (PEMBS), IS THE HOME BASE OF CILGWYN CANDLES, A SMALL BUSINESS SET UP BY INGER JOHN AND HER HUSBAND BRIAN IN 1976.In 2019, WE CELEBRATE THE 43rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUSINESS, HAVING PROVIDED A UNIQUE SHOPPING AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE FOR MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.ON THE SITE WE HAVE A WORKSHOP WHERE INGER MAKES HAND-DIPPED AND OTHER TYPES OF CANDLES, A MINI-MUSEUM WITH DISPLAYS RELATING TO CANDLE-MAKING OVER THE CENTURIES, AND A DISPLAY AREA DEVOTED TO CANDELABRAS AND COMMISSIONED ITEMS.
The candle-making business at Cilgwyn was started by Inger and Brian John when they moved to the area from County Durham. Inger has always been the candle-maker, and Brian has provided the moral support as well as humping tonnes of wax about and building display stands for craft fairs etc. Partnership is the name of the game.At first, the business was run from a lock-up garage across the yard from the house, but in 1982 the garage was demolished and a new building put up in its place. This building now houses the workshop and the mini-museum downstairs and the gallery upstairs. Space is very tight, and there is only room for one person to make candles at a time.The essential items of candle-making equipment in the workshop are a boiler for holding water and molten wax, a simple rack which can be lifted up by a pulley when candles need to be trimmed, and lots of metal coat-hangers from the dry cleaners. There is also a small heating ring for melting small quantities of wax in a saucepan. That is all! Not exactly high-tech, but candle-making is a craft, and the candles which Inger makes are successful and very beautiful because she has a steady hand, an instinct for colour combinations, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of how molten wax behaves.In the early days of the business, Inger sold most of her dipped candles through the trade, supplying to craft shops and gift shops all over the UK and further afield. Gradually, however, the workshop began to attract visitors, and after many years of building up the business over 10,000 people call at the workshop each year.The Pembrokeshire Candle Centre is now one of the prime visitor attractions in North Pembrokeshire, and most of the annual output of candles is sold straight from the premises to new visitors and faithful “regulars” who call again and again and again.......
One of the most beautiful things about candles is that they are meant to be destroyed. And once they have brightened up somebody’s life and have faded away, they need to be replaced!
Pembrokeshire Candle Centre-Trefelin, Cilgwyn, Newport,Pembrokeshire SA42 0QN
Tel 01239 -- 820470 Email: cilgwyn4@mac.com
How to find us-We are at Cilgwyn bridge, about 2 miles from Newport. Follow the brown signs from A487 at the east end of Newport, or from the B4329 at Tafarn-y-Bwlch.
Your visit to the Pembrokeshire Candle Centre will also give you a chance to discover one of Pembrokeshire’s most beautiful secret valleys. The hamlet of Cilgwyn lies in a sheltered hollow at the entrance to Cwm Gwaun and beneath the rocky peak of Carn Ingli -- right at the heart of Bluestone Country.Inger John provides a warm welcome to all visitors, who can see hand-dipped candles being made without any mechanical aids. Her candles are created with unique graded colours and with exotic scents including specially blended essential oils.The workshop is a real “Aladdin’s Cave” packed with candles of all shapes and sizes; most are made on the premises, and others are imported from all over the world. Also in stock are candlesticks of many types, snuffers, lanterns, oil burners, accessories, candle-making kits, and books of local interest. We try to keep a constant eye on the latest trends, so there is always something new when you next call.Next to the workshop is Britain’s smallest museum, with fascinating displays relating to the history and traditions of candle-making right back to Roman times.Incorporated into our sales area are some larger and unique items designed for enlightenment -- candlesticks, candelabra, wall sconces, floor-standing candle holders, and specially-commissioned items from local craftsmen and artists.
2019 Opening times: Easter - end of October, 11 am - 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays, unless we just happen to be open! Ring 01239-820470 to check.
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