This is the winning Essay
Submitted for the Newmarket Eisteddfod
Held on the 1st August 1910
Written in welsh by R.T Williams ( pseudonym Trevor Mon)
Entitled
“ Newmarket, it’s Antiquity, Biography and Present History”
For those that don’t know Newmarket is the old name for Trelawnyd.
I fell into a few hours of reading, sat in the window seat of my bedroom. The book sharing the history of the village from as far back as the Welsh tribes who lived on the land before the Romans arrived.
It’s a fascinating read and much of the information within its pages was new to me. The old, ancient names of hills that surround the village interested me the most. Bryn Y Saethau ( Hill of Arrows) , Bryn Y Lladdfa ( The Hill Of Slaughter) and Bryn Y Coaches ( Hill Of The War Chariots) all conjure up ancient battles and folklore
The text also features biographies on local ( men) from the turn of the century as well as detailed descriptions of local houses and their histories, forays into local folklore, and discussions about Marriages and everyday life of an Edwardian Welsh Village.
I’m happy to provide anyone local who is interested in reading this essay a copy . All I ask is that they pay a 5£ fee which will be donated to the Memorial Hall.
That's a wonderful find! Could it have been in the house when you moved in and left by the previous occupants as you have no recollection of it?
ReplyDeleteNo, I’m sure one of the older people in the village, who I interviewed a few years ago, gave it to me
DeleteI love things like that. My late father-in-law collected postcards, and I always enjoyed reading the messages rather than the picture on the front. Snippets of life long gone. I hope it will join your book collection? xx
ReplyDeleteI will put snippets of the more interesting info onto my history blog
DeleteI assume your electric shower is a back up shower in case the boiler fails, as I have seen in England.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have a boiler . Andrew…I know ……a country bumpkin
DeleteThat is a wonderful find and a good idea!
ReplyDeleteHope the bathroom work goes smoothly
Me too, my little man rang today , letting me know that his electrician is on board
DeleteGreat find. Made the clearing job totally.
ReplyDeleteYes, I loved the diversion
DeleteWhat a find!
ReplyDeleteXx😮💨
DeleteThat would be a delightful read for anyone living in Trelawnyd. I grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia which was very old and historical, (Annapolis Royal). The oldest house, (still standing), was built in 1708. It supposedly has a resident ghost. I own a book written about the historic houses in my old town and I still read it on occasion.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting, old houses have a life all of their own ,
DeleteHow fascinating and a bit magical
ReplyDeleteThe pre Roman history was fascinating
DeleteWow! What a great find.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting find! I am sure your neighbors will be pleased for you to share it!
ReplyDeleteI will share it with Karen who has some of my history stuff
DeleteWhat a find - and fancy not remembering how it got there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started my history blog, I interviewed two dozen older people from the village, I’m sure one of them must have given it to me and I over looked it
DeleteWhy do we keep broken stuff ?!!! I have been quite ruthless during these last two Covid years and have thrown so much away, all of which was useless. It’s a lovely feeling when it’s gone. !!! And, pretty much everything that we put in the loft over the past 36 years of living here, has never come back down or even looked at !!!! Must clear that our next.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to find that book …. What a nice way to pass a few hours. XXXX
I opened the bedroom windows wide and threw out the crap, very thereuptic
DeleteThat photocopied book is perfect for you. I hope other villagers are interested. It's a fascinating find!
ReplyDeleteI’ve had one request for a copy from a young man from the village which is nice
DeleteA good clear out is always good. It seems we all need a deadline to actually do the job. So now you are ready for the Little Man. I'm curious about the date of publication on the book you found. It seems filled with very well documented historical facts about your village. Great find!
ReplyDeleteIt was an official entry in an Eisteddfod in 1910
DeleteWhich is an arts celebration and competition of welsh culture
It's the 'danger' of clearing out, finding things that send you down a rabbit-hole for hours! Was your cottage mentioned?
ReplyDeleteI’m yet to find a reference to it, but I have found a few in historic papers before
DeleteImagine bloody primitive battles fought on your peaceful hills!
ReplyDeleteA few battles still carry on in the village teehee
DeleteYou dwell in a fascinating and ancient landscape.
ReplyDeleteI hope your new electric shower will have a booster pump to maximise pressure. You don't want a dribbly one.
I want to be pinned to the wall
DeleteThat would be very interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly my husband and I have recently moved to New Market, Alabama.
Small world!
I love stuff like that! I am jealous much. I didn't know you ran a history blog... do you still add stuff to it?
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
Yes …just click on the photo of auntie glad in the right photo bar , it will take you to it
DeleteThere used to be hangings in our road-I sense the coldness and the spirits -In this house there is a ghost I'm aware of and the previous lady was too-I'm only wary of the back bedroom at night-The rest of the house has an embracing feel though x
ReplyDelete