My cottage was built in the middle of the seventeenth Century, probably earlier, but was probably derelict for a while as it disappeared from the local census documents for at least a decade or so.
It has weathered three hundred winters, hunkered down next to the Church Wall alongside her sister cottage , and has always made this part of Newmarket a little village all of its own. It was referred to as Llan Cottage 1 which is loosely translated as Church Cottage
“Even now the names of many places in Wales begin with Llan. It means “Church” – or, rather, the enclosed land around the church where Christian converts had settled – and, as far as town or church names are concerned, is often combined with the name of an individual”
Newmarket ( The Old English name for the village, it was given its old name Trelawnyd back in 1957) Trelawnyd literally means The Town Of Wheat. But this corner of the Church and the cottages were referred to as Tan Y Fynwent ( a place under the Churchyard)
The modern name Bwthyn y llan , is a mouthful and difficult to pronounce. It means Church Cottage from the full Welsh
An interesting history lesson .
ReplyDeleteHave you managed to drive to University?
Lee
Yes Lee the snow was confined to Flintshire , there was nothing at college 17 miles away
DeleteIt's interesting to know the history of a house and to wonder about previous occupants.
ReplyDeleteThe cottage was a small holding too with a cow Byre by the back door
DeleteThanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt would be fun if you could share a few Welsh swear words that might be applied to trolls. I understand that "trolio" is the word for a "troll" in Welsh.
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed any trolioing lately Pud, perhaps they've wandered elsewhere.
DeleteHopefully they have gone to "uffern" - Welsh for "hell". By the way, "Mynd Yn Dyner" means "Going Gently".
DeleteMochyn bydr was one I remember from school
DeleteThat was what my Mum told me to say to a Welsh girl at primary school, who was being nasty to me. I never knew what it meant (and I assumed she'd made it up.) I don't think the girl spoke Welsh, so it was lost on her anyway! xx
DeleteJohn I always think your cottage looks so cosy - a neighbour attached on one side and that church wall so sheltering on the other. By the way how is your Laburnum that you planted in the churchyard doing?
ReplyDeleteFunny you asked weave , she is doing mighty fine
DeleteYour cottage and the churchyard look beautiful in the snow. My neighbour knew your little village as New Market when we lived in our Welsh House.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how many Welsh speakers we quizzed, none could give us a direct translation of our house name, the most common response was 'house at bottom of hill' or 'down the hill'. It was known locally as 'the mole catchers house' as that's who had lived there the in the early 1900s.
What was it in Welsh
Delete'Isfryn' ... didn't you notice the name on the walls at the bottom of the drive or on the house when you visited, or did you just find me from photo memory off my blog?
DeleteI hadn't realised you were attached to another cottage, have you got nice neighbours?
ReplyDeleteHave they? X
DeleteI have lovely neighbours
DeleteThey have a fantastic one
Mave you cunt x
In the words of Clough Williams-Ellis, "cherish the past, adorn the present, construct for the future". You're certainly doing that. BTW, any update on the future of the church?
ReplyDeleteNot much P. Some of the pews have apparantly been sold to an on Trelawnyd resident . And someone told me that the organ has been sold too
DeleteWould the church not be a candidate for Friends of Friendless Churches? It's a lovely old building (along with your cottage! ) - the hooded tombs are unique and it has an old preaching cross. It really does need to be preserved and left open to the public. A couple of links : https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/friends-of-friendless-churches-wales-17754879
Deletehttps://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/
John here
DeleteWeve tried tomake it a pilgrim church too
A spot-listing request to CADW wouldn't go amiss either. I'd suggest the Churches Conservation Trust but think they're CofE churches only, whereas FoFC cover both England and Wales.
DeleteThat's a nice lot of snow you have.
ReplyDeleteToo bloody much this morning, a right shock
DeleteI find the history of buildings and the origin of place names so interesting.
ReplyDeletehttp://trelawnydhistory.blogspot.com/
DeleteAlways nice to hear the history of homes and villages. Amazing how many years these old cottages stand, imagine what their walls have witnessed.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I’ve made it a point to document some of the history from the village
Deletehttp://trelawnydhistory.blogspot.com/
I would love to live in a house with centuries of history. The oldest house I've lived in was Victorian, a mere baby compared to yours! Have you ever researched the past inhabitants of your cottage? xx
ReplyDeleteI haven’t , but it’s on the list
DeleteYour home, is older than our country.
ReplyDeleteThat made me larf
DeleteHouse history is fascinating as ever!
ReplyDeleteWe owned a house in San Diego that SG described as “old, old, old, old, old.” It was built in 1924. I would love to read through the stories of all the former residents of your cottage.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Trelawnyd was such a (relatively) new name. Maybe we should name our flat too..."Under the Russians," I'm thinking?
ReplyDeleteThat's a brilliant idea, Steve. You just have to learn how to pronounce it. Maybe something like: Dom pod rossiyanami
DeleteI did not realize your house was so old! That is is pretty cool. Is the house you are attached to the one with the barking dog?
ReplyDeleteI doubt if some of these modern new builds will last as long as your good solid old house.
ReplyDeleteHere a building that's 100 years old is considered ancient.
ReplyDeleteThe family celebrations and dramas that have happened within the walls of your cottage. If only they could talk...but perhaps not - that would freak you out. :D
ReplyDeleteThe history of your house is so interesting, John. It was well built to stand so long! My home was built in 1976.
ReplyDeleteA post from you on 17th July 1981 just popped up on the random search thingy, you had 397 comments! You must have been writing a popular blog in those days!
ReplyDeleteI didn’t start blogging until 2005
DeleteDid u mean this one
https://disasterfilm.blogspot.com/2015/06/my-co-pilot.html
Sorry, my mistake, it was 2018. "time to move on"
DeleteYes that was a very popular and painful post
DeleteYour home has a beautiful long history in the village. Do you know the history of the home? I wonder who built it and how many have lived there prior to you? There is no doubt that the architecture and construction was designed to last.
ReplyDeleteIt was rebuilt in the 1800 by the Jones family , who rebuilt the church at the same time , there is a plaque above my front door proclaiming that.
DeleteAlso the words IN VINVETRIAS
IN WINE THERE IS TRUTH
REINFORCING that the cottage was an informal pub at one stage
When I lived in wales ( nhs employee, not nursing), one of the guys I worked with spoke Welsh. I had competitive Welsh springer spaniels. I wanted to name my bloodline appropriately. He advised “Cae Gwaith” with a silent G. Apparently it means worker of the field. Joan Tewkesbury
ReplyDeleteCae is field in Welsh
DeleteSnow has such a timeless effect--as if transporting a building or scene back 400, 500 years.
ReplyDeleteWere you able to get to class?
Thank you lizzy, I was late but got there
DeleteChristmas card shots, churchyard and house both. I love your cottage, it always looks a cosy sanctuary. But at that age, it has had plenty of practise. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteYou too☃️❄️🌨⛄️🌬☔️🌫
DeleteVery interesting facts. Thanks for sharing and they both are beautiful. I love a good history story.
ReplyDeleteXx
DeleteLovely pictures of both the church and your home nestled in the snow and survivors from ages past.
ReplyDeleteWe have freezing rain over ice, a real "slipped and fell on ice" accident waiting to happen.
Stay safe and cozy!
Hugs!
Stay inside babs
DeleteMy house was hastily built in about 1948 after the war and is ready to be torn down and rebuilt. It has no insulation and is hard to heat in this very cold weather. I am far to old to do a rebuild. It just isn’t worth putting money into it as every house in this neighbourhood that has sold has been torn down and a McMansion takes its place. You are so lucky to live in a well built home, and a cozy one at that. Gigi
ReplyDeleteMany post war refurbs still remain
DeleteDo you know anything about the previous occupants?
ReplyDeleteThe third person to ask, not really . During the war there were English Coalman and his family the only English speakers in the village
DeleteDo you have any ghosties John - mines 100 and there's something upstairs around a corner x
ReplyDeleteover active imagination flis
DeleteI was going to ask the same as flis. A cottage that old must have some spirits lurking. They could be friendly ones.
ReplyDeleteNo ghosts , nice feeling in the cottage
ReplyDeleteI know very little about the previous owners
But the cottage was once a one roomed ale house
I’ve never seen a three hundred year old building IN MY LIFE
ReplyDeleteThis blows my mind that you LIVE in one
Wow
Keith
Xx
Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteHaving lived for as long as I did in North America, it is still difficult for me to fully appreciate the age of some UK buildings. The cottage I now live in is the oldest house in the village. Apparently it dates back to the C14th. The main bedroom has a huge beam - would be great to have it carbon dated.
My bedroom has floorboards all different widths , the sign of a very old house
DeleteThat is all so very interesting. I , too , live in a town called New Market here in Alabama.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the midst of a very rare cold spell. The low tonight is 6 degrees Fahrenheit!!
You village , house, and church is lovely!
The above post .....Linda from Alabama
ReplyDeleteOur house in Iowa USA was built in 1918 and that is considered old here! Jackie
ReplyDeletewow! I think this marvelous to live in something with such history. I would want to know all about it and the habitants throughout time.
ReplyDeleteI miss the architecture of the UK more than anything else and your cottage and the church are great examples of what I miss. Looks fabulous in the snow as much as it does when the flowers above the door bloom. Looks very cosy and you've done a marvellous job of interior decor. Love it.
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland