Trewern Ganol Caeau Cymru
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-Subtitles | 0:00:00 | 0:00:00 | |
-Subtitles - -Subtitles | 0:00:00 | 0:00:02 | |
-This time, -we're on the border with England. | 0:00:22 | 0:00:25 | |
-Shropshire, to be precise. | 0:00:25 | 0:00:27 | |
-Thankfully, the field names on this -side of Offa's Dyke have survived. | 0:00:28 | 0:00:32 | |
-Welcome to Caeau Cymru. | 0:00:33 | 0:00:34 | |
-By studying field names, we can -unlock the secrets of rural Wales. | 0:00:40 | 0:00:46 | |
-Fields often give us the key -to the mysteries of history. | 0:00:46 | 0:00:50 | |
-In this series, we reveal the -purpose and function of the land... | 0:00:52 | 0:00:56 | |
-..and tell the stories -which are interwoven with the land. | 0:00:57 | 0:01:02 | |
-Historian and expert Dr Rhian Parry -helps me on my journey... | 0:01:03 | 0:01:07 | |
-..which begins this week -in the National Library. | 0:01:07 | 0:01:11 | |
-This is an 1841 Tithe map of the -parish of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. | 0:01:14 | 0:01:20 | |
-We're not on the road this week, -we're on the roads... | 0:01:20 | 0:01:24 | |
-..and on two borders. | 0:01:24 | 0:01:26 | |
-Yes, and the borders are vital. | 0:01:26 | 0:01:28 | |
-We're eight miles from the border -between Wales and England... | 0:01:28 | 0:01:33 | |
-..and we're on the border between -the old Powys dividing line... | 0:01:33 | 0:01:38 | |
-..between Powys Fadog -and Powys Wenwynwyn. | 0:01:38 | 0:01:41 | |
-It's a strategically important spot. | 0:01:41 | 0:01:44 | |
-It's -close to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant... | 0:01:44 | 0:01:47 | |
-..which had a very early -market charter, dating back to 1284. | 0:01:47 | 0:01:52 | |
-Everyone in this area sold -their livestock at this market. | 0:01:52 | 0:01:56 | |
-Once they were sold, -drovers would walk them to England. | 0:01:56 | 0:02:01 | |
-The roads which cross the farm -are very important. | 0:02:01 | 0:02:05 | |
-What farm will we visit? | 0:02:05 | 0:02:07 | |
-What farm will we visit? - -Trewern Ganol. | 0:02:07 | 0:02:08 | |
-It's called Trewern Farm -on the Tithe map. | 0:02:09 | 0:02:12 | |
-What about the fields? | 0:02:12 | 0:02:14 | |
-There are many interesting names -in the schedules... | 0:02:14 | 0:02:18 | |
-..but among those we'll focus on -are Wern Fach Hir. | 0:02:18 | 0:02:22 | |
-Gwern is in the name of the farm, -and gwern is a common name. | 0:02:22 | 0:02:27 | |
-The difference here -is it's present in old documents... | 0:02:27 | 0:02:31 | |
-..and it sheds light -on some questions which we'll pose. | 0:02:31 | 0:02:35 | |
-Cae'r Felin - Mill Field. | 0:02:37 | 0:02:39 | |
-It's logical there was a mill here -with River Iwrch flowing past it. | 0:02:39 | 0:02:44 | |
-Then, we have Maes Y Sarn. | 0:02:44 | 0:02:46 | |
-Sarn means major road. | 0:02:46 | 0:02:48 | |
-Like Sarn Helen, this was -a main road, not a small farm track. | 0:02:49 | 0:02:53 | |
-We want to find out -a bit more about Maes Y Sarn. | 0:02:55 | 0:02:58 | |
-We often come across field names -which have changed over time... | 0:03:07 | 0:03:11 | |
-..but, thanks to Rhian's research, -we discovered that Trewern Ganol... | 0:03:11 | 0:03:17 | |
-..a farm in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, -close to the border with England... | 0:03:17 | 0:03:22 | |
-..was once called Plas Uchaf - -Upper Manor House. | 0:03:22 | 0:03:25 | |
-It was an important farm -and it's steeped in history. | 0:03:25 | 0:03:29 | |
-It's rural -but it doesn't feel remote. | 0:03:29 | 0:03:32 | |
-This has been a busy farm -down the centuries. | 0:03:32 | 0:03:36 | |
-Yes, and Trewern relied on -constant comings and goings... | 0:03:36 | 0:03:40 | |
-..between Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant -and the border here. | 0:03:40 | 0:03:45 | |
-This feels different -from farms further west. | 0:03:47 | 0:03:51 | |
-It feels like a gentry farm. | 0:03:51 | 0:03:53 | |
-We're not far from England and -that plays a part in this story. | 0:03:54 | 0:03:58 | |
-Yes, you can feel an English -influence at every turning... | 0:03:59 | 0:04:03 | |
-..starting with the methods -they adopted to treat the land. | 0:04:03 | 0:04:07 | |
-These manor houses were the homes -of relatively powerful families... | 0:04:08 | 0:04:13 | |
-..who administered -these small estates... | 0:04:14 | 0:04:17 | |
-..on a feudal pattern almost, -with servants working for them. | 0:04:18 | 0:04:22 | |
-That happened in every townlet -in the parish of Mochnant. | 0:04:23 | 0:04:28 | |
-The English name for this place -was recorded as early as 1086. | 0:04:30 | 0:04:35 | |
-Yes, the old English name Alretone. | 0:04:35 | 0:04:38 | |
-That is, alder plus town. | 0:04:38 | 0:04:40 | |
-Exactly the same as Tref Gwern -in Welsh. | 0:04:40 | 0:04:43 | |
-The two names existed side by side, -which is interesting. | 0:04:43 | 0:04:48 | |
-Tom Morris now farms Trewern Ganol. | 0:04:59 | 0:05:02 | |
-His great-grandfather -bought the farm in 1858. | 0:05:02 | 0:05:06 | |
-The sale catalogue shows -that it was sold by Henfache Estate. | 0:05:08 | 0:05:13 | |
-Tom is the third generation -to live and work here... | 0:05:14 | 0:05:18 | |
-..and his sons -have kept the tradition alive. | 0:05:18 | 0:05:21 | |
-This is a wonderful spot to come and -cast your eye over your kingdom. | 0:05:22 | 0:05:27 | |
-Yes, we're right in the middle -of the farm here. | 0:05:27 | 0:05:30 | |
-You can look down at Trewern, -down Iwrch Valley... | 0:05:31 | 0:05:35 | |
-..towards Tanat Valley. | 0:05:36 | 0:05:38 | |
-That's Llwyn Bryn Dinas, -an Iron Age hill fort. | 0:05:40 | 0:05:44 | |
-Does this field have a name? | 0:05:45 | 0:05:47 | |
-Yes. This is Cae Boncin - -Hummock Field. | 0:05:47 | 0:05:50 | |
-The land certainly rises here. | 0:05:50 | 0:05:52 | |
-The land certainly rises here. - -Yes, it's an apt name. | 0:05:52 | 0:05:53 | |
-Did you come here, as a child? | 0:05:54 | 0:05:56 | |
-Yes, I loved coming up here. | 0:05:57 | 0:05:59 | |
-I'd sit on a rock over there -and gaze at all these fields. | 0:05:59 | 0:06:03 | |
-It's a special place. | 0:06:05 | 0:06:06 | |
-We know there was a mill at Trewern -centuries ago... | 0:06:17 | 0:06:21 | |
-..and Cae'r Felin - Mill Field -is over there. | 0:06:21 | 0:06:24 | |
-Yes, it's recorded as Cae'r Felin -on the ancient maps... | 0:06:24 | 0:06:28 | |
-..but I call it Cae Bach... | 0:06:28 | 0:06:30 | |
-..and so did my ancestors. | 0:06:31 | 0:06:33 | |
-River Iwrch flowed up there, -between the trees. | 0:06:35 | 0:06:38 | |
-A ditch which stretched -from the top of the field... | 0:06:39 | 0:06:43 | |
-..carried water down here, -to the mill. | 0:06:43 | 0:06:47 | |
-Around the 1860s, -they rerouted the ditch... | 0:06:54 | 0:06:57 | |
-..diverting the water down here, -to this mill... | 0:06:58 | 0:07:01 | |
-..with its brand new waterwheel. | 0:07:02 | 0:07:05 | |
-This old wheel was worked hard. | 0:07:05 | 0:07:07 | |
-Do you remember water flowing here? | 0:07:08 | 0:07:10 | |
-Do you remember water flowing here? - -Yes, I remember it well. | 0:07:10 | 0:07:12 | |
-We'd go up there, to the floodgate -at the top of the field... | 0:07:13 | 0:07:18 | |
-..to open the floodgate... | 0:07:18 | 0:07:22 | |
-..and release water -for the waterwheel. | 0:07:22 | 0:07:25 | |
-When the work was done, -we'd close the floodgate. | 0:07:25 | 0:07:29 | |
-Was that your job? | 0:07:29 | 0:07:30 | |
-Was that your job? - -No, very rarely. | 0:07:30 | 0:07:32 | |
-I was very young then. | 0:07:33 | 0:07:35 | |
-Were you allowed inside the mill? | 0:07:35 | 0:07:37 | |
-Were you allowed inside the mill? - -No, and the old rope is still there. | 0:07:37 | 0:07:39 | |
-I wasn't allowed to go any further -than that rope. | 0:07:40 | 0:07:43 | |
-I'd hold that rope and stick to -the health and safety rules! | 0:07:45 | 0:07:49 | |
-There was a strap running -across there with the wheel... | 0:07:49 | 0:07:53 | |
-..and my father was afraid I'd get -hurt, so I wasn't allowed in there. | 0:07:53 | 0:07:58 | |
-Old mills like this one are -part of the history of rural Wales. | 0:08:03 | 0:08:07 | |
-One man -who knows a lot about them... | 0:08:08 | 0:08:11 | |
-..is the artefacts collector, -Alwyn Hughes. | 0:08:12 | 0:08:15 | |
-At one time, craftsmen called -mill carpenters would go around... | 0:08:15 | 0:08:21 | |
-..from mill to mill. | 0:08:22 | 0:08:24 | |
-They were paid a daily rate -by the miller to peck the stone. | 0:08:24 | 0:08:28 | |
-It was known as pecking the stone. | 0:08:28 | 0:08:31 | |
-It involved recutting the furrows -in the stone itself. | 0:08:31 | 0:08:35 | |
-Were these tools used for that task? | 0:08:36 | 0:08:37 | |
-Were these tools used for that task? - -Yes. | 0:08:37 | 0:08:39 | |
-This was the main tool - a chisel -which was used to peck the stone. | 0:08:39 | 0:08:44 | |
-A chisel slotted -into a staff, like this. | 0:08:45 | 0:08:48 | |
-It was detachable. | 0:08:48 | 0:08:50 | |
-The chisel wouldn't last long -because the stone was so hard. | 0:08:50 | 0:08:55 | |
-Pieces of the chisel came away, -as has happened here. | 0:08:55 | 0:08:59 | |
-As they pecked at the stones, the -shards of iron from the chisel... | 0:09:00 | 0:09:05 | |
-..would fly off -and become embedded in their flesh. | 0:09:06 | 0:09:09 | |
-That's the root of the saying -'show the mettle'. | 0:09:10 | 0:09:13 | |
-It showed that person -was accustomed to hard work. | 0:09:13 | 0:09:17 | |
-How were millers paid? | 0:09:17 | 0:09:19 | |
-How were millers paid? - -They were paid in grain or in flour. | 0:09:19 | 0:09:23 | |
-They may have been paid in meat. | 0:09:23 | 0:09:25 | |
-Very little money changed hands. | 0:09:25 | 0:09:28 | |
-How did they measure someone's wage? | 0:09:28 | 0:09:31 | |
-They used -the old measure of the peck. | 0:09:31 | 0:09:34 | |
-There was mention of the peck -in The Laws Of Hywel. | 0:09:37 | 0:09:40 | |
-This is a peck, -which came from Cwm Cewydd mill. | 0:09:41 | 0:09:44 | |
-They filled the peck with grain -until it was level. | 0:09:44 | 0:09:48 | |
-Traditionally, they used a trick -when they did this. | 0:09:51 | 0:09:55 | |
-They'd kick the peck -to allow the grain to settle... | 0:09:56 | 0:10:00 | |
-..then they'd drag a piece of wood -across the top... | 0:10:00 | 0:10:04 | |
-..to make sure -the measure was correct. | 0:10:04 | 0:10:07 | |
-Some Trewern Ganol field names -reveal things about social history. | 0:10:13 | 0:10:18 | |
-Yes, and Cae'r Felin -is a fine example of it. | 0:10:19 | 0:10:22 | |
-We know from the history -of the house and the mill... | 0:10:22 | 0:10:26 | |
-..that a nobleman's family -lived here for centuries. | 0:10:26 | 0:10:31 | |
-They had their own mill, of course. | 0:10:32 | 0:10:34 | |
-And then, in 1600, -the land and the mill were sold... | 0:10:34 | 0:10:38 | |
-..to Sir Thomas Myddleton -from the Chirk estate. | 0:10:38 | 0:10:42 | |
-From that point onwards, -we know the mill was rented out. | 0:10:42 | 0:10:46 | |
-That fact is revealed -in a rent book dating back to 1623. | 0:10:48 | 0:10:52 | |
-The mice which got to it -didn't manage to delete the records! | 0:10:52 | 0:10:57 | |
-There are also some interesting -social developments afoot. | 0:10:57 | 0:11:02 | |
-The sons of these families -were sent to Cambridge and Oxford... | 0:11:03 | 0:11:08 | |
-..to receive an education -and to become lawyers or clerics. | 0:11:08 | 0:11:12 | |
-Back home, -craftsmen came into their own. | 0:11:12 | 0:11:15 | |
-People such as the mill carpenters -and the blacksmiths. | 0:11:16 | 0:11:20 | |
-Their skills were in great demand... | 0:11:20 | 0:11:23 | |
-..which meant they could -earn a living from their work... | 0:11:23 | 0:11:27 | |
-..for the first time. | 0:11:27 | 0:11:29 | |
-. | 0:11:32 | 0:11:32 | |
-Subtitles | 0:11:37 | 0:11:37 | |
-Subtitles - -Subtitles | 0:11:37 | 0:11:39 | |
-An old Russian proverb says... | 0:11:49 | 0:11:51 | |
-..living life -is not like crossing a field. | 0:11:51 | 0:11:54 | |
-I disagree! | 0:11:54 | 0:11:56 | |
-The fields in Trewern Ganol are full -of life and fascinating stories. | 0:11:56 | 0:12:01 | |
-One of our themes here in Trewern -is the roads which cross this land. | 0:12:09 | 0:12:13 | |
-Is this field's name -linked to a road? | 0:12:14 | 0:12:16 | |
-Yes, as are many of them. | 0:12:16 | 0:12:18 | |
-We're now standing in a field -which is called Maes Y Sarn. | 0:12:18 | 0:12:23 | |
-Maes means an open field -with no hedges... | 0:12:24 | 0:12:28 | |
-..so imagine a small road -cutting through this open field. | 0:12:29 | 0:12:34 | |
-Sarn refers to a major road, -not a back road. | 0:12:36 | 0:12:39 | |
-It was an important road. | 0:12:40 | 0:12:42 | |
-This may not look like a main road -as we think of them today... | 0:12:44 | 0:12:48 | |
-..but it was extremely important -at one time... | 0:12:50 | 0:12:53 | |
-..particularly for the drovers. | 0:12:53 | 0:12:56 | |
-They used this road to come from the -market in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant... | 0:12:56 | 0:13:02 | |
-..past this open field... | 0:13:03 | 0:13:04 | |
-..and across River Iwrch over -what we now know as Trewern Bridge. | 0:13:05 | 0:13:10 | |
-According to a document -from the Chirk estate, dated 1600... | 0:13:12 | 0:13:16 | |
-..this bridge had a different name. | 0:13:17 | 0:13:19 | |
-It was referred to as Pont Rhyd -Y Porthmyn - Drovers' Ford Bridge. | 0:13:21 | 0:13:26 | |
-It seems there was a ford here -for the drovers... | 0:13:26 | 0:13:29 | |
-..long before the bridge was built. | 0:13:31 | 0:13:33 | |
-Is there more evidence -of the drovers' presence? | 0:13:34 | 0:13:38 | |
-Yes, a nearby field which is called -Wern Fach Hir today... | 0:13:38 | 0:13:43 | |
-..but which was called -Wern Y Syllte - Shillings Alder. | 0:13:44 | 0:13:48 | |
-I think that's a reference -to the fact... | 0:13:53 | 0:13:55 | |
-..that drovers rested -their cattle there overnight. | 0:13:56 | 0:14:00 | |
-Their cattle was safe there... | 0:14:03 | 0:14:05 | |
-..and they paid a shilling or two -to use the land. | 0:14:05 | 0:14:09 | |
-There are similar fields in Wales... | 0:14:10 | 0:14:12 | |
-..which were used -for this exact purpose. | 0:14:12 | 0:14:17 | |
-Fields which are near the road -and convenient for drovers... | 0:14:17 | 0:14:22 | |
-..had names like Cae Dwy Geiniog - -Tuppence Field... | 0:14:22 | 0:14:26 | |
-..or Cae Dimau - Ha'penny Field. | 0:14:26 | 0:14:28 | |
-This was an expensive field! | 0:14:29 | 0:14:31 | |
-Our digital map shows us the roads -and the Trewern Ganol land. | 0:14:35 | 0:14:39 | |
-Maes Y Sarn lies between -the farmhouse and the road... | 0:14:42 | 0:14:45 | |
-..which drovers used to travel east. | 0:14:46 | 0:14:48 | |
-River Iwrch is here... | 0:14:50 | 0:14:52 | |
-..as is Rhyd Y Porthmyn - -Drovers' Ford... | 0:14:52 | 0:14:55 | |
-..which is now -known as Trewern Bridge. | 0:14:55 | 0:14:58 | |
-Cae'r Felin - Mill Field -is next to Wern Coed - Alder Wood... | 0:14:58 | 0:15:02 | |
-..which is next to -another vital road. | 0:15:02 | 0:15:05 | |
-This road, from the direction -of Llanrhaeadr... | 0:15:07 | 0:15:11 | |
-..splits the land -of Trewern Ganol in two... | 0:15:11 | 0:15:14 | |
-..and it crosses the Iwrch -towards the Ceiriog Valley. | 0:15:14 | 0:15:18 | |
-Rhian has unearthed the old name -for Pont Cefn Hir... | 0:15:19 | 0:15:22 | |
-..namely Pont Llyvorion - -Torrent Bridge. | 0:15:22 | 0:15:26 | |
-The third important road -is on the farm's northern border... | 0:15:26 | 0:15:30 | |
-..beyond Cae Boncin. | 0:15:31 | 0:15:32 | |
-This road joins Ffordd Gam Elen, -which stems from the Bronze Age... | 0:15:32 | 0:15:37 | |
-..and leads to the Berwyn Mountain. | 0:15:37 | 0:15:40 | |
-The roads give the fields -of Trewern Ganol their shape... | 0:15:40 | 0:15:44 | |
-..carrying stories with them. | 0:15:44 | 0:15:47 | |
-The drovers' work was essential -to our rural economy. | 0:15:47 | 0:15:51 | |
-Historian Iorwerth Davies sheds some -light on their fascinating lives. | 0:15:52 | 0:15:57 | |
-Paint a picture for me -of the life of a drover. | 0:15:59 | 0:16:03 | |
-First, try to work out how far -they'd be able to walk in a day. | 0:16:04 | 0:16:09 | |
-The maximum they'd be able to walk -in a day would be 15 to 20 miles. | 0:16:09 | 0:16:14 | |
-Just imagine, if they were -driving their animals... | 0:16:17 | 0:16:20 | |
-..all the way -to south-east London... | 0:16:21 | 0:16:23 | |
-..it took a long time to get there. | 0:16:24 | 0:16:26 | |
-They needed places to stay. | 0:16:26 | 0:16:28 | |
-They usually stayed in pubs -and they met other people there... | 0:16:30 | 0:16:34 | |
-..and they had a bit of fun. | 0:16:34 | 0:16:36 | |
-Some of them were a bit shameless -on their way to London. | 0:16:37 | 0:16:41 | |
-What do you mean? | 0:16:41 | 0:16:43 | |
-They met some women -of dubious character. | 0:16:45 | 0:16:48 | |
-But, in addition to driving animals, -they also carried things like money. | 0:16:50 | 0:16:55 | |
-There are lots of stories about -drovers carrying butter and eggs... | 0:16:57 | 0:17:02 | |
-..to the smaller markets. | 0:17:02 | 0:17:04 | |
-They went as far as Billericay... | 0:17:06 | 0:17:09 | |
-..and the animals were exported -from there to the continent. | 0:17:09 | 0:17:14 | |
-They met French people -in Billericay... | 0:17:14 | 0:17:17 | |
-..and that's where -they saw the latest fashions... | 0:17:17 | 0:17:22 | |
-..from the continent. | 0:17:22 | 0:17:25 | |
-They also went to pubs -and they heard songs. | 0:17:26 | 0:17:30 | |
-Drovers would sing songs, -then bring them back to Wales. | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
-Some of those melodies -were used as hymn tunes. | 0:17:35 | 0:17:39 | |
-It sounds like a romantic life. | 0:17:40 | 0:17:43 | |
-It may sound romantic -but it was a hard life. | 0:17:45 | 0:17:49 | |
-They had to drive cattle -in all weather... | 0:17:51 | 0:17:54 | |
-..overcoming -all sorts of difficulties. | 0:17:56 | 0:17:59 | |
-If I found us a horse each, -you wouldn't take the job? | 0:17:59 | 0:18:03 | |
-Well, I'd like to ride a horse -to the south-east... | 0:18:03 | 0:18:06 | |
-..time permitting! | 0:18:07 | 0:18:08 | |
-We'd sing along the way. | 0:18:10 | 0:18:11 | |
-We'd sing along the way. - -Yes, I'm sure we'd have fun. | 0:18:11 | 0:18:13 | |
-I meet Tom again... | 0:18:15 | 0:18:17 | |
-..in a field marked as Cae Ysgubor - -Barn Field - on the Tithe maps... | 0:18:17 | 0:18:22 | |
-..but which has -a different name today. | 0:18:22 | 0:18:25 | |
-It's quite a walk -to the highest land on your farm. | 0:18:26 | 0:18:29 | |
-Yes, and it's a lot easier -on a quad bike! | 0:18:29 | 0:18:32 | |
-Yes - this is the highest part -of the farm. | 0:18:33 | 0:18:36 | |
-There were some buildings here. | 0:18:36 | 0:18:38 | |
-You can see the remains of a barn -and there was probably a house here. | 0:18:39 | 0:18:44 | |
-As far as we're concerned, -this field is called Trewern Uchaf. | 0:18:44 | 0:18:49 | |
-That's the name you use today? | 0:18:49 | 0:18:51 | |
-That's the name you use today? - -Yes, and for generations. | 0:18:51 | 0:18:53 | |
-You won't find Trewern Uchaf -on the Tithe maps... | 0:18:55 | 0:18:59 | |
-..or on the documents -relating to the sale in 1858... | 0:18:59 | 0:19:03 | |
-..when my family moved here. | 0:19:03 | 0:19:05 | |
-That was Cae Ysgubor. | 0:19:05 | 0:19:07 | |
-Did people live here? | 0:19:09 | 0:19:10 | |
-Did people live here? - -Yes, it's very likely. | 0:19:10 | 0:19:12 | |
-My grandfather found a reference -to it in the church records... | 0:19:14 | 0:19:19 | |
-..at Llanarmon Fach, -which is half way up that hill. | 0:19:19 | 0:19:24 | |
-It says someone lived here -in the 18th century. | 0:19:26 | 0:19:29 | |
-The remains -are of substantial buildings. | 0:19:30 | 0:19:33 | |
-Yes, there was a barn here -to store crops... | 0:19:34 | 0:19:38 | |
-..which they harvested -from the fields around us here. | 0:19:39 | 0:19:43 | |
-They harvested crops -and stored them in this barn... | 0:19:44 | 0:19:48 | |
-..to save having to carry it all -down to Trewern... | 0:19:48 | 0:19:53 | |
-..and back up again -to feed the stock. | 0:19:54 | 0:19:57 | |
-Field names keep evolving. -It's a slow process. | 0:19:58 | 0:20:01 | |
-Let's go back to our expert, -Alwyn Hughes... | 0:20:09 | 0:20:13 | |
-..to learn about the use made of -a wild plant growing in a wet field. | 0:20:13 | 0:20:18 | |
-The alder tree which grows here -in Trewern loves wet land... | 0:20:20 | 0:20:24 | |
-..as do these rushes. | 0:20:24 | 0:20:26 | |
-This field is called Cae Wern Mawr. | 0:20:28 | 0:20:31 | |
-Rushes were very useful plants. | 0:20:31 | 0:20:33 | |
-Yes. Rushes were very important, -until around 60 years ago. | 0:20:35 | 0:20:40 | |
-Rushes were the main way -for people to light their homes... | 0:20:40 | 0:20:44 | |
-..using what's known as rushlights. | 0:20:45 | 0:20:48 | |
-Rushes had to be harvested, -like every other crop. | 0:20:49 | 0:20:52 | |
-The rush harvest happened -around the end of September. | 0:20:53 | 0:20:57 | |
-The rushes were then cut to lengths -similar to this. | 0:20:58 | 0:21:03 | |
-They would then -peel off the rind of each stalk... | 0:21:04 | 0:21:09 | |
-..until they were left with -just one thin strip of it. | 0:21:12 | 0:21:16 | |
-That's where this pan came into it - -the grisset pan. | 0:21:17 | 0:21:22 | |
-In this, they'd put mutton fat. | 0:21:23 | 0:21:27 | |
-They put the grisset pan -on the fire, the fat would melt... | 0:21:28 | 0:21:32 | |
-..and the rushes -were placed in there. | 0:21:32 | 0:21:35 | |
-The pith of a rush -is like a sponge... | 0:21:35 | 0:21:38 | |
-..and it absorbed the fat. | 0:21:39 | 0:21:41 | |
-The rushes were then dried. | 0:21:41 | 0:21:43 | |
-You placed a rushlight -in a holder, like this... | 0:21:43 | 0:21:48 | |
-..you lit one end of it -and burned it. | 0:21:51 | 0:21:53 | |
-Imagine people reading their Bible -and making lace by rushlight. | 0:21:55 | 0:22:00 | |
-We still use an old saying -that started with the rushlight. | 0:22:01 | 0:22:05 | |
-Yes, as the rushlight burned, -they moved the rush in the holder... | 0:22:06 | 0:22:11 | |
-..until there was little left. | 0:22:11 | 0:22:14 | |
-That's when they'd light -the other end of the rushlight... | 0:22:14 | 0:22:18 | |
-..thus burning the candle -at both ends. | 0:22:18 | 0:22:21 | |
-Centuries back, -we'd be harvesting rushes. | 0:22:21 | 0:22:24 | |
-Yes, that's what we'd be doing now, -in late September. | 0:22:25 | 0:22:29 | |
-Thank goodness for electricity! | 0:22:29 | 0:22:30 | |
-Thank goodness for electricity! - -Really? | 0:22:30 | 0:22:31 | |
-What do these fields mean to you? | 0:22:46 | 0:22:48 | |
-We're part of the land, as farmers. | 0:22:51 | 0:22:54 | |
-We're the guardians of this land, -and have been for centuries. | 0:22:55 | 0:23:00 | |
-As Ceiriog said... | 0:23:02 | 0:23:04 | |
-"New shepherds on these -old mountains there may be | 0:23:05 | 0:23:08 | |
-"But the old language is in the soil -and the old melodies are alive." | 0:23:09 | 0:23:13 | |
-People come and go, -but these old fields remain. | 0:23:14 | 0:23:18 | |
-I hope there will be people here -after us to take care of this land. | 0:23:18 | 0:23:23 | |
-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones | 0:23:56 | 0:23:58 | |
-. | 0:23:58 | 0:23:58 |