Pennod 2 Darn Bach o Hanes

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-Coming up...

-..Gerwyn James

-looks at fish traps on the Menai.

-Rhodri Morgan reveals the link

-between this house and this man...

-..and Lisa Gwilym

-tries her hand at bell-ringing.

-There have been many uses

-for slate over the years.

-But the main reason

-why the industry flourished...

-..was to put roofs on our houses.

-That was the daily work

-of the quarry.

-It was hard and monotonous work.

-It's hardly surprising

-that most quarrymen...

-..didn't want to see any more slate

-after a hard day's work.

-But it didn't mean

-they weren't proud of their craft.

-A few of them decided to use slate

-to express themselves creatively...

-..rather than only splitting them.

-Descriptions of quarrymen's homes

-in early 19th century Bethesda...

-..paint a picture

-of filthy hovels...

-..dirty, dark and basic houses.

-But this is an unfair

-and incorrect portrayal.

-There are artefacts

-at Bangor Museum to prove this.

-It houses numerous ornate hearth

-surrounds from quarrymen's homes.

-Esther, what's the history

-of this collection?

-These are a few examples...

-..of the hundreds

-unearthed by Gwenno Caffell.

-They come from Tregarth,

-Llanllechid...

-..and Rachub, with some from

-Abergynolwyn, Corris and Blaenau.

-Most are from the Ogwen Valley.

-They were made

-between 1820 and the 1840s...

-..a period of growth

-at Penrhyn Quarry.

-A lot was going on

-in the Ogwen Valley.

-They're a part

-of this local development.

-What about this one?

-What about this one?

-

-It's fantastic and intricate.

-It's dated 1838, and features

-the names of John Parry and Mary.

-The music and lyrics

-of "Cyfeillgarwch" can be seen.

-It's amazing.

-It's amazing.

-

-Do you know the tune?

-No!

-No!

-

-You know I'd ask you to sing it!

-A variety of symbols are used.

-Is there a recurring theme?

-Is there a recurring theme?

-

-Yes.

-Circles are the most common.

-This example has a freehand design

-combined with circles.

-There are also wine glasses...

-..flowers...

-..a clock, birds,

-all sorts of things.

-These intricate exhibits...

-..prove how house-proud they were.

-They knew how to work the slate.

-They did something amazing with it.

-The most beautiful

-and intricate hearth surround...

-..is in a house near Bethesda.

-Hello, Eirwen.

-Bethesda's most remarkable

-hearth surround...

-..has been in Eirwen Williams's

-family for many years.

-Well, Eirwen! It's superb.

-I've never seen slatecraft like it.

-It's unique.

-It's unique.

-

-Yes.

-There's a central zodiac...

-..a chart of solar

-and lunar eclipses...

-..and the moon and earth's orbits.

-What's the story behind it?

-It was made

-for my great-grandparents...

-..Richard and Grace Jones

-of Bryn Twrw...

-..in 1837.

-It was carved

-by Thomas and William Jones.

-They copied Arfonwyson's diagrams.

-Arfonwyson must have been

-a family friend.

-He was an ordinary man.

-He only had three years' schooling.

-But he went to work in Greenwich...

-..at the Royal Observatory.

-He was a very clever man.

-He was a very clever man.

-

-A mathematical genius...

-..and a brilliant astronomer.

-The information

-is scientifically accurate.

-The zodiac symbols are depicted

-in a uniquely humorous way.

-The Water Bearer is pouring water

-and fish are swimming in it.

-Further down...

-..the Bull chases the Twins.

-And the Scales.

-They used a more unfamiliar name,

-the balance, for the scales.

-That's the origin of the saying,

-hanging in the balance.

-You mentioned the family connection.

-How much does this hearth surround

-mean to you?

-It means the world to me.

-It's a treasure.

-It's a part of my life.

-Well, Eirwen. Thanks very much

-for allowing me to see this.

-It's absolutely mind-blowing.

-In Bethesda a few years ago...

-..a commission was given

-to sculptor Ann Catrin.

-She completed it with local help.

-It involved carving slate in the

-style of Eirwen's hearth surround...

-..to commemorate

-Thomas and William Jones...

-..and other local slate carvers.

-Ann Catrin's studio

-is in Glynllifon.

-I'm here to look at the tools

-she created to complete the work.

-Are you busy?

-Are you busy?

-

-Not bad!

-I'm disturbing you!

-I'm disturbing you!

-

-Yes!

-I've come to see the tools.

-They're not typical quarry tools.

-They're not typical quarry tools.

-

-No, not everyday tools.

-They were used

-for decorative purposes.

-These are improvised handmade tools.

-That's right.

-You did this.

-I ground teeth

-into a drill bit.

-From the old photographs

-I've seen...

-..it's what they did

-with old chisels.

-What are these?

-They used something similar

-to spokes on a bike wheel.

-The metal was as hard

-as tooled steel, but malleable.

-We use it as a compass.

-Can I have a go?

-Can I have a go?

-

-Yes, great!

-That's it.

-It's a satisfying process -

-you're leaving your mark!

-Yes!

-They did this in their spare time.

-Yes. There was no television!

-At night,

-after very physical work...

-..it was an intricate craft,

-detailed and skilled.

-It took time.

-Is that OK for now?

-Is that OK for now?

-

-What does it look like?

-It's hard to see with all the dust.

-It'll make a doughnut shape

-the deeper it goes.

-Like a doughnut?!

-Now I know how to carve petals...

-..and a doughnut!

-But I'll need more practice...

-..if I'm to reach the standard

-of the quarrymen's masterpieces.

-It isn't only in dusty storerooms

-or locked coffers in a museum...

-..that artefacts

-and fascinating stories are hidden.

-You'll often find

-revealing stories...

-..on the streets

-of our towns and cities.

-Take this street, for example

-- Moorland Road in Aberavon.

-A resident contacted us recently...

-..to say he had a fascinating piece

-of history to share with us.

-I've come to meet Peter Williams...

-..who's in possession

-of a special letter.

-There are a wealth of items

-on the table. Where do we start?!

-Let's begin

-with the reason we're here.

-It's a letter

-from a very famous man.

-Who is he?

-Who is he?

-

-Winston Churchill.

-It was sent to my grandfather,

-Major John Williams.

-"My dear Major Williams.

-"I am extremely glad you obtained

-a post under the government...

-"..as a result of my intervention.

-"When I return to England

-in November...

-"..perhaps you will let me know

-how you are getting on.

-"I would do anything I could...

-"..but I have no influence

-with the present government.

-"Sincerely yours,

-Winston Churchill."

-It's a remarkable letter.

-It's a remarkable letter.

-

-Yes.

-What was the connection

-with your grandfather?

-He was in the same battalion

-as Churchill during World War I.

-The 6th Battalion

-of the Scots Fusiliers.

-This letter is dated

-from a later period.

-He kept in touch.

-He worked in the coal mine.

-After the 1926 General Strike

-and economic depression...

-..he lost his job.

-He wrote to Churchill to ask

-for a job in the Defence Ministry.

-But as Churchill said,

-he had no influence.

-Labour was in power,

-but he did arrange work...

-..for my grandfather

-at the Ministry of Labour.

-Your father followed your

-grandfather and joined the army?

-He joined the Royal Tank Regiment

-in 1938, before World War II.

-He was sent to North Africa,

-to Tobruk and El Alamein.

-He was captured

-by the Germans in North Africa.

-He was taken to Stalag Luft IV-B

-in eastern Germany.

-This is his document.

-That's it.

-This is his identity card,

-with a thumbprint and photograph.

-We also see his name,

-Robert Winston Spencer Williams.

-Churchill obviously made

-an impression on your grandfather!

-He named his son after his friend,

-Winston Churchill.

-It's often forgotten that Churchill

-was hated in South Wales...

-..because of his handling

-of the miners' strike.

-My father was stuck

-with the name all his life!

-Brilliant. Thank you very much,

-Peter. It's been fascinating.

-Thank you.

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-I'm Gerwyn James and I've studied

-the Menai for many years.

-It's an area steeped in history.

-I'd like to share

-the fishing traps with you today.

-They go all the way from here

-to the far end of the Menai.

-This black wall...

-..may be the best example in Wales

-of a medieval fishing trap.

-It's seven foot high.

-It has been here for centuries.

-According to records

-dating back 700 years...

-..the peasant folk

-that lived here...

-..had to pay

-ten and a half pennies a year...

-..to the Bishop of Bangor

-to repair the wall.

-The fish swam in with the tide...

-..and were trapped behind the wall

-on the ebb tide.

-Fishermen took whatever was caught.

-Behind me is Ynys Gorad Goch,

-which also had fish traps.

-However, this island

-had traps on both ends.

-They could catch fish

-four times a day.

-They caught herring mainly.

-The fish were cured and carried

-downriver to Llanfaes or Beaumaris.

-From there, they'd be exported

-to major English cities.

-In the Middle Ages,

-and until relatively recently...

-..ordinary folk

-ate very little meat.

-Beef and lamb

-were food for the rich.

-If you were a farmer...

-..you'd keep animals

-to sell them in the market...

-..to pay rent.

-The Church insisted

-that people ate fish on Fridays.

-Fish was the staple diet.

-This method of fishing ended

-around the time of World War I.

-In one respect, it's sad.

-A way of life...

-..how man fished on this river...

-..has disappeared.

-On the other hand...

-..imagine getting up

-very early in midwinter...

-..to come here with nets.

-It was extremely tough work.

-I wouldn't have liked to do it.

-Things have changed. Life is easier.

-BELLS RING

-Whether you're religious or not...

-..it's comforting to hear the peal

-of bells on Sunday mornings.

-For those of us still in bed...

-..take pity on the bell-ringer

-who had to wake up early.

-St Padarn Church

-in Llanbadarn Fawr near Aberystwyth.

-History fills every nook and cranny.

-It was once the focal point

-of Wales's largest parish.

-The medieval poet Dafydd ap Gwilym

-mentions it in one of his poems.

-William Morgan was a vicar here

-in the 16th century.

-Tonight, I'm having a go at ringing

-the ancient bells of Llanbadarn.

-But someone's already at it!

-Hi, Gerald.

-Hi, Gerald.

-

-Hello, Lisa.

-You started early.

-You started early.

-

-Yes!

-Have you finished?

-Have you finished?

-

-Yes, for now.

-I'm here to have a go!

-I'm not the one to teach you!

-You should see a professional!

-I can show you the bells upstairs.

-I can show you the bells upstairs.

-

-Thank you.

-I'll lead the way.

-Here are the amazing bells.

-Yes, the eleven Llanbadarn bells.

-There are eleven?

-Ten are usually rung.

-The extra bell makes it possible

-to change key.

-What was their original purpose?

-To tell the congregation

-it was time for church.

-They were rung when there

-was a funeral or a wedding...

-..or to warn of an enemy invasion...

-..or even to proclaim victory

-in a war.

-They were quite simple, originally.

-Pulling the rope swung the bell

-and made the clapper strike.

-That was it.

-But in England, sometime

-during the late 17th century...

-..a much more complex system

-was devised...

-..producing a more impressive sound.

-When the rope is pulled...

-..the wheel and bell turn

-a little over 360 degrees.

-That strikes the bell once.

-You pull again, and it swings back

-to strike a second time.

-Each bell is struck once...

-..until they go through the range.

-The order is changed

-according to what is played.

-The ringing can last a long time.

-How long?

-In the bell chamber...

-..there's a sign to say

-that they can ring for hours...

-..playing 5,000 different peals.

-It's amazing.

-The neighbours are understanding!

-You've had experience

-of bell-ringing.

-Tell me honestly - how hard is it?

-It's not that difficult,

-if you're taught properly.

-You don't have to be strong,

-it's more of a knack.

-It's getting the timing right.

-It's getting the timing right.

-

-Will you hold my hand?!

-With pleasure!

-Experienced ringers Bob and Fran

-awaited us in the bell chamber.

-Bell-ringing might appear easy,

-but training is required.

-It can be dangerous.

-People have apparently

-lost fingers doing this.

-Hands at your side.

-Here?

-Here?

-

-Don't bend your knees.

-OK.

-OK.

-Let go.

-BELL RINGS

-It fell so quickly.

-You did that!

-Do it again.

-BELL RINGS

-Let go.

-Sorry, Bob.

-It's a matter of timing.

-Unfortunately,

-my timing was a disgrace.

-Let go.

-Let go.

-

-BELL RINGS

-OK!

-Bob's much better than me.

-Bob's much better than me.

-

-You contributed!

-Thanks very much.

-You're welcome.

-If you want to come back,

-we meet every Thursday at 7.30pm.

-Thanks!

-Promptly at 7.30pm...

-..the Aberystwyth University

-Society of Change Ringers arrived.

-BELL-RINGING

-You're all very young.

-Aberystwyth is a university town.

-Many of us are students.

-When did you start?

-When did you start?

-

-When I was twelve.

-What was the appeal?

-I lived in Aberystwyth...

-..and I'd seen the church tower

-and heard the Llanbadarn bells.

-It was something different and new

-to do - maybe a little odd!

-Are you musical?

-I do come from a musical background.

-It's different

-to instrumental music.

-But it's still lovely to listen to.

-I'll follow you, Fran.

-The bells are silent.

-They're off to the pub,

-and I fancy a pint too!

-Last week,

-I asked you to name this object...

-..a rare artefact from St Fagans

-National History Museum.

-It's an otter spear.

-It was used to hunt otters

-in the 19th century and earlier.

-Painful.

-Here's this week's object.

-This piece of wood has incredibly

-intricate carvings on it.

-Here's a clue - it's from

-the St Fagans fashion collection.

-What is it?

-Send your answers via Facebook.

-I'll give you the answer next week.

-Thanks, Ger.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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