Y Sloop, Porthgain Straeon Tafarn


Y Sloop, Porthgain

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Y Sloop, Porthgain. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

-888

0:00:000:00:00

-888

-

-888

0:00:000:00:02

-888

0:00:080:00:10

-888

0:00:130:00:15

-888

0:00:200:00:22

-Welcome to Straeon Tafarn...

0:00:240:00:26

-..with me, the childish poet

-of Wales, Dewi Pws Morris.

0:00:270:00:31

-Nothing beats travelling

-the country in the van.

0:00:350:00:39

-Blue sky, blue sea,

-flowers in bloom.

0:00:390:00:42

-I'll meet some characters...

0:00:420:00:44

-..and end the day

-in a pub with the band.

0:00:450:00:48

-CAR HORN

0:00:480:00:49

-CAR HORN

-

-How are you?

0:00:490:00:51

-I'm touring Wales

-with the band Radwm.

0:00:510:00:54

-Before each gig,

-I like to learn about our venue.

0:00:550:01:00

-Where are we going today?

0:01:030:01:04

-The first clue is that it rhymes

-with wine and starts with Port.

0:01:050:01:11

-The second clue is that it was once

-a very busy harbour.

0:01:160:01:21

-The third clue is that these bricks

-have been all over the world.

0:01:240:01:29

-I've forgotten where I'm going!

0:01:300:01:32

-Here we are - Porthgain

-in northern Pembrokeshire.

0:01:360:01:40

-It's home to the Sloop Inn,

-where Radwm and I perform tonight.

0:01:460:01:52

-How did the pub get its name?

0:01:540:01:57

-Morgan the landlord explained,

-and he's quite a character.

0:01:570:02:01

-A sloop is a boat

-with only one mast.

0:02:010:02:04

-But there are two masts

-on the sign outside.

0:02:070:02:11

-The sign was painted

-by Alun from across the way.

0:02:110:02:16

-I think he was paid by the amount

-of paint he used...

0:02:160:02:20

-..so he added another mast!

0:02:210:02:24

-Morgan said that a sloop

-is a boat with one mast...

0:02:250:02:28

-..but you painted two.

0:02:280:02:31

-He's talking rubbish,

-total rubbish!

0:02:310:02:34

-Yes, a sloop is a boat with one mast.

0:02:340:02:37

-I couldn't stay with Alun Whoosh,

-as he's known locally...

0:02:370:02:41

-..as I wanted to meet Roy Lewis,

-who was rather irate.

0:02:410:02:46

-The town was originally

-called Porth Cain.

0:02:460:02:50

-Only later did it become Porthgain.

0:02:500:02:53

-However, while browsing

-the Internet...

0:02:530:02:56

-..I noticed that some people

-referred to it as Chisel Port.

0:02:570:03:00

-I suspect that the English

-were responsible.

0:03:000:03:03

-Chisel Port has nothing to do

-with Porth Cain.

0:03:030:03:08

-The Cain is the name of the river

-that enters this harbour.

0:03:080:03:13

-Afon Cain means fair stream.

0:03:130:03:15

-You sent a letter to the newspapers.

0:03:150:03:18

-You sent a letter to the newspapers.

-

-Yes, I did.

0:03:180:03:20

-I wanted people to know

-that the locals weren't to blame.

0:03:200:03:25

-I suspect that those who did it

-didn't know any better.

0:03:250:03:30

-I would like to see the return

-of the old name of Porth Cain.

0:03:300:03:34

-I'd like to see that too.

-Why do things have to change?

0:03:340:03:38

-I can see why the word chisel

-is associated with Porthgain.

0:03:380:03:42

-It's full of industrial remains.

0:03:430:03:45

-John Davies, or John Bwlchllan,

-educated a mere mortal like me.

0:03:460:03:50

-It's a magical seaside village

-with an industrial past.

0:03:530:03:57

-It's odd, because it feels

-so remote here.

0:03:570:04:01

-However, we're surrounded

-by the remains...

0:04:010:04:06

-..of three or four

-different industries.

0:04:060:04:09

-It was very unusual

-at the start of the 19th century...

0:04:090:04:14

-..for industrial and rural areas

-to have separate identities.

0:04:140:04:19

-In the 18th century, it would have

-been a simple fishing village.

0:04:200:04:25

-Then they started producing lime

-from its substantial lime kiln.

0:04:250:04:31

-Substantial?

0:04:310:04:33

-It's believed

-that lime from this kiln...

0:04:340:04:37

-..was used in the building

-of St David's Cathedral.

0:04:370:04:41

-Later, they found slate locally.

0:04:410:04:43

-By 1870,

-there were 300 quarrymen here.

0:04:440:04:48

-However, it was poor quality slate

-that deteriorated within 30 years.

0:04:480:04:56

-In the north,

-each quarry has a name.

0:04:570:04:59

-Do these quarries have names?

0:05:000:05:01

-Do these quarries have names?

-

-Yes.

0:05:010:05:03

-If you walk across the top,

-you'll find the road to Jerusalem.

0:05:030:05:07

-The first quarry was called

-Jerusalem, or Jeru to the workers.

0:05:080:05:12

-The second quarry

-was named Caersalem.

0:05:130:05:16

-The workers named these quarries.

0:05:160:05:18

-Friends asked each other,

-"Where are you working today?"

0:05:180:05:21

-"I'm at Jeru, where are you?"

-"Caersalem."

0:05:220:05:24

-They then knew

-where each other was working.

0:05:250:05:28

-They were merely local names.

0:05:280:05:31

-Due to the poor quality

-of the slate...

0:05:310:05:34

-..they chose to crush them

-and produce bricks.

0:05:340:05:38

-Let's have a look at this.

0:05:390:05:40

-Let's have a look at this.

-

-It bears the Porthgain name.

0:05:400:05:43

-These are very heavy bricks.

0:05:430:05:47

-They were produced

-from slate waste and water.

0:05:470:05:52

-The waste was crushed at the mill.

0:05:520:05:55

-The dust was shaped

-at the brickworks...

0:05:560:05:59

-..and baked in the oven

-before being exported.

0:06:000:06:04

-As more bricks were sold,

-they were stamped with the name.

0:06:050:06:10

-You're more likely to find

-a Porthgain brick in Bristol...

0:06:100:06:13

-..than in Porthgain!

0:06:140:06:15

-Porthgain bricks

-travelled even further than Bristol.

0:06:150:06:19

-Some went as far as London,

-to build the Tate Gallery.

0:06:200:06:25

-But all good things come to an end.

0:06:260:06:29

-There was a network of railways

-within this industrial landscape...

0:06:300:06:34

-..connecting Porthgain

-and Abereiddy.

0:06:350:06:37

-However, they weren't linked

-to the national railway network.

0:06:370:06:43

-A line to Haverfordwest or Fishguard

-would have been very useful.

0:06:430:06:47

-The roads were also quite poor.

0:06:480:06:50

-Their reliance on the sea ended...

0:06:500:06:53

-..when larger ships

-couldn't dock in the harbour.

0:06:530:06:57

-The site didn't have a future.

0:06:570:06:59

-We're talking about a short period

-from 1850 to 1920.

0:06:590:07:03

-It was only an important

-industrial site for 70 years.

0:07:030:07:08

-In 1931,

-Porthgain's world fell apart.

0:07:100:07:15

-A letter addressed

-to the 300 workers...

0:07:150:07:18

-..came from the manager

-of the brickworks, Mr Crone.

0:07:180:07:21

-It stated that Porthgain brickworks

-was closing.

0:07:210:07:26

-"Immediately upon receipt

-of this letter...

0:07:270:07:30

-"..will you please stand off

-everyone excepting your clerk.

0:07:300:07:34

-"We'll probably be requiring

-a loading gang...

0:07:340:07:37

-"..for limited shipments

-at an early date.

0:07:370:07:40

-"This information,

-you may, if you wish...

0:07:400:07:44

-"..pass to the men concerned...

0:07:440:07:47

-"..but it must be understood

-that they are not kept on."

0:07:470:07:51

-No mention of redundancy pay

-or a month's notice.

0:07:510:07:55

-It was "if you wish" or

-"you might like to tell them"...

0:07:550:07:59

-..but they must be told

-that work is finished and that's it!

0:07:590:08:03

-Thank you and that's it!

0:08:030:08:04

-Thank you and that's it!

-

-Thank you and goodbye.

0:08:040:08:06

-The boys were on the dole

-for quite a while.

0:08:070:08:11

-The dole office visited Porthgain

-once a week to pay them.

0:08:110:08:16

-There was no transport, so the boys

-had to walk to the office.

0:08:160:08:21

-They dressed in caps and ties

-to collect their dole.

0:08:210:08:26

-People travelled from afar

-to collect their dole.

0:08:260:08:30

-Yes, there was no such thing

-as sending a cheque by post.

0:08:300:08:33

-If you were on the dole,

-you had to collect it yourself.

0:08:340:08:37

-How did all of this affect the area?

0:08:380:08:40

-Many left the area to find work

-and others went to sea.

0:08:400:08:45

-There was no work here.

0:08:460:08:48

-Some of them became poachers,

-or labourers at nearby farms.

0:08:480:08:52

-In the face of adversity,

-they stood up.

0:08:530:08:55

-Are any of these boys left?

0:08:560:08:57

-Are any of these boys left?

-

-No, they've all gone.

0:08:570:09:00

-I spoke to a number

-of the older residents...

0:09:000:09:03

-..but I regret not speaking

-more with them.

0:09:030:09:07

-They could tell the story.

0:09:070:09:09

-None of them remain, but the voice

-of one quarryman is on record.

0:09:090:09:15

-This is George Walters...

0:09:160:09:18

-..one of the last quarrymen

-at Porthgain.

0:09:180:09:21

-Everyone at Porthgain

-had a nickname.

0:09:220:09:28

-They came very easily

-when you went underground.

0:09:280:09:33

-A man went underground

-for the first time.

0:09:340:09:38

-He approached a collier.

0:09:380:09:40

-"Oh, this is a hellish place

-to work," he said to the collier.

0:09:410:09:46

-From that moment,

-he was called Dai Hellish.

0:09:460:09:50

-"Where's your father, Lilian?"

0:09:500:09:52

-"He's out in Frisco," she replied.

0:09:530:09:55

-He was known as Frisco

-from that day.

0:09:560:09:59

-She couldn't pronounce

-San Francisco.

0:09:590:10:01

-I can hardly say it myself.

0:10:020:10:05

-I think I know

-where my nickname came from.

0:10:050:10:09

-Cardiff... Cardiff.

0:10:090:10:12

-I was called Cardiff as I spoke

-of my time as a lorry driver...

0:10:130:10:18

-..and the lorry broke down

-in Cardiff.

0:10:180:10:21

-I became known as Cardiff.

0:10:220:10:24

-We all had nicknames. All of us.

0:10:250:10:28

-.

0:10:300:10:31

-888

0:10:380:10:38

-888

-

-888

0:10:380:10:40

-It's great touring Wales

-with the band.

0:10:420:10:44

-I can't wait for the gig

-at the Sloop Inn tonight.

0:10:440:10:47

-I didn't realize that Porthgain

-had such a wealth of history.

0:10:480:10:52

-It isn't all slate and bricks -

-one nautical tale could be a film!

0:10:530:10:59

-America is over there.

0:11:030:11:05

-In the summer of 1876,

-Alfred Centennial Johnson...

0:11:050:11:10

-..set sail from Massachusetts

-to Liverpool in a fishing boat.

0:11:100:11:14

-His boat wasn't much bigger

-than this one.

0:11:170:11:19

-What on earth was he thinking?

0:11:200:11:22

-Things were going swimmingly

-after 3,000 miles...

0:11:230:11:27

-..until one day,

-he turned right instead of left!

0:11:270:11:32

-After two long,

-tiring, lonely months...

0:11:350:11:39

-..Alfred landed

-on Pembrokeshire's north coast...

0:11:400:11:45

-..just around the corner from here.

0:11:450:11:48

-He was barely alive when he landed.

0:11:500:11:53

-He was so weak that the locals

-threw him over their shoulders...

0:11:540:11:58

-..and took him to the nearest pub.

0:11:580:12:01

-He was here for two whole days.

0:12:040:12:08

-I like to think he was in here.

0:12:080:12:11

-Alfred Centennial Johnson...

0:12:120:12:15

-..was the first man to sail solo

-from America to Wales...

0:12:150:12:19

-..in his fishing boat.

0:12:190:12:22

-I'm enjoying these nautical tales.

0:12:220:12:25

-When I bumped into Rob, a local

-fisherman, I heard another story.

0:12:250:12:30

-The Carolina landed here.

0:12:300:12:31

-What was it?

0:12:320:12:34

-A ketch sailing out of Ireland

-that got caught in a hurricane.

0:12:350:12:39

-It was all the skipper could do

-to keep the boat upright.

0:12:400:12:44

-He knew of Porthgain...

0:12:440:12:46

-..and sailed straight up the beach

-and saved everyone on board.

0:12:460:12:50

-The plaque from the Carolina

-hangs in the Sloop.

0:12:500:12:53

-Rob's family

-were originally from North Wales.

0:12:540:12:57

-They walked from Bethesda

-to Porthgain to find work.

0:12:570:13:02

-That's over 150 miles.

0:13:030:13:06

-They came to Porthgain

-for the slate...

0:13:060:13:09

-..but the slate lacked quality,

-so they started in the quarry.

0:13:100:13:14

-I got into the fishing industry...

0:13:150:13:18

-..because they kept a few pots

-and lived on crabs and lobsters.

0:13:180:13:22

-They worked in the quarry

-but went fishing at night.

0:13:230:13:27

-My grandfather was the last

-trainee pilot of Porthgain.

0:13:270:13:31

-The old pilot house still stands.

0:13:310:13:33

-The pilot would guide a ship

-into the dock.

0:13:330:13:39

-He would do this

-on the ship's first visit.

0:13:390:13:42

-After that, the captain

-was expected to know his way.

0:13:420:13:45

-The pilot carried out most

-of his work on the dockside.

0:13:450:13:49

-He showed the ships where to dock.

0:13:490:13:51

-The stones arrived

-on the dockside...

0:13:520:13:55

-..and were of varying size.

0:13:550:13:58

-If the boat had docked

-on the wrong side...

0:13:590:14:01

-..they had to fill the trams

-and carry them to the other side.

0:14:010:14:07

-The boats were assisted

-by two white pointers.

0:14:070:14:11

-One is round and the one

-on the other side is square.

0:14:120:14:16

-They knew where they where

-from the pillars.

0:14:160:14:19

-From the white pillars, yes.

0:14:200:14:21

-These guided the ships

-into the harbour.

0:14:210:14:24

-Yes, and they moored here.

0:14:250:14:27

-I tried and tried to get

-a free lobster, but I failed...

0:14:270:14:31

-..and he isn't even a Cardi!

0:14:320:14:34

-I returned to the Sloop to hear

-a wartime story from Morgan.

0:14:340:14:38

-He remembered the period well!

0:14:380:14:40

-Some of the old folk

-said that during the war...

0:14:410:14:45

-..they remember a boat arriving.

0:14:450:14:48

-A German ship had anchored offshore.

0:14:480:14:51

-Two sailors rowed into the harbour

-late one evening...

0:14:520:14:57

-..and enjoyed a pint at the pub

-and nobody noticed them.

0:14:580:15:04

-Are you telling me that two Germans

-came here and asked...

0:15:040:15:07

-.."Ein, zwei pint, danke.

-Deutschen hassen"...

0:15:080:15:11

-..and nobody knew they were German?

0:15:120:15:14

-Maybe the bar was full of English

-folk who thought it was Welsh!

0:15:140:15:19

-# I live in a happy country

-in my cottage by the shore

0:15:220:15:27

-# Near the sea and waves

-with my wife and Mot the dog

0:15:270:15:32

-# A mile up the valley,

-safely at the foot of the hill

0:15:320:15:36

-# There's a remote village

-where nobody lives

0:15:370:15:40

-# The people have left

-and the school is closed

0:15:410:15:45

-# But aliens go there

-on holiday every May #

0:15:450:15:51

-The aliens in Porthgain in the 1980s

-was the English company Staines.

0:15:510:15:55

-# The aliens have bought

-our little village #

0:15:550:15:59

-The company owned Porthgain's

-business premises and workers' homes.

0:16:000:16:04

-On a sunny, summer morning, a dark

-cloud descended over the village...

0:16:040:16:08

-..when the buildings went on sale.

0:16:090:16:11

-Who would want to change this place

-and change its appearance?

0:16:120:16:17

-It would only be a businessman

0:16:170:16:20

-I doubt they would fit in here.

0:16:200:16:22

-It would be a tragedy if it fell

-into the hands of a person...

0:16:230:16:27

-..who wanted to strip the place

-and make a quick buck.

0:16:290:16:32

-Alun Whoosh

-still lives in the village.

0:16:330:16:36

-Like me, he hasn't aged at all.

0:16:360:16:39

-I don't know about that.

0:16:390:16:41

-A friend from London phoned me...

0:16:420:16:45

-..to tell me of an article

-about a village in West Wales...

0:16:450:16:51

-..for sale in the Yachting News

-or some such magazine.

0:16:510:16:56

-It set the alarm bells

-ringing straight away.

0:16:560:16:59

-It came out of nowhere.

0:16:590:17:01

-People were living their lives,

-minding their own business...

0:17:020:17:05

-..and this happened.

0:17:050:17:07

-We formed the Porthgain Association.

0:17:070:17:11

-We met and signed up

-people with money to spare.

0:17:120:17:17

-We entered a bid

-and thought we stood a chance.

0:17:170:17:21

-It was a worrying time.

0:17:220:17:23

-They had to buy the whole village

-because there were no lots.

0:17:230:17:27

-It was a private process

-with sealed bids.

0:17:280:17:33

-They then prayed for the best.

0:17:330:17:35

-You all came together

-and bought the village.

0:17:360:17:39

-Yes, the headlands,

-brickworks, crushing plant...

0:17:390:17:45

-..this row of houses

-and two other homes.

0:17:450:17:48

-Who lived there at the time?

0:17:480:17:50

-Who lived there at the time?

-

-Locals.

0:17:500:17:52

-I think Rob Jones was there.

0:17:520:17:55

-Four of us lived in this row.

0:17:550:17:57

-How did you feel when you heard

-that your bid had been accepted?

0:17:570:18:03

-It was a wonderful day.

0:18:030:18:05

-At the time, there were rumours...

0:18:090:18:13

-..that the highest bid

-wasn't the winning bid...

0:18:130:18:16

-..but the villagers

-secured the village.

0:18:160:18:19

-Well done, boys,

-it was a night to remember...

0:18:200:18:22

-..just like many other nights

-hosted by Ruth.

0:18:230:18:26

-Saturday nights were Ruth at the

-organ, basket meals available.

0:18:260:18:32

-We called her Gran, and she said

-that she didn't think it was fair.

0:18:320:18:37

-I said that singing on a Saturday

-night attracted customers.

0:18:380:18:43

-"Yes, but it's not fair that you

-have to do basket meals too."

0:18:430:18:48

-Everyone had heard

-of Ruth Barker's nights at The Sloop.

0:18:490:18:53

-New Year's Eve attracted visitors

-from Llanelli and Cardiff.

0:18:530:18:57

-# The gull is watching

0:18:570:19:00

-# Over the beach and golden sands #

0:19:010:19:05

-One New Year's Eve...

0:19:050:19:07

-..the locals decided

-to have the Sloop to themselves.

0:19:070:19:11

-They pretended that the inn was shut.

0:19:110:19:14

-# The hands are now idle #

0:19:140:19:18

-We hid behind the curtains

-at the Sloop...

0:19:180:19:21

-..and watched a mass of cars

-arriving at Porthgain.

0:19:210:19:25

-They saw the notice and either

-went home or found somewhere else.

0:19:250:19:29

-We had a wonderful night

-with candles and an open fire.

0:19:290:19:34

-I sat at the piano, the villagers

-sang with me and it was special.

0:19:340:19:39

-I hope we have a special night too.

0:19:390:19:43

-Radwm have time to enjoy a coffee

-before the performance.

0:19:430:19:48

-The song that Alun, Morgan

-and the crew wanted to hear was...

0:19:480:19:52

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you're beautiful

-- sing along!

0:19:520:19:57

-# Lleucu Llwyd,

-you are precious to me

0:19:580:20:01

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you're an angel

0:20:030:20:08

-# Lleucu Llwyd, I love you

0:20:090:20:13

-# Oh! I remember meeting you

0:20:140:20:18

-# And I remember the rain

0:20:200:20:24

-# Is the nightingale in the wood?

0:20:250:20:30

-# Are the flowers

-in the nearby field?

0:20:300:20:34

-# The river holds the secret

0:20:360:20:39

-# Of your first kiss

0:20:410:20:45

-# In the wood, the flowers

0:20:460:20:51

-# Are whispering your name

-- here we go!

0:20:520:20:57

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you are beautiful

0:20:570:21:02

-# Lleucu Llwyd,

-you are precious to me

0:21:020:21:07

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you're an angel

0:21:070:21:12

-# Lleucu Llwyd, I love you

0:21:130:21:17

-# Oh the small hours pass

0:21:180:21:23

-# Like an instant on the wind's wing

0:21:240:21:28

-# If I lie on my bed

0:21:290:21:33

-# Perhaps the dream will come sooner

0:21:340:21:37

-# Someone is drawing near

0:21:390:21:42

-# I hear the creak of the gate

0:21:450:21:49

-# And I recognize

-the sound of the shoes

0:21:490:21:54

-# They belong to Lleucu Llwyd!

-- sing with me!

0:21:550:22:00

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you are beautiful

0:22:000:22:04

-# Lleucu Llwyd,

-you are precious to me

0:22:050:22:09

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you're an angel

0:22:100:22:15

-# Lleucu Llwyd, I love you #

0:22:150:22:20

-Oh, I enjoyed that gig.

0:22:230:22:25

-Porthgain.

0:22:260:22:27

-"Entertaining pleasant days

0:22:270:22:29

-"The sound of the sea

-and the sunny haze

0:22:290:22:32

-"Funny stories, music fine

0:22:320:22:34

-"And the company of the people

-of Porthgain."

0:22:350:22:38

-Goodnight.

0:22:380:22:39

-All together...

0:22:400:22:41

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you are beautiful

0:22:410:22:46

-# Lleucu Llwyd,

-you're worth the world to me

0:22:470:22:51

-# Lleucu Llwyd, you're an angel

0:22:520:22:56

-# Lleucu Llwyd,

-I love you, you, you #

0:22:570:23:03

-CHEERING

0:23:080:23:09

-CHEERING

-

-Thank you very much.

0:23:090:23:11

-CHEERING

0:23:110:23:11

-S4C subtitles by Tinopolis

0:23:110:23:13

-.

0:23:140:23:14

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS