Notes from our Minutes.

January 2024.
First meeting of the new year was held at Yr Hen Ysgol on Monday January 8th at 7.30pm.
The meeting was well attended. After a word of welcome from our Chairman Glynwen Bishop, a 50-minute film was shown, compilation of cine films taken by Harley Morgan in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Farming, YFC Events, The Village and its Characters, Weddings.
A glimpse into the past and its slower pace of life. After our customary cup of tea and biscuits and our guests had left, we held a short business meeting chaired by Glynwen.
Next meeting will be on February 12th – 7.30pm at Yr Hen Ysgol.
Our guest speaker will be Heather Tomos.
Her presentation is titled ‘Military Tribunals of World War One’.

February 2024.
Our February meeting, held on Monday the 12th and was well attended. Our chairman opened the meeting with a few words of welcome. Guest speaker was Heather Tomos and the title of her presentation was Military Tribunals of World War One. Heather started by giving details of how the war started, the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28, 1914, and on July 28 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th, 1914. British military had only a small fraction of what the enemy had at their disposal. There was a great need for volunteers to boost the numbers of the regular army. Young men rushed to join up, many to escape from poverty and hardship which was prevalent at that time. In 1914 Horatio Herbert Kitchener became Secretary of State for War. Heather’s presentation showed on the big screen many of the posters encouraging young men to join up, with the slogans of the time, “Your Country Needs You” etc. She said that religious leaders and other leading members of society also encouraged young men to go and do their bit for their country.
More than a million men enlisted, but by the end of 1915 as the war expanded, this wasn’t enough to replace those killed in action. Government decided to bring in conscription. All single men between the age of 18 and 41 years old were liable to be called up for military service, unless they were widowed with children, later married men were also called up to serve. But there were exceptions, men doing work of national importance were exempted. Tribunals were set up to decide if there were sufficient reason to grant exemption for those applying. Farming families were badly affected. A family farm with two or three sons working the farm would see one or maybe two of the sons called to do military service as was decide by the tribunal panel, which consisted of leading members of society with someone from the military or of military background representing the war office. Those representing the war office didn’t have any sympathy at all for the applicants. The tribunals were swift affairs with only about five minutes given to each case. The tribunals were conducted in English, that made it more difficult for those from rural Wales at the time as Welsh was their native tongue.
Mike thanked Heather her interesting presentation and there were some questions from the audience resulting in further discussions.
The meeting ended with the customary tea and biscuits and some time to socialize. Next meeting will be on March 11th at Yr Hen Ysgol. Guest speaker will Gerwyn Morgan who will give us a taste of his latest book “The Faded Glory” The Tivyside Squires and their Mansions.

March, 2024.
The Heritage Society meeting was held at Yr Hen Ysgol on Monday March 11th.
Before our chairman introduced the speaker, she asked for a minute’s silence to remember John Evans, Castle Lodge, a supportive member of our Society for many years.
Our speaker was Gerwyn Morgan who recently published his latest and revised edition of his book “Faded Glory, The Tivy Side Squires and their Mansion”.
Some of the pictures projected on the screen showed the splendour of the mansions, though many have survived, sadly some like Bronwydd have been demolished. The Lloyd family of Bronwydd who owned much land in our area were well respected by their tenants and neighbours, they did much to support local events such as eisteddfodau and made generous contribution to local churches and chapels, Capel y Drindod, Aberbanc and Bryngwenith Congregational Chapel were built on Bronwydd land.
Others were not always as well respected as the Lloyds.
Another who Gerwyn had a good word for was Thomas Colby of Pantyderi, Twm Colby, as he was known locally, who was educated in Bonn, Germany led a simple life, his favourite meal being ‘cawl’. Uncommonly, the family ate their meals on the same table as the servants and farm workers. Though Twm’s daily attire were labourer’s clothes he didn’t shrink from public duty, he was a JP, a councillor and served on the Cardigan Board of Guardians. He died in 1912 and was buried in the Llanfair Nantgwyn churchyard. Gerwyn described many of the fifty mansions, their estates and their owners featured in his book, some were of more than 10,000 acres.
Tricia Fox thanked Gerwyn for his presentation that was enjoyed by a larger than usual audience. The meeting ended with the customary time to socialize with a cup of tea and biscuits.
Next meeting is on April 8th a business meeting that will start with a short film of local interest.

April 2024
The Society held their monthly meeting at Yr Hen Ysgol on April 8th. As at all business meetings, it started with a short film, a compilation of photos taken of the 2007 Barley Saturday parade. A business meeting followed chaired by Glynwen Bishop. One of the items on the agenda was our yearly day out in May. This year, we have decided to visit Carmarthen Museum in Abergwili and St Peters Church in Carmarthen for a guided tour of both. We will have a meal together somewhere at the end of the day. Arrangements will be done by Brenda as in previous years. Guests are welcome to join us if they so wish, Transport mode will be car sharing as we did last year. Another item on the agenda was that which Glynwen had found during research, another person needs to be remembered on the Village War Memorial. Captain Benjamin Roderick Evans died when his ship MV King Lud was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in 1942. His mother lived at the Plough, Eglwyswrw before she married William
Evans at the village church. They then lived at Fforest, Cilgerran, later moving to Pantyderi around 1913. Captain Evans’ widow was the well-known Dr Morfydd Evans who served the Boncath area for a long period. Malcolm Gray of St Davids will add the inscription during the summer.
It was noted that membership of our Facebook page is still increasing month by month and that much information is gleaned from the comments made by members. Members were told that a new chairman and secretary is needed for 2025, it was decided to discuss this early in the year rather than leaving the decision to the AGM in November. Meeting ended with a cup of tea and some time to socialize.
Next meeting is on May 13th at 7.30pm in Yr Hen Ysgol.
Guest speaker will be Rev. Richard Davies who will talk about the French Invasion of Pembrokeshire in 1797.

May 2024
On Monday May 13th the Heritage Society met at Yr Hen Ysgol, members and guests were addressed by our Chairman Glynwen Bishop who commiserated with our President, Beatrice Davies on the death of her husband Hugh. With a few words of welcome, she introduced the speaker for the evening, before taking her seat to enjoy Reverend Richard Davies' lecture on ‘The French Invasion of 1797’.
Those present listened intently as the speaker described the ‘The French invasion’ with so much background to the events of 1797 and so much detail. He described how somehow Lord Cawdor persuaded Colonel William Tate to surrender even though the French outnumbered the defenders two to one. Though by then the homes around Carregwastad, where they had come ashore had been plundered. Unfortunately for Colonel Tate there had been a shipwreck not long before, and every home had a large quantity of wine in kegs that had washed ashore. As a consequence, many of his men, being ill disciplined were soon drunk or ill.
He interestingly described Fishguard of that period, there was no wide-open space like there is today in Fishguard square, there was a row of houses in the middle, with a narrow road either side. Hugh Meyler’s house where Lord Cawdor had made his headquarters was later named The Royal Oak after the prison ship that held the French prisoners in Portsmouth. We were told many other stories of what individuals had experienced, and of one retelling her story of her childhood experience for payment for nearly a hundred years.
The evening was much enjoyed. Mike gave the vote of thanks.
We look forward to meeting him again when the Heritage Society visits Little Newcastle (Casnewydd Bach) in July to hear of the village’s history and about the famous pirate, Black Bart.
After a cup of tea and the usual chat, there was a short meeting to discuss the arrangements for our day out. 'Trip'
On Saturday May 18th a group of us visited Carmarthen Museum which is housed in the old Bishop’s Palace at Abergwili. With easy parking and extensive grounds and café, it was obviously popular by many. We had a guided tour and were told of its history, how it became the home of the Bishop of Saint Davids and of the fire that destroyed much of it in 1903. The museum houses various artifacts, mostly connected with the locality. With tables reserved at the café, curtesy of Brenda, we enjoyed a meal before travelling the short distance to Saint Peter’s Church, Carmarthen, there to meet us was Church Warden and our guide Mr Nigel Evans. We were told of the church’s long history; our guide told us many stories related to the life of the church in an enthusiastic and entertaining manner. Afterwards, before our journey home, we enjoyed a meal together in Tafarn Tanerdy where Brenda was thanked for organizing yet another successful day.
The June meeting will be on Monday evening the 10th. A business meeting that starts with a film or a short presentation.

June 2024
The Eglwyswrw Heritage Society met at Yr hen Ysgol at 7.30pm on Monday the 10th of June. It was a business meeting that started with a short film as is normal practise of late.
The film was in commemoration of those that took part in D Day and the battle of Normandy. We then observed a period of silence in remembrance of all who died.
A business meeting followed chaired by Glynwen Bishop. The ‘Trip’ our annual day out was reviewed, and Brenda our Treasurer was presented with flowers as a token of gratitude for all the work she did organizing another successful event.
Members were reminded that new officers were needed for 2025 so that the Heritage Society can continue into the future.
Glynwen gave a brief account of the many correspondences we’ve received recently and of the donation of photos and other items we have received. Next time we meet will be on our visit to Little Newcastle. We will meet at Eglwyswrw at 5.15pm and travel by car to Little Newcastle for 6.00pm to meet Reverend Richard Davies who will talk about the village’s history and of Black Bart the famous pirate who was born there in 1682. From there, we will go and have a meal together, venue still to be decided. Guests welcomed, those interested should contact Brenda on 01239 841710.

July 2024
On July 8th we met in Eglwyswrw at 5.15pm. Then members and friends who numbered nearly 40 travelled by cars to Little Newcastle to meet the Reverend Richard Davies. Due to the rainy weather, we decided it would be best to listen to Reverend Davies in the Church rather than have the planned tour of the village. With everyone seated we enjoyed a lecture on the history of the Village, the Church and Black Bart the famous pirate who was born there in 1682. The village got its name when Adam de la Rupe built a new castle where the village green is now, replacing the old castle some distance away, it was only in the 20th century that it was made into a Village Green, though during the second world war, trenches were dug across it to form a bomb shelter due to its proximity to the Royal Navy Armaments Depot, Trecwn,
We were given the history of Black Bart the famous pirate, who was born in the village in 1682, he went to sea at an early age and soon became a very capable seaman. The ship he was on was captured by Hywel (or Howell) Davies, another Pembrokeshire pirate, Black Bart whose real name was John Roberts also known as Bartholomew Roberts then became a pirate. Hywel Davies died sometime later, and Black Bart was voted Captain, pirates in seems were very democratic. During his time as a pirate, he captured about four hundred ships, but being a religious man, he never attacked any ship on a Sunday. He died in battle in 1722, no one knows what happened to the huge wealth he had amassed.
We were then told the history of Saint Peter’s Church, from the early years to the present day. In the early years the Church was dedicated to St David, it has been repaired and restored several times in its long history, the restoration of the present building was in the 1870’s. In the 18th century, though the building needed constant repair, it was used as a Circulating School and John Wesley and William Williams, Pantycelyn preached there. In the 1990’s five stained glass windows were fitted depicting the life of Christ. The first window ‘The Nativity Window’ then The Baptism Window’ followed by ‘The Crucifixion Window’ ‘The Resurrection Window’ and ‘The Ascension Window’. After the lecture we spent some time admiring the beauty of the Church, then went to ‘Tafarn Sinc’ Rosebush for a meal. Our chairman Glynwen Bishop, at the Church, thanked the Rev Richard Davies for another excellent talk and for the warm welcome to his Church. After the meal at Tafarn Sinc, Glynwen thanked everyone for attending and the staff of Tafarn Sinc for their cheerful service, lastly, she thanked Brenda our Treasurer for organizing another successful event. Our Next meeting will be on September 9th at Yr Hen Ysgol.
Guest speaker will be Martin Lewis, and the title of his presentation will be ‘Crumbs from the Table’ - items from his latest book.

September 2024.
The Eglwyswrw Heritage Society held their monthly meeting on September 9th at Yr Hen Ysgol.
Guest speaker was Martin Lewis, who entertained us with stories from his book ‘Crumbs from the Table’.
Martin Lewis has contributed an article to almost every issue of the Welsh newspaper ‘Y Llien Gwyn’ for more than twenty-five years, and the book ‘Crumbs from the Table’ is a translation of the first sixty articles.
The stories he told were a delight, such as the life of John George Isaac, though disabled, he constructed a cart that suited his disability, the cart was pulled by a donkey. This enabled him to make a living as a rabbit trapper. When the disease ‘myxamatosis’ put paid to rabbit trapping, he started dealing in antiques from his home near Newport and was soon running a prosperous business, buying locally and selling to people all over the country as well as abroad.
Another was about a young man from Newport by the name of Howard Roberts who after buying a motorbike became known for his willingness to carry people to railway stations or wherever they needed to go, the demand became such that he started charging a modest fare, then he attached a sidecar to his motorbike, that enabled him to carry three passengers. Later he ordered a bus from a Cardigan coach building company and that was the start of the business of Pioneer Motor Services that employed many and ran a regular bus service between Fishguard and Cardigan for many years. There were many other great stories that entertained a larger than usual audience. Afterwards, with tea or coffee being served, Martin was kept busy signing many of his books that people wanted to buy.
Our next meeting is on October 14th at Yr Hen Ysgol. A short film of local interest will be shown followed by a business meeting.

Our business meetings will start by showing a short film of local interest.

Officers for 2024 are.

Chair – Glynwen Bishop;

Vice-chair - Diana Vaughan -Thomas;

Secretary - Will Thomas;

Treasurer - Brenda James;

Auditor - Adrian Charlton.