Talgarth
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Talgarth is a small market town in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of around 2,000 people. Notable buildings in the town include its 14th-century parish church and [1] 13th century Pele Tower, located in the town centre, now home to the Tourist Information and Resource Centre. According to traditional accounts Talgarth was the capital of the early medieval Welsh Kingdom of Brycheiniog.
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[edit] Background
In August, the Talgarth Festival of the Black Mountains is held, a popular event attracting thousands of people each year. The town also has an impressive Christmas lights display each year, thanks to Talgarth Town Council and a hard working team of volunteers. See their website for more.
Talgarth held important links with healthcare for many years as the home of the large psychiatric hospital, the Mid Wales Hospital and the Mid and West Wales College of Nursing and Midwifery. The town was extremely prosperous until the 1980s when changes in health legislation saw the need for such hospitals to be closed. The Mid Wales closed for good in the 1990s with the loss of hundreds of jobs. Since then the town has suffered and as a result businesses and shops have closed down.
The town, however, is in the early stages of regeneration and its popularity and thriving nature is hoped to be brought back. This is partly a result of the completion of the the Talgarth Relief Road and Bronllys bypass completed in 2007. There are plans to redevelop the existing derelict Mill in the centre of the town, renovations are to be made to the Medieval Tower Bridge, damaged over the years by heavy traffic, and help for new businesses in the area.
Talgarth is also becoming a place for artists and writers, some who have been attracted to the towns feeling of upcoming revival and the extraordinary natural beauty in the surrounding area.
The Talgarth Tourist Information Centre Association seeks to promote the locality and its website is an excellent source of information.
[edit] History
[edit] Prehistory
Evidence abounds for the settlement and cultivation of this area for at least the last 5000 years and possibly since 5000 BCE. There are a large number of chambered long cairns, including the oldest known in Southern Britain. Megalithic standing stone, round cairns and the Iron Age hill fort at Castell Dinas show that there was a large and stable population and settlement here. The Romans were in this area and there was a Roman camp at "Y Gaer" near Pendre, 1 km from Talgarth.
[edit] The Dark Ages
Talgarth was the Royal residence of Brychan King of Brycheiniog in the 5th century AD. With three wives, 24 daughters and 22 sons the family was an important force in Wales at that time. Responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout Brecknock, the daughters of Brychan and their descendants account for almost all of the Saints of South Wales and include the grandmother of Saint David.
According to legend Talgarth was raided by King Gwynllyw in search of a bride. St. Gwendoline is believed to have bathed in the pool at Pwll-y-Wrach waterfall and is buried at the site of the present church, in Talgarth. This site was a Celtic monastery in the 5th century with the church being established in the 11th century.
[edit] The Normans
The town was seized by the Norman Bernard of Neufmarché in the early 1090s. Castell Dinas was the initial site where a Norman castle was established by the Normans to control the passes on both sides.
The town was in the manor of English Talgarth, there being also a manor of Welsh Talgarth, in which Welsh laws prevailed.
[edit] The Methodist Revival
In 1735 Talgarth saw the birth of the Welsh Methodist revival when Howell Harris, probably the most influential person to come from Talgarth, was converted in Talgarth church while listening to a sermon by the Rev. Pryce Davies. The revival would sweep across Wales leading to the development of one of the most influential Welsh denominations that of the Calvinistic Methodists. It was at Talgarth William Williams Pantycelyn converted leading him to become Wales's most important hymn writer. Nearby is Trevecca the location of the famous college that Harris established.
[edit] Other Sites of Interest
[edit] Chambered tombs - Penywyrlod
A Neolithic chambered tomb at Penywyrlod, Talgarth (c. 4000BC) was discovered in June 1972 by a farmer when clearing a stone mound from a field for use as hard-standing in the farmyard. The discovery led to archaeological excavation of the site by Dr. Savory of the National Museum of Wales. During the excavation a number of human remains were found along with a bone flute, a human rib and some worked flints and stone. The bone flute was made from a sheep metapodial bone. It has three holes and may either have been a simple flute or whistle.[2] The larger hole may have been the blow-hole. This is the oldest dated musical instrument found from Wales.
The chambered tombs of Wales, comprising the communal tombs of the earliest Neolithic farmers, are amongst the oldest surviving man-made structures. Brecknockshire has 17 known or possible chambered tombs in the south of the county, most of which are in the Black Mountains, Wales area including two at Ffostyll, and others at Little Lodge, Croes Llechau, Gwernvale, Mynydd Troed, Ty Isaf, Cwrt y Prior, Twyn y Beddau, Penywyrlod Talgarth and Penywyrlod Llanigon. Other well known sites include the tombs at Ty Illtud and Pipton.
[edit] Outdoor Activities
[edit] Gliding
Talgarth also has a nearby gliding club (Sailplanes) called the Black Mountain Gliding Club, which attracts many visitors from all of the UK, due to the year round ability to remain airborne; by means of mountain lift, both ridge lift and wave lift [1].
[edit] Pony Treking
There are a number of riding operators in the area who hire out horses for both experienced and novice horseback riders. The mountains and moorland are very suitable for relaxed ascents with some opportunities to canter and gallop on the commons near the town.
[edit] Hiking
The Black Mountains, Wales above the town are very good for upland hiking and hill-walking. The mountain ridges are around 2000 feet high with the highest point called Waun Fach at 811 metres ( 2,660 feet ).
[edit] Pwll-y-Wrach Nature Reserve
[edit] Ancient Woodland
This is an Ancient Woodland along the banks of the River Ennig just 1 km from the town centre. There are a series of waterfalls within the wood. The largest is called Pwll-y-wrach, which means[3]'Witches Pool'. Local legend suggests that witches may have been ducked in this pool in medieval times. There is a geology trail, explaining the environment of 400 million years ago. A large part of Pwllwrach wood is a nature reserve, owned and managed by the Brecknock Wildlife Trust.
[edit] SSSI
Pwll-y-wrach wood is designated an SSSI, a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its special habitat values and the existence of some quite rare plants, including the small leaved Lime tree and the Lesser Butterfly Orchid. These are regarded as indicator plants of Ancient Woodland. That is an area that has retained a continuous cover of trees for thousands of years.
[edit] Spring
In spring the wood is carpeted with a succession of wildflowers leading to a mass display of bluebells in mid spring (season) followed by ransoms in late spring. Animals found in the wood include Tawny owls, badgers, foxes and otters with some uncommon birds such as Dippers and Pied flycatchers.
[edit] Dormice & Lesser Horseshoe Bats
The wood is also home to the most important colony of dormouse in the region and some uncommon bats, including the lesser horseshoe bat.
[edit] Places to Stay
There are a number of places that you can stay in Talgarth and use as a base for the varied activities available in and around the area. The Tower Hotel was built in 1873 for the gentleman farmers to attend the livestock market, which still exists.
[edit] Local Artists
[4]Gareth Eckley carves gemstone portrait cameos and lives in the area, within 3km of Talgarth. His company is called Portraits in Stone.
Niel Bally an artist living near Talgarth. Abstract paintings and monoprints.
Black Mountain Pottery - Owned by Pauline Paterson, located at Llanelieu, 3km from Talgarth.
[edit] References
- ^ * Williams, Roger (1996). Talgarth-Jewel of the Black Mountains.
- ^ Image of the Bone Flute from Penywyrlod. Item reference: 74.23H/6. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
- ^ * Morgan, Richard (1999). A study of Breconshire Place Names.
- ^ *Patrick, Palmer (15/07/2007). Vita Magazine. Brecon, Powys: Brecon and Radnor.
[edit] Bibliography
- Williams, Roger (1996). Talgarth-Jewel of the Black Mountains. ISBN 1-874538-60-3.
- Salter, Mike (2001). The Castles of Mid Wales. ISBN 1-871731-48-8.
- Morgan, Richard (1999). A study of Breconshire Place Names. ISBN 0-86381-567-7.
[edit] Resources
- Stone Age Finds at Talgarth
- Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monuments in Brecknock
- Image of Bone Flute found at Penywyrlod, Talgarth
- Correspondence regarding the usage of the Bone Flute
- Talgarth Festival Site
