Hi All,
Here is today's episode!
Despite its remoteness, there was a busy social scene at Drovers Arms.
Stallion sales were held there, sports days, sheep gathering and sorting of
strays by local farmers, hare coursing. Gentry families and their guests
would be visitors. Of course, the drovers were also regular visitors.
Mynydd Epynt was an important droving venue, with many routes, from west and
mid wales, crossing or merging on the Epynt. The area ajoining Drover's Arms
is called Pen y gefnffordd, which hints at this joining of routes before the
Drovers made their final leg of their Welsh journey to the river Wye and on
into England.
Best wishes,
Hilary
-----Original Message-----
From: Owen Williams [mailto:williams.o.h@ic24.net]
Sent: 29 June 2005 09:41
To: 'POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com'
Subject: RE: [POWYS] Epynt drovers arms part 1 next episode!
Did you know that the Drovers Arms altitude means that it was the highest
pub in Wales!!
Children from the eastern end of Mynydd Epynt went to school at Maesmynys,
which is a village just west of Builth, but off the main road. To get to
school, the mountain children had to walk about 4 miles down the mountain.
To make their way safer, especially in bad visibility, the inhabitants of
the Epynt marked the way with pieces of broken white crockery (an early form
of cat's eyes?). These pathways were known as "China Roads". Pieces of
crockery can still be seen in places.
Best wishes
Hilary
-----Original Message-----
From: William Smith [mailto:bill@smithllowes.wanadoo.co.uk]
Sent: 29 June 2005 07:25
To: POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: RE: [POWYS] Epynt drovers arms part 1
Better than "The Archers"!
-----Original Message-----
From: Owen Williams [mailto:williams.o.h@ic24.net]
Sent: 28 June 2005 10:12
To: POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [POWYS] Epynt drovers arms part 1
Hi listers,
Here is a little bit more info on Drovers Arms. I intend to give a daily
bulletin of info (or trivia to anyone who isn't interested HA! HA!)
since listers are more likely to read this if it isn't too long! It also
fills up what can be lean months for family historians!
So here we go
If anyone tried to find Drovers Arms in 1851, they would not have found the
name Drovers Arms, instead there is an entry "Tynmynydd". This is the
alternative name, meaning "house in the mountain". In fact, this was the
name by which my family always refered to my family at Drovers Arms. Instead
of saying, for example, "Granny Drovers Arms" about my Great Grandmother, we
would say "Granny Tymynydd"! Andrew, were you aware of this alternative
name?
More info tomorrow!!
All the best to all,
Hilary
.