Y Bont: 2005: November: HTML (English)

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As you may have noticed in the last edition we have started to try and list events which are often several months away as well as events in the coming month. We hope this allows you to plan ahead and brings better attendance to those events.

However, we can only put in “Y Bont” the events we are aware of - so please, if you are running events or know of any which may be of interest, even several months in the future, please do let us know.

Petty vandalism continues to concern the Village and particularly the Village Hall. This is particularly strange as the Village Hall is common property, effectively belonging to every person in Carrog and Parc and money and time spent putting things right effectively deprives everyone of money that could be used for other things to benefit the community. It is understandable that for a variety of reasons witnesses to such crime may be unwilling to report matters to the police but this month we have an article on Crimestoppers, a charity dedicated to allowing people to anonymously report crimes. The telephone call is free of charge and no record is made of the number calling and people are not asked for any details which would identify them. Strangely, however, it is still possible to anonymously receive awards where information leads to a prosecution.

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Bill and Kay Farr have written to “Y Bont” asking if anyone knows the history surrounding the Plaque set in the wall on the Corwen back road between Rhaggat Hall and the end of the wood. The plaque is inscribed:

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Reporting crime can be a daunting task - not being sure if what we have seen or heard is truly relevant and whether we may be victimised for reporting it. However there is a safe and easy way that has in fact been aroung for a decade - Crimestoppers.

The charity runs a 24 hour free telephone line where people can anonymously report crime. Call centre staff will not ask the caller for any personal details and the callers ’phone number is not recorded or displayed. They may, however, ask the name of the village or area to identify where the crime happened.

If the information leads to a conviction it is also possible to claim a reward without revealing your identity.

Crimestoppers themselves say, “We are an independant charity working to stop crime. We are not part of the police service or any branch of government. We work for you, your family and your community”.

Crimestoppers Wales have had considerable success in helping to solve crimes and this, they hope, will also help to reduce crime.

The Crimestoppers Helpline is 0800 555 111. Further details can also be found on the web at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/wales/.

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It is with sadness we report the death of NANCY JONES, formerly of Maes y Llan but latterly of Cysgod y Gaer, who died on 18th October in the Maelor Hospital.

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Carrog School was awarded the Star School prize for the third time in the Art Competition at the Llangollen Pavilion. All the children had been busy creating models and pictures based on the Africa theme. The school received a cheque for £100 and Eimear, Chloe and Sioned were awarded individual prizes for their work. The Art work was displayed in the Village Hall on Wednesday November 2nd to raise funds for the Urdd Eisteddfod.

The school collected £150 for the Goat for Africa appeal. The children took part in the Harvest Festival in church and covered card goats with coins. Money raised at the Cinderella play was also donated to the Goat Appeal.

The children took part in a Harvest Service in the Methodist chapel where they sang and recited in Welsh.

The boys football team took part in the inter school festival and played 8 games against neighboring schools.

There are two students in the school at the moment. Sylvain from France and Dawn who is a student at Yale college.

December 1st Christmas Bingo 6:30 Village Hall Carrog
December 14th Christmas Concert 6:30 Village Hall Carrog
December 16th Christingle 2:15 Carrog Church

Not a lot has changed in 94 years or has it? This picture taken in 1909 shows ysgol Carrog probably on the day of its completion as the workmen are still carrying their tools.

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On the 26th of October we had a most enjoyable evening talk given by Mr. Gareth V. Williams of Wrexham. His subject was the Ellesmere Canal and the building of the remarkable aqueduct at Chirk by Thomas Telford - the young architect and engineer who was responsible for the building of the Holyhead Road among many other things.

The Ladies of Llangollen opened the aqueduct two hundred years ago in 1805 - close to the time of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Mr. Williams made us appreciate what an amazing piece of engineering genius that Mr. Telford. achieved The project was started in the 1790s at a time when life was hard for most people, the only means of transport being on foot or by horse and mechanical help of all kind was far in the future. As per usual, when people come to Carrog for the first time, Mr. Williams commented on our lovely village hall, so warm and comfortable, and so also made us appreciate how lucky we are.

Our next meeting will be in Cynwyd November 22nd when Mrs. Kathleen Webb will be talking about the Llangwyfan Hospital and on January 24th we will be back in Carrog when Miss. Jane Brunning will be telling us about the Denbighshire Court Rolls during the last decade of the eighteenth century.

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A meeting will be held on Tuesday 22nd November 2005 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall to discuss the replacement of the blue tourist information signs on the A5 and other matters affecting tourism in Carrog and Parc. If you have any views on these signs regarding design, positioning etc please attend.

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Details of Christmas Services will be available in the December issue of “Y Bont”.

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In 1841 the Tithe Map shows one of the cottages in the church yard, known as Tan Llan (below Llansantffraid Farm), was occupied by Margaret Jones, Grocer. The census for Tan Llan of 1851 shows the Head of household as Margaret Jones aged 73 Grocer (Widow of David Jones) Also in residence was Daughter Margaret Jones aged 32 Unmarried Dressmaker (Married April 1852 to Edward Jones Labourer).

About this time the Church of Llansantffraid Glyndyfrdwy wished to extend the churchyard and presumably paid the occupants of the cottages, including Margaret Jones, to vacate their premises, after which the cottages were duly demolished and the churchyard was considerably enlarged.

Margaret borrowed about £400 plus from the bank (the North & South Bank on the square in Corwen) and by 1858 had built the four cottages of Sycamore Terrace, so called because of the huge sycamore tree which stood outside No. 1. cottage.

Her motivation was the fact that Penarth Quarry had opened across the valley and being a business woman Margaret was looking to the Future. She also built the shed (which is still at the rear of No. 4) in which she housed a number of lodgers; men who had flocked to the village looking for work She turned the front room of No. 4 into her grocer shop.

In fact each tiny cottage, which she rented out to other families, had one or more lodgers in it, as well as a family.

Census for No 4 Sycamore Terrace... 1861 Head of household Margaret Jones aged 83 Widow/ Grocer Daughter Margaret Jones aged 43 Son in law Fdward Jones aged 43 Labourer Grand-daughter Elizabeth aged 7 “ Margaret aged 2 Plus lodgers. (To be continued)

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The money raised in Carrog was sent to the Sri Lanka Rebuild South Powys Appeal who were collecting money to build new schools. This report and many picture were sent to the school by Jean Moseley from Hay-on-Wye who visited the area in July. They presented the folder of pictures and stories from Carrog School to a teacher in Matara and we hope to receive some correspondence from them. Our picture shows some of the children in school and at the opening ceremony, who have benefited from our donations. A full report from the Sri Lanka Rebuild Charity will be posted on the Village Hall Notice Board.

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An ”Auction of Promises” will be held in the Village Hall on January 20th. Proceeds from the evening will go towards the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Denbighshire 2006.

We need a variety of promises as possible, therefore if you would like to donate please contact Aurona on 01490 430324 as soon as possible.

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Monday November 7th Village Hall Committee Meeting
Thursday November 10th 6.15 p.m. Adult Dance Class
Saturday 12th November - Forties Night at the Village Hall
Sunday 13th November Rememberance Service 10.45 a.m. at War Memorial
Monday November 14th Corwen Healthy Living Centre MIND Talk and Roadshow
Tuesday November 22nd Public Meeting re replacement of tourist signs on A5 and other tourist related matters.

Tuesday 29th November Christmas Fayre - St. Ffraids Church in the Village Hall - 7.00 p.m. Father Christmas, games, stalls and body shop Admission £1 (Children accompanied by adult FOC).

Youth Club - every Friday during term time
Ti a Fi - Toddlers group every Monday at 9.00am
Tai Chi every Thursday at 7.30pm.

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It was agreed at a meeting of the Village Hall Committe on that charges for hire would be revised and take into account whether the hire was for personal or commercial/fund raising use and whether the hirer was from outside Carrog and Parc.

	0900 to 1300	1300 to 1800	1800 to midnight
Personal by Resident Carrog / Parc	£10	£10	£25
Personal Non-resident	£20	£20	£50
Educational use	£10	£10	£25
Commercial and/or Fund Raising Non Carrog / Parc	£50	£50	£100

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Long ago she had been quite a beauty; the belle of the ball, some would say.
But she’d never encountered a suitable “beau”
And was still unattached to this day.
She’d dozens of nieces and nephews, and always had plenty to do.
But persuaded by friends, and only for fun, she’d agreed to the “rendezvous”.

As a young man he’d no time for leisure, his energies went into toil.
His rewards and indeed all his pleasure was seeing the return from his soil.
Now older and wiser and lonely, and wanting someone in his life,
The Farmers Weekly Personal Ads seemed a good way of finding a wife.

She looked in the mirror and studied herself;
Considering what she should wear.
Appearances, she thought, were vital,
So her outfit was chosen with care.

He had an old suit that he’d bought years ago
And a shiny old corduroy jacket.
But he chose the blue blazer and grey flannel slacks,
Though he didn’t think what he wore mattered.

She dreamt of a farmhouse with oak beams and Aga,
Chintz curtains, log fires in each room.
Her one bedroom flat, though quite smart, was still lonely;
Her departure could not come too soon.

He relished the thought of a housekeeper,
And someone to warm up his bed.
“As a wife she’d be bound to be cheaper
Than hired help”, he cunningly said.

So, the day had arrived, there was no going back,
And she trembled to think about fate; as
She hopped in the taxi she thought “this could lead to
A change in my Marital Status ”.

He looked at the clock as he hurriedly passed
And he thought that if things went OK
And it didn’t take long, he’d be back in an hour,
To give those bullocks some hay.

Who can tell how it went - perhaps a fly on the wall?
Was it doomed from the start one might wonder?
For he looked quite sheepish on leaving the place,
And her face was darker than thunder!

Not a word will she utter if quizzed, and of love
She’s been put off, there’s no use denying.
But not so for him with the leathery skin
Cos I know for a fact he’s still trying!!.

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Editorial	Robert Hutton	Crimestoppers
* Carrog School	Edeyrnion Historical Society	Obituary
Tourist Signs Meeting	Village Hall Lottery	Snooker
Carrog Church	Friends Lottery	Sycamore Terrace
* Sri Lanka	Cymdeithas Carrog	Diary
Village Hall		“The Blind Date”