It's a long way down.
Aug. 27th, 2010 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
linda_joyceThis after noon was warm and blue and still, unlike the rest of the week that has been grey and cold and windy and I was restless so I took my camera for a drive again. A short one just up to Mynyddislwyn Church and back down a road I had never even walked before let alone driven. Mynyddislwyn Church stands 1,000 feet above sea level and gives panoraminc views opver the valleys. As a child I walked up to the church many times, sometimes with family more often with friends to picnic in the church yard and pick wild flowers from the verges. We always retraced our steps to get home as leaving any other way would add at least another 4 miles on what was already a 4 mile walk and I had always wanted to explore where the road went beyond the church
I didn't take a photo of the chuech today but it hasn't changed much since I took this one in 2008 and probably some one from 1908 would have no trouble recognising it either.
I did know what was immediately beyond the church as it was the field that figured in the story of the naming of the church. The road passes this Twmp(pronounced tump and meaning the same)
The story.
The present church dates from 1820, but it was built on a structure dating from many hundreds of years before.*
Historians say that prior to Christianity the area was used as a site for pagan ceremonies and rituals.
Local legend tells of the building of the original church:
The foundation stones had been laid and the builders had retired for the night.
When they returned next day, the stones had been displaced and now lay some distance away from the intended site.
Perplexed, they relocated the stones but the following morning found the stones had again moved during the night.
The foundations were once more restored to their original position but this time the builders decided to keep watch throughout the night.
As they kept their vigil, a celestial voice was heard to say:
" Mynd is y lwyn " meaning " Go below the bush "
They realised that they were attempting to erect the church on what was unhallowed ground and were being directed to resite the structure.
Plans were revised and the church was constructed in its present location.
The heavenly direction " Mynd is y lwyn " is said to have corrupted into "Mynyddislwyn" and hence given the area its name.
The road then bends sharply to the right and down and today I went beyond that bend. This is the road that met me.
*The first known stone church was built in the 11th century AD but wooden churches stood here from the 7th century AD.
And yes it is as narrow as it looks. The sides of the car were damp from brushing against the verges when I stopped to take the next picture. South towards the Severn Sea. The furthest dark line in England.
Various bits of the road .
This was attached to a fir tree in the middle of nowhere.
This is what was round it.
Trees grown as a crop, pine tree to be precise, initially for use in the mines for pit props but now for building wood. Big brother gets every where.
I didn't take a photo of the chuech today but it hasn't changed much since I took this one in 2008 and probably some one from 1908 would have no trouble recognising it either.
I did know what was immediately beyond the church as it was the field that figured in the story of the naming of the church. The road passes this Twmp(pronounced tump and meaning the same)
The story.
The present church dates from 1820, but it was built on a structure dating from many hundreds of years before.*
Historians say that prior to Christianity the area was used as a site for pagan ceremonies and rituals.
Local legend tells of the building of the original church:
The foundation stones had been laid and the builders had retired for the night.
When they returned next day, the stones had been displaced and now lay some distance away from the intended site.
Perplexed, they relocated the stones but the following morning found the stones had again moved during the night.
The foundations were once more restored to their original position but this time the builders decided to keep watch throughout the night.
As they kept their vigil, a celestial voice was heard to say:
" Mynd is y lwyn " meaning " Go below the bush "
They realised that they were attempting to erect the church on what was unhallowed ground and were being directed to resite the structure.
Plans were revised and the church was constructed in its present location.
The heavenly direction " Mynd is y lwyn " is said to have corrupted into "Mynyddislwyn" and hence given the area its name.
The road then bends sharply to the right and down and today I went beyond that bend. This is the road that met me.
*The first known stone church was built in the 11th century AD but wooden churches stood here from the 7th century AD.
And yes it is as narrow as it looks. The sides of the car were damp from brushing against the verges when I stopped to take the next picture. South towards the Severn Sea. The furthest dark line in England.
Various bits of the road .
This was attached to a fir tree in the middle of nowhere.
This is what was round it.
Trees grown as a crop, pine tree to be precise, initially for use in the mines for pit props but now for building wood. Big brother gets every where.
