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Newsletter March 2009

Castell Bryn Amlwg

(Sometimes called Castle Cefn Vron, or Anchor Castle). The name roughly translates as “Castle with a view” and although in Shropshire, the remaining earthworks can be seen from New Cwm Farm. Castell Bryn Amlwg was built around 1200 to give the English a clear view of the hostile Welsh people! It must have been a huge fortress, comparable to the castle at Clun, with a large keep in and surrounding stone curtain walls within a natural amphitheatre. In 1955 the owner of Anchor and Cefn Vron Farms employed a local Contractor to bulldoze the remaining walls for stones to construct a road to Cefn Vron Farm. The destruction was reported to the Police, but the subsequent prosecution failed on a technicality. An archaeological excavation took place in 1963 and a plan made of the castle.

Students from Exeter College, University of Oxford, carried out an acoustic survey of Castell Bryn Amlwg last December, recreating and studying the sounds of construction and occupation of the castle within its surrounding landscape. This included a language known as “Shropshire-Welsh” which was spoken in this area as late as the eighteenth century. (Considering some of the local jargon, a Shropshire-Welsh/English dictionary would come in useful now!)

Hatched, Matched and Despatched

Our much loved and respected senior mare, Dixie Dream, died in January at the age of 29. She had lived a very full and exciting life, firstly as a successful racehorse with the Wales and Border Counties Trotting Association, then as a broodmare, and for the last 11 years has been a safe conveyance for all and sundry. She was the subject of our Four Footed proFile in our newsletter for June 2007.

Dixie would generously nanny the most nervous of riders but would noticeably perk up with a more competent jockey, and enjoyed a day’s hunting up until quite recently.

Dixie Dream is survived by her first foal Dream Dancer (now aged 21), and Dancer’s three offspring: Deadly Derek (aged 8), Double Diamond (aged 5), and four year old Dangerous Dave. All the youngsters are allegedly for sale, although sweet Diamond is surreptitiously stealing her way into our hearts.

We have an addition to the family!

  Sam is now four months old and has settled in well. His mum is a little red bitch belonging to a farmer friend, and is an excellent working sheepdog. Sam is very intelligent and is learning a lot from watching and copying Bill.

Download the March 2009 newsletter (pdf).

Check out the Newsletter archive.

 

Seasons!

Wow! What a winter! What a wonderful, proper winter! At last!

What an incredible fantastic winter we have had! The breathtaking beauty of hoar frost forming its delicate filigree on birch twigs and spiders webs, and the white winter landscapes. Proper cold winter temperatures – one night it got down to minus 12°C on my yard, and the next morning it was like breathing knives.

There were some problems of course. I think we all had frozen pipes, and travelling was difficult for a few days, but you just have to deal with it. I personally have the biggest chest freezer known to mankind, so we just stoked up the fire and tucked in!

As I write this, we have the promise of a wonderful, proper spring to follow. It certainly was “February filldyke” when the snowmelt came, but the weather is currently benign, with glorious drifts of snowdrops everywhere.

Building Work

The main house at New Cwm Farm is currently the subject of major internal reconstruction and improvement to the whole heating and plumbing system, as a result of which Oak and Sycamore are unavailable for letting, although we hope to reopen by Easter.

Anchorage

The Good News is that Ash and Chestnut static caravans at The Anchorage are available for self-catering guests as from Easter.

The caravans have a lovely view down the Clun Valley, and large deck areas with terrace furniture. Each sleeps six, in three bedrooms, and prices include calor gas, electricity, bed linen and towels. Well behaved dogs and children welcome.

Telephone Nancy on 01686 670737 for more details.

Is it time for tea?

March - The first month of the Roman year, named after Mars the Roman god of war.
March 1st – St David’s Day. St David lived in the 6th century. His mother’s name was Non. After he grew up he chose to live as a poor man and travel all over the country preaching the gospel. He built a monastry in Pembrokeshire, site of St David’s cathedral. His day is celebrated by wearing a daffodil.
22nd – Mothers’ Day – special services at local churches, and celebration meals at local hostelries.