June - mid July 2011

I have a good excuse for being late with my blog entry this time! Alan and I went on a cruise around the Baltic Sea throughout the first half of June. We had been on a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow about six years ago, but we particularly wanted to visit Tallinn in Estonia. Estonia is about one-third the size of England and includes 800 islands and twice as many lakes. It lies in the Gulf of Finland, some 50 miles from Helsinki and less than 500 miles from the Arctic Circle, as the crow flies. Luckily, the weather was sunny every day and we even a heat wave in Finland.
In Tallinn, there is a castle on top of a 150 ft hill, built as a defensive fortress in 1229. The picture is of Tall Hermann, a 150 foot tower, standing on the edge of a high ravine. The walls are 10 ft. thick and the top floors were even heated so that they could be used as a sanctuary in case of attack, while prisoners were kept in the dungeons at the lowest levels.



As Estonia is surrounded on all sides by different powers, it is only since August 1991 that it has gained its independence for the first time! In spite of huge apartments being built by the Russians to house their military there, they managed to make sure that their culture and language survived. Proof of this was seen this week with their beautifully dressed choir competing at our National music Festival at Llangollen. Countries from all over the world travel here during the first week of July each year

Our young guide told us about how their previous president, Arnold Ruutel, who was quite elderly, refused to speak only Estonian. However, as George Bush was coming on a visit, he agreed to learn a few pleasantry greetings in English like “How do you do”. As he stepped forward to shake George Bush’s hand, he said “How do you do, who are you”!

We were invited to a very nice evening at the Valley Hotel which Menter Mon had arranged, with Tudur Owen, our local popular comedian as entertainment. This event was to show Menter Môn’s appreciation to lots of us who have done voluntary work over the last few years in conjunction with the Anglesey Walking Festival. Over 1,500 people took part in the various organised walks, many of them from outside Wales. Not only do local people get to see and learn about our island, but also tourists, some arranging their holiday specifically to coincide with the festival. This festival contributes a lot to our tourism trade therefore. All of us sincerely hope, that in spite of the cut backs, funding can found to organise as usual the walking festival again next year.



Our local Welsh Literary Society had arranged a coach trip to Llangollen. We visited the Heritage Centre in the village and had lunch there. A lady gave us an excellent talk on the centre and then we were shown around the small museum they had on the first floor.
Alan and I were surprised to see the door knocker from the surgery of Hugh Owen Thomas, the orthopaedic surgery in Liverpool. He was descendant from the well- known family of gifted bonesetters from Anglesey. In the 18th century, a shipwreck occurred on the coast of Llanfairynghornwy. The only survivor was a young Spanish boy. He was taken in and adopted by a childless farming couple with the surname of Thomas, so he was given the same surname. It became obvious, that he had a gift for re-setting dislocated bones on animals. Then farmers in the area started coming to him for treatment. His descendants became renowned as orthopedic surgeons in Liverpool. Many from Anglesey would specifically ask to be referred to them for a consultation.

My cousin, Dr. Ken Roberts, has researched their history in depth, having been doing orthopedic consultations himself at Ysbyty Gwynedd before he retired as a G.P. He has a most created a most interesting presentation on their history, which he gives to various societies around Anglesey. The photograph is of me and Ken taken in near Corwen, by the site reputed to be Owain Glyndwr’s residence. This was another interesting history day I enjoyed.

I had a lovely surprise during this month. I had been e-mailing Arwel Evans, the Public Rights of Way Officer for Ynys Môn to ask him for a flat resting stone to be placed by the footpat on the Llanfaelog side of Llyn Maelog. I sent him a picture of the stone I’d like and a suggested site to place it on. Mrs. Rosemary Phillipedes, had already kindly given me her permission to have such a stone placed on her land. It was such a pleasant surprise therefore, to see such a stone having been placed where I’d suggested. Thank you Arwel!
Older people like me are encouraged to walk as much as we can, but we do need resting points. Thankfully, we can now sit and admire the beautiful view that is to be had across Llyn Maelog towards Rhosneigr.

MAY 2011

Alan and I went along to Llynnon Mill during the fine weather we had at the beginning of the month. There are loads of websites to read about Llynnon Mill’s history. We have been there many times before, but this was an outing just to go to their café to indulge in their lovely homemade cakes and scones. The windmill looked magnificent and being such a fine day, we chose to eat outside in the picnic table area. You will never regret it should you chose to follow our suit, unless your on a diet!
Open: Easter until the end of September
The lady told me they serve food from 11am – 4.30pm ( closing 5pm)



This month, we also visited the Festival of Heritage Arts & Crafts at Beaumaris Castle. It was nice to meet up again with Anita Diamond from GAT and also, her assistant, Tegid. Last time Anita and I met, was at the Tai Cochion dig. This time she had brought along various replicas of historical items. As there was a cruise ship in port at Holyhead, there were lots of American visitors there. They were really fascinated with all the history related to them. However, I don’t seem to be enjoying drilling a hole into Tegid’s head with this medical tool!



In another corner of the castle, we came across Hero Melia with her mother Lady Alice Douglas. Hero played her own special harp donated to her when she was so successful on “Britain’s Got Talent” Having attended local schools, she is a fluent Welsh speaker and sang beautifully in both Welsh and English. I bought her CD at a very reasonable prize of £3!


Following on from the formal issues of our Antiquarian end of year AGM, we had a most informative talk by Arwel Jones ( originally from Rhosybol, Anglesey), who is now the Director of Public Services at the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth. He drew our attention to the fact that the library is but a small part of the building now. It not only has books but a massive collection of maps, manuscripts, archives, pictures, photographs and electronic resources. In recent years they have had a circular metal theatre, called Y Drwm / The Drum, dropped down into an empty courtyard space. This again is not just used for theatre performances. I have had the pleasure of going there to listen to a harpist and also attending lectures and conferences.
You can easily access a wealth of information on their website. I decided to follow up the history of the first Welsh book printed in Wales in 1585 at Llandudno, after my visit to the museum there. I found its correct title was “Y Drych Cristianogawl” and that I could actually read each page of it on-line on their site.
http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=ydrychcristianogawl

Do visit their site www.llgc.org.uk but be warned, if like me, you’ll be fascinated for hours!
It seems the first Welsh book “ Yny Llyvyr hwn” was printed in London, before this in 1546.


It was The Anglesey Walking Festival this week and for the fifth year running by now, I met up with a group by Llyn Cerrig Bach. And also Jackie Lewis from Menter Môn, who organize the week. I was really disappointed to learn from Jackie, that Oriel Ynys Môn have missed out on getting the top-up funding needed towards the £4,500 I’d acquired for producing the six most significant replicas from the lake. I came up with the original concept of producing these two years ago. (please read earlier blog entries ) Jackie said, this was because their application wasn’t presented in time before the final closing date in March. By now, I’m having depressing visions that I shall be a buried artefact myself before these six replicas are finally completed!
In the pictures, you can see the group studying the magnificent replica of the gang chain in the boot of my car. This was given to Oriel Ynys Môn by Cardiff, shortly after the Oriel’s opening.

APRIL 2011

The first good news entry is that happily, the local council have now placed two benches on the Maelog Lake stretch of road. This is after me embarrassingly sending them this picture of me! When you reach well passed your retirement age, you realise how necessary it is to have rest points like this if the older generation are to follow the advice, of keeping active by doing such things as walking.


Alan and I have enjoyed two visits this month with the U3A. First, we were blessed with a beautiful sunny afternoon at Caernarfon Castle. The historian Neil Johnston met us and told us some of its history. Initially, it was the site of the Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Great’s home during his lifetime (1173-1240). In 1282, Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, his grandson, was killed by English soldiers in an ambush at Cilmeri, Powys. In 1283, King Edward 1 came to Conwy where he built the castle and then came on to Caernarfon. Here, he incorporated material from the nearby Roman fort of Segontium with other materials that were brought by boat to build himself a new castle.

Edward had travelled with the Crusaders as far Constantinople to fight. It is thought now that it was he that designed the castleby on his return, based on the ideas he had gathered whilst on his travels. He then installed James of St.George in charge of the building of it. In 1284, his son, Edward 2 was born here and was presented to the local people from the Eagle Tower as a native prince who couldn’t speak a word of English! In 1969, Prince Charles was invested here as the present Prince of Wales.

Our second U3A visit was to Theatre Clwyd. Each time we visit this theatre, we always enjoy a highly professional performance. This one was no exception, called “Journey’s End”. It was a deeply moving play depicting the endurance suffered by the soldiers whilst in the trenches during the First World War.


On one of the lovely days over Easter, Alan and I took Awen, my six year old granddaughter, for a walk along the Malltraeth Cob. We all took our binoculars with us to do a bit of bird spotting. This is where one of our eminent bird and wildlife artists, Charles Tunnicliffe, lived. ( 1901 – 1979 ). You can see his home, “Shorelands” on the opposite side of the River Cefni estuary in the picture.

He had an upstairs studio giving him a panoramic view through the window of the ebb and flow of the tidal waters. He used to find dead birds and take them to his studio to make intricate drawings of the wings, beaks feet etc. His illustrations have been used in at least 250 books, such as “Tarka the Otter” and Ladybird books eg. “What to look for in Spring”etc.. His work can be seen at Oriel Ynys Môn and the lecture room has been named in honour of him.



When we go on this walk, we always like to end up with tea and homemade cake in Jane and Norman’s
Café by the cob entrance – well signed on the roadside as you can see. They are open every day except Sunday, 11am – 5pm. They also cater for children’s parties, including making the cake and providing the party games. Learn more from their website, www.janenormanphillips.co.uk If you view the pictures of their cakes, you’ll soon be tempted!



Alan and I enjoyed an excellent day out to Llandudno on another day. He must be one of the few husbands not to be dragged into M&S or any other shop whilst there! This was because we intend taking our U3A there to visit to the Museum and the Senedd Buldings in Llandudno Junction at the end of May/ We therefore needed to do a pre-run.


The Museum is located on Gloddaeth Street, just off the top of Mostyn St.( the street with car parking down its centre). We were made extremely welcome by Mr.Richard Hughes, the curator, who explained about all the ground floor exhibitions personally to us. As he was also in charge of the desk, we went to view the first floor on our own. He has produced detailed text sheets on all the exhibitions. There are of course also information boards by each exhibition. One case contained pre-historic exhibits from Kendrick’s Cave, on the Great Orme. They included decorated beads made from deer and wild cattle teeth from the end of the Ice Age period. There were also some of the Bronze Age hoard of artefacts found in the Great Orme mines. In one cabinet, was quite a big piece of a 5,000 year old tree trunk found on Llandudno’s North Shore. These can still be found there during very low tides.



Upstairs, there is a fascinating display based on the secret printing press that the Catholics had in a cave on the Little Orme during the time of their persecution by Elizabeth 1. Here, they produced the first Welsh book printed in Wales – “ Y Drych Cristnogol” “ The Christian Mirror”. Its leader, Father William Davies, sadly was caught and taken to Beaumaris Goal to be hung, drawn and quartered!

The hologram of the Llyn Cerrig Bach plaque had just been taken down and is now on its way to Oriel Ynys Môn in readiness for its display there as from May 28th.

I’m afraid I could go on and on about all the interesting things we saw, but this would result in a very lengthy blog entry! I will just give the opening times. There is a small entrance charge, being it is not maintained by the council.

Easter – 31st October: Tues– Sat. and Bank Hols: 10.30 – 1.00 & 2.00 – 5.00 Sunday 2.15 – 5.00pm.
1st November – Easter: Tuesday – Saturday 1.30 – 4.30

After lunch in our favourite home-cook restaurant around the corner in Mostyn Street, we made our way Llandudno Junction to the Senedd building. Here, we met up as arranged with Shaun Holden, the Communications Officer and made most welcome once more. We finalised the necessary arrangements for our U3A group’s visit and then had a coffee in their very nice reception area called Y Bont (trans. The Bridge).

APRIL 14th

When I referred in my blog yesterday, to my father sending iron artefacts down to Cardiff museum, I forgot to upload the images I’d taken of the thank you letters he received from Sir Cyril Fox.
I wanted you to notice how much the postage was for iron swords etc. in a wooden box! Goodness knows how much they would charge these days.





Letter images haven't appeared very well in the blog preview - it states - one shilling for postage! You can view them better on my website www.llyncerrigbach.co.uk

APRIL 2011

At the beginning of April, Alan and I visited the National Museum in Cardiff once again as I needed extra pictures of some of the artefacts in storage for my presentation. Again we were made so welcome by the staff in the Archaeology department. Like many times before, we were met by Adam Gwilt, who took us through a maze of corridors to see how the artefacts are stored in special acid free foam. There again we met up with a familiar friend, Evan Chapman and later Tony Daly again in his studio. The artefacts are stored at an even temperature and in special acid free foam. The nitrogen in this foam deters any further deterioration. I was able to handle swords I’d last handled as a child of about 8 years old when my father brought them home before posting them to Cardiff in a wooden box.





Adam told me that it has been agreed to a notable amount of Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts coming up to Oriel Ynys Môn in 2012. As I have recently instigated the publication of a book on Llyn Cerrig Bach, which I shall be contributing to, to be launched in May 2012, it was great that Adam confirmed that both things would come together at Oriel Môn at the same time. The idea of a book on Llyn Cerrig Bach came to me after seeing the format of the bi-lingual publication that Ian Jones of Oriel Môn, had produced on South Stack. This has plenty of pictures in it with not too much text. Ideal, I feel, for the general inquisitive reader who wants to learn about the history of our island. We already have a super academic tome written by Dr.Philip McDonald on the analysis of the various metal content of the artefacts. Also Frances Lynch has given detailed professional descriptions of the artefacts in her highly acclaimed book “Prehistoric Anglesey” I’m very pleased to say that Frances has agreed from the onset of my idea to put her expertise input into this publication.

At the beginning of April, Alan and I also went to listen to a talk on Patagonia at Oriel Ynys Môn. This was given by Clare Dudman ( nee Jenkins ) who is originally from Anglesey. She has written a part fictional novel based on an imaginary tale of a couple typical to the ones who emigrated to Patagonia on the Mimosa in 1865. The novel title is – A Place of Meadows and Tall Trees. There were a number of people like myself in the audience, who had been to Patagonia, some of them having lived there for a year or more. We all had fascinating chats together at the end of the evening, comparing our different experiences. I had stayed with families in two villages whilst there in 1995.Since this visit, I have found that I have developed a great empathy with this Welsh colony which was established in Argentina nearly 150 years ago. When I first arrived there, I was horrified by the bleakness of the landscape and the strong wind that blew dust everywhere. However, of all the countries I’ve visited, my stay in Patagonia was truly an amazing experience. I’d love to go back there, but sadly it is much too far for me to travel to now. The story of the hardships that the first settlers endured is heartbreaking to read about.
I have been able to return the hospitality I received in Patagonia by having two ladies staying with me here when their choir was on tour around Wales. Sonia could only speak Spanish and Menna spoke Welsh and Spanish. Neither, you will note, could speak English. Menna had to translate from one to the other, so that we could carry on a conversation! It is incredible how the Welsh language has survived this long and is now even on the increase amongst the young people there. This is a picture of me at the Welsh nursery school there in 1995.



During this month, a number of us from Anglesey / Ynys Môn U3A visited the National Library in Aberystwyth. I decided that I would apply for a Reader’s Card on-line before I went so that I could look at some material relating to the Welsh emigration to Patagonia. This is because I have to give a presentation to the Bangor U3A in November, so I need to brush up on my knowledge beforehand. Before going to the library, ias well as registering for a Reader’s Card it is also very important to search for the title of the documents you would like to see and record their documentation number. You must then hand over these details at the desk when you arrive, as it still takes over an hour to retrieve them from the various vaults. This is an example of one of the reference details I took with me.
“Dau o ddyddiaduron Llwyd ap Iwan a gadwodd ar ei deithiau aml dros y paith ac yn yr Andes ac yn disgrifio bywyd yn y Wladfa; 1888-9. NLW MS 7258-9C. C.”
These were two diaries of Llwyd ap Iwan relating his travels in the Andes in 1888-89. He was murdered by hostile Indians soon after his last entry. It should be noted that there were also peaceful Indian tribes who lived happily alongside the Welsh settlers and they each respected one another. They loved the bread baked by the Welsh and would trade a wild horse in exchange for a loaf! It was quite emotional to be able to hold and read these two exercise book diaries, knowing what had happened to Llwyd ap Iwan had actually handled them.

Last week, I again had the pleasure of visiting Amlwch Primary School to relate the story about the Llyn Cerrig Bach find. All the children from the junior classes had gathered in the hall and showed a keen interest, especially in the gang chain replica and the plaque copy that Alan has made.



Finally, this Thursday night, I’m looking forward to watching Neil Oliver’s programme on “The History of Celtic Britain.” The programme last week showed him standing by the Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts cabinet at the National Museum in Cardiff talking about the Llyn Fawr cauldron. This week he will be showing and discussing the gang chain from Llyn Cerrig Bach.

MARCH 2011

The weather has been fantastic allowing me to go on various walks in my area. My favourite is Barclodiad y Gawres, which is only down the road from my home. I like to take in the 360ᴼ panoramic view around me when on the top – scanning the Snowdonia range all the way down to Bardsey Island and then in the opposite direction, along the coast towards Holyhead Mountain. This picture of Awen, my granddaughter however, was taken on a windy day last October.



Barclodiad y Gawres is the remains of a decorated passage grave from about 2,500 BC. Its Welsh name means “the giantess’ apron” – the legend describes a giantess flying over from Ireland and dropping her apronful of stones here! I rather think it must have been a witch giantess, as the remains of what one associates with witches cauldron were excavated on the site, such as the remains of a toad, eel, shrew, mouse, grass snake and a hare. You can find all about the site on the web. Like in the picture I took, you can peer into the inner chamber through the locked bar gate. However, If you wish to go inside the inner chamber, you will have to do a prior booking by phoning the Wayside Stores ( 01407 810153 ). They hold the key and will meet you there during any of these allocated opening times:
APRIL – OCTOBER, SAT & SUN 12pm – 4pm + BANK HOLIDAYS.


A letter appeared in the local Anglesey Mail this month, the person demanding that the National Museum should return all the Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts back to Anglesey. There are two sides to every story, as they say, and I felt I should make my view known in a reply letter, for which I received only positive feedback. This is what I wrote:

“As a retired teacher and the daughter of William Roberts, whose decision to dredge Llyn Cerrig Bach resulted in the discovery the artefacts, I wish comment on two articles in last week’s Mail.

Over the years, I have been in discussion with various curators at the National Museum in Cardiff, regarding returning some of the Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts. It has become clear to me, that they will never be in a position to be able to return the main original items. Along the years, these have always been on display in permanent exhibitions in our National Museum, as they are at present. This is because they have by now become world famous in the field of archaeology, with visitors, not only from the UK, but all over the globe coming to view them. We have been able to have a number of artefacts back on loan over the years, but like in the National Museum, they had to be viewed in humidity controlled glass cabinets. I myself have put on permanent display in Oriel Ynys Môn, three Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts that were donated to my father and these have to be displayed as such, for their preservation.

I have spent many years presenting their story to schools and adult groups. About three years ago, I realised that the best asset for explaining the Llyn Cerrig Bach heritage on Anglesey, would be to have excellent replicas made of the main items from the hoard. This is because replicas can be handled and examined, rather than being observed as originals in a glass cabinet. The National Museum in Cardiff gave Oriel Ynys Môn, shortly after its opening, a replica of the famous gang chain, which it still has. I have taken this amazing chain to all my presentations and this has always been the highlight of the event. (pictures prove this on my blog). I could not have done this with originals. I have managed to raise over £4,000 towards the production of more quality replicas. This money has been handed over to Oriel Ynys Môn. Pat West, the Principal, assures me that their production will be starting soon this year. I agree entirely with her article in your paper, that the island’s heritage needs to be presented in a realistic way. I shall be thrilled when these valuable replicas are made.

There is a hologram of the crescentic plaque due to come on tour to Oriel Ynys Môn from Llandudno museum in May. It seems already viewers are having difficulty in recognising the original from this 3D hologram because of the excellent modern production techniques available today. Sean Harris has made fascinating animated films with computer graphics, with various Anglesey school children contributing to the production. This depicts the story of Llyn Cerrig Bach and also other famous sites on Anglesey.

I visited the Tutunkhamun exhibition in Manchester this month. Here again the replicas were as good as the originals and much more accessible. Tourists from everywhere flocked to see them even though they were replicas.

As you can see, a lot of us have been working really hard for many years, transferring the story about the Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts to adults and children alike.”

Those of you, who have followed my blog, will know that I have been campaigning for years by now to have such replicas produced.



Last week, I had a special treat of giving my talk to a group of people who have succeeded in becoming fluent Welsh speakers. Brenda Wyn Jones, their tutor deserves such praise, as she is so dedicated and successful in her work. Andrew, in the front row, is holding a copy to the exact dimensions of the crescentic plaque, which Alan, my husband, has made until we get the real replica produced in bronze.
After the talk, we were invited by Tecwyn, Brenda’s husband to view his studio. Here he has made beautiful sculptures based on the Mabinogion, the Welsh Medieval tales. The biggest pleasure I had though, was to be shown an etching depiction he had produced of Llyn Cerrig Bach, which you see here. He insists it still needs improving on and is going to give me a signed copy of the final etching.

FEBRUARY 2011

February has passed in a whirl of activities so my apologies again for missing a month’s entries!
I was invited by a group of ladies in Valley to give my presentation on Llyn Cerrig Bach. They were very interested in the subject, as the lake is right on their doorstep. They particularly enjoyed handling the replica of the Gang Chain, as you can see from the picture.
Having had to hand over to the Oriel, over a year ago, the funding I’d collected for producing more replicas, I am still anxiously waiting for the good news that perhaps some of them have finally been made. It will be a great thrill for me when this happens, as I know from visiting various schools, how much the children like to examine replicas, rather than seeing an untouchable original.

I became very concerned when I saw that the roadside wall in front of the Pencarnisiog commemorative standing stone had collapsed. This is known locally in Welsh as Maen Hir. I contacted our Cadw warden for this area and she came over immediately. However, since its on private land she can only express our concern to the landowner. Hopefully, he will get the wall rebuilt as soon as possible. This is a very important stone as there is a Roman style inscription on it to Cunugusus – CYNGVSIHICIACIT. This is from where the name of the village Pencarnisiog derives.


I had a very interesting visit from Mark, a mature student at Bangor University. He is on his final year and doing research into comparing votive offerings into such watery places as Llyn Cerrig Bach. He was very interested in some seismic maps I had been given by Dr. Phillip McDonald when he was a research student at Cardiff in 1995. I e-mailed Philip, who is now a lecturer at Belfast University, and he kindly gave me permission to forward copies to Mark. I am looking forward now to reading his final paper.
Like many others, Mark expressed his appreciation of being told so many personal background facts that I’d researched and been told by my father about Llyn Cerrig Bach.
I have decided, therefore, that I should take the step forward into filming a DVD of my lecture presentation. When I become too decrepit to voice the lecture, or even when I’ve popped my clogs, at least this information won’t be lost!


Rhys Mwyn, who writes an article each Wednesday in the Welsh Herald section of the Daily Post, asked if he could visit me. He wanted to write a column about what I knew about Llyn Cerrig Bach. We visited the lake and had a long chat. I was very interested when he showed me excellent replicas of Bronze Age tools that Dave Chapman had made in his foundry in the Conwy valley.


A fortnight ago, my husband and I visited the Tutankhamun Replicas exhibition at Manchester. Because of so many visitors in the museum when we visited Cairo, we had failed to get in to see the originals. However, the replicas were as good as the real things and so easy to observe at close quarters. I’m sure we gained much more experience from this visit than we would have had in Cairo looking over other peoples’ shoulders and being made to move along all the time. Here, we were able to browse and take as many pictures as we liked. I was fascinated with the tomb chariot, noticing especially that there was a plaque similar to the Llyn Cerrig Bach one, attached to its shaft, as you can see in the picture I took. I couldn’t help noticing also other similarities with the chariot’s form and its wheel hub. All these things in spite of it being made in Egypt over a thousand years before the chariot parts found in Llyn Cerrig Bach.