FelRh024Bryn Gol.doc

1.03.2002; 30.3.2002

Bryn Goleu and Margaret Davies

 ( 1844 - 1896)

Margaret, the second daughter of Sarah Jones & Griffith Davies (1), of Felenrhyd Fawr was probably born at Tanygrisiau and lived  her married life ( ca. 1867 to 1896) at Bryngoleu ( Landranger SH683 450).

She was buried at Llan Ffestiniog (m.i. 980) with her second husband John Ellis Roberts. It is useful to note that Margaret is seen on the 1851 census at Y Ddôl, Tanygrisiau, some 500 yds. from Bryn Goleu with her parents and siblings Sarah,9 Margaret 7,, Morris 5 and Elin 2. It is likely that Margaret was born at y Ddôl. We could not find the family in 1861.However Laura (Lowri), the youngest of the family, was born at Bryn Goleu on the 15.4 1860. Margaret would be 17. In 1867, aged 23, she married her first husband , Thomas Rees.

·         The sketch shows the disposition of the houses, fields, river, bridge, road and paths (pre 1957) around Bryn Goleu

·         The photograph (2001) shows a much ‘spruced up’  Bryn Goleu (new) and the new road constructed to the power station in 1957. Bryngoleu is painted green with a modern porch and pebbled-dashed walls. The house is in a sunny position and faces south east

·         The steep path from ‘Pant’- cul-de-sac is as it was. A new turning point/parking area has been made- where the light blue car is parked. In Modryb Lisa’s time, at the end house of ‘Pant’, lived the Lloyd family of 14. Directly opposite there was a small clapper bridge to gain access to Bron y Foel – where the Price family of 11 lived/s. This little footbridge was the access that Lisa & William Evans ( and previously, their ancestors) had to their field and cowshed (known locally as beudy a cae Lisa Ifans).

·         The ‘old’ Bryn Goleu house was amongst the original houses of Tanygrisiau. According to Dafydd Walter, he remembers it with a ruinous roof. He used to play in the building when he was a child in the 1960’s.There was an old fashion grate and chimney                           on the gable end nearest to the path with a brick built oven adjacent to it, for baking bread. There was also a ‘crog loft’  ( hanging sleeping floor). It was also used as a cowshed at one time. Today the building has been truncated and made into a single sloped corrugated roofed shed and used as a shed or garage. The windows and the door which faced south east , have been blocked up. The yard to the east has been tarmac-ed and is used as a parking area.

·         The old tapered Ffestiniog Rail;way station building can be seen in the background, just above Bryn Goleu

Additional notes, questions & comments on Sheelagh's write-up

·          I can’t quite make up the logic of “ walking & rowing… around the water’s edge”. There was  a round about way from Felenrhyd & Tanygrisiau through Llan Ffestiniog, before Ceunant sych road  was constructed ca 1880. It could be that they took the goat to Cei Newydd (O.S. 629 388), crossed the river to the slate quay on the other side of the river then by horse and cart to Tan y Bwlch station and then by train to Tanygrisiau. But they could have just as well walked the goat to through Maentwrog to the station at Tan y Bwlch

·         It was at Bryn Goleu( old or new ?) that Lisa’s 20 year old cousin Serah Jones ( Anty Serah, Croesor)of 3 Tyn Llwyn Tanygrisiau had her wedding breakfast when she married John Lloyd Williams (30 yr old ) of Croesor. .This would be circa 1904.

·          After Lisa Evand died c 1960 Bryn Goleu was bought by a Mrs Springfield from the Tanygrisiau Estate ( Ellis John Jones). Today the house and ‘shed’ is in the possession of local people..

·         It would be useful to give a bit more story about all 7 children of Margaret and J.E.Roberts e.g Morris had two sons Bryn & Robert and about the family of their dau. Margaret and her family, Myfanwy & Ann

·          Why did they marry at Minffordd and not at Tanygrisiau? Her sister, Laura, (my Nain) may now be living at 9, School Street by now

·         Was Thomas Rees from Maentwrog? There is no cemetery at Tanygrisiau. Tanygrisiau people used Llan Ffestiniog Cemetery  and not Bethesda. Margaret is buried at Llan

·         1871/2 was a difficult period for Margaret with death of Elitta and the birth of Lisa. That is why Laura was there helping and possibly going to the National School at Blaenau

·         If we look at the Felen Rhyd Fawr family during the last 30 years of the 19^th century we find it a tragic time( see FelRh026 Sarah D.doc )

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