Defending Heritage in the Landscape.

Defending Heritage in the Landscape.

Tarian Glyndwr Campaign Continues.

'Don't Let Turbines replace Slag Heaps''

Before reading this posting please note that I have not informed much on reasons for our 'Tarian Glyndwr' outing in support of 'SWATT' as they do that much better than I could on their own website which I urge you to visit and do remember to sign their 'on line' petition at www.SWATT.co.uk and remember the call is ''PLANT TREES NOT TURBINES''.

Sunday 21 January 2007: 'South Wales Alternative To Turbines' (SWATT) organised a protest walk against the ''Windmilling of Blaenau Morgannwg'', walking from Blackmill three miles up to top of 'Mynydd y Gaer'. The protest was against plans to blight the Bridgend and RCT area with huge windmill turbines and thus Embassy Glyndwr sent two of it's staff along to support the protest and once atop 'Mynydd y Gaer' declared the whole of the aforementioned areas hence 'TARIAN GLYNDWR DEFENDED AREAS'. This means all pobl Glyndwr are expected to rise to occaision of any call to support local community protest against any destruction of our Heritage in the Landscape, that includes the environment in general and certainly that which vandalise the heritage within that landscape. In this case the whole of the 'Blaenau Morgannwg' landscape is such that is full of a long history and part of our heritage that is important to us as many other areas of our homeland. Not least regards the history of Owain Glyndwr, as the mountain of 'Mynydd y Gaer' is an important interface demarkation ''Frontier'' between what became the 'Anglo - Norman' occupied ''Englishries'' to the South in what later becomes ''Bro Morgannwg'' whilst to the North lays the ''Welshries'' of ''Blaenau Morgannwg''. All this history that devided Morgannwg between ''Native'' and ''Settler'' occured many centuries before Owain Glyndwr beginning with the conquest and colonisation of much of Southern, Eastern and Western ''Marcher Wallia'' in the 11th and 12th centuries. It is often thought that the ''Hwntws'' rolled over and surrendered to the Normans and there after were domiciled to rule of the conquoror but that is not quite the truth, for the ''medieval Southerners'' were equal to sustainging long resistance to conquest as were their 'Silurian' ancestors against the Romans. Further, let us not forget that as often as not Y Blaenau Morgannwg' would often rise up in support of Gwynedd and pura Wallia aka ''Native Free Wales'' and it's princes such as Llywelyn Fawr and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. We should neither forget that the 'Blaenau Morgannwg' rose up in rebellion along side Llywelyn Bren in 1316, the last 'major full scale ''Welsh Revolt'' prior to that of Owain Glyndwr not destined to ''Kick off'' untill 16 Medi 1400. So now to some real 'Hanes Glyndwr' in 'Mynydd y Gaer' and 'Blaenau Diroedd' connection.

Pics: Final stage up hill, it's a gradual long hike up hill,throught the forest and up a final hilly bit and then your atop 'Mynydd y Gaer' with fantastic views all around, includuding those windmills, one can even see from the M4. To the left s Gilfach Goch. Final pic is of me holding on to the 'trig' for dear life as the wind threatens to take me with the flag 'hang gliding', yes sure was 'windy' but lucky for us, as South of us we could see the rain 'emptying on Bridgend'. To all other compass points it was sunny, very good for a 'winters day'. If you would like to do this ''must walk for all patriots'' (especially Southerners) then do it in July. I will publish rough guide below but also do consult relevant O/S map. Not least good walking boots are required ok!

Pic: No it's not Clint Eastwood, it's Harry from Gilfach Goch (That's where my Dad was born and bred), so yes! the answer is you can ride an horse up to the top of 'Mynydd y Gaer' which I suppose beats walking?

Owain Glyndwr came into 'Y Blaenau Morgannwg' at least once as far as we know, that was in 1402 following on the 'Battle of Bryn Glas' 22 Mehefin 1402, the victorious Welsh made a ''Great Raid'' along the border, into Monmouthshire and then on into 'Vale of Glamorgan'. There they realised now with a grown army of liberated serfs and other campfollowers that would add to the ranks of the ''Barefoot Welsh Doggis'', weighed down by ''pillage and booty'' as food and arms there was now a problem. Now no longer the speedy raiding force they had become a ''lumbering army'' and worse on all sides were enemy castles, which way could they turn. Obviously there was only one way to go to secure safty and that was northward into 'Y Blaenau Morgannwg' but to the North of them were the castles of Caerffili, Llantrisant and Coity. Some records suggest that Castell Llantrisant had already been attacked by the Welsh of 'Y Blaenau Morgannwg' and vacated by the English. If this was true then the best way to safty was into 'Y Rhondda' and safty of Penrhys via this gap in the Enemy defences. However, there was another alternative via Pencoed perhaps (keeping in mind that Pencoed does have a 'Ogof Glyndwr' folk tale) and then head up toward 'Mynydd y Gaer' also keeping in mind that the Welsh of Ogwr were strongly with Owain Glyndwr. Of course positioning at 'Mynydd y Gaer' would offer good ''lookout'' potential and defensive position if needs be. what and where ever exactly, I am pretty convinced that Glyndwr is in this area during the summer of 1402 and it is possibly at this time he makes the famous call to the local lord of 'Y Rhondda ''Cadwgan Whet Thy battle Axe''.

Turning to 1403 and the campaigning of what we referr to has ''Haf Glyndwr'' following on the major success of the campaign in Ystrad Tywi and capture of the last remaining 'English Royal Castle' in Wales at Carmarthen, Glyndwr is thought to have returned North to rally Fflintshire following defeat of his English allies at the 'Battle of Shrewsbury'. However, Glyndwr's famous general Rhys Gethin began to move east toward Morgannwg with a great Army, it his thought that both Swansea and Neath Castles surrendered to the Welsh with out any attempt to put up a fight. This is all the prologue to the great Welsh Victory at the 'Battle of Stalling Down' during July 1403, history records that the remains of the ancient Celtic fortress, thought to have been used by both Caradog and King Arthur south of 'Mynydd y Gaer' was also used by Glyndwr's forces. Now it is far from proven that the ''Grand Armee'' of Rhys Gethin met with the ''Warriors of the Rhondda'' led by Cadwgan at this aforementioned fortress prior to 'Battle of Stalling Down' but it may have been possible. However, it was quite probable that Cadwgan and the ''Warriors of Y Rhondda'' met here with other ''Warriors of Y Blaenau Morgnwg'' prior to joining with Rhys Gethin and the ''Grand Armee'' in time for both forces to combine as a 'Byddin Fawr' that would defeat the English in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. A battle so bloody that a red mist of blood hung in the air and the horse fetlocks were covered in blood, so fulfilling one of the events that had taken place at Glyndwr's birth in which has Glyndwr was born the horse in his fathers stables went wild and injured their fetlocks till they bled. I have to do some more work on all this research wise but without doubt Sundays support for a good cause and struggle by SWATT proved more than useful to me otherwise. This is why I appeal to all pobl Glyndwr not only to support our 'Tarian Glyndwr' campaign in defence of our heritage in the landscape but do get out there and see that heritage in the landscape and then our history will truelly reveal itself to you all the more as it did for me atop 'Mynydd y Gaer'. Am now considering a field trip to the ancient fortress of 'Mynydd y Gaer' with of course opportunity for a Pobl Glyndwr picnic some time mid July. all with interest in attending to contact Sian at the Embassy for information in due course.

Pic shows Embassy Glyndwr supporting anti - Hafod rubbish dump protest outside Wrecsam Council Offices. From North to South, East to West 'Tarian Glyndwr' will defend our 'Heritage in the Landscape. Embassy Glyndwr will support the people of Wales in stuggles to defend their communities and environment where and when ever possible, if you require our aid and assistance just give us the 'Galwad Glyndwr'.....''GLYNDWR's CALL''

Do you know of any Heritage in the Landscape that needs 'Tarian Glyndwr', if so let us know.

What's Next?

When may our Prince Owain Glyndwr call upon you pobl Glyndwr and other patriots to march again, why not on 1 March 2007 'Dydd Dewi'. Where to, why from outside Cardiff City Hall would be a good starting point for a march through Caerdydd down through 'Tiger Bay' (What Y Crachach now preferr to call 'Bae Caerdydd') up on to the steps of the ''Sham Senedd'' which of course is nought but the Assembly of Appeasement with English Imperialism and Neo - Colonialism. Why? well to deliver a message that the ''Gombeens'' therein may easly understand ''WE WANT INDEPENDANCE AND WE WANT IT NOW OK! So why not march for ''Glyndwr's Dream'' on 'Dydd Dewi' or do you have something better to do on that day, like what? See next posting to OWAIN GLYNDWR COMMUNICATES.

Well Sunday's march up atop 'Mynydd y Gaer' was worthwhile and I am sure the above march on the ''Sham Senedd'' would be too but I will leave that to others. One long walk per year for me is enough and after all I have been there and bought the T-Shirt at the ''Sham Senedd'' about time some of you did, ''so chew on that'' whilst I get the aforementioned next posting done regards a MARCH FOR WELSH INDEPENDANCE ON 'DYDD DEWI 2007' that would be an historic one to tell the children about? YES! So think about it, get excited and then perhaps enthusiastic to do it! However, marching can be a tiring old business, after the 'Mynydd y Gaer' walk I slumped on a couch and slept from 5:00pm to Midnite and then some more, hopefully done me some good?

Gethin.