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Coordinates: 51°59′36″N 3°13′55″W / 51.9934°N 3.2320°W
| Talgarth | |
  Talgarth
Talgarth shown within Wales |
|
| Population | 1,645 (2001)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Powys |
| Ceremonial county | Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRECON |
| Postcode district | LD3 |
| Dialling code | 01874 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Brecon & Radnorshire |
| List of places: UK • Wales • | |
Talgarth is a small market town in southern Powys (Breconshire), Mid Wales, with a population of around 2,000 people. Notable buildings in the town include its 14th-century parish church and[2] 13th century Pele Tower, located in the town centre, now home to the Tourist Information & Resource Centre. According to traditional accounts Talgarth was the capital of the early medieval Welsh Kingdom of Brycheiniog.
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About the town
In August, the Talgarth Festival of the Black Mountains is held, a popular event attracting thousands of people each year. The town also has a Christmas lights display each year, organised by Talgarth Town Council and a team of volunteers.
Talgarth held important links with healthcare for many years as the home of the large psychiatric hospital, the Mid Wales Hospital and the Mid and West Wales College of Nursing and Midwifery. The town was extremely prosperous until the 1980s when changes in health legislation saw the need for such hospitals to be closed. The Mid Wales closed for good in the 1990s with the loss of hundreds of jobs. Since then the town has suffered socially and economically and as a result lost businesses and shops and confidence among residents, similar to the effects of the South Wales Valleys mining towns.
The town, however, is in the early stages of regeneration and its popularity and thriving nature is hoped to be brought back. This is very much a result of the completion of the Talgarth Relief Road[citation needed] and Bronllys bypass[citation needed] completed in 2007. The existing derelict Mill in the centre of the town is currently being renovated to make space for a community/tourism hub which will be sustainably powered by the working wheel, renovations are now complete on the Medieval Tower Bridge, after damage over the years by heavy traffic, and help for new businesses is emerging, amongst many other initiatives.
Talgarth is also becoming a place for artists and writers.[citation needed]
History
Prehistory
Evidence exists that settlement and cultivation of the area occurred at least the last 5,000 years and possibly since 5000 BCE. There are a large number of chambered long cairns, including the oldest known in Southern Britain. Megalithic standing stone, round cairns and the British Iron Age hill fort at Castell Dinas show that there was a large and stable population and settlement here.[citation needed] The Romans were in this area and there was a Roman camp at "Y Gaer" near Pendre, 1 km from Talgarth.
The Dark Ages
Talgarth was the royal residence of Brychan King of Brycheiniog in the 5th century AD. With three wives, 24 daughters and 22 sons the family was an important force in Wales at that time. Responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout Brecknock, the daughters of Brychan and their descendants account for almost all of the Saints of South Wales and include the grandmother of Saint David. According to legend they also evangelised north Cornwall.
According to legend Talgarth was raided by King Gwynllyw in search of a bride. St. Gwendoline is believed to have bathed in the pool at Pwll-y-Wrach waterfall and is buried at the site of the present church, in Talgarth. This site was a Celtic monastery in the 5th century with the church being established in the 11th century.[citation needed]
The Normans
The town was seized by the Norman Bernard of Neufmarché before 1088 when a charter was made concerning the district. Castell Dinas was the initial site where a Norman castle was established by the Normans to control the passes on both sides.[3].
The town was in the manor of English Talgarth, there being also a manor of Welsh Talgarth, in which Welsh laws prevailed.
The Methodist Revival
In 1735 Talgarth saw the birth of the Welsh Methodist revival when Howell Harris, probably the most influential person to come from Talgarth, was converted in Talgarth church while listening to a sermon by the Rev. Pryce Davies. The revival would sweep across Wales leading to the development of one of the most influential Welsh denominations that of the Calvinistic Methodists. It was at Talgarth William Williams Pantycelyn converted leading him to become one of Wales's most important hymn writers. Nearby is Trevecca the location of the famous college that Harris established.
Buildings and other sites of note
- Talgarth's Victorian Town Hall with its memorial clock tower overlooks the Square.
- The Medieval Tower House, also overlooking the Square.
- The Tower Hotel was built in 1873 for the gentleman farmers to attend the livestock market, which still exists.
- St. Gwendoline's Church. (Saint Wenna (born ca. 463) was a princess and a daughter of Brychan who founded the church of Talgarth and then evangelised parts of north Cornwall. She founded the church of St Wenn and chapels at St Kew and Cheristowe (in Stoke-by-Hartland, Devon). She died on 18 October, year unknown. Saint Gwendoline is a saint from the 8th century.)
- Nearby Bronllys Castle.
Chambered tombs - Penywyrlod
A Neolithic chambered tomb at Penywyrlod, Talgarth (c. 4000 BC) was discovered in June 1972 by a farmer when clearing a stone mound from a field for use as hard-standing in the farmyard. The discovery led to archaeological excavation of the site by Dr. Savory of the National Museum of Wales. During the excavation a number of human remains were found along with a bone flute, a human rib and some worked flints and stone. The bone flute was made from a sheep metapodial bone. It has three holes and may either have been a simple flute or whistle.[4] The larger hole may have been the blow-hole. This is the oldest dated musical instrument found from Wales.
Outdoor activities
Gliding
Talgarth also has a nearby gliding club (Sailplanes) called the Black Mountains Gliding Club, which attracts many visitors from all of the UK, due to the year round ability to remain airborne; by means of mountain lift, both ridge lift and wave lift.[5]
Pony Trekking
There are a number of riding operators in the area who hire out horses for both experienced and novice horseback riders. The mountains and moorland are very suitable for relaxed ascents with some opportunities to canter and gallop on the commons near the town.
Hiking
The Black Mountains, Wales above the town are very good for upland hiking and hill-walking. The mountain ridges are around 2000 feet high with the highest point called Waun Fach at 811 metres ( 2,660 feet).
Landscape and natural history
There is an ancient woodland along the banks of the River Ennig just 1 km from the town centre. There are a series of waterfalls within the wood. The largest is called Pwll-y-wrach, which means[6] 'Witches Pool'. Local legend suggests that witches may have been ducked in this pool in medieval times. There is a geology trail, explaining the environment of 400 million years ago. A large part of Pwllwrach wood is a nature reserve, owned and managed by the Brecknock Wildlife Trust.
Talgarth as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Pwll-y-wrach wood is designated an SSSI, a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its special habitat values and the existence of some quite rare plants, including the small leaved Lime tree and the Lesser butterfly-orchid. These are regarded as indicator plants of Ancient Woodland. That is an area that has retained a continuous cover of trees for thousands of years.
Flora and fauna of note
In spring the wood is carpeted with a succession of wildflowers leading to a mass display of bluebells in mid-spring followed by ransoms in late spring. Animals found in the wood include Tawny owls, badgers, foxes and otters with some uncommon birds such as Dippers and Pied flycatchers.
The wood is also home to the most important colony of dormouse in the region and some uncommon bats, including the lesser horseshoe bat.
Local artists
Gareth Eckley carves gemstone portrait cameos and lives in the area, within 3 km of Talgarth. Niel Bally an artist living near Talgarth. Abstract paintings and monoprints. Black Mountain Pottery, owned by Pauline Paterson, is located at Llanelieu, 3 km from Talgarth.
Filming
A number of films and dramas have been filmed in and around Talgarth, notably On the Black Hill. Others include Morgan's Boy (BBC) a rare drama, now unavailable, Nuts and Bolts (ITV), where scenes were shot at the old Hospital and Hearts of Gold (ITV), where the town was assumed to be Pontypridd.
References
- ^ Office for National Statistics
- ^ * Williams, Roger (1996). Talgarth-Jewel of the Black Mountains.
- ^ Castell Bwlch y Dinas - Paul Martin Remfry's Castle Tours and History
- ^ "Image of the Bone Flute from Penywyrlod". Item reference: 74.23H/6. http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/8630. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
- ^ Talgarth gliding club:: OS grid SO1732 - Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!
- ^ * Morgan, Richard (1999). A study of Breconshire Place Names.
Bibliography
- Morgan, Richard (1999). A study of Breconshire Place Names. ISBN 0-86381-567-7.
- Remfry, Paul (2007). Castell Bwlch y Dinas and the families of Neufmarché, Hereford, Braose, Fitz Herbert, Mortimer and Talbot. ISBN 1-89937-679-8.
- Salter, Mike (2001). The Castles of Mid Wales. ISBN 1-871731-48-8.
- Williams, Roger (1996). Talgarth-Jewel of the Black Mountains. ISBN 1-874538-60-3.
External links
- Stone Age Finds at Talgarth
- Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monuments in Brecknock
- Image of Bone Flute found at Penywyrlod, Talgarth
- Correspondence regarding the usage of the Bone Flute
- Talgarth Festival Site
- Talgarth and District Historical Society
- Photos of Talgarth and surrounding area on geograph
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