Pen-y-garn, Ceredigion
Encyclopedia
Pen-y-garn is a small village
in the Tirymynach district of Ceredigion
, Wales
, approximately 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Aberystwyth
. Along with the hamlet of Rhydypennau
, Pen-y-garn is now often considered to be part of the neighbouring larger village of Bow Street
. All three places stretch in a long narrow strip along the main Aberystwyth to Machynlleth
road (A487
). As well as the houses on the main road from Cross Street (Y Lon Groes) up to Ysgol Rhydypennau, Pen-y-garn also includes the housing estates of Maes Ceiro, Bryn Meillion, Maes y Garn and Cae'r Odyn.
cairn
known as Carn Maelgwyn, which is believed to have once stood near the present Capel y Garn somewhere in the vicinity of what is now Maes Ceiro (formerly known as Cae Dôlmaelgwyn). The cairn is remembered in the house names of 'Maelgwyn House' and 'Llys Maelgwyn'. It appears to have been destroyed in the eighteenth-century, when its stone seems to have been plundered for work on the nearby Turnpike road (now represented by the A487).
hillfort of Hen Gaer. But his claims with regard to this have not been substantiated, and appear to be based solely on the name of the farm and its position, as well as a misplaced belief that the first element of this was the Welsh word ‘caer’ meaning ‘a fort’. However the earliest available attestations of the farm name are in the form ‘Cae’r Gowydd’, where the words ‘cae’r’ means ‘the field’ and not ‘a fort’. Neither was the original farm on its present location. Rather it was actually some distance down the slopes of the hill on the north side of the Aberystwyth to Machynlleth road, near to Bow Street brook, and its name is probably connected with this location instead of that of the current farmhouse.
chapel
called 'Capel y Garn'. Evan Richardson, teacher John Elias
and Hugh Owen
were the first Nonconformists or dissenter
s to preach in the area in about 1780. A chapel was first erected in 1793, and a new chapel was built on the site in 1833 after the congregation grew too large.
's shop (formerly I. O. Thomas but now called Bow Street Butchery), and a fish and chip shop (recently taken over by new owners, and renamed 'Greenfield Fish & Chips', it now offers Chinese takeaway
food as well).
The present Ysgol Rhydypennau is actually located in Pen-y-garn, though the old Rhydypennau school building overlooks nearby Rhydypennau.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Tirymynach district of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, approximately 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. Along with the hamlet of Rhydypennau
Rhydypennau, Ceredigion
Rhydypennau is a hamlet in the Genau'r-glyn district of Ceredigion, Wales, approximately 4½ miles north-east of Aberystwyth. Along with the village of Pen-y-garn, Rhydypennau is now often considered to be part of the neighbouring village of Bow Street...
, Pen-y-garn is now often considered to be part of the neighbouring larger village of Bow Street
Bow Street, Ceredigion
Bow Street is a large village in the Tirymynach district of Ceredigion, Wales, approximately north-east of Aberystwyth. As well as Bow Street itself, it is now often considered to include the neighbouring smaller village of Pen-y-garn and the hamlet of Rhydypennau...
. All three places stretch in a long narrow strip along the main Aberystwyth to Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
road (A487
A487 road
The A487 is a trunk road in Wales, running up the western side of the country from Haverfordwest in the south to Bangor in the north.It starts at Merlin's Bridge near Haverfordwest, from where it travels north west to St David's, then switches back north east through Fishguard, Cardigan, Aberaeron,...
). As well as the houses on the main road from Cross Street (Y Lon Groes) up to Ysgol Rhydypennau, Pen-y-garn also includes the housing estates of Maes Ceiro, Bryn Meillion, Maes y Garn and Cae'r Odyn.
Toponymy
Pen-y-garn (head of the cairn) derives its name from its proximity to a former Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
known as Carn Maelgwyn, which is believed to have once stood near the present Capel y Garn somewhere in the vicinity of what is now Maes Ceiro (formerly known as Cae Dôlmaelgwyn). The cairn is remembered in the house names of 'Maelgwyn House' and 'Llys Maelgwyn'. It appears to have been destroyed in the eighteenth-century, when its stone seems to have been plundered for work on the nearby Turnpike road (now represented by the A487).
Archaeology
On the hill overlooking Pen-y-garn, called Foel Goch, is Caergywydd farm. John Graham Williams claimed that the hill was the site of a small hillfort connected with the larger nearby Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hillfort of Hen Gaer. But his claims with regard to this have not been substantiated, and appear to be based solely on the name of the farm and its position, as well as a misplaced belief that the first element of this was the Welsh word ‘caer’ meaning ‘a fort’. However the earliest available attestations of the farm name are in the form ‘Cae’r Gowydd’, where the words ‘cae’r’ means ‘the field’ and not ‘a fort’. Neither was the original farm on its present location. Rather it was actually some distance down the slopes of the hill on the north side of the Aberystwyth to Machynlleth road, near to Bow Street brook, and its name is probably connected with this location instead of that of the current farmhouse.
Religious Buildings
At the heart of Pen-y-garn is a Calvinistic MethodistMethodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
called 'Capel y Garn'. Evan Richardson, teacher John Elias
John Elias
John Elias was a Christian preacher in Wales in the first half of the 19th century, as part of the Welsh Methodist revival. His preaching was noted as being exceptionally powerful, "as if talking fire down from heaven". On one occasion it is said he preached to a crowd of 10,000 people. He was a...
and Hugh Owen
Hugh Owen
Sir Hugh Owen was a significant Welsh educator.Hugh Owen was one of the pioneers of higher education in Wales.He was born on Anglesey in 1804 and moved to London at the age of 21 to work as a solicitors clerk...
were the first Nonconformists or dissenter
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
s to preach in the area in about 1780. A chapel was first erected in 1793, and a new chapel was built on the site in 1833 after the congregation grew too large.
Services
Pen-y-garn has a butcherButcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
's shop (formerly I. O. Thomas but now called Bow Street Butchery), and a fish and chip shop (recently taken over by new owners, and renamed 'Greenfield Fish & Chips', it now offers Chinese takeaway
Chinese Takeaway
"Chinese Takeaway" is a song by The Adicts taken from their second album Sound of Music.-The Adicts:* Keith 'Monkey' Warren - Vocals* Mel Ellis - Bass* Pete Dee Davison - Guitar * Michael 'Kid' Dee Davison - Drums...
food as well).
The present Ysgol Rhydypennau is actually located in Pen-y-garn, though the old Rhydypennau school building overlooks nearby Rhydypennau.
Notable residents
- Dewi MorganDewi MorganDewi Morgan was a Welsh bard, scholar and journalist who used the bardic name Dewi Teifi, and who won the Chair at the 1925 National Eisteddfod of Wales in Pwllheli with his important awdl recounting the legend of Cantre'r Gwaelod....
(1877-1971), bard, scholar and journalist, who lived at 'Garn House' - Tom MacdonaldTom Macdonald (writer)Tom Macdonald was a Welsh journalist and novelist, whose most significant publication was his highly evocative account of growing up in the north of Ceredigion in the years before the Great War, which was published in 1975 as The White Lanes of Summer.-Biography:Thomas Macdonald was born on 22...
(1900-1980), journalist and novelist, who lived the a cottage now called 'Llys Aeron' - J. T. ReesJohn Rees (musician)John Thomas Rees , was a Welsh musician and composer who was notable for winning a prize at the National Eisteddford in 1895.-References:...
(1857-1949), musician and composer