Ynysymaengwyn
Encyclopedia
Ynysymaengwyn was formerly a gentry
house near Tywyn
, Merioneth, North Wales
, situated near the south bank of the River Dysynni
.
'Sir' Arthur ap Huw, the grandson of Hywel ap Siencyn, was vicar of St Cadfan's between 1555 and 1570, and was a notable patron of the poets as well a translator of counter-Reformation
literature into Welsh. Many of the Ynysymaengwyn poems have been preserved in an important manuscript of cywyddau (British Library Additional MS 14866) copied by a native of the Tywyn area, David Johns (fl. 1573-87), who was himself the great-grandson of Hywel ap Siencyn. Later additions to this manuscript contain several eighteenth-century Welsh poems, some of which relate to the Owen and Corbet family of Ynysymaengwyn and to the Rev. Edward Morgan of Tywyn. Edward Morgan, the brother of the poet John Morgan
, was vicar of St Cadfan's from 1717 and was one of the eighteenth-century owners of David Johns' manuscript.
During the eighteenth century, the Corbet family of Ynysymaengwyn played a leading role in the Tywyn area. They were responsible for draining much of the morfa or salt marsh
between the town and the Dysynni river, which greatly increased the land available for farming in that part of the parish. In Samuel Lewis' A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833) it is reperted that popular horse races were held on land by the Dysynni every September. The estate was also famous for its gardens. The raven
was the Corbet family emblem (the name 'Corbet' is thought to come from the Norman French for 'raven') and the bird is still used as emblem of Tywyn. The name Raven was once that of a public house
in the centre of the town. One notable landlord was Griffith Owen (1750–1833), who was both butler
and harpist to the Corbets before he moved to the Raven. A portrait of him by Benjamin Marshall
(1768–1835) was formerly at Ynysymaengwyn.
of Chateau Impney
, Droitwich in 1878. He was not related to the previous Corbet family, but the similarity of the names certainly attracted him. Although not a permanent resident, Corbett spent long periods and even more money in Tywyn, and some of the town's key features are the product of his investments. He developed the water and sewerage system and also constructed the promenade at a cost of some £30,000. He gave land and money for the Market Hall, built to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
in 1897. It was his money that enabled Brynarfor to be opened as 'Towyn Intermediate School' in 1894. He rebuilt the Corbett Arms Hotel (from then on spelled with two 't's), and also contributed to the Assembly Room (1893), now Tywyn Cinema. Plaques commemorating his generosity may still be seen on the north end of the promenade, on the Market Hall and on Brynarfor (where his portrait was hung when the school first opened). Despite the fact that his involvement transformed Tywyn, he was not much loved, and upon his death on 22 April 1901, the Cambrian News
noted that "he had more than the usual reserve of the Englishman".
O'Meara) in 1884, and order prevented her from living within 40 miles of Corbett's homes. Upon his death in 1901 the estate went to his brother Dr Thomas Corbett. It was only on his death in 1906 that Ann Corbett (d. 1914) was able to return to a warm welcome from the local people, as her son Roger John Corbett (1863–1942) took over the estate. Following Roger's death his sister Mary (d. 1951) eventually gave the estate to the council. The council was unable to refund the necessary repairs, and the house was used for firefighting practice and army training and soon had to be demolished. A dovecote
built by Ann Owen (d.1760) still survives, and Ynysymaengwyn is now a caravan site.
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
house near Tywyn
Tywyn
Tywyn is a town and seaside resort on the Cardigan Bay coast of southern Gwynedd , in north Wales. The name derives from the Welsh tywyn and the town is sometimes referred to as Tywyn Meirionnydd...
, Merioneth, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, situated near the south bank of the River Dysynni
River Dysynni
The River Dysynni is a river in mid Wales.- Source :The River Dysynni flows from the western end of Tal-y-llyn Lake and enters Cardigan Bay through the Broad Water lagoon to the north of Tywyn near Tonfanau.-External links:**...
.
Early history
During the late medieval and early modern period, Ynysymaengwyn, situated roughly a mile from the town itself by the road to Bryn-crug, was by far the most powerful estate in the area. Ynysymaengwyn's wealth is revealed in official documentation and also in the Welsh poetry composed to its leading members. The death of Hywel ap Siencyn ab Iorwerth of plague in 1494 is described in detail by Hywel Rheinallt. Tudur Aled composed a poem to ask Hwmffre ap Hywel ap Siencyn to bring to an end a long dispute with other branches of his family, a poem described as 'one of the great poems of late medieval Wales' (G.A. Williams in Smith & Smith 2001, 617). Between the 15th century and 18th century, Welsh poets were welcomed to Ynysymaengwyn and several of the major houses of the parish, most of which had family ties to Ynysymaengwyn, including Caethle, Dolau-gwyn, Gwyddgwion, Plas-yn-y-rofft (Esgairweddan), and Trefeddian.'Sir' Arthur ap Huw, the grandson of Hywel ap Siencyn, was vicar of St Cadfan's between 1555 and 1570, and was a notable patron of the poets as well a translator of counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
literature into Welsh. Many of the Ynysymaengwyn poems have been preserved in an important manuscript of cywyddau (British Library Additional MS 14866) copied by a native of the Tywyn area, David Johns (fl. 1573-87), who was himself the great-grandson of Hywel ap Siencyn. Later additions to this manuscript contain several eighteenth-century Welsh poems, some of which relate to the Owen and Corbet family of Ynysymaengwyn and to the Rev. Edward Morgan of Tywyn. Edward Morgan, the brother of the poet John Morgan
John Morgan (poet)
John Morgan was a Welsh clergyman, scholar and poet.-Life:...
, was vicar of St Cadfan's from 1717 and was one of the eighteenth-century owners of David Johns' manuscript.
During the eighteenth century, the Corbet family of Ynysymaengwyn played a leading role in the Tywyn area. They were responsible for draining much of the morfa or salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
between the town and the Dysynni river, which greatly increased the land available for farming in that part of the parish. In Samuel Lewis' A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1833) it is reperted that popular horse races were held on land by the Dysynni every September. The estate was also famous for its gardens. The raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
was the Corbet family emblem (the name 'Corbet' is thought to come from the Norman French for 'raven') and the bird is still used as emblem of Tywyn. The name Raven was once that of a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in the centre of the town. One notable landlord was Griffith Owen (1750–1833), who was both butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
and harpist to the Corbets before he moved to the Raven. A portrait of him by Benjamin Marshall
Benjamin Marshall
Benjamin Marshall was an English sporting and animal painter. He was a follower of George Stubbs and studied under Lemuel Abbott for a short period of time. After 1792, he began painting animals, settling at Newmarket in 1812 near the racetrack. He returned to London in 1825 and died in 1835....
(1768–1835) was formerly at Ynysymaengwyn.
John Corbett
Ynysymaengwyn was bought by John Corbett (industrialist)John Corbett (industrialist)
John Corbett was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party politician of the Victorian era. He is particularly associated with salt mining in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.- Family background :...
of Chateau Impney
Chateau Impney
Chateau Impney is an imposing 19th century house built in the style of an elaborate French château near Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, England...
, Droitwich in 1878. He was not related to the previous Corbet family, but the similarity of the names certainly attracted him. Although not a permanent resident, Corbett spent long periods and even more money in Tywyn, and some of the town's key features are the product of his investments. He developed the water and sewerage system and also constructed the promenade at a cost of some £30,000. He gave land and money for the Market Hall, built to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
in 1897. It was his money that enabled Brynarfor to be opened as 'Towyn Intermediate School' in 1894. He rebuilt the Corbett Arms Hotel (from then on spelled with two 't's), and also contributed to the Assembly Room (1893), now Tywyn Cinema. Plaques commemorating his generosity may still be seen on the north end of the promenade, on the Market Hall and on Brynarfor (where his portrait was hung when the school first opened). Despite the fact that his involvement transformed Tywyn, he was not much loved, and upon his death on 22 April 1901, the Cambrian News
Cambrian News
The Cambrian News is a weekly newspaper distributed in Wales. It was founded in 1860 and is based in Cefn Llan Science Park, Aberystwyth. Cambrian News Ltd was bought by media entrepreneur Sir Ray Tindle in 1998.- History :...
noted that "he had more than the usual reserve of the Englishman".
Later years
John Corbett became legally separated from his wife Anna Eliza (néeNEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
O'Meara) in 1884, and order prevented her from living within 40 miles of Corbett's homes. Upon his death in 1901 the estate went to his brother Dr Thomas Corbett. It was only on his death in 1906 that Ann Corbett (d. 1914) was able to return to a warm welcome from the local people, as her son Roger John Corbett (1863–1942) took over the estate. Following Roger's death his sister Mary (d. 1951) eventually gave the estate to the council. The council was unable to refund the necessary repairs, and the house was used for firefighting practice and army training and soon had to be demolished. A dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
built by Ann Owen (d.1760) still survives, and Ynysymaengwyn is now a caravan site.