Poet's Page
music and opinion from Wales' wandering poet.
Penrhys, Rhondda Page
The best helping hand is on your arm. Good news about the Boilerhouse.
Finding that support was not available, ''Penrhys New Beginnings'' has been dissolved.
Companies House has informed that the ''Boilerhouse Project'' Officers... (who were there ..when the ''Boilerhouse Project'' was dissolved
by Companies House) now have ONE year to resuscitate it...
Just one officer could do it.
This will bring the Boilerhouse - and its land - back into use to help the community.
Cost - a teeny £2,000 easily raised.
It's up to the villagers now,
if they want it to thrive...
they will discuss and share this.
We all want love... yearn for love, wait for love, but human nature opposes the true Spirit...
so we all do those things, time and again, that destroy love and fail to do those selfless acts our world needs...
when all major Faiths teach us to bow to theSpirit of Love and be reborn.
A GENERATION OF YOUNGSTERS "FAILED" IN WALES
Wales's assembly members say a generation of Welsh young people is being “failed” by the education system and lack of employment.
A cross party committee of AMs says 68,000 youngsters aged 16-24 are not receiving education, employment or training:- the worst numbers failing across all the UK.
The enterprise and learning committee also says in its report that recent measures to deal with these problems are “patchy” and lack a “clear path”.
The report calls for a single Welsh Assembly body to co-ordinate, oversee, and take on the responsibility.
“It is deeply worrying that so many of our young people are still being failed by the system” the report says.
The committee calls for the appointment of a minister to see to the needs of those lacking education, employment or training (collectively known as Neets) & coordinate efforts to help.
It also says a “lead agency” should be set up to make sure that any decided changes are implemented efficiently.
The report also finds the chance of being one of the "Neets", is 50% higher among disabled people, compared to those with no disabilities.
"The causes of young people being Neet, are complex and there are no easy answers to addressing the issue”, says Committee chair, Gareth Jones AM.
“More effective action on the ground, and better collaboration between different agencies, is vital to ensure a continuum of support for these young people" he adds.
Rick Libbey from the youth charity Prince's Trust:- "thousands of young people across Wales, don't have the skills, confidence and qualifications to break out of long -term unemployment and poverty”.
He calls for a joint effort by charities, government and employers to settle the problem, which is worsened by the recession, as Neets now have to “compete with graduates fresh out of university" .....in a slowing jobs market.
Rhondda Records says what Wales needs, is an economy !
For hundreds of years, our strategy has "gone missing" and our native genius ignored.
Our economy has been "given" by London, through a "regional" policy which brought in subsidised factory work and little else.
To create a new economy requires new solutions.
It requires solutions unique to Wales, and NOT franchisable ideas so beloved of "funders"...
Let the Assembly encourage a more dynamic way, that "re-members" Wales' special attributes...
We have ALL the water, land and plants needed - can't we use our native assets more creatively and dynamically?
Aren't hydraulics and hydroponics, for example, easy enough to use and understand?
Help the Boilerhouse Project !!!
Help Wales to bloom!!!
PENRHYS - THE BURIED TREASURE OF WALES
Penrhys is the most magical mystical place you will ever find, and it's almost been forgotten!
The highest village in Wales, this is the land named in remembrance of our Prince Rhys - probably the most cultured and wise Prince to rule southern Wales - who kept invaders from destroying Wales & its unique culture by using his wisdom - & who died fighting to keep his kingdom safe, at a time when he was very old.
Penrhys is one of the top 100 world Shrines, and the people of Wales poured here to refresh their spirits: until the Norman French & later, those who feared Welsh patriotism, neglected and reduced it --- in a diminution barely paralleled in any land's history.
Penrhys was the site of a monastery which fed the economy of south East Wales, and its Shrine drew pilgrims from all over West Europe, as its healing powers and spring, grew in fame and prestige.
It is no exaggeration to say that for hundreds of years, Penrhys Shrine was the "Lourdes" of Western Europe.
NEWS FROM THE DIOCESES. 20th May 1893
Mr. Hobson Matthews, in an interesting address, said the well was on the site of the once famous monastery of Penrhys, which in Catholic times, was the foremost shrine of the Blessed Virgin in Wales, where was preserved a renowned image of Saint Mary, with her Divine Child in her arms.
The few memorials that still exist of the ancient monastery of Pen Rhys ab Tewdwr are situated on the southern spur of a chain of hills known as Cefn Twyn, Rhondda, which separates the two valleys of the Rhondda.
Its remote situation has caused it to be overlooked by tourists, and even by historians and antiquaries, so that hardly any mention of it was to be found in books. At the middle of this century, some portions of Penrhys monastery existed, though incorporated with other modern erections and difficult to identify.
The present farmhouse of Penrhys had been erected on the site of the ancient monastery, the materials of which, appear to have been largely employed in its construction. Particularly the barn, that stands in a field near the house, and which is still called "V Fynwent " (the churchyard), was formed, to a considerable extent, out of portions of the ancient monastic buildings, one of the windows, and parts of the old walls of which, were, at that period, very discernible.
By 1875, however, the few remains had been ruthlessly swept away, in repairing the farm buildings. The only object of interest that still remained was the holy well. This still stood uninjured, & continued to attract numerous believers in the healing properties of its miraculous waters, which were said to have performed many remarkable cures in cases of rheumatism, king's evil, & other ailments.
It was simply a spring of pure water issuing copiously out of the grey sandstone of the coal measures, known to geologists as the Pennant rock --- and it did not appear to contain any chemical property that would be likely to account for its possession of any healing virtue.
The spring, Mr. Matthews pointed out, was entered by stone steps, and arched over; and at the back, above the spring, was a niche, in which it was probable that there stood, originally, an image of Our Lady of Penrhys.
Even such great authorities as Dugdale and Tanner omit all reference to this monastery, and there remain only a few allusions in the writings of medieval Welsh bards.
Traditional accounts existing in Glamorgan show that it was founded to commemorate the death, near this place, of the unfortunate Rhys ab Tewdwr.
Over his grave was erected a large tumulus, near the monastery, which was called Bryn y Beddau: the "hill of graves." Robert Consul, Earl of Gloucester, grandson of Prince Rhys, and an illegitimate son of King Henry I., was believed to have founded the monastic house for the repose of the soul of his grandfather, Rhys ab Tewdwr.
This would be some time about the year 1133. The monastery was said to have been largely endowed with lands in the Rhondda Valleys, and it appeared that it was a house of Franciscans. [Ed. since largely disproven]
If this were so, it would account for the fact that Owen Glyndwr honoured and protected Penrhys.... Glyndwr is said to have presided here at an eisteddfod, which Iolo Morganwg said was held "Yn Mynachlog Pen Rhys yn Nglyn Rhondda."
An ancient bardic composition refers to Penrhys, thus: "I will go to Penrhys in my smock, for fear of the day of trembling; at my side my pilgrim's scrip, and in my hand, a taper a fathom long." It will be remembered that it was Latimer who said that the images of Our Lady of Walsingham and of Ipswich "with their two sisters of Doncaster and Penrhys would make a jolly muster in Sm:thfield."
When Penrhys is electronically surveyed, and all the ancient secrets delineated, who knows what else might be found? Perhaps, the old monastery tunnels, or other treasures !
Only a modern stone statue and the little church now remain, and - unlike Walsingham - which was destroyed at the same time as Penrhys, and now attracts great wealth and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims & tourists each year in an ecumenical triumph of the Spirit;- Penrhys still stands on an unrealised tourism and wealth-generating goldmine unparalleled in Wales !
But perhaps the long wait is over:
Penrhys Partnership did excel themselves - so much was done - a Flying Start Scheme, youth apprenticeships, old age provision, plus so many other improvements it's difficult to count them, never mind remember each one; benches, with picnic tables, courses, shows... the list is endless!
Soon we'll be a much needed source of pride to the whole Rhondda & Wales...
So many good people now, are working hard for Penrhys ... and the future it deserves!
There is a new movement based on Faith, Strength and Unity...
Soon - very soon now - a new organisation to bring Hope and wealth to Penrhys' working class people: - brothers & sisters all - will rise from the ashes.
Please watch this space - and spread the news !!!
THE PROTECTION OF PRINCES
Two warrior Princes were buried on Penrhys, in a sitting position, to stare in defence of the Rhondda - one looked over the 'Fawr, and the other gazed to the East at the 'Fach.
Both were stolen by an archaeological expedition and removed to London in the early 20th Century.
The systematic stripping of the Rhondda's heritage has been a recurring theme in its long song......
Yet the people here still have its Spirit.
Long live the fire and Spirit of Penrhys!
THE WHITE HOUSE SPARROW OF PENRHYS (LIVES IN PEACE)
proves the beauty of Nature, as "he" has given birth to several babies !
Many thanks to Ivor Williams for supplying all the original video.
A mighty man !!!
FROM FORESTRY TO...?
the Forestry Commission is open to public access planning, and would welcome an orchard, or a "Green Gym" for example, started by locals.
The future is made by...?
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Dear folks
The Agroforestry and forest garden network continues to grow; more listings are being added all the time. If you need a reminder of how to access the list, see below.
This is an excellent way to get extra help to overcome problems or reinvigorate a project.
See https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/ product-category/courses/ for more information.
Regards Martin Crawford
Agroforestry Research Trust, 46 Hunters Moon, Dartington, Totnes, TQ9 6JT UK
If you would like your project listed, or a listing changed, just email us details! Best wishes for 2018
Agroforestry and
Forest Garden Network Updated link for network listing
Apologies if the link in the last update seemed to cause some problems. The updated network list can be viewed by logging in at
https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/about_us/network/ using the password: 27fgnet18
If you would like your project listed, or a listing changed, just email us details!
WEATHERMAN WALKING -- ON TO PENRHYS!
Good old Derek Brockway helps the world to explore our Shrine - and keep healthy - with Madelaine Gray adding fascinating, previously unmentioned, Welsh history!
Wasn't it beautiful to see the 3rd episode of 'The Story Of Wales' explain HOW important Penrhys was when its Shrine was truly open?
As the Consciousness and Unity of Penrhys grows, so the relative power of selfishness or cliques and gang-thinking will continue to shrink: and Penrhys will once more be able to stretch out its beautiful healing arms to the world again.
Perhaps the new Archbishop can break the log-jam (Everyone in the Rhondda knows that if the leaders of Cardiff Diocese want to, they can resurrect the Shrine of Mary & revitalise the Rhondda & Wales)
