.. Fairwater ..
... Move your cursor over photo to identify and click to enlarge ...
"I wonder if you can remember this grand building? ..maybe you held your wedding reception here or enjoyed a lovely meal "
Maes-Y-Rhiw Country House
The Earliest History
It is not known when the fields around Maes-y-Rhiw were first farmed; perhaps as long ago as the turbulent times of the roman invasion. There has certainly been a settlement on this site for many years and parts of the present house are thought to be over three hundred years old. The barn attached to the house is as old as four hundred years in parts and has been sympathetically converted to provide a large function room, complete with original wooden beams.
When the house was built, the area was sparsely populated and and almost completely Welsh speaking. The size of the building indicates some importance and, indeed, the farm land of Maes -Y- Rhiw once encompassed one hundred and thirty acres.
Raw Materials
Built of pennant sandstone from local quarries and oak timbers from the vast woodlands that once covered much of the area but disappeared under the tide of in-coming industry: first iron consumed huge quantities of wood in it's charcoal furnaces, then coal for pit props and supports. A `pistyll`` from the hillside behind the house was the the source of water supply for early inhabitants.
Sunrise
The house faces the sunrise and enjoys magnificent views over the Cwmbran Valley, Wentwood, the Severn estuary and Somerset.
The stone roof on the main house is over eighty feet long and must be one of the finest examples of this type of `mansion roof` in Gwent.
Un-invited Guests
During the war years of 1939-45, the Maes-y-Rhiw played `host` of a very different kind, as the house was used to hold prisoners of war. Some of these prisoners are reported to have damaged windows, presumably while attempting to escape. We hope that nowadays, as hosts no one will feel the need to take such drastic action>.In fact, we would wish for quite the opposite, and that everyone enjoys their time in our company.
All that You Expect.
We say that we are `everything a country inn should be` and we mean it. If it's a wedding reception, private function, business lunch, Sunday lunch or just a quiet and romantic meal for two, you will find we do our very best to make it a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable occasion.
.. Maes - y - Rhiw Country House ..
.. This Christmas card was commissioned by Mr. L. Booth and Mrs .J. Booth (Proprietors circa1980`s) ..
Malcolm Jones relates: This is a picture of Maes-y-Rhiw Farm House and was sketched by Fred Hando of the South Wales Argus newspaper. I lived at Maes-y-Rhiw until 1957.
.. Wedding of the Year? ..
Smiling `Newly Weds`, Nigel Thomas and Cath Mc.Carthy on their wedding day 22nd July 1989 - together with friends and Family members, pose for photographs, in front of the Maes - y - Rhiw Country House (now demolished),
Webmaster:- Any history or memories of the Maes - y - Rhiw (Field on the Hill ) ? please click here
.. Fairwater Junior Rugby Team ..
.. Winners of the Cwmbran schools - Lloyd and Pratt trophy 1991 ..
Back row are from top left: Carl Jenkins , Byron Lylls , Nathen Watkins , Paul Foxall , Andrew Harris , Alex Hicks,
Front
row from left: Keith Johns, Christopher Ford, Mark Williams , Daryl
Cook, Gareth Birden , Stephen Haycock, Jason Strange ...
.. Fairwater Comprehensive School - Rugby Team .. 1973/4
Back row L-R: John Healy, Paul Mills, Stephen Long, Stephen Caines, Martin Lewis.
Middle row:Stephen Shaw, Roddy Jenkins, Neil Jones, Mark Thomas, Andrew Osinton.
Front row: Gary Bamford, Hugh Todd, Mr. Lease, Gareth Gould, Bob Dorkin, Jim Akin, George Mortali.
.. Photograph contributed by Hugh Todd ..
.. Fairwater Comprehensive School - Football Team ..
Back row L-R: Mr.Williams (Dep. Head), ? , John Thomas, Carl Hatheral, Clive Jones, Bill Webb, Kevin Brown, ? , Mr. ? (Head) , Roger Skyrme.
Front row L-R: Gareth Powell, Steve Jenkins, Russell Jones, Tony Brown, Clive Parfitt.
.. Photograph contributed by Clive Jones, If you can fill in the missing names click here
Cathy Harper responds: The headmaster�s name was Norman Lease
Fairwater Comprehensive School
Is this your old school ? if so click here and tell us all about it, your memories, friends, etc.
- Date: 20th September 2012
- Name: James Murphy
- Email: [email protected]
Message
My name is James Murphy . I went to fairwater Comp school from 1974 � 1980 . I had an older brother � John Murphy , and a younger sister : Valerie Murphy .It sure would be nice to try and contact some of you former fellow pupils .
Message
I went to Fairwater Comprehensive School between the years 1988 - 1993. I enjoyed my time there and made many friends, some of whom I still see. Some of the teachers were nicer than others. I particularly remember Mr Skyrme, he was so sweet, his PE teacher wife was a bit scary though! Who could forget the lovely Mrs Lilly? Or the slightly scary Mrs 'typing' Taylor? I can't believe it's been 13 years since I left.
Do you remember `Archilles`?
.. Photographs contributed/showing Cathy Harper and her sister playing on the Steamroller .
Darren Powis relates:: These photographs are of the old steam traction engine that stood cold, steamless and fixed in concrete for many years, just off Fairhill, not far from The Threepenny Bit. If memory serves me right, it was there until sometime in the 1980s and disappeared when the area was redeveloped.We used to play on that old engine and it was great fun to imagine it rolling along! I can't imagine such a thing being allowed today with Health & Safety waiting to swoop on the `slightest little thing`. Thanks again, for bringing back some marvellous memories of the old home town!
Serial No. 10072 Weight Tons (kg) 8 ton
A brief history: Sold new to Bridgewater Rural District Council in April 1922, then to Somerset County council, and then to W.W.Bumcome of Highbridge, eventually ending up in a children's playground in Cwmbran. The present owners(July2006) purchased the roller in pieces in July 2004 and assembled it to working condition in just ten weeks including boiler test, completing the restoration in February 2005.
(source: Herefordshire Traction Engine & Vintage Club - Much Marcle Steam Rally programme July2006)
Tina Statton relates: My two sons, John and David, from Congleton Cheshire, bought the roller in July 2004. It arrived in pieces, like a big jigsaw on the back of a low loader; they had it for their 21st and 18th birthdays. It is now residing at The Klondyke Mill Preservation Centre at Draycot in the Clay in Staffordshire.
.... Rescued-Resurrected-Refurbished and Resplendent in all it's Glory! ....
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