Bro Y Drenewydd
Pigion Bro
- Pigion Bro
Newtown is one of the largest towns in mid Wales. It is a market town - and stands on a big arch on the river Severn.
Back in the early 1960s, the river overflowed on several occasions causing serious damage to old buildings in the town centre. The situation was so perilous that it was considered to leave the town to deteriorate, and move the population to nearby high land. But in 1965, the decision was made to save Newtown, change the course of the river - and spend extensively on flood defences.
New businesses were established, large housing estates were built and the population increased. But the history of Newtown begins before establishing the town itself - in Llywelyn ap Gruffydd's castle, Dolforwyn.
Penri Roberts and Dolforwyn Castle
Shân learns more about the history of Dolforwyn Castle in the company of Penri Roberts. Penri is more recognisable for his work with the Maldwyn Youth Theatre Company over the last 25 years. His work has been seen and heard in musicals such as Y Mab Darogan, Pum Diwrnod o Ryddid and Ann!, and the team have now established the Maldwyn Theatrical School to give young people the chance to get some theatrical experience.
Dolforwyn Castle was built by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd aka Llywelyn Our Last Leader, the Prince of Wales, in 1273 when he was at the peak of his power. There was a small town on the side of the castle which was built at the same time as the castle itself, it seems, and Penri takes Shân to the castle to talk about its history.
Ffonic - Rhys Morgan Jones, Esta Esslemont and Steve Leyland
Shân gets to know some of the members of the folk instrumental group Ffonic, who are practising for a performance at the Rhayader Festival. Ffonic was started back in September 2000 when 7 hopeful musicians came together to start practising in a kitchen. Since then, the members of Ffonic have increased and evolved and the group who play all types of folk music enjoy entertaining listeners at local musical festivals. Shân chats to Rhys Jones who has just joined Ffonic and plays the fiddle in the group, and also to Esta Esslemont and Steve Leyland who have been in the group for some years now.
Hywel Richards, taxi driver
Hywel Richards is originally from Llanbrynmair, but has worked in Newtown for years. He has previously worked as a welder in the Presco factory in the town and then worked as a barman in the Elephant & Castle for 21 years before deciding to drive taxis with Station Cars in the town 7 years ago. Hywel enjoys walking and is a member of the Waggon & Horses dominoes team. Shân joins him for a ride in the taxi and hears a few funny stories as Hywel shares a few secrets about his life as a taxi driver.
Dot Richards, member of Newtown Bowling Club
Shân gets the chance to meet Dot Richards, one of the members of Newtown Bowling Club. Originally from nearby Llanfair Caereinion, Dot now lives in Newtown. Dot's interest in playing bowls was originally down to her late husband, and she still loves playing bowls and represents the Newtown women's team in the league. The team play for the whole of mid Wales, and enjoy the game, whatever the result may be!
Mai Jones, Line Dancing Instructor
As Shân wanders around Newtown, she comes across Mai Jones and a group of line dancers in the Monty Club, who go by the name, "Monty Club Stompers".
Mai and her partner Daf have been running the Monty Club for two years - and in addition to helping with activities in the community like the carnival, Mai teaches line dancing at the club every Tuesday night. The line dancing originally started as a fun activity, so that the older members of the club could do some physical exercises, but the interest has grown and grown over the years and it has now become a very popular event at the club - so much so that the members are very disappointed if a lesson is cancelled for some reason!
Mai has been dancing for 20 years and competed also when she was younger, but the dancing has become a fun activity for her over the last years - and is something that the community can come together to do. Mai has dancers in her lessons whose ages range from 12 to 81 years, and it's a chance for every body to exercise their body on a weekly basis. Shân joins the Monty Stompers in a lince dancing lesson!
Tom Tudor - the Newtown Wool Marketing Board Centre
Iolo learns more about the history and importance of wool in Newtown when he meets Tom Tudor, a member of the North Wales Wool Board. He learns about the process of separating, grading and packing the wool before it is sold.
Nansi Ellis, the history of the Pryce Jones shop
Iolo learns more about the history of Pryce Jones as he talks to Nansi Ellis. Nansi is originally from Merionethshire, but has lived in Newtown since 1973. She was a travelling teacher, but has since retired and now enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
Pryce Jones was born in Newtown in 1834. He worked as an apprentice to local draper, John Davies, and took the reins of the business in 1856. The business grew to be a successful one under the name of "Royal Welsh Warehouse". In an attempt to sell his goods to as much people as he possibly could, he developed the idea of sending patterns of the goods to local gentry, which then led to sending lists of goods which were available from their own factory and other factories which were further afield, by later on also advertising overseas.
John Evans, Meccano collector
By calling in on a friend in Newtown, Iolo uncovers a secret about him! John Evans has been collecting Meccano since he was a child and he has a house full of Meccano sets by now! John travels regularly to all sorts of toy exhibitions which discuss Meccano, and has recently returned from an exhibition in Skegness. So much is his interest in Meccano that John has also travelled overseas to France to a Meccano exhibition!
John has now retired from his work with ADAS, the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, but continues to be very busy. He is very active in the community, and recently organised a sponsored walk over Wales to raise money for Mencap.
Siân Davies and the Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd rock group, "Da'n Gilydd"
Iolo gets the chance to "rock" a bit in the local school, Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd, which is Newtown's Welsh-language primary school. It has by now over a 100 pupils on its register. Iolo learns some more about Dafydd Llwyd and the school's recent successes from the Head Teacher, Siân Davies before chatting to the enthusiastic members of the school's rock band "Da'n Gilydd", as they prepare for an important performance in the school assembly.