Saint Harmon: Beili Bedw earthworks
Near the village of St Harmon, terraced into a western hill slope, lie the earthwork remains of a native Welsh medieval settlement. It consists of an extensive complex of enclosures and building platforms. Archaeological excavation produced finds which would suggest an earth or turf wall construction on a dry stone base of late medieval and early Tudor date. This represents one of the few native settlements of a medieval date to be excavated, most others being Anglo-Norman plantations. Beili Bedw lies in the commote of Gwrtheyrnion which became one of the extensive possessions of the Mortimer Marcher Lordship. (for more on Radnor lordships go to Rhwng Gwy a Hafren)
To see an aerial photograph of the earthworks on the Gathering the Jewels website click here.
[Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 38]
To see an aerial photograph of the earthworks on the Gathering the Jewels website click here.
[Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 38]
Saint Harmon: Church of St Garmon
Saint Garmon is thought to have founded a monastery in the 6th century which was active in the early medieval period. It is possible that this was sited within the circular churchyard here. Early monastic settlements were largely timber, thatch and wattle structures which would leave little behind. The parish church is not recorded before the 16th century. It was demolished in 1821 and replaced with a smaller simple stone building. The diarist Rev Francis Kilvert was vicar here in 1876-8. The church was renovated in 1908. It is said to be the last parish church in Radnorshire to hold services in Welsh. The photograph (right) shows the simple structure before the restoration of 1908.
[Haslam: Historic churches database]
[Haslam: Historic churches database]
Saint Harmon: Gilfach
Gilfach farmhouse in the Marteg valley is a Grade II listed building, notable for its longhouse plan, with timber-framed gable and rear extension, and 17th century timber-framed stone roof. On a site of Special Scientific Interest, also noted for its hanging Sessile Oak woodland and wildlife, especially birds of prey inc. Red Kite. Bought by Radnorshire Wildlife Trust to ensure preservation of the building and site. Restoration of the farmhouse to prevent its tumbling down was funded by the Welsh Wildlife Appeal.
[Country Life 1987]
[Country Life 1987]
Saint Harmon: Railway
Remote as this Marteg valley settlement is, geography did work in its favour for roughly a hundred years. When the Mid Wales Railway was built through the steep slopes of North Radnorshire, the valley offered the least difficult route and so the community was connected to the great rail network from the 1860s.
One local man who made regular use of the train service was the diarist Rev. Francis Kilvert who was vicar of St Harmon parish but lodged in Rhayader. The photograph (courtesy of the Radnorshire Museum) shows St Harmon station in its last days in the 1950s.
One local man who made regular use of the train service was the diarist Rev. Francis Kilvert who was vicar of St Harmon parish but lodged in Rhayader. The photograph (courtesy of the Radnorshire Museum) shows St Harmon station in its last days in the 1950s.
Salwey, Richard (fl.1567)
The son of Edmund Salwey who had married into a family from Burghill in Herefordshire. Richard Salwey was a first cousin to Sir Robert Acton and was deputy when the knight was sheriff of Montgomeryshire, serving also as chief steward to the Actons’ lordship of Deythur. He married the daughter of Sir Edward Croft of Croft Castle in Herefordshire who was himself sheriff of Herefordshire. These important connections would have helped him secure own position as sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1567.
[W.V. Lloyd - the Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire]
[W.V. Lloyd - the Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire]
Sandbach, Maj-Gen. Arthur Edmund (1859-1928)
Of Bryngwyn, Bwlchycibau, Montgomeryshire. Born in 1859 at Hafod-un-nos, the family's Denbighshire seat, he inherited Bryngwyn on his aunt's death in 1903. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich and first commissioned in 1879. He took part in his first campaign in Egypt in 1882 and served in the battle at Tel-el-Kebir. He served in campaigns in the Sudan and Burma in the next few years before becoming aide-de-camp to the commanding officer of the Hazara expedition in 1891. In the Nile campaign of 1898 he was once again in the thick of the fighting, serving as a garrison commandant and then on the headquarters staff and taking part in the battle of Khartoum. For his part in the campaign he was promoted to Lt.Colonel. He briefly filled the position of Military Secretary to the Viceroy of India before being drafted to South Africa on the outbreak of the Boer War.
During the South Africa campaign he fought in many battles and won the DSO. He took a major part in the campaign to lift the siege of Ladysmith. After the war he spent a while at the War Office and in India before being appointed Chief Engineer for Ireland. In 1914 he went to France as Chief Engineer to the British Expeditionary Force. He was made commandant of Le Havre and his efficient evacuation of the port led to his promotion to Major-General. In 1916 he was sent with the 59th Division to put down the Irish rising and finished the war with the division back in France. He retired from the army in 1919 after 40 years service.
He was actively involved in public life in Montgomeryshire becoming a magistrate in 1897 and serving as sheriff of the county in 1919. In the post war period he was very concerned in the welfare of ex-servicemen and was involved in the amalgamation of veterans' groups into the British Legion serving as the President of the Welsh area. He was involved in the Boy Scout movement and was a governor of the University College of North Wales.
He married the Hon. Ina Douglas Pennant, daughter of the second Baron Penrhyn in 1902.
[Montgomeryshire County Times, 30/6/1928; M/D/SAND]
During the South Africa campaign he fought in many battles and won the DSO. He took a major part in the campaign to lift the siege of Ladysmith. After the war he spent a while at the War Office and in India before being appointed Chief Engineer for Ireland. In 1914 he went to France as Chief Engineer to the British Expeditionary Force. He was made commandant of Le Havre and his efficient evacuation of the port led to his promotion to Major-General. In 1916 he was sent with the 59th Division to put down the Irish rising and finished the war with the division back in France. He retired from the army in 1919 after 40 years service.
He was actively involved in public life in Montgomeryshire becoming a magistrate in 1897 and serving as sheriff of the county in 1919. In the post war period he was very concerned in the welfare of ex-servicemen and was involved in the amalgamation of veterans' groups into the British Legion serving as the President of the Welsh area. He was involved in the Boy Scout movement and was a governor of the University College of North Wales.
He married the Hon. Ina Douglas Pennant, daughter of the second Baron Penrhyn in 1902.
[Montgomeryshire County Times, 30/6/1928; M/D/SAND]
Sayce, George Ethelbert (1875-1953)
Reporter, Builth Wells, and newspaper proprietor. Sayce was born in Monmouthshire and attended King’s College, London. He was a journalist in the North of England before acquiring the Brecon & Radnor Express in 1914. He took over the Brecon County Times in 1933 incorporating the titles into The Brecon & Radnor Express and County Times. He was involved in other businesses around Builth and was Chairman of Builth Urban District Council. He was Sheriff of Breconshire twice and a long serving JP.
[WBO; CAO B/X/23, B/X/23/81-85]
[WBO; CAO B/X/23, B/X/23/81-85]
Sayce, Roderick Urwin (1890-1970)
Anthropologist; early education at Welshpool; studied geology and anthropology at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; wounded in France during First World War; returned to finish studies and got M.A.; Professor and Head of Geography and Geology, University College of Natal, 1921-7; lecturer in Physical Anthropology and Material Culture, Cambridge University, 1927-35; Keeper of Victoria Museum, Manchester University, 1935-57; retired 1957; editor of MC, 1930-66; elected vice-president of Powysland Club, 1966.
[MC 61, pp.168-170]
[MC 61, pp.168-170]
Scull, Rev. John (d.1652)
John Scull held the living of Presteigne from 1610/11 until his death in 1652. Little is known of his early life though a John Scull in mentioned in a will of the Meredith family of NW Radnorshire and the Crofts of Croft Castle had distant relatives who were Sculls. He may thus have been a local man of good connections. He was presented to the living of Presteigne in 1610/11 by Humphrey Cornewall of Stapleton. He was appointed vicar and received the lesser tithes, the rectory being in lay hands. In 1627 Robert Harley sold it to the feoffees who at that time were a group of local men of puritan inclinations who used the great tithes to fund puritan lecturers in London. This was declared illegal and the rectory passed to the crown in 1632. At about this time there was friction between Scull and his parishioners who petitioned the crown for his removal on the grounds of his frequent absence from Presteigne. He was granted the rectory by Charles I in 1639 with the stipulation that he resided continuously in Presteigne. Although unpopular with local puritans he was not removed by the authorities during the Commonwealth. After his death in 1652 the feoffees regained control and later granted £39 to his widow. This would seem to suggest there was less hostility in Presteigne than many other parishes at this time.
[Keith Parker - article in Presteigne Parish Magazine]
[Keith Parker - article in Presteigne Parish Magazine]
Severne, Thomas (1664-1737)
Like many of the Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire, Severne was of a Shropshire based family which acquired property in the county. He was recorded as of Wallop and Rhosgoch and became Sheriff of Montgomeryshire at the age of 32 in 1696. He also served as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to William III. He died at the age of 89 and was buried in Westbury.
[MC 64]
[MC 64]