I am researching my uncle, Reginald Lambert, who was killed on the Western Front 1916 and has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Synghenydd War Memorial and also on the Thiepval Memorial in France. For my mother (91), his only surviving sibling, we are putting together a "presentation" on her brother who was killed 6 months before her birth.
Your photos of Synghenydd, old and new, have been a wonderful discovery, only today. Thank you so much for helping to give us more detail for our project.
Regards
Arnold Kingston
Arnold Kingston | 11.15.08 - 9:05 am | #

how wonderful to leave a legacy for those to come. History has come alive for me by exploring my family tree.
Good luck with your project !!!
Lorraine
lorraine tozer | 03.06.09 - 11:50 am | #

The Lord of Senhenydd complained to Llewellyn Bach that de Clare was encroaching on his land, by building Caerphilly Castle. So Llewellyn burnt it down (it was made of wood at that time).
King Edward realised that the location was perfect for a permanent castle to prevent the West Welsh from joining the East Welsh (the Welsh had a habit of switching sides when any one leader beacme too powerful - which ruin alliances they might have formed - particularly if it was with Edward). So, he finance the castle that now stands for de Clare (though he later seized it for the crown). He then built a series of castles up the middle of Wales, to continue that strategy. Apparently, it helped. So Sengenydd was, inadvertantly, responsible for the conquest of Wales.
No doubt I've got some of these facts wrong, I read a history of the conquest, written by (I think) W. E. Davis, Head of Hist. Dept., Oxford University, published 1901. I no longer have a copy of the book and my memory ain't good.
On the subject of books, you should obtain a copy of "Aber Valley" by Elias E. Evans, published 1987, by Village Publishing (ISBN 0 946043 18 3). I wouldn't put too much faith in the written word; Elias (who was my uncle) was a lovable crook who liked to tell stories. However, there a several photographs that may be useful to you - if you can obtain copies.

Cheer .. Dai Vaughan
Dai Vaughan | 06.07.09 - 8:50 pm | #