Epynt without people ...and Much More

We shall assemble (SLOWLY UNDERWAY ) our few pictures and Tales to record the impact and change to Heritage, Language, way of life & Culture which eliminated a lifestyle & moved a Rural Wales Region 28 miles further from England,

We shall assemble the life pattern, language & existance which suddenly became removed from Eppynt Mountain Range.

The language came from Brythonic which became Welsh & sending a complete community of Welsh speakers to suddenly live amongst English Language speakers is a social impact itself.

What appeared a long research period & findings of a cultural change became conveniently lost & St Fagans never really seems inclined to feature the factual records, perhaps not in their interest.

After recording the actual data, so much seems to be placed under other records to avoid presenting the destructon of a unique cuture as being flung aside.

Had this occured nowadays, it wd have been described as ethnic or rather cultural cleansing & decisions were taken at faraway desks.

That message to "move out by" the circa 250 residents was delivered in a Khaki Painted Hillman vehicle driven by a young Army Lady Driver, from which stepped a fresh young new officer to advise leaders of a decided date by when all residents had to have vacated their homes.

Around 40 yrs ago Ronald Davies collated so much data in a paperback, last week it was being sold for Pennies at a Carmarthen Library & my wife , Janet could not let it lay around in the pile of books, so I have 'used it' & I have gleaned so much information, this is not for my own ego but added out of respect for his efforts & it shall at least let information be available or a few more years.

We shall show what WAS there & the Ministries would love to see forgotten, then the who paid for Churches, chapels, who lived where & when & how they became evicted, later the 1948 to 1953 inc Largest British Mainland TT Circuit which it became where Silver Dragons Trophies were raced for.

This after all is the tract of land and Altitude from where Wild Horses emerged, EPONA pronounced Epp oh nay, the Pagan Goddess of Horses, we say Wild Horses. Welsh Cobs you see in the Royal Welsh Show?, here is from where they emerged & Epynt became named after that Goddess, an extra P to become Eppynt was added to help it later be pronounced by incomers. It is also where the term PONY originated, however I'm sure you knew that.

All to turn this beautiful area to a Artillery & Army Training range where all Original Locations plus buildings, structures such as Cemetery, Churches Chapels & farms & even Inn remained.

The Welsh names of Highways etc like all other Welsh names describe & record what & why they are called so, all had their location & description expressed in Welsh which could not be understood, expressed or used by incoming troops & Army planners, hence gradually, for monoglotic convenience rather than Historic reason, easier for English speakers terms became applied, Piccadilly Circus, Burma Road, Gardiners Way etc. bearing a loss of those old names which related to historic use & occupancy of the Mountain Region, Welsh language as well became erased there.
Welsh names became conveniently phased out & adjusted to what is nowadays used in Army manoeuvres, Rallies, Road Trials etc.

Look back at what St Fagans Folk Museum initiator & Founder Dr Iorweth Peate earnestly travelled to Epynt, from Cardiff, Daily to record the change & eviction of Eppynt Mountain range's 249 residents, only for us to find his records had perhaps conveniently been somehow placed aside or discarded.

Ministerial influence perhaps to help forget occurrences, the same as the Treweryn Valley flooded to provide water for the Planned Industrial Area around Cheshire & Lancashire which never actually emerged. "Cofia Treweryn" Welsh for Remember Treweryn has long been an expression used in Wales, Treweryn matters always seem discouraged or they may perhaps embarrass Governmental sources.

Let us start with a picture of Cilieni School of 1907, then 1915 then 1920's then Cefnarthen School 1934 to make the first dash from past. we shall provide quite a few as the site progresses, faded in extreme but all that can be traced.

To bring Epynt into perspective, a look into an old book assembled by Ronald Davies tells of when His father & wife's grandmother took part in leather staining.
Mr Rees Price of Cwmpistyll, Merthyr Cynog recall the Oil works in use, a 'Gambo' often driven by Rees Price who when younger worked at Gorllwyn Farm, transported loads to Verdre Villa.
Bark was run through a shredder type device placed then in lagoons of water for 2 or 3 weeks until the acid content had been dissolved, then placed in barrels & transported to Tanneries.
Locally there was no Tannery as such, so Llandovery became the destination.
As years went by other products emerged & another Rural industry disappeared along with the Corn Mill at Crown Mill, Woollen Mill at Glangwyddwrig plus another Corn Mill at Gutto Mill.
Bark from Oak trees was the material used, any felling provided a source of work & earnings for women & children.
When learned Archaeologists set about recording how Epynt Society Patterns functioned they stumbled upon fragments of broken pottery & crockery galore, of many types, ages plus places of origin along so many paths from transporting Roads to homesteads plus farmhouses.
They became absolutely baffled regarding sources & finally had to consult an old surviving ex resident to be informed that broken crockery would never be discarded or thrown away up on Epynt.
People returning & Children from schooling had to find their ways home from roads along where clouds could roll with little warning & cover Epynt in mist, fog, 'with bad weather & wintry conditions or darkness this made it treacherously difficult to avoid getting lost so Paths were marked & enhanced as best the Epynt dwellers could. Archaeologists thought a little more deeply thereafter over a Society which had been erased & has little recorded.
Earlier records of Ownership plus deeds had been mislaid whether deliberately or not, a man living near Cefnarthnen Chapel, William Jones loved to converse with anyone to tell them he had forgotten when his100th Birthday had passed, he claimed to own the field opposite Glangwennol & wd tell anyone whom he could that hs wife had inherited it from her Grandmother & since she had previosly passed away, few could dispute such a claim, the Field was called Waun Gwraig y Crydd. (The Cobbler's wife 's meadow) Author Ronald Davies's Grandfather advised him he had been ploughing at the age of 7 using Oxen, Wiilliam Jones became known as Hen Shone y Crydd, Old good friend of the Cobbler!!.
What few nowadays consider thinking of is the pre 1867 Carmarthenshire & elsewhere Old Ty Unos method of placing a home on Common land which had became illegal after the Middle Ages,
Still acted upon in the barren & exposed Epynt Mountains area as long as rules covering decency in assembly & recording such were observed.
Often by even around 50 or so friends, family & folk who considered the building of a home on such a site by late afternoon taking the parts plus material, naturally preparation & prefabrication of trusses & poles, the poles often 6 in number wd define the area plus size of the initial home, sides hurriedly placed there consisting of Stones plus soil & turf, by nightfall a fire had been lit & even the following morning the smoke through a roof hole would indicate to all who could see from miles around that a home had been built, more smoke the more could see what had been done & a table wd be a prerequisite, on it would rest a Bible.
As many as possible visitors would come on that first Day, so few recall that this is where the "House Warming" term emerged.
It was expected the new home owner would by 12 Noon be providing a repast for those who helped & a wet day could see a crowd within a new smokey home, after the meal the Claiming Ceremony would take place.
The Houseowner would stand by the front door with an axe or hammer in his hand, to throw as far as he could, the length of throw would be measured & he would be entitled to enclose yardage to correspond. (Since only families & friends would witness or measure hurling distances some amazing feats of strength or cheating could have been recorded!!)
Several such homes were fire risks from the start however once owned, 'improvements could follow'.
Wales overall had many premises stemming from the Ty Unos system.
In 1800's common or unenclosed land saw a move to be enclosed & by 1867 the 10 Farms or so of the area had allocations of such land in relation to the existing size per farm.
Breckonshire section though had been earlier enclosed by 1857.
If you think the Epynt people enterprising, take a look at the Marquess of Camden, in possession of 502 acres, largely woodland, known as Alltddu from which commoners could take firewood.
Sir Charles Morgan who became Lord Tredegar had been awarded 20 acres with David Rice Rees of Llandovery being given the 15 acres remaining unclaimed. the 10 Farms granted a share of Carmarthenshire were 1, Penrhiw, 2, Maesybwlch, 3, Felin Cae Crin, 4, Cwmronen, 5, Cwmsidan, 6, Cwm Mawr, 7, Cwm Ffynnon, 8, Llwynberllan, 9, Cefnpwllhen, 10, Troedrhiw (Halfway).
Common land then became fenced & each farm improved a little by acreage.
From the 1700 over 100 people lived on Cefnarthen Common, nowadays there hardly seems an occupied dwelling.

Cefnarthan Common became enclosed for MoD useage & whentravelling from Glangwydderig to Clwyd Watch, 3 miles along A40 you can turn thru Pentrebach climbing steadily upward past Cwm Forchog to a Y junction where the lower roadleads to Cefnarthen Chapel, take the upper road to Clwyd Watch which marks an entrance to the Artillery Range which is what the common had become.
Properties which disappeared.

Ochrcefn: A Cottage of which no visible trace remains on Cae Brutus Fields near Pentrebach Village 1841, Agricultural Worker Rees and wife Margaret Lewis plus their 3 children lived there.

Pantyffynnon & Waunlas: 2 Cottages on the same field near the above have no surviving records.

Cwmmawr: House which still stands, a smallholding on the Cefnarthen Chapel Road Where in 1841 Schoolmaster William, his wife Anne Jenkins & their 2 children lived there, the vestry of Cefnarthen Chapel was used as the school.

Pantglas: Smallholdingin 1841 Daniel & Anne Job of Pensionable age dwelt there, no further info.

Waunbwch: Again no trace of the premises, originally a small farm below Cwmmawr in Pwllhen Woodlands. Last listed to live there was A Magdalen Hughes, Waunbach who regularly attended Cefnarthen Chapel 1864 to 1869 followed by Margaret Lewis 1872 to 1873.

Cwmffynnon: Unoccupied 60 acres farm, in 1970's farmed with Cwrtygollen. In 1861 Retired Schoolmaster William & Anne Jenkins lived there with son Thomas age 30 their son who was a horse driver. 1881 David Lewis & his second wife Anne came to retire there from Gwarllwyn, he was great great grandfather to the late Author Ronald Davies.

Troedrhiwgoch: House name Ty Betty, no trace today, in 1841 William and Elizabeth Jones & 4 children lived there, Elizabeth lived to over 100.

Llwyncelyn: Alongside the road to Cefnarthne Chapel in 1841 Anne Jones of 44 yrs with her mother Margaret Jones of 99 yrs lived there.

Llanerchlas: No really significant trace exists house near Cefnarthen Chapel, burnt down in 1966. Site conveniently cleared to serve as Car Park for the Chapel. Back in 1841 Rev.Edward Jones , Blaenglyn lived there, minister of Cefnarthen & Pentretygwyn Chapel since 1835, he died of Tuberculosis late in 1841.

Tanrallt: Last to live here at the dwelling sometimes called Cefnarthen Cottage, members of Cefnarthen Chapel Samuel & Elinor Davies from 1863 to 1872, it stood in the field ofCwrtygollen by Pentrebach Bridge.

Ty Toby: also called Rhyddlan: No records survive.

Ty Nancy: On Cwmsidan, also no records survive.

Gwaryffynnon: Smallholding nr Maesybwlch, no written data however the Mother of Ronald davies recalled a Walter Bland dwelling there, using a Donkey & cart to travel around buying skins & selling Dishes plus ornaments.

Penycefn: Smallholding nr Gwarffynnon. 1841 records show Rees & Francis Price and 3 children living there.

Cwmronen: 31 Acres, without firm trace, a large sheep shed has been built on the spot & it is now part of Cwmsidan. Ronald davies's Great great Grandmother was born there in 1790. in 1808 she married William Davies, Blaengwyn 1788 - 1877, they lived at at Blaengwyn until 1816when they moved to Bwlchgwyn. 1835 they moved from Bwlchgwyn to Troedrhiw, then again that same year toEsgair berfedd, next in 1834 on to Ffosywhyaid. They had 5 sons William, David, Joseph, (Daniel died when 9 years old) and one daughter Anne. In 1858 they returned to Troedrhiw to live with eldest son, William & his wife Hannah. Ruth died in 1860 & her name has been carried on in the family including as far as Ronald Davies's own daughter. Lastly in 1841 William & Sarah Mathias with five children lived there.

Felin Caecrin: 12 Acres now in ruins, an old corn mill where in the mill pond as a lad Ronald davies'sGrandfather david Lewis used to catch blood sucking leeches!!!. Miller Evan Powell lived there with his wife Mary lived here with his 95 yrs old Mother in 1841 along with William Jones a 10 years old Mill Servant. (Gwas y Felin)

Dyfed/Powys boundary is crossed shortly prior to Maesybwlch & here the view across Glyn Valley to East & Gwennol Valley to the West, Conifer coverage vast shrouding areas where farms, Homesteads plus Hamlets are now shielded from sight, a way of life forcibly removed from Hills.
The stream tumbles along Gwennol from it's source at Pantybrisiwn runs to join Gwydderig at Pentrebach. Gwennol in English means the swallow, there is always a clue to what happens in Welsh & when the entire area became renamed for the convenience of folk who could not understand or utter the original info, one simply has to forgive their reason. Another source called Ffynnon Grech supplies through Pantybrisiwn where Forestry Commission Planting swiftly occured, trickles on via Cwm Llyn Gwennol Farm onto the range & borders as a natural boundary between Maesyfforch Gorllwyn, Troedrhyw & Craigyrwyddon where another small stream the Tridwr merges with it & runs on down toanother division between Tyncwm & Maesygwaelod, here it forms the County Boundary of Dyfed & Powys.
Dyfed's divide extends over the river to Maesybwlch along a Dingle named Cwm Capel atop here is a field Cae Capel, both suggestive of a form of Chapel of the past here, sadly no definite stone structural remains can be readily discerned. The word Cefnarthan with "arthan" or "erthen" meaning the ridge of the little Bear Cub had also been applied & from the times when the Brown Bear still was present in Wales.
Cefnarthan Common was of 1700 acres & by 1774 it was agreed 160 acres were in Carmarthenshire.
Naturally the acres given to Carmarthenshire had little water sources other than Gwennol however 3 springs were known to be near the aforementioned ridge Ffynnon Llwyn y Brwyn, Ffynnon Ddu & Ffynnon Pen y Graig.
Present road known from Heol y Genffordd (the road on the side of the ridge) was the Old Drovers route along waterholes heading for Tirabad from Pentrebach.
Lords of various Manors along Breconshire & Carmarthenshire in 18th Century via their Agents came into disputes & litigation with farmers & dwellers over ownerships.
Cefnarthan Chapel had been built on the common in 1680's as were Llanerchlas, Llwyncelyn & Troedrhiwgoch with it's first Minister Rev. Rhys Prytherch of Ystrad Walter whose son Daniel was tenant of Maesybwlch Farm.

Above pic. 1920's Cilieni School, the Eisteddfodau & cultural aspects became suddenly shattered over what seemed an unimportant area to the inhabitants where Music and Song with practice plus religions, societies, skills & all associated to that region so unimportant & insignificant to people who peered over a map when far away from the area.
Think of the meanings in the names Tirabad, (Land of the Monks)& it is believed a Monastry was there in 1165 & Rhys ap Gruffydd donated the entire Parish Strata Florida just across from Epynt & the learned Brothers became Clerks & recorded all relating to the land plus produce etc. The Ash tree (Pren Onnen) was plentiful here & Spite Inn came from Ysbyty & was a Hospital for the Monks from Strata Florida, with Crwys inn being Cross Inn originally.
In 1588 Queen Elizabeth presented the entire Tirabad Parish to Richard Wymark and his heirs.
By 1700 it had passed to the hands of the Sakville Gwynne family of Glanbran (Clean crow!)
Cynghordy plus Panybrinsiwn along with Lannfair ar y Bryn. The Tirabad Farms according to the 1838 survey for the Tithe Commutation Act was found to be owned by a Mr Thomas Protheroe & no tithes went to the church, however their values were paid to William Henry Binney & William Tetley Hibbert of Lincoln's Inn, land & property passed to London's Important folk like monopoly game property. Below see the farm list of 1838.
The Historic descriptive Welsh terms were soon to become hidden behind easy for Army derived terms which meant very little.
Dr Iorwerth Peate, instigator & founding force of St Fagan Folk Museum with it's purpose how the records he earnestly made of the people moving out leaving closed windows without curtains must have meant much & when he met a family with a loaded Cart leaving via Hirllwyn the tearful old lady urged him to hasten back to Cardiff since the World was ending at Epynt.

1934 Cilieni School above, 1935 Cefnarthen School below

Below you shall see the Drovers Arms which remains on the road, an old Drovers Route to the Marches, you will see faded image of the Llangamarch Horse Fair advertised & the virtual Last Pint being served in the bar of the Drovers Arms before Catherine the Landlady & Owner was sent to live in sheltered accom. with her son who had only one arm, the change & displacement saw her die so very quickly after leaving & the term Broken Heart was quickly applied.

Let us look around Farms Chapels & Churches & later we shall place how the congregations Paid for and funded these premises, there is a great deal to follow, Cefn Bryn Isaf Farm & family of around a century ago, below that is how it became then after rebuild.

Y Babell paid for by the folk who attended.

Aberebwll Farm below with a lapsed Y Babell above with below Y Babell image the people who cleaned their Chapel for the last time prior to being evicted.

Above pic shows those involved ensuring their Chapel was left cleaned for the last time, time & pride.
Below more people being moved from their Epynt Mountain for MOD to take over there.

WE SHALL EMBARK ON COVERING THE ORIGINS OF THE 3 CHAPELS:- Cefnarthen, Pentre ty Gwyn & Bethesda and add to this text as findings progress.
one of the highest points in the locality is Castell Craigyrwyddon, on the side of a steep Hillside above Gwennol Valley. Built of stone though not as a Fort or Castle but a rock escarpment with a cave entry througha rock slit, derived from Craig y Derwyddon (The Druid's Rock) Woad was actuall not the blue emulsion type coatings referred to in 'History' but a colouring from the old Oak Bark & across the Valley the ancient Briton Camp on Berthddu had connection with rituals at the Craig y Derwyddon Castell, currrently the rocks have been moved to seal entry to a chamber the size of a small Barn.
Here the first noted Welsh Dissenter Worshipped & from 1639 to circa 1659 these cult or sect members were harshly hunted.
1650 saw an act of propagation by the Gospel in Wales for the Dissenters which by 1664 became Conventicle Act, passed to make it illegal for more than 5 persons to assemble for worship.
Those not observing Church of England practices could suffer penalties which included Transportation as slaves to West Indies.
One can see the value of a Worship location straight across the valley from base.
1630's had severe rules on worship outside Church of England requirements & even a Gate en route between both locations became known as Glwyd y Watch, Church of England watchers would wait there to count plus identify those passing to the Cave/Castell.
Nowadays a cattle grid has replaced the old Gate at the entry of the Sennybridge Army Range, a short way along on the track to Troedrhiw farm is Glwyd Gas (the gate of Nastiness). Lore has it that here was actions of imposition & fervour plus oppression between religious groups in transit or opposing.
Minister at such services was Revd. Jenkin Jones of Llanddety between Talybont on Usk & Llangynidr, who was arrested in 1680 as leader of illegal worshippers.
Subsequently Revd. Henry Maurice became leader & the number of people attending grew immensely until he died in 1682, his assistant, Revd. Rhys Prytherch of Ystradwalter then took charge & as elsewhere in Wales, common people would not be dictated to on how and where to worship.
(The old joke is that if 2 Welshmen were on a desert island they would build 2 churches to be able to say there was one where they would never go)
1665 saw the outset of the Five Mile Act, releasing laws of collective worship outside established Churches, Charles 2, as long as it was further than 5 miles from a Built Parish Church, worshippers could help CoE dispense with the Dissenters beginning to increase in and around towns & Cities!.
Craigyrwyddon worshippers were thus able to build their own & Cefnarthen Chapel, built in a field, away from villages & on Cefnarthen Common, Licenced & persecuted Nonconformist Preachers instantly became legal(Pregethwrau).
Sometime in 1680's The Chapel was to be hurriedly built to make use of the Act of Tolerance & it lasted around a hundred years. today can be seen the 3rd such building there from 19th Century.
In 1795 the first building at Cefnarthen was taken down, it was rebuilt & the assembly was from August 1799, the first meeting after rebuild collected almost £61.00, appointing Mr Rees Morgans of Cwrtebach is recorded as having buried 8 of their elders who were the most useful of the congregation. (Nicely put, no pun intended)
By 1854 the building became less than required for the level and number of worshippers & a collection became launched to rebuild. Sums and Names involved shall follow. Ronald Davies's great Grandfather William Davies of Troedrhiw was the treasurer & organise of a Collection which in 1854 reached £206 - 12 - 8& one half pence.
Below you see just the START of Contributors then to the Collection.

That total amount in harsh times of people with extremely limited earning is quite surprising.
Pentretygwyn,Cefnarthen plus Halfway by 1970 had only 40% of the 1850 levels of homestead inhabitants.
Chapel Memberships between 1807 & 1830 had 200 people made to be MEMBERS. 1783 to 1787 saw 32 Children Christened. Next, between 1788 & 1814 the number ros to 300 Children, this from 20 July 1814 to end of October 1833 had Reverend Jenkin Morgan christening 573 Children from a catchment area of Myddfai, Cynghordy, Llandovery, Siloh even to Garthlwyd & Rosgoch Farms of Caeo Parish.
1688 had seen the freshly Ordained Chief Minister for Breckonshire Churches, covering several Congregations.
Rees Prytherch passed on in 1699 for Rev. Roger Williams, Cefnrhosan, Sennybridge to take over along with his main Chapel at Cwm y Glo, Merthyr Tydfil until 1730 when he died & was followed by his son Rev. John Williams, assisted by similarly named Pastor John Williams who in fact was of the same family.
Armin beliefs beliefs were prominent with both the latter & the Doctrine of John Armin was adhered to & it's difference with Calvinistic Doctrine soon brought conflict.
Calvinists appointing Rev. David Thomas to maintain strong opposition between doctrines.
When Rev. John Williams died a young man in 1742, Calvinist Base moved from Cefnarthen toa Farmhouse at Glynpentan which became a licenced lace of worship for local man Rev. Owen Rees until 1756 when he left to continue at Aberdare until he passed on in 1768.
Congregation at Glynpentan then embarked on building their own New Chapel at Pentre ty gwyn, completed by 1750.
Famous William Williams, Pantycelyn and his mother donated land confirmed by deed, which was signed by William Williams & Dorothy Williams plus Rev. Owen Rees & members in 1749.


(AT TIME OF WRITING THE CONTRIBUTION LISTS ARE STILL AT THE FOOT OF THIS PAGE< TO BE MOVED UP WHEN TIME ALLOWS ME)

BELOW see the Shepherd (Y Bugail) called Billy Boy sadly leaving his home called Tafarn y Mynydd (Mountain Tavern).
Right across Epynt runs one of the Drovers Roads, starting from Llywel, going via Tafarn y Mynydd, a mile from here they would get good water at Ffynon Dafydd Bevan spring for the stock then on to a refreshing ford at Erwood via the Drovers Arms.
Alternatively enter Eppynt at Garth to head for Upper Chapel to suddenly come upon Drovers Arms nowadays as it has been kept in far better than it's original condition.
Geese, Cattle, Sheep from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddyn) & Ceredigion, the latter came via Cynghordy over Cefn Llwydlo to Llandulas, then over Epynt to Tir-mynydd, with many stops on the road to London (Llundain).
Billy Boy's home Tafarn y mynydd remains could today be with difficulty found after finding Ffynon. (Opposite where the source of the Bran rises to flow eastwards & join the Usk at Aberbran).
Travel eastwards from the village of Cefngorwydd, past Cynala farm or alternatively use the Hewl Goch track northward above Cwmcynog, Llanfihangel Nant Bran from where you wd need all terrain or 4 wheel drive or horseback transport, on foot it wd take a rather fit person.!
Tafarn y mynydd had in it's past seen Welsh Country characters, meet, slake thirsts & relish company plus wit.
Long gone were those days & William Probert lived here, ever & always termed Billy Boy & his nephew John Williams known as John Tafarn would relish anything alcoholic!.
Llanwrtyd Wells & Llangammarch Wells were regular haunts, whilst Billy could sleep overnight in a hedgerow guarded by 2 sheepdogs!.
Billy's journey to collect his new suit at Llanwrtyd Wells & subsequent tour of libation saw him arrive home having misplaced his new suit & duly he set out towards Cefnogrwydd & encounterd advice that Calvinistic Methodist Minister Rev Evans (known as Ifans Gorwydd) had found a similar suit.
Billy located the minister & thankfully took possession again of his lost suit, announcing thankfully in Welsh how fortunate it had been to be found by a servant of God, since if the Devil's Servant (Gwas y Djavol) had stumbled upon it, he would never have heard of it again.
At Camarch HoteL in Llangammarch Wells he saw a cook setting out a cooked fish for dinner, to be told that it was for the Gentlemen staying at the Hotel, when serving time came & the food was to be collected it was found that Billy Boy had eaten it all & when challenged over what could be told to the Gentlemen due to receive portions Billy announced they should be told it had been eaten by another gentleman!.
Nearby valley of Llandilo'r Fan dweller was a farmer who regularly passed Tafarn y mynydd & was rather inquisitive as to the condition and state of how the House was kept & how they dined etc & announced after knocking at their door & getting an answer that he was very Hungry.
Billy wd not admit him but stated that he could dine with them & would check the Broth (cawl) which was cooking.
Billy returned to the door and declared the repaste to be virtually ready since all the snails had come to the top & the intrusive famer found a sudden need to leave.
Tramps were common, making their way over Epynt, looking for work at Rhayader Reservoir or with a meal available for some task or a barn to sleep as a work reward, often these Tramps were basically inebriate persons.
One very large & over refreshed example of these was spotted heading towards Tafarn y mynydd & the 2 dwellers locked the door, to have it hammered upon with threats it would be smashed down & the inhabitants killed. Billy and John hid behind the door and called the culprit in only to strike him heavily as he entered, knocking him out, they dragged him away for him to wake up well from their home & make his way away.
A visit to Llanwrtyd Wells it is said saw a confrontation with a preacher (prgethwyr) who warned Billy of the perils which lurks in the bottle & that he had been shocked to hear that Billy had been too drunk to ride his grey pony with a black striped rump home & had slept in the manger of the Hotel Stable.
Billy's response to thwart that preacher's condemnation was that a far greater man than he had slept in a manger.
Having lived upon a hill, Billy was regarded & with admired wit & termed a worthy Prime Minister of Epynt, he had according to Ronald Davies & others met the requirements of what Grey's Elergy described as Village-Hampden, Billy Boy, a giant shepherd whose Funeral was hugely attended & his coffin carried upon a Gambo to Penrhiw near Llangammarch Wells then lastly on the shoulders of many acquainted bearers.

Postman Mr Richard Lloyd with robust Boots!, immediately below, further below is Doctor Jenkins who served the area earlier.

40 years ago Pentrebach Village consisted of 4 houses, Tanbanc, Tyuchaf, Cwrtygollen & Rose Cottage, back in 1861 however there were 8 unnamed houses there, listed below.

1: A 53 yrs old Agricultural Labourer Tobia Jenkins, his wife Sarah aged 51 lived here.
2: Elinor Williams, aged 63 lived on her own here described as a knitting woman.
3: John Williams aged 84 lived here, also on his own, he was a Tailor.
4: Henry Williams aged 62, son David, daughter Joyce aged 26 lived there & were Coopers.
5: Morgan Morgan a Tailor aged 41 with wife, 40 yrs old Jane with 4 Children plus he employed 2 Tailors to help his business at Cwrtygollen.
6: Gwen Powell , a Farmer's widow of 79 yrs, with daughter Anne who was a Laundress lived here.
7: Farm Labourer John Jones and his wife Gwen, both aged 70 with their son John aged 24 & also a farm labourer lived here.
8: Mary Davies aged 52 lived here with her son Thomas aged 10 plus daughter of 17 yrs.

Four houses had disappeared at Pentrebach, two were in the garden of Cwrtygollen, another in top corner of Cwrtygollen Field, the fourth was where a Carpenter's shed was established.
The Common of Cefnarthen improved as pasture land whilst the enclosure of the Common saw 50 people dwelling there in 1851 reduce to less than 10 by 1970.

Below you see people having their last picture before leaving Gwybedog, now forgotten sadness.

You can see the first racers to practice on Epynt for the TT there in 1948 to 1953 inc. plus the Silver Dragon Trophy which each class of machines raced for.
The lower pic shows the start of the 350 cc TT Junior at Epynt in 1953, let me identify those in the pic.

The start of the last Junior Race at Eppynt:-3, C.C. Sandford Velocette 348 already tucked in and leading on his way to a second consecutive event of the day win. 5, Syd Barnett on the J.W. Bates entered 348 Norton set the fastest lap of the day and event prior to coming a cropper. 1, Phil Carter of Northwich on a 348 AJS. 19, Des Snow of Merthyr Tydfil on his 348 Velocette. 23, Elwyn Rees of Pencader 348 AJS entered by Eddie Stephens Motors. 9, P.L. Burridge of Salop on his 348 Norton.
At rear left, Leo Starr’s distinctive chequered helmet décor is prominent.

Interest in Epynt stemmed from when Myself & Ken Jones unexpectedly won the Races in 1965 Royal Welsh Show & we received 2 cups which originated at Eppynt Races, after 'the Cups win'..our first! at 1965 Royal Welsh Show, brilliant engineer & one of the most stylish sidecar racers I ever saw, Roger Maughfling towered over my muddy self & Ken Jones in Royal Welsh Show paddock & quietly said "I can get you to go much faster!"..... Disbelief & how? followed & the offer of leading link forks designed & built by the weekend to be picked up en route to a weekend of 'Midlands Circus' races. it came about. Sheer luck plus kind help from brilliant very able people along with the greatest sidecar passenger allowed me to race against speedmen whom I had only used to read of in MotorCycling, the Motor Cycle then along came Motor Cycle News. (Top photo by John Powell) "If your dream is big enough, not even your enemies can stop you." & no it's not some great quote, I choked laughing when I saw it on a Harper Collins Publication Cover, 'As the crow flies' after all it was written by Jeffrey Archer, for whom a period in Belmarsh brought things to the buffers!. a little decency & thought for others is a far better outlook.


This Website was put together to help us recall that many others inc. Builth Wells Motor Club with Carmarthen Motor Club combined organisational skills plus resourcefulness stemming from long experience organising Rallies, Trials, Scrambles, along with Pendine Sands racing, to present a six year span of true Tourist Trophy racing at Epynt on what remains the largest circuit on Mainland Britain.

Temptation to use cliché ridden text describing skills that were to be combined is difficult to resist.
It all started following Charlie Rossiter witnessing WD motorcycles being driven ‘competitively’ normally out of sight of officers on sections of Eppynt Artillery range roads, his idea and foresight grew via Builth Wells Motor Club which invited Carmarthen Motor Club to join them in a large scale project.

The plan quickly reached ex racer, & Motorcycle dealer Eddie Stephens who felt it to be a marvellous idea worthy of enlarging.

He led a huge number of people who became involved, putting immense efforts into creating a colourful portion of motorcycle racing history.
Fate after all is what is handed to you, destiny is what you do with it.

Planning sessions up at Eppynt in snows of 1947 are not covered!, our intention is to mark history in motor sport. Eppynt Road Circuit Racing Committee thereafter emerged.
Eddie Stephens had a secretary at his showrooms whom people were to claim dealt wholly with Eppynt matters.
Loans were the order of early days for funds to advertise a massive event.
Several large marquees were naturally obtained ‘on loan’.
Most motor Clubs in mid and South Wales supplied members as Marshals or Stewards, a race weekend with a journey to Eppynt eagerly looked forward to by all.
Eppynt adopted the following motto :The Red Dragon Creates a Stir, and so it did.!
I was lucky enough to attend several 1999 Rugby World Cup games at the Wales Millennium Stadium Cardiff, around the halfway line point on its East stand wall at eye level in letters over a foot tall I saw this very same motto.
1948 Eppynt TT was followed by speed trials for Britain’s ISDT team. 1949 the ISDT was held nearby at Llandrindod Wells with Speed Trials Day at Eppynt.
Mainland TT became what Eppynt TT Circuit racing was proudly dubbed.
When a tall Skylon stood straight in London on 1951 Festival of Britain centenary Eppynt TT quickly became Festival of Britain TT.
Crowning of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 saw it termed The Coronation TT.
The first event was on AUGUST 15th, a Sunday!, soon to attract protests from religious folk & Presbyterian sources from Holyhead to Llanelli, we kept the letter copies, however Eppynt had its first Mainland TT.
Following years saw race day switched to Saturday, in deference, whether this was the true motive has been debated ever since.
Nearest chapel to Eppynt was Llwyn under Reverend Joss Davies who was also Curator at Brecon Museum, in his place I imagine I would feel similarly that use of another day would not be too much to ask for.
Open exhausts with megaphones echoed, thundering roars around hills of a hitherto solemnly silent region. Strong Army presence was evident in the forms of Lt. Commander Kidston along with Officer Commanding the Royal Artillery practice camp at Sennybridge Major Stackpoole.
Builth Wells Motor Club along with Carmarthen Motor Club shared prominence. Stewards, Marshals, St Johns Ambulance First Aiders came into view, along with laden charabancs plus all forms of transport carrying eager supporters to settle down as witnesses to a massive inaugural event.
Eppynt circuit, 5.2 miles per lap, wound across open moorland, undulating, with humps, over which speeds of 90 to 95 mph had been estimated during a Saturday Senior practice session, such speed there was amazing to even contemplate at that time.
Rife rumour plus tittle-tattle brought a mass of motorcyclists to observe such feats.
"Acknowledged experts" was an attracting term, coupled with "works riders", "factory machines", creeping into popular dialogue eager to dispense with Ration books, Petrol coupons, Powdered egg and Utility furniture were expressions of that era.
Magazines plus media coverage brought names like L.R. Archer, Les Graham, Italian Moto Guzzi machine rider Maurice Cann to be household names.
A possibility of seeing those which one could otherwise only read about proved irresistable, add Clubman’s Senior TT winner Jack D. Daniels with runner up Phil Heath to such a field to set a very fine stage.
Syd Barnett failed to turn up this time only. So did Roy Evans, L.G. Martin arrived late from Spain too late to practice, still having too much clutch trouble to take a worthwhile part in tussles. Kenny Dixon rode a rather old Norton 350, recurring clutch trouble caused him to retire masking a young Dixon’s potential. Phil Heath confided that he too arrived late and could not contribute his usual ferocity due to machine problems throughout his ride.
Bob Foster had competed in Moto-Cross des Nations in Belgium on a weekend prior to Eppynt TT, he said he had taken a fall and was forced to withdraw to rest a painful back injury. However it was rumoured he was to ride the Grand Prix of Europe in Ulster the following weekend and felt it unwise to compete at demanding Eppynt Circuit so close to the Grand Prix. End of a horrible war seemed to have hardened Britain’s survivors, improved skills, having provided training in organising mobility on a large scale.
All wartime skills aspects of talents, improvisation, erecting campsites to cater for hurriedly mobile throngs of people who were now able to afford a means of individual travel to places or events which could be visited as and when they wished.
Closer scrutiny of the Photo section views of officials, spectators, plus non competing folk on site brought trench coats, well groomed hair, even poise with hands joined behind in an "at ease" attitude, rather than in pockets portrayed.
Berets which had brought honour for their parts in saving a World were jauntily sported along with flat ‘Dai’ caps and titfers while wearers could enjoy turning swords into ploughshares.
Machinery had improved, developed, society had changed, factories had finished producing weaponry on a wartime scale, means of progressing in a peacetime market beckoned the staid plus entrepreneur alike.
Mechanically trained in unexpected skills, planners, all had emerged to confidently confront a rapidly developing facility of leisure which had been denied to all by cruel ravages a mechanised war had brought.
People had been brought into contact with travel, driving, repairs along with riding on a ‘needs must basis’ which had left men and women alike with a fascination for forms of transport, its operation and progress.

Carmarthen town could pride itself on its banked oval Cycle racetrack itself, a World'sfirst Concrete one anyway! in the town Park to standards accepted by the British League of (cycle) Racing.
Mass starts on highways were illegal hence Pendine and Eppynt found themselves venues for well supported Cycle racing on dates around TT events for Motorcycles.
Anything mechanical or sporting was accommodated, people over a wide area could support whatever interested them.
Cyclists plus sport prospered, Eppynt was to be one venue for racing events under a then governing National Cycle Union, (NCU).
Railway enthusiast Don Rees would cycle from Carmarthen to Eppynt on his pride and joy Raleigh bike!, not even an up-market Lenton model!.
When the raised surround with amenities of this track, for spectators is considered along with changing rooms, showers plus a grandstand, its rugby pitch cum athletic stadium uses Bank Holidays from 1900, it's easy to see why it became a central grass track venue all could reach by bus.
Racing was advertised as Speedway, attracting curious plus serious enthusiasts, bringing many to try their hand at racing which would otherwise simply be read about.
Thus a vast band of enthusiasts, volunteers and helpers came to gladly provide their skills and energies to convey efficiently, place stakes, mesh, fences along with ‘facilities’ to rapidly lay out an area within and about a 5:2 miles mountain circuit parts of which reach 1500 feet above sea level.
Regardless of weather conditions every foot of Eppynt race track had to be swept clear of loose chippings.
Noel Knight Snr. always took charge of all this and what a fine achievement, without such enormous efforts events simply could not have taken place.
World Champions were to emerge from those who raced on Eppynt Mountain Circuit for coveted SILVER DRAGON Trophies.
Replicas in plaque form would be issued to winners when they returned their hard won Trophy statuettes.
Programmes have become testament, those listed therein along with all that were involved or even watched or read of, had been drawn to be part of a Great venture to merit some touching words of George Eliot :-Our deeds still travel with us from afar, and what we have been makes us what we are!


Mynydd Eppynt itself (pronounced munn eeth epp innt) is steeped in Celtic History, can be seen from Cilmeri where an obelisk Memorial to the last Prince of Wales stands, Llewellyn the last, slain in 1282.
That original spelling Epynt stems from the ancient Pagan Goddess Epona, Goddess of horses, some say wild horses, ebol being a Welsh word for foal.
(‘pony’ too is a term claimed to have emerged thus). Across Epynt lay high tracks negotiated by long past Drovers with livestock, particularly Ceredigion folk (Cardi’s) en route to cattle and pony fairs at Llangammarch plus well beyond.
A stark desolate hilly region which an expression "Haunt of the Horse" has been long used to describe.
Here is a region where Princes, folklore plus historic cult figures roamed, those since involved have rubbed shoulders with legend. Brecon’s hills, peaks, valleys are covertly cloaked in mist most early mornings, a borderless expanse in silence has to be witnessed to understand or experience such timeless presence.
Higher points bluntly protrude like stern clerics with ‘cu-nim’ collars, Falcons plummet, wildlife remains stealthy and still unaffected or disturbed by industry, urban development or city traffic.
Eppynt Racing Circuit itself still silently remains.
Graziers with Forestry Commission based Committees nowadays help military controllers to evaluate environmental aspects.
Wildlife plus agricultural matters, ancient camps of Britons, Romans, eighteenth and nineteenth plus twentieth century farms, villages, churches/chapels of their days have only few which remain fairly intact, hopefully not to be denied to archaeologists of the future in near unspoilt form.
Eppynt should not simply decay without care. Security can ensure vandalism limitation. Skirting restoration of standing buildings too should not be for balance sheet gain.
There is no need to express an outsider’s feeling, simply pause, reflect on a way of life being ended.
Commandant Major Stewart RA. took charge immediately, he was relieved for 1940 to 41 by Major Gestenburg RA. Next, Major Turner RA. For 1941 to 42. In came Lt. Col. H. Hamilton-Gardner MC . RA. until 1944, he was replaced by lt. Col. S. Williams through the 1944 year. 1944 to 1948 saw Lt. Col. R. H. Stackpoole MC. RA. assisting Eppynt Racing Committee in every way he could. Late 1948 had Major D. Davies MBE. MC. RA. Again a fine helper of those involved.

Farms adjoining Eppynt originally had fringe grazing rights at cost of one shilling per annum, per acre, control was difficult, entry to fenced areas became awkward and time consuming, hence a licence was introduced, holders would be termed Epynt Graziers for a fee of initially Two Shillings and Sixpence each.
1948, the first Eppynt TT event was held on a Sunday, following years saw it changed to Saturday in deference to a local protest which expanded to National Presbyterian levels!.
The nearest ‘House of God’ was at Llwyn with Rev. Joss Davies its minister, by week he was curator of Brecon Museum.
Competitors had long finished their practice laps, tuning, adjusting, charabanc convoys plus individual motorcars, sidecars, solos had all been directed to car parks, a strange stillness settled upon Eppynt mountain as an estimated 35000 spectators settled at their chosen viewpoints to witness opening of the largest race circuit on UK mainland!.
All had left rural Wales roads with place names such as Llangammarch, Llanwafyd, Llandulais, Llandovery, Brecon, Builth etc. to then meet a renamed Eppynt Common Land, 'open programmes to relate immediately with Start onto long Llewellyn’s Way straight, then Piccadilly Corner, next Gardiners Path, Copse Corner, then the alternative finish line! near Dixie’s Corner now no longer known by its Welsh term of Llwyd Bwlch y Groes.
Next Check-Points 1 to 4, No2 reachable along the Burma Road, part of a road network constructed by German and Italian prisoners of war.
Stewards and marshals each carefully issued with a flag, a pack of sandwiches plus a cold drink had long left for their specified posts after early refreshment at a central canteen tent, commentators in 1948 settled down to keep spectators advised throughout.
Dixie!?, the name stemmed from a nickname, for a labourer from Ystradgynlais, real name Daniel Walter Davies who had seen service in first World War, winning two army boxing titles. Later Dixie fought in fairground booths in Wales & Border regions.
Famous for his terrific single punch power, the expression "a Dixie" is still used in Welsh Valley areas to describe a punch.
A tough well liked character, he started as a labourer working on the Epynt Range ‘Dixie’ was later placed in charge of a workmans hut on what seems to be ever after known as Dixie’s Corner. Or so I was advised by a Rev. Jones.
However a version more widely circulated and likely to retain credence in Neath Valley is of a terrific Rocky Balboa style boxing bout staged there between Dixie and a younger fitter challenger for an impressively accumulated financial purse plus heavy wagers of a vast and previously bored audience.
Inscriptions on structures worked on by WW2 POW’s still remain, around the range inc. 573POW 1945, 5731 PW, and the ‘1944’ The Italian POW Company.
Those interested in Rallying only seem to know of Eppynt now as a great unpopulated area, off road or all round competition machinery also do not seem to recall after 1948 Eppynt TT there came other uses to follow the British ISDT Team Selection trial for Trophy, with vase A & B teams to later compete in the International Six Days Trial schedule to be held in Italy during September1948.
Manufacturers of machinery, accessories, spark plugs, electrics, tyres, chains oils fuels entered this for its World-wide effect on a fast moving market for all their products.
1949 saw Alun Williams of BBC Radio Wales on location for his first sport involvement of such a nature with Murray Walker’s father and later Murray as a young man.

The day prior to races coverage Alun, like a gentlemanly 1948 Pied Piper, took bored racers that had ridden their intended racing machines to Eppynt, (many had camped in Marquees to be used by organisers during the race day). Plus stewards, marshals and those with ways to transport others, from a desolate, still, mountainside course, to spend a well-orchestrated evening at a local Llandovery Inn.

The Castle Hotel, with a piano! savoured Alun’s famous repertoire of tales, music and jokes. Ex WW2 Pilot, motorcycle racer and superb vintage restorer David Watkin James of Saundersfoot, now sadly passed on, recalled the popular ditties of those days being hilariously churned out by Alun in Army, Navy and RAF variations!. Revellers returned in high spirits to their desolate ‘Marquee’ encampment.
Fond memories of widely different people enjoying life together provided an atmosphere of esteem to Eppynt in general never equalled by Britain’s other racing circuits.
Camping or Marquee B+B facilities could be booked on a section of entry form for rider plus mechanic.
3 good meals per day was listed, to be served at a riders plus officials canteen.
Memorable and chilly mornings!. Dave James chuckled relating that at circa 1500 ft above sea level height visitors could take their pick of several streams.
Good natured banter galore during Toiletries, followed by a superb and eagerly awaited breakfast in a Marquee!.
Luxury camping. Newport (Gwent) Club used two red Western Welsh buses to run members to Eppynt, rider members such as H E Roberts would take family with machine there each year by car, ending up with an Austin A40.
Newport Gwent Club lady members had acquired a rather ancient green van with 'Artillery wheels' from which to dispense a variety of refreshments at Eppynt plus other race venues.
Harold started ACU/RAC rider instruction in East Wales area along with his son Ken who still has his Certificate, the very first to be instructed and qualify.
Ken Roberts now is a major motorcycle dealer in Newport, related so much of his impression with memories of Eppynt that had provided him with an urge to race and compete firstly on pedal cycles then later on anything with power or wheels!. One of the only places where Sidecars and solos had been sent out at the same time in practice periods was Eppynt TT.
Harold Roberts Snr. bought his machine from & had it prepared by Newport dealers R J Ware and son. A photo in scrapbook section shows them enjoying a pint together in later years together with Harold’s mechanic Lionel Powell. Lionel’s best recollection of Eppynt was Leo Starr’s hilarious 2½ hours entertainment in a remote canteen Marquee in 1950, his worst was forgetting his ‘30 bob pair’ of shoes left behind in the sleeping tent when 30 shillings was a substantial sum!.
R J (Bob) Ware immediately obtained an AJS 7R in 1949 swapping machines and trading even a Vincent 1000 with another dealer to obtain his AJS 7R which he felt was the greatest machine available. He and son Arthur would travel to Eppynt, in convoy to ensure their old Panther Sidecar outfit carrying it could conquer any steep stretch of approach road.
Practice time R J Ware himself patiently sat astride his 7R awaiting the off to practice with his gloves tucked in his leathers, later he came off on a lower course corner, no gloves on!, to be picked up by a well known Newport rider on marshal duties (Bill Barnard). Back at the Dixies paddock area WJ’s injuries to hands prevented him racing, so with the machine largely undamaged his son Arthur was quickly nominated and set out on his practice lap wearing that same helmet and leathers, on the prized AJS 7R.
Arthur determinedly approached Bill’s corner at speed – only to go down in virtually the same spot again. A surprised Bill had rescued both Ware riders, amazed to find the young Ware’s hands were also bleeding badly, since he too had omitted to don those tucked in gloves hard lessons were discussed in the paddock with a certain famous Les Graham.
A serious point emerged that changed all for the Ware riders along with many others. "Cut an inch off the end of those standard footrests right away" came Les Graham’s instruction, everything later seemed a lot better on corners, their AJS 7Rs could be laid over further, so just about everyone else was furtively given such treasured pearls of wisdom from the AJS Works rider.
Paddock noise became quickly filled with shrieks of hacksaws being wielded as if the great man had read out a freshly discovered commandment. (10 Commandments would not satisfy us Welsh riders, 200 would be more impressively observed.) F P(Phil) Rothwell was another Newport man who adored Eppynt.
Recently he smirkingly admitted that Rudge he pitted against Moto Guzzi and Velocette development machinery along with Ray Petty’s sleeved Norton plus Lewis, Ellis and Foster’s LEF in ’49. ’50. and ’51 had initially cost him "just a fiver"to acquire. Records list him plus photos show him using that machine with verve and style at road and grasstrack events. Its people such as Phil who experienced so much that seems denied to modern youth.
Eric Davies of Newport would travel to Eppynt in his Austin7 Ruby with the forks of his Velocette bolted to a rear bumper frame, and still go home to Newport at night after practice.
Riders attending were often competing as result of a market being established for Clubmens machines, Fast, exciting machines which could provide travel to competitions after easy on-site conversion, also used to reach workplaces during the week.
"Any Suggestions for improvements" page in 1948 programme had seen potential competitors plus ‘Clubmen’ spot this niche, Eppynt & race related Clubs were joined, prospered and quickly expanded, manufacturers responded with multi purpose steeds which could actually compete, the sport grow hugely more reachable than now. 1948 2 ‘bob’ programme contained inviting ads. to join either Builth M.C. for 5 shillings per year or Carmarthen motor club at 6 Shillings with a stylish badge obtainable at 7/6!.
Legend of the sands and any surface he graced & raced, Handel Davies therein advertised his Swansea Emporium of Motor Cycles and cars with a heading stating he had won at least a hundred open events as if here was a sales outlet of proven high performance plus reliability. Programmes in years after 1948 became available at one shilling each only.
Graham Walker, a pre-war International motorcycle Grand Prix Champion, then editor of the green magazine Motor Cycling and Alun Williams became firm friends, set their stalls out together at Eppynt to became a marvellous team.
Murray Walker is Graham Walker’s son, he too was to ride at Eppynt in 1949 International Six Days Trial where its final day was at Eppynt conducting Speed Trials.
Murray fought bravely after smashing his spectacles in a heavy spill midway through a second day finishing that day unpenalized.

1949, next year, Start time approached, final pre race check on Eppynt circuit made, a solitary travelling marshal toured gently round until he arrived at the start of long clear Gardiners Path straight.
Temptation proved irresistable, he opened up his 1000 Vincent HRD, a deep thundering roar echoed around Eppynt’s hills as he blasted along on full throttle.
John Powell, later to be Secretary at Carmarthen Motor club recalled an entire crowd’s attention being completely drawn, each individual craning to see.
An audience thus drawn to this piece of sheer enjoyment, many had hitherto never even seen such power unleashed in peace and with enthusiasm.
A wonderful now gone character riding that Vincent HRD, Bryn Edwards of Carmarthen Club, nicknamed Oakey Tippi, unknowingly became The 1949 race Herald, alerting the converted to expect speed, skill and competition to follow such a grand opening. Oakey Tippey had been the safe Haven offshore of which a family member had managed to transmit SOS to from a sinking vessel off Indonesia to be saved & brought back to health, even the Carmarthen Family house had been named Oakey Tippey as a result.
1949 entry, was impressively larger, spectator interest and attendance larger, machinery improved constantly, ‘the Green Un’ Magazine inside cover had a full page in colour showing only Vincent HRD’s wondrous development, Girdraulic forks.
George Brown was to use a 500 alloy engined development machine to race at Eppynt, not Vincent HRD’s previously successful 500 but a forerunner of their Vincent Grey flash on which a certain J Surtees Jnr. became noticed. 1950!, Mainland TT, Clubmans race was firmly established. Gerhard Heinze, a German ex POW worked wth Eddie Stephens, raced a Vincent this year, in the programme as letter ‘B’ in a list of reserves, entered by guess who? Eddie Stephens. Gerhard was also to ride in IoM plus several times at Eppynt.
Sidecar racing became established, practising simultaneously with solos, starting sidecar races at intervals a la Isle of Man.
1951. Festival of Britain TT, When a famous ‘Skylon’ stood straight in London, to mark Centenary year of the 1851 festival of Britain. Dickie Dale set Eppynt outright lap record using only a Norton 350, he had been accompanied by Geoff Duke with a very slick Support team from Norton.
1952, 500cc motorcycle engined race cars had become a most popular Formula racing mode of that period, many Marques still exist with racing pedigree stemming from those. One, called the Kieft designed and built by Cyril Kieft of Langland Bay, was to be demonstrated and driven by him at Eppynt.
Kieft racer had been tested and raced at Fairwood Aerodrome on the Gower Peninsula by the likes of Stirling Moss.
At the Strand area of Swansea the Showroom section of Welcombe House was used to display and market Kieft machinery.
Cyril wished to produce a people’s sized bubble car eventually, Welcombe House with its showroom remains intact at 1999.
Geoff Duke’s appearance on course with his wife, caused comment perhaps due to the Austin A90 Atlantic in its greeny blue livery.
GD was in the officials’ canteen for lunch chatting to ex Beaufighter pilot Dave James who still sported a plaster of Paris on a broken forearm following a scrambles fall.
Naturally Geoff Duke’s autograph soon appeared on Dave’s plaster. Followed by his of comment of "you wouldn’t catch me doing that" which was a classic double entendre soon jocularly pointed out by Dave.
The Red Bugatti that frequently appeared on a piece of concrete well inside Dixie’s Corner was a massive discussion point for all, though no one really ever proved it was Eddie Stephens’s own.
J. Surtees Jnr. appeared in the 1952 programme and my approach brought an explanation from a polite, helpful now Sir John Surtees.
He chuckled and explained to me that his dad Jack was still then a force in British Motorcycle racing.
Also he had been told at Vincent HRD Stevenage factory where he worked that it was George’s job to be the works rider and he was just an apprentice on two pounds ten shillings a week. I think we all get the point.
1953 the Coronation TT. In early practice, Wilmott Evans approached a lower area flanked by a peat bog, clouds of steam billowed from one point, well off racing track, Wilmott stopped, leaned his bike safely then investigated, to find a young rider pinned beneath a 350 BSA. He helped the lad to get his bike to safety and carried on.
When Wilmott was giving a talk to a Vintage club meeting in Carmarthen many years on he referred to that incident. In the bar later, Henry Adams chirped up "that chap you spoke of was my brother"! the same JR Adams of Tenby, that had gone to Eppynt with over a coachload of supporters all those years ago to encourage him.
His bike carried race number 32. nostalgia itself warrants our scrapbook section carries visual record of such entourage and transport.
Compiling this stems from collected data C.B.Jones (Bryan) has accumulated and diligently researched to guard as an archivist for Eppynt. Bryan used to cycle as a schoolboy to those races to watch in awe, he still has a vintage motorcycles collection which somehow includes a racing Norton of that period!, Another aspect of interest is land ‘appropriated’ in 1940 by the War Department had been an area where villages, churches, farms were compulsorily bought and occupants were moved out over a short period, something that would not be acceptable in this day and age.
Bryan was a farmer’s son on one of those very farms through which Eppynt course ran, and remains visible today along with remains of those buildings aquired.
Noel Knight Jnr. of Carmarthen recalls his father’s strong and long involvement on Eppynt Race committee in charge of ‘Equipment’ each year, a vast range of equipment too. Leading from the front to prepare a circuit in a very short space of time each year, his brother Gordon too, we can see entered as G. Knight listed to ride a Rudge in 1952, and Royal Enfield in 1951.
Noel has also laboured to locate much, submit and research some treasured pictures and facts that enrich all.
My own interest stems from getting luck on my side to take part in winning 2 Cups from Builth Wells Club’s collection at the Royal Welsh Show in 1965. Our original methanol fuelled sidecar racer ridden by myself & Ken Jones, (passenger who has his well deserved ½ share of the 2 Cups), has been found, badly corroded, but lovingly restored now to an ordinary road race Norton itself, it remains in my garage, like Eppynt, awaiting that call!.
When receiving our Cups at the 1965 Royal Welsh Show, with a fair bit of mud spatter, an old chap wearing a forerunner of the Columbo designer mackintosh & told me quietly in a low voice to Guard these Cups my passenger Kenjo (Ken Jones were to receive) since they had not been awarded since Eppynt TT.



I knew nothing of Eppynt at all, & my Diving/Survey profession saw me living at Dubai for 10 years, only when I returned did I find my bike again and begin to wonder what was the chap on about, where is Eppynt, now I know from others & his description that the chap was the man who had provided those Cups. I still have mine & I do know a little more of Eppynt.