All done!

Well, would you believe it?

101 things you (probably) didn’t know about Whitchurch, and perhaps now you do!

When we started this project back in those dreadful Covid days of April 2021, who would have believed that we would still be going all these (many) months later

The very first blog was all about the yew tree in St Mary’s Garden, which turned out to be the oldest tree in the village!

Since then, we’ve looked at some of the old characters in the village, the farms, churches and chapels, shops and pubs, prominent buildings, the festivals and the old industries which shaped and moulded the village we call home

And the old photographs! What an insight into village life

It all started when I was looking at the oldest of the OS maps which showed the (old) ‘St Mary’s Church and Vicarage’. I knew where the old church was, but where was the vicarage? Try as I might, no-one seemed to know

Russell, who lives next door to the Fox & Hounds told us, not so long ago, of an old family story suggesting that there was a tunnel under his house, crossing the road to the old church. Did that mean that his house was the old vicarage? Surely not; the house looks relatively modern

Then on an old photograph of the churchyard (see below), in the distance was the pub, and next door, an old house with what looked like a thatched roof. Could this have been the old vicarage? We know that St Mary’s was really old, but could a thatched cottage nearby have been the vicarage? I think I’ll leave this to another to explore!

So many things have developed from this project. Our monthly reminiscence group at the library has flourished and we’ve had so much feedback. The Walking Whitchurch History project, with the grant from CADW/Heritage Lottery Fund and our soon to be installed, permanent legacy waymarker boards, has been wonderful, and so well supported. The links to local schools has stimulated such interest, and through Ceri, a special reminder of our war heroes and the memorial at the library

With AWEN, we’re looking at how to record and cherish all the things that we’ve discovered, have been given or shared stories. This is such an important part of the work, for the ongoing benefit of our community. We’ve been given some really good advice from national specialists, now we have to implement it all!

Where do I begin to thank people for their support, interest and encouragement to continue with this project? To Chris, my wife who is my amazing consultant, longstanding proof reader and frustrated organiser (of my complete haystack of a filing system!), to Terry and Chris S who are my go-to people for so much of the information used each week, to all of the reminiscence folk for their snippets, stories and unswerving commitment. And to all of the AWEN community for keeping me going when times were tough

To Anthony and Chris G for all of their artistic advice and involvement

Of course, I don’t think I could have started any of this without Edgar Chappell and Hilary Thomas for all the local knowledge in their books, and of course to Ernie Broad, the true ‘Sage of Whitchurch’ with his unbelievable stories of the village a hundred years ago

I’m so grateful to Steve Nicholas for the use of his many old photographs

Who would have believed that so much history could be crammed into such a small village. And the truth is that there is so much more! Tales of the canal, the railways, about Tongwynlais and Llandaff Yard, the famous (and infamous) people, the parish council and all of the politicians, and all the histories of Birchgrove and Rhiwbina too

So sadly, now is the time to end this weekly blog, but I’d like to think that we can continue on a more leisurely way with a new subject every few months or so

And I hope we’ll have more walks around the village, and talks in the library

I’ll be on Whitchurch Common with the AWEN stall on Festival Day if you want to pop along and say hi. Weather permitting, I’m hoping to share the story of ‘Robin Goch’ with the children and maybe make some paper aeroplanes

Anyway, thank you all for your continuing interest in our village, and indulging me on this ‘wild’ adventure. Remember, each one of us is a tiny piece of the ongoing jigsaw that is Whitchurch. Enjoy

God bless
Nigel Lewis

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