Cylchgronau Cymru

186 BYE-GONES. Sept. 1, 1897. feeling convinced that \h& stone bore another word, left it to be uncovered by the Association upon this visit. This informal ceremonial proved to be the feature of the session. A second line w'aa discovered which, proved to be the word "Dobagni," and on the right angle of the stone in Ogam characters was found a repetition of the word, except that "V" was substituted for "B." It was pronounced by Principal Rhys to be a most important monument, and although the learned Principal would not commit himself to an opinion without further study, he roughly described it as the monument of the princely Dyfan, reserving a fuller description. The time spent in scanning this important stone necessi¬ tated the abandonment of projected visits to Wolf's Castle, Ford Ohapel, and various camps. Mr Mathias of Lamphey, upon whose land the stone stands, has undertaken to place the stone for safety on the lawn of Llangwarren House. The party got back to Haverfordwest about 7 o'clock in the evening. The last meeting was held in the Temperance Hall at night, where there was a good attendance. Sir Chas. Philipps, Bart., presided. A paper by the Rev James Phillips on the "History of Haver¬ fordwest" was read by Archdeacon Thomas, and one on " The Ancient Foundations of St. David's" by Mfg Dawson, daughter of Archdeacon Bevan, was read by the Secretary (the Rev Mr Ohidlow.)—Archdeacon Thomas, in moving a vote of thanks to the writers, said that meeting ■was better attended than any of the previous meetings, and it was satisfactory that the ladies had taken so prominent a part.—An interesting^ address was also given by the Principal of Jesus College, Oxford. SEPTEMBER 1, 1897. NOTES. A REMARKABLE PAIR (Nov. 18, 1896).- In the notice of Sir Kenelm Digby and Venetia, his wife, no mention was made of the fact that she was a Shropshire lady. " Tong Castle was the birthplace and scene of her early years, and she died there in 1633." (Griffiths's Hist, of Tong and Boscobd, p. 171). S.N.K. MONTFORD BRIDGE WAKES (April 1, 1896).—An old woman, who lived all her life in the immediate neighbourhood of this bridge, and died recently, aged 87, had many interesting stories to tell of what went on there at the Wakes. For besides the cockfights, there were regularly organised dog-fights, badger-baiting, and prize fights. At the last, she said, the champion for°many years was " Dick Davies," of Montford Weir, who was always seconded and "looked after" by his wife. A man named Powell, and another named Onions (alias "Tawney Tom"), were also well known local bruisers, who exhibited their skill annually at the Wakes there. „ _ E.B. ABERDARE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. —As it is very important that Bye-Gones should in every respect be accurate, perhaps you will allow me to correct a slight inaccuracy in the "Current Notes" on Aug. 16, 1893, in refer¬ ence to the laying of the memorial stone of this school by the late Lord Aberdare. It took place, not on Wednesday, as stated, but on Thursday, August 11, 1893. The school was formally opened Sept. 28th, 1896, a long and tedious delay having taken place,owing to opposi¬ tion to the scheme. It was ultimately altered in the House of Commons by the exemption of the Cowbridge Grammar School. The Aberdare School is at present progressing most satisfac¬ torily under Mr W. Jenkyn Thomas, MA., late of Bangor University College, and an excellent staff of assistants. D.M.R. ENGLISH INSCRIPTIONS ON OLD WELSH GRAVESTONES.-An allusion was made to such stones in Bye-Gones of Oct. 28, 1896. It is certainly remarkable that in places so far removed from England as Llandan wg, then mentioned, and Llangelynin, the old church on the mountain top over-looking the Conway Vale, inscriptions dated more than a century ago should be found in that language. May not the fact be explained by the way in which the Whig Government of those days tried to put down the loyalty of the Welsh to the Stuarts by discoun¬ tenancing anything Welsh, as we know they did by their appointment of English Bishops to Welsh sees ? Such inscriptions would be cut to please the powers that were in those days, for we cannot suppose that English was the language generally used in such out of the way places at that time. J.E.A. DOLGELLEY STEEPLES (July 14, 1897).— The interesting notes which appear from time to time in Bye-Gones from the pen of our old and respected townsman, Mr Payne, of Southsea, are highly interesting to the Dolgelleyites. As an addition to what he writes about the steeples, the following may be given. It was written by the late Mr Oliver Rees, and never appeared in print:— The predecessor of the present church belfry of the Dolgelley church was an old yew tree men¬ tioned by Mr Fuller in his comic enigmas upon the town. The church bell was suspended upon one of the branches of the tree, and the bell rope was generally one of simple straw. In the chapter of accidents relating to the old yew tree and the bell, the following disaster is reported :—" One night when the inhabitants of Dolgelley are com¬ fortably reposing in the arms of tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep, a cow grazing in the church yard accidentally finds out the straw bell rope, and for the sake of change, she sets about dragging and devouring it, which naturally causes the bell to sound, and the good people of the town quite as naturally thought that the ringing of the