Rhyd-y-gors facts for kids
The name Rhyd-y-gors (sometimes written as Rhydygors) refers to two important historical places near the town of Carmarthen in Southwest Wales. One was an old Norman castle, and the other was Rhyd-y-gors Mansion, a large house where the Edwardes family lived.
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History of Rhyd-y-gors
A very old Bronze Age shield covering was discovered in the marsh at Rhyd-y-gors. This shield was originally made of wicker, with a fancy bronze plate attached to the front. It was about two feet wide and decorated with circles and small brass knobs. This special shield is now on display at the British Museum.
Around AD 75, the Romans built a fort at Carmarthen. This fort grew into a Roman town called Moridunum. It was the main city for the Demetae, a Celtic tribe living in the area. Many Roman items found nearby can be seen in the County Museum.
Rhyd-y-gors Castle: A Norman Stronghold
Rhyd-y-gors Castle was built by order of King William II (also known as Rufus) between 1093 and 1094. It was built by a Norman invader named William Fitz Baldwin. The castle was located on a hill overlooking the River Towy, about a mile south of Carmarthen. It was on the east bank of the river, where there was an old river crossing. The Welsh name "Rhyd-y-gors" means "Ford of the Marsh."
The castle was likely made of wood and surrounded by earth walls, but no trace of it remains today. It was an important place for the Normans as they tried to take control of Southwest Wales.
Interestingly, King Llywelyn ap Cadwgan, who was a Welsh ruler under William II, made his own coins at the king's mint in Rhyd-y-gors. These coins had his name, 'Llywelyn ap Cadwgan, Rex' (King), on them.
William Fitz Baldwin held the castle until he died in 1096, and then it was left empty. William’s brother, Richard, rebuilt the castle in 1106. It remained important until King Henry I built the stronger Carmarthen Castle by 1109. After that, Rhyd-y-gors Castle was no longer needed and slowly fell apart. In the late 1800s, the Great Western Railway was built through the site, destroying any remaining parts of the castle.
Rhyd-y-gors Mansion
The second place known as Rhyd-y-gors was a large gentry house called Rhyd-y-gors Mansion. It was located on the opposite side of the river from where the castle used to be. The house was near a bend in the Towy, close to the old river crossing that gave the area its name. The first family to live there was named Winter.
Changes in Ownership
As the Middle Ages ended, a new house was built on the site. It passed to a Welshman named Meredith Lewis Meredith when he married Joan, the daughter of Morgan Winter. Their daughter, Mary, married John ap Ieuan before 1500. Their eldest son, Edward ap John, later adopted his Christian name as the family surname, becoming Edwardes.
David Edwardes, a descendant of Edward ap John, became an important person in Carmarthen. He was a Town Bailiff in 1570 and Mayor in 1606.
Later, from 1779 to 1785, Admiral David Edwardes rented out the mansion to the Carmarthen Presbyterian College. The college had 28 students living there.
After Captain David John Browne Edwardes died in 1876, his wife and children moved to another property. Rhyd-y-gors Mansion was then rented out again. In 1878, it was rented by the Committee of Lunacy for three years. Later, in 1890, it was rented for 21 years by the Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum.
In 1911, Rhyd-y-gors Mansion was sold. This was the first time the estate had been sold outside of the family in its known history. Over the years, various people lived in the house, including Belgian refugees during World War I. The house was lived in until about 1960, after which it became a ruin. It was finally torn down in 1971 by a company that owned the land and had built a creamery there. By 2003, only a large stone wall from the garden and a small stone cottage (which was likely a gatehouse) remained.
The creamery has also been demolished. Part of the estate grounds are now covered by Amex Park, a business park. The name Rhyd-y-gors lives on with the Rhyd-y-gors Special School and Rhyd-y-gors House in Amex Park.
Architecture of Rhyd-y-gors Mansion
Rhyd-y-gors Mansion was a tall, impressive house made of rough red stone. It had three main floors, each with five windows, and an attic floor with three dormer windows in the roof. There were large chimneys on each end of the house. A south wing was added in the 1600s.
While the outside looked simple, the inside had beautiful wooden details. The house featured a large paneled hall, wide stairs, and a huge, impressive doorframe, similar to one found in the Great House at Laugharne. Two stone gargoyles from the mansion are now kept in the Carmarthen Museum.
The Edwardes Family of Rhyd-y-gors
The Edwardes family played a big role in the history of Carmarthenshire. Many family members held important positions in the town and county, including Mayors, Town Sheriffs, and even High Sheriff of the county. They also often served as officers in the British army and sometimes in the Royal Navy. The family had a tradition of naming their first son David, which can make tracing their family history a bit confusing!
David Edwardes, who was Mayor in 1651, had a brother named Thomas Edwardes. Thomas became a Senior Fellow at Queens' College, Cambridge and left property to his college. Another David Edwardes, son of the previous David, was known for organizing Welsh family histories. He helped create the important Golden Grove Books, which contain many family trees and coats-of-arms.
Rhyd-y-gors then passed to Captain John Edwardes, who was the grandfather of Admiral David Edwardes RN (1716–1785).
Notable Edwardes Family Members
Admiral David Edwardes RN was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1754. He and his wife Anne are buried in Cowbridge Church. Their youngest son, Revd. John Edwardes, inherited Gileston Manor through his wife. His daughter Elizabeth married Judge John Johnes of the Dolaucothi Estate. Judge Johnes was tragically killed at Dolaucothy in 1876. His younger daughter Elizabeth married Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes.
Another Captain David John Edwardes (1787–1866) fought in the Peninsula War and was at the Battle of Waterloo. He is said to have almost captured Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, after the Battle of Vittoria. Joseph escaped, but Captain Edwardes took some of his personal items, which are still owned by the family's descendants.
Captain David John Edwardes had a brother, Captain Henry Lewis Edwardes (1788–1866). He also served in the Napoleonic wars. He is often credited with bringing the recipe for Worcester Sauce back from India, though this is debated. Captain Henry Lewis Edwardes later changed his name to Henry Lewis Edwardes Gwynne. He became High Sheriff of Cardigan in 1832.
Captain Frederick Augustus Edwardes (1829–1878), pictured here, was the youngest son of Captain David John Edwardes. He was an army officer who later tried to make his fortune in the United States. He died shortly after returning to Wales in 1878. His wife, Charlotte, later lived in accommodation provided by her friend, Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII.
Frederick Augustus Edwardes' daughter, Blanche Frances Edwardes (1858–1948), married Charles Vandeleur Creagh, who was the Governor of North Borneo and Labuan. Their elder son became Rear-Admiral James Vandeleur Creagh. Their younger son, Second Lieutenant O'Moore Charles Creagh, was killed in action during World War I in 1918.
Captain David John Browne Edwardes (1819–1876) was the Chief Constable of the Carmarthen Borough Police. His sons, David John William (Willie) Edwardes and John Picton Arthur (Picton) Edwardes, were the last male members of the Edwardes family to own Rhyd-y-gors. They moved to Southampton in 1876 and sold Rhyd-y-gors in 1911. Willie was a big-game hunter, and Picton was a successful banker. Both were bachelors and left their estate to a cousin and a large sum of money to charity.
St Mary’s Church, Llanllwch
St Mary’s church in Llanllwch was the church where the Edwardes family worshipped. There are two marble memorials inside the church, dating from 1786 to 1866, that remember various family members. The older memorial was put up by Charlotte Maria Picton, who was Admiral David Edwardes' daughter. She was married to Revd. Edward Picton, the brother of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, who died at the Battle of Waterloo.
The two memorials are on the wall behind the family’s front pew in the church. Many family members are buried in the family vault beneath the floor there. Captain David John Edwardes and his son Captain Frederick Augustus Edwardes are buried in the churchyard outside.
Edwardes Family: Arms, Crest, and Motto
The Edwardes family had their own special symbols, known as a coat-of-arms, a crest, and a motto. These were recorded in a book called A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland in 1862.
- ARMS: The shield design shows four sections. The first is black with a gold lion and gold five-leaf shapes. The second is red with a gold chevron (a V-shape) between three knots. The third is black with three silver deer heads. The fourth is a checkerboard pattern of gold and black, with a silver bar across it.
- CREST: This is a gold half-lion holding a knot between its paws.
- MOTTO: The family motto is "ASPERA AD VIRTUTEM EST VIA..." This means "Rough is the path to virtue."
Images for kids
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Captain John Edwardes, Grandfather of Admiral Edwardes, inherited Rhyd-y-gors 1690, from David Edwardes, Actuary
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Anne Edwardes (Nee Blomart), Wife of Admiral David Edwardes RN
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Miniature of Admiral David Edwardes RN 1716-1785
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