TY GWYN, Rhyd-Y-Fro, Pontardawe 2020
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Notes on TY GWYN, Rhyd-Y-Fro, Pontardawe 2020
I parked in a layby on the edge of a suburban area of Rhy-Y-Fro… hardly a city itself and more or less attached to Pontardawe. I walked fifty yards, followed a footpath down to a stream and small arched stone bridge, over this and through forestry. So far, so good. The path split, I took the muddier and steeper path, often the case, and quickly reached the walls of the house.
A vast area to the left of the house was filled with Japanese Knotweed. It looked a brilliant yellow in the autumnal day, cloudy itself but bright enough to illuminate the knotweed. More knotweed grows beside the front of the house, a shame since the house is currently on the market. The house seemed much ruined and possibly for many years, nonetheless as with each site visited one picks up on the atmospherics and I can confirm this was a lovely calm place. Although only a ten minute walk from my car I honestly felt alone and miles from anywhere or anyone, that is except for a field of horses who were not interested in me in particular but nonetheless kept an eye open.
Only six sheets of film were exposed for the only reason that I only had six sheets of film with me. I perhaps could have used a few more but left after half an hour believing I’d taken everything I needed to take and any extra would not have added anything to my remembrance of the place.
I do hope the house and the accompanying land is purchased. It’s a lovely site with good views and mature trees.
I parked in a layby on the edge of a suburban area of Rhy-Y-Fro… hardly a city itself and more or less attached to Pontardawe. I walked fifty yards, followed a footpath down to a stream and small arched stone bridge, over this and through forestry. So far, so good. The path split, I took the muddier and steeper path, often the case, and quickly reached the walls of the house.
A vast area to the left of the house was filled with Japanese Knotweed. It looked a brilliant yellow in the autumnal day, cloudy itself but bright enough to illuminate the knotweed. More knotweed grows beside the front of the house, a shame since the house is currently on the market. The house seemed much ruined and possibly for many years, nonetheless as with each site visited one picks up on the atmospherics and I can confirm this was a lovely calm place. Although only a ten minute walk from my car I honestly felt alone and miles from anywhere or anyone, that is except for a field of horses who were not interested in me in particular but nonetheless kept an eye open.
Only six sheets of film were exposed for the only reason that I only had six sheets of film with me. I perhaps could have used a few more but left after half an hour believing I’d taken everything I needed to take and any extra would not have added anything to my remembrance of the place.
I do hope the house and the accompanying land is purchased. It’s a lovely site with good views and mature trees.
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Return to: THE GLAMORGANS (Including Neath Port Talbot, Gower, Vale of Glamorgan) or RUINS THROUGHOUT WALES or Galleries
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