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Visit to National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth and St Harmon
Visit to The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Saturday 27 September 2003
We were blessed, yet again, with glorious weather. A perfect autumn morning, crisp and clear, everywhere bathed in golden sunshine.The blue sea shimmered in the distance and apart from a very slight nip in the air, it could have been a summer’s day.
Around 60 people gathered at the foot of the steps of the formidable grey stone National Library of Wales, towering majestically from Penglais Hill over the seaside town of Aberystwyth.
The Royal Charter of the National Library of Wales defines the purpose of the Library as:-
The collection, preservation and maintenance of manuscripts, printed matter, maps, photographs, visual and audio-visual material relating to Wales and Celtic peoples and similar material which furthers the aims of higher education and literary and scientific research. (NLW Annual Report 2001-2002).
Excitedly anticipating another enjoyable ‘Kilvert’ day, we made for the Library’s excellent restaurant. After coffee, Mr Siân Jobbins, our host for the first part of the morning, provided interesting background information about the Library.
The idea for a national library for Wales came about during the eighteenth century. At that time, valuable books and manuscripts were kept by scholars and intellectual members of the gentry, and, of course, monasteries. It took a long time for the idea to give birth to the actual setting up of the Library but the Royal Charter was finally granted in 1907. According to the 1911 Copyright Act, the Library is a legal deposit library and is allowed to claim a free copy of any printed item published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Two of the three remaining diaries, as well as other Kilvert artefacts, are kept in Aberystwyth and are much prized.
It was in 1979 that the Library began collecting Kilvert items. One of the diaries, given to Mr Jeremy Sandford by Mrs Essex Hope, was purchased at a sale at Southeby’s and in 1985, Mr Charles E Harvey sold his original diary manuscript to the library. Mr Dafydd Ifans gave an interesting talk on his involvement in publishing the parts of the diary edited out by William Plomer.
Six watercolours by Thersie, the diarist’s sister, were on display and we were interested to see that Clyro School looked much as it does today. Also on show was a tiny photo album, circa 1840. This had been compiled by Mary Dilwyn, known to diary readers as Mrs Welby, wife of the vicar of Swansea; she was also a keen photographer.
We studied old maps of Clyro, and lingered over parish registers that Kilvert had signed. We tried, in vain sometimes, to decipher his handwriting. It was a privilege to see the actual notebooks where Kilvert had recorded his daily routine over 100 years ago.
We walked through cool passageways where beautiful paintings were stored, the temperature automatically controlled to preserve the artwork, (we didn’t hang around here; it was a bit chilly!!). We saw hundreds of books, again stored in a carefully controlled environment.
After an excellent meal in the restaurant, we wandered around the gift shop and then assembled on the steps. Our editor, Jeff Marshall, came to Aberystwyth in the early fifties to study at the university. He nostalgically pointed out various places of interest and at one point pretended to cry, extracting absolutely no sympathy from his audience!
We then headed for Tanybwlch Beach. The afternoon sunlight sparkled and danced on the blue sea as, huddled together, we balanced on large stones on the shingle beach while Jeff read to us the poem, ‘The Tanybwlch Beach’ written by Kilvert. Michael Sharp, our chairman, then read ‘To Some Little Friends at Aberystwyth.’
After saying our goodbyes, we made our way home in glorious sunshine.
Next day, members and friends met at St Garmon’s church, St Harmon near Rhayader where we shared Eucharist. The service was led by Revd Gaynor Tyler. Jeff Marshall read from Numbers 11: 4-6 Gordon Rogers read from James 5: 13-20; the third reading was from Mark 9:38-50. The hymns were ‘O Worship the King, All Glorious Above’, ‘ O Come Let us Join Our Cheerful Songs’ and the rousing ‘Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.’ The Eucharist hymn was ‘Here O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face. Mr Donald Jones sensitively accompanied the singing on his piano-accordion.
Revd Tyler pointed out that St Garmons, now a beautiful little church, had been rebuilt since Kilvert’s time as vicar there. In her sermon she said ‘In choosing Christ, we have become free adult sharers in his mission and must accept the responsibility that goes with it – that is to care for and love one another and all God’s people.’ I think Kilvert would have said a loud ‘Amen!’ to that.
After the service, we all enjoyed a wonderful tea, a firmly established tradition at Kilvert events. This was very kindly provided by ladies from the church. In the churchyard we passed the grave of the station-mistress, Sarah Jones, described by Kilvert as ‘…a handsome, pleasant-faced woman, very stout, who lives in a cottage on the line…’ (Thursday 4 May 1876).
We left the little church, basking in glorious evening sunshine, some to take a leisurely evening stroll by the river, others to head homeward after another very enjoyable ‘Kilvert' weekend.
Ann Dean |  |
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an interesting photograph
| This is the grave of Sarah Jones,St Harmons, the station mistress , mentioned in the Diary. |  |
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