Cae Melwr

One of the oldest historical buildings in the vicinity.

 

CAE MELWR OR CAE MILWR?

Though mostly known as Cae Melwr or Cae'r Melwr, church records often write Cae Milwr (Soldier's Field) when making entries of birth and death. Is this because the clerk writes what he thinks he hears, or is this an older or alternative spelling? Here are some comments:

This is what is in the on-line index at the Place-Name Research Centre, Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor:

1599/1600 Cae'r Melwr

1598/99 Caermelour (John Wyn Owen gent.)

1615 Caermelwr

1675- Caermelour

c. 1700 Kae'r Melwr

1762 Caermelwr

1764 Caermellwr

The website is at www.e-gymraeg.co.uk/enwaulleoedd/amr/

(Ken Richards, Canada)

MEAD OF CAE MELWR?

Cae'r Melwr/ Cae'r Milwr..

One theory . .. Cae'r Melwr is from 'Cae' a field, 'Mel,' honey, and Gwr' man, that is, Cae y mel wr'.

Mead was the favourite drink of our ancestors and a large quantity of honey was required. The 'Mead Brewer' was the 11th officer in the Court and had precedence over the Court Physician, who was the 12th officer. The 'Mel wr' who looked after the bees was important enough to have a portion of land allotted to him, and that Cae'r Mel-wr is the proper name of the place.

Cae Milwr ... could be explained by the numerous battles that took place in the neighbourhood

(Pat Rowley, Llanrwst)

FIELD OF SOLDIERS?

There is a fascinating story about soldiers camped at Cae Milwr during, I think, the War of the Roses, when Llanrwst square (Bryn y Boten) was razed to the ground. The local Welsh fighters had hidden up in the woods above Gwydir Castle, and at nightfall they went through hidden tunnels and surpirsed the enemy, sending them towards Chester with their tails between their legs. It then became a tradition for all the schoolchildren on the anniversary to march up to the old Tudur bowling green area above the castle, singing battle songs to rejoice at the victory over the English soldiers. This tradition was kept going for a long time.

(Patricia Williams, Llanrwst)

 

THE SEARCH FOR GW FROM 1662

G.W. 1662 or CW 1662 - this indicates that Cae Melwr still belonged to a Wynn as also does the coat of arms in the large front bed-room with intials C.W.1663 (son or grandson)

(Pat Rowley, Llanrwst)

Many thanks to the above named historians for their information, memories and insights.

 

HERALDIC ARTS - PORTABLE CRESTS

The crest seems to be an amalgamation of possibly four coats of arms. Mary Wynne was said to have taken the Wynne coat of arms with her upon her marriage in 1678 to Robert Bertie (1660 - 1723) 1st Duke of Ancaster & Kesteven. The coat of Wynne is described as Three eagles displayed in fess O. This is the Dexter Chief section (top left) of the crest above. (Barry Hughes).

FESSE, CHEVRON AND CABOSS - AND ENGLISHMEN'S HEADS

The shield is quartered.

1st: three eaglets displayed in fesse [for Owen Gwynedd];

2nd: a chevron ermine inter three Englishmen's heads [for Ednyfed

Fychan];

3rd: a chevron inter three fleur-de-lys [ for Collwyn ap Tangno];

and

4th: a chevron inter stag's heads cabossed [for Iarddur]

(Pat Rowley)

Again, our thanks for the above specialised information.

WHO WERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE?

Various members of the Wynne family lived here over the years.

WYNNES AT THE FONT

In the 1500s the wife of ELLIS AP CADWALADR of Ystumllyn (d. 1597)was Elin, the daughter of Owen Wynn and Elin or Elenor (nee Salesbury) of Cae'r Melwr and their son was OWEN ELLIS I (d. 1622} Other children recorded as theirs were Thomas, John, Griffith, Mary the mother of Cadwaladr Cesail the Poet, Lowry, and Gwen.

In 1616 a son, John WYNN , was born to John Esq. of "Melai" (Melwr?)

In 1634 a son, Richard Wynne, was born to Owen Esq. of Gwyder and baptised 11 July.

In 1639 a daughter Sidney was born to Owen and Grace Wynne of Gwydr and baptised on 19 September.

In 1668 a daughter, Jane WYNN, was born to Cadwaladr and Grace of Voylas.

In 1669 a daughter Gwen was born to a Cadwaladr and Grace Wynne and baptised 9 December (Plas Birion?).

In 1671 a daughter Grace was born to Cadwalader and Grace and baptised 17 July; place of residence was noted as "Berthu (Berth Ddu?).

In 1674/5 a son, John, was born to Anne and John Salusbury of Caer Berllan. In July, a daughter Anne was born to Cadwaladr Esq. of Voylas and baptised 8 July. In October, Catherine Wynne was born to John of Goppa and baptised on the 5th.

In 1681 a son, Robert, was born to Robert of "Caermelion" and baptised on the 17th.

Around this time a Thomas Wynne in Llanrwst was also raising a family, with Robert being baptised 17 June 1683 and Jonet 9 October 1685.

In 1690 Elen and Robert Esq. of "Berthu" had their son Robert baptised on 9 July.

 

Anne the wife of Edward Wynne was recorded as living here as a widow in 1661 and 1672.

 

TWO GWs - GRIFFITH AND GWEN WYNN

Wynne family historians note that Griffith Wynn, of Berth Ddu married Gwen, co-heiress of Robert Salesbury, of Berth Ddu and "Caemilwr", and also mention Owen Wynn of "Caemilwr".

 

 

Sr P B Bart 1789

Sir Peter Burell was owner of Cae Milwr from 1784 to 1786 and was created Baron Gwydir of Gwydir on May 26th 1796.

(Pat Rowley)

Sir Peter Burrell of Langley Park, 2nd Baronet, 1st Lord Gwydyr of Gwydyr was born 16 July 1754 and died 29 June 1820. He inherited the baronetcy from his great-uncle Sir Merrik Burrell, Governor of the Bank of England. Sir Peter married Priscilla Barbara Elizabeth Bertie, Lady Willoughby de Eresby, daughter of Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven on 23 February 1779. She was sister and senior co-heir of Robert 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. She died 29 December 1828.

 

WHO PAID FOR THE OLD TOWN HALL TO BE BUILT?

The old town-hall in Llanrwst was described in the nineteenth century as a plain substantial structure, paid for by Maurice Wynne of Cae'r Melwr, according to a stone over the principal entrance, bearing the arms of the Wynnes, and the initials of the founder, with the date 1661: above this was a clock, with a cupola, containing the market bell, surmounted by a large gilt eagle. This was later rebuilt by Lord Willoughby D'Eresby, with an additional floor for a corn-market. The BBC quoted Y Pentan as saying that some say it was Mary Wynn, rather than Maurice, who paid for the original town hall.

 

CM ON THE MAP

The map survey of 1800 published in 1839-40 called this property Cae Melwyr.

 

 

LOCAL WYNNES AT REST

In 1637 the burial is recorded on 27 February of Ellis Wynne, son and heir of Thomas Wynne. In 1639 William Wynne's son Robert was buried on 28 August, and in October Sydney, daughter of Owen Wynne of Gwydr, was buried on the 16th. In 1640 Robert Wynne of "Berthu" was buried on 28 February, and in 1660 Owen Wynne, Bart, of Gwydir, was buried 13 August. John Salusbury of Plas Isa was buried 28 December 1661. In 1663 Ellen Wynne of Llanrwst was buried 22 October, and John Salusbury died 8 Jan and was buried on the 10th. William Salusbury was buried 23 December 1672. Mary Salusbury, daughter of Thomas, was buried 20 February 1682. Lowry Salusbury of Llangernyw was buried 8 March 1703 and Margaret Salusbury of Plas Isa was buried 25 May 1704, with a Dorothy Salusbury following on 5 December 1708.

In July 1664 Robert Wynne of Berth Ddu buried two daughters, Jane on the 10th and Dorothy on the 28th. John Wynn was buried 14 March 1665.

In 1667/8 John Wynne, son of Richart Bt. of Gwydder was buried 20 January. Morice Wynne Esq. of Gwydyr was buried 30 Sep 1670, and Gwen Wynne, daughter of Cadwalader Esq. of Berthu was buried 24 July 1671. In 1674 Richard Wynne Bt. of Gwydur was buried 4 November, and Hugh Wynne Esq. of Berthu on 16 December. Other Wynnes buried were Jane 30 May 1680, and Mary 30 April 1683.

In 1669 John Evans of Caer Melwr is recorded as having been buried 10 December.

In 1691 Jane Williams of Cae'r Berllan was buried 2 June, and Robert Wynne Esq. of Berthu July 27, with Thomas Wynne following on November 5.

1695 Elizabeth Kyffin of Caermelwr buried May 19. A daughter of Peter Kyffin had also been buried in 1633. A Magdalen Kyffin of Maynan was buried 28 April 1694. Twin sons of Roger Kyffin, Robert and Benjamin, were buried 26 February 1700.

In 1637 Margaret Wynne al Mostyn, wife of Hugh Wynne of Berthddu, was buried on 16 May. The Wynne-Mostyn family connections can be researched on the internet. David Wynne was buried 1 January and Gaynor Wynne 20 March 1699. Barbara Wyn of Plas Isa was buried 19 August 1699.

In 1696/7 Peter Owen, son of Robert of Cae'r Melwr was buried 6 November. Blance Ellis, daughter of John of Cae'r Melwr, was buried May 24 and his son Richard followed on 23 August. Robert Salusbury was buried August 1 and Catherine Salusbury, daughter of Thomas, 13 November.

 

In 1701 Jane vch Robert of Hendre was buried 10 May and on 25 November Elizabeth and Catherine Thomas, the daughters of John Thomas of Cae'r Melwr.

In 1703 Margaret John of Cae'r Melwr was buried on October 8.

In 1705/6 Richard Davies of Hendre was buried 22 May, on 16 February Alice the wife of William Owen of Hendre, and on the 29th Gwen vch Robert Owen of Hendre.

In 1733/4 John David of Hendre was buried February 2.

 

CAE MELWR RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS RETURNS:

1841

According to the census of 1841 Edward Williams (65) was living in Cae'r Melwr with his wife Mary (60), and their seven children; William (30), Robert (28), Davis (24), Thomas (19), Michael (8) Jane (14) and Sarah (11). They employed Anne Davies (24) and Gwen Roberts (15) as house servants, and Thomas Lewis (40) as a cowman.

Also in this year another family group were listed at Cae'r Melwr, then written as "Caermelwr", described as being of independent means – Sarah Williams (46), Jane Williams (43) and John Williams (40) – possibly brother and sisters.

The map survey of 1800 published in 1839-40 called this property Cae Melwyr.

 

1851

In 1851 77 year old Edward Williams had been widowed but still farmed the 90 acres of Cae Melwr. His sons Robert, 40, and Thomas, 29, were described as labourers, with daughters Margaret, 26, and Jane, 24, helping around the home. Catherine Lloyd, 29, worked as a servant. All were Llanrwst born.

The next house is unnamed, but its inhabitants are the same as those described as living at "Caemelwr" ten years earlier. They were annuitant sisters Sarah Williams, 57, and Jane Williams, 56. Jane Roberts, 12, worked for them as a house servant. All were from Llanrwst.

 

1861

1861 and Edward Williams was still in residence at the age of 85, farming 820 acres with 2 labourers and 1 boy. His son Robert was now 48 and unmarried, working on the farm, and his daughter Margaret was also unmarried at 35. Anne Lloyd of Llangernyw, 18 and single, worked as a servant, local lad William Roberts, 18 and single, worked as a carter, and John roberts of Pentrefoelas, 16, was their cowman.

On another dwelling on the property, Sarah Williams, 70, Llanrwst-born spinster, lived as a lodger on her income ("Landed Property").

 

1871

The head of Cae Melwr by the time of the 1871 census was Margaret Williams, unmarried, and farming 140 acres employing 4 men. Her age on the census record has been crossed out by the enumerator, but apart from that looks like 17. If this was the same Margaret Williams as before, though, her age would have been about 45 (see note at bottom of page under "Bryn Afon"). Mary Roberts of Caer Hun, aged 32, worked as Dairy maid, and Edward Edwards from Glan conwy, unmarried at 36, worked as an Agricultural Labourer. John Salisbury, aged 21 and single, also from Glan Conwy, was also working as an agricultural labourer.

In the other residence on the Cae Melwr land lived Mary Owen, a 71 year old widowed labourer's wife

 

By 1881 the head of the household was John Griffith, 36, born at Llanberis, who was farming 100 acres with the help of three men and one boy. His wife, Elizabeth, aged 34, was born in Cerrigydrudion. Their daughter Ellen, aged 9, went to school; she had been born in Ffestiniog. Their son David C., aged 7, had been born in Llangwstenin. A Boarder, Thomas C. Roberts, also came from Cerrigydrudion and was aged 17(?) and attended school. Their Farm servant William Owen, 29 and single, was from Dolwyddelen, and the errand boy, John Evans, 14, was local. Farm Servant Evan Williams, unmarried at the age of 60, had been born in Trefaenan and lived with the family. Another servant, Hugh Roberts, of Llangelenyn

 

1891

In beautiful copperplate writing the enumerator in 1891 wrote "Cae Milwr" as the name of the house and recorded that John Griffith was now 47, his wife Elizabeth was 44, and their daughter Nellie (Ellen) was 19 and single. David C. was 17. Their Niece Maggie J. Roberts was living with them, and single bank clerk W. Percy Williams from Peterboro was also with them as a Boarder. Mary E. Jones, 17, of Llangerniew worked as a General Servant . Thomas Davies, 21(?) of Llanrwst worked as a farm labourer, David Williams of Maenan (16?) worked as a milkboy.

 

1901

The same precise writing appears again on the 1901 census, calling the house Cae Milwr Farm House. John Roberts of Llangwm, 47, was head, and his wife Elizabeth, 49, of Capel Garmon, cared for her Bettws yn Rhos-born children Evan, 20, Hugh, 15 and Catherine, 14. Their general servant Jane Roberts of Cerrigydruidion was 20, Carter John M Roberts of Eglwysbach, 22, and Cowman John Sal Jones of Dolwyddelen was 18. All were single.

 

Er Serchog Gof Am Anwyl Blant John ac Elizabeth Roberts Cae'r Melwr

Mary Louisa Yr Hon a Hunodd Mai 20 1881 yn 15 mlwydd oed.

Gwilym Caradog Yr hwn a hunodd Medi 13 1891 yn 10 mis Oed

Evan yr hwn a hunodd Mai 24 1907 yn 26 mlwydd oed.

Hefyd Robert Roberts … 1904? … yn 80 mlwydd oed?

Hefyd David Lloyd, Annwyl Briod Catherine Ellen Lloyd … Mochdre a hunodd Awst 12 1956 yn 68 mlwydd oed.

John and Elizabeth Evans had lost two children in the previous century, Mary Louisa who died aged 15 in 1881 and Gwilym Caradog who died aged ten months in 1891. In 1907 their son Evan died at the age of 26 in 1907. The same tombstone marked the resting place of Robert Roberts, who died aged 80 in 1904 (?). Catherine appears to have married a David Lloyd and lived in Mochdre; he died in 1956 aged 68.

 

THE ROYLE CONNECTION

The Royle family lived at Cae'r Melwr in the late 1700s. Diana Royle was formerly a Doulben. Diana and James (Esq., Gent) of "Cae Melwr" and "Gwydir" seem to have had 12 children between 1788 and 1810, including one called Hugh Wynne. Hugh Wynne Royle was baptised 6 August 1807; his parents were recorded in the Parish Register as living at "Cae'r Milwr". The list of names of James and Diana's children follows; they are variously recorded as living at Cae'r Milwr, Gwydir and Llanrwst. Duplicate names might be because a child died and the same name was given to a subsequent child. John, Sarah, James, Ellen, James, Hugh Wynne, Elizabeth, James, John, David, Diana, Thomas Lloyd, and William.

The Royles lived in the area for many years, certainly since 1770, when Margaret and Samuel Royle had their daughter Susanna baptised in Llanrwst on May 15. Their other children baptised there were Mary, Elizabeth, John, and in 1781 another Mary - likely called Mary because the first child died; this was a custom. In 1777 Charles and Jane Royle had their son John baptised in Llanrwst on 24 May, followed by another Charles on 3 May 1778.

Other Royles having children around the same time were Mary and William Royle, who had their family between 1789 and 1793 and also called one of their daughters Susanna (Thomas, John, Susanna, Elizabeth, Jane, William, Elizabeth and Mary). William and Elizabeth seem to be family names. {See a Royle memorial inscription on page Old News BMD)

 

CAE MELWR FOR SALE

Lot 45 was described as

A very important dairy and feeding farm, known as CAE MELWR consisting of an old stone built house dated 1662 and 1789 and very extensive and well equipped.

The House many years ago formed one of the Chief Residences in the Valley. It is pleasantly situated about a mile from the town of Llanrwst and contains Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Breakfast Room, Pantry, Scullery, Dairy, Wash House, and Larder on the ground floor, and seven bedrooms, bathroom, [h/c water] and W.C on the first floor.

The farm buildings consist of four stalled stables and loose box, saddle room, with a loft above, two stalled stable and loose box with loft above, five bay cart shed, with granary above, cow house 14 ties, calf house, fodder room, cow house for seven, and bull house, yearling shed, hay shed, barn, cattle feeding shed, bull shed, cow house 6 ties, calf shed, coal shed, 3 piggeries, and mixing house, with loft above.

Note - Horse Power belongs to tenant.

The Land comprises some excellent corn growing and grazing fields. There is an excellent kitchen garden with stocked fruit trees.

A portion of the land posses building value, abutting as it does on two main roads.

 

In 1917 the tenant was Mr Griffith Griffiths, on a yearly 30th November tenancy. Paying £131 15s per annum. The Tithe rent was £13.1s/ The postmaster general pays the tenant or new owner 11s per annum for the sites of telephone poles.

 

SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER!

Cae Melwr was sold as part of the Cyffdy estate in 1917 for £3700 to Owen Hughes.

 

 

LINK TO HISTORICAL PHOTOS:

Here is a link to 1954 photos of Cae'r Melwr:

www.gtj.org.uk/search/simpleSearch.php?srch=cae+melwr&lang=en

"Gathering the Jewels" / "Casglu'r Tlysau"

Another house with history is Bryn Afon, close neighbour to Cae Melwr.

 

 

Bryn Afon in 1901 was the home of the congregational minister and his wife, William C Williams and Margaret E Williams. He was from Glamorgan and she was from Llanrwst. They were both in their forties.

Before that, in 1891, it was home to Jane Williams, aged 60, of Llanrwst, living on her own means, with Anne J Jones of Penmachno, aged 25, working for her as a general servant .

In 1881 it was the home of Anne Jones, unmarried, aged 45, Annuitant of Capel Curig, employing Ellinor Williams, 28, of Dolwyddelen as general servant,.

In 1871 the head of the family was Robert Williams, aged 56, a retired farmer, living with Margaret Williams, his sister, aged 45. Both had been born in Llanrwst. This brother and sister would seem to be the same ones who lived in Cae Melwr at the time of the 1861 census, now retired but living very close to their former, and possibly childhood, home, where Margaret's namesake now appears to be living and noted as head of the household. Ten years later, another family is in residence at Cae Melwr.