Ty Mawr

Ty Mawr stands on high ground out of the village, up a single track road on the way up to Garth Hebog and Fronwen.

The picture above shows Ty Mawr as seen from the farm above, Garth Hebog.

Although it is quite a steep climb up to Ty Mawr, it is still only half way up the slope of the mountain.

The photos above show Ty Mawr against the backdrop of the Conway Valley and the mountains beyond.

 

The photos above were taken in February 2006. It looks cold, but it's colder higher up!

The roof timbers in the barn present an extraordinary jigsaw of natural timbers put together most ingeniously. They have survived intact for many decades. Seeing them in the flesh and in the round is an amazing experience. The photos begin to give an idea but can't truly show the complexity of the way they are fitted together.

From the old records of Ty Mawr emerges the picture of a clergyman with extensive land holdings in Hereford, Cerrig y Drudion and Melin y Coed. Ty Mawr was part of his estate. It has had several owners in the past century.

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1917 Abstract of the Title of Mr L O R Ashley and Trustees to the Cyffty Charging Order. 

1894 Feb 20 - George Edward Ashley of Stretton Rectory, Hereford, Clerk in Holy Orders and Prebendary of Hereford Cathedral by his will appointed his friends Rev. William Epworth Cowpland, of Acton Beauchamp Rectory, Bromyard, Worcester, Clerk in Holy Orders, and Rev William Robert Shepherd of Preston on Wye Vicarage, Hereford, Clerk in Holy Orders as Executors and Trustees and directed that his estate should be used for the maintenance, education and advancement in life of his grandson, L O R Ashley. If his grandson died without children, one fourth part would go to Harry Rathbone Griffith, son of Rev Joseph William Griffith of Pentraeth Rectory, Anglesey or to his children if he died before G E Ashley. Another fourth part would go to Rev Charles Ashley Griffith (another son of Joseph William Griffith) or his children, and the remaining half equally between the daughters of Joseph William Griffiths or their children. The rest of his belongings were to go to William Epworth Cowpland and William Robert Shepherd.

The will was proved at London by both Executors on September 21 1904.

On 2 October 1904 Lionel Owen Randolph Ashley attained the age of 21 years.

On October 30th 1907 L O R Ashley married Miss Marjorie Ruthven Bodvel Griffiths.

On December 4th 1910 W. E. Cowpland died.

The document then says "… the hereditaments thereinafter described situate in North Wales together with other property forming part of the estate of the Testator devised and bequeathed respectively to him by the Will of his father the said George Ashley deceased (proved in the Principal Registry on the 17th Day of November 1884 were subject to an annuity of £100 payable to George Randolph Ashley the son of the said Testator George Edward Ashley) during his life."

William Robert Shepherd wanted to be discharged from the trusts and the stocks, funds, shares and securities were to be transferred to Ronald Mylne Ford and Hanmer Gethin Griffith as trustees in his place.,

One of these properties was freehold premises known as "The Lakes", Stretton Sugwas in Hereford, Indenture of Conveyance of 29 September 1892 made between Mary Dale and George Edward Ashley, with orchard, garden and Land lying between the highway from Hereford to The Hay on the north by a road from the highway to Sugwas Pool, on the west by land owned by John Edwards, and buildings described in a plan drawn on an Indenture of Conveyance on 3 June 1902 between John Henry Wootton and Albert Cole and George Edward Ashley; six cottages in Stretton Sugwas 1 - 6, Railway Terrace, Sugwas Pool itself, bounded on the north by a piece of land numbered 93 on the estate map of the President and Governor of the Hospital founded at the sole costs and charges of Thomas Guy and on all other sides by the glebe lands of the Parish. Also Clifford House, King's Acre, in Breinton and Holmer Parishes, Hereford, formerly in the occupation of George Henry Procter and later by Harriet Lane and described in a plan on a Conveyance dated 25 November 1905 between Mary Carless and George Proctor Carless and William Epworth Cowpland and William Robert Shepherd. Also the Advowson of Stretton Juxta Sugwas, Hereford, with Rectory House, glebe land tithes and portions of tithe rent charges, conveyed on 15 January 1884 between Charles Aston Whinfield Key and Ellen Arabella Key and George Ashley.

In Wales, the Freehold Premises of Plas Caer Groes and Caer Groes Farm, Llanrwst conveyed 21 December 1844 between Charles Morris, Hon Thomas Pryce Lloyd Cynric Lloyd the Younger and John Hancock Hall, Hon Edward Mostsyn Lloyd Mosstyn, George Ashley and William Greville. It included Cae Glas, Cae Glas Mawr, Caer, Fron Isa, Fron Ganol, Wood, Fron y Stabel, Flydd, Field, Cae Glas, Garden, and a piece of land added from Maes Mawr Ucha; the mansion called "Plas Caer Groes" and buildings were built on part of the land.

Also, Cae Gwichidon, Cae'r Pwll or Cae Gwichidon formerly occupied by Richard Lewis, Yeoman, previously occupied along with Pen y Pont by Thomas Robert deceased and then by William Pritchard, Cae Gwichidon in three parcels and Rough in another.

Also, fields called Maes Mawr and Cae Hiddig, and Freehold Cottages and Premises Ty'r Plant in Llanrwst. The parcel of land called Maes Mawr, formerly occupied by Thomas Jones, afterwards the representatives of Owen Amoyl Jones, deceased, and later Thomas Williams; the land formerly formed part of Berthddu with demesne land and land called Maes y Thyddid, formerly known as Cae Hiddig Nesa'r Maes Mawr, Cae Hiddig Nesa'r Cae Melwr, and Cae Hiddig Nesa'r Ffordd, formerly in the occupation of Thomas Jones, afterwards the representatives of Owen Amoyl Jones, deceased, and later Robert Roberts, Butcher, which also formerly formed the capital tenement of Berthddu with the demesne land containing over 9 acres.

Also the land known as Ty'r Plant with two cottages, barns and outbuildings formerly occupied by Edward Williams and later by Thomas Williams as drawn in a Conveyance dated 30 November 1849 made between Pryce Bowen, George Ashley, and William Griffith. A small portion of Maes Mawr was added to Ty'r Plant and the buildings converted into seven cottages.

Also the land in Gwyllt Plantation bounded on the north side by land belonging to Robert Blackwall Mousdale Esq., on the west and south by land belonging to George Edward Ashley, and on the east by the Parish Road (8 acres+) delineated in a plan drawn in the Conveyance dated 24 June 1904 made between Rev. John Gower, Robert Roberts Jones, and John Glynne Jones and George Edward Ashley.

The Ashley Family Vault in the Churchyard of St. Mary's Llanrwst situated on the north side of St Mary's, 33 feet 10 inches from the outside corner of the two buttresses from the east end of the nave to the corner of the vault the front of the vault ranging with the west front of the buttress and extending for 6 feet 7 inches and eastwards from the front wall eight feet two inches from front to back, the entrance to which is situate the west front and covered with grass, such vault being built inside with bricks and covered with three large slabs of limestone prepared to receive remains on the stone being a large limestone cross and square base which vault was more particularly delineated in the plan drawn on a faculty for the reservation to George Edward Ashley dated 18 January 1901 given under the hand and seal of William Trevor Parkins the Vicar General and Official Principal of the Lord Bishop of St Asaph.

Land in Cerrigydruidion: Common land in Mynydd Poeth was to be sold to defray the expenses of Enclosure. The land is bounded on the south and east sides by the road from Cernioge to Pen y Bwlch on the west side by the road from Tanygraig to Cerrigydruidion and on the North side by Lot 13. Also another lot was to be sold to defray expenses of enclosure, Lot 24, bounded on the east by open waste, on the west by lot 27, on the north by old enclosed lands belonging to Hugh Humphreys and on the south by Lot 30 drawn in the margin of a Deed Poll under the hands and seals of William Blamire and Henry Charles Mules Esq. on 26 February 1857.

Also George Edwards Ashley's interest in the farm called Bryn Gwyn with cottage garden, sheepwalk and lands known as Ffridd Uchaf, Ffridd Isaf, Fyches, Ffridd Ganol, Cae Caled, Buarth, Cae Canol, Cae Nant, Cae Glas, Burarth Gwyn, Gornel Goch, Pannwl Newydd, Weirglodd Pant Deifo and two encroachments, all measuring 92 acres +, exclusive of a sheepwalk formerly in the tenure of John Jones but then William Howelfryn Jones.

Also Carreg Y Blaidd and Hafod Iddig with the house, two cottages, outbuildings, sheepwalk and land known as Gwern y Fawnog, Cae Gwartheg, Pen y Garnedd, Pannwl y Garnedd, Rhos Hawn, Cae Habel, Gwern y Swch, Weirglodd Bach, Rhos yr Olwyn, Cae Cwmlend Uchaf, Cae Cwmlend Isaf, Weirglodd Cae'r Ffynnon, Cae Such Uchaf, Cae Such Isaf, Buarth and encroachments formerly in the tenure of John Jones and then William Williams, totalling 85 acres + exclusive of the sheepwalk and lying in the Parish of Corwen and the Parish of Cerrig y druidion. Also Geeler with outbuildings, garden, sheepwalk and lands called Tyddyn Uchaf, Cae Meister, Cae Gate Weir, Cae'r Graig, Cae Gylynen, Waen Fawr, Buarthau, Ffridd Wen, Ffridd y Gwynt Issaf, Ffridd Uchaf, Ffridd Gregod, Coed Issaf, Coed Canol, Coed Uchaf, Buarth Cwit, Ffridd Gerrig, Rhwidion, Ffridd Fawr, Cae'r Odefn and Buarth Budur, formery in the tenure of Thomas Jones and later John Hughes, 322 acres +, excluding sheepwalk and subject to a chief rent payable to the Crown and to Sir Watkin William Wynne Baronet and to a payment for corn and hay tithe.

Also Tyn y Waen with Outbuildings and sheepwalk and lands called Ffridd Goch, Ffridd Uchaf, Cae Gist Faen, Ffridd Galch, Cae'r Nant, Buarth Bach, Cae Crwn Gwyn, Cae Ty Buarth Brwynog, Buarth Bach, Weirglodd Haidd, Erw Wen, Waen Uchaf, Fownog Bach, Bryn Noch (Moch?) Wael Issaf and the Old Road and piece below formerly part of Hafod y Maidd in the tenure of John Owens and then Evan Lloyd - 99 acres + exclusive of sheepwalk, lying in the Parish of Cerrig y Druidion and contiguous to the Holyhead Road.

Also the farm called Aelwyd Prys with the cottage outbuildings sheepwalk and lands known as Cae Tanyty, Weirglodd Bach, Cae Waen, Buarth Refel, Buarth Rug, Bryn Aelwyd Prys, Rhos y Battin, Buarth Gwaelod, Buarth Cregog, Rhos Buarth y Gwerglodd and Waen Newydd formerly in the tenures of Thomas and Edward Owen and then of Thomas Owen Jones, in all 53 acres +.

Also the Old Toll House with Outbuildings, garden and croft formerly in the tenure of Mary Jones and then of David Roberts - 1 acre or so. Also Tyn yr Alen with outbuildings, garden and croft formerly in the tenure of Lewis Roberts, one rood and seventeen perches or thereabouts. Also Tyn yr Alen formerly in the occupation of William Parry. Also the land formerly in the occupation of John Jones, 2 acres +. Also the cottage, outbuildings and croft formerly in the occupation of Cadwaladr Lloyd, 1 acre +. Also the cottage with outbuildings and croft formerly in the occupation of David Jones, two roods and two perches. Also the cottage with outbuildings and encroachment piece formerly in the occupation of Peter Roberts, two roods and 21 perches, in Cerrig y Druidion Parish.

Also the farm called Bwlch Maen Melyn and land called Ffrydd, 19 acres or so, Rhos Pellaf seven acres or so, Tir Coch Uchaf 3 acres or so, Tir Coch Issaf 2 acres or so, Caer Newydd 6 acres or so, Gadlas y Mawn 4 acres or so, Cae Ffynnon 2 acres or so, Cae Either 3 acres or so, Cae Tan Ty 1 acre or so, Erw Thomas 1 rood and 4 perches or so, Cae Glas 7 acres or so, Ddol 2 acres or so, in all 61 acres or so, formerly in the occupation of Ellis Evans and then Owen Evan Lloyd, in Cerrigydruidion Parish.

The following allotments in Cerrigydruidion awarded under the Cerrigydruidion Enclosure Award. These allotments were held with Tynywaen, Aelwyd Brys, Geeler, Bryn Gwyn and Garreg y Blaidd, and Bwlch Maen Melyn.

The grass and herbage of Allotment 9 containing 20 acres was awarded to the Churchwardens and Overseers of Cerrigydruidion to be used as a common turbary for the use of the inhabitants generally not to be cut for sale or taken out of the Parish.

Part of the business included an Affidavit of Johan Tryon 30 June 1914 attessting to the fitness of Ronald Mylne Ford and an Affidavit of Philip Pritchard Williams of fitness of Hanmer Gethin Griffith, and their appointment as trustees. Ford was a Solicitor in London, and Hanmer Gethin Griffith from Llandefale Rectory, Talgarth, Brecon.

4 March 1915 Ronald Mylne Ford was about to be engaged in war service and R M Ford delegated to Arthur Ranken Ford of Gray's Inn the trusts of the will of George Edward Ashley.

On March 2 1916 Gethin Bodvel Hanmer Griffith appointed Attorneys William Archer Thomson of 3 King's Bench Walk, Temple, London and Herbert Archer Thomson FIA of the same address to manage his affairs, including administration of the Trust, while he was engaged in war service abroad.

 

1930 January 14 (10)

Mr W. O. Jones to Mr. David Roberts

Mortgage

Freehold property called "Ty Mawr" situate in the Parish of Llanrwst.

David Roberts of Blaen Eidda, Yspytty, Mortgagee, and William Owen Jones of Cefn Groes Bach, Llansannan Mortgagor entered into an agreement on 14 January 1930.

A Mortgage had previously been made on 23 April in 1918 between Owen Owens on Ty Mawr and Coed Ty Mawr (sixty three acres +), a plan drawn on a Conveyance between Lionel Owen Randolph Ashley, Ronald Mylne Ford and Penry John Murray and George Herbert Green listed Cae Glas, Claidy, Gerddi, Wern Llwyd, Coed Cerrig-y-Cathod, Hafod Isaf, Ty Mawr Wood, Hafod Uchaf, Gelli Fadog, Wood, Wood, Ty Mawr House, outbuildings, yard, garden and road, Cae Melyn, and Wood, Total Acreage 63.219. 

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