10 May 2009

EXHIBITING ITEMS RELATING TO CAERNARFON’S HISTORY

Recently an exhibition displaying aspects of Caernarfon’s history from Celtic and Roman times and with particular attention to the 19^th century, when the town was an important Slate Exporting Port, was recently officially opened in the Celtica Store in Victoria Dock. This was the second such exhibition for a group called Treftadaeth Gwydion Heritage to be responsible for, the first being a very successful one in the year 2000 at Oriel Pendeitsh. The group, according to a spokesman consists of 7 enthusiastic amateurs who take an interest in the town’s history and are not desirous of disclosing their names.

Being that the current exhibition is staged at the Celtica, Victoria Dock, particular attention is given to the building of the dock and to the laying of the foundation stone by the then Mayor, Llewelyn Turner in November 1868, two years before he was knighted and appointed Deputy Constable of Caernarfon Castle.  A large photo of a plan produced by Sir Llewelyn for consideration is exhibited, but the Harbour Trust thought it to be too ambitious and decided upon a plan they considered to be more suitable.

The exhibition also gives prominence to persons of importance in the town such as Caernarfon born Captain John Pritchard who commanded the largest ship in her day, the “Mauretania”. Mrs. Ellen Edwards, a native of Amlwch, who came to Caernarfon aged 20 in 1830 and spent the rest of her life here and for many years was a teacher of Navigation to young mariners in her school in New Street and met with considerable success. Another person,  born in Castle Street, Caernarfon was Group Captain Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees, an Air Ace of World War I and who was the most highly decorated airman of the war having been awarded the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross and the Air Force Cross. He was later honoured with the OBE and made a Freeman of the Borough of Caernarfon. Then in 1933 he crossed the Atlantic alone in his ketch the “May” in 2 months and 20 days, a voyage which started at Porth yr Aur and ended in Nassau in the Bahamas.  He was subsequently awarded the Blue Water Medal by the Cruising Club of America.

It is hoped that the above will give readers a fair idea of what to expect in the exhibition and thus create the desire in them to pay a visit to the Celtica. It will remain open during the whole of the summer season and it should be stressed also that admission is free, thanks to the Store’s Management and to the group Gwydion Heritage, who gave of their time to plan the display.

It is no easy task to stage an exhibition of this kind and to hold it in a store is not the ideal place. Until the powers that be see fit to have a purpose built Museum/Heritage Centre, worthy of this ancient historic town, we should be grateful to both Celtica and Gwydion for providing both visitors and local people with this valuable educational amenity. Without doubt, in doing so they have highlighted the need for such a centre and if the rumours heard recently are true, prospects seem promising.

T Meirion Hughes