Latest discoveries ... 3

7.

Maps of the area -

Map for

Gwernyfed, Powys
UK

The map shows Hay-on-Wye,

Whitney-on-Wye, and Rhydspence,

Glasbury,

and Bredwardine.

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http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode
=&q=gwernyfed&sll=51.805218,-4.367065&sspn
=0.194457,0.466919&ie=UTF8&ll=52.043622,
-3.177795&spn=0.193427,0.466919&z=11

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Map for Tretower Court and Castle

The map shows Abergavenny

and Clydach.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode
=&q=Tretower&sll=51.927754,-3.177795&sspn
=0.193928,0.466919&ie=UTF8&ll=51.886213,
-3.176122&spn=0.194107,0.466919&z=11

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Or visit http://maps.google.com
and search from there.

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Two new maps -

Map including both
Gwernyfed
and Tretower Court and Castle

(Gwernyfed is where the green arrow is - near Velindre)
(Tretower Court and Castle is to the south)


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode
=&q=gwernyfed&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn
=31.922255,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=51.975999,
-3.177795&spn=0.193719,0.466919&z=11

`````````

Map including the same area, also including Cirencester, Chepstow, and Tewkesbury.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode
=&q=gwernyfed&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn
=31.922255,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=51.828988,
-2.617493&spn=0.777421,1.867676&z=9
&iwloc=addr

`````````

A third new map.

Map showing same area, with

Stratford-on-Avon.

(down, from the north-east corner of the map)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode
=&q=gwernyfed&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn
=31.922255,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=52.005174,
-2.617493&spn=0.774376,1.867676&z=9

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This shows that Stratford-on-Avon, and Tewkesbury, etc.,

are not all that far from the area in Wales
where the stories originated from.
i.e, either William Shakespeare of Stratford, or Francis Bacon,
may, in only a little time, visit the area.

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My own view is that Christopher Marlowe is the author
of Shakespeare -
this blog is not about the question of authorship,
however.

It is intended to give the stories of "Shakespeare's visit to Wales",
whoever Shakespeare may be.

(Kit Marlowe, who maybe did not die in 1593 at Deptford,
may have visited Wales, of course, at any time after this.)

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8.

(quote, excerpts)

The first of them recorded at Bredwardine is Watkin Vaughan,
who wrote a letter to
lord Burghley
from there, 17 Dec. 1584.

His wife was Joan, daughter of Miles ap Harry of Newcourt, in the Golden Valley,
and niece to
Blanch Parry (q.v.), queen Elizabeth's maid of honour.

They had two sons, Harry, heir to Moccas and Bredwardine, and Rowland, heir of Newcourt.
This Rowland was the author of the remarkable book entitled
Most approved and long experienced waterworkes, 1610,
which contains a long epistle to
William Herbert, earl of Pembroke.

His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Rowland Vaughan of Porthaml. HARRY VAUGHAN'S wife was a grand-daughter of Hugh Lewis of Harpton. Their heir was ROGER VAUGHAN (matriculated at Oxford, 11 May 1604, aged 15), who rebuilt Bredwardine castle, 1639-40.

His son, HARRY VAUGHAN, m. Frances, daughter of Walter Pye, in 1635. After his death, she m. Edward Cornewall, of the Stapleton family, and it was his son who succeeded to Moccas, having purchased Bredwardine for himself.

http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-VAUG-BRO-1350.html

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9.

Falstaff and Sir John Oldcastle - a link to the Whitney-on-Wye area


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On one of the maps of the area

(Gwernyfed and Tretower),

I saw the place-name

Oldcastle.

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Thinking of

Sir John Oldcastle, I looked for him at Wikipedia,

and discovered this -

`````````

(quote, excerpts)

John Oldcastle

Sir John Oldcastle (d. December 14, 1417), English Lollard leader, was
son of Sir Richard Oldcastle of Almeley in northwest Herefordshire and
grandson of another Sir John Oldcastle.

He was prosecuted for heresy against the Church, and escaped from the
Tower of London, after which he allegedly plotted against his old
friend Henry V. He was captured and executed in London, after which he
became a martyr. He is presumed to be the basis of William
Shakespeare's character Falstaff, whose name in earlier versions of
the play was Oldcastle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Oldcastle

`````````

Here is a map for

Almeley,

showing how very near it is to

Whitney-on-Wye (and Rhydspence) - !

(Whitney is to the south-west)

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=almeley&ie=UTF8
&om=1&ll=52.164219,-2.976007&spn
=0.192904,0.466919&z=11

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=almeley&ie=UTF8
&om=1&ll=52.164219,-2.976007&spn
=0.192904,0.466919&z=11&iwloc=addr

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Rhydspence inn, Whitney on Wye

Rhydspence inn, Whitney on Wye

There is a THIRD location in the area,
linking to Shakespeare...

. . .

i. Shakespeare's Cave near Trebarried

ii. Old Gwernyfed Manor House

and now

iii. Rhydspence inn, Whitney on Wye

* all the places are very near each other, lending great credence to their stories.

```````````````````

(quote, excerpts)

The Rhydspence Inn

A natural modesty prevents the Marches people from publicising the beauty of the English/Welsh border but the literary talents of several authors have been inspired by the wide green valley, lazy river and lush fields.

Letton Lake and the Wye Valley of Francis Kilverts are easy recognised, as is the Black Hill of Bruce Chatwin.

The Rhydspence gave sustenance to the former, who described the Inn as bright with lights and gaiety, and offered a long walk home to the heroes of the latter.

William Shakespeare is reputed to have paused and mused before putting pen to paper about Much Ado.

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The Rhydspence Inn, Whitney-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR3 6EU, United Kingdom.

Rhydspence has not always been the tranquil watering hole it is today. It was originally built in the 14th century as a manor house.

In Tudor times, and until the advent of the railways, the Inn was a main assembly point on the 'Black Ox Trail' for Welsh drovers and Irish cowboys pushing cattle, sheep and geese to the English towns and cities, as far as London.

Attached to the Inn were some 140 acres of land split up into penny, ha-penny and farthing fields where animals were grazed and rested.

The drovers were broadcasters of news and events and also a method of transferring funds across the country.

A deal could be struck in Aberdovey and cash banked in London with no movement of cash and no risk of highwaymen.

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The Rhydspence Inn is on the English side of the Welsh Border, the stream in the garden marks the divide. To the East are the rolling fields of England, dotted with the famous 'Black & White' villages of Herefordshire. To the West lie the hills and mountains of Wales.

The contrast applies equally to the border towns. 'Twenty miles into England stands the city of Hereford with its modern shopping centre and ancient cathedral. The cathedral houses two treasures which any visitor to the area must see, the fabulous medieval world map the 'Mappi Mundi' and an extraordinary Chained Library of priceless manuscripts.

Twenty miles into Wales stands the town of Brecon and its cathedral. Dwarfed by the mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park, this is unrivalled walking country.

Our nearest town is Hay-on-Wye, the 'Town of books'. Hay boasts dozens of facilities. Antiquarian booksellers, from the tiny to the world's largest. Even the castle ruins have been pressed into service as a book shop!

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A natural modesty prevents the Marches people from publicising the beauty of the English/Welsh border but the literary talents of several authors have been inspired by the wide green valley, lazy river and lush fields.

Letton Lake and the Wye Valley of Francis Kilverts are easy recognised, as is the Black Hill of Bruce Chatwin.

The Rhydspence gave sustenance to the former, who described the Inn as bright with lights and gaiety, and offered a long walk home to the heroes of the latter.

William Shakespeare is reputed to have paused and mused before putting pen to paper about Much Ado.

http://www.rhydspence-inn.co.uk/

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Once a manor house, the Rhydspence Inn was also a favourite watering hole for Welsh and Irish drovers taking cattle, sheep and geese to market in London.

...stunning views over the Wye Valley. The pub also has literary connections, appearing in On The Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin,

and apparently acting as a site of inspiration for Shakespeare_ while penning Much Ado About Nothing.

http://www.theaa.com/travel/details/pub/375730

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Novel Inns

Characterful locals and literary locations in the Pub Guide

You've read the book and seen the film. Now sup in the local where the action happened. Or not. The AA 'Pub Guide 2008' has loads of hostelries linked with authors and their works.

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Many pubs claim to having served William Shakespeare. It is reputed that his parents held their wedding reception at the King's Head in Aston Cantlow, after they were married in the village church in 1557.

The Rhydspence Inn in Herefordshire apparently inspired William while penning Much Ado About Nothing. But it's a long way from the play's setting in Messina in Sicily.

Legend also has it that William contracted his fatal illness after stumbling home in the pouring rain after a drink at the Bell in Welford-on-Avon.

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Two London locations evoke the world of Charles Dickens. The George Inn is the only remaining galleried inn in London

* William Shakespeare was among its earlier clientele.

Dickens, following in his footsteps, mentions the Southwark building in 'Little Dorrit' (1857).

http://www.theaa.com/travel_editorial/food-pub-novel-inns.html

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