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Newsletter Winter 2019

* ‘Reflecting all those “Hellos” and “Goodbyes” over the years’

Welcome to our latest Newsletter, as we witness the departure of another eventful year and prepare the track for the

arrival of the new. (Look out for Dave’s New Year’s Day Walk.) A century after the end of the First World War, this

year’s Armistice Day Remembrance ceremonies had an added poignancy.

The losses of war touched all towns, villages, communities and families, and as this plaque on the wall of The Docks

Offices at Barry testifies, workplaces. Workers employed by The Barry Railway Company, from clerical staff to dock

workers and from engineers to workers on locomotives and in shipping are all remembered.

R ailways played a significant role in the war. In the television programme called ‘The Railway that Built Britain,’

Chris Tarrant states that “The railways … helped us win not one but two world wars.” Many a station platform

witnessed the tearful ‘farewells’ of loved ones, many never to return.

We are indebted to the artist Sally Moore for giving her

permission for us to reproduce her painting, ‘End of the Line’,

inspired by Barry Station. The painting is a typical example of

her work – combining reality with the surreal, a touch of

drama, mystery and the nostalgic. Sally Moore was born in

Barry and although she has lived and worked in London for

many years she returned regularly to the family home where

her mother, Eira lived until she passed away recently.

Sally trained at the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford, and

subsequently won a scholarship to study at the British School

in Rome. Amongst her numerous awards was the Welsh Artist

of the Year Award which she won in 2005. Sally describes each

of her paintings as “an attempt to capture an intense

moment. These moments can be pleasurable but sometimes they can be confusing and distressing. Their memories

stay with me both in reality and in my dreams."

*Sally Moore commenting on her painting inspired by Barry Station.

Celebrating Twenty-One Years of Walking in the Vale

VALEWAYS Yn dathlu un mlynedd a’r hugain o gerdded yn y Fro

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A rriva Trains Wales might have gone and replaced by ‘Transport for Wales’ with the logo ‘A NEW JOURNEY

BEGINS – We know you deserve a world–class rail service’, proudly emblazoned on promotion notices (time will tell!)

Don’t get all steamed up but surprisingly, Valeways has always had an association with railways - more ‘coupling’ than

we first think! Many of our walks make use of disused railway lines that served the port of Barry so well over the years

and railway stations prove to be very convenient starting points for many walks. In the previous programme two walks

made good use of stations as platforms for their walks. ‘Ramble into Barry’s Maritime Past’ led by Marion Eynon

(11 October) started from Barry Station and ‘Somerset Views’ led by Babs and Jan from Rhoose Station (12 Nov). The

‘Crwydro’ group of walkers made the most of the fine weather (6 November) as their walk took them past the mouth

of the disused Barry Island Tunnel.

Built in 1899 the tunnel enabled the extension of the line from Barry Island

Station to reach the pier. The venture proved to be less economically viable than

was originally hoped and the line was closed in 1975 rendering the extension

and the tunnel redundant.

On the walk, ‘Let’s Avoid Cowbridge!’ on 25 October, a group “set off over frosty fields and crossed the long

abandoned Llantrisant to Aberthaw railway line”. Many thanks to Walk Leader, John Treby for his report of the walk in

‘The Gem’ (1 November).

Another of John’s walks, ‘Over the Railway’ (29 November) also made good use of the railway line.

The Cosmeston Coffee Shop Strollers have a constant reminder of the track which

ran from the lime quarry to the nearby cement works. Trucks similar to the one on

display near the Visitors’ Centre used to carry limestone to the works across the

road. The entrance to the works was opposite to where the entrance to the park is

now situated.

Coffee Shop Strollers pausing by a narrow gauge side

tipping wagon similar to ones used to transport limestone

to the cement works between 1912 and 1969. Thanks to

Babs for the photo.

I t would be remiss of us not to mention here that this year is the bicen-

tenary of the birth of the pioneer and to all intents and purposes the ‘creator’

of Barry. David Davies was born on 18 December 1818 and Barry owes most

of its existence to the man who was the driving force behind the building of

Barry Dock, thus turning the small hamlet into the biggest exporter of coal in

the country.

David Davies outside the Docks Office studying his plans for the construction

of Barry Dock.

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The Crwydro group remembered the achievements of this man with a walk around Barry Dock, taking in the sights of

the new dockside developments and reminiscing on the locomotive ‘graveyard’, at Woodham’s Yard. Many of the

country’s renovated locomotives were rescued from this yard. Marion Eynon’s experience when on a recent holiday in

the Scottish Highlands is a reminder of the significance of Woodham’s Yard. When she enquired where a renovated

locomotive had come from (see photo) she was given the answer, “Oh it’s from a little town in Wales, called Barry.

You wouldn’t have heard of it!”

Rather than being seen as a graveyard, Woodham’s Yard has been responsible for providing the new lease of life to

many an old locomotive, including the Class 2MT ‘E. V. Cooper, Engineer’ (No. 46512) at the Strathspey Steam Rail-

way Company, in the Scottish Highlands!

L ook out for our themed walks in our current programme – no sleepers here! Our walk leaders have certainly

stepped up to the plate yet again and have engineered some innovative walks. “The Walk now leaving Platform 1” is

Dave’s response to the theme which includes a walk along the disused railway line from Penarth to Sully. Part of the

line is pedestrianised and is popular with Valeways walkers.

The disused Penarth to Sully railway line as it is today and as it was, complete with its footbridge in days gone by.

(Thanks to Brenda Gibbins for the old photograph)

On Monday 11 February, a walk led by Babs and Jan starts at Llantwit Major Railway Station. This leads us nicely to

the intriguing walk, ‘Railway or royalist’ on 28 March led by John Treby.

A new venture, ‘Walk and Chat with MIND’ starts from Travellers Café, Barry Station on Saint David’s Day, 1 March

2019. The walk will be led by Chris, our new Walk Leader who is offering to set up a new monthly walk from the same

venue. If you are interested in taking part, or can help to promote the walk please contact the Valeways office.

Another exciting extension to the ‘Crwydro’ walks is the ‘Crwydo Yn Bellach’ series of walks. These walks are just the

ticket for those who wish to practice their Welsh for a little longer and a little further than what was the usual fare on

a ‘Crwydro’ walks. The first of these walks, led by our own Station Mistress, Ruth King, is on Tuesday 5 February, and

also starts from Barry Station.

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Volunteer Co-ordinator’s Report

W e have continued to be busy throughout the Autumn! Valeways volunteers have now put up the new way

markers on 15 of the 19 leafleted routes, as well as making sure that the paths are clear. Where we do encounter

issues we either put them right or pass them on to the Council’s Public Rights of Way team. I have a meeting with the

team and Ramblers representatives every month and reported problems are noted on their database. The stile repairs

and replacements are now undertaken by the Park Rangers who have recently been doing works in the Prysg area,

amongst others. Where possible, stiles are now being replaced with kissing gates to help improve access to our

wonderful countryside.

As walkers, we all know what a relief it is to meet a friendly and helpful landowner. One Thursday in November we were working on clearing the entrance to a path off a road when the neighbour offered to help us with his tractor! Within a few minutes he had made a terrific improvement and was invited to join us again!

Earlier in November this year we were lucky to have eight new walk leaders undergo training and we look forward to

joining them on walks in the New Year. One of them, Paul, even led a walk a week after his training, and a second one

before the end of the month, so many thanks Paul.

As the year draws to a close walks are being planned for January to March 2019, and for the Walking Festival, which is

to take place between Tuesday 21st and Sunday 26th May 2019.

Sunday 19th May - Welsh Coast Path Festival finale to be held in Llantwit Major. There will be 7 walks of differing

lengths taking place locally to celebrate 7 years since the opening of the coast path.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas and thank you all for your help and support during 2018.

Rebecca Exley.

A s AGM’s go, Valeways AGM’s must be held in one of the most picturesque of locations – stationed amongst the

trees at Porthkerry County Park, a cabin complete with a log fire and with a view of the sea in the distance greeted all

who attended this year’s event – all with the imposing Porthkerry Viaduct as a backdrop.

Porthkerry Viaduct, designed by James and William Szlumper was opened in 1900. Originally build to carry coal down

to Barry Docks the viaduct now sees coal trucks travelling in the opposite direction carrying coal to Aberthaw Power

Station.

As always, the meeting was well attended and we welcomed Cllr. Leighton Rowlands, Mayor of the Vale to our midst

and thanked him for is continued support.

We were also chuffed when Peter Weston agreed to be a new

Valeways Trustee. Congratulations on your appointment Peter.

After serving as a Trustee for a number of years Mike Edwards

did not wish to be re-elected. Chairman Phil Gibbins thanked him

for his valued contribution to Valeways over the years. Mike will

continue to be the ‘driver’ of the thriving Barry Coffee Shop

Strollers and will doubtless contribute to the smooth running of

Valeways in the future.

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Any walker skirting the Waterfront cannot miss seeing the prominent modern, glass fronted building on Gladstone

Road. The Theatre Royal closed its doors a decade ago and the site has become a residential complex. ‘Golau Caredig’,

opened in April 2015, provides affordable independent living in purpose built apartments.

We include it here however because of its striking exterior (ignore the scaffolding currently adorning the building!) The

blue and green glass façade was designed by architectural glass artist Kate Maestri, who took her inspiration from the

local landscape and history of Barry including the blue of the sky and the green of the land. The striking vertical lines

inspired by the plethora of railway tracks converging on Barry’s dockland are designed as homage to the town’s

industrial past. Kate Maestri’s other commissions include the iconic Sage Concert Hall in Gateshead.

Y ou might recall that in the last Newsletter we mentioned the new sculpture installed at Cosmeston Country Park

and invited walkers to name some of the inhabitants in addition to the grebes, squirrel, swan and mallard featured on

the sculpture. As the new path approaching the sculpture is still closed to the public we can name a few more for you.

We have spotted a fox, otter, hedgehog and water vole, a pike and an owl. Alas amongst the residents not featured on

the sculpture is the comical coot. This is doubly disappointing for us as coots and moorhens are members of the rail

family of birds! Make plans to visit the site early in the new year!

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Here are some more New Year’s resolutions you might want to consider:

Look out for progress on the renewal of the Rhondda Tunnel.

Take the leaflet for the well-trodden Walk No48, ‘The Warlow Walk’ – (Wenvoe – Dinas Powys Circular). This

scenic walk crosses the dismantled railway line twice. This line used to be the main artery for coal from the

Rhondda to Barry Docks. – Look out for remnants of the tunnel. Amazingly, the leaflet informs us that the

railway line, at its peak carried a fully loaded coal train every 16 minutes to Barry Docks. Many thanks to Ian

Moody for the photo of Wenvoe Station.

Date for your new diaries – Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival, Tuesday 21 May – Sunday 26 May 2019. Work

is well under way in preparation for another exciting festival of walking!

If you order any goods on Amazon please help raise funds for Valeways when you make purchases. To learn how

to do this visit: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_aas_redirect?ie=UTF8&%2AVersion%

2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0

Visit our Christmas Tree at Cowbridge! Valeways have again entered a tree for the

Christmas Tree Festival at Holy Cross Parish Church, Cowbridge. Most of the trees will

remain at the church over the Christmas period and into the new year, giving us

plenty of time to see the spectacle. If you have difficulty locating our tree our advice is

‘Follow the waymarkers’!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Trustees and Staff of Valeways.

… and finally …