#VolunteersWeek2020: What volunteering for the Living Levels programme means to me

As a volunteer for the Research and Transcription Service (RATS), I have been using historical documents to paint a picture of the present-day Cardiff suburbs of Pengam and Llanedeyrn (and surrounding areas) in the 1880s and beyond. I have enjoyed many aspects of the project, including meeting new people, and exploring areas of Cardiff I would not otherwise have visited, thus giving me a deeper connection to the city I call home. Although I cannot fully enjoy these aspects at present, I have been able to use the research skills I have learned to continue my project from home.

Whilst in lockdown I have learned that in the 1880s, the parish of Llanedeyrn (formerly Llanedarne) was a rural area with over thirty farms. The roll-call of names evokes another era: Ty-yn-y-Berllan, Coed Cloria, Gorswg, Pantyllacca and Ty-to-Maen are a few of my favourites. Some of the names have vanished, but others crop up in present-day street names such as Clos-y-Berllan. One of the few surviving historical buildings is the medieval parish church of St Edeyrn which is still a local landmark, its white tower clearly visible when driving West towards Cardiff along the A48.

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In researching the church, I came across a lovely sketch of St Edeyrn’s and the adjacent Glebe Cottage with handwritten notes drawn in 1937 by R. E. Kay. This is available to view on the Coflein website ttps://coflein.gov.uk/en). This sketch inspired me to get out my pencils and produce my own drawing of the church thus reviving an old hobby and starting a new lockdown project!

Marion Sweeney


For general queries about volunteering with Living Levels, please contact the Living Levels Volunteer Coordinator,  Beccy Williams: rwilliams@gwentwildlife.org