Welsh Journals

Though she made European voyages, the bulk of Unity's trade was in home waters, carrying slates, corn, coal, hops, etc. To make a profit required hard work, skill and luck, for in addition to natural hazards there were American and French privateers, preying successfully on coastal shipping. The first language of Unity's master, Capt. Rees Ed- wards, was Welsh. His English spelling was largely phonetic, which gives charm to the entries. He had succeeded his father as master and part- owner of the vessel and was succeeded by his son-a common family tradition. He was one of the trustees of the new Barmouth harbour in 1797 and later part-owner of other local ships. His family was part of a network of local ownership and investment, sometimes supplemented by London shareholders, financing further ship-building and local devel- opments. In his introduction, Dr. Lloyd clearly illustrates these points and suggests future lines of enquiry: the reluctance of the gentry to invest in such ventures; the need for an examination of the Welsh timber trade and of the close trading links between Ireland and Wales. He and the enlightened Gwynedd Archives Service must be congratulated on bringing this book to a wider public and furnishing a thoughtful, informative context in which to examine it. P. K. CRIMMIN Royal Holloway College, London CLYNE CASTLE, SWANSEA. By Ralph A. Griffiths. University College of Swansea, 1977. Pp. 61. £ 1.50. There are few universities in the country that can boast a hall of resi- dence as impressive as Neuadd Gilbertson. Its situation is superb with commanding views of Swansea bay; the interior is well preserved and retains some of the elegance of its past. Students who stay there and those who visit are invariably delighted with it. But with the publication of this history of the building and its owners, students, visitors and citizens of Swansea will take a new pride in Neuadd Gilbertson, alias Clyne Castle, alias Woodlands. Dr. Ralph Griffiths has written an outstandingly readable and interesting account, starting with the earliest house of Richard Phillips, 1791, who had probably been attracted by the mineral and timber resources of the surrounding land. He was followed by General George Warde, a professional soldier who turned his eyes to industrial ventures and purchased the Woodlands estate in 1799 and with his beautiful wife, Charlotte, entertained there. Warde extended the estate and rebuilt the house in the neo-Gothic fashion from local warm sand- stone. It was later purchased by the Berrington-Hall family (with its interesting Llanover connections); there were substantial reductions in the estate and house. Then it was bought by the Vivians who, at various times, had occupied the mansions of Singleton Abbey, Park Wern, Sketty Hall, Fairwood, Llangyfelach and Parc le Breos. It was William Graham Vivian who 'lavished attention, money and a sophisticated taste on the