Welsh Journals

the little shelter afforded there it seems incredible that so many vessels were safely launched but one must remember that Traethgwyn a hundred and fifty years ago would have looked quite different. Even in living memory there was a farmhouse and cornfields where now is sand and a crumbling clay cliff eaten away from above by the streams which pour down the hillside and from below by the sea. If one walks down the steep lane opposite the police station the path leads on to Traethgwyn beach. It was along here that the shipyard workers came from their cottages at Glyngoleu (most of them rented from John Evans and his brothers), cutting down the footpath by Maesypwll. Almost opposite the place where the footpath enters Pentre Sisiwrn (a nickname given to Brongwyn Street as it was then known, when a tailor set up shop there i.e. place of the scissors) lies hidden in the undergrowth the stone gatepost which once marked the entrance to Maesgwyn farm-all along here the sea has eaten into the soft cliff face and it seems unlikely that the cottages still standing along here, some of the oldest dwellings in New Quay, can survive for another generation. John Evans's descendants still live in New Quay and have fortunately preserved some of his account books which give one a fascinating glimpse of his little Empire. Although the deeds of Morfa Gwyn date only from 1831 when John and Francis Evans between them purchased Penrhiwpistyll, Glyngoleu and Morfa Gwyn, John is known to have built the sloop Flying Fish at Traethgwyn in 1820. In 1816 at the age of twenty-six he had been captain of the 73 ton sloop Eleanor-he was a Jack of all trades and master of all. He was generally regarded as a fearless sailor besides building and owning ships he also farmed Morfa Gwyn and ran his big estate efficiently keeping meticulous accounts. Although subse- quently he rented out his shipyard to Thomas Davies of the Ship- wright's Arms at Traethgwyn, he continued to own a number of the vessels built there. In view of his experience he applied to become a Lloyds' Surveyor in a passionately partisan letteru: there was certainly need for a locally based Surveyor-the building and repairing of ships at New Quay and Aberaeron was in continual progress and often their vessels had to undergo repairs elsewhere because of the necessity of having the presence of a surveyor to inspect them. He was highly recommended as having much experience of maritime affairs and shipbuilding'. What was not mentioned was the occasion when his sloop the Eleanor was impounded at Cardigan when John was accused of smuggling whisky and soap from Ireland. He pleaded not guilty saying that whisky was unobtainable at New Quay and that he had not brought it to sell but' for the carpenters and workmen on the Eleanor for easing repairs and as an Encouragement to such carpenters and workmen to be careful, diligent and Expeditious and not with a