Welsh Journals

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hounds, became famous throughout hunting circles in South Wales. After the death of the old squire, his stepson, Thomas Williams (1810-89), assumed the mastership, being followed in turn by his daughter Anne, and then by her husband Dr William Washington David. The Glog hounds hunted right up to 1917, and all these hunting seasons are described chronologically in eight chapters, each covering one decade, and ending with the fine old Welsh poem Cadno Cwmneol, and a spirited English version by Pendar. Chapter 9 presents in extenso another two rambling but evocative old Welsh poems in praise of the Llanwynno or Glog Hounds, one Ieuan ab Gwyno (c. 1832), the other by Esau Brawd Jacob (1813), together with an English version of the latter by Brynfab (1926). Chapters 10 and 11 give accounts of some of the Glog huntsmen and distinguished hunt followers, and include, for example, an amusing reminiscence by Miss Gertrude Jenner on Dr William Price's goats grazing at Wenvoe Castle and the resultant court case at Cardiff Assizes. The final two chapters of the book cover the natural successors of the Glog Hunt, namely the Pantysgallog (Sennybridge), and the Sennybridge Farmer's Hunt (1939-66). The author of the last chapter is Gareth Jones. Each chapter of the book begins with a useful summary overview of the period and sources, and then come the individually numbered 'anecdotes', consisting of some personal and hitherto unpublished reminiscences, but mainly of verbatim newspaper accounts, often quite lengthy and sometimes annotated. These cover the various personalities, individual hunts, obituaries, banquets, meetings, balls, and other events associated with the hunt or interesting aspects of country life. Each item or anecdote is fully sourced, and the surprisingly long list of local newspapers examined provides impressive evidence of Dr Holley's diligence and industry: Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Merthyr Express, Merthyr Telegraph, Western Mail, Aberdare Times, Aberdare Leader, Cardiff Times, Monmouthshire Merlin, Pontypridd Chronicle, South Wales Daily News, Brecon and Radnor Express, and others. Prominent among the anecdotes is some of the work of the evergreen Glamorgan journalist, Morien. This is not just the story of Welsh hounds, huntsmen and horses against wily old Reynard. Dr Holley has distilled for us contemporary views of notable characters, rural sports and aspects of life in the hills of Glamorgan over the last century and a half. William Linnard