Welsh Journals

From Kennexton to St. Fagans by ANNIE L. MATTHEWS ONE OF MY VISITS to the Welsh Folk Museum at St. Fagans was enjoyed on a crisp winter's morning. I wished to see a log fire burning away on the hearth-stone of each of the re-erected ancient Welsh farmhouses and homesteads there. On my arrival, the blue smoke which curled from the chimney of each building-- the tang on the crisp air of burning logs-delighted me and the whole scene contributed to my happy illusion that each was still inhabited. The morning was spent in the interesting Esgair Moel Woollen Factory, where I bought a blue shawl of traditional pattern, and at the 16th century Aberncdwydd farm-house. After lunching in a room in St. Fagan's Castle which was draped with curtains from Holywell textile mills and hung with paintings by Frank Brangwyn, I went to Kennexton Farm-house, the gift from Gower. En route, a haunting nostalgia gathered round the old mile-stones, the empty, gay gypsy caravan, and farm wagons of other days, but this was dispelled by the sight of this charming tree-sheltered, white-washed, thatch-roofed farm- house, with its tiny 17th century windows, and white-washed wall around its farm-yard. An attendant stood at the door and we exchanged greetings in Welsh. Kennexton Farm-house was built about 1630 and situated near Llangenydd. It was the gift of Mr. J. B. Rogers and its re-erection at St. Fagans, was assisted by a grant from the Welsh Committee of the Festival of Britain, 1951. The original house represents the eastern part of the present building. The moulded beam in the present parlour and the tiny ]7th century window are significant. The kitchen area was added later in the 17th century. This explains the presence of two open- hearths-the one in the kitchen, and the other in the parlour-- and of the wall oven behind the parlour open hearth. Characteris- tically for Glamorgan, the floors are made of mortar-in this case from a formula in lolo Morganwg's writing. The recess in the kitchen ceiling for hanging bacon is interesting. A log fire glowed down on the open hearth, and glinted on china displayed on an old Welsh dresser. It also gave a ruddy richness to the bacon cupboard-chair and to those old benches which had been brought with Kennexton farm-house from Llan- genydd.