Glamorgan Lovelucks

Richard spent his childhood at Fanhalog farm in Llanwonno , but moved to Cwmsaerbren in Ystradyfodwg with his parents, sisters and elder brother William, sometime between 1793 and 1799. It is not clear how long he stayed at Cwmsaerbren after his father's death in 1799, but it was probably about the time of his brother William's marriage in 1804, when William formally took over the freehold of Cwmsaerbren, that Richard moved down the valley to farm Bodringallt, as a tenant of David Morris,his second cousin. He remained at Bodringallt until 1826. It is possible that older relatives were living at the farm when he first moved there. An indication appears in the Ystradyfodwg parish register, in which a burial entry in April 1816 for an Ann DAVIES, aged 81, shows her address at time of death as 'Bodringallt'. It is possible that this was Richard's aunt Anne(née HOPKIN, who married Jenkin DAVID); she was David MORRIS' cousin.

In addition to any older-generation residents who may have been at Bodringallt, there was at least one young resident, presumably an employee, by the name of Ann JENKINS, who presented Richard with an illegitimate son - Richard - in June 1823, lessthan a year before Richard's marriage to Gwenllian REES.

Richard and Gwenllian married by licence, issued by the Diocese of Llandaff on 29th April 1824. The officiating curate at the marriage was Gwenllian's brother, the Rev. William RHYS, who was at the time, curate of Ystradyfodwg and of St. John theBaptist in the parish of Llantrisant.

Two more sons were born, Jenkin and William, before Richard and Gwenllian moved from Bodringallt to Brynchwyth Farm in the parish of Llandyfodwg, in the Ogmore valley. The lease makes it clear, in fact, that Richard took over both Brynchwith and neighbouring Donandeg farms, living in the former. The previous tenant was Gwenllian's brother Llewellyn Rees. The family remained at Brynchwith for at least six years (from 1827 until at least 1833, but possibly until approximately 1840). By this time the family had increased to six boys; a daughter, Anne, was also born at Brynchwyth, but she died in childhood, and was buried in the Rees family grave in Ystradyfodwg.

By the time of the June 1841 census, the family had moved again, to Candleston Farm in the parish of Merthyr Mawr, between Bridgend and the sea. This was to be Richard's final resting place - he died, aged 65, in 1847, leaving Gwenllian to run Candleston with the help of her six sons, by then aged from 14 to 24.

To date, I have been unable to find more information on Richard DAVIES, other than these few facts and a short announcement of his death in the Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, which reads: "Oct. 4, Mr. Richard Davies, of Tregunllo, near Merthyrmawr, in this county, much respected, leaving a widow and a large family and relatives to deplore his loss"

This reference to Tregunllo (or Treganllaw) is interesting because it tells us that the area around Candleston Farm was still, in the mid-nineteenth century, referred to by the name of the ancient village, long-since lost beneaththe sands of Merthyr Mawr Warren. Similarly, on Richard's grave in St.Teilo's churchyard, he is referred to in Welsh as " ... RICHARD DAVIES o Dreganwyllau ...":

The Tourist Board website on the subject of Candleston says : It is very easy to see why so many legends and stories have been woven around the decaying ruins of Candleston Castle, mysteriously positioned in its eerie setting surrounded by stark windswept trees being strangled by the ever-encroaching sand. The whole area has a ghostly appearance, especially in the moonlight! The truth is that it was not a castle at all but a fortified manor house that once belonged to the Norman family of Cantelupes (Running Wolves). As you would expect,the Castle is believed to be haunted! The ghostly appearances seem to come from a strange area nearby. According to legend,it was an ancient oratory belonging to a Celtic Chapel. Many old stones and crosses were found in the area. One of the stones was known as the goblin stone. The stone itself was believed to be haunted by an unknown ghost who would surprise passing folk,capture them and force them to embrace this particular stone. No sooner had they done so they would find their handsand feet trapped amongst the ancient intertwining carvings. Their only means of escape was to pray.The biggest mystery of Candleston however, is the lost village of Treganllaw (Welsh for:The town of a hundred hands) Little information is known regarding the village, but it was believed to be situated near to the manor house. What unfortunate end came to it and its inhabitants is not known, but there is the possibility that it was smothered by the moving sands from the nearby dunes. DATA: TEXT DATE 15 Oct 2002 TEXT: OBJE @M90@ TEXT: OBJE @M91@