Rhyd-y-gors
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The name Rhyd-y-gors or Rhydygors has been associated with two historic sites near the market town of
Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
in Southwest
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. The first was the
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Rhyd-y-gors Castle and the other was Rhyd-y-gors Mansion, home of the Edwardes family.


History of Rhyd-y-gors

A perfectly preserved
Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...
coating from an ancient
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shield was found in the marsh at Rhyd-y-gors. The shield would originally have been made of
wicker Wicker is the oldest furniture making method known to history, dating as far back as 5,000 years ago. It was first documented in ancient Egypt using pliable plant material, but in modern times it is made from any pliable, easily woven material. ...
, with the decorative bronze plating attached to the front. This shield is slightly more than two feet in diameter and is decorated with concentric circles and many small brass knobs. It became part of the extensive collection of arms and armour acquired by
Samuel Rush Meyrick Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick, KH (16 August 1783 – 2 April 1848) was an English collector and scholar of arms and armour. He lived at Goodrich Court, Goodrich, Herefordshire, and introduced systematic principles to the study of his subject. Li ...
1783–1848, known as the Meyrick Collection. Following Meyricks' death, the collection was dispersed, and the shield is now displayed in the
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. In AD 75, a
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fort was established at Carmarthen, it evolved into the Roman settlement of Moridunum. It was the tribal capital of the
Demetae The Demetae were a Celtic people of Iron Age and Roman period, who inhabited modern Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales, and gave their name to the county of Dyfed. Classical references They are mentioned in Ptolemy's ''Geograp ...
, the
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tribe that inhabited the area. Various archaeological artefacts have been uncovered locally, and can be seen in the County Museum. Rhyd-y-gors Castle was constructed on the order of King William II 1087–1100, known as ''Rufus'', by the Norman invader William Fitz Baldwin, Sheriff of Devon, in the late 11th century (1093–1094). It was situated on a bluff overlooking the
River Towy The River Towy ( cy, Afon Tywi, ) is one of the longest rivers flowing entirely within Wales. Its total length is . It is noted for its sea trout and salmon fishing. Route The Towy rises within of the source of the River Teifi on the lower sl ...
, about one mile South of
Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
. The castle was located on the East bank of the ''Towy'', at a place where there was an ancient ford in the river. The word Rhyd-y-gors in Welsh means "Ford of the Marsh". The castle is thought to have been a timber structure surrounded by earthworks, but all trace of it is now gone. At his untimely death in 1099, King Llywelyn ap Cadwgan was an under-King of William II. Llywelyn issued the only known coins of a Welsh ruler. At King William's mint at Rhyd-y-gors, he struck coins bearing the legend, 'Llywelyn ap Cadwgan, Rex'. Rhyd-y-gors Castle was an important centre for the Norman invasion and subsequent control of Southwest Wales. William Fitz Baldwin held the castle until his death in 1096, at which point it was abandoned. William's brother Richard re-established the castle in 1106, and it remained an important focal point until
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1068–1135 built the more permanent
Carmarthen Castle Carmarthen Castle ( Welsh: ''Castell Caerfyrddin'') is a ruined castle in Carmarthen, West Wales, UK. First built by Walter, Sheriff of Gloucester in the early 1100s, the castle was captured and destroyed on several occasions before being reb ...
by 1109. It seems Rhyd-y-gors Castle had outlived its purpose and slowly crumbled. In the late 19th century, the line of the
Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament on 31 August 1835 and ran ...
was constructed through the site, and any remains were obliterated.


Rhyd-y-gors Mansion

The second use of the name Rhyd-y-gors refers to the now demolished
Gentry Gentry (from Old French ''genterie'', from ''gentil'', "high-born, noble") are "well-born, genteel and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past. Word similar to gentle imple and decentfamilies ''Gentry'', in its widest ...
house, Rhyd-y-gors Mansion, located on the opposite side of the river to the site of the castle. The house was positioned near a bend, above the bank of the ''Towy'', near the ancient crossing that Rhyd-y-gors derives its name from. The first family to have inhabited the site were named Winter, and are believed to have arrived during the reign of William II, and were part of the train of forces headquartered at Carmarthen Castle. An Ancient Story Ends in Ruin


Progression of ownership

As the medieval period drew to an end, a new house was built at the site and passed to a Welshman, Meredith Lewis Meredith, upon his marriage to Joan, daughter and heiress of Morgan Winter. Meredith and Joan lived at Rhyd-y-gors and bore an only daughter, Mary, who married John ap Ieuan before 1500. The eldest son of this union was Edward ap John. As was becoming common in Tudor times, Edward ap John adopted his Christian name as their
patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...
, and their surname became Edwards or Edwardes. Edward ap John bore a son David Edwardes, who became an Alderman of Carmarthen, Town Bailiff in 1570, and Mayor in 1606.Historic Carmarthenshire Homes and their Families, (Francis Jones 2006, Brawdy Books, Pembrokeshire) During the period 1779 – 1785,
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
David Edwardes Esq, of Rhyd-y-gors, let the house to the Carmarthen Presbyterian College, under the rule of Revd. Robert Gentleman, who had 28 pupils in his care. Following the death of Captain David John Browne Edwardes (30th Regiment) in 1876, his wife Elizabeth Caroline (Betha) Edwardes ''Nee Warlow'' 1833–1931, (great niece of Sir
Thomas Picton Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton (24 August 175818 June 1815) was a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. According to the historian Alessandro Barbero, Picton was "respected for his courage and feared for his irascible t ...
), and their children David John William (Willie) Edwardes 1864–1936 and John Picton Arthur (Picton) Edwardes 1865–1937 moved to another property they owned, St Regulus, near
Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
, in
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
, and Rhyd-y-gors was tenanted once again. In October 1878, the Court of Quarter Sessions ordered that the Committee of Lunacy be authorised to rent Rhyd-y-gors Mansion for three years at a rent not exceeding £100 and rates and taxes. In 1890, Lord Emlyn gave notice that he would ask the Court's sanction to be given to the Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum for taking Rhyd-y-gors for 21 years, at £100 per annum. In 1911, Rhyd-y-gors was finally sold. This was the first time the estate had changed ownership, other than by inheritance, in recorded history. The house was occupied by various tenants, including housing
Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...
refugees during
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. It was then occupied until about 1960, after which it became ruinous and was finally demolished in 1971Report – Employment and Regeneration Sites
by the commercial firm who owned the estate, and had built a creamery on the front portion of the land. In 2003, all that remained was a large stone wall, which originally encircled the garden, and a stone cottage, which would have acted as a gatehouse to the main residence. The creamery has since been demolished, and part of the grounds of the estate are now covered by Amex Park, a commercial business park, accessed from
Llansteffan Llansteffan, is a village and a community situated on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tywi, south of Carmarthen. Description The community includes Llanybri and is bordered by the communities of: L ...
Road, Johnstown. The name lives on with the Rhyd-y-gors Special School and Rhyd-y-gors House, in Amex Park.


Architecture and construction of Rhyd-y-gors

Rhyd-y-gors Mansion was a tall imposing house of roughcast stone, coloured red. The house was of three storeys, each with a range of five windows, and an attic storey with three dormer windows in the roof. On each gable end were massive chimneys. A South wing was added in the 17th century.The Lost houses of Wales, (Thomas Lloyd, 1987, Save Britains Heritage, London) The plain façade gave little hint of the excellent carpentry within. The large panelled hall, wide stairs and a huge doorcase (Pictured at right), similar to the entrance door of the Great House at
Laugharne Laugharne ( cy, Talacharn) is a town on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tâf. The ancient borough of Laugharne Township ( cy, Treflan Lacharn) with its Corporation and Charter is a unique survival i ...
, were of excellent quality. Some inventive 19th century work had been undertaken, particularly an archway of beehive outline and gothic door, both with a hint of India. Two stone gargoyles from the site are located in the Carmarthen Museum, at
Abergwili Abergwili () is a village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, near the confluence of the rivers Towy and Gwili, close to the town of Carmarthen. It is also an electoral ward. The community includes the settlements of Peniel, Llanfihangel- ...
.


The Edwardes Family of Rhyd-y-gors

The Edwardes family has produced numerous notable contributors to Carmarthenshire history and have held high office in both town and county, including Mayors on four occasions, Town Sheriffs on six occasions and once in 1754, High Sheriff of the county. They have also consistently contributed officers to the
British army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
, and on occasion to the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
. The Edwardes family held the tradition for many generations of naming their first-born son David, this tradition causes certain confusion when tracing the family
genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...
. David Edwardes Esq, was mayor in 1651, Town Sheriff in 1640 and died 1664. His brother Thomas Edwardes, a scholar, became Senior Fellow of
Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the oldest colleges of the university, founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. The college spans the River Cam, colloquially referred to as the "light s ...
and left property to his college in his will, proved in 1684. The previous David Edwardes' son, also David Edwardes, was Borough Sheriff in 1680 and is credited with bringing order and system to Welsh genealogy, and was largely responsible for the manuscripts known as the Golden Grove Books. He was a noted Actuary, and in 1684 was appointed Deputy Herald of Clarenceux King-of-Arms, and he compiled a large collection of pedigrees and coats-of-arms, many of which are still preserved in the College of Arms. He died in 1690, and left realty in Trelach and Llanwinio to his uncle's Cambridge college. Rhyd-y-gors passed to his cousin Captain John Edwardes (See portrait in Gallery at end of article), who was the grandfather of
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
David Edwardes RN 1716–1785. In 1754, Admiral David Edwardes RN, held the office of
High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire This is a list of High Sheriffs of Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire was originally created by the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. It became an administrative county in 1889 with a county council following the Local Government Act 1888. Under the Loca ...
.The National Library of Wales :: Dictionary of Welsh Biography
/ref> Admiral Edwardes and his wife Anne (See portrait in Gallery at end of article), are interred in Cowbridge Church,
Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...
, and a plaque also commemorates them in St Mary's church, Llanllwch.Carmarthen and its Neighbourhood, (William Spurrell, 1860) Admiral Edwardes' youngest son, the Revd. John Edwardes (1765–1847), married Margaret Willis of Gileston Manor, near Cowbridge, and by inheritance, Revd. Edwardes inherited Gileston Manor from his wife's father, the Revd. William Willis A.M.A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, (Sir Bernard Burke, 1862, Harrison, London.) The Revd. John Edwardes had a daughter Elizabeth, who married Judge John Johnes 1800–1876, of the
Dolaucothi Estate The Dolaucothi Estate (''also'' Dolaucothy) is situated about north-west of the village of Caio up the picturesque Cothi Valley in the community of Cynwyl Gaeo, in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Its name of ''Dolaucothi'' means ‘the meadows of the ...
, Carmarthenshire. Judge Johnes was notoriously murdered at Dolaucothy, by his butler, on 19 August 1876, using his master's shotgun. Judge Johnes' younger daughter Elizabeth married
Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
Sir
James Hills-Johnes Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes, (20 August 1833 – 3 January 1919) was a British Indian Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and ...
V.C. G.C.B. Another
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
David John Edwardes (
Royal Horse Artillery The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) was formed in 1793 as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (commonly termed Royal Artillery) to provide horse artillery support to the cavalry units of the British Army. (Although the cavalry link ...
) 14 Oct 1787-14 Apr 1866, grandson of Admiral Edwardes, served in the
Peninsula War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain, ...
and was present at the
Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...
. He is credited with nearly capturing
Joseph Bonaparte it, Giuseppe-Napoleone Buonaparte es, José Napoleón Bonaparte , house = Bonaparte , father = Carlo Buonaparte , mother = Letizia Ramolino , birth_date = 7 January 1768 , birth_place = Corte, Corsica, Republic of ...
, brother of
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, after the
Battle of Vittoria At the Battle of Vitoria (21 June 1813) a British, Portuguese and Spanish army under the Marquess of Wellington broke the French army under King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan near Vitoria in Spain, eventually leading to ...
. Joseph escaped, but Captain Edwardes souvenired a set of razors, a carriage clock and some other personal items from his carriage, which are still held by descendants of the family. Captain David Edwardes served in the Royal Horse Artillery with Captain Henry Forster (1789–1855) of Southend, Kent. Following their return to England after the Battle of Waterloo, David Edwardes married Henrys' sister Caroline Forster. Henry Forster went on to marry Elizabeth Fitzgibbon and his grandson become Henry William Forster (First and Last Baron Forster,
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candidate, David Lewis, who contested Carmarthen Boroughs at the General Election of 1835. Lewis won the seat at the expense of the sitting Whig Member, William Henry Yelverton, but lost his seat two years later. Captain David John Edwardes had a brother, Captain Henry Lewis Edwardes J.P. (62nd Regiment) 3 Nov 1788-5 Aug 1866, who also served in the Napoleonic wars, but is mainly credited as the person who brought home from India, the recipe for the condiment which became known as Worcester Sauce, this is a fact in dispute though, as the introduction of Worcester Sauce is also credited to Lord Marcus Sandys. Captain Henry Lewis Edwardes changed his name to Henry Lewis Edwardes Gwynne in 1805, upon being left the Glanlery estate by his godfather, an heirless bachelor, Lewis Gwynne of Monachty, Cardigan. Captain Henry Lewis Edwardes Gwynne went on to become High Sheriff of Cardigan in 1832. He is occasionally referred to as Edward Gwynne in some texts, due to confusion over his name change. In 1849, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Carmarthen. and he died on 3 August 1866, aged 78 years, and was interred in the family vault at Llanllwch.
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
Frederick Augustus Edwardes (30th Regiment) 1829–1878, pictured at left, was the youngest son of Captain David John Edwardes 1787–1866, and he married Charlotte Maria Philipps 1834–1924, of Cwmgwili,
Abergwili Abergwili () is a village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, near the confluence of the rivers Towy and Gwili, close to the town of Carmarthen. It is also an electoral ward. The community includes the settlements of Peniel, Llanfihangel- ...
. Upon retirement from the army, he farmed an estate at Ffrwd, near
Wrexham Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
, inherited from Charlotte Maria Picton (née Edwardes) 1755–1840, sister-in-law of
Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
Sir
Thomas Picton Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton (24 August 175818 June 1815) was a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. According to the historian Alessandro Barbero, Picton was "respected for his courage and feared for his irascible t ...
. He later separated from his wife, and attempted to make his fortune in the United States. It is unclear what he did there, but he returned to Wales on 23 January 1878 and died of
peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One part or ...
at
Fishguard Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two pa ...
, soon after disembarking the ship, and before he had the opportunity to see his wife. His wife Charlotte lived out her later life (1907–1923) at No.1, The Queens House,
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, accommodation provided by her long-time friend
Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 January 1901 to 6 May 1910 as the wife of King ...
, wife of King
Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...
. Frederick Augustus Edwardes' daughter Blanche Frances Edwardes (1858–1948) married
Charles Vandeleur Creagh Charles Vandeleur Creagh (4 October 1842 – 18 September 1917) was Governor of North Borneo from 1888 to 1895. Career Creagh was educated at the Royal Naval School, New Cross and Eastman’s Royal Naval Academy at Southsea. He was a barrister ...
CMG (1842–1917),
Governor of North Borneo The Governor of North Borneo was the appointed head of the government of North Borneo. Originally the Governor was appointed by the North Borneo Chartered Company, which was responsible for the administration of the protectorate. Upon North Bor ...
and
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, in June 1882. Charles Vandeleur Creagh was the brother of
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O'Moore Creagh General (United Kingdom), General Sir Garrett O'Moore Creagh, (2 April 1848 – 9 August 1923), known as Sir O'Moore Creagh, was a senior British Army officer and an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the ...
VC GCB
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(1848–1923). Their elder son became
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James Vandeleur Creagh DSO (1883–1956). Their younger son went on to become
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O'Moore Charles Creagh (1896–1918) of the
Royal Field Artillery The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) of the British Army provided close artillery support for the infantry. It came into being when created as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 July 1899, serving alongside the other two arms of t ...
, who was killed in action during the German spring offensive at Feuillaucourt, near
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, on 23 March 1918, aged 21.
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
David John Browne Edwardes 1819–1876, was Chief Constable of the Carmarthen Borough Police in 1870–1875. His sons were the final Edwardes of the male line, David John William (Willie) Edwardes 1864–1936 and John Picton Arthur (Picton) Edwardes 1865–1937, who lived at their home, St Regulus, near
Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
, following their move from Rhyd-y-gors in 1876. It was they who sold Rhyd-y-gors in 1911. ''Willie'' Edwardes was a
big-game hunter Big-game hunting is the hunting of large game animals for meat, commercially valuable by-products (such as horns/antlers, furs, tusks, bones, body fat/oil, or special organs and contents), trophy/taxidermy, or simply just for recreation ("spo ...
and sportsman, and died at
Luxor Luxor ( ar, الأقصر, al-ʾuqṣur, lit=the palaces) is a modern city in Upper (southern) Egypt which includes the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of ''Thebes''. Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open-a ...
,
Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
. His brother ''Picton'' was a successful merchant banker, and died at St Regulus. Both were bachelors who died without issue, and left their estate to their cousin, Gladys Hemery Beckett (''nee Lindon''), wife of Captain W.N.T. Beckett R.N. 1893–1941. They also left £200,000 to charity.


St Mary’s Church, Llanllwch

St Mary's church in Llanllwch was the place of worship of the Anglican Edwardes family, and various members of the family are commemorated there on two marble memorials dating from 1786 to 1866. The older memorial was erected by Charlotte Maria Picton, who was a daughter of
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
David Edwardes. She was married to Revd. Edward Picton 1760–1835, the brother and heir of Lieutenant-General
Sir Thomas Picton Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton (24 August 175818 June 1815) was a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. According to the historian Alessandro Barbero, Picton was "respected for his courage and feared for his irascible ...
GCB 1758–1815, who fell at the
Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...
. The two memorials (Pictured at right) are attached to the wall behind the family's front pew in the church. A number of the family are interred in the family vault, which lies beneath the floor under the pew. Captain David John Edwardes 1787–1866 and his son Captain Frederick Augustus Edwardes 1829–1878 are buried in the churchyard behind the church.


Arms, Crest and Motto of the Edwardes family

As given in ''A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland'', written by Sir Bernard Burke, 1862. ARMS – Quarterly, 1st, Sable (black), a lion rampant within an orle of cinquefoils Or (gold); 2nd, Gules (red), a chevron Or (gold), between three bowers' knots; 3rd, Sable (black), three buck's heads cabossed Argent (silver); 4th, chequy Or (gold) and Sable (black), a fess Argent (silver). The coat-of-arms of ''Edwardes of Rhyd-y-gors'' are shown at right. CREST – A demi-lion Or (gold), holding between the paws a bower's knot. MOTTO – ASPERA AD VIRTUTEM EST VIA...(Rough is the path to virtue).


References

Where otherwise unavailable, some dates have been taken from the Edwardes family bible, which had births and deaths recorded inside the front cover.


Picture gallery

Image:Captain_John_Edwardes.JPG, Captain John Edwardes, Grandfather of Admiral Edwardes, inherited Rhyd-y-gors 1690, from David Edwardes, Actuary Image:Anne_Edwardes_(Nee_Blomart).JPG, Anne Edwardes (''Nee Blomart''), Wife of Admiral David Edwardes RN Image:Admiral_Edwardes_Miniature.JPG, Miniature of Admiral David Edwardes RN 1716–1785 {{DEFAULTSORT:Rhyd-y-Gors History of Carmarthenshire Archaeological sites in Carmarthenshire Buildings and structures in Carmarthenshire Former country houses in Wales Welsh country houses destroyed in the 20th century