Allt Fach

Not really sure what these are, they have been photographed SN6063 : Roadside figures near Penuwch.

Not really sure what these are, they have been photographed SN6063 : Roadside figures near Penuwch.

These figures in a roadside field near Penuwch make a diverting and distracting sight when passing in the car. They stand as if acting out a particular scenario or tableau, frozen in time and you aren't sure what you're seeing, or even if you really saw what you thought you saw and so on. So I executed a safe u-turn and came back to investigate. What are they made from? By whom? For what purpose? A prank? How old are they? What story do they tell? What do they represent? What is their scrap value??

On closer investigation I discovered that they are made of fibreglass, painted to resemble bronze. One male figure may be a king, as he wears what appears to be a crown. What sort of king? A gypsy king? His lady, or possibly queen(?) appears to be carrying a pot of paint, or a handbag resembling a paintpot. The fibreglass pony has a docked tail and wears swimming goggles. And appears to be deep in conversation with the humans. Are they horse-traders? Have I had too much coffee? Why is my attention span getting so poor? Prompting more questions than they answer, these figures are a wonderful roadside conundrum.

The key to the mystery of the figures lies on the faded and weathered plaque in Welsh. Apparently they were made in 1993 by the children of the local school. They have weathered well. And possibly have survived attempted kidnapping attempts one would think...Not a traffic cone in sight. I hope to see more baffling roadside figures at various remote points in future. (On a serious note; the standard of the figures is very good and I trust that at least a few of the class of '93 that did these went on to study sculpture).

Ailadeiladwyd Eglwys Dewi Sant, Blaenpennal, yn 1903 ar safle uwch o fewn y fynwent. Dymchwelwyd yr hen eglwys ac yn 1810 fe'i disgrifiwyd hi mwy fel ysgubor nag eglwys. Un ffenest ac un drws oedd ganddi a bu adeilad arall llwm ynghlwm wrthi. Bu Blaenpennal am ganrifoedd yn gapel anwes i Landdewi Brefi. St David's Church, Blaenpennal, formerly a chapel of ease belonging to Llanddewi Brefi, was totally rebuilt in 1903 on a much elevated spot within the graveyard. The old church was demolished and it was described in 1810 as being '...a disgrace to the mother church. It is a small tiled building with one window and one door and as there is a thatch hovel adjoining it... it resembles a barn than a place of worship!'

Fibreglass figures made by pupils at local school

Next to field with the figures

A fair-sized meadow up for sale.

Currently up for sale.

The back road to Llangeitho leaves the B4577.

Leaving the B4577 to climb along the uplands to the south of Mynydd Bach.

Figures at Penuwch on the side of the B4577. A gift to the Community. The work of children of Ysgol Gynradd Penuwch. July 1993