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Bone china for awards, occasions, fund raising, class cast or team photos etc
20th Century Technology Collections
History of Welsh Education Music and Language
update 4/11/09
As parents or 5 children and grandparents of 3 we have quite a lot of experience with children. We are both graduates, Thelma is a qualified teacher, and Huw's qualifications are in Agriculture and also has a City and Guilds basic trainers qualification. Thelma has taught adults with learning difficulties, and has been a Scout and Guide leader. As one of our children has Downs syndrome we also have experience of working with people with learning difficulties. Huw's career was in Agricultural Research mainly Managing a Scientific Facility running Field Experiments and later working as a Botanist and Moth Taxonomist on Ecological Surveys. We have been running Glyn-Coch since 2000.
Safety is important to us, and we carry out full risk assessments which are seen by the County Council. As we do not employ staff, we are not obliged to maintain a COSHH regime. Nevertheless we do assess all materials we use following COSHH principles. We always look for the safest alternatives and keep copies of Safety Data Sheets for each material. We calculate that dust exposure in the pottery is negligible compared to the occupational exposure limits. Thelma is a qualified First Aider. Our Fire Fighting and electrical equipment are tested annually.
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Glyn-Coch Craft Centre is based on a farmstead with buildings dating from 1970, 1800, possibly as long ago 1600. The oldest feature on the farm is a track way that , we are told by the County Archeologist, may be 2000 years old. So, apart from crafts we can illustrate a bit of history.
Our farm is small, only 27 acres, but we currently have a flock of 45 Norfolk Horn sheep (including lambs). We also have a small flock of elderly Buff (possibly Brecon Buff) geese. 17 acres of the farm is occupied by our woodland, glades and ponds. A path through the woods has numbered posts at regular intervals which can be used in conjunction with our Nature Trail Guide (either printed or human, depending on need!)
The traditional activity of the Craft Centre is Bone China decorating which began here in 1965. The Craft Shop and Tea room were added in about 1995, and the pottery was opened in about 1997 with an ornamental porcelain business. We took over in 2000, just after the potter had left, and in 2001 re-opened the pottery to make earthenware, at first slip casting, and later with thrown ware. Our shop now sells all our own products (decorated bone china, home produced earthenware, educational knitting and weaving kits, fleece, carded wool, and looms etc etc) and the work of about 30 other crafts people or small family firms mainly based in Wales.
The Craft Centre, Farm and Woodland is run entirely by Huw and Thelma , but we can dragoon friends and family to help when the need arises - so for most school visits we would hope to have 4 people here in addition to school staff.
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As parents with an interest in education we were aware of the details of the National Curriculum. Now, however, our children have left school, and our grandchildren are not yet there, so we are probably a little out of date. We would not presume to second guess the levels that could be taught here, as that would depend on the class context as much as the artifacts and methods that are demonstrated here. However we would try to pitch our presentation at a suitable level for the children who attend. We think that we can support children's education in the following areas: -
| Design and Technology | The shop contains examples of work in many different
materials
The pottery offers opportunities for hands on experience both in working with wet clay, slip casting, or decorating using paints or glazes. We can show children various traditional methods of using wool and some of the tools that would be used. |
| Biological sciences | The Woodland Walk is marked out as a nature trail. The walk
passes through a variety of habitats. We take part in various biological
surveys.
We keep sheep which illustrate historical aspects of breeding, rare breed conservation, and control of epizootics and human pandemics. And from time to time we keep poultry. |
| General Science | The history of our David Brown 2D tractor illustrates the research cycle from investigating a novel pest and controlling it with powerful broad spectrum chemicals, to using progressively more benign chemicals and more precise application techniques to eventually - when enough is known about the pest - to attempting to use biological controls. |
| History | Our sheep breed connects Saxons with the Flemish weavers who
invented Worsted cloth, started the weaving industry in 'Little England
beyond Wales' and were the ancestors of many people in Pembrokeshire,
including the heroin of the last invasion of Britain.
There are physical signs of occupation at Glyn-Coch going back as long as 2000 years. The buildings that we use now date from possibly 400 years ago, with additions in about 1800, 1935, and 1970. These changes can be associated with general historical events such as the coming of the railway and changes in the agricultural economy. Our developing 'museum' of 20th century technology includes farm implements, radios, computers and cameras. |
| Physics, Maths, IT | 'Museum' of 20th century technology. Includes artifacts that may be discussed or used in these subjects |
| Engineering design and development | The design history of the David Brown 2D tractor is well known, and the adoption of unusual features can be related to the state of development of various technologies at the time and the expected use of the machine. |
| Geography Economics | How does soil type/ aspect etc affect what grows? The change of cropping or alternative enterprise with climate and economic change as illustrated by the buildings etc. |
| General studies | Climate change. Agricultural and food production issues. Farm tourism |
| Farming or forestry activities, biological survey work. | From time to time we will be able to demonstrate seasonal tasks, and interested students may be able to take part. (Where it is safe for them to do so.) |
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Craft and Design Students are welcome to take part in individual projects in the pottery. Students may use potters wheels, moulds or build their projects by hand. The size of items made is limited by the size of our kiln, if firing is required. We use a variety of decorating techniques. We can provide advice on basic techniques.
Ecology /Geography Students We already take part in National Ecological Surveys but would welcome students who would like to study the following very ecologically diverse groups herbs, fungi, ground insects (beetles and spiders for example), Dragon and Damsel flies, and mammals. We can provide some help with identification and survey techniques. However. all proposals will receive sympathetic consideration, as the more we learn about our wildlife the better we can look after it.
We have already hosted one successful 'A' Level Geography / Ecology project and a CDT project and look forward to the next!
While we do not run these projects as profit making enterprises we may charge for materials used, and for time, if this becomes significant. We will also charge for power used whilst firing the kiln.
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Central to Glyn-Coch Craft Centre is the pottery This is in a small agricultural building, which may be as much as 400 years old, and which we believe may have been a pond type water mill before the Railway was built in the middle of the 19th century. We make a range of earthenware, including basic kitchenware, decorative art pottery, and ceramic and glass jewelry. We will demonstrate this to you, but you can also have a go yourself. There are a number of possible projects, from throwing pots using self hardening clay or painting ready made pots or figurines with acrylic paints to making and glazing 'proper' pots. (The latter will, of course, require several visits.) We have two potters wheels ( one small electric wheel, and a taller kick wheel) and the basic project of throwing a pot will take about 10 minutes, so a class of 30 would take about 2 1/2 hours if able to use both wheels) We usually split groups, and while half the class pots, we take the other half round the Woodland Walk, and show them the displays. Larger groups may be spit into 3.
We also make several products based on wool for our rare breed sheep. We can demonstrate the use of Carding Combs, Drop Spinners, Weaving Sticks, Lucettes, French Knitting Dollies, Round Knitting Looms, and Needle Felting Kits..
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We decorate bone china to your specifications We can provide our own artwork, or use any picture you supply. Our china is good quality bone china and is bought from established British suppliers. We use traditional decorating techniques which produce an elegant and durable finish. Even hand painted products are dishwasher proof, and (if not gilded) are microwave safe. We can decorate most items, mugs, plates, tea sets, dinner services, vases etc. Why not use some for fund raising, for retirement or promotion gifts, or to celebrate academic or sporting success?
Llanboidy Young Farmers Club, National Coracle Centre, Carmarthenshire County WI, Museum of Speed, Dylan Thomas Boathouse Museum, Cardiff Castle Gift Shop, George Lewis (Llanelli), Capel Dewi School
And numerous private customers, individual artists, small organisations, local Pubs etc.
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In the 1993 the old and very rare David Brown 2D tractor which we had used on experiments at Rothamsted Experimental Station was dumped in a shed ready to be collected for scrap. When I protested, it was suggested that I put in a sealed bid for it, and as they accepted my tiny bid, I became an accidental 'museum curator'! Later when we were moving here I was just about to throw out our eldest son's Sinclair ZX81 computer when our youngest son asked what it was. While explaining about computers that plugged into television sets, and writing your own programs, I realised the educational value of these toys. Later one of Thelma's elderly pupils left her a collection of radios in his will, and quite recently visitors to the craft centre thought that we would be a good home for their family collection of cameras. This collection seems to be growing of its own will, and we are trying to make sense of it, and hope to enthuse others with the spirit of discovery.
Within the collection are a host of scientific discoveries and engineering developments. You can also see how one enthusiastic individual starts a family business, how family businesses cooperate within and across national boundaries, eventually becoming the multinationals we know today. The inventions of enthusiastic individuals are often seen as toys, before finding a serious use and changing the lives of communities and then nations. Within the collections are mysterious connections between agricultural vehicles, camels, first world war heroes, and the invention of the jet engine. The Agricultural implements on show illustrate the gradual mechanisation of farms throughout the 20th century, and show how struggling families would be released from hard manual labour to earn more money in towns while retaining the agricultural properties. We can also see the extreme variation between farms.
The unusual design of the David Brown 2D Tractor arose from a wish to encourage farmers who were still using horses after WWII to use tractors. It failed to convince this rather conservative group , but was hailed by agricultural engineers as the first successful systems tractor. Unique features of the design made it a great success with Market Gardeners, and many special versions were built for other industries including one for maneuvering planes on board Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers. Our tractor was used between 1970 and about 1990 by a team studying the control of eelworm at Rothamsted Experimental Station. During this period the team went through the whole research cycle, from using powerful (and dangerous) chemicals to control what was then almost a novel pest to using much more specific and safe chemicals and finally trying out totally benign biological control methods. The tractor was used to test chemical placement tools which became the tool of choice for worldwide application of pesticides made by one of the biggest Agrochemical companies in the world.
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The whole farm is just 27 acres, but 17 acres is occupied by woodland and associated glades and ponds, so we actually farm only 10 acres. At present the main farming activities are our flock of rare Norfolk Horn sheep, hay and very small scale silage making and an occasional poultry enterprise.
The history of the Norfolk Horn breed shows how market forces create genetic drift, and the loss of desirable genes from commercial flocks. It also shows how the growth of the wool industry stimulated the movement of the human population, and how such movements contribute to the development of our culture. The discovery of genetic resistance to scrapie illustrates how careful attention to the agricultural industry can contribute to the control of human disease pandemics. The replacement of Norfolk Horns by Suffolks also demonstrates the change of diet which accompanied the industrial revolution.
Our collection of Historic Farm machinery illustrates the gradual mechanisation which took place between 1900 and 1970. Tools and small machines are laid out so as to illustrate the preparation of grassland for an arable crop, the way on farm chemical seed dressing was carried out in the 1950s, the planting of small seeds, single seeds and potatoes, the cutting and making of hay, and the shearing of sheep. Our David Brown tractor was used by a team working on the control of eelworm through the whole research cycle. The story of the design and development of this tractor also illustrates the types of technology available immediately after the Second World War, the product cycle from initiation to the end of production, and serves to stimulate discussion about the replacement of working horses by machines. Strangely, although there are now fewer the 100 of these tractors in existence they are now in demand by organic farmers, as they are particularly suited to non-chemical control of weeds. Amongst the machines in the collection are one that has given its name to a whole class of machines worldwide, just as the Hoover or Biro, and other machines which illustrate the international trade in machinery, and the development of small local firms into huge multi-nationals.
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Our woodland was planted in 1998 next to over-mature hedges which should seed the new woodland with a variety of wildlife. The woodland forms a narrow strip round our grazed paddocks so this woodland is all woodland edge which should result in very high levels of ecological diversity. The woodland also includes wet and dry areas, different aspects, a change of height of about 30m, and includes several un-grazed glades and small ponds. We take part in ecological surveys, and so far the Rothamsted Insect Survey have identified over 230 species of moths here (we regularly appear in their top 20 UK sites table), the RSPB Farmer and Volunteer Alliance survey found 2 nationally rare bird species nesting here, and we have found several species of Bat including a colony of over 120 Soprano Pipistrelle bats.
The Woodland illustrates many aspects of ecology. For anyone walking round the site of particular birds, butterflies or other insects in some parts of the walk and not in others is an obvious clue. Also the size and health of particular species of tree, or other plants, in different parts of the walk can stimulate useful discussions. We have been monitoring moths here since 2002 and anyone who is really keen could study the changes in moth population, and compare them with the growth of the trees which were planted in 1998. While walking round the woodland one can also see the route of what the County Archeologists believe to be a Roman road, and possibly what may be an even older sacred grove. The buildings here date from about 1600, 1800, 1935 and 1970.
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Planning a typical visit will start, perhaps 2 months before the class arrives. (Though we are flexible, and - particularly small groups (12 or less)- can be accommodated at much shorter notice.) We would discuss with the group leader the requirements of the group, so that we can prepare materials, arrange for extra help etc. Obviously we would like to meet the leader, and show them around in advance of the visit, so that we can discuss specific opportunities and problems: this is not essential, though it is highly recommended. Arrangements for repeat visits can equally be made by phone, e-mail or letter.
Based on information received we will consider any foreseeable problems and if necessary do an additional risk assessment and adopt the new procedures or equipment suggested.. (Where this is not possible we may need to cancel the visit). We cannot take responsibility for problems that arise as a result of special requirements we have not been told about, or because of problems with our property if the school has not previously visited us to see what we are offering.
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On the day, our visitors can travel here by private car, or by coach. (Standard 57 seater coaches are fairly common visitors, but we need to know in advance so that we can make sure that the turning area is clear for them. Vehicles over 12 feet tall must stop before entering the farm yard so that we can raise the telephone wire. Double-decker coaches will be too tall. On arrival at, perhaps between 10.00 and 11.00 am, the class will be divided into 2 or 3 groups, with one carrying out projects in the pottery, another going round the nature trail and looking at the museums, and the third looking round the shop, tea room, or working with the teacher. The groups will swap activities every 45 minutes to an hour. Our website lists the approximate capacity of each building, but if extra undercover area is required we can put up a small marquee, however we need several days notice if this is needed.
Tearoom and museums mentioned elsewhere
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So far. most groups have thrown a pot on our potters wheels using self hardening clay. Self hardening clay will dry in the class room in three or four days (depending on temperature and humidity) before being decorated, engraved or painted using standard classroom acrylic paints. The finished product is for ornamental use only, but providing it does not get wet should last for many years. More advanced projects, using standard clays and glazes are possible, but will need further discussion as repeat visits may be necessary. We can also provide bisque figurines for painting, but again we will need you to discuss numbers of each figure you require.
Children having their first go at making a pot will take about 15 minutes. To prevent long queues of bored children, we recommend that they take part in other activities, and often our woodland walk/ nature trail can be the highlight of their visit. The easy 1 1/2 mile walk gives plenty of opportunity to identify different species of trees, herbs, butterflies etc. (depending on season), and also ecological effects of soil moisture, aspect etc. Parts of the walk cross a path, said by the County Archeologist to have a Roman origin, and another 'sunk lane' which was only closed by the building of the railway. Views from the walk include a farm, which 30 years ago was one of the best dairy farms in the UK, and which has since diversified into tourism, and also of farms whose names suggest that they belonged to an estate based on a pre Roman sacred grove. In our own buildings we can plot the fortunes of farming from possibly as long ago as 1600 to the present. One version of our Woodland Walk guide tells a tail from the Mabinogion (Pwll Prince of Dyfed). and includes references to a neighbouring farm.
Usually children have brought their own packed lunch, which can be eaten in the yard, or depending on group size in our tea room. We can supply snacks and drinks, but please discuss quantities etc with us well in advance. Remember we may need to buy in more food or arrange for staff, if a larger group is involved or you decide on a specially prepared meal. (This is often a good idea as if everyone has the same meal then it can be part prepared in advance and set out ready for a quick service. Children, especially, appreciate quick service!)
After lunch you can have a go at other activities, or finish off projects started before lunch
Our craft shop, tea room, and collections of historic farm equipment, radios, computers and cameras provide further opportunities for education, or relaxation but please let us know well in advance if you want to use these facilities as part of the educational visit so that we can ensure that they are properly staffed. Of course we would be delighted to show you round once we have finished in the pottery and on the walk. For small interested groups we may also be able to introduce various forestry or shepherding activities.
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General safety advice is given on our 'Other' page (http://www.glyn-coch.com/other.htm#courses ), but we would need to discuss specific risks associated with the individual group, or activities undertaken.
As we are a rural facility we need to take the risks of e-coli and other zoonosis very seriously, and children (especially those from urban backgrounds) should be taught about the importance of not touching animals, and of correct hand-washing before their visit. I would recommend that all visiting staff carry antiseptic wipes with them in case of accidental animal contact. (Wipes are also useful first aid after minor falls or scratches, and as children have been used to them since infancy are also good for soothing emotional upsets!)
Farms have all sorts of dangers that urban children will be unfamiliar with. There are obvious ones like barbed wire, animals, machinery and chemicals, but I was also very surprised to discover that some school children do not recognise stinging nettles and brambles! Consequently a high level of supervision is required, and for young children I would suggest no more then 6 children for each responsible adult.
Suitable weather proof clothing is an important aspect of safety, and Wellington Boots should be considered for all visits to the 'wetland' areas of the woodland walk.
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As a non Welsh speaker, I hardly feel qualified for this section. However my Grandfather R. W. Jones was a Teacher in the Rhondda valley between 1900 and 1938. This was, of course the pioneering stage of education in the Welsh Language, and he worked with John Southall the publisher to produce some of the early Welsh text books. We have one of the books he wrote, Astudiaeth Anian, which has been credited as being the first Nature Study book in Welsh for Elementary Schools. As my father's generation became elderly they started talking about this book, and in clearing houses after their deaths (sorry that sounds more gruesome then I meant) we have found the book, and my cousin was keen that I gave it some publicity. Of course, I had to write an introduction to it and that lead to an interesting project which I am recording on the R. W. Jones web page.
During the project I have discovered a lot about the history of the valley that I was only dimly aware of, about how rapidly the mining industry developed, how important music and churches were at the time, and I have solved the mystery of how my Grandfather had managed to write the FIRST textbook of its type in such an ancient language. An exciting twist was that R. W. Jones (Taid) had conducted the Treherbert Celebrity Concert in 1938 and that you can still buy a recording made by one of the soloists
The more I learn the more proud I am of my Grandfather, but isn't it sad that after his pioneering work his grandson cannot speak the language he dedicated his working life to? I love the sound of the language, I love learning the meanings of place names, and I love to say the few word I know, but I fear that I will never, now, speak it fluently. Isn't there a lesson there for today's school children? This beautiful language is so fragile.
To learn more about the project or to buy books in Welsh (LLyfr Cymraeg) by other authors look and the Welsh Books page of this website.
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