THE latest community news from Llansantffraed

History Society

IN July, members and visitors welcomed Michael Freeman who gave a talk entitled ‘Landladies, Harpers and Guides: services for tourists in Wales 1770-1870’.

Gleaned from his visits to archives around Britain, reading hundreds of travellers’ diaries and other records, Dr Freeman presented a picture of travelling by foot, horseback, stagecoach, mailcoach, post-chaise, ferry and rail.

Surprisingly inns only charged for food and stabling for horses.

No charge was made for a bed.

Amongst cottagers in remoter areas the tradition of hospitality ruled. Offers of payment for food were refused. Other surprises include a housekeeper making a fortune, a baby born at the summit of Snowdon and a windfall for the ferryman when Menai Bridge was built. A visit to Dr Freeman’s expanding website sublimewales.wordpress.com is highly recommended. Helen Palmer will be with the group on 7 August, to talk on ‘The Ladies of Glanhelyg: based on the diaries and letters of Eliza Webley Parry and Maria Brigstocke’.

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