A double murder in Ceredigion is the first subject of Canolfan Ysgol Cribyn’s Local History series.

A little over 100 ago the community of Cribyn, Dyffryn Aeron, was shocked by the murder of Mary Evans and her son Samuel at their home, Clawdd Moel farm.

“There isn’t much mystery about how they were killed,” said local historian Arwel Jones.

“A double-barrelled shotgun was found near the bodies. But why they were shot and how the two charged with the murderous act were acquitted are two of the biggest questions I’ll be addressing in my talk.”

Cribyn’s former village school was bought by the community two years ago and re-opened as a community hub and centre for local education this September.

Project leader Euros Lewis said: “When the school closed the people of Cribyn were determined to maintain education as a creative dynamic in the community.

“With the school’s re-opening we’ve appointed Education Officer Bethan Eynon-Stobbs to develop a programme of collaborative education so we learn alongside each other, about each other, for the benefit of each other.

“Whilst formal education is being centred more in area schools, and a steady stream of people who are not Welsh-speakers move to these communities, a programme of collaborative and inclusive education is essential for Welsh to maintain its energy of purpose and imagination in these heartland environments’.  

Local history and the history of Wales will be central to Ysgol Cribyn’s education programme.

Bethan Eynon-Stobbs said Arwel’s talk, on Thursday, 19 November is the first in a series of history talks this winter. Simultaneous translation will be provided for non Welsh-speakers.

“Seeing how much people are looking forward to these talks is very exciting”, Bethan added.

The talk, called ‘The Double Murder at Clawdd Moel’, will be held at Canolfan Ysgol Cribyn, near Lampeter, on Thursday, 19 November at 7pm.