Well here is Episode Two .. over a couple of posts, albeit rather short I'm afraid. I could'nt cover enough ground with everyone in tow on this trip, so only made it to one pub. We hiked to this one. A round trip of 11 miles. Also the batteries in my camera were showing very low so I did'nt take that many piccys of the inside .. sorry. And lastly ... most of these old inns are right by or close by very old and ancient churches. Any one interested in seeing any pictures of them as well.

The Maenllwyd Inn, Rudry.
Maenllwyd in English means Grey Stone or Grey Rock. Its pronounced Mine - loo - with. It dates back just over 400yrs when it was a farmhouse. In the past many properties in Rudry were owned by Estates and this farmhouse was no exception, being owned in the early 1800's by the most substantial property owner The Earl of Plymouth. Whether it is connected with the Earls investment in a failed attempt to mine iron ore in Rudry is not clear, but the farmhouse became an Inn in the early 1800's.
The Inn boasts two ghost's, the main sighting being of a 'Legless Cavalier', not because he's had too much to drink, but because the present floor is higher than the original. The house was here at the time of the civil war and some suggested a connection with the mighty Caerphilly Castle, which was a Royalist stronghold at one time.
Until quite recent times the main concern of the great majority of the parish of Rudry was with mining rather than agriculture. Coal mining has taken place on Rudry common since the 14th century, up until the 1930's. The last major attempt to work iron ore took place in the second half of the 19th century. Lead mining also took place near the Inn. Caerphilly Cheese (Caws Caerfili) was a special favourite with the miners and came from Ty Gawla Farm near the Inn, alas the cheesemaker has now long gone.

The Maenllwyd Inn




At the entrance door


Elaine and me with 'Megan' .. Elaine's little sheep rucksack