The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the South and West CoastsVarious
History
The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the South and West Coasts
Various
Great Britain -- Description and travel; Rivers -- Great Britain
Old Milford is a prettily situated town terraced above the Haven, with
quays and embankments on its shore-line, ready for the traffic that is
still withheld from it. Master Atkins's red coat helps to enliven it.
The blue water, the green level ridges that run west to the sea, and
the Atlantic itself in the distance, all prepossess in its favour. But
Liverpool and Holyhead both hold it aloof from the fortune it aspired
to.
Before proceeding north to that little known yet seductive river, the
Teifi, Haverfordwest, on one of the two Cleddaus, which enter the
Haven at its northern and westernmost arms, must be briefly mentioned.
It is an ancient town, as its castle--built about 1112 by the father
of Richard Strongbow, that eminent castle-builder--testifies. Among
its other privileges was that of being county and capital town in
one; also of having its own lord-lieutenant. Here the Flemings of the
twelfth century most did congregate in this peninsula, and no doubt the
little town's prosperity was largely due to them. Nowadays, however,
it is a waning place, in spite of its lively look and, considering
its remoteness, its fine buildings. This is proven by the number of
its Maiden Assizes in the later years of its independence, before
its annexation to Carmarthen for judicial purposes, as well as by
other less agreeable tokens. It is, perhaps, the most hilly town in
the kingdom. Ere you are half a mile away from it on the road to St.
David's, it is lost to sight; while, approaching it from Milford, its
situation seems quite Alpine.
* * * * *
The /Teifi/ (or Tivy), like the Towy, is little known to
Englishmen other than anglers; and again, like the Towy, it well
deserves knowing. The two rivers both rise among the heather-clad
moors of Cardiganshire; so near, indeed, that you may stand on the
watershed and mark the different trend of their streams. Teifi's chief
supply, however, comes from the Teifi pools, three miles from Strata
Florida Abbey, a congeries of mountain lakes, the abode of interesting
and capricious trout that may be recommended to the traveller with
a fishing rod--and a mackintosh. It has as wild an origin as any of
the rivers of South Wales. The Cistercians of Strata Florida probably
fished these lakes far more than do the moderns.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account