Our adventure searching for the
Peters home in Wales was both rewarding and extremely frustrating. Short story: we found the house that's in all the old photos, but it's the wrong one. The right one does exist, along with
Laura's home which is now a bed and breakfast, but we didn't find that out until after we left. Return visit needed!
Long story, read on...
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| Ffestiniog scene |
As you approach, Blaenau Ffestiniog seems like it should be a charming village, but you leave the sheep-studded meadows and beautiful castle area behind to arrive in a less picturesque slate-quarrying region known for its railway.
I had these two photos below from some unknown relatives, put in the DUP files sometime in the past fifty years or so, and this is the mill we did find.
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| so excited to find "our mill" on the town map |
It's been beautifully restored by its current inhabitant, an artist named
Falcon Hildred. However, it was not converted to a woolen mill until 1873, decades after the Peters family emigrated to Zion. Whoever thought this was the Peters mill was misinformed a few decades ago, and those photos are misleading to have in the records.
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| the stream by the woolen mill |
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| upper level entrance to house |
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| Peters couple in front of what turned out to be the wrong place |
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| initially thrilled to be at "our" place |
What we later learned from the secretary of the Blaenau Historical Society is that David's mill, Rhyd y Sarn, as it's called in his history, is three miles west of this one we visited. Also, the Welsh translation for that name is not "ford by the refuse dump," but "ford where the rivers come together." Sadly, we were already a six hours' drive away when I got the email with that information, and couldn't return, so here are photos from Google maps of the correct Rhyd Sarn mill, which we hope to visit another time:
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| thinking of Laura's sheep-shearing prowess seeing all of these sheep nearby |
Also, if any relatives attempt this pilgrimage, Laura's farm in nearby Llanfrothen, Wern, is offering
B&B accommodations .
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| Laura's lovely home |
Posts
This time the comment make take. Thank you for writing this interesting Peters trip report. It's fascinating how clarifying details can come out, even right in the middle of your trip.
ReplyDeleteupdate from Jack & Jeannie Welch's trip in 2025: Directions to the original mill and home of David and Laura Peters:
ReplyDeleteIn the Family Treerings website for David and Laura Peters, you'll see the name Rhyd-y-Sarn on the map, close by the A470. That word took our GPS to the house close by but by adding the words Hen Fellin, the GPS will take you to exactly the place. As you know, houses are identified by name, not by number. To the left and somewhat back is the long rectangular mill, which is hard to photograph.
Also on the Treerings website is information about Laura’s birthplace, and indicates that it is currently a B&B. Although it continues to be posted as such, the owners no longer accept visitors and weren’t thrilled we were there. I would advise against it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YsMBXpgyraGQauZS9
We were most warmly greeted by the branch president and to my chagrin I cannot find his name. I also spoke with a Sister Howlett at the branch. All members of this tiny branch were very friendly. They had recently had an activity where they re-enacted the early days of the branch, dressed in period clothing and took pictures of the sisters in front of the Peters’ mill.
Branch: Prothmadog Branch
Unit A1-A4 Penamser Business Park Penamser RD. Porthmadog