Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – The Welsh P15s

 

Y Faerdre (SH 784 795) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that was listed in The Welsh P15s, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Y Faerdre (SH 784 795)

The criteria for the list that this name change was applicable to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the A546 road to its west and the B5115 road and the A470 road to its east, and has the town of Llandudno towards the south-east.

When the listing that became known as The Welsh P15s was being compiled, this hill was included in the P14 sub list under the name of The Vardre with an estimated c 14m of drop, based on an estimated c 97m summit height and an estimated c 83m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 5m contouring. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the numerical details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.

LIDAR analysis gives the summit of this hill as 93.2m and with an 81.1m bwlch height, these values give this hill 12.2m of drop, which is insufficient for it to be classified as a Welsh P15.

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales. 

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 187 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Vaerdref in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Eglwys Rhos and with no county named. 

Extract from the apportionments

Since the original publication of the Welsh P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of maps made available online.  Some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website.  Whilst others were digitally updated such as the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local that was hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the interactive mapping on the Magic Maps and WalkLakes websites.  One of the historic maps now available online is the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map which formed the basis for the first publicly available Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map, and it is the Draft Surveyors map in conjunction with the Tithe map, with the prioritised language protocol also being used, that has prompted the change in the listed name of this hill.

The Draft Surveyors maps consist of the preliminary drawings made by the Ordnance Survey surveyors between the 1780s and 1840 and formed the basis for the first publicly available One-Inch map.  They were drawn at scales of six inches to the mile for areas considered of particular military significance and down to two inches to the mile for other areas.  Fair copies were then produced from these preliminary drawings to one inch to the mile and then copper plates were prepared for printing.  The Draft Surveyors maps for the whole of Wales are now available online and they form an important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names as they bridge the time frame between the late 18^th century and the mid-19^th century when the Ordnance Survey produced their first One-Inch maps, and importantly for this hill and its listed name, it is this map that uses the name of Castell Deganwy or Y Faerdre for the land taking in the summit of this hill. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors Map

The intricacies of language and prioritising one in favour of another for listing a hill is fraught with complication, with originating Cymraeg names being anglicised and also originating English names being cymricised, examples such as these are more common in border country and especially so for anglicised forms.  There is no steadfast rule that fits all, but as a standard a name that has its origins in the Welsh language and where this is substantiated by either historic documentation and/or contemporary usage should be prioritised in favour of a contemporary anglicised or English version of the name.  Likewise, if a name exists where an element of it is in English and if this name applies to a hill that is situated in a Welsh speaking part of Wales it is standard practice to use a full Welsh term for the name.  It is also standard practice to use a Welsh name for a hill if another name exists that has originated in a different language.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by is Y Faerdre, and this was derived from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map in conjunction with the Tithe map, with the prioritised language protocol also being used. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog 

Name:  Y Faerdre

Previously Listed Name:  The Vardre 

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  93.2m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 78472 79515 (LIDAR)                                                  

Bwlch Height:  81.1m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 78520 79419 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  12.2m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)