Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 200m Twmpau

Broniarth (SJ 160 117)

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 200m Twmpau, and the following details are in respect of a hill that was surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 on the 20^th January 2016.

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

200m Twmpau - All Welsh hills at and above 200m and below 300m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward.

The hill is a part of the Carnedd Wen range, which is an extensive group of hills situated in the southern part of north Wales.  It is positioned above Dyffryn Meifod and the Afon Efyrnwy (River Vyrnwy) to the north-west, with the small community of Meifod situated to the north north-west.

Broniarth (SJ 160 117)

The hill appeared in the 200m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Cobham’s Garden, which is a name that appeared close to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on a map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are inappropriate, and Cobham’s Garden is such an example as this name is applicable to a small patch of land to the west south-west of the summit of this hill, and although it can be appropriate to use the main named feature of a hill when naming it for listing purposes, in this instance the hill has its own name, and this is Broniarth.  

Cobham's Garden

270c

SJ161118

125

239

     

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historical such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the enlarged map on the Geograph website.  One of the historical maps now available 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 was the Draft Surveyors map coupled with detail from other Ordnance Survey maps, as well as the Tithe map and also local enquiry that formed the basis for the change in this hill’s listed name.

The Draft Surveyors maps consist of the preliminary drawings made by the Ordnance Survey’s 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. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map

The name this hill is now listed by is Broniarth and the land that this name is applicable to was confirmed via 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.

Assessing information on the Tithe map is simplified by the use of a split screen enabling the summit to be pinpointed on the map on the right and for the same point to appear on the Tithe map on the left

An overlay facility enables direct comparison between the Tithe map and the current map

The enclosed land is given a number which 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.  However, in this instance the land where the summit of this hill is situated is on common land and named as Broniarth Common; it appears in the county named as Montgomery and in the parish of Guilsfield.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey One-Inch 'Old Series' map

There are many maps that are now available online and these give the opportunity to compare the composition of a hill’s name and in the instance of Broniarth this can be followed from the Draft Surveyors map, through the Tithe map, to the Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map and to contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps.  There are of course many other maps also available for this form of comparison, but the study of the ones mentioned above can give us inkling to how this hill’s name was represented through the ages and this is depicted below:

Tithe Map:  Broniarth Common

Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map:  Broniarth

Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map:  Broniarth Hills

Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map:  Not named 

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

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 200m Twmpau is Broniarth and this was derived from a number of sources, including the Tithe map for consideration of what land the name applied to, the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors and One-Inch ‘Old Series’ maps for confirmation of the name, and also through local enquiry.

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carnedd Wen

Name:  Broniarth

Previously Listed Name:  Cobham’s Garden 

Summit Height:  279.2m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  125

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 16075 11772 

 

Drop:  53.3m (converted to OSGM15)

For details on the survey of Broniarth

Myrddyn Phillips (October 2016)

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 200m Twmpau

Broniarth (SJ 166 120) - 200m Sub-Twmpau addition

There has been a confirmation of a new addition to the Sub category within the 200m Twmpau (thirty welsh metre prominences and upward) hill list instigated by a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000.   The hill is situated between the small community of Meifod to its north-west and that of Maesmawr to its south-east and is part of the Carnedd Wen range of hills.

These details are retrospective, as the Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey that resulted in this hill’s confirmation as a 200m Sub- Twmpau was conducted on the 20^th January 2016 on a beautiful crisp winter day in good, dry and sunny conditions.

The hill can be easily accessed from its south where a narrow lane crosses from south-west to north-east across its southerly flank.  This would be a short visit of no more than a few minutes, so combining the hill with some of its neighbours is recommended.  However, permission should be sought for those wishing to visit as the summit is not on open access land.

The hill is unnamed on current Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps but is part of land known locally as Broniarth and which appears on some Ordnance Survey maps as an extended name of either Broniarth or Broniarth Hill.

This is a confirmation of this hill’s addition to the 200m Sub-Twmpau ranks as current Ordnance Survey enlarged mapping on the Geograph website has a 247m spot height on this hill’s bwlch, with the summit having a 268m spot height on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and the enlarged map hosted on the Geograph website.  These values give the hill 21m of drop, which compares favourably with the Trimble survey of 21.5m of drop.

The survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 resulted in a 267.9m (converted to OSGM15) summit height and a 246.5m (converted to OSGM15) bwlch height, giving this hill 21.5m of drop and confirming its entry in to the 200m Sub-Twmpau ranks.

The full details for the hill are:

Cardinal Hill:  Carnedd Wen

Summit Height:  267.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Name:  Broniarth

OS 1:50,000 map:  125

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 16648 12055

Drop:  21.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Broniarth (SJ 166 120) 200m Sub-Twmpau status now confirmed by the Trimble GeoXH 6000

For details on the survey that resulted in this hill being confirmed as a 200m Sub-Twmpau please click {here}

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2016)

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Carnedd Wen

20.01.16  Broniarth (SJ 160 117), Broniarth (SJ 166 120), Bank Wood (SJ 171 115), Pt. 262.8m (SJ 173 109) and Bwlch Clump (SJ 170 108)  

Broniarth (SJ 160 117)

With such a beautiful cold chilled day forecast I thought it a shame to miss out on the delights of a hill or two.  Examining the maps I noticed a small group of 200m Twmpau hills that I had not visited, these were situated between Meifod and Maesmawr, and would only take a half hour or so to navigate the narrow country lanes to reach their base.

I parked next to a farm at SJ 158 112 having asked permission to do so from a friendly woman who was hanging out of a house window opposite and who had quickly noticed me wandering the lanes.  I sauntered over to introduce myself and we talked for a number of minutes, she kindly told me that the first hill, which was rising above the valley in front of me, was known locally as Broniarth.

As I waved the woman goodbye I gathered all my stuff from the car, locked it and wandered down the lane to a cross road where I forked right and admired the frost encrusted detail of leaves hanging on a becalmed hedgerow.

Delicate frost on leaves

A footpath through part of a wood gained initial height before it deposited me on to a clean chilled hillside, frost predominated, a tranquil and silent landscape fell away down to the shaded valley below.  Elongated shadowed greyness stretched from deposits of trees as rolling fields edged their way across the land.  It felt good to be out in this wonderful part of the country.

Low sun casting early morning shadow

The Breiddin hovering above misty haze

I clambered a wired fence to reach the upper section of Broniarth which is brackened, with sapling trees giving convenient hand purchase to its morass of undergrowth.  The hill’s high point was in a small clearing and as I set the Trimble up on top of my rucksack to gather its allotted five minutes of data I looked out in to the haze of white and low sun beyond, trying to distinguish the hills on my planned route ahead.

Gathering data at the summit of Broniarth

Following a path amongst the brown and forlorn bracken I headed down to a difficult fence crossing and back on to the frost encrusted field, my planned route headed down toward buildings that are named Fron-las on the map, and ahead lay an elegantly shaped green hill that I thought needed Trimbling.  As this walk was only planned late the previous evening I did not have much time to study the map and this hill looked as if its Sub status needed checking.

The critical bwlch for this next hill was placed directly straight lined between it and the summit of Broniarth and as the Trimble gathered data I marvelled at the highlighted frost that brought a graceful feel to the surroundings.  Next stop the summit.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of the lower Broniarth hill

Wandering up the hill’s symmetrically shaped western slopes the Berwyn stretched off in to the distance, crowned in white and rising above a greened and wooded land.  The summit of this hill proved easily identifiable and as the Trimble gathered data I took a number of photographs with the southern slopes now bathed green contrasting against the northern slopes still shadowed and firmly white.

The Berwyn, snow-capped away in the distance

Gathering data at the summit of the lower Broniarth hill

Having packed the Trimble away I headed directly down to a gate which gave access on to a narrow road, I called at Fron-las to make place-name enquiries but unfortunately no one was in.  The next point to survey was the critical bwlch for Broniarth and this proved to be in a field, a couple of metres from a gate beside a corner in the lane.  As the Trimble gathered its data, I stood beside the narrow road hoping that no one would appear from the adjacent farm, but all the land and its occupants were quiet, seemingly not a breath stirred, just low sun, blue sky, chilled freshness and beautiful small hills to explore.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Broniarth

A track led from the lane up toward my next hill; Bank Wood, I left the track to walk through a field to the edge of the upper part of the wood.  From the direction that I approached the high point of Bank Wood appeared symmetrical and was framed with mature deciduous trees against the greens of cropped fields with the shape of the hill rounded.  I find symmetry appealing, it is eloquent to the eye, uncomplicated, and nature often offers this.

Bank Wood - rounded and symmetrical, and pleasing to the eye

Once in the wood I followed a narrow path from a partly collapsed gate up to the high point.  Within a few minutes the Trimble was placed on my rucksack and the long waiting process for the equipment to attain its 0.1m accuracy before data should be locked, started.  I checked this accuracy level a couple of times and scampered back down below the height of the Trimble when I saw that the 0.1m mark had not been reached, I waited for what must have been 15 minutes for the accuracy to be attained, I cannot remember much of this time as my mind happily wandered in abstract and welcoming thought.

The upper slopes of Bank Wood

Gathering data at the summit of Bank Wood

Another bwlch lay between me and the next hill, and its critical point to be surveyed proved fun to find.  Leaving the delights of Bank Wood behind I sauntered down a field and found two foot stiles giving access to an enclosed footpath which led to another foot stile and an open field, I followed this parallel to the enclosed footpath heading toward a ten figure grid reference that I had quickly scribbled for where this next bwlch may lie.  When I arrived at this point the lay of land compared to where the critical bwlch was placed was all wrong, and therefore I back-tracked following a stream uphill to where I’d encountered the first foot stile ten minutes before.  Examining the map I realised that this next bwlch had at least two positional possibilities for where its critical point lay, and I’d been very close to each as I’d wandered around in the field parallel to the enclosed footpath, however, the point where I was standing was also a low point, of sorts, on the hill to hill traverse, so I set the Trimble up to gather another data set before quickly heading off to Trimble the other two points.

Bwlch Clump from one of the preceding bwlch surveys

The last of these potential bwlch positions was placed under the frost encrusted southern slopes of my next hill, this is unnamed on the map, so is listed under the point (Pt. 263m) notation.  Although listed as a P30 in the original list that appeared on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, it is now a twin top as the Ordnance Survey enlarged map on the Geograph website also gives its adjacent hill; Bwlch Clump, a summit spot height of 262m.  I hoped to Trimble each and separate their short lived twinness.

Gathering data at the last of the bwlch options with the summit of Pt. 262.8m (SJ 173 109) in the background

The next summit proved easy to find and is situated in a closely cropped grassy field, beyond lay the bwlch between each map heighted twin top.  This again is situated in a closely cropped grassy field just above the farm of Bwlch Aeddan.

Gathering data at the summit of Pt. 262.8m (SJ 173 109)

As the Trimble gathered another five minute data set I listened to a van’s starting motor being worked on in the farm yard below, this was one of only a few sounds that I’d heard during the whole walk.

Gathering data at what proved to be the critical bwlch of Pt. 262.8m (SJ 173 109)

Beyond the bwlch lay the wooded top of Bwlch Clump, a name that appears on the Ordnance Survey enlarged Geograph map.  Between me and it were two gates, as I entered the wood the ground rose steeply to a slender greened ridge which had been quarried, with the spoil topped up in a high clump of waste.  I set the Trimble up on top of my rucksack and waited until the accuracy level had descended to the required 0.1m, this took about 20 minutes to attain, but I was in no rush and although a slight breeze had picked up I was warm enough in the wood and patiently waited until five minutes of data were collected. 

Gathering data at the summit of Bwlch Clump

Just one survey remained and that was a bwlch that according to the map lay somewhere around the confines of Bwlch Aeddan farm.  When I arrived in the farm yard I approached the farmer and we chatted for a number of minutes, he was completely at ease with me wandering around trying to find where the critical bwlch lay, and after doing a circuit of the paved track and road that leads from the farm yard to the narrow lane which would eventually lead me back to my car, I found where I thought the critical bwlch lay, positioned the Trimble on top of my rucksack and hunkered down for what I imagined would be another long wait as it was positioned next to an outbuilding which had large trees above it.  Miraculously the 0.1m mark was attained very quickly and I pressed ‘Log’, scampered away and waited for its five minutes of data to be stored.

Feeding time at Bwlch Aeddan farm

The last survey of the day - gathering data at what proved to be the critical bwlch of Bwlch Clump

All that remained was a contented wander down the lane to my awaiting car.  On my way home I drove toward Maesmawr, instead of my inward route to Meifod, this outward route took me past Pant Cottage, known locally as The Kennels.  This old house with its earthen track leading to it from the adjacent narrow and steep country lane was where my Grandfathers family lived their lives, it is a house I have not visited for over 11 years, since I scattered some of my father’s ashes in its grounds.  I stopped, paid my respects and looked out past the house to the setting sun, sinking, winter like, down to a frosted earth below.

  

Survey Result:

Broniarth (significant name change)

Summit Height:  279.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 16075 11772

Bwlch Height:  225.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 16965 11712

Drop:  53.3m

Dominance:  19.08%

Broniarth

Summit Height:  267.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 16648 12055

Bwlch Height:  246.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 16446 11940

Drop:  21.5m (200m Sub-Twmpau status confirmed)

Dominance:  8.01%

Bank Wood (significant name change)

Summit Height:  266.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 17129 11574

Bwlch Height:  226.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 17138 11121

Drop:  40.1m

Dominance:  15.02%

Pt. 262.8m

Summit Height:  262.8m (converted to OSGM15) (de-twinned becoming non prioritised summit)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 17354 10914

Bwlch Height:  243.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 17190 10797

Drop:  19.4m (reclassified from twin topped 200m Twmpau to 200m non Sub-Twmpau)

Dominance:  7.37%

Bwlch Clump (significant name change)

Summit Height:  263.9m (converted to OSGM15) (de-twinned becoming prioritised summit)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 17063 10813

Bwlch Height:  234.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 17089 10581

Drop:  29.1m (reclassified from twin topped 200m Twmpau to 200m Sub-Twmpau)

Dominance:  11.02%

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}