This afternoon Daf and I were invited to a special performance at Beaumaris Courthouse, a lovely old building which has seen the balance of justice swing to and fro since 1614.
We were in very distinguished company: following brief speeches by representatives of Anglesey Council’s Department of Leisure and Culture and an amusing delivery, given with urbane skill by Alun Ffred Jones, Minister for Heritage (in which Daf was given a mention!), we were treated to a performance by Cwmni’r Frân Wen (an Anglesey based group of professional actors).
Assembled outside the Courthouse by the ‘Town Crier’ we were ushered into the building and settled in various parts of the court to attend the ‘trial’. I found myself climbing an old wooden stairway to become a member of the jury, seated in a box overlooking the body of the courtroom.
Other guests represented members of the press or the public and everyone was closely involved in the performance as the actors delivered two different cases for our entertainment and education.
When asked for our verdict on a man accused of ship wrecking (1742), we, the jury, offered a distinct ‘not guilty’, much to the delight of both the man and his vociferous wife.
- These performances are offered to the public:
- 31st May – 6th June 2010
- 19th July – 30 August 2010
- 25th -31st October 2010
- Monday, Thursday and Saturday 11:00/12:00/2:00/3:00
And I can honestly say that it brought the court to life and would be both fun and interesting to all ages. Cwmni’r Frân Wen will also be performing at the Round Houses at Llynnon Mill, Llanddeusant, giving a fascinating insight into Pre-historic life.
- 31st May – 6th June 2010
- 19th July – 30 August 2010
- 25th -31st October 2010
- Wednesday and Sunday 11:00/12:00/2:00/3:00
I’ve seen the Round Houses and they were bigger than I expected, about 10metres in diameter, and beautifully built according to archeolological information. They are reconstructions of buildings inhabited on Anglesey about 3000 years ago; of timber construction with wattle and daub walls and, in order to be truly authentic, the thatch for the roof was imported from the Continent.
With Llynnon Mill on the same site, built in 1775, and the only working windmill left in Wales, there’s a lot to learn and enjoy. And when you’ve absorbed enough history, there’s also the tearoom!
Dorothy Russell
29th May 2010
pMonday, Thursday and Saturday 11:00/12:00/2:00/3:00