Cefn Golau Cholera Cemetery

I've lived in the same town (minus a 6 year break to somewhere closer to 'civilisation') for almost 30 years, yet there are still so many things I haven't seen. Some I've not even heard of! This afternoon I drove the 3 miles from my town to the next, in search of some local heritage that I only found out about a few months ago. If you travel from Tredegar towards Rhymney on the mountain road, at the edge of the town you will pass a fenced off cemetery. Beyond this cemetery, there is a pond, created around 1800 to supply water to Tredegar Ironworks. 

If you walk around the left side of the pond, you will find Cefn Golau Cholera Cemetery.

The first major Cholera epidemic to strike in Tredegar, 3 miles from where I live, was in 1832. A more serious one followed in 1849, and there was also a smaller outbreak in 1866. People could appear fit in the morning and be dead by the evening. It is thought that someone in almost every street in the town was affected. People were so afraid of the stigma attached to the disease that many buried the dead of their family at night, on the mountainside. Sadly, these resting places are now, quite probably, gone from history.

I went out today, specifically to find this cemetery, although I'm sure many have passed by it without even realising. On a quiet mountain road, it is not visible to those passing. The only indication of it's presence is a small sign next to the pond.

I walked the short distance, through the rain and mud to the Cemetery, and couldn't help but think that the weather added to the atmosphere of where I was going. I'm not sure how many are buried at the site, it is something I intend on finding out, however, there are now twenty six standing gravestones of varying condition. 

When waking through the overgrown grass, you cannot miss the fallen and remains of other stones. Some still in a fairly good condition with legible inscriptions, some merely more than rubble. Despite the site being a Scheduled Monument (Nationally important archaeological site), apart from the recent addition of a small fence, enclosing the stones, it appears to be unloved and abandoned. A sad, yet common sight.

A few of the gravestones remain in fairly good condition for their age.

This is the grave of Thomas James, who died on August 18th, 1849, aged 20. The inscription reads:   

"One night and day I bore great pain,

To try for cure was all in vain,

But God knew what to me was best,

Did ease my pain and give me rest."

Catherine Griffiths, died August 17th 1849, aged 14 and a half. Also, her brother, Richard Griffiths. Died September 10th 1849, aged 12.

It seems a great shame that such a landmark of our local heritage appears to be abandoned and unknown. It reminds me of conversations I have had with Gary of The Victoria Cross Trust who is doing a fantastic job in much worse conditions than I've seen today, for the graves of our departed Victoria Cross awarded Servicemen (Please take a look at their website victoriacrosstrust.org). 

It will be a sad day if important sites, such as these, disappear in to the hillside. Although I don't think that the graves should be restored to their original condition - there is a certain element of beauty in their broken state - I would hate to see them deteriorate further than they already have.

This is the full site. Almost invisible to the surrounding landscape.