Moel y Gest Cemetery

[Ben Twr]

Hello, I'm looking for information about my Grandfathers grave in Moel y Gest Cemetery.
His name was John Owens (1888-1936) PUDC grave space #447. Many years ago on a visit to the Grave the headstone was laying on the grave as it was broken. About 5 yrs ago when I visited there was no Grave there only a empty grass area. I also think a few other graves had been removed.
Could this have possibly happened when they demolished the nearby chapel? Anny information or direction would be appreciated.

[nestagj]

Hello

I believe that Moel y Gest is a local authority cemetery.

The local authorities have spent a lot of time in making cemeteries safe; this means that if a gravestone is damaged or leaning they would have put it down on the ground or if they could hold it up using supports they have on occasion done that.    I would suspect that if the grave was beyond repair and they were unable to contact the family then the stone would have been removed.   

They were apprehensive that if someone got injured by a unsafe gravestone then they would be sued; a sign of the times, I'm afraid.

I do not know if the LA made a record of the removed stones - to be honest I would doubt.

Nesta

[EmyrBorth]

Hi
Inscription on gravestone  PUDC 447,  Gwynedd Family History Society(GFHS) M 081 No. C478, has following info:
Robert Evans (Seaman) d. Quebec  14/09/1908  age 36:
Elizabeth Evans (His wife)  13 Dora St. Portmadoc d. 19/02/1941  age 66:
John Owen (Her brother) d. 22/06/1936  age 49. (PUDC records: Sailor, 21 Smith St., Portmadoc).

The headstone has broken away from it's base, and is lying on the grave, just off horizontal as the top is resting on the base a few inches above ground level.

Emyr

[Ben Twr]

Hi, so the grave with the broken Headstone stone is still there. I must have been looking in the wrong place as I did not have the grave space number. Is there a plan or map of M-Y-G Cemetery available
giving grave space numbers etc. Thanks very much for your help.
Ben Twr.

[EmyrBorth]

Hi
The Council will have one of course. The 2 GFHS  Monument Inscriptions (MIs) Publications for Moelygest don't have a plan, and their numbering system is different to that of the Council. If you have the publications you need to look at the inscription on a stone and match the name(s) to the index in the publication to work out the numbering system. Best to pick an uncommon name.
Emyr

[Ben Twr]

Hi, the position I'm in is I am trying to find out if the grave/gravestone is still there.
If not what happened to it. The area I thought it was in was empty. This was 5yrs ago.
So if I contact PUDC (does it exist ?) or the relevant Authority they possibly can give me the answer re
the location of the grave and I could get someone to look for it as I live in Australia. Then if it's not there what happened to it. If the grave has gone there is not much I can do but if the headstone is accessible a photo could be taken. Thanks for you time and patience.
Ben Twr.

[EmyrBorth]

Hi
As I've already said, the stone is where it should be, on the proper grave. The base it slotted into has split, and the stone has been placed nearly flat on the grave, writing side upwards. PUDC became part of Dwyfor Council in 1974, which became part of Gwynedd Council in 1996.
I'll take a photo sometime and give you an exact position. The inscription is in Welsh:
HEDD
ER cof annwyl am
 ROBERT EVANS
(Seaman) A fu farw yn Quebec, Medi 14, 1908
Yn 36 ml. oed
Hefyd am ei annwyl briod
ELIZABETH EVANS,.
13 Dora St. Portmadoc
A fu farw Chwefror 19, 1941
Yn 66 ml. oed.
Hefyd am ei brawd
JOHN OWEN
A fu farw Mehefin 22, 1936
Yn 49 ml. oed.

Er mor chwerw ydyw danfon
Ein cyfeillion tua'r bedd,
Peidiwn wylo, ond melys cofio,
Tawel huno maent mewn hedd.

Emyr

[Ben Twr]

Hi Emyr, much appreciated, funny how the memory plays tricks.
I could have sworn the empty grassy area was where the grave was.
So I was very disappointed not to find it on my last trip to Port.
The grave belongs to my grandfather "Johnny Spanish" as he was known locally
brother of "Dafydd French" two local identities in their day or so I was told.
I have several photos of Dafydd French in Rhuleben POW camp if you are interested.
Thanks for all the help, the photo would be good but in your own time.
Regards, Ben Twr.

[EmyrBorth]

Hi
Link to obituary of Robert Evans:

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3411048/3411055

Emyr
Middle of column 3.