Welsh battlefield for sale.

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Group formed to save battlefield

Hundreds of English and Welsh soldiers perished in the battle

An action group has been formed to save a battlefield where Welsh rebel Owain Glyndwr's army and English soldiers clashed more than 600 years ago.

The 30-acre hillside pasture is part of the Pilleth estate near Knighton, Powys, which is valued at £1.4m and up for auction in June.

Auctioneers said the battlefield was part of a 168-acre lot worth £445,000.

The Save Bryn Glas group said it hoped a benefactor would come forward to buy the land for the Welsh nation.

The Welsh Historical Forum, made up of about 35 groups, including the Friends of Pilleth and the Owain Glyndwr Society, met in Llandeilo on Thursday night.

The Battle of Pilleth was a landmark victory in Glyndwr's fight for Welsh independence from England.

In June 1402, he defeated an English force led by Edmund Mortimer, one of King Henry IV's barons.

Hundreds of Mortimer's men were slaughtered as they attempted to reach the top of a steep hill known as Bryn Glas, where Glyndwr had assembled his men.

Save Bryn Glas chairman Albert Ward, of the Friends of Pilleth, who raised money to rebuild St Mary's Church near the battlefield, said he and his colleagues were optimistic.

"It's a lot of money to raise, but we're going to explore a number of avenues such as the lottery heritage group.

Pilleth was one of Owain Glyndwr's most famous victories

"Realistically, we're hoping that a benefactor will come forward and buy the land for the nation and then we can pay him back."

Mr Ward said the battlefield was one of the most important such sites in Wales.

Adrian Jones, president of the Owain Glyndwr Society, said earlier this week that other famous battlefields in the UK at Hastings, Bosworth and Bannockburn were recognised historic sites.

"All these battlefields are marked, but there's nothing at Pilleth to denote what happened there," he said.

Pilleth estate, made up of some 585 acres, will be auctioned by tender in June.

The land is being sold by Sir Robert Green Price, whose family have owned the estate for generations.

Francis Chester-Master, director of the firm selling the estate, said it was unlikely the lot containing the battlefield would be split in two to lower the price.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4970150.stm

Abieuan

I think that Cadw should buy the site, with money from the Assembly.
It is a very important battlefield for the Celtic people.
Glyndwr's tactics were brilliant, defeating a much larger English army for three reasons;

1.The arrogant large English army were prepared to attack him even though he held the top of the hill. Glyndwr's archers could fire on the English, but they could not reach him.

2.The Welsh archers conscripted into the English army were loyal to their country and turned on the English, firing on them at point blank range.

3.Glyndwr kept some of his men hidden in a cwm (valley), who descended on the surprised aggressors flank.

Glyndwr, was never killed.
He (like Arthur) awaits the time when he will lead the Cymru to victory again.

cymrofawr

Shwmae. I am new here. The sad fact of Welsh history is that Wales has been for sale for many years.