Here's a little site about the Radnorshire hamlet of Evanjobb. Now why the author should confuse Evanjobb and Evancoed I don't know; while the origin of the name he dismisses, seems perfectly acceptable to me. Richard Morgan's scholarly study of Radnorshire placenames gives examples of Emynghop from 1304 and Emyngehope from 1328. By 1544 a process of Cymricisation gives Evyngeopp and by 1612 it is Evengeobbe. It also appears that the present-day villagers are most annoyed about a welsh version, Einsiob, appearing on local roadsigns.
One fact that the author fails to note in his brief historical sketch is that during the sixteenth century Hugh Myles of Evenjobb was the owner of the Book of Taliesin, one of the most important sources for Welsh, if not World literature. By the way the bard Lewis Glyn Cothi had seen the manuscript at nearby Harpton a hundred years before it came into Hugh Myles' possession, see here.
I'm afraid, like it or not, as soon as you begin to study Radnorshire's history in any depth, its essential Welshness comes bursting through the thin veneer of Anglicization.
One fact that the author fails to note in his brief historical sketch is that during the sixteenth century Hugh Myles of Evenjobb was the owner of the Book of Taliesin, one of the most important sources for Welsh, if not World literature. By the way the bard Lewis Glyn Cothi had seen the manuscript at nearby Harpton a hundred years before it came into Hugh Myles' possession, see here.
I'm afraid, like it or not, as soon as you begin to study Radnorshire's history in any depth, its essential Welshness comes bursting through the thin veneer of Anglicization.
2 comments:
Presumably the author hasn't read Richard Morgan's scholarly study of Radnorshire placenames or chooses to dismiss the findings. I admit I've not read it either.
There's one on abebooks for a fiver.
There's also an earlier Welsh language booklet that covers much of the same ground, it's called Enwau Buallt a Maesyfed by Morgan and G G Evans. You can get a copy on abebooks for three quid.
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