Grey Day’s Volume One
Thomas King & Oliver Tooke.
As the wind blows and the sun shines we travel over the Severn bridge towards our destination, south Wales. It has only been a week or so since the decision to head into the ‘unknown’, for us anyway. What will this week long trip bring us? We know for sure a lot of rain and wind and some very cold nights. However, the thought of who and what we will meet along our way fill’s us with high spirit and an urge to press on.
We took a walk for a couple hours around the local area and it was clear to see the impact of such businesses coming to cease within the local community and surrounding area.
However aside all this the bridge that now connects Wales to England has brought some benefits. It creates this connection, and with the connection comes industry and commerce. This is vital to Wales economy and the local businessFirst stop, Caldicot, and the gods are on our side. es which rely on this link. Goods can now come and go with ease allowing for a much more fluid The sun is in the sky and it is dry under foot. connection to be established. Will Wales see an Caldicot has long been the first stop for people venturing into south Wales for hundreds of years, increase in productivity soon? until recently this meant navigating the treacherous waters of the river Severn. However today, thankfully for us we can safely drive over the bridge and keep our feet dry. As we went over the bridge a tall tower jutted up from what looked like an old industrial area and so we decided to park the car and investigate on foot. We came to learn that this was once in-fact one of the biggest paper mills in business within south Wales. Employing a lot of the local community but sadly had closed a decade before as the production of paper had been outsourced to the far east. Over the years this once bustling business had become dormant within its surroundings and the local people had to find employment else where.
Disused paper mill Caldicot, Oct 2013.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Caldicot, Oct 2013.
Churchyard, Merthyr Tydfil. Oct 2013.
Breacon Beacons National Park. Area of outstanding natural beauty. Oct 2013.