Tan-yr-allt
|
| In September 1812, the Shelley party left
Lynmouth under a considerable cloud, pursued
by debtors and authorities who wished to
question the poet about his radical political
activities. They fled into Northern Wales,
where, in the middle of a rocky wilderness,
they discovered the model town of Tre Madog
(sounds like "dramatic"—or "traumatic")
in which a tremendous engineering feat was
taking place: the reinforcement of a massive
embankment which would permit draining and
clearing the land behind it. They rested at
the Madock Arms hotel and learned that a
local house was for rent, at
Tan-yr-allt. |
|
|
|
Although Girdlestone, the landlord,
initially considered Shelley an unsuitable
tenant—Shelley’s alienation
from his family and horrendous history of
debt rendered the young man rather a poor
credit risk—he was eventually
persuaded to lease the Shelleys his house.
Shelley spent the winter of 1812-1813
there, and, thanks to his radical politics,
made several enemies, including a solicitor
named John Evans and quarry owner Robert
Lesson.
On Friday, 26 February 1813, an intruder
may have broken into Tan-yr-allt, possibly
in search of incriminating radical
pamphlets. Shelley claimed that he
surprised the man and fired two pistols,
hitting him in the shoulder with the second
shot. Supposedly, after screaming threats
against Shelley's wife and sister, the man
fled, but returned later that night and
fired a shot at Shelley. The bullet was
embedded in the wainscoting. Shelley and
his family fled the next day, terrified for
their lives. As soon as they could, they
borrowed money and traveled to Ireland,
staying at Reen Point in the Lakes of
Killarney area.
Today, the main buildings of Tan-yr-allt
are occupied by a Rudolph Steiner primary
school. It is an airy, bright building
whose architectural style seems to owe more
to Italy than Wales. The west and south
facades are designed to admit light through
the large windows.
|
|
|
| Like many of the residences Shelley
selected, it is a prospect, and features
magnificent views of the surrounding
countryside. In the picture below, taken from
the meadows directly above the house, one can
see all the way to the estuary. |
|
|
| Virtually all of the original stonework
remains. |
|
|
| The interiors have of course undergone
extensive remodeling over the years, but
still give a clear sense of how bright and
comfortable the place must have been for the
Shelleys. |
|
|
| At the south entry, one can find a
memorial plaque. |
|
|
|
Needless to say, the children at the
school have spent countless hours examining
every square inch of the site in a search
for bullet holes, but none have been
discovered. It would seem that the damaged
wainscoting was replaced after the Shelleys
left.
Those wishing to research
Shelley’s stay at Tan-yr-allt should
contact the librarian/archivist, Miss
Jennifer Jane Kenyon, at Ynys Dyffnalt,
Garndolbenmaen, Gwynedd, Wales LL51
9PQ.
|
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)