Cofrestrwyd tafarn y Vulcan fel ‘ale house’ am y tro cyntaf ym 1853. Erbyn iddi gael ei datgymalu gan yr Amgueddfa yn 2012 gwelwyd sawl cyfnod o addasiadau. Roedd gwaith addasu 1901 ac 1914 mor sylweddol fel bod rhaid ceisio am ganiatâd cynllunio drwy Gyngor y Sir. Heddiw, mae’r cynlluniau yn Archifdy Morgannwg.

Mae’r cais cynllunio o 1914 yn cynnwys dau ddarlun (does dim darlun o’r ffasâd ar y cais o 1901) – labelwyd un darlun yn At present, a labelwyd y llall yn Proposed. Does dim esboniad ysgrifenedig wedi goroesi i gyd-fynd â’r darluniau. Serch hynny, wrth edrych yn fanwl mae modd bwrw mwy o olau ar y newidiadau arfaethedig. Y gwahaniaeth mwyaf amlwg yw’r cynnydd ar y llawr cyntaf o ddwy ffenest i bedair, a chodi pileri newydd o frics coch naill ochr. Gwaredwyd y parapet oedd o flaen y to – sydd i’w weld fel cyfres o linellau llorweddol uwchben y ffenestri, ac fe addaswyd y simneiau a gosodwyd to newydd o lechi. Bu un newid arall, sydd ddim yn amlwg yn y darlun, a hwn oedd y newid mwyaf yn hanes y Vulcan – cynyddwyd uchder yr adeilad yn sylweddol. Mae’r darlun gwreiddiol yn dangos y dafarn yn rhannu to gyda’i gymdogion, lle mae’r darlun arfaethedig yn dangos adeilad cryn dipyn yn dalach na’r cymdogion.

Doedd dim bwriad i newid strwythur y ffasâd llawr gwaelod – dau ddrws, a dwy ffenest wedi eu rhannu yn ddwy a ffenestri linter (fanlights) uwch eu pen. Ond, wrth edrych yn fanwl mae modd gweld bod nifer o wahaniaethau allweddol, a digon i awgrymu fod y ddau ffasâd yn rhai gwahanol. Yn y darlun gwreiddiol mae dau banel hirsgwar o dan bob ffenest, ond yn y darlun arfaethedig dim ond un sydd. Mae’r nifer o baneli drws yn wahanol hefyd. Yn y darlun gwreiddiol, naill ochr i’r ffenestri mae’r pileri yn rhai rhychiog ac yn gorffen cyn cyrraedd y ffris. Dyw’r pileri ddim yn rhychiog yn y darlun arfaethedig ac maent yn cario ymlaen mewn i’r ffris nes cyrraedd y cornis uwch ei ben. Mae’r darlun arfaethedig hefyd yn dangos tri ffenest linter uwch ben pob gwydr ffenest, lle mae saith yn y darlun gwreiddiol. Dyw’r terfyniad addurniadol ddim i’w weld yn y darlun arfaethedig chwaith. Dim ond yn y darlun arfaethedig mae’r gwahaniaeth mwyaf oll i’w weld, sef yr arysgrif newydd THE VULCAN HOTEL, WINES & SPIRITS ac ALES & STOUTS.  

Er nad yw’n glir yn y cynlluniau, rydym yn sicr fod y darlun gwreiddiol yn dangos ffasâd llawr gwaelod o bren – tebyg iawn i flaen siop Fictoraidd draddodiadol, a newidiwyd hwn yn 1914 am un tebyg o deils gwydrog a arhosodd yn eu lle nes tynnu’r adeilad yn 2012.  

Fel cymaint o ddigwyddiadau yn ystod yr amseroedd anhygoel hyn, cwtogwyd ein harddangosfa Chwarelwyr  mis diwethaf pan gaeodd Amgueddfa'r Glannau ei drysau. Roeddem am ddod o hyd i ffordd i barhau i'w rannu gyda chi, felly dyma ychydig o gefndir i'r arddangosfa gan Carwyn Rhys Jones, a'i datblygodd. Ynddo mae'n siarad am yr ysbrydoliaeth a sut y cafodd ei siapio gan straeon ac atgofion pump o chwarelwyr. Rydyn ni wedi ychwanegu delweddau o'r arddangosfa ac yn gobeithio y byddwch chi'n mwynhau'r profiad.

Dechreuais y prosiect hwn fel datblygiad o waith yr oeddwn wedi ei wneud yn y brifysgol am dirwedd chwareli. Roedd y prosiect yn cynnwys rhai chwareli yng Ngogledd Cymru, gan gynnwys Mynydd Parys, Dorothea, Penrhyn, Alexandra ac Oakeley. Canolbwyntiodd hwn ar sut roedd y tir wedi newid oherwydd y diwydiant a sut y ffurfiodd tirwedd newydd o amgylch y chwareli. Y cam naturiol nesaf oedd edrych ar bobl y chwareli. Yn anffodus, ychydig o chwarelwyr sydd bellach, felly roedd yn amserol i gipio a chofnodi'r hanes a'r dreftadaeth bwysig hon.

Gyrrwyd y prosiect hwn gan syniadau’r chwarelwyr, felly roedd hi ond yn briodol i enwi’r arddangosfa yn ‘Chwarelwyr’. Mae'r arddangosfa wedi'i ffurfio o ddwy ran: rhaglen ddogfen fer a ffotograffiaeth i gyd-fynd â hi. Trefor oedd y chwarelwr cyntaf i mi gyfweld. Roedd yn adnabyddus yn lleol fel Robin Band oherwydd bod y rhan fwyaf o'i deulu mewn bandiau. Bu'n gweithio yn chwarel lechu Trefor am rai blynyddoedd, a rhannodd atgofion gwych am yr amseroedd da, drwg a doniol yno.

Y nesaf oedd Dic Llanberis, a oedd, fel yr awgryma ei enw, wedi ei leoli yn Llanberis. Roedd gan Dic brofiad blynyddoedd a chymaint o wybodaeth am hanes Chwarel y Dinorwig. Defnyddiais yr un broses ar gyfer pob un o'r pum Chwarelwr: eu cyfweld, yna ffilmio ac yn olaf, tynnu lluniau ohonynt. Gweithiodd Dic yn y chwarel hyd yn oed ar ôl iddo gau i lawr ym 1969, er mwyn helpu i glirio'r llechi oedd yn weddill.

Wedyn, tro Andrew JonJo a Carwyn oedd hi. Roedd y ddau wedi gweithio yn chwarel y Penrhyn ym Methesda ar gyrion Bangor. Fe wnes i gyfweld a’r ddau ohonynt yn yr Amgueddfa Lechi yn Llanberis lle maen nhw bellach yn gweithio. Andrew yw'r olaf o chwe chenhedlaeth o chwarelwyr yn ei deulu a oedd i gyd wedi gweithio mewn dwy chwarel: Dinorwic a Phenrhyn. Fel y gallech ddychmygu, siaradodd yn deimladwy am y ffordd y ganwyd i mewn i'r diwydiant. Daw Carwyn o deulu chwarela mawr hefyd, roedd rhai ohonynt wedi gweithio yn yr Ysbyty’r Chwarelwyr yn Llanberis. Gellir dod o hyd i nifer o lofnodion ei hynafiaid yn llyfrau'r Amgueddfa’r Ysbyty Chwarel, yn cofnodi gweithdrefnau llawfeddygol.

Yn olaf, cwrddais â John Pen Bryn, a leolir yn Nhalysarn, ychydig y tu allan i Gaernarfon. Roedd y chwarel hon mor fawr fel ei bod yn cynnwys pentref cyfan, a John wedi ei godi yno. Mae bellach yn berchen y chwarel ac wedi byw yn Nhalysarn ar hyd ei oes. Dangosodd fi o gwmpas y chwarel a lle'r oedd y pentref yn arfer bod – anodd dychmygu nawr ei fod unwaith yn lle prysur gyda thair siop, tu fewn iddi. Roedd John yn llawn straeon ac yn gwybod popeth oedd wedi digwydd yn ei chwarel dros y blynyddoedd.

Yn anffodus, mae Robin Band a Dic Llanberis ill dau wedi eu claddu ers cwblhau'r arddangosfa, ac felly mae'r ffilm sy'n cyd-fynd â hi yn gorffen gyda delweddau ohonynt. Roedden nhw, fel finnau yn falch tu hwnt ein bod wedi llwyddo i gipio rhai o'u straeon a dogfennu'r dreftadaeth a'r hanes pwysig hwn mewn pryd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i bawb a gymerodd ran yn y gwaith o greu’r arddangosfa. Gobeithio y byddwch yn ei fwynhau. 

Tynnais y llun hwn ym mis Mehefin 2011, dan y ddaear ym mhwll glo Aberpergwm ger Resolfen. Yn y llun mae tri o lowyr oedd yn dangos y gweithfeydd i mi. Y fenyw yn y canol, Katherine Voyle, oedd daearegydd y pwll. Ei gwaith hi oedd astudio’r wythïen lo a phenderfynu pa gyfeiriad i ddatblygu’r pwll er mwyn gallu cloddio mwy.

Es draw i’r pwll glo i recordio cyfweliad fideo gyda Katherine am ei bywyd a sut y daeth i wneud y swydd hon. Rhan o fy ngwaith yw casglu hanesion pobl ‘go iawn’ er mwyn i genedlaethau’r dyfodol gael darlun cywir o fywyd yr oes hon. Gofynnais iddi a oedd yn deimlad rhyfedd bod yr unig fenyw ymysg 300 o ddynion. Dywedodd ei bod yn od i ddechrau ond ei bod wedi dod i arfer â’r peth yn ddigon buan. Roedd y dynion yn ei derbyn hi fel ‘un o’r bechgyn’ nawr, yn enwedig pan oedd hi’n gwisgo oferôls, ond roedden nhw’n cael sioc o’i gweld wedi newid yn ôl i’w ‘dillad swyddfa’!

Mwynglawdd drifft yw Aberpergwm – hynny yw, mae’n torri i ochr dyffryn yn hytrach nag i lawr mewn siafft ddofn. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd y pwll glo’n gostwng yn serth wrth i ni gerdded dros filltir i’r ffas lo. Yno, roedd peiriant enfawr yn brysur yn torri, a’r sŵn yn fyddarol. Ar ôl fy nhaith ac ar ôl cynnal cyfweliad fe gerddon ni fyny’n ôl i’r heulwen. Er nad oeddwn wedi gwneud unrhyw waith corfforol, roedd fy nghoesau’n brifo ar ôl cerdded i mewn ac allan!

Dywedodd Katherine, sydd o Abertawe, ei bod wedi gweithio ar lwyfannau olew ym Môr y Gogledd ac yn yr Iseldiroedd cyn dod i Aberpergwm. Yr amgylchedd a byd natur oedd ei phrif ddiléit, ac roedd yn gweithio ar greu llwybr natur ar y tir uwchben y pwll glo.

DOLENNI I WYBODAETH BELLACH

Erthygl gan Ceri Thompson, Curiadur (Glo) am Katherine Voyle ar gyfer cylchgrawn Glo:

https://museum.wales/media/24679/GLO-Magazine-2012-web.pdf

 

Annwyl Gyfeillion y Gwanwyn,

Rwyf eisiau dweud diolch o galon am eich holl waith ar yr Arolwg Bylbiau Gwanwyn i Ysgolion. Wnes i fwynhau'r project eleni, yn enwedig y sylwadau gafodd eu rhannu efo'r data. Mae rhai o’ch sylwadau wedi eu hatodi ar ddiwedd y blog hwn.

Caeodd ysgolion yn gynnar eleni, ac rwy’n dallt fod hyn yn newid mawr i bawb. Rwy’n dallt ei bod wedi bod yn amhosib i rai ohonoch rannu eich data ar y wefan cyn i’ch ysgol gau. Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio o gartref hefyd, caeodd yr Amgueddfa rwy’n gweithio iddi yr un wythnos â’r rhan fwyaf o ysgolion. Rwyf wedi bod yn meddwl amdanoch chi i gyd dros y cyfnod hwn.

Rwyf am barhau i sgwennu am y project ar y blog hwn ac ar Twitter. Yn yr wythnosau i ddod rwyf am edrych ar adnoddau a gweithgareddau fedrwch chi eu gwneud o gartref. Wythnos yma rwyf am awgrymu’ch bod chi'n creu llun o gennin Pedr a chrocws a dysgu sut i labelu gwahanol rannau o’r planhigion. Os ydych wedi gwneud y gweithgaredd yma o’r blaen, beth am ddarlunio planhigyn gwahanol y tro yma? Mae Ysgol St Mungo wedi rhannu lluniau o’r gwaith maen nhw wedi’i wneud o gartref, rwyf wedi atodi'r rhain ar y dde.

Mae adnoddau ar gael ar wefan Bylbiau Gwanwyn i Ysgolion. Rwyf wedi atodi amlinelliad o gennin Pedr a chrocws y medrwch chi liwio a labelu. Rwyf hefyd wedi atodi adnodd i greu llyfryn origami am fywyd bwlb. Os fedrwch chi, plîs rhannwch eich gwaith efo’ch athro neu efo Athro’r Ardd ar Twitter (@Professor_Plant).

Mae 'na hefyd lawer o adnoddau dysgu ar wefan Amgueddfa Cymru. Gallwch ddewis rhwng themâu gwahanol, o’r Rhufeiniaid a’r Celtiaid i gelf a deinosoriaid. I’w darganfod nhw, ewch i wefan addysg Amgueddfa Cymru. Bydd y dudalen hon yn dangos rhestr o’r saith Amgueddfa. Dewiswch Amgueddfa o’r rhestr, ac wedyn dewiswch ‘adnoddau’. Bydd y dudalen yn dangos adnoddau gwahanol yn dibynnu ar ba Amgueddfa wnaethoch chi ddewis.

Cafodd rhai ysgolion gyfle i fynd â’u planhigion adre efo nhw. Nid oedd hyn yn bosib i bawb oherwydd fod yr ysgolion wedi cau mor sydyn. Plîs peidiwch â phoeni am eich planhigion, fe fyddan nhw’n iawn.

Diolch eto am yr holl waith caled rydych wedi’i wneud ar yr arolwg hwn. Cofiwch wylio'r blog am ddiweddariadau Cyfeillion y Gwanwyn.

Athro’r Ardd

Eich sylwadau:

Sylwadau am ysgolion yn cau:

YGG Tonyrefail: Diolch am y prosiect eleni. Thank you for the project this year. Stay safe and well in the coming weeks. Professor Plant: Diolch, I hope you will take part again next year.
Hudson Road Primary School: This is the last reading we are able to send. We have loved taking part in the Bulb project. Professor Plant: Thank you for sharing your data Bulb Buddies.
St Julian's Primary School: We all took our daffodil pots home today on our last day at school for a while. Thank you for letting us take part once again. Professor Plant: I’m glad you were able to take your plants home and hope you will take part again.
Gavinburn Primary School: Our school closed on the 20th March and only 3 flowers had appeared from our daffodils planted in the ground. Professor Plant: Thank you for the update Bulb Buddies, it’s helpful for us to know that plants hadn’t yet flowered.
Dalbeattie Primary School: School is now closed but we are trying to keep records best that we can although they may not be as accurate. Professor Plant: Thank you Bulb Buddies, great work.
Henllys CIW Primary: All the flowers opened except mine and a spare one . Everyone's opened over the same weekends too. There was another spare one that opened so I took that one home instead. Professor Plant: I’m sorry that your plant didn't flower but am glad that there was a spare one for you to take home. Thank you for all of your work on the project.
Arkholme Primary School: This is the last day we are in school before it closes. Some of the flowers were broken in the strong winds and will not flower. Our teacher is going to check the bulbs when he is in school. Professor Plant: I’m sorry to hear the wind damaged your plants. Thank you for taking the time to update me on your last day in school and for all of the work you’ve done for the project.
Arkholme Primary School: The mystery bulbs are just beginning to bud. The sunniest week so far this year. The crocus flowers have started to open out in the sunshine. This is the last day to look at the bulbs as school is closing for the virus. Professor Plant: Thank you for this final update and for checking on the plants for as long as you could. You paint a lovely picture of your school garden.
Stanford in the Vale Primary School: Hi, This will be my last time submitting the weather data! After 3 years on doing it has finally come to an end! It has been fairly cold this week with not much rain! We won't be submitting it next week because school is closed! Thank you for the last time! Riley. Professor Plant: Dear Riley, thank you so much for the work that you have done for the project over the years. I’ve enjoyed reading your regular up-dates and wish you all the best. Remember to keep following the Blog for links to resources and to the end of project report.
St. Robert's Catholic Primary: This is our last week of weather results as our school closes today. Professor Plant: Thank you for updating me Bulb Buddies, and thank you for all of the great work you’ve done.
Darran Park Primary: Our weather has been a bit dryer this week. Unfortunately our class attendance has dropped continuously throughout the week and these children have not been able to check their plants. We have done this as best we could. Thank you for enabling us to do this project, we do hope that we will be able to do this again. Professor Plant: Thank you for taking part in the project and for updating me. I’m glad you have enjoyed the project and hope that you will take part again.
Sanquhar Primary School: Bulb pots taken home by the children left in school. Professor Plant: Fantastic, thank you.
Ysgol Bro Pedr: Take care of yourselves! Professor Plant: Thank you, and you Bulb Buddies.
St Fergus' Primary School: Our flowers are not far away from opening, the tops are very yellow but no flowers yet. Our school is now closed due to the Corona virus. Professor Plant: Good observational skills and description Bulb Buddies. Thank you for updating me, it’s very helpful to know that some plants hadn’t flowered when schools closed.

Sylwadau am eich planhigion:

Dalbeattie Primary School: Only green leaves- no flower formed - this is like several of our crocus bulbs. Professor Plant: I’m sorry to hear that not all of your plants flowered Bulb Buddies, this sometimes happens. I’m glad that the other bulbs flowered for you to enjoy.
St Fergus' Primary School: We have one crocus fully opened, a beautiful purple one, some more are just about to open. Professor Plant: Fantastic Bulb Buddies.
Carnbroe Primary School: 2020-03-05. The crocuses bloomed early March.We are still waiting on the other bulbs to flower. Professor Plant: Thank you for entering your data Bulb Buddies.
Sanquhar Primary School: We found our bulb bed had been burrowed into. We have replaced the bulbs. None of our bulbs in pots are showing anything yet. We have moved them to a sunnier position. Professor Plant: Thank you for the update Bulb Buddies. Do you have any ideas what might have been burrowing into your flower bed?!
Bryncoch CiW Primary School: I noticed a caterpillar on my daffodil. Professor Plant: Fantastic Bulb Buddies, do you know what type of caterpillar it was?

Llanedeyrn Primary School: I was shocked on how tall it had grown. Professor Plant: They do grow surprisingly tall!
Bursar Primary Academy: 3 of the planted crocus' never flowered. Numbers 1, 15 and 30. We believe this is because these were sheltered from sunlight and rainfall. The Crocus' opened between 24/02/2020 and 05/03/2020. The heights range from 31mm to 98mm. Professor Plant: Well done for thinking about why some plants might flower and others not. This can also be why some plants flower earlier than others.
Litchard Primary School: It shows the difference in temperature when we brought the crocus inside it opened within 10-15 minutes. Professor Plant: This is an interesting experiment to do, bringing one inside while the others are outside and comparing the flowering date.
Hudson Road Primary School: There were two flowers that had opened when I measured them they were both 90 mm tall. Professor Plant: Fantastic work Bulb Buddy!
Drummore Primary School: It is a small plant but its a step closer saving the world. Professor Plant: They are very small and delicate, but can teach us a lot about the natural world.  
Drummore Primary School: They take a long time to grow. Professor Plant: They do, and you’ve been very patient caring for it since October.

Sylwadau am gofnodi data:

Our Lady of Peace Primary School: We are happy to send in data again. Professor Plant: Thank you for sharing your data Bulb Buddies.
Our Lady of Peace Primary School:  Sorry we missed out a few weeks and a couple of days. As we said we are super sorry. Professor Plant: That can’t be helped, thank you for letting me know and for inputting the data you can.
Saint Anthony's Primary School: It was really exiting to check the temperature and rainfall. Professor Plant: I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the project Bulb buddies, thank you for all the work you’ve done.

 

As humans transport goods all over the planet we also unintentionally transport animals and plants to places that they do not belong. We call these animals and plants non-native or alien species. If conditions are right for the non-native species they can become established and outcompete our own native species for food and habitat. This is when they are called invasive species and could have a negative impact on our native species sharing the same habitat. This is bad news considering all the other pressures on our wildlife.

 

How do they travel such great distances?

One of the major transporters of marine non-native species are the large goods ships that travel from one side of the planet to the other, taking on ballast water in various ports and ejecting the water at their destination. Ballast water aids the huge ships to balance. At ports, as containers are removed from the ship, ballast water is taken on to keep the whole vessel evenly balanced. The problem is that the water in ports often contains tiny floating animals that are the offspring (or larvae) of mussels, crabs, clams and other invertebrates. These larvae get sucked into the ballast tanks and survive onboard until ejected at the destination port, which is sometimes on the other side of the planet. These animals would not normally have reached these far off destinations naturally. 

 

Aquariums and aquaculture, or the farming of aquatic plants and animals, are another two major contributors towards the invasive non-native species spread. Shellfish farms import juveniles to grow and breed from but these can often escape captivity or have other species attached to them. The Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum) from the Indo-Pacific region was introduced for farming in the south of England in 1989, but has since escaped! Of all mollusc farming in the world, the Manila clam makes up an astounding 25% and this is because the species can grow quickly and reproduce in great numbers. It is also very hardy and has started to spread in the south of England and is breeding with one of our own native species. To learn more about Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) in Wales check out the Wales Biodiversity Partnership INNS pages.

A third, less well-known method of transportation of non-native species is by rafting – or attaching to floating items. Numerous bivalves (eg. mussels, cockles, oysters) have crossed the Atlantic Ocean attached to bait buckets, buoys, crates and other sturdy plastic items. They wash ashore usually after particularly violent storms and are then stranded with the rest of the marine litter.  We call these bivalves ‘rafting bivalves’. They attach to their ‘raft’ using byssus threads or cement, depending on the kind of bivalve. Byssus threads are produced by a special gland in the foot of the animal to allow the shell to anchor onto hard surfaces such as rocks. You may have seen this with mussels on our rocky shores. Oysters and other similar bivalves use a special cement to glue themselves onto hard surfaces and so they are also able to attach to the plastic rafts. I am especially interested in learning more about marine bivalve shells that attach to ocean plastics and then wash ashore on our beaches and have started to add them to our Marine Bivalve Shells of the British Isles website.

To find out more about Rafting Bivalves check out next week's blog.