The Rivers, The Rivers

Gildas (ca. 504-570 A.D.) was the first cleric to write of the island after Roman withdrawal. In his text he writes regarding the island of Britain:

"It is enriched by the months of two noble rivers, the Thames and the Severn, as it were two arms, by which foreign luxuries were of old imported, and by other streams of less importance."

The Severn forms the eastern most natural boarder of our little part of the world. The map to the right shows the major rivers that wind their way out of the mountains. [Mountains are yet to be shown.] These rivers are the major highways that gave life to the valleys, lakes, ponds, and streams. They also provided a natural barrier for areas that became the settlements of those who first were to arrive to this part of the world. For my JONES family, the narrow land bridge between the Dee and the Severn would prove to be the central area of our families settlement. Recognizing these natural barriers will be helpful in understanding the future of Welsh genealogy.