The Village, Clyro, Hay-on-Wye, Powys. HR3 5RZ. Tel: +44 (0)1497 820670
The Story of the Head
When we were young, and growing up in Clyro, my friends and I were too frightened to walk past 'The Basky'. Where the road leads up into Baskerville Court now, used to be a garden belonging to the Baskerville Arms Hotel. The garden was separated from the main 'A' road (which ran right through the middle of the village..pre the 1959 by pass) by a stone wall and topped by a curved layer of concrete. Embedded in this concrete was a stone head.....just as if some inhuman figure was looming out of the wall to keep an eye on us youngsters!!! The face was haunting and scared the life out of us.
by Lynette Gallagher
The rescue came in the form of a tanker lorry. It ploughed into the Basky's wall one day...no one knew why (the tyres hadn't burst, no other vehicle was involved, the road wasn't slippery) but I believe it was thought, in the end, that the driver fell asleep. Whatever the reason, for us children, we were overjoyed. The tanker had hit the wall and taken the head with it.
I grew up, left home and served my working life away from Clyro. After early retirement, my husband and I returned to live in Clyro. While talking to Dave, June and Andy one day while having a superb lunch in the Basky, I happened to remark on the photos of 'the tanker and the wall' and told them the story of 'THE HEAD'!!!! 'Do you mean the head by the fireplace?' said Dave. I felt the chill up my spine. 'What head, by which fireplace?' I ventured. 'Come on, I'll show you' said Andy. I followed him the length of the room with great trepidation and there, imbedded (by the back of his head this time) in the wall to the left of the fireplace, THE HEAD stared vacantly back at me.
Dave went on to explain that an archaeologist had been to stay and had remarked on the head. He was pretty sure that it was very old, possibly even as early as dating back to Roman times (the Romans were based at one time in Clyro....they had good taste too). It could have been used for pagan rituals, but whatever it certainly could tell a story or two. I looked as closely as I dared, and could hardly see a mark or chip on the head. How could it have survived the tanker, let alone what else had befallen it in the couple of thousand years it's been making its way around Clyro? My mind and imagination really began to race then........it must have some supernatural powers......no 'get a grip. You're not some frightened little child now!' But it does perhaps make you think. Whatever Clyro looks like in another thousand year's time.....I bet THE HEAD will still be watching over the people.
Afternote by Dave
Its a rare thing to get what may well be hard evidence of what Lynette was talking about above. I had heard the tale of the lorry in the wall. It happened in the early 50's and must have been the talk of the village for months!
I knew about it from the photo on the right, that has been in the bar for many years I was told. Looking carefully at it, I noticed what could easily be 'The Head', so I scanned it and blew it up. I'm no expert, but you can make out the shape of a whole head, the nose and chin. I really does look like its the same thing. So Lynette, your story is confirmed!
You probably can't see it too well in the reduced resolution picture I've used, (I've circled it in yellow) but take my word for it, I reckon thats 'The Head!'
The rubble was buried apparantly, only to be dug up again 20 years later and used for foundations when 'Stan the Baskie' built our function room.
The story goes that they could'nt bear to throw it away, so concreted it into the wall where it now is to this day....
Lynette's First Book!
Lynette has also written and published a childs book; it is based on a local feature, Begwyns Bluff, a couple of miles away and tells the tale of mystical beings.
The Buggins are puzzled that the humans are bringing rubbish to their beautiful hillside home and then, as if things couldn't get any worse, little Mab goes missing....
You can obtain this book online here.