How the ‘Blue Pilgrims’ came to Llantwit Major

Llantwit Major History Society

Glamorgan Star news 13/05/2022

1 minute read

Llantwit Major History Society held its AGM recently, and the evening also featured the last of the winter monthly lectures.

In spite of restrictions and enforced reductions in numbers, the society has managed some very interesting talks, sometimes with a repeat morning talk soon after, which worked well and will probably be repeated in the future.

The society will start meetings again in September and the programme is being devised now – details will be announced in August. Some of last year’s talks are available to members with password, on the website. The society continues to open the Archive Room in the Old School, Wine Street on Friday afternoons (3.00pm to 5.00pm) with a wealth of photographs, maps and documents. There is no need to book, just ring the bell.

Following the AGM, chairperson Graham Phillimore gave a talk on the work of a Christian group known colloquially as ‘the Blue Pilgrims’. Under their leader Beatrice Hankey, the Pilgrims started work in the south Wales valleys in 1928 due to the depression and in 1935 took a lease from Illtyd Nicholl of the Ham, on Woodford House in Llantwit Major for use as a base and holiday home for miners and their families.

The house was regularly visited by groups from Blaina, Nantyglo and Abergwynfi between 1935 and 1938. After the Second World War a pilgrim, Molly Turner, known locally as ‘the Pilgrim’ lived in the grounds of Woodford maintaining contact with families in the valleys until her death in 1964. She is still fondly remembered by folk who knew her.

For more information on the history society, telephone secretary Mrs S Pattinson on 07742 178342.

🌟 This article first appeared in the printed edition of the Glamorgan Star on 05.05.22.