Cae Rhys

Cae Rhys was an old farmhouse Anna and Robert bought under outliers of the rugged Rhinog mountain range in the parish of Trawsfynydd. Bought and sold by the Forestry Commission it became a place of great joy and sanctuary for the Murray family in its middle years.

Before Cae Rhys we stayed at different holiday cottages in and around Trawsfynydd. Here at Bodyfuddau in 1967. Oats in the large riverside field called Dol Hirion (the Long Meadow) are being cut, bound and stooked. George, Alison, Anna and Roger look on.
Before Cae Rhys we stayed at different holiday cottages in and around Trawsfynydd. Here at Bodyfuddau in 1967. Oats in the large riverside field called Dol Hirion (the Long Meadow) are being cut, bound and stooked. George, Alison, Anna and Roger look on.
Cae Rhys before any alterations - early 1970s. Mike Spiers making a guest appearance.
Cae Rhys before any alterations - early 1970s. Mike Spiers making a guest appearance.

North Wales was always an incredibly important part of Anna’s and our lives, both as a holiday and a spiritual sanctuary. A cornerstone of this were the lifelong friendships forged with John, Elwen, Ian and Delyth Cae Adda, our closest neighbours. The lovely tribute below is from Ian.

Anna at Cae Rhys in the early years. With suspect driftwood backdrop and drift wood chopping board.
Anna at Cae Rhys in the early years. With suspect driftwood backdrop and drift wood chopping board.

Anna Cae Rhys


Anna was always known to me as Anna Cae Rhys and I was Ian Cae Adda to her.
In Wales we have this ‘thing’ whereby the name of the farm or business you own
becomes part of your given moniker …it saves confusion with so many Joneses,
Williamses, Davieses (and Murrays!)


When the Murrays arrived in north Wales in the 1970’s it was very exciting for me as
a child. Anna and Robert, with their ‘exotic’ American accents became, and
remained, my friends.


I will remember Anna as a warm, friendly woman who would always greet you with a
smile and an enthusiasm to know what you had to tell her. Anna threw herself into
life, whether helping us on the farm with the haymaking or fastidiously filling varying
sized bottles with different coloured sands – who knew there were so many different
colours of sand in north Wales alone!!


Beautiful Anna, humanitarian and citizen of the world was the only lady I knew who
drank her whiskey neat – what a woman…..!


My abiding memory of Anna is of the twinkle in her eye and her genuine enthusiasm
and affection at seeing you, be it every day or, in my case, infrequently, her joy at
seeing you shone through.


Cwsg mewn Hedd, Anna.

Ian Cae Adda

Ian and Elwen visiting Anna at Rush Court in 2019
Ian and Elwen visiting Anna at Rush Court in 2019
CIt was a splendidly remote spot - here seen (just) from the footpath up from the old chapel.
CIt was a splendidly remote spot - here seen (just) from the footpath up from the old chapel.

'Nina says that her feet have never been as cold as the were at your house in Wales.  It was Thanksgiving and Anna did a pheasant and parsnips.  We think it was 1976 and some of you must have been around for a nice walk up the hill.  We remember one of you left to hitch hike back to Cambridge?  Never spoke or spelled Dolgethlee, [Dolgellau] or wondered why we would find ourselves in Wales in November.'

 

R and N B

Cae Rhys could be fairly cold. Sitting on the Aga helped.
Cae Rhys could be fairly cold. Sitting on the Aga helped.
Cae Rhys in its original family colours. With the gaffer. Late 1970s.
Cae Rhys in its original family colours. With the gaffer. Late 1970s.
Christmas at Cae Rhys: George, Andrew, Anna, Alison, Roger, Ferg. 1977
Christmas at Cae Rhys: George, Andrew, Anna, Alison, Roger, Ferg. 1977
Anna, Elwen and Peg at Cae Rhys. Probably 1988. The fishermen's smocks probably came as a job lot from Mel Mars' pottery shop in Bala.
Anna, Elwen and Peg at Cae Rhys. Probably 1988. The fishermen's smocks probably came as a job lot from Mel Mars' pottery shop in Bala.
Del Medi, Peg and Anna at Cae Rhys. Probably 1988. The stuffed heron in the background was a favourite. In Welsh the heron is creyr glas - 'old grey croaky' as Mum loved to tell us. She had a fine stock of tales she'd picked up from Welsh folklore.
Del Medi, Peg and Anna at Cae Rhys. Probably 1988. The stuffed heron in the background was a favourite. In Welsh the heron is creyr glas - 'old grey croaky' as Mum loved to tell us. She had a fine stock of tales she'd picked up from Welsh folklore.
Elwen and Anna in the Noughties (2005-10)
Elwen and Anna in the Noughties (2005-10)
Anna by Twasfynydd Lake in 2015. Her last trip to her beloved Wales in the comapny of Andrew.
Anna by Twasfynydd Lake in 2015. Her last trip to her beloved Wales in the comapny of Andrew.
Welsh gold mine sand from Moel Croesau collected by Anna near the Roman Camp at Castell Tomen y Mur, Trawsfynydd
Welsh gold mine sand from Moel Croesau collected by Anna near the Roman Camp at Castell Tomen y Mur, Trawsfynydd
in the snow in the late 1980s.
in the snow in the late 1980s.
The old Ford Thames, the splendid workhorse of many trips to Wales with its unique ability to jam its gear rods. CBE 103B if I remember correctly.
The old Ford Thames, the splendid workhorse of many trips to Wales with its unique ability to jam its gear rods. CBE 103B if I remember correctly.
The hill behind Cae Rhys and the Forestry Commission plantation and the high ffridd wall at 400m skirting the open grazing on Foel Penolau. 1988
The hill behind Cae Rhys and the Forestry Commission plantation and the high ffridd wall at 400m skirting the open grazing on Foel Penolau. 1988
Cae Rhys in May 2020
Cae Rhys in May 2020

To: Newport Rhode Island and Clingstone