4 Aug 2021

Pole of the Month – August 2021

posted in: Country poles, Found Poles, Gorgeousness, GPO, Pole of the Month, Vintage |

I’m using this post to come out… as an enthusiastic e-biker. I have managed to wean myself off “turbo” mode now, finally – which is quite something given my great age and also the landscape around here.

Yesterday morning, 3rd August, on a 20 miler in to the hinterland (y Gwyll*1) around Bethania and Trefenter, Ceredigion, I came across this gorgeous remnant.

I had climbed from home in the well of the Aeron valley to the wildness that is to be found above 1,000 feet. Where the hedgerows give way to grassy banks and rosebay is supreme. Underneath, yellow rattles to brown, harebells nod and yarrow and tormentil snatch a peek at the sun.

This is one of only two of this type remaining on the run. The rest having long since been replaced, tidied up. The “D” plate suggests these are not long for this world either. The doby marks quite worn away with the bleaching wind in this remote place: GPO / 20L / ’58 Note the pair of intact telenduron terminators not to mention the ragged fleece of lichen.

The run of poles petered out shortly afterwards – presumably at Bancyllyn farm opposite Llyn Eiddwen (the source of the river Aeron) – I wasn’t paying attention at this point though – I was much too conscious of the sonic boom I was leaving behind from my great speed at this point.

According to folklore that I either read somewhere or have just made up thinking I’ve read it somewhere Llyn Eiddwen, is one of the portals to the fairy world. The other being the bottom of our garden. I didn’t see anything remotely fairyish here mind you, but then I refer you to my previous statement about sonic booms and going really fast etc. On my e-Bike. I’ve got one you know.

*1 as you may know if off the Welsh telly.

  • Hairy telegraph pole near Llyn Eiddwen, Ceredigion.
  • Single armed 1958 pole hairy with algal growth.
  • D plate and 8A numbering of the 1958 pole near Llyn Eiddwen.
  • Close up of doby marks on a 1958 GPO pole 20L (20 Light)
    GPO / 20L / ’58
  • Looking back at Llyn Eiddwen from the lane to the north.
    Llyn Eiddwen
11 Nov 2020

Pole of the Month – November 2020

posted in: Country poles, Gorgeousness, Pole of the Month, Vintage |

Veteran pole-climber, long time member of this society and favoured communicant John Brunsden (#0469H) drove past November’s Pole of the Month on his way to another job. His drives to other jobs are often featured on these pages – John’s venerated “View of Cornwall Through the hole in the top of a Telegraph Pole” can be found on p73 of our own “Telegraph Pole Appreciation for Beginners (Key Stages 1-4) (and elsewhere on this site if you have an eternity available in which to scroll back through a million posts)

Anyway, this sumptious, right-angled double stack of three-crossarms pole, I would hazard a guess, is on the road between Bideford and Elmscott – just off the road from Hartland. Not far from Edistone. Devon. Probably.

“Just a quick stop to take the photo so no more details other than I noticed it had a ‘D’ placard so probably not long for this world 🙁 Don’t forget the arms always point to London…allegedly 😉 ” John reminded us.

Not only did John provide this nourishing feast for our dear TPAS members’ eyes, he also gave us another opportunity to perpetuate a myth that we’re keen to see converted to absolute truth through repetition and eventually into Wikipedia. This semi-made-up notion that the crossarms are always on the side of the pole nearest to London first began in an Ealing Comedy in 1942 and has been championed by our good selves at this most revered, august, senior and wise society of telegraph pole aficionados ever since.

Anyway, John concluded ” …reminds me of the old Westcountry joke – I stopped a local in North Devon and asked “How do you get to London from here?” “My brother takes me !“

Pole of the Month, November 2020