The little Wales beyond Wales

It’s strange to think isn’t it? That 7561 miles away there is another country that speaks Welsh.

I mean, really? How did that even happen?

Well, it’s a pretty interesting story actually, a Welsh preacher decided one day, that they fancied setting up a Welsh colony somewhere half way across the world.

In all fairness, it wasn’t THAT black and white. But that’s basically how it happened.

The actual story.

Captain Love Jones-Parry and Lewis Jones, left for Patagonia in 1862 in search for the perfect place to populate with Welsh immigrants.

They had to know that it was suitable.

The little Wales beyond Wales Map of argentina Map of argentina

I can just imagine,

“Right Lewis pick a spot on this map, close your eyes and point, wherever your finger lands, that’s where were going. GO!”

They made their way in a small ship named Candelaria.

A heavy storm caused them to be driven into a bay, a bay which they later named Porth Madryn known today as Puerto Madryn.

When they got back to Wales, after a long journey and a few good conversations, they decided that Porth Madryn was the place.

“Aye Lewis, got to be there, that’s going to be The little Wales beyond Wales. I can see it now.”

 In 1865, a boat named Clipper Mimosa, carrying 153 immigrants arrived in Patagonia.

The ship cost £2500 for the journey and this included the cost of adapting it to carry passengers.

It cost £12 for adults and £6 for Children to travel, but they took anyone willing to travel whether they could pay or not.

Fair deal.

Who was there?

Among the settlers were tailors, carpenters, miners and other trade people. The group consisted of 56 married, 33 single men, 12 single women and 52 kids.

Most of them were from South Wales.

Strangely, farmers were a rarity and they soon realised that they needed farmers because the land was in such bad condition.

“Where can I plant my leeks now?”

 When they arrived at Porth Madryn they had to take a journey on foot with only 1 wheelbarrow to carry their stuff.

“I’m not pushing it, go on Dafydd, your turn”

 After a long slog, and a birth of a baby they reached the Valley of the Chubut river where they settled on a small fortress – Rawson now the capital of the Chubut Province.

Referred to as “Yr Hen amdiffynfa” (The old Fortress)

This settlement grew and grew over the years as a result of a new railway built by Welsh, Spanish and Italian immigrants. They named this railway "Central Chubut Railway"

The Welsh certainly left their mark, by building Windmills and chapels such as Capel Salem.

Today though, there is little evidence to suggest that there are many first language Welsh speaking people over there.

Sad really isn’t it, after all that hard work.

The British Council, the Welsh government and the Wales Argentina Society have been running a Welsh language project to encourage and develop the language in the Chubut province since 1997.

Ardderchog.

Where are we now?

As of 2016, over 1200 people have taken welsh courses in the region, the highest number ever for the project.

The province has 3 bilingual schools.  Ysgol yr Hendre, Ysgol Gymraeg y Gaiman and Ysgol y Cwm situated in Trevelin.

I think it’s amazing that this has been managed, because heritage is so important. And after such an ordeal by those early settlers in 1865, it would be a shame to see the Welsh language die out completely over there.

Patagonia, Porth Madryn,

“The little Wales beyond Wales.”

 

 

 

Image credits

Map image By Ian L

https://freerangestock.com/photos/33654/map-of-argentina.html#

Beach image By Banfield - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5 ar,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18284051