Historian.Editorial

In a moment of simple faith, editorial decision decreed with arrogant ease that the cover of the present volume of The Carmarthenshire Historian should bear an illustration of a typical Carmarthenshire tollhouse. This, it was felt, could be quickly achieved and would also be appropriate to the contribution by Mr. Anthony Lewis concerning turnpike trusts. Choice of the best of all those quaint octagonal houses of unmistakable purpose but vaguely remembered location would be an easy task and an artist's talent would soon turn desire into fulfilment.

Such are some of the physical marks of more recent history which are passing from our gaze, some of the social habits of our nearer forebears which are disappearing from our experience. These and more are brought to our notice by contributors to the present volume and it is hoped that, as a result, readers will be encouraged to take part in the fascinating work of recording the fading marks of passing history. If you cannot draw, take out your camera and make a collection of all the surviving tollhouses, or smithys, or what you will. If you cannot write with ease, physically or imaginatively, no matter; scribble the facts on paper — one contributor has valiantly done that, despite a handicap left by recent illness — and others will do the rest. Thus shall we help to ensure for local posterity some flesh and breath to go with the bones of history and spare future historians some of the disappointment of Mr. Michael Evans, who, during his researches, has failed to find any trace of at least one of the county's early iron forges.