It all started in the public library. I was asked if I knew where Bloemfontein Terrace was in Barmouth. It is the last block of seven houses on the right hand side at the far end of Park Road.

I admit I had no idea of the location of this terrace at the time, but I had a faint idea that the name had a South African connection. On checking I discovered that Bloemfontein is the capital of the Orange Free State in the Republic of South Africa. During the Boer War this was the scene of heavy fighting and the city was occupied by British forces in 1900.

Place names are an interesting record of the development of a locality and they help to date them. Fashion and events tend to be reflected in place names, and Bloemfontein is no exception, even though today perhaps we do not know the connection between Barmouth and these places.

From Suttons Directory of 1890 on Barmouth, it is apparent that the majority of place names were in Welsh and that very soon after this period English names became popular.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this was the laying of the foundation stone of St John's Church in 1889, when an invitation to Queen Victoria had been made by the Dowager Marchioness of Londonderry, for her Majesty to lay the foundation stone. By chance the Queen was on holiday in North Wales and graciously allowed her youngest daughter Princess Beatrice (Princess Henry of Battenburg) to officiate.

This was a grand affair and no doubt influenced English place names. Barmouth has plenty of Victorian names and Marine Parade is a good example of the royal connection. We have Balmoral, Lismore Comber House, Albion, Endeavour, Leamington and Cranbourn, with Sandhurst and Victoria hotels to complete the Parade.

It would seem that these houses would have been built during this period or at the beginning of the 19th century.

However, during this same period other names became popular, many with South African connections. We have Belmont, Colenso, Kimberley and in lots of places Mafeking. All these were places which had been scenes of battle between the British and the Boers.

It is very hard to understand why so many properties were named to commemorate the defeat of the British forces. Colenso is a case in hand. The British General Buller launched an attack against General Botha at Colenso and was heavily defeated, with a loss of 1,000 British soldiers against 40 Boers.

Similarly the battle of Spion Kop (24 January 1900) was a ferocious one and both sides drove one another from the mountainside, until General Botha rallied the Boers and again defeated the British.

Yet, an area of Barmouth is still known and referred to as Spion Kop. This area is on the side of the mountain above Brynawel Terrace. Why was this defeat commemorated in Barmouth, what connections were there, if any, between Brynawel and Spion Kop?

I have tried to find records of any Barmouth Volunteers in the Boer War, but have failed. Even the late Dr Lewis Lloyd had no record of this particular time in history. If there were volunteers, did they all return home? There is no roll of honour in the parish church for the Boer War which might mean that Barmouth did not suffer any losses as it did in World War One when over 50 Barmouth lads lost their lives. One hopes that if there were any losses, that some day their names will be duly recorded so that posterity can honour their sacrifice.