These Ancient Minutes

There's something so fascinating - and yet poignant - about crumbling, abandoned cottages. I'm not thinking of modern homes that have been left temporarily empty, but the kind of former dwellings found dotted throughout the Welsh hills – built of local stone and slate, with fallen roofs and only half the walls remaining. They are an enigmatic feature of the landscape; the colours melting into the woods and valleys; the moss furred across steps and boulders alike. However, they are not just a part of the surroundings – much as they look like they might have sprung up from the grass. They are ‘man made’ creations, even though the men who created them have since...