Pestvidéki Ásványbánya Vállalat

The wooden ship manufacturing plant of Cumberland floundered, the mines were exhausted, and there was a need for job opportunities. Szekeres imported weaving girls from Hungary to teach the local workers. The West-Cumberland Silk Mills Ltd. started operation in 1938. They won a contract from the British Government to manufacture silk textile for parachutes at the beginning of World War II. When the supply of silk was jeopardized, he experimented with nylon as a new weaving material for parachute construction. After end of the War, he began exporting his fabrics to Western Europe, the Americas and Australia. His three factories were working three shifts daily.

His youth dream became a reality in 1959, when he had a theater built on his property, called Rosehill Theater, which is one of the most important music art centers not only for that district, but also for all of England. The best theater groups, orchestras, conductors and soloists performed there, including many world famous Hungarians.

Queen Elizabeth II of England dubbed him a knight. A mulberry tree symbolizing raw silk material and two masks, ancient emblems of theater, are displayed on hiscoat-of-arms. His eventful life came to a sudden end at the tragic excursion on a ship to Dubrovnik. There was a Rosehill Festival between 3 and 5 September 2009, for the 50th anniversary of the opening the theater. During the past 50 years, among the guest artists who appeared on the stage were Sir George Solti, György (George) Pauk, Yehudi Menuhin, Szvjatoszlav Richter, Victoria de Los Angeles, Mstislav Rostropovich, KBE, and Peggy Ashcroft. – B: 1020, 1031, T: 7675.→Solti, Sir George.

The important market towns came to existence in the 14th-15th centuries, such as Marosvásárhely with its large one-nave Franciscan cathedral. The tower designs of the village churches probably originated in this cathedral tower with its great Gothic windows; and in the already rebuilt, but originally Gothic Franciscan church of Csíksomlyó (now Şumuleu Ciuc). The fortress church of Sepsiszentgyörgy (now Sfîntu Gheorghe) the towered churches of Gyergyószentmiklós and Székelyudvarhely (demolished in the 18th century) testify to the once central characteristics of these towns.

The second wave of the religious village architecture flourished in the 15th century, when the churches were expanded, often with towers on their western corner. The threat of Turkish danger prompted the construction of fortress churches as in Counties Csík and Háromszék (now Comitatul Ciuc and Trei Scaune). Their carved decorations reflect a refined and varied Gothic style. These churches are found all over Szekler-land, especially at Csíkdelne, Csíkrákos, Kövend, Nyárádszentlászló and Zabola (now Delniţa, Racu, Plăieşti, Sânvăsii and Zăbala).

From the 15th century, the internal church decor became much richer. Besides the late Gothic wall paintings at Derzs, Marosvásárhely and Székelydálya (now Ders, Târgu Mureş and Daia), the winged altars decorated with paintings and statues made of painted wood appeared. For example, at Csíksomlyó, Csíkszentimre, Csíkszentlélek (now Şumuleu Ciuc, Sântimbru, Leliceni), and the individual Gothic wooden statues such as the Madonna of Csíkménaság (Armáşeni), the patron picture of Csíksomlyó and the Madonna of Szenttamás (Tomeşti). In spite of their Saxon origin, the winged altars quickly became part of the local culture. The stone baptisteries with their varied dynamic folk decorations also became popular in the Gothic era. The finest examples are found at Miklósvár, Nagykászon and Nyárádszentháromság (now Micloşoara, Plaiesii de Jos, and Troiţa).

The influence of the Renaissance and its blend with Gothic elements was evident throughout the beginning of the 16th century. The most favored and most beautiful genre was the painted wooden ceiling and the coffered ceiling. In the 17th and 18th centuries these ceilings, richly decorated with flowers and geometric designs, were often the works of well-known village artists. Such is the case of Felsőbolgodfalva (now Feliceni) and Gyalakuta (now Gilău).

The onset of secular art began in the 15th-16th centuries. Due to the small number of aristocratic landlords among the Szeklers, initially only a handful of fortresses were built, such as Bálványosvár, erected by the Apor family. The fortress of Székelyudvarhely (now Odorheiu Secuiesc) was built at the end of the 15th century, while the fort of Csíkszereda (now Miercurea-Ciuc) was constructed at the beginning of the 17th century. Szárhegy (now Lăzarea), and the Castle Lázár, both decorated with friezes, are the only examples of a greater scale in Transylvania. Smaller country houses were most popular in the 17th-18th centuries.

The Dániel Castle in Vargyas (now Vârghiş) shows some Baroque forms in its porch of three-centered arches under a great mansard roof. The Salvator Chapel of Csíksomlyó is the earliest example of a Baroque interior from the end of the 17th century. Carved apostles decorate the wooden annular vaults of the nave. The renovated churches of the Middle Ages in Csík were often refurbished with Baroque altars, statues and furniture in folk style. The churches of Csíkkozmás (now Cozmeni) and Gyergyóalfalu (now Joseni) are best examples of this.

The Szekler art of woodcarving and wooden architecture molded and used the different historical styles to its taste. Szeklers mostly preferred the rich Renaissance forms, and that preference lasted well into the 20th century. The oldest example of the richly carved Szekler gate, kept at the Museum of Ethnography of Mikeháza (now Mica) belonged to the Franciscan Monastery, dating from 1673. It still has geometrical decorations, while later examples of the large or small Szekler gates are mostly decorated with traditional flower motives. – B: 1144, T: 3240.→Szeklers; Painted Wooden Ceiling.

This coat of arms was already known at the time of King András II (Andrew, 1205-1235). For a time, the use of this coat of arms was forbidden but, in 1437, King Zsigmond (Sigismund of Luxembourg) (1387-1437), restored its function. In 1659, the issuing of this permit was reinforced at the assembly in Szászsebes (now Sebeş, Romania). The Szekler coat of arms has also been incorporated into insignias of the Szekler counties and villages. The Szeklers have succeeded in preserving traditions to an extent unusual even in Central and Eastern Europe. – B: 1030, 1020, T: 7671.→Szeklers.