Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries Visit The Royal Commission

Archive material displayed in the Royal Commission's library

The Welsh Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries held a study weekend in Aberystwyth on the 15^th-17^th October. They visited the offices of the Royal Commission to see at first hand aspects of our work, including: 

• the 2010 excavations at the site of a Roman villa in Abermagwr
• aerial reconnaissance
• the collections of the National Monuments Record of Wales
• archaeological and architectural recording
• medieval houses
• chapels project
• demonstrations of Coflein, Historic Wales and the People’s Collection website.

On Saturday 16^th October Toby Driver and David Browne led the field visit to Pendinas Iron Age hillfort and the ring-work and bailey castle at Tan y Castell.

Welsh Antiquaries at Tan y Castell, Aberystwyth

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Abattoir: A Building Where Animals Are Slaughtered

Llanelli Slaughter House, Carmarthenshire
DI2007_1341     NPRN: 23324

Definition of Monument Types
ABATTOIR: A building where animals are slaughtered.

Search Coflein to discover Abattoirs in Wales or in your community.

Related Industrial Architecture Links:
Read more: Llanelli Slaughter House www.coflein.gov.uk
Further: Llanelli Slaughter House images Coflein - Discovering Our Past Online 

Coflein is the NMRW's public online database, searchable geographically through Ordnance Survey maps or by text queries. Coflein allows free access to details of many thousands of archaeological sites, monuments, buildings and maritime sites in Wales, together with an index to the drawings, manuscripts and photographs held in the NMRW archive collections.

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Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Bilingual Publication

Cyflwyno Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru
Introducing Houses of the Welsh Countryside

Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru
By Richard Suggett, Greg Stevenson, 2010.
Published: October, 2010

Review of Contents

This stunningly illustrated book provides a wonderful opportunity for a better understanding of our precious architectural history – from the early Medieval House and the Longhouse to Houses of the Welsh Border, through to the Modern House and the Cottage. For the first time it features spectacular CGI images which provide unique perspective views of the Welsh house.

Thirty years ago Peter Smith first saw Tŷ-mawr, Castle Caereinion, a medieval masterpiece but a ramshackle ruin. The importance and vulnerability of Tŷ-mawr started him on an architectural journey which led not only to the restoration of Tŷ-mawr to its former glory but also to the saving of many significant buildings which would otherwise have been lost.

This book celebrates the achievement of Peter Smith’s Houses of the Welsh Countryside, which has had a profound influence on the understanding and appreciation of traditional architecture in Wales since its publication in 1975.

It is intended as both an updated introduction to the themes developed in Houses of the Welsh Countryside and a companion to the television series Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru on S4C, which has presented these themes to a national audience.

The authors: Richard Suggett is an investigator for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Greg Stevenson is a freelance architectural historian.

Contents
Forward by Gwenda Griffith
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - The Medieval Hall
Chapter 3 - The Snowdonian House
Chapter 4 - The Longhouse
Chapter 5 - Houses of the Welsh Border
Chapter 6 - Towards the Modern House
Chapter 7 - The Cottage
Chapter 8 - Saving Houses: an extract from a memoir by Peter Smith
Further Reading

ISBN: 978-1-84771-276-9
Price: £14.95

The bilingual publication accompanies a six-part landmark television series by Fflic for S4C: Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru.

Related Publication Links:
Gwerthu Llyfrau
Book Sales

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The Snowdonia House - Wales Early Storeyed Houses

Exterior view of Llanfair Isaf, Merioneth
DI2010_0832     NPRN: 28521

On tonights episode of Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru, Aled Samuel looks at one of the earliest types of storeyed houses in Wales - The Snowdonia house.

Channel: S4C
Time: 21:00
Date: 27th October, 2010
Series title: Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru

Series link to last week's episode:
Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Y Ty Neuadd - subtitles available.
(Houses of the Welsh Countryside - The Hall House)

Related Domestic Architecture Links:
Read more: Llanfair-isaf www.coflein.gov.uk
Further: Llanfair-isaf images Coflein - Discovering Our Past Online 
Review of Contents: Houses of the Welsh Countryside

Coflein is the NMRW's public online database, searchable geographically through Ordnance Survey maps or by text queries.

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Tŷ-mawr Welsh Gentry Medieval Hall House

Aerial photograph of Ty Mawr, Castle Caereinion,
after reconstruction, 1998. 
GTJ26914     NPRN:  21452

Tŷ-mawr
Castell Caereinion, Sir Drefaldwyn

Bu rhestru Tŷ-mawr, Castell Caereinion, yn adeilad Gradd I yn ddigwyddiad rhyfeddol o ystyried nad oedd yn edrych ar ddechrau’r 1990au damaid yn fwy cyffrous nag ysgubor yn mynd â’i phen iddi. Wedi i Peter Smith sylweddoli ym 1971 fod yr adeilad yn un hynod bwysig, fe’i hadferwyd ym 1998 ac adfer iddo’r un olwg, mae’n debyg, â phan godwyd ef ym 1460. Ar ôl yr adfer (a’r ailadeiladu rhannol) mae hi’n bosibl deall yr adeilad unwaith eto fel neuadd ag eiliau a ffrâm o goed ac efallai mai hon yw’r enghraifft orau o’i bath sydd wedi goroesi.
Mae dyddio blwyddgylchau coed derw ffrâm y neuadd wedi datgelu’r hanes arferol o addasu adeilad. Cynhwyswyd llawr cyntaf ynddo ym 1594, ac ychwanegwyd lwfer mwg ato erbyn 1631. Mae ffrâm bren lwfer mewnol y simnai wedi’i chadw ond fel arall mae’r adferiad yn mynd â’r adeilad yn ôl i’w ffurf wreiddiol sef, yn ei hanfod, tñ neuadd petryal o dair uned ac unedau deulawr bob pen i’r neuadd agored a’i heiliau.
Mae graddfa ac ansawdd y grefftwriaeth mewn derw yn adlewyrchu statws uchel y trigolion gwreiddiol. Atgynyrchiadau yw rhai o’r craffrwymau addurnol, ond mae’r holl dderw newydd yn cydredeg â’r morteisiau gwreiddiol ac mae’r pedeirdalennau newydd yn ddyfaliad teilwng. Wrth y fynedfa i’r neuadd mae pyst derw’r eiliau (rhan o eil hir bob ochr i brif ofod y neuadd) yn arbennig o ddeniadol ac wedi’u haddurno â phennau colofnau sy’n atgoffa dyn o greneliadau tñ caerog. Prin yw’r tai yng Nghymru sydd cystal am ddwyn i gof fywyd uchelwyr Cymru’r Oesoedd Canol.


Houses of the Welsh Countryside, ffi gurau 46-7, 55d, 62b, 67b, 68b.

Peter Smith and Cecil Vaughan Owen recording Tŷ-mawr in 1971.
DI2010_0757     NPRN: 21452

Tŷ -mawr
Castle Caereinion, Montgomeryshire

The Grade I listing of Tŷ-mawr, Castle Caereinion, is remarkable considering that in the early 1990s it appeared externally to be no more exciting than a collapsing barn. Recognised as highly signifi cant by Peter Smith in 1971, and restored in 1998, it is reconstructed to its probable appearance when built in 1460. Following the restoration (and partial reconstruction) it is possible once again to understand the building as a timber-framed aisled hall, and probably the best surviving example of its type.
Tree-ring dating of the structural oak timbers of the hall has revealed a typical history of adaptation, which included having a first floor inserted in 1594, and a smoke-hood added by 1631. The timberframed internal chimney hood has been retained in a restoration that otherwise takes the building back to its original form - essentially a rectangular hallhouse of three-unit plan with storeyed units at either end of the open, aisled hall.
The scale and quality of the craftsmanship in oak reflect the high status of the original occupants. Some of the decorative bracing is reproduction, but the new oak is all lined up with original mortises and the new quatrefoils are a reasonable conjecture. Particularly attractive are the oak aisle-posts (part of a long aisle on each side of the main hall space) at the entrance to the hall, which are decorated with capitals reminiscent of the crenellations of a fortifi ed house. Few properties in Wales so readily evoke the life of the Welsh gentry in medieval times.

Houses of the Welsh Countryside, figs. 46-7, 55d, 62b, 67b, 68b.



Watch last weeks: Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Y Ty Neuadd - subtitles available.

Related Digital Past Links:
Read more: Tŷ-mawr www.coflein.gov.uk
Further: Tŷ-mawr Images Coflein - Discovering Our Past Online 

Coflein is the NMRW's public online database, searchable geographically through Ordnance Survey maps or by text queries.

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Shale Disposal & Reclamation Of Surface Water

6. Taff Merthyr Colliery - Shale disposal and reclamation of surface water
Shale is collected from various parts of the colliery and taken off site by rail. Surface drainage water from the site is separated from coal and shale and both are reclaimed.

Taff Merthyr Colliery shale disposal and reclamation of surface water

Earliest Known Cruck-truss In Wales Tree-ring Dated 1402

Hafodygarreg (Erwood, Breconshire): the earliest known cruck-truss in Wales, tree-ring dated 1402
DI2007_0331     NPRN: 301421

Saw Mill Maenofferen Slate Quarry Complex

Saw Mill at Maenofferen Slate Quarry

The saw mill, which developed over four separate phases, is the largest building in the Maeofferen complex. A waterwheel in the centre of the left hand bay was fed by a launder carried on stone piers which can still be seen to the left side of the photograph. Beyond the mill to the right can be seen the caban, while to the left two rows of concrete piers are what remain of an uncompleted building.

Related Industrial Archaeology Links:

• Survey at the Maenofferen Slate Quarry
• A Fine Week At The Maenofferen Slate Quarry 
• Maenofferen Slate Quarry Winding House Complex
• Llechwedd Quarries Slate Tips Blaenau Ffestiniog

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Aerofilms Job Vacancies

Llandarcy oil refinery
AFA5773     NPRN: 91695

The Aerofilms Collection, one of the earliest and most significant collections of oblique aerial photography of the United Kingdom is to be conserved, digitised and made publicly accessible thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £1,755,722.

Ref: 1615
Title: Project Manager - Britain from Above
Location: NMRC, KEMBLE DRIVE, SWINDON
Job Type: Temporary
Salary: £31097 pa
Job Description:
The post will lead the Britain from Above project, which will make available online 95,000 early aerial photographs from the Aerofilms collection.
This is a fixed term contract for 46 months.
Close Date: 25/10/2010

Ref: 1617
Title: Project Officer - Britain from Above
Location: NMRC, KEMBLE DRIVE, SWINDON
Job Type: Temporary
Salary: £19775
Job Description:
The post will provide administrative support for the Britain from Above project, which will make 95,000 early aerial photographs from the Aerofilms collection available online.
This is a fixed term contract for 46 months
Close Date: 25/10/2010

Ref: 1621
Title: Conservator - Britain from Above project
Location: NMRC, KEMBLE DRIVE, SWINDON
Job Type: Temporary
Salary: £25,618 pa
Job Description:
The post will provide conservation skills and advice to the Britain from Above project. This initiative will conserve, digitise and make available online the earliest images from the Aerofilms collection of aerial photographs.
This is a Fixed Term appointment for 44 months
Close Date: 29/10/2010

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Llechwedd Quarries Slate Tips Blaenau Ffestiniog

Llechwedd Quarries slate tips, with Blaenau Ffestiniog in the foreground

The view from the Llechwedd Quarries slate tips, with Blaenau Ffestiniog in the foreground and, just visible in the distance, Trawsfynydd Power Station and lake. The weather has been much kinder to us this week (7th October) with frequent sunshine.

Related Industrial Archaeology Links:

• Survey at the Maenofferen Slate Quarry
• A Fine Week At The Maenofferen Slate Quarry 
• Maenofferen Slate Quarry Winding House Complex
• Saw Mill Maenofferen Slate Quarry Complex

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Preparation Of Treated Coal For Market

5. Taff Merthyr Colliery - Preparation of treated coal for market
Raw and washed coal are blended, tested and loaded to rail transport.

Taff Merthyr Colliery preparation of treated coal for market

Landmark Television Series Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru

Ty Mawr from the outer room

Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru
Houses of the Welsh Countryside

A six-part landmark television series by Fflic for S4C and a new bilingual, illustrated book will be launched at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, on Tuesday 19th October 2010.

The book is written by Richard Suggett and Greg Stevenson, and published by Y Lolfa in conjunction with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

Collapsed timber frame of Ty Draw

The six programmes will be broadcast on Wednesday evenings at 9pm starting on 20th October. They will be repeated on Sundays at 10.20pm. S4C also intend to broadcast a signed version on Saturday afternoons, starting on 23rd October at 2pm, but with gaps in the series as they will not be broadcasting on November 6th & 13th.

The subjects of the programmes are:
1.    Y Tŷ Neuadd / The Hall House
2.    Tai Eryri / The Snowdonia House
3.    Y Tŷ Hir / The Longhouse
4.    Tai’r Ffin / Houses of the Welsh Border
5.    Tuag at y Tŷ Modern / Towards the Modern House
6.    Y Bwthyn / The Cottage

Related Domestic Architecture Links:

• Llantwit Major and Cowbridge A Study Of The Historic Domestic Architecture
• Houses of the Welsh Countryside 2nd Edition
• Houses of the Welsh Countryside A Study In Historical Geography

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Glamorgan Family History Show Llantrisant Leisure Centre

Royal Commission stand at the Glamorgan Family History show

On Saturday, 9th October Royal Commission staff attended the Glamorgan Family History Show held at Llantrisant Leisure Centre. The event was well attended and during the day the Royal Commission stall was visited by nearly 350 family history enthusiasts in their quests for leaflets, books and general information about the houses of their ancestors.

Glamorgan Family History Show held at Llantrisant Leisure Centre

Related Dates For Your Diary Links:

• Uplands Archaeology Forum & Guided Walk, 2011
• Aircraft Crash Sites To Receive Monument Recognition
• Royal Commission Dates For Your Diary 2010

 
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Earliest Oblique Aerial Photographs Conservation

Awyrlun, a dynnwyd gan Aerofilms ym 1929, o Ddociau Caerdydd. Dyma safle Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru a Senedd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol erbyn hyn.

Aerial view of Cardiff Docks taken by Aerofilms in 1929. The site is now occupied by the Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd of the National Assembly for Wales.
D12006_0742     NPRN: 91412

Casgliad Aerofilms
Caiff un o’r casgliadau cynharaf a phwysicaf o awyrluniau arosgo o’r Deyrnas Unedig fod yn destun gwaith cadwraeth cyn i’r lluniau gael eu digido a’u gwneud yn hygyrch i’r cyhoedd, diolch i grant gan Gronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri o £1,755,722.

Bydd Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru, ynghyd ag English Heritage a Chomisiwn Brenhinol Henebion yr Alban, yn defnyddio’r arian i gyflawni rhaglen gadwraeth pedair-blynedd ar y ffotograffau hynaf a mwyaf gwerthfawr yng Nghasgliad Aerofilms. Yna, trefnir i’r delweddau hynny fod ar gael ar-lein yn rhad ac am ddim.

Prynwyd Casgliad Aerofilms i’r genedl yn 2007, ac mae’r filiwn a rhagor o ffotograffau ynddo’n dyddio o 1919 tan 2006 ac yn rhoi darlun digymar o’r newidiadau yng ngolwg Prydain yn ystod yr ugeinfed ganrif.

Bydd y rhaglen pedair-blynedd yn cychwyn yn 2011 ac yn gofyn i’r cyhoedd rannu eu hatgofion a’u gwybodaeth am gynnwys y delweddau. Gwneir gwaith cadwraeth ar y negyddion bregus a chânt eu sganio i fformat digidol. Caiff gwefan newydd, Prydain o'r Awyr, ei lansio ddiwedd 2011. Erbyn 2014, bydd 95,000 o ddelweddau a dynnwyd rhwng 1919 a 1953 i’w gweld ar-lein.

Meddai Hilary Malaws, Pennaeth Cangen Rheoli Gwybodaeth CBHC, “Bydd grant Cronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri yn sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn gallu gweld y casgliad hynod hwn, a bydd cyfle iddyn nhw rannu eu hatgofion a’u gwybodaeth gyda phobl eraill.”

Dewch i weld rhai o ddelweddau hynod ddifyr Aerofilms ...

Prydain o’r Awyr - Awyrluniau Prin a Bregus o Gasgliad Aerofilms Wedi’u Diogelu
25/06/2012 Mae’r wefan www.britainfromabove.org.uk/cy ar gael i’w defnyddio am ddim yn awr, felly mewngofnodwch i weld beth y gallwch ei ddarganfod.

Atomfa Trawsfynydd. Dechreuwyd ei godi ym 1959 gan ddilyn manylebau pensaeniol Syr Basil Spence. Dechreuodd gynhyrchy trydan ym 1965 ac fe'i datgomisiynwyd ym 1991. Dyma'r atomfa sifil gyntaf ym Mhrydain i beidio â bod ar lan y môr, a defnyddid dŵr croyw o lyn Trawsfynydd i'w hoeri. Saif yr atomfa ar diroedd helaeth y cynlluniwyd eu tirlunio gan Sylvia Crowe.
Trawsfynyndd Nuclear Power Station. Construction commenced in 1959 to architectural specifications by Basil Spence. It started service in 1965 and was commissioned in 1991. the first inland civil nuclear power station in the UK, it used fresh water for cooling drawn from Trawsfynydd lake. the power station is set within extensive landscaped grounds designed by Sylvia Crowe.
afl03_aerofilms_a177854     NPRN: 301092

Aerofilms Collection
One of the earliest and most significant collections of oblique aerial photography of the United Kingdom is to be conserved, digitised and made publicly accessible thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £1,755,722.

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, along with English Heritage and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, will use the funding to undertake a four-year conservation programme on the oldest and most valuable photographs in the Aerofilms Collection and make these images available freely online.

Acquired for the nation in 2007, the Aerofilms Collection of over 1 million photographs dates from 1919 to 2006 and presents an unparalleled picture of the changing face of Britain in the twentieth century.

The four-year programme starts in 2011 and will involve the general public in sharing memories and information related to the images. Fragile negatives will be conserved and scanned into digital format, and a new website, Britain from Above, will be launched at the end of 2011. By 2014, 95,000 images taken between 1919 and 1953 will be available to view online.

Hilary Malaws, RCAHMW Information Management Branch Head, said “The HLF grant will ensure that this remarkable collection will be accessible to the public and give them an opportunity to share their memories and knowledge with others.”

View some of these fascinating Aerofilms images ...

Britain From Above - Rare and Fragile Aerial Photos from Aerofims Collection Conserved
25/06/12 The website www.britainfromabove.org.uk is free and available to use now, so log in and see what you can discover. 

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Maenofferen Slate Quarry Winding House Complex

Winding house complex at Maeofferen Slate Quarry

The winding house complex at the top of the underground incline. A series of three winding drums in the centre section serve the rails, with a boiler house, engine house and possible compressor house making up the rest of the complex.

Related Industrial Archaeology Links:

• Survey at the Maenofferen Slate Quarry
• A Fine Week At The Maenofferen Slate Quarry
• Llechwedd Quarries Slate Tips Blaenau Ffestiniog
• Saw Mill Maenofferen Slate Quarry Complex

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Autumn Meeting of Capel - Wrexham

The iconic feature of Capel Ebeneser is the wedge shaped block located directly above the pulpit designed to direct sunlight onto the minister below. The stained glass panels have been introduced recently, the original 1975 design being of clear lights.

The autumn meeting of Capel took place in Wrexham on Saturday, 9^th October, attended by RCAHMW staff working on the Commissions ‘Chapels Project’. The meeting started at Capel-y-Groes Welsh Calvinist Methodist Chapel (NPRN 97274) with the AGM, and moved on to an extremely informative talk about the history of Nonconformism in the Wrexham area by Dr David R Jones. This charted the social rise of the Nonconformist movement and the history of the individual chapel buildings in the town between the later 16^th century and the 1970s, when many of the towns chapels were rebuilt.

Penybryn Welsh Baptist Chapel built in 1879 as an Independent Chapel and sold to the Welsh Baptists in 1898.

This late 20^th century phenomena led to a different slant to the usual walking tour of chapels which followed, with four of the seven chapels visited being constructed in the 1970’s Capel-y-Groes,  Jerusalem, NPRN 7934, Capel Ebeneser, NPRN 79174, and Regent Street Chapel, NPRN 7931,. This gave an interesting insight into the modern development of religious architecture and the different geography of the space utilized by the congregations, as well as the flexibility of how such buildings fit into the modern townscape with one, Regent Street Methodist Church, built above a shopping centre. There was also opportunity to view some of the more traditional chapel buildings however; Penybryn, the oldest surviving chapel in the town from 1789 (NPRN 7914), Tabernacle out at Rhostyllen (NPRN 7605), which is a good example of the use of the local Ruabon brick in the earlier 19^th century and the Trinity Presbyterian Church (NPRN 7924) as designed by the architect William Beddoe Rees.

The next Capel meeting will take place in Ammanford on the 14^th May 2011. To get further details, or find out more about the work of Capel go to www.capeli.org.uk.

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A Fine Week At The Maenofferen Slate Quarry

Last weeks weather at Maenofferen Slate Quarry

Survey at Maenofferen is nearly completed with an overall site plan encompassing the whole quarry complex including the original workers housing, the inclines for carrying away the processed slate and the tramways for removing the slate waste. Detailed recording has also taken place of two of the more significant structures, the saw mill and the winding house at the top of the underground incline. Commission photographer Iain Wright also made the best of the much improved weather this week to come out and make a photographic record of the site.

On Friday we were joined by slate industry experts Dafydd Gwyn and John Crosskey, and we spent an enjoyable day trying to match the archaeological evidence with what is known of the site historically. While largely successful it was interesting that the archaeological remains could still raise new questions and issues regarding the site. John has also kindly provided us with some historic photographs which will greatly aid our understanding of the historical development of the site.

We will now spend the next couple of weeks processing the data we have already collected, before going back out in November to carry out the final field-check and finalise our archive searches. Many thanks to Andrew Roberts and all the Greaves team for being so helpful and accommodating during our time on site – and for allowing us to experience the blasting (from a safe distance!) of the new quarries.

Related Industrial Archaeology Links:

• Survey at the Maenofferen Slate Quarry
• Maenofferen Slate Quarry Winding House Complex
• Llechwedd Quarries Slate Tips Blaenau Ffestiniog
• Saw Mill Maenofferen Slate Quarry Complex

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Fines Separation

4. Taff Merthyr Colliery - Fines separation
Slurry is treated to separate and recover the finest particles of coal and shale.

Taff Merthyr Colliery fines separation

GPS Survey at Llyn Brenig

GPS Survey, Llyn Brenig, originally uploaded by Royal Commission.

The Royal Commission at work, using GPS survey equipment at Llyn Brenig.

A site found at Llyn Brenig is Waen Ddafad, Cairn I; Brenig 8. The following Coflein description provides information regarding the cairn. Further images and site information are available on Coflein, the free to use database of the National Monuments Record of Wales.

Waen Ddafad, Cairn I; Brenig 8
Following excavation, the cairn is visible on the ground as a series of large stone boulders defining the kerb of the cairn and two stone boulders marking the position of the central pit. No other cairn stone survives.

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Historic Treasures Worth £850m A Year & Support 30,000 Jobs

Colour oblique aerial photograph of Caernarfon Castle, 1994
GTJ00136     NPRN: 95318

A great article on the historic environment of Wales, giving visitor figures to some of the nations treasures such as Caernarfon Castle 194,000 visitors, Big Pit 165,696, Blaenavon Ironworks 29,961, Blaenavon Heritage Railway 9,364, Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal 2,876, informal visitors.

WalesOnline.co.uk quotes “The historic riches of Wales support 30,000 jobs and inject approximately £840m into the Welsh economy, claims a major report published today.

“Wales has nearly 30,000 listed buildings and more than 4,000 scheduled ancient monuments. There are also six historic wrecks, 428 registered historic landscapes, parks and gardens, and 519 conservation areas.

“The landmark research, Valuing the Welsh Historic Environment, says the nation’s heritage must be actively cared for and promoted. It warns that once these assets have been lost or forgotten they can rarely be recovered.”

Colour transparency showing view of head frame at Big Pit, 1999
DI2006_0272     NPRN: 433

Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said: “I welcome this important report which looks in depth at the value of Wales’ heritage. Wales has a rich and diverse heritage which has great value to those who live here in many different ways.

“Clearly it is important to conserve this environment for social and educational reasons. But sometimes what is not recognised and what this report shows is that our heritage also has an important economic impact, both through the benefits it can bring to local people and the income generated through visitors.

“The Assembly Government recognises the importance of the historic environment and through Cadw we continue to ensure that it is maintained for future generations.

“Heritage is a big pull for tourists in Wales. For example, our recent visitor survey showed that 72% of visitors went to castles, stately houses and/or historic sites during their stay.

“Through our £19m heritage tourism project we are also working hard to maximise the economic value of heritage.”

Blaenavon Ironworks, Blaenavon.
South-east front & north-east side of No 2 cast house & furnace with foundry beyond.
DS2006_179_008     NPRN: 34134

Read more:
Landmark research has found our historic treasures are worth £850m a year and support 30,000 jobs

Related Landscape History Links:
Read more: Caernarfon Castle / Big Pit / Blaenavon Ironworks / Blaenavon Heritage Railway / Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal www.coflein.gov.uk
Discover more photographs: Caernarfon Castle Images / Big Pit Images / Blaenavon Ironworks Images / Blaenavon Heritage Railway Images / Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Images Coflein - Discovering our past online


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Uplands Archaeology Forum & Guided Walk, 2011

Mynydd Hiraethog, mountain trackway emerging from enclosed land
near Pentrefoelas
DS2008_238_001     NPRN: 408312

Fforwm Archaeoleg yr Uwchdiroedd
Cynhelir cyfarfod a thaith dywys nesaf Fforwm Archaeoleg yr Uwchdiroedd (ar Fynydd Hiraethog) ar 13-14 Mai 2011. Caiff rhagor o fanylion eu rhoi yma yn y flwyddyn newydd.

Uplands Archaeology Forum
Next year’s Uplands Archaeology Forum and guided walk (on Mynydd Hiraethog - The Denbigh Moors) will be held on 13-14 May 2011. Further details will be posted here in the new year.

Related Uplands Archaeology Links:
The Uplands Archaeology Initiative
Related Landscape History Links:
Read more: Mynydd Hiraethog, mountain trackway www.coflein.gov.uk
Discover more about: Mynydd Hiraethog Coflein
 

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The Royal Commission’s Delivery of Services

Flyer for the TV Series of Hidden Histories

The Royal Commission built on its Centenary over two years from 2008 as a unique opportunity to promote and develop its services. It’s worth looking back on what was achieved. The most visible success was the BBC television series Hidden Histories, which took the Commission’s investigations of the heritage of Wales into the homes of 500,000 viewers around the UK. A second series in 2009 was equally successful and a third will be shown in 2011. But this was only one of many Centenary activities.

Survey at the Maenofferen Slate Quarry

Royal Commission Investigators Susan Fielding and Scott Lloyd survey the interior of the slate processing shed

As part of both the Commission’s new Slate Quarries project and the Atlanterra project, RCAHMW Investigators have just completed their first week of survey at Maenofferen, part of the extensive quarrying complex at Blaenau Ffestiniog. We are currently recording the buildings within the processing complex and part of the wider industrial landscape including the tramways, inclines and workers cottages both to inform our research and to provide a conservation record of these features, many of which are listed buildings. The work will feed into a new slate quarries publication which will be published by the Commission in conjunction with David Gwyn… watch this space for more information.

UNESCO Workplace Learning Bursary

UNESCO Workplace Learning Bursary (Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site) 

Opening Date: 1 October 2010 
Closing Date: 15 October 2010

Location: Aberystwyth

Job Desription:
The placement holder will work in a team of established Royal Commission staff dedicated to the study and interpretation of heritage. He/she will receive training and support in researching primary information relating to the history and construction of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site in order to resolve some of the present gaps in the knowledge about the canal. This will involve visiting the National Archives at Kew, the Denbighshire Record Office and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Travel costs will be reimbursed.

Raw Coal Treatment (Washing)

3. Taff Merthyr Colliery - Raw coal treatment (washing)
Coal is washed: clean coal is stored, waste is sent to shale stockpile, residual fine coal/waste slurry piped to sump for further treatment.

Taff Merthyr Colliery raw coal treatment washing

Experience Caerleon’s Roman Past

Experience Caerleon’s Roman past using 21st Century Technology thanks to a collaboration between digital and historical experts at Newport’s University.