Big Pit, Blaenavon, Recreated by the Mad Mountain Stitchers

Big Pit, Blaenavon, tapestry. Copyright: Mad Mountain Stitchers

Using the rich and freely-available resources of the National Monuments Record of Wales, a group of highly-creative, textile artists based in the Brecon Beacons have recently created an incredible tapestry of Big Pit, Blaenavon (NPRN:433).  Working under the collective name of the Mad Mountain Stitchers, Margitta Davis, Ann Notley, Penny Turnbull, Milli Stein and Jan Winstanley, have ingeniously woven their own distinct individual styles cleverly together to produce this wonderful tapestry based on images from the Royal Commission’s archive.

A spokeswoman from the group explained:

“Working on Bit Pit, in various media, was a fun challenge especially as the site is not far from our work place. We were, therefore, able to visit many times to get a feel of the place. There were so many ideas; they just kept coming so we went for it!

Amongst the materials used were felt, organza, calico, cottons, dyed and painted leather, beads, silk tops, voiles, embroidery wire, various threads, some space dyed and variegated etc. Techniques used were appliqué, stumpwork, embellishing, hand and machine embroidery, needlelace, stencilling etc.
We would like to acknowledge the support given by everyone at Big Pit, especially Kathryn Stowers. Images supplied by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales were invaluable”.

The National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) holds the national collection of information about the historic environment of Wales from the earliest times to the present day. It includes almost 2, 000,000 photographs, over 125,000 drawings, over 32,000 archived maps, and over 530,000 pages of text and reports. An increasing amount of this material is available on Coflein, our on-line database. In addition the Royal Commission welcomes enquiries about its collections and offers a free public enquiry service.


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Welsh Industrial Archaeology Panel 2012

David Jenkins of the Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust explains the history of the site.

A couple of weeks ago, the Royal Commission, along with staff from the  Metal Links project, attended the annual Welsh Industrial Archaeology Panel, hosted by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, and held at the new Heritage Centre in Porth Amlwch, Anglesey. The morning talks focussed on mining across Wales. These included presentations on the Copper Kingdom project, the CALCH project (lime industry), the slate mining industry and an introduction to the Metal Links project. These presentations were followed by an interesting discussion of industrial archaeology throughout Wales, which demonstrated not only the phenomenal work that has already been done but also the future scope for research into what is a core feature of the Welsh heritage. After this, we were treated to a delicious lunch organised by the Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust (AIHT) and then made our way up to Parys Mountain (NPRN:33752) for a guided tour led by David Jenkins of the AIHT. Here, we visited various parts of the site and were given a history of the industrial heritage of the area, which includes metal mining dating back to prehistory. The site is truly astounding and well worth a visit. Overall, it was a fantastic and enlightening day. Thank you to all the speakers for their very interesting presentations, to the Metal Links project for organising the event and to the staff of the AIHT Heritage Centre for hosting the event and providing such great refreshments.

A view of the precipitation pits at Parys Mountain Copper Mines.
NPRN:33752

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The Story of Wales, Episode 3 - England and Wales

The third episode of the BBC Wales series ‘The Story of Wales’ looked at how Henry VII captured the English crown and established the Tudor dynasty. Several important buildings were featured in the programme such as Plas Penmynydd in Anglesey, one of the family seats of Henry VII; Gwydir Castle, rebuilt by Meredith ap Ieuan ap Robert following the Wars of the Roses (in which he was a leading supporter of King Henry VII), and Mathafarn in Mongomeryshire, owned by Dafydd Llwyd in 1485, when the Earl of Richmond (later to become King Henry VII) stayed there the night before the battle of Bosworth Field.

The next episode in the series will be: ‘Furnace of Change’ looking at how the Industrial Revolution and the copper and iron trades transformed Wales.

If you want to find out more about the sites covered, follow the links below:

• Plas Penmynydd
• Gwydir Castle
• Mathafarn
• Caerphilly Castle
• Pembroke Castle
• Strata Florida Abbey

Other links:

• Link to The Story of Wales website
• Add your own photographs to People's Collection Wales to help tell the story of Wales

Finally, the Royal Commission's superbly illustrated book, Hidden Histories: Discovering the Heritage of Wales is an informative companion for anyone interested in the life and heritage of Wales and is now available for only £19.95 or alternatively only £17.95 for Friends of the Royal Commission with their special 10% discount.




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Second Draft of the Computer Animation of Maenofferen Slate Mine

Still from the second draft of the animation of Maenofferen Slate Mine showing the waterwheel which powered the mill. Note that the water flow has still to be added to the leat bringing water to the wheel and that the stack yard for the finished slates has yet to be created behind the mill. NPRN: 400427

A second draft of the computer animation of Maenofferen slate mine (NPRN: 400427) has been completed, and work has concentrated on replicating the large waterwheel which powered the largest mills on the site for approximately 15 years before the introduction of electrical power to the mill and the underground mining in 1911.

The survey data (collected by Investigators Louise Barker, Sue Fielding, Scott Lloyd and Spencer Smith) has been combined with historic photographs, maps and plans from the National Monuments Record of Wales . Discussion with industrial archaeologists who visited the underground mine and the above-ground complex of buildings when it was operational has provided important additional information to ensure that the finished product is as accurate as possible.

• Survey at the Maenofferen Slate Quarry
• First Draft of the Computer Animation of Maenofferen Slate Mine

Acknowledgement: thanks are due to See3D.


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First Draft of the Computer Animation of Maenofferen Slate Mine

Still image from the first draft of the animation, showing the incline climbing up from the underground slate mining chambers and the Winding House featured in an earlier blog post in the background NPRN: 400427

Three slate extraction sites are being recreated through computer animation as part of the 'Atlanterra' project. The surveys of Maenofferen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, which is an example of an underground slate quarry, (NPRN: 400427) were carried out in October 2010 and a request for information was made in order to find out additional information about the history of this particular mine.


The first draft of the animation has been completed, and Investigator Spencer Smith is working with See 3D, the company producing the animation, in order to ensure that the finished product is as accurate a representation as possible of this important slate mine.

Acknowledgement: thanks are due to See 3D.



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Swydd Swyddog Gweithgarwch (Cymru) – Prosiect Cymru o’r Awyr

Swydd Swyddog Gweithgarwch (Cymru) – Prosiect Cymru o’r Awyr

Mae Casgliad Aerofilms yn cynnwys dros filiwn o awyrluniau sy’n dyddio o 1919 tan 2006. Fe’i crëwyd gan y cwmni arloesol Aerofilms Cyf, a dyma’r casgliad archifol pwysicaf o’i fath. Ceir ynddo luniau unigryw sy’n dangos sut y newidiodd pryd a gwedd Prydain yn ystod yr 20fed ganrif. Prynwyd y Casgliad gan English Heritage a’i bartneriaid, Comisiynau Brenhinol Henebion Cymru a’r Alban, yn 2007.

Cefnogir prosiect Prydain oddi Uchod gan y Loteri Genedlaethol drwy Gronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri a bydd yn trefnu i ryw 95,000 o luniau o’r Casgliad, sy’n dyddio o 1919 tan 1953, fod yn hygyrch.

Bydd y Tîm Gweithgarwch yn gyfrifol am reoli a chyflawni llinyn gweithgarwch y prosiect, sy’n cynnwys 16 o brosiectau cymunedol, i ategu rhaglen o wirfoddoli rhithiwr, creu ac ymgorffori adnoddau addysgol o amgylch y Casgliad, a chyflawni rhaglen o gynnal arddangosfeydd.

Bydd y tîm yn cynnwys

Arweinydd y Tîm Gweithgarwch a fydd â’i swyddfa yn English Heritage yn Swindon

Swyddog Gweithgarwch (Cymru) a fydd â’i swyddfa yn y Comisiwn yn Aberystwyth

Swyddog Gweithgarwch (Lloegr) a fydd â’i swyddfa yn English Heritage yn Swindon

Swyddog Gweithgarwch (Yr Alban) a fydd â’i swyddfa yn y Comisiwn yng Nghaeredin

Swyddog Cymorth Gweithgarwch a fydd â’i swyddfa yn English Heritage yn Swindon.


I gael holl fanylion y swyddi hyn, ewch i:

www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/jobs


Y dyddiadau cau i geisiadau am bob swydd: dydd Sul 19eg Chwefror 2012

Cyfwelir ar gyfer swydd Swyddog Gweithgarwch (Cymru): dydd Gwener 16eg Mawrth 2012



Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

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Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal - Historical Background

 The Llangollen Canal, formerly the Ellesmere Canal, originated in a scheme to link the rivers Mersey and Severn, which would also access the iron and coal fields around Shrewsbury, Ellesmere and Ruabon. This plan was fuelled by the need for improved forms of transport, both for an agricultural economy increasingly dependant on long distance trade, and the Industrial revolution that swept across Britain in the second half of the eighteenth century. Shropshire, heavily reliant on the trade of its agricultural output, was dependent on the River Severn providing a trade route to the port at Bristol, but many in the county also wished to take advantage of the new industrial trade afforded by the iron and coal fields situated along the Welsh Border.

Man cychwyn Camlas Llangollen, Camlas Ellesmere gynt, oedd cynllun i gysylltu afonydd Mersi a Hafren. Byddai’r cynllun hefyd yn fodd i gyrraedd y meysydd haearn a glo ger Amwythig, Ellesmere a Rhiwabon. Yr ysgogiad iddo oedd yr angen i wella’r cyfleusterau cludo a oedd ar gael bryd hynny i economi amaethyddol a ddibynnai fwyfwy ar fasnachu dros bellteroedd maith, ac i wasanaethu’r chwyldro diwydiannol a oedd yn lledu fel tân gwyllt ar draws Prydain yn ystod ail hanner y ddeunawfed ganrif. Er bod Swydd Amwythig yn dibynnu’n drwm ar fasnachu ei chynnyrch amaethyddol, ac yn dibynnu hefyd ar gludo nwyddau ar hyd Afon Hafren i gyrraedd porthladd Bryste, yr oedd llu o bobl yn y sir yn awyddus i fanteisio ar y fasnach newydd a ddeilliai o ecsploetio’r meysydd haearn a glo ar hyd y ffin â Chymru.

Read full article:
Historical Background of the Aqueduct and Canal English
Cefndir Hanesyddol y Draphont Ddŵr a’r Gamlas Welsh

Digital Past 2010: Conference At National Museum Wales

Preparations for Digital Past 2010 are now in full swing. This years’ conference is being hosted by the National Museum Wales at its St Fagans site, near Cardiff. Papers, seminars and practical training sessions covering the latest technical survey and interpretation techniques are on offer to those working in the archaeology, museum and heritage interpretation sectors. To see a list of confirmed papers and seminars check the Events Diary on the Royal Commission website and to register for the conference visit the see3d website.

These 2 images are stills from the reconstruction animations created from the digital surveys of the Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueducts. The animations were built by Commission investigators and See3D to support the World Heritage Site status bid for the Llangollen Canal.

The videos below were made to accompany the Hidden Histories II TV series.

Reconstruction Animations from Hidden Histories II

1. The Bridge, a sculpture by Jonah Jones - an animated reconstruction.




2. A virtual tour of Vivan Slate Quarry.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site

It was party time at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct last Saturday 3rd October. Representatives from partner organisations, including Wrexham Council, British Waterways and the Royal Commission were invited to join local people in a fun-packed celebration of the award of World Heritage Site status. The Prince of Wales sent a special message, which was read out on the day:

"I am very sorry not to be with you today to join in such a special celebration. However, I could not let the occassion pass without sending my heartfelt congratulations to all who have worked tirelessly to bring about theis wonderful success... The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, the third World Heritage Site in Wales, now takes its rightful place among the world's elite cultural sites... As someone who has an abiding interest in protecting and promoting enjoyment of this county's rich architectural and industrial heritage, I beleive it is essential that this great legacy is passed on by our generation to the next, through educating young people to learn respect for, and take pride in, the unique heritage they inherit."

The partners had worked hard to produce the nomination bid that won World Heritage Status for the aqueduct and canal. Commission staff surveyed and recorded both the aqueduct and canal and helped to produce the detailed gazetter of the features, which was a major contribution to the nomination document. Commission staff also produced a 3D computer-generated model of the aqueduct and working in partnership with See3D at Aberystwyth University, animated the model to demonstrate the stages in the construction of the aqueduct. You can view this animation by on the Royal Commission website, where you can also read a detailed account of the aqueduct and canal.