Gŵyl Y Gelli Cymru, 31 Mai - 10 Mehefin, 2012

Castell y Gelli o’r dref

Bydd gan y Comisiwn Brenhinol bresenoldeb cryf yng Ngŵyl y Gelli eleni o 31 Mai hyd 10 Mehefin 2012. Bydd staff wrth law drwy gydol yr ŵyl ar stondin Hanes Cymru – History Wales ar faes yr ŵyl. Yn ystod yr ŵyl bydd llyfr mawr diweddaraf Cadw, sy’n cynnwys llu o luniau, yn cael ei lansio, a bydd darlith gan Richard Suggett ar Ddydd Iau, 7 Mehefin: O Gastell Cricieth i Bennarth-fawr: Mawrygu Beirdd a Seiri Diwedd yr Oesoedd Canol yng Nghymru.

Hefyd, bydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol yn trefnu arddangosfa yng Nghastell y Gelli, gan fanteisio ar adnoddau Cofnod Henebion Cenedlaethol Cymru. Bydd yr arddangosfa ym Mhorthdy’r Castell (siop y Nepal Bazaar gynt) am gyfnod yr Ŵyl. Daeth Castell y Gelli yn eiddo i Ymddiriedolaeth Castell y Gelli yn 2011. Elusen yw’r Ymddiriedolaeth a ffurfiwyd i ddiogelu’r adeilad rhestredig Gradd I hwn ac i sefydlu canolfan ddiwylliannol newydd. Mae’r Comisiwn yn rhoi cyngor ar ddehongli Tŷ’r Castell, y plasty tri llawr a adeiladwyd ochr yn ochr â’r gorthwr castell o’r ddeuddegfed ganrif. Y gred oedd bod Tŷ’r Castell yn dŷ o gyfnod yr Adferiad a rhoddwyd dyddiad o 1660 iddo. Ond ar ôl edrych o’r newydd ar y manylion pensaernïol credir bellach iddo gael ei godi cyn y Rhyfel Cartref, yn ystod teyrnasiad Siarl I o bosibl. Yn gynharach eleni cymerwyd samplau o’r coed gwreiddiol a oedd wedi goroesi ar ôl dau dân yn yr ugeinfed ganrif i ddadansoddi’r blwyddgylchau a darganfod eu hoedran. Gobeithir y bydd y canlyniadau ar gael mewn pryd ar gyfer Gŵyl y Gelli pan fydd Richard Suggett, ar 5 Mehefin, yn arwain teithiau anffurfiol drwy’r Castell am 12 a 2pm.

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Hay Festival Wales, 31May - 10 June, 2012

Hay Castle from the town

The Royal Commission will have a strong presence at this year’s Hay Festival from 31 May to 10 June 2012.  Staff will be at hand throughout the festival on the Hanes Cymru- History Wales stand on the festival field.  The festival sees the launch of Cadw’s latest lavishly illustrated large-format guide, with a talk by Richard Suggett on Thursday 7 June:  From Castell Criccieth to Penarth Fawr: Celebrating the Poets and Carpenters of Late-medieval Wales.

In addition, The Royal Commission will be arranging an exhibition at Hay Castle which draws on the resources of the National Monuments Record of Wales. This will be based at the Castle Gatehouse (formerly the Nepal Bazaar shop) for the duration of the Festival. Hay Castle passed into the ownership of the Hay Castle Trust in 2011. The Trust is a charity formed to conserve this Grade I listed building and to establish a new cultural centre.  The Royal Commission is advising on the interpretation of Castle House, the three-storey mansion built alongside the twelfth century castle keep.Castle House has been considered a Restoration house and conventionally dated to 1660. However re-examination of the architectural detail suggests that it was built before the Civil War, probably during Charles I’s reign.  Earlier this year samples for tree-ring dating analysis were taken from original timbers that had survived two twentieth century fires.  It is hoped that the results will be available in time for the Hay Festival when, on 5 June, Richard Suggett will be leading informal tours of Hay Castle at 12 and 2pm.


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Arddangosfa Y Tu Mewn i Gartrefi Cymru

Rachael Barnwell yng nghanol yr arddangosfa sydd bellach yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion

 Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, 25 Mai, cafodd yr arddangosfa Y Tu Mewn i Gartrefi Cymru ei hagor yn ffurfiol gyda’r nos mewn heulwen braf yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion. Mae delweddau’r Cofnod Henebion Cenedlaethol o du mewn cartrefi Cymru wedi cael eu dewis yn ofalus yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf gan Rachael Barnwell o’r Comisiwn Brenhinol. Mae’r rhain bellach i’w gweld ochr yn ochr â gwrthrychau o gasgliad Amgueddfa Ceredigion o ddodrefn ac offer cartref sydd yng ngofal Alice Briggs. Ar ôl cael ei groesawu’n gynnes gan Alice, cyflwynodd Peter Wakelin, Ysgrifennydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol, yr arddangosfa i’r cyhoedd, a bu’n canu clodydd Rachael am ei gwaith caled. Yna diolchodd Rachael i bawb yn y Comisiwn ac y tu allan iddo am wneud yr arddangosfa yn gymaint o lwyddiant.

Rachael ac Alice yn mwynhau llwyddiant yr arddangosfa

Gellir gweld yr arddangosfa Y Tu Mewn i Gartrefi Cymru yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion hyd Ddydd Sadwrn, 7 Gorffennaf.

Ar Ddydd Gwener 1 Mehefin bydd Rachael Barnwell yn rhoi sgwrs oriel yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion, gan ddechrau am 1pm. Bydd hi’n siarad am y prosiect Y Tu Mewn i Gartrefi Cymru, ac yn rhoi peth o hanes y delweddau sy’n cael eu harddangos. Mae mynediad i’r amgueddfa am ddim, ond i gael rhagor o fanylion ewch i wefan Amgueddfa Ceredigion.  Dewch draw i ddarganfod mwy.

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Inside Welsh Homes Exhibition

Rachael Barnwell amidst the exhibition now on display at Ceredigion Museum

 Last Friday, 25 May, the Inside Welsh Homes Exhibition was formally opened in glorious evening sunshine at Ceredigion Museum. The National Monuments Record’s images of inside Welsh homes have been painstakingly selected over the last year by Rachael Barnwell of the Royal Commission. These are now appearing alongside objects from Ceredigion Museum’s collection of home furnishings and domestic items curated by Alice Briggs. After a warm welcome given by Alice, Peter Wakelin, Secretary of the Royal Commission, introduced the exhibition with much praise for Rachael’s hard work. Rachael then thanked everyone both inside and outside the Commission for making the exhibition such a success.

Rachael and Alice enjoying the success of the exhibition

The Inside Welsh Homes exhibition is now open at Ceredigion Museum until Saturday, 7 July.

On Friday 1 June, Rachael Barnwell  will be giving a gallery talk at Ceredigion Museum starting at 1pm. She will be talking about the Inside Welsh Homes project, and delving deeper into the stories behind the images on display. Admission to the museum is free, and for more details please visit Ceredigion Museum’s website. Please come along to find out more.

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Olympic Torch Passes Royal Commission

Torch-bearer Kyle Williams passing the Royal Commissions's offices

 The Olympic torch travelled past the Royal Commission’s offices at Plas Crug on Sunday, just after 7pm. You can just glimpse the Commission’s bright red banner through the trees!

The torch travelled through the town before going along Plas Crug to join celebrations at Vicarage Fields, where torch-bearer Kyle Williams, aged 16, lit the cauldron in front of over eight thousand people who were there  enjoying the Olympic party entertainment.

This historic event was witnessed by the many people who lined the streets of Aberystwyth to watch the torch pass and cheer on the local torch bearers. If you have photographs or stories about the event that you would like to share, why not visit the People’s Collection Wales site where you can add your memories to the ongoing story of Wales.

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Visit From the Postcard Club and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Postcard of paddling pool on South Beach, Aberystwyth,
from the National Monuments Record of Wales C43811, NPRN 33035

Last week was a busy week at the Royal Commission, with separate visits to the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) from the Aberystwyth Postcard Club and the undergraduate students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Both were given an introduction to the Royal Commission and its archives by archive and library team leader Gareth Edwards, together with a tour of our library, where a variety of material was displayed. The Aberystwyth Postcard Club was joined by Peter Davis, whose collection of postcards relating to Welsh Historic Gardens has been digitised by the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, with the digital copies donated to the NMRW. The first-year students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David were also given presentations on the Aerial and Maritime Reconnaissance work of the Commission by Royal Commission investigators Toby Driver and Deanna Groom. Royal Commission investigator Louise Barker also gave a presentation on the recording side of the Royal Commission’s work, including a demonstration of survey equipment. We hope that both groups enjoyed their visits to the Royal Commission and continue to encourage anyone to come and learn for themselves.

Digitised postcard image of the Elysian Grove, Aberystwyth,
from the National Monuments Record of Wales: Peter Davis Collection C853164, NPRN 33035

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The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr

The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr gan David K. Leighton. ISBN 978-1-871184-43-3, 180tt, £14.95 neu £13.50 i Cyfeillion

 “Y Mynydd Du. Fy Nghartre’ Ysbrydol. Mae yn fy enaid.” Roy Noble

Mae arolwg newydd wedi datgelu hanes rhan allweddol o uwchdiroedd Cymru yn ne canolbarth Cymru. Mae rhan orllewinol Bannau Brycheiniog yn ymestyn o Dalsarn yn y gogledd i Benderyn yn y de, ac o Frynaman yn y gorllewin i Heol Senni yn y dwyrain. Yn y 270 o gilometrau sgwâr o dir sy’n ffurfio uwchdiroedd y Mynydd Du a Fforest Fawr ceir olion archaeolegol gwych yn ymwneud ag anheddu, ffermio, claddu, defodau a diwydiant sy’n rhychwantu sawl mileniwm ac sy’n taflu goleuni hynod o bwysig ar sut y bu i genedlaethau o bobl oroesi yn y dirwedd ddi-ildio hon.

Mae cyhoeddiad y Comisiwn Brenhinol, The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr gan David Leighton, gyda rhagair gan Roy Noble, cyflwynydd gyda BBC Radio Wales, yn cynnwys mapiau manwl a delweddau o’r dirwedd fynyddig a gweundirol, trysorfa archaeolegol sy’n dangos tystiolaeth o weithgarwch dynol ers diwedd Oes yr Iâ. Y llyfr hwn yw’r diweddaraf yng nghyfres y Comisiwn Brenhinol, Discovering Upland Heritage, sy’n seiliedig ar waith maes ac ymchwil helaeth.

Uwchdiroedd yw rhan sylweddol o dirwedd Cymru. Gall hanner y tir gael ei ddosbarthu’n uwchdirol naill ai oherwydd ei uchder, 800 troedfedd neu 244 metr uwchben lefel y môr, neu oherwydd natur y topograffi. Ond, mor hwyr â’r 1970au, credai pobl yn gyfeiliornus nad oedd dyn wedi gwneud defnydd dwys o fynyddoedd a gweundiroedd Cymru uwchdirol. Mae blynyddoedd o waith maes trylwyr, drwy Fenter Archaeoleg yr Uwchdiroedd y Comisiwn Brenhinol, wedi datgelu cyfoeth archaeolegol yr amgylcheddau hyn o’r diwedd. Sefydlwyd y prosiect oherwydd bygythiadau posibl oddi wrth goedwigaeth, chwarela a thrawsnewid gweundir gyda’r nod dechreuol o gofnodi nodweddion archaeolegol fel rhan o’r broses gynllunio.

Y Comisiwn Brenhinol, a sefydlwyd ym 1908, yw’r corff arolygu a chofnodi cenedlaethol ar gyfer archaeoleg ac adeiladau Cymru. Mae’n gyfrifol am Gofnod Henebion Cenedlaethol Cymru, sef yr archif gweledol mwyaf yn y wlad, gyda thros 2 filiwn o ffotograffau a 125,000 o luniadau yn ogystal â llawer o gofnodion eraill.

Deellir y dirwedd yn well erbyn heddiw. Mae’n adrodd hanes pwysigrwydd economaidd yr uwchdiroedd hyn drwy’r newidiadau parhaus mewn amodau cymdeithasol, economaidd a hinsoddol a effeithiodd ar y bobl a fu’n byw yno. O dystiolaeth o symudiadau rhewlifol i gladdfeydd o’r Oes Efydd, ac o ffermydd cwningod mawr i amddiffynfeydd rhag tanciau yn yr Ail Ryfel Byd, mae’r rhanbarth uwchdirol hwn yn cynnig golwg hynod ddiddorol ar genedl a oedd yn esblygu’n barhaus.

Dywed Roy Noble yn ei ragair, “Aberdâr yw fy nghartref bellach, felly rydw i’n dal i fyw i’r gorllewin o’r A470, yr ardal y mae’r llyfr hwn yn ymdrin â hi. Daearyddiaeth oedd fy mhwnc yn y coleg, a hanes yw fy ngwir ddiddordeb, ond synnwyr o le a’r chwedlau sydd ynghlwm wrtho yw’r hyn sy’n tanio fy nychymyg. Mae egni dwfn y lle hwn yn rhoi bywyd arbennig iddo. Mae’n maglu ei feibion a’i ferched.Mae yna gymaint o chwedlau a negeseuon o’r ardal nodedig a chysegredig hon, rhai’n fytholegol, rhai’n hanesyddol, rhai’n hollol bersonol. Mae’r cyfan yn pwysleisio’r symudiad dynol neu’r gweithgarwch llwythol yr ydw i’n ei gysylltu â’r gweundir lledrithiol hwn.”

Gall Cyfeillion brynu copi o’r llyfr hwn gan y Comisiwn Brenhinol am y pris gostyngedig arbennig o £13.50 yn unig gan gynnwys cludiant (yn y DU yn unig) drwy ffonio 01970 621200 neu drwy ein gwefan. Byddwch cystal â nodi ‘Cyfeillion y Comisiwn Brenhinol’ pan roddwch eich archeb.



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The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr

The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr by David K. Leighton. ISBN 978-1-871184-43-3, 180pp, £14.95 or £13.50 for Friends

 “Y Mynydd Du. My Spiritual Home. It’s in my soul.” Roy Noble

A new survey has uncovered the history of a key area of the Welsh uplands in central south Wales. The Western Brecon Beacons stretches from Talsarn in the north to Penderyn in the south, and from Brynaman in the west to Heol Senni in the east. Within the 270 square kilometre range of the uplands of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr are some of the finest archaeological remains relating to settlement, farming, burial, ritual and industry spanning several millennia, and offer a fascinating insight into how generations of people survived in this harsh landscape.

The Royal Commission’s publication, The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr by David Leighton with a foreword by BBC Radio Wales’ Roy Noble, provides detailed maps and images of a landscape of mountains and moorlands, an archaeological treasure trove revealing evidence of human activity since the end of the Ice Age. The book is the latest in the Royal Commission’s series, Discovering Upland Heritage, based on extensive fieldwork and research.

Uplands form a significant component of the Welsh landscape. Half the land mass can be classified as upland either because of its altitude, 800 feet or 244 metres above sea level, or because of the nature of the topography. However, as late as the 1970s it was mistakenly believed that the mountains and moorlands of upland Wales were devoid of intensive land use.
Years of exploratory fieldwork, through the Royal Commission Uplands Archaeology Initiative, has finally revealed the archaeological richness of these environments. Potential threats from forestry, quarrying and moorland conversion led to the project with the immediate aim of recording archaeological features to inform the planning process.

The Royal Commission, founded in 1908, is the national body of survey and record for Welsh archaeology and buildings. It maintains the National Monuments Record of Wales, which is the largest visual archive in Wales, with over 2 million photographs and 125,000 drawings as well as many other records.

The landscape today is now better understood and tells the story of the economic importance of these uplands through the constantly changing social, economic and climatic conditions experienced by the people who lived there. From evidence of glacial activity to Bronze Age burial sites, and large-scale rabbit farms to second world war anti tank defences, this upland region provides a fascinating view of a nation in constant evolution.

Roy Noble in his foreword comments, “I now live in Aberdare, so I’m still based west of the A470, the area covered by this book. Geography was my college subject, history is my added real interest, but a sense of place and the tales it unfolds is what fires my passion. This place becomes alive in its deeply rooted vibrancy. It immediately lassoes its sons and daughters. There are so many tales and messages from this special, sacred spread, some mythical, some historic, some entirely personal. All underline the human traffic or tribal activity that I associate with this magical moorland.”

Friends can buy a copy of this book at the special discounted price of only £13.50 including p&p (in the UK only), from the Royal Commission on 01970 621200 or via our website. Please quote ‘Friends of the Royal Commission’ with your order.

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Arddangosfa Y Tu Mewn i Gartrefi Cymru - Amgueddfa Ceredigion

Y tu mewn i Dŷ Nantclwyd, Rhuthun, 1954, NPRN: 27555

Mae’r paratoadau terfynol yn cael eu gwneud ar gyfer agoriad yr arddangosfa Y Tu Mewn i Gartrefi Cymru yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion yr wythnos hon.

Bydd yr arddangosfa’n rhoi cipolwg ar du mewn cartrefi Cymru dros gyfnod maith o amser, gan ddefnyddio delweddau wedi’u hatgynhyrchu o negatifau a phrintiau a gedwir yng Nghofnod Henebion Cenedlaethol Cymru (archif y Comisiwn) yn Aberystwyth. Bydd y delweddau’n dangos cartrefi Cymru ar hyd yr oesoedd, o fythynnod tlawd i blastai gwledig crand, a byddant yn cael eu harddangos ochr yn ochr ag eitemau o gasgliadau helaeth Amgueddfa Ceredigion o wrthrychau a deunyddiau domestig.

Cynhelir arddangosiad preifat ar Ddydd Gwener 25 Mai, a bydd yr arddangosfa ar agor i’r cyhoedd o Ddydd Sadwrn 26 Mai hyd Ddydd Sadwrn 7 Gorffennaf. Byddwn yn rhoi sgwrs oriel yn yr amgueddfa ar 1 Mehefin am 1pm, ac yn cynnal digwyddiad Casgliad y Werin ar 7 Gorffennaf pryd y gwahoddir y cyhoedd i ddod â’u gwrthrychau, eu ffotograffau a’u storïau eu hunain er mwyn darganfod, dysgu, cyfrannu a rhannu eu stori hwy am Gymru gyda’r byd.

Ewch i wefan yr amgueddfa i gael mwy o fanylion a’i hamserau agor.

Bydd yr arddangosfa’n mynd ar daith i leoliadau eraill yng Nghymru yn 2012 a 2013. Ewch i’n gwefan i ddarganfod ble y gallwch ei gweld.

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Inside Welsh Homes Exhibition - Ceredigion Museum

Interior at Nantclwyd House, Ruthin, in 1954, NPRN: 27555

 Final preparations are underway for the opening of the Inside Welsh Homes exhibition at Ceredigion Museum this week.

The exhibition will offer a glimpse inside Welsh homes through time, using images reproduced from negatives and prints held in the National Monuments Record of Wales (the Commission’s archive) in Aberystwyth. The images will explore Welsh homes through the ages from the most humble cottages to the grandest country houses, and will be displayed alongside objects from Ceredigion Museum’s own extensive collections of domestic objects and materials.

There is a private viewing on Friday 25  May, and the exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday 26  May until Saturday 7 July. We will be giving a gallery talk at the museum on the 1 June at 1pm, and are hosting a People’s Collection event on 7th July, when members of the public are invited to bring along their own objects, photographs and stories to discover, learn, contribute and share your story of Wales with the world.

For more details and museum opening times, visit the museum’s website.

The exhibition will be touring other venues in Wales in 2012 and 2013. To find out where you can see the exhibition, please visit our website.

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