New Coflein Goes Live Today

New Coflein goes live today.

Alongside the move to our new premises, the Royal Commission is also going through a process of improving our online services, and the first of these improvements is happening today; Coflein is changing.

We are delighted to introduce new ways to search and display results that improve your ability to discover more about the archaeology and heritage of Wales. You can now produce distribution maps of your searches, and download them in a .CSV or Google Maps .KML file. You can also view some of the best images from our archive in the new Galleries section.

Coflein has been designed to be fully accessible on your phone or tablet. Our commitment to continually improve our services means that there are more great features on the way, with improvements to the mapping system coming soon. Please use the Feedback button to tell us what you think.


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What The RAF Flight Codes Can Reveal

The extensive collection of RAF aerial photographs held by the Royal Commission include vertical and low-level oblique views of Wales. The identification flight codes for the flights can reveal an incredible level of background detail.

One of the common identifiers starts with number 540, which is then normally followed by another unique flight reference number. The first portion identifies the film as originating from 540 squadron (motto “Sine Qua Non” – Indispensable), based at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire. Formed in October 1942 at Leuchars, as a Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), the squadron would be tasked with flights over Norway, France, Austria, Germany and Poland. A detachment was later based at Gibraltar, and flew over France, Italy and North Africa. Their first were Supermarine Spitfires, but the squadron was later re-equipped with de Havilland Mosquitoes. At the end of 1952, the squadron used the English Electric Canberra – arguably the best aerial photographic reconnaissance platform ever devised.

Several of the boxes of prints include a copy of the Photographic Reconnaissance Report (RAF Form 2047). When used in conjunction with the prints, they tell a fascinating story.

The paperwork for flight 540/538 reveals that on 25 June 1951 a type PR Mk. 34 Mosquito (number RG259) equipped with a port-facing F24 oblique camera, took off from RAF Benson. The pilot was Flight Officer Kepka, assisted by Flight Officer Dolezal (navigator/camera operator). They were tasked with a low-level oblique aerial photographic survey of two areas of the South Wales coast. The sortie run started at 12:35, and maintaining an altitude of 1,700ft, the first portion of the mission covered from Rumney, Cardiff to Beachley Head near Chepstow. The aircraft then headed west, and photographed the coastline from Mumbles Head, Swansea to Kenfig Burrows, near Porthcawl, finishing the survey at 13:35. The aircraft then returned to RAF Benson, landing at 14:10.

According to Form 2047, the processing of the 237 photographs commenced at 16:10 and was completed at 17:00. During inspection of the finished article, Corporal G.L. Sampson wrote a remark at the bottom of the form, “Thin cloud shadow on some. Two negs with shutter failure”.

The 15 x 14cm prints are a remarkable and detailed record of the coastal area, captured as a moment of time. In frame 0040 a portion of the Ebbw River can be seen the foreground, as well as the Alexandra Docks (NPRN 403430), and the distinctive Newport Transporter Bridge (NPRN 43157) in the top left of the photograph. Only three shots further on, frame 0043 captures a “White Funnel” paddle steamer (possibly the “Glen Usk”) making its way up the River Usk, as it passes the entrance to Alexandra Docks.

 The second leg of the flight – of Swansea Bay – also has some remarkable images. Frame 0153 is of the Clyne Valley, and in the centre of the frame Clyne Castle (NPRN 18354) and the layout of its formal garden (NPRN 265686) can be seen. A few moments later, frame 0163 shows a very different landscape, that of the distinctive Swansea Guildhall (NPRN 144) and the surrounding area.

Our aerial photographic collections include a huge variety of views, ranging from 1919 to the present day and many of these can be viewed on Coflein, our online database, or by visiting the Royal Commission’s library, which is open daily from Monday to Friday.
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National Monuments Record of Wales Archives and Library Bulletin - December 2015

Welcome to the latest monthly edition of the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) Archives and Library Bulletin which lists all newly catalogued material.
http://www.rcahmw.gov.uk/HI/ENG/Our+Services/Donate+Records/Recent+Acquisitions/. The archival items, library books and journal articles are all available to view in our public reading room. The full archive catalogue is available on Coflein and contains digital copies of many of the items listed.

Our Library and reading room is open:
Monday – Friday 09.30 – 16.00, Wednesday 10.30 – 16.30.
An appointment is advisable.

December 2015

 

 

Archives

  Winter sunset over Blaenau, Cat.Ref. FHA01/017/02, C.553145, NPRN:305760



 

Cadw Guardianship Monument Drawings

Relating to:

• Basingwerk Abbey, 1926: Cat. Ref. CGM30/004
• Caernarfon/Caernarvon Castle, 1911-1975: Cat. Ref. CGM32/032-047; 33/001-071; 34/001-054; 36/002
• Caerphilly Castle, 1920-1974: Cat. Ref. CGM30/003; 31/049-088
• Ewenny Priory, c.1895: Cat. Ref. CGM30/001-002
• Harlech Castle, 1927-1949: Cat. Ref. CGM32/019-021
• ISCA Legionary Fortress, Caerleon, 1963-1974: Cat. Ref. CGM32/001-018
• Neath Abbey, 1953: Cat. Ref. CGM32/022
• Raglan Castle, 1907-1908: Cat. Ref. CGM37/001-002
• St David’s Bishops Palace, 1934-1972: Cat. Ref. CGM32/023-031
• Tintern Abbey, 1913-2001: Cat. Ref: CGM29/005-117; 30/005-035; 31/001-048
• White Castle: Cat. Ref. CGM36/001

Investigators’ Digital Photography

Covering dates: 2009-2015

Relating to:

• Dyffryn Adda Reverbatory Furnace, Anglesey
• Buckland Mill, Brecknockshire
• St. Iltyd’s Church, Llanhamlach, Brecknockshire
• Chapel of Holy Trinity/ Gwydir Chapel/ Capel Gwydir Uchaf, Llanrychwyn, Llanrwst, Caernarfonshire
• St. Benedict’s Church, Gyffin, Caernarfonshire
• St. Michael’s Church, Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire
• St. Doget’s Church, Llanddoget, Denbighshire
• St. Eilian’s Church/ St. Hilary’s Church, Llanelian-yn-rhos, Denbighshire
• St. Giles’ Church, Wrexham, Denbighshire
• St. Mary’s Church, Ruabon, Denbighshire
• St. Mary’s Church, Nercwys, Flintshire
• Llandaff Cathedral, Glamorgan
• St. Cattwg’s Church/ St. Cadoc’s Church, Llancarfan, Glamorgan
• St. Illtyd’s Church, Glamorgan
• St. Michael’s Church, Michaelston-super-ely, Glamorgan
• All Saints Church, LLangar, Merioneth
• Holy Trinity Chapel/ Rug Chapel, Dyffryn Edeirnion, Merioneth
• St. Mary’s Church, Taly-y-llyn, Merioneth
• St. Mary and St. Egryn’s Church, Llanegryn, Merioneth
• St. Bridget’s Church, Skenfrith, Monmouthshire
• St. Cybi’s Church, Llangybi, Monmouthshire
• Troy Farm, Monmouthshire
• St. James’ Church/ St. Martin’s Church, Manorbier, Pembrokeshire
• St. Padarn’s Church, Llanbadarn-y-garreg, Radnorshire

NMR Site Files

Photo surveys of:

• Aberystwyth Castle, c.1977: C.613974
• Dyffryn Mymbyr, 1951: C.613964
• Gelli, Llandygai, 1953: C.613966
• Gwenddar Mill, Henryd, 1950: C.613838
• Pont y Ceunant, Llangegai, 1951: C.613935
• Pont Pen y Benglog, 1951: C.613938
• St Curig's Church, 1949: C.613958
• St Tudno's Church, 1949: C.613848
• Tyddyn y Coed, 1951: C.613955

Bethania Christmas Card, Cat. Ref. FHA01/146/03, C.553178, NPRN: 305760

Books

Boorman, Derek. (2005). A century of remembrance : one hundred outstanding British war memorials, Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley.

Childe, V. Gordon. (1973). The dawn of European civilization, Paladin, St Albans.

Davies, John. (2015). A life in history. Y Lolfa, Talybont.

Evans, John Dorian. (2005). Betws New Drift Mine, John Dorian Evans, Betws.

Hewett, Cecil Alec. (1980). English historic carpentry, Phillimore, London.

Hoskins, W. G. (1967). Fieldwork in local history, Faber, London.

Mason, Shena (Ed.). (2009). Matthew Boulton : selling what all the world desires, Birmingham City Council ; Yale University Press, London.

Morris, Bernard. (2013). The pleasure of unravelling secrets : contributions to Swansea and Gower history, Gower Society, Swansea.

Musson, Chris & Driver, Toby. (2015). Above Brecknock : An historic county from the air, Gomer, LLandysul.

Nicholl, Lewis D. (1936). The Normans in Glamorgan, Gower and Kidweli, William Lewis, Cardiff.

Owen, Morfydd E. (1997). Bwrlwm llys Dinefwr : brenin, bardd a meddyg =The Din of Dinefwr : prince, poet and physician, Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society, Llandybie.

Roderick, Arthur & Davies, Euros. (1994). Llambed ddoe = Lampeter yesterday, Gomer, Llandysul.

Simmons, I. G. ; Tooley, M. J. (1981). The Environment in British prehistory, Duckworth, London

Journals

Ancient Monuments Society / Friends of Friendless Churches Newsletter no. 03:2015 (Autumn 2015)

Archaeologia Cambrensis vol. 164 (2015)

Archive: The Quarterly Journal for British Industrial and Transport History no. 88 (December 2015)

Army Historical Research Society Journal, almost complete run vols. 71-92 (1993-2014). Donated by Dr. C.S. Briggs.

Below! Quarterly Journal of the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club no. 2015:4 (Winter 2015)

British Archaeology no. 146 (January-February 2016)

Cambridge Antiquarian Society Proceedings vol. 104 (2015) [Donation]

Context (Institute of Historic Building Conservation members’ magazine) nos. 137-142 (November 2014- November 2015) [Donation]

Current Archaeology no. 310 (January 2016)

Landscapes vol. 16 no. 2 (November 2015)

Medieval Settlement Research vol. 30 (2015) [Donation]

Past: The Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society no. 81 (Autumn 2015)

Pembrokeshire Life (December 2015)

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society vol. 81 (2015)

Sheetlines no. 104 (December 2015) and Index to vols. 68-104

Site Recorder no. 1592 (December 2015)

Stand To! The Journal of the Western Front Association, almost complete set vols. 29-91 (1990-2011). Donated by Dr. C.S. Briggs.

Welsh History Review vol. 27 no. 4 (December 2015)

Welsh Mines Society Newsletter no. 73 (Autumn 2015)

Welsh Railways Archive vol. 6 no. 2 (November 2015)

Welsh Railways Research Circle Newsletter no. 145 (Winter 2015)

Western Front Association Bulletin, almost complete set nos. 56-86 (2000-2010). Donated by Dr. C.S. Briggs.

Journals Current Awareness

Ancient Monuments Society / Friends of Friendless Churches Newsletter no. 03:2015, p. 5: ‘Historic Environment (Wales) Bill’; p. 6 ‘Further Tales from Friends’ Churches’ includes reports about nine Welsh churches; p. 12 ff., ‘Casework’ section by Matthew Saunders and Lucie Carayon includes 390, High Street, Bangor (threat of demolition); Keeperes [sic] Cottage, Rhoose, Barry (objection by the Society to proposed partial demolition in course of conversion); Siloam Chapel, Bontnewydd, Caernarfon (clarification sought on details of proposed residential conversion); All Saints Church, Llanelli (proposed ‘completely unacceptable treatment’ of the building in course of a conversion); Old St. Peter’s Church, Peterstone Wentlooge (the conversion of this Grade I listed building by architect Richard Dean ‘a model of its kind’, the Society hopes); St. John, Rhosllanerchrugog (the Society ‘reflected on the detailing’ of a conversion scheme); p. 22: Report on the AGM of the Friends of Friendless Churches which took place at Rhowscrowther, Pembs.p. 25 ff.: ‘Gleanings’ section reports on a great number of Welsh sites and on the Welsh Religious Buildings Trust.

Archaeologia Cambrensis vol. 164, p. 262: Review, by Gwyn Meirion Jones, of Discovering the Historic Houses of Snowdonia by Richard Suggett and Margaret Dunn

British Archaeology no. 146, p. 16: ‘In search of the Stonehenge Quarries’ [in Pembrokeshire] by Mike Parker Pearson et al.; p. 65: ‘Casefiles: 23. Tyntyle, Rhondda’ by Cyllene Griffiths [listed building caseworker for Wales at the CBA]

Current Archaeology no. 310, p. 7: News in Brief section: ‘Consulting on the past’, a news item on the merged Historic Scotland and RCAHMS holding a public consultation on its draft corporate plan; p. 10: Upfront News section: ‘Crannog clues at Monmouth?’[about radiocarbon dating of a Neolithic timber]; p. 20: ‘Bryn Celli Ddu: Exploring a hidden ritual landscape’ by Ffion Reynolds et al.

Past: The Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society no. 81, p. 1: ‘Neolithic houses from Llanfaethlu, Anglesey’ by Catherine Rees and Matt Jones

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society vol. 81, p. 1: ‘A Hafted Halberd Excavated at Trecastell, Powys: from Undercurrent to Uptake – the Emergence and Contextualization of Halberds in Wales and North-west Europe’ by Stuart Needham & contributors

Site Recorder no. 1592, p. 8: ‘Harlech Castle’ by Stephen Jones [Cadw’s restoration and new build project in Harlech]

Welsh History Review vol. 27 no. 4, p. 672: ‘The Significance of St. Davids and Its Bishops During the Fifteenth Century’ by Ralph A. Griffiths [former Chairman of the Commissioners, RCAHMW]; p. 789: Review, by Prys Morgan, of Historic Houses of Snowdonia by Richard Suggett and Margaret Dunn.

 

Contact us
If you have any comments or enquiries, please feel free to contact us:
NMRW Library and Enquiries Service
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Crown Building, Plas Crug
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion SY23 1NJ

Telephone: +44 (0)1970 621200
Fax: +44 (0)1970 627701
E-mail: nmr.wales@rcahmw.gov.uk
Website: www.rcahmw.gov.uk
Blog: www.heritageofwalesnews.blogspot.co.uk



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Our Past And Its Future: Sites in the National Monuments Record of Wales

Great Orme Copper Mine, Llandudno.

On 20 January 2015, Kenneth Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism gave a statement in the Senedd on 'our past and its future.'

http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3101&assembly=4&c=Record of Proceedings - 193652#193652

If you would like to see further details of the sites mentioned in his statement and the responses, click on the sites below to link to the record on our online database www.coflein.gov.uk

• Great Orme Copper Mine 
• Hafod and Morfa Copperworks
• Pembroke Castle
• Swansea Castle
• Carmarthen Castle
• Dinefwr Castle
• Denbigh Castle
• Caerphilly Castle
• Conwy Castle
• Harlech Castle
• Penrhyn Castle
• Tredegar House
• Plas Mawr, Conwy
• Beaumaris Castle
• Kidwelly Castle
• Raglan Castle
• Swansea City Football Ground
• Moriah Chapel (Loughor)
• Tabernacl (Morriston)
• Siloh Chapel (Swansea)
• Ewenny Priory
• Palace Theatre (Swansea)
• St Dyfnog’s Well (Llanrhaeadr)
• Victoria Pier, Colwyn Bay
• Taff’s Well Spring
• Nantgarw Pottery
• Hetty Pit
• Llantrisant Guildhall
• Plas Llanelly
• The Triangle (Merthyr Tydfil)
• Hoover Factory (Merthyr Tydfil)
• National Mining Memorial (Senghenydd)
• Universal Colliery

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Coflein User Questionnaire

Following the ten year anniversary of the launch of Coflein earlier this year, we are seeking your views on how well it works, how you use it, and how we should develop it in the years to come. Please visit the on-line questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MMWLGW5

Coflein provides online access to the National Monuments Record of Wales ─ the national historic environment database, catalogue and digital archive.

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An opportunity to shape Coflein:- We Need Your Views!

Lecture and workshops at the Royal Commission, 14 October


On Tuesday, 14 October, 2014 the Royal Commission is inviting visitors to an afternoon of lectures, discussion and active engagement in evaluating Coflein, the Royal Commission’s online database. 

Coflein provides online access to the National Monuments Record of Wales ─ the national historic environment database, catalogue and digital archive.

Beginning with a welcome and introduction to Coflein by David Thomas, Head of Data and Technology, the afternoon will progress with workshops where everyone will have the opportunity to discuss the Royal Commission’s database of sites and collections, raise  queries, discuss problems they have encountered, and suggest future developments. If you are interested in archaeology and the historic environment, local history, aerial photography, the history of houses and religious buildings, maritime history and shipwrecks, there will be sources relevant for you on Coflein.

There will be two workshop sessions. The first will run from 2pm ─3.30pm and the second from 4pm─5.30pm. Light refreshments will be provided. For further information and booking, please contact Nicola Roberts: nicola.roberts@rcahmw.gov.uk Telephone: 01970 621248.

Everyone welcome, from novices to experts. Come along, discover more and gives us your views!


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Happy Birthday! Coflein is ten years old

On 13 July 2004 Alun Pugh, then the Welsh Assembly Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language, launched Coflein – the online database of the National Monuments Record of Wales. In his speech to an audience at Crickhowell House, the predecessor of the Senedd Building as the home of the Welsh Assembly, the Minister described the service and the ground-breaking SWISH (Shared Web Information Services for Heritage) partnership that brought it into being. This partnership, between the Welsh Royal Commission and its counterpart organisation in Scotland, still manages Coflein, as well as other services such as Historic Wales, and has been responsible for the site’s development over the past 10 years.

The original SWISH Team in 2004 responsible for developing Coflein. The photograph includes project managers and database developers from the Royal Commissions in Scotland and Wales.

As the online version of the database of the National Monument Record of Wales, Coflein provides access to its collections on the archaeology, historic architecture, industrial and maritime heritage of Wales. When it was launched information was available on 64,000 sites. In the intervening years, because of the Royal Commission’s ongoing recording, surveying and data enhancement work, this figure has risen to almost 110,000. The figure for the increase in access to digital resources from the archive is even more remarkable. At the launch in 2004 around 3000 images were accessible. In 2014 over 105,000 digital items are available, including scanned images, maps and manuscripts as well as digital photographs. This reflects the focus on digitisation in the Commission and the change in photographic practice over the past 10 years that means all our photography is now digital. Working practices ensure that material collected in the field is rapidly made available on Coflein.

Because of the ongoing nature of the SWISH partnership, the site has evolved over the past 10 years. In 2008 changes to the underlying technology and design of the front-end allowed a major refresh to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Commission. This was followed in 2011 by a revised mapping application that allowed integration of text and map-based queries. In 2012, direct searching of the catalogue was enabled, allowing users to gather information from specific collections or contributors, in addition to existing site-based querying. Further planned developments include integration of an enquiry and e-commerce system, and the inclusion of historic maps in the mapping application.

The new mapping application, launched in 2011, allows integrated map and text searching. The photograph, of St Anne’s Lighthouse in Pembrokeshire, is one of more than 105,000 digital items from the NMRW now available on Coflein.

Recently the technology behind Coflein has been developed to serve content to other websites. People’s Collection Wales, a website that aggregates material from heritage organisations, historical societies and individuals across Wales includes nearly 10,000 items served directly from Coflein. National Monument Record information can therefore be viewed alongside items from the National Library, National Museum and other contributors. The Britain from Above website uses material from the Aerofilms Collection of the National Monuments Record of Wales alongside similar material from collections in England and Scotland as part of a UK-wide project featuring aerial photographs from 1919 to 1953 from this unique collection. The SWISH partnership itself has also developed Historic Wales, a map-based website that gathers together records from holders of information from the historic environment across Wales, including Cadw, the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts and the National Museum Wales.

Direct catalogue searching has been possible since 2012. Material from the Aerofilms Collection has been used to populate the Britain from Above website alongside material from corresponding collections in England and Scotland.

The use of Coflein has grown steadily since its launch. In the last year there have been over a million page views and over 300,000 users. Feedback from users has usually been positive, and we have received lots of additional information about sites across the country, as well as a few corrections! If you’re a regular user, then thank you for using Coflein, if you’re not then why not give it a go!

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