Launch of CADW's Maintenance Matters Website

 Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage (left) with Greg Stevenson,
at the launch of CADW's new website: maintenance matters.

Cynnal a chadw yn fyw!
Mae gwefan newydd Cynnal a Chadw! (www.cynnalachadwcymru.org), sydd wedi ei gynllunio gan Cadw, nawr yn fyw ar ôl cael ei lansio gan Alun Ffred Jones AC, Gweinidog Treftadaeth, a’r cyflwynydd teledu Greg Stevenson yn Fferm Treberfedd, ger Llanbedr Pont Steffan.
Gwaith cynnal a chadw rheolaidd yw’r peth pwysicaf y gall perchnogion ei wneud i ddiogelu ei adeiladau hanesyddol a bwriad gwefan Cynnal a Chadw! yw helpu perchnogion nodi problemau bach yn gynnar, atal difrod difrifol a’r angen am waith atgyweirio drud yn nes ymlaen.
Mae’r wefan yn cynnig cyngor arbennig ynghyd â ffotograffau a lluniau i ddarparu canllaw ar-lein i gynnal  a chadw adeiladau hanesyddol, beth i edrych allan amdano, pryd a sut i’w gadw yn y cyflwr gorau posibl.


Maintenance Matters goes live!

Maintenance Matters! (www.maintenancematterswales.org), a new web resource designed by Cadw,for owners of historic and listed properties, is now live after its launch by Alun Ffred Jones AM, Heritage Minister, and television presenter Greg Stevenson at Treberfedd Farm in Ceredigion.
Routine maintenance is probably the most important action that owners can take to protect their historic buildings and the Maintenance Matters! web resource is aimed at helping owners to spot minor problems early, preventing serious damage and the need for expensive repairs later on.
The website offers expert advice coupled with photographs and drawings to provide an online guide to maintaining historic buildings what to look for, when and how to keep the properties in best possible condition.

Eurwyn Wiliam To Be Honoured By The Gorsedd

On the 16 June 2010 the National Eisteddfod announced the list of those to be honoured by the Gorsedd this year. A number of people are honoured by the Gorsedd each year to celebrate their contribution to Wales.  Eurwyn Wiliam, Chairman of the Royal Commission and his wife Mary are to be honoured at the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod.

Full details: 

http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=258&newsID=214

Tŷ Mawr's 550th Birthday

The largest restored medieval aisled hall in Wales celebrates its 550th anniversary this year with a series of special weekend events.

Tŷ Mawr near Castle Caereinon is also featured in an upcoming television documentary to mark the event.

Find out more:
Marking medieval Tŷ Mawr's 550th birthday
Tŷ Mawr Coflein Site Details
Tŷ Mawr is a rare surviving example of a Medieval Aisled Hall House.

Fishguard Capel Day

The latest Capel meeting was held at Fishguard on Saturday, May 8^th  and attended by members of RCAHMW working on the Chapel project. As appropriate in this strongly Baptist, the day commenced with a talk on ‘The Welsh Baptist Heritage in West Pembrokeshire’ by the Reverend D Carl Williams, minister at Hermon Welsh Baptist Chapel. This was followed by a short introduction to history of chapel organs and well received organ recital, both held in Hermon, before an opportunity to tour the chapel (NPRN 10937 www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/10937/details).   

After lunch, there was a tour of some of the most notable chapels in the town including Tabernacle Independent Chapel (NPRN 10935, www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/10935/details),  Pentowr Calvinist Methodist chapel (NPRN 30047, www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/30047/details) and Bethel English Baptist Chapel (NPRN 10936, www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/10936/details) . More unusually, there was a visit to St Mary The Virgin Anglican Church (NPRN 193, www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/193/details), marked out for its non-conformist architect, whose religious views to an extent are reflected in the layout of the church. Within the churchyard can also be seen the memorial stone to  Jemima Nicholas ‘The Welsh Heroine’ , who marched to defeat the French invading Fishguard in 1797. The day, as usual, ended with a spectacular tea prepared by the ladies of Hermon Chapel.

The next Capel Meeting will be held in Wrexham on Saturday, 9^th October. For more details of membership and dates of further meetings, as well as downloadable newsletters and publication  visit the Capel website at www.capeli.org.uk. For more details of the RCAHMW Chapels Project contact the Royal Commission at www.rcahmw.gov.uk/HI/ENG/Our+Services/Enquiry+Services.

Medieval Remains Buried at Eisteddfod Maes

"As workers were digging a hole to lay a pipe, they came across two ditches believed by experts to be either a ditch surrounding the remains of a small hamlet or medieval drove way,” said Aled Siôn, Director of the Urdd National Eisteddfod. “Naturally, work came to a halt and we had to change our plans pretty quickly and no pipes will be laid in that part of the Maes so as not to disturb the remains.

Link:
Dig With a Difference at Urdd Eisteddfod Site

The Welsh Cottage - Seminar and Book Launch

COMISIWN BRENHINOL HENEBION CYMRU
mewn cysylltiad ag Amgueddfa Cymru

Y Bwthyn Cymreig
Seminar a lansiad llyfr
Sefydliad Gweithwyr Oakdale, Amgueddfa Werin Sain Ffagan, Sain Ffagan, Caerdydd Dydd Llun 24 Mai 2010

Bydd y seminar yn ymchwilio i hanes a chadwraeth y bwthyn traddodiadol, un o nodweddion mwyaf arbennig tirwedd Cymru. Er bod miloedd o fythynnod wedi mynd i ebargofiant dros y ganrif ddiwethaf, dysgwyd llawer iawn wrth astudio’r adeiladau sydd wedi goroesi ac wrth gofnodi rhai eraill cyn iddynt ddarfod o’r tir. Er bod cryn her yn wynebu’r rhai sy’n ceisio sicrhau cadwraeth bythynnod traddodiadol a chadw gwybodaeth am fywydau’r sawl a’u cododd ac a fu’n byw ynddynt, mae’r adeiladau diymhongar hyn yn dal i wneud cyfraniad pwysig i arbenigrwydd lleol ac i ddiwylliant Cymru. Y seminar hwn fydd achlysur lansio arolwg mawr newydd o’r pwnc gan y Gweinidog dros Dreftadaeth, Alun Ffred Jones AC –

Y Bwthyn Cymreig. Arferion adeiladu tlodion y Gymru wledig, 1750-1900
gan Eurwyn Wiliam

10:30 Cofrestru a choffi
11:00 Gair o groeso gan Dr Peter Wakelin (y Comisiwn Brenhinol) a Dr John Williams-Davies (Amgueddfa Cymru)
11:15 Dr Eurwyn Wiliam (Cadeirydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol): Y Bwthyn Cymreig: rhai myfyrdodau
12:00 Taith dywys o waith a bythynnod clom a thoeon gwellt yn Sain Ffagan dan arweiniad Dr Gerallt Nash (Amgueddfa Werin Sain Ffagan)
12:40 Anerchiad gan y Gweinidog dros Dreftadaeth, Alun Ffred Jones AC
13:00 Egwyl cinio: mae mannau arlwyo ar gael yn yr Amgueddfa Werin
14:00 Paul Sambrook (Trysor): Atseiniau o’r Gorffennol
14:30 Judith Alfrey (Cadw): Gofalu am y Bwthyn Cymreig
15:00 Panel o siaradwyr: cadwraeth a defnyddio bythynnod a diogelu technegau traddodiadol – ffyrdd ymlaen
16:00 Te a chloi

Bydd arddangosfa o waith y Comisiwn Brenhinol yno. Bydd copïau o Y Bwthyn Cymreig a chopïau o gyhoeddiadau eraill y Comisiwn Brenhinol ar gael a bydd disgownt o 10% ar eu pris.

I archebu lle’n rhad ac am ddim yn y seminar, cysylltwch â Lilwen Jones yn y cyfeiriad isod neu ar 01970 621200 neu lilwen.jones[AT]cbhc.gov.uk

Gan fod nifer y lleoedd yn gyfyngedig, fe’ch cynghorir i archebu lle’n gynnar.

Related Links:
Y Bwthyn Cymreig

*****************************************************************************

ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF WALES
in association with Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales

The Welsh Cottage
Seminar and Book Launch
Oakdale Workmen’s Institute, St Fagans National History Museum, St Fagans, Cardiff Monday 24 May 2010

This seminar will explore the history and conservation of the traditional cottage, one of the most distinctive features of the Welsh landscape. Thousands of examples have been lost over the past century, but a great deal has been learned from studying cherished surviving buildings or recording others before they were lost forever. Challenges exist for those seeking to conserve traditional cottages and maintain knowledge about the lives of the people who built them and lived in them. However, these humble buildings continue to make an important contribution to local distinctiveness and to the culture of Wales. The seminar will be the occasion of the official launch, by the Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones AM, of a major new survey of the subject –

The Welsh Cottage. Building traditions of the rural poor, 1750-1900
by Eurwyn Wiliam

10:30 Registration and coffee
11:00 Welcome address by Dr Peter Wakelin (Royal Commission) and Dr John Williams-Davies (Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales)
11:15 Dr Eurwyn Wiliam (Chairman, Royal Commission): The Welsh Cottage: some reflections
12:00 Guided tour of clom and thatch work and cottages at St Fagans led by Dr Gerallt Nash (St Fagans National History Museum)
12:40 Address by the Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones AM
13:00 Lunch break: catering outlets are available at the National History Museum
14:00 Paul Sambrook (Trysor): Atseiniau o’r Gorffennol / Echoes of the Past
14:30 Judith Alfrey (Cadw): Caring for the Welsh Cottage
15:00 Panel of speakers: conservation and use of cottages and preservation of traditional techniques – ways forward
16:00 Tea and close

There will be an exhibition of the work of the Royal Commission. The Welsh Cottage and other Royal Commission publications will be available at a 10% discount.

For a place at the seminar, which is free of charge, please contact Lilwen Jones at the address below or on 01970 621200 or at: lilwen.jones[AT]rcahmw.gov.uk

As places are limited, you are advised to book early.

Related Links:
The wonders of the Welsh Cottage

Llafur Day School on 19 June 2010

The next Llafur event will be held on Saturday 19 June 2010 at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwth between 10am and 4pm.  The day school on Victorian Wales will celebrate the 90th birthday of Llafur's President, Ieuan Gwynedd Jones. The event is being organised in conjunction with Ceredigion Historical Society and speakers include Ryland Wallace, Russell Davies, Geraint Jenkins, Paul O'Leary and Richard Ireland.  To reserve your free place, please contact me.  Email: s.f.williams[AT]swansea.ac.uk

The following events might be of interest: 

'Biography and identity in the making of British radicals' on Saturday, 22 May 2010, Swansea Museum.  This is a one-day conference in commemoration of the life and work of Nina Fishman, late Honorary Research Professor at Swansea University, also marking the Swansea launch of Nina's Arthur Horner:

A Political Biography (Lawrence and Wishart, 2010).  Further details are attached or are available from Professor Chris Williams, Swansea University.

Email: christopher.m.williams[AT]swansea.ac.uk

On Saturday 12 June 2010, a one-day conference 'Swansea and the Second World War' will be held at Swansea Museum to mark the publication of The Swansea Wartime Diary of Laurie Latchford, 1940-41, edited by Kate Elliott Jones and Wendy Cope and published by the South Wales Record Society.  Further details are attached or are available from Professor Chris Williams, Swansea University.  Email: christopher.m.williams[AT]swansea.ac.uk

Also, the Chartist Annual Conference will be held at the Sorbonne in July.

For further details, please see:

http://education.newport.ac.uk/displayPage.aspx?object_id=12971&type=PAG

Translate Page Text From English Into Welsh

Screen shot from Blogger, showing html code 

You can now read the Heritage in Wales News blog in Welsh, thanks to the Google translate. No matter what page you are viewing, clicking the Cymraeg link above, will translate the page from English into Welsh.

The following code was used:
<a href="#" onClick="javascript:window.location='http://www.google.com/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=en%7Ccy&u='
+ window.location.href;" >Cymraeg</a>

New Heritage Trail In North Montgomeryshire

From May 2010 a new heritage trail will guide visitors through north Montgomeryshire and reveal some of Wales's best kept secrets.

The buildings on the Heritage Trail are: Pendref Chapel and St Myllin's Church, Llanfyllin; Christ Church, Bwlch-y-cibau; the Ann Griffiths Memorial Chapel, Dolanog; Hen Capel John Hughes, Pontrobert; St Tysilio & St Mary's, Meifod; St Michael's, Llanfihangel-yng-ngwynfa; St Wddyn's and Sardis Chapel, Llanwddyn; St Dogfan's and Capel Seion, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant; St Silin's, Llansilin; St Ffraid's, Llansanffraid; St Garmon's, Llanfechain; St Cedwyn's, Llangedwyn and St Melangell's, Pennant Melangell.

Launch event date, the Living Stones Heritage Day, held in Llanfyllin on Saturday, 22 May.

Further Links of Interest:
New trail reveals Montgomeryshire's hidden heritage from BBC

Wedi 7 Talkes To Eurwyn Wiliam Writer Of The Welsh Cottage

A thatched tyddyn, Swtan, Church Bay, Anglesey. In this pre- 1940 photograph the roofs of both the cottage and the nearest outbuilding are tied down to the gables. 
By permission of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, NMW DF106409.
 
Wedi 7 talkes to Eurwyn Wiliam, Chairman of the Royal Commission and writer of its new book 'The Welsh Cottage', interview takes place from a thatched cottage, Swtan, Church Bay, Anglesey, now the only thatched building remaining on the island. Also a chat with a builder/restorer from Llyn.

On S4C 7pm Thursday 2010/05/06

Also see:
Y Bwthyn Cymreig: Arferion adeiladu tlodion y Gymru wledig 1750-1900
The Welsh Cottage: Building traditions of the rural poor 1750-1900

Book Sales
RCAHMW
Plas Crug
ABERYSTWYTH
Ceredigion
SY23 1NJ
U.K.

Telephone 01970 621200
Fax: 01970 627701
e-mail Book Sales via the Enquiry Form

Bronze Bell; Tal-y-bont Maritime Wreck

The site was found in 1978 by divers from Glaslyn and Harlow Sub Aqua club who came across the large stone blocks, cast and built-up iron guns and a Bronze Bell. The divers formed themselves into the Cae Nest Group and together with the Welsh Institute of Maritime Archaeology and History at the University of Wales (Bangor) applied for site designation and a licence to survey. Haverfordwest Museum offered to conserve the finds and the Royal Armouries undertook to excavate, raise and conserve one of the breech-loading wrought iron guns. Finds include a bronze bell cast with the date 1677 and a stack of pewter concreted to one of the main guns. One of these platters is shaped like a cardinal's hat with a halmark stamp of Lyon dated 1700. Coins from 10 countries suggest a date of post 1702 for the wreck. Other finds include navigational dividers, fine cutlery, a dental plate, a seal, remains of pistols and a rapier, and a gunner's rule.
The weight of the marble blocks calculated at 66 tonnes, suggest that the vessel was not large despite all the armament. The origin of the guns and majority of coins suggests that the vessel was a French trader, and was carrying marble from the Italian quarries of Carrera exported via Genoa or Leghorn. There is a strong location tradition that artefacts from the wreck found their way into everyday use within Cors y Gedol Hall. The ship's timbers were incorporated into a building in the hall's grounds. A survivor called Juan Benedictus may also have lived as part of the local community. His death is entered in Llanendwyn Parish Register in 1730. Many of the recovered items from the wreck are now on display at local museums, including Barmouth.

Full site details: Bronze Bell; Tal-y-bont

Learn about other fascinating maritime wrecks around Wales on Coflein, the online database for the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW), the national collection of information about the historic environment of Wales.

Other useful links:
Maritime Archaeology In Wales
Maritime wrecks - Cadw

Royal Commission Dates for Your Diary 2010

 Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, takes a look at Trysorau Cudd/Hidden Histories with the Royal Commission's education officer Angharad Williams at the National Eisteddfod in Bala, Gwynedd, 2009.

This year the Royal Commission’s stand will have a number of displays and events highlighting its work of recording and surveying the built heritage of Wales, with images from the national archive relating to archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscapes.

Exhibition and show dates for Royal Commission in 2010:

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
31 May - 05 June 2010

Royal Welsh Show
Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys
19-22 July 2010

The National Eisteddfod of Wales
Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys
31 July – 7 August 2010

Come along and learn how to use the resouces from the Royal Commission such as Coflein the public online database.
Did you know? The National Monuments Record of Wales contains information about 70,000 sites across Wales and maintains an archive of over a million items.

More Reviews for Hidden Histories

The Royal Commission’s book, Hidden Histories: Discovering the Heritage of Wales, has been getting some excellent reviews in various journals as they come out. Last year, British Archaeology called it ‘an inspiring tool for anyone engaged with Welsh heritage.’ The latest generous comments are in Morgannwg, the journal of the Glamorgan History Society (2009), by the Society’s President, Professor Gwynedd O. Pierce. Professor Pierce says that the arrangement of the book ‘makes the reader’s progress through the pages of this sumptuous volume a journey of sheer pleasure’. He concludes, ‘it can be regarded as the most beautiful fully comprehensive social history of Wales that has been hitherto produced.’

Another enthusiastic recent review has come out in Landscape History (2009). Paul Stamper of English Heritage writes,  ‘this is a very classy offering indeed’ and ‘a fine publication which deserves to find a wide readership.’ His only criticism is the apparent omission of any mention of the heritage of sport, and in particular rugby. Happily, there is in fact a two-page spread by Neil Harries on the demolition of the old Cardiff national rugby stadium and the construction of the Millennium Stadium in its place.

Hidden Histories and the Welsh-language edition Trysorau Cudd are still available from bookshops or direct from the Royal Commission.

National Monuments Record of Wales Library Closures

The library will be closed on the following dates:

23 April 2010 pm

27 April 2010 am

28 April 2010 am

30 April 2010 am

Y Bwthyn Cymreig: Arferion adeiladu tlodion y Gymru wledig 1750-1900

Y Bwthyn Cymreig
Gan Eurwyn Wiliam, 2010

Er mai'r bwythyn traddodiadol yw o nodweddion mwyaf arbennig tirwedd Cymru, mae ef bellach yn adeilad eithaf prin am i filoedd o enghreifftiau ohono ddiflannu dros y can mlynedd diwethaf. Er hynny, dysgwyd llawer iawn amando drwy astudio'r adeiladau sydd wedi goroesi a thrwy gofnodi eraill yn ofalus cyn iddynt ddarfod o'r tir. Mae'r waliau o bridd neu goed, y lloriau cerrig a'r toeon o frwyn, tywyrch neu gerrig yn yr adeiladau diymhongar hynny, a'u nodweddion eraill, yn adrodd hanes eithriadol o ddiddorol am draddodiadau lleol arbennig, am y sgiliau a drosglwyddwyd o genhedlaeth i genhedlaeth, ac am ymdrech gwerin gwlad i oroesi.

Clawr: Caled
Maint: 280 x 220mm
Tudalennau: 288
Darluniau: 212
ISBN: 9781871184389
Pris: £29.95
Clundiant: £0.00

Gwerthu Llyfrau
CBHC
Plas Crug
ABERYSTWYTH
Ceredigion
SY23 1NJ

Ffôn: 01970 621200
Ffacs: 01970 6217701
neu e-bostiwch yr adran Gwerthu Llyfrau gan ddefnyddio’r Ffurflen Ymholiad

Related Links:
Y Bwthyn Cymreig

The Welsh Cottage: Building traditions of the rural poor 1750-1900

The Welsh Cottage
By Eurwyn Wiliam, 2010

The Traditional cottage is one of the most distinctive features of the landscape of Wales. With the loss of thousands of examples over the past century it has become almost an endangered species, but a great deal has been learned from studying cherished surviving buildings and making a careful record of others before they were lost forever. The earth or timber walls, pebble floors, and roofs of rush, turf and stone in these humble buildings, among other features, tell a fascinating story of distinctive local traditions, skills handed down from generation to generation, and the struggle to survive.

Cover: Hardback
Size: 280 x 220mm
Pages: 288
Illustrations: 212
ISBN: 9781871184372
Price: £29.95
Postage: £0.00

Book Sales
RCAHMW
Plas Crug
ABERYSTWYTH
Ceredigion
SY23 1NJ
U.K.

Telephone: 01970 621200
Fax: 01970 627701
or email Book Sales via the Enquiry Form


Related Links:
The wonders of the Welsh Cottage

Copperopolis: Swansea Copperworks

Pen and ink drawing of the elevation of Swansea Copperworks. Fig 619 from Tomlinson's 'Cyclopedia of Useful Arts, Manufacturing, Mining and Engineering' Vol 1, 1854.
Copyright reserved: Contact RCAHMW for details


Swansea University has recently announced a new project to celebrate one of Swansea's famous copperworks. Hafod Copperworks was one of the largest in Swansea and only closed in 1980. Significant remains still stand and the project plans to involve the local community in activities and exhibitions and to produce computer generated animations, bringing the copperworks "back to life".

The history of Swansea as the centre of the copper-smelting industry and its significance in the national and international context of the industrial revolution are explored in the Royal Commission's publication: Copperopolis.

Visit the Swansea University website to read about the project in more detail

Cadw Grant For Restoration of Melingriffith Waterwheel & Pump

Cadw and Cardiff City council have agreed to award a grant of over £100,000 to restore the Melingriffith water wheel, which was originally used to power a water pump feeding waste water from the Melingriffith Tinplate Works, back into the Glamorganshire Canal. This water wheel was renovated in the 1980s but has deteriorated since then.

The undershot waterwheel is 18.5 feet in diameter and 12.5 feet wide. It is connected to the the pumps via two twenty-two feet long beams made from American oak. The measured drawings you see here were produced by R.V. Bayliss and I. Payne.  Copyright on these images is reserved, please contact RCAHMW for details.

Look up the database entry for the Melingriffith Water Pump on Coflein.


Measured drawing showing the south elevation and a black and white image of the waterpump produced by R.V. Bayliss and I. Payne, undated. Copyright reserved: contact RCAHMW for details.

Measured drawing showing the north elevation and two black and white images of the waterpump produced by R.V. Bayliss and I. Payne, undated. Copyright reserved: contact RCAHMW for details. 

Measured drawing showing the west elevation and three black and white images of the waterpump produced by R.V. Bayliss and I. Payne, undated. Copyright reserved: contact RCAHMW for details. 

 Measured drawing showing plan and five black and white images of the waterpump produced by R.V. Bayliss and I. Payne, undated. Copyright reserved: contact RCAHMW for details.

Measured drawing showing the east elevation and three black and white images of the waterpump produced by R.V. Bayliss and I. Payne, undated. Copyright reserved: contact RCAHMW for details.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Llangollen Canal

Nick has sent a link to a website featuring a guide to the Llangollen Canal and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - it looks very interesting and useful. Thanks Nick.

Return of Hidden Histories

The return of the highly popluar TV series looking at our Hidden Histories through the work of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
BBC Four from January 26 2010.
Watch the episode on the BBC iplayer

Are you following the debate concerning the bluestones? You can read about the issues in British Archaeology and see a review of the latest book, which discusses their place of origin.