Do you have any memories or information about Hen Dŷ Cwrdd Chapel Trecynon?

Drop in and share your memories with the Royal Commission and see what information we have. For more information about this community project contact Christine Moore or Susan Fielding by e-mail at susan.fielding@rcahmw.gov.uk or christine.moore@addoldaicymru.org or by telephone 07528491819


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A new virtual museum will tell the story of chapels in Wales!

Digital Dissent: The Story of Welsh Chapels
The Royal Commission and Addoldai Cymru (The Welsh Religious Buildings Trust) have recently been granted over £60,000 for the development of a virtual museum recounting the story of over 300 years of Nonconformity in Wales!

Visit Wales has awarded the funding (part of the Digital Tourism Framework Programme) as part of a larger project, supported by Heritage Lottery funding and Cadw grant aid. The project aims to restore and interpret Yr Hen Gapel, Llwynrhydowen, the famous Grade II* listed Unitarian chapel and the centre from which grew a remarkable group of Unitarian chapels in Dyffryn Teifi, Ceredigion. This was the area called Y Smotyn Du (The Black Spot) by some of their opponents.

Resources will include the creation of virtual access to chapels in the care of Addoldai Cymru through laser scanning, gigapixel photography and computer visualisation. It will also provide interpretative analysis and GIS mapping of the Royal Commission’s 6400 plus records of Nonconformist chapels across Wales via an interactive website.

This project will build on the long-running work of the Royal Commission, in conjunction with Addoldai Cymru and Capel, in highlighting the importance of chapels as a distinctive and iconic building type in Wales, which contributes significantly to both our urban and rural landscapes. Variety in chapel building ranges from the small and simple vernacular chapels, commonly associated with the Welsh countryside, to the grandiose architect-designed ‘show façades’ in our towns and cities, which are now recognised as being on a par with the other great public buildings of the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Chapels are now one of the classes of buildings in Wales most at threat from redundancy. The Royal Commission’s chapels database holds a wealth of information on individual chapels, including denomination, dates, architects, language, and cost of construction. The database is supported by a programme of survey and photography, and there is an ever-increasing archive held within the National Monuments Record of Wales, with nearly 1300 digital images available on the Royal Commission’s online database, Coflein (www.coflein.gov.uk).

Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel was originally built in 1832, and then rebuilt by the great chapel architect, William Beddoe, in 1908. NPRN: 13780.

Hen Dŷ Cwrdd Unitarian Chapel was built in 1751. Described as the Mother Church of Unitarianism in the Cynon valley, it was the first Nonconformist place of worship in the valley. Its most prominent minister was the Rev. Thomas Evans (Tomos Glyn Cothi), prolific author, imprisoned radical and friend of Iolo Morganwg. NPRN: 8941

The exciting new project will be working with local communities to hold survey training days, community history days, and a series of lectures.

Forthcoming events include:

Community history days: tell your stories and bring your photos!

Drop in and share your memories with staff from the Royal Commission, and discover what information we have about your chapel:

• Hen Dŷ Cwrdd, Trecynon: 11 June, 3─6pm at Mount Pleasant public house, Trecynon, Aberdare, CF44 8NG.
  
• Hen Gapel, Llwynrhydowen: 25 June, 2─7pm at Capel Llwynrhydowen, Pontsian, Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 4UB.
• Peniel, Tremadog: 10 July, 2─7pm at Capel Peniel, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9PS.
• Bethania, Maesteg: 23 July, 2─7pm at Capel Bethania, Bethania Street, Maesteg CF34 9EX.

Open Doors: this year there will be three Royal Commission and Addoldai Cymru Open Doors partnership events.

• Hen Dŷ Cwrdd Unitarian Chapel, Trecynon, Aberdare, CF44 8NT, 6 September. A display of hand-drawn architectural drawings of Aberdare chapels by Mr William King and an opportunity to view the oldest Nonconformist chapel in the Cynon valley from 10am-12pm. There will also be a talk by Royal Commission chapel’s expert, Stephen Hughes, “Chapels: The National Architecture of Wales”.

•  Yr Hen Gapel, Llwynrhydowen, Rhydowen, Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 4QB, September 13. Talk by Royal Commission chapels expert, Stephen Hughes, “Chapels: The National Architecture of Wales” and local choir from 3-6pm; refreshments available from the Alltyrodyn Arms, Rhydowen. 

• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Crown Building, Plascrug, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 1NJ, 20 September. Talks 11am -1pm, tours 1.30pm and 2pm. Come and find out more about the chapel architecture of Wales. On 20 September, the Royal Commission is opening its doors for a chapels’ history day. There will be talks by leading experts, rich archival material on display, and the opportunity to discover more about the database of over 6000 chapels and the exciting partnership project between the Royal Commission and Addoldai Cymru. The afternoon tours of Aberystwyth’s historic chapels are limited to 15 people per tour. For further information and booking, please contact nicola.roberts@rcahmw.gov.uk , tel: 01970 621200. Tours will start at 1.30pm and 2pm and will meet outside The English Baptist Chapel, Alfred Place, Aberystwyth.

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The Woolly Squadron Returns!

A member of the Woolly Squadron visiting Conwy Castle, NPRN: 12

The Britain from Above project is running another Knit for Britain from Above campaign as part of the World Wide Knit in Public Day and we’d like you to be a part of it.

The Britain from Above website is a unique collection of around 70,000 aerial photographs taken over Britain between 1919 and 1953 by the company Aerofilms Ltd. It provides the opportunity for everyone to explore and share their knowledge and memories about the places shown in the photographs.

Some of the pictures on the website are over 90 years old and show how landscapes and towns have changed spectacularly over time. The Knit for Britain from Above project is an opportunity not only to show off your craft skills but also to find out more about your local area and how it changed during the twentieth century. 

An Aerofilms image from 1923. This image may be found on the website Britain from Above.

Joining in is easy.

Step 1. Knit a plane. Use our pattern or make up your own. The sky is the limit to your creativity …

Step 2. Go to http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/ to find images near you and pick a favourite spot. Make the most of a sunny moment and head out there with your plane to take a picture. If you like, leave your knitted masterpiece for other people to enjoy.

Step 3. Upload your picture to our Knit for Britain from Above group on http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/groups/knit-britain-above to join the ranks of your fellow yarnstormers.

You can even come along to the free live knitting event at the National Wool Museum in Dre-Fach Felindre, near Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire on Saturday 14 June, 11am-3pm!

Last year knitted planes were spotted in locations across Wales, including Bangor, Caernarfon and Newport - you can see what they got up to here: http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/groups/knit-britain-above

Where will the woolly squadron fly this year?



An example of one of the Woolly Squadron knitted last year.

Prime your needles and wind your wool and get ready to take off with Knit for Britain from Above!


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First World War Heritage Event

On 14 May Royal Commission Community Archaeologists, in partnership with Borth Community Council, ran an initial event to kick-start a series of First World War commemoration events in Borth.

The community of Borth had been asked to bring along any information, photographs and memories they had relating to the First World War. For the event the Commission provided an exhibition of material that we had started collecting, together with information from our archives, including aerial photographs and the 1905 Ordnance Survey map, which highlighted how the town had changed.

For the exhibition, a community member had given us permission to use his information, compiled from the 1911 census, and we were also given permission to use information from the West Wales Memorial Project. This website has detailed information on each person commemorated on all the war memorials in West Wales; including the three in Borth.

Community members looking at old photographs of Borth.

We had also been given material to scan by a community member in relation to Howard Lloyd Roberts. Howard Lloyd Roberts was born in Borth but went to work in London as a journalist; he later returned to Borth and volunteered for military service. He produced many sketches and caricatures at this time, which were published and were enjoyed by his comrades.

Trench Cartoon by Howard Lloyd Roberts.

The community archaeologists were also on hand to scan and photograph new material and record any new information.

Community Archaeologist scanning material.

One community member brought in a large amount of material relating to Arthur Footitt who is commemorated on the Borth War Memorial.

Arthur Footitt.

First World War medal belonging to Arthur Footitt.

This marked the start of a series of First World War commemoration events in Borth. The next event will be on August 4th in Borth community hall. There will be an exhibition of all the material collected, with afternoon tea and music.


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The Royal Commission returns to Hay Castle for Hay Festival 2014

Hay Castle, with the thirteenth-century castle (left) and adjoining seventeenth-century mansion (right)

Hay Castle (NPRN: 25593) sits at the heart of Hay-on-Wye, home to the annual Hay Literary Festival. The 10-day festival, now in its 27th year, attracts writers, artists and performers from all over the world. This year it runs from 22 May─1 June.

In 2011, Hay Castle, a Grade I listed building, passed into the ownership of a registered charity, the Hay Castle Trust. The Trust, working with Cadw and the Brecon Beacons National Park, aims to ensure the permanent preservation of the site. The community-based project involves a process of rediscovery, conservation and restoration, with the aim of regenerating the castle into a centre for culture, arts,crafts and education. The Hay Castle Trust will be running tours of the castle throughout this year’s festival. Royal Commission Senior Investigator, Richard Suggett, will be leading tours (now fully booked) on Friday 23 May and Saturday 31 May.

Situated on the Welsh/English border, Hay Castle is unusual in that it has been continuously occupied for the last 800 years. Constructed in the twelfth century and occupied into the twentieth century, the castle is considered to be potentially the most important multi-period site on the Welsh side of the border. The medieval castle survives, with its thirteenth-century gateway and early timber gates still intact. The timber gates, with their original cross-bracing, are one of only three to four surviving examples in Britain.

Hay Castle’s thirteenth-century gateway with early timber gates

 Castle House, a seventeenth-century Jacobean mansion, was built alongside the castle’s keep. Recent tree-ring dating by the Royal Commission has established the exact date of the three-storey house as 1636. Despite two twentieth-century fires, its basic structure has remained intact.

Castle House and the castle’s four-storey keep

As the process of rediscovery continues, it is becoming apparent that the castle contains many highly significant and possibly unique architectural components. The walls are to be consolidated, with the aim being to repair rather than to replace. It is heartening to see the castle’s important historical features cared for in this way, with the building and grounds well on the way to becoming a focal point for the local community once again.

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Uplands Dayschool 2014 at Sennybridge Training Area, Powys

This year’s Royal Commission Uplands Archaeology Forum and Dayschool, on the theme of Upland Military Landscapes in Wales, was held at Sennybridge Training Area in Powys, in collaboration with the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The requisitioning of the upland landscape of Mynydd Epynt, or the Sennybridge Training Area, and its military stewardship since the second world war, unwittingly preserved a massive block of upland Wales against the effects of post-war and recent farming methods and upland improvement, making the range a haven for preserved landscape archaeology. For this reason it was fitting to hold our 2014 dayschool and fieldtrip in this remarkable upland landscape.
 

Delegates outside the Epynt Visitor Centre with Major Eddie Mahoney, Commandant of Sennybridge Training Area.

The event was held over two days. On Friday 9th May we held our dayschool of talks at the Red Kite Centre in Sennybridge Camp. The day was opened by Colonel Richard Howard-Gash, Commander Wales and West, and Major (retired) Eddie Mahoney, Commandant of Sennybridge Camp, who briefed 50 assembled delegates on the requirements of the training estate. The programme began with a talk by Richard Osgood, the Senior Archaeologist for the DIO, about archaeological priorities for the UK training estate. This was followed by papers from the past year’s archaeological walkover surveys funded by the Royal Commission’s Uplands Archaeology Initiative. Over lunch delegates had a rare opportunity to view preserved Prisoner of War (PoW) alpine scenes painted on the Cookhouse walls in the mid 1940s.

Delegates admiring in-situ Prisoner of War alpine murals on the walls of the Cookhouse at Sennybridge Camp.

The afternoon saw a splendid range of talks on the theme of Upland Military Landscapes in Wales with papers by Dr Bob Silvester and Jeff Spencer (CPAT), Jon Berry (Cadw), archaeologist Dr Stephen Briggs, military historian Mark Kahn, and Dr Bob Johnston from the University of Sheffield. On the following day, two minibuses of delegates braved the sunshine and showers on Mynydd Epynt to see how the military stewardship of this block of upland moorland has preserved prehistoric, medieval and twentieth-century sites.

Experiencing typical Epynt weather on the Saturday field trip at Hirllwyn enclosure, a scheduled ancient monument protected from military activity by a ‘no digging’ star.

By kind permission of the Commandant, we were able to visit famous sites of the Epynt, like the enigmatic defended enclosure at Clawdd British, together with relatively recent discoveries of national importance like Pant y Blodau medieval deserted settlement, and twentieth-century military monuments including drainage culverts built by German and Italian Prisoner of War. A highlight of the trip was a visit to the restricted German training village or FIBUA (Fighting in Built Up Areas), an urban training facility, guided by Mark Kahn.

Visiting the restricted FIBUA village (Fighting in Built Up Areas), a purpose-built training facility for urban combat, modelled on a German village.

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From 2014 to 1525 – could you live in The Court?

This time last year production company Boom Pictures Cymru were looking for a group of people to take up the challenge of living in a Welsh Manor House (Y Plas) for three weeks in conditions as they would have been in 1910. Their time in Y Plas was documented and broadcast on S4C's living history series Y Plas last September.

The series returns in 2014 but the challenge has changed. This year, the production company are looking for people who are ready to take up the challenge of living in The Court – Y Llys.
The successful families and individuals will leave the comfort of their everyday lives and step back in time to the year 1525 to live in a Tudor court in Tretŵr court, near Crickhowell in southern Powys.

This is the time of Henry VIII, the time when noblemen led decadent lives feasting, being entertained by poets and singers, hunting and jousting. In the Tudor Age it was common for the noblemen and their servants to live and eat together, and don't forget this was before cutlery was invented!

Living in Y Llys will mean dressing, working, eating and spending leisure time exactly as the Tudors would have done in 1525, with cameras following every step of the way for the S4C living history series Y Llys, which will be broadcast on the Channel this autumn.

The production company are looking for 20 people to take part, and they will live in the court for three weeks during the autumn period this year.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 1 June. For more information and to apply contact Boom Pictures Cymru on yllys@yllys.co.uk / 02920 671545



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Wales Festival of Architecture: The Creative Space, 15 May - 17 May

Pant-yr-ynn slate mill, NPRN: 28260. This is one of hundreds of drawings by Falcon Hildred deposited in the National Monuments Record and now available on Coflein

Later this week, the Royal Commission will be contributing to this year’s Wales Festival of Architecture, a joint venture between the Royal Society of Architects in Wales and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. A Royal Commission exhibition on the artwork of the highly accomplished, industrial-landscape artist, Falcon Hildred, will run until 28 May 2014: Worktown: The drawings of Falcon Hildred. In addition, architectural historian Richard Suggett will be leading a tour of the award-winning Arts Centre and its surroundings at 2pm, Saturday 17 May. To coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’s birth, there will be a general theme of The Creative Space at this year’s festival, with emphasis on exploring the process of creativity. Other highlights include the festival launch: An Evening of Ideas; Spring School Inspiration Hour: Making History at St Fagans, and The Afternoon Play: Under Plywood, an irreverent review of the regeneration of our “ugly lovely towns”, presented by the Welsh Architects Theatre Studio.

Visitors to the festival will also be offered the opportunity to spend some creative time in a replica of Dylan Thomas’s iconic writing shed as it makes a special visit to the festival on its tour of the UK. Inside the shed, in honour of Dylan’s love of words, there will be the chance to invent your own perfect word and see it published in a Dictionary for Dylan.

For further details, please contact Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

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