Gladstone's in the bag at Flintshire Record Office

Flintshire Record Office in Hawarden is holding a Victorian Evening to mark the bicentennial of W. E. Gladstone.

The event will take place on Wednesday, 9 December at 7.00pm. The evening is free but tickets are required and are available from the Record Office on 01244 532364.

Victorian dress is optional and refreshments will be served.

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Consultation on Blaenavon World Heritage site

A six-week consultation has begun in Blaenavon, asking residents' views on studies relating to the World Heritage Site.

The studies include design guidance for development and conservation area appraisals of Blaenavon and Cwmavon conservation areas and it is proposed the documents will eventually be adopted as supplementary planning guidance.

The executive member for housing, planning and public protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, said: "We urge residents to contact us and let us know their views on these studies, as they will assist in ensuring the continued protection and enhancement of the historic character of the World Heritage Site.

"The guide provides design and maintenance advice for buildings within the Torfaen boundaries of the site, including advice for the construction of new buildings, and guidance on alterations, repairs or extensions to existing buildings.

"The Blaenavon and Cwmavon conservation area appraisals identify the key assets, issues and outline recommendations for the management and enhancement of the areas in the future.

"They recommend extensions to the Blaenavon conservation area, and consider the potential designation of conservation areas at Forgeside and Glantorfaen."

The public consultation runs until Wednesday 30 December and a public drop-in session will be held on December 9 at the World Heritage Centre.

All documents and full details of the consultation are available to view in the Environment and Planning| area of the council website.

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Cardiff's old library hosts fascinating new exhibitions

The current Anne Frank Exhibition being held at the Old Library has proven to be very popular and Cardiff Council is pleased to announce it is going to be supplemented by two more interesting historical showcases on the ground floor gallery.

These will consist of the Polish Consulate's 70th Anniversary Exhibition of the outbreak of World War II - “From War to Victory 1939 – 1989, Polish Way to Independence” - as well as the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 20th Anniversary of the first free elections in Poland after World War II.

The exhibitions will reflect about the meaning of the half century between the outbreak of World War II and the collapse of communism, linking the two dates and considering their meaning as cornerstones of the tragic history of the twentieth century.

Both Nazism and communism changed Poland to an almost irreversible degree, affecting its social, political and cultural life. Poland was the first European nation to oppose, in 1939, the spread of Nazism and communism, and was the first to remove their communist government from power in 1989.

The "From War to Victory 1939 – 1989, Polish Way to Independence" exhibition, running until November 27 is being held by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester.

Vice-Consul Szymon Bialek said: "Our aim is to acquaint all the people with the fact that World War II started by the Germany’s invasion of Poland and the fall of the communist system in Europe also started in Poland. Without the events which took place in Poland in 1988 and 1989 - the Solidarity movement and free elections on 6 June 1989 - the Berlin Wall would not have fallen."

Meanwhile the new powerful and captivating exhibition, ‘Anne Frank + You’, will continue at the Old Library, The Hayes until November 29.

Cardiff Council and the Anne Frank Trust UK are jointly hosting this hugely successful multimedia exhibition which will powerfully bring the messages and voice of Anne Frank firmly into the 21st Century.

The exhibition is set to be visited by many school groups who will gain an insight into that period of history.

Executive member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Freda Salway, said: "The Anne Frank + You exhibition is going to be a poignant and fascinating experience for our young students. Anne Frank is a symbol of all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, and her diary is just as relevant now as it was when she wrote it."

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The Big Sale

Pembrokeshire County Council's Information and Cultural Services department is holding a big sale of Local History items.

Books, prints and postcards will be on offer in the run up to Christmas - with many items reduced in price.

The sale includes 15 different books and a wide range of prints and postcards, so there is something to interest everyone with an interest in local history.

A sales catalogue has also been produced with copies available to browse at all public libraries and the Record Office in Haverfordwest. Alternatively, please telephone (01437) 776157 for a free copy.

Items can either be ordered and collected from the public library of your choice, or posted to you.

This is an opportunity not to be missed, but hurry as stocks of some items are limited.

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New leader for award winning heritage project

Rod Williams, a hillfort and smallholding owner from Denbighshire has been named as the new Chairman of the Heather and Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme.

As the owner of Penycloddiau hillfort and a 40 acre smallholding on the edge of the Clwydian Range, Rod Williams has a deep rooted connection to the outstanding heritage of the Clwydian Range and Llantysilio Mountain.

He is currently a Council Member with the Countryside Council for Wales, governor at Llysfasi College, was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Agriculture Society for Services to Agri Business in Wales and is treasurer of Tŷ Croeso Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and the Royal Agri Benevolent Institution (Clwyd). He is also a frequent broadcaster on agricultural issues, especially on S4C and Radio Cymru.

The sudden death of the Project Chairman, Michael Griffith, earlier this year left a great void. Rod Williams shares Michael Griffith’s passion for the landscape and heritage and his belief that heritage conservation can go hand in hand with environmentally friendly farming.

Rod Williams said: “I am highly honoured to take up the reigns of this important project. We are fortunate to have natural and historic heritage of international importance on our doorstep, which I have been so lucky to grow up with. It is important that we keep people farming in these hills, we must support landowners and graziers to manage these special moorland areas appropriately, to keep them in a good condition.

“Sustaining high quality local food production is also vital for the future, especially in light of increasing global demands on resources. I also view increasing people’s awareness, understanding and their enjoyment of their local countryside an important role for the project. These are challenging times, where people need to escape the pressures of everyday life. The breathtaking beauty of the area is also very important as a tourism resource in this economically difficult climate. The challenge for me, the project and its partners, as I see it, is to balance all these different interests, whilst protecting our heritage.”

The Heather and Hillforts Project is a partnership between Denbighshire and Flintshire County Councils, together with agencies such as Cadw, Countryside Council for Wales, Fire Service, Royal Commission of Ancient and Historic Monuments, National Museums and Galleries of Wales, RSPB, CPAT, CPRW, Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Joint Advisory Committee, local community groups and landowners. A significant grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund provides funding for the project, the first landscape partnership scheme supported in Wales.

The announcement of the project’s new Chairman comes at the end of the highly successful Heather and Hillforts walking festival. The event included study days, long distance walking challenges, family activities in addition to education school events. The project has an ambitious programme to deliver over the next year which includes footpath improvements, archaeological events, moorland restoration and more education resources. The three year Heather and Hillforts Project is developing a £2.3 million initiative for upland conservation work and has received a grant of £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. For more information please visit heatherandhillforts.co.uk.

You can now follow them on twitter - Visit www.twitter.com/HeatherHillfort or join their Facebook group for more updates from the project.

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Researching your family history? Make Cardiff libraries your first stop

Ever thought about researching your family tree or the area where you live but don’t know where to start? Welsh Libraries Champion Ruth Jones and celebrity genealogist Cat Whiteaway urge you to make the library your first port of call.

Cat Whiteaway studies the history of families and the line of descent from their ancestors. She said: “I wouldn’t be able to produce my radio and television programmes without the help of libraries. The local knowledge of staff is key and we very often find volunteers with expertise and enthusiasm in a particular subject area in the library.”

“One of the highlights of my job is talking to people and piecing together a jigsaw – my job would be incredibly boring if I found the answers all in one place. I love to bring a family tree to life by delving a bit further – how they lived, what were the work and living conditions like, local and social history – I certainly couldn’t do it alone and libraries are one of the best places to begin my research.”

One particular story sticks in Cat’s mind, “A lovely gentleman in his 60s had never seen a photo of his father because he had died when he was only two years old. He had always wondered what his father looked like, so I went along to his local library and staff were able to tell me which newspapers to look at from around the time of his death. We found him listed as ‘missing in action’ and this was the first time the gentleman had seen a picture of his father via a 1942 newspaper which we printed off a microfiche reader in the library. I’m so lucky to be doing this job as it brings an enormous amount of satisfaction to know that you can make a difference to other people’s lives like this.”

Welsh Libraries Champion Ruth Jones recently met up with Cat at Cardiff Central Library: “I found it really interesting to meet Cat and learn more about the services available in the library. The staff really do play such an important role - helping to answer questions or locate information and also being there to have a friendly chat. Many libraries also have weekly taster sessions to help people get started with researching their family tree – I may get signed up as soon as I have some free time!”

Visit your local library and use a library computer to log onto Ancestry.com where you can access census returns for the UK, Ireland and the USA, along with a wealth of other resources – birth, marriage and deaths, passenger lists etc. A recent addition to this database includes a searchable list of all British Prisoners of War captured in Europe during World War II.

Cardiff Libraries offer a variety of resources to assist users in their local and family history research - newspapers and periodicals, photographs, maps, illustrations, directories, electoral registers, parish registers and census returns. Not to mention free internet access to scan the whole host of websites aimed at helping us discover our roots. One very popular recent addition to Cardiff Libraries on-line resources is a subscription to the British Library 19th Century Newspapers which includes the Western Mail from 1869 -1900.

Based in Cardiff Central Library, the Local Studies department houses an extensive collection of material relating to the history and geography of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Log onto Ancestry.com or search our International Genealogical Index on microfiche for the British Isles. Compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and also known as the Mormon Index, it has birth, marriage and baptism details arranged by county (also available online). The library also hosts a regular genealogy drop-in session run by the Glamorgan Family History Society from 10 – 1 on the first Saturday of every month.

Councillor Howells, Executive Member Sport, Culture & Leisure said: “Cardiff Council have invested in the library service over recent years with refurbishments at Rhiwbina, Splott, Grangetown, Ely, Llanrumney and now with Cathays libraries. The addition of the fabulous new Central Library means that anyone can find out about their past and learn more about their ancestors.”

To find out the location and opening hours of your nearest library, visit their website at www.cardiff.gov.uk/libraries or phone Connect to Cardiff on 029 2087 2087.

Photograph: Welsh Libraries Champion Ruth Jones in Cardiff Central Library

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Canolfan Tywi Centre launch

A new heritage centre supporting traditional sustainable building, landscape and history of the Tywi Valley will be launched in Carmarthenshire this week.

The centre, a centrepiece of the Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd project, is housed in two converted barns at Dinefwr Home Farm, on the outskirts of Llandeilo.

It will provide an invaluable resource to the area, offering a range of traditional sustainable building information services and education and community resources.

It will also offer a range of subsidised courses for builders, building professionals and homeowners, in a bid to help locals conserve the area’s historic homes and buildings.
The Welsh Assembly’s Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, will officially open the centre on Wednesday, November 18, at 10am.

Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd (Tywi a River Through Time) is a £2.4million project, led by Carmarthenshire County Council, which is aimed at conserving the area’s landscape, biodiversity and history, and creating a legacy for future generations.

Project staff will be based at the centre and will oversee a full complement of activities, training courses and seminars promoting the Tywi Valley and the uptake of skills required to maintain this beautiful and historic landscape.

Nell Hellier, Traditional Sustainable Building Centre Officer said: “The former Cart Shed houses the offices of the Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd Project and a seminar and demonstration area, and the Cow Shed has been converted into workshop space for carpentry, joinery, masonry and stonework skills.

“The Building Information Service, based at the centre, will provide a personal help service to professionals, builders and homeowners on how to undertake work on traditional buildings and how to use traditional materials and methods.”

The Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd project has engaged with hundreds of local people of all ages, encouraging them to learn about their area’s history, and to recognise the importance of maintaining it for their children and grandchildren.

The project received £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £557,378 from the Rural Development Plan, and support from the Countryside Council for Wales, Menter Bro Dinefwr and National Trust.

Cllr Clive Scourfield, executive board member for regeneration, said: “This will provide an invaluable resource to the area. The renovation of the buildings has been fantastic, and hinges on the ethos of the whole project, which has been so successful in the area.”

For further information about the centre, or any other schemes run by the project, call the team on 01558 824271, or visit the Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd pages at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

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Restoration to start at Swansea's historic Guildhall

Work is about to begin on the latest phase in the revival of Swansea's Grade 1 listed Guildhall as vital restoration of the civic building continues.

The Central Block- a more modern addition to the building which celebrated its 75th anniversary this month- will undergo a £4.3 million makeover after a a condition survey identified issues which affect its workable future.

The block was added to the Guildhall complex in the 1970s and has remained largely untouched decades on since its construction.

The Guildhall condition survey in 2005 found the heating and electrics are way beyond their serviceable life span. The building fabric is in poor condition and the roof, internal finishes and toilets are in urgent need of upgrading.

Without work the block would be inadequate to house offices from which the Council provides a range of services for the public.

Work to the Central Block will take place over an 11-month period that will start at the end of November and will involve around 40 craftsmen. It will include rewiring, a new heating system, structural and external repairs and internal finishes.

Offices will be opened up and there will be new flooring and toilets. Re-roofing will also take place and all glazing will be replaced with safety glass.

The work will aim to keep disruption to a minimum and staff normally based in the block are being re-accommodated elsewhere within the Guildhall.

Project manager Huw Thomas of Davies Langdon said: "It has been a great pleasure to be involved in the refurbishment of such a prestigious building. The team has performed an excellent job on the previous phases and we are all very much looking forward to commencing work on the Central Block."

Steve Dinnick, Swansea Council's Head of Corporate Property and Asset Management, said: "The improvements are the latest stage of the £30m project that aims to make the Guildhall a working landmark for generations to come.

"Staff are currently returning to the areas restored through phase two centred around the Municipal Block and the transformation has been widely welcomed.

"The latest work will not only breathe new life into the Central Block and ensure it meets modern regulations but it will also ensure that we have an appropriate base from which to provide services to the community."

Cllr Chris Holley, Swansea Council Leader, said: "The latest phase tackles important issues raised in the condition survey. While this block is less historic, work is needed to ensure The Guildhall is a working building from which we can serve our communities for generations to come."

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Historic beach huts on the mend

WORK has begun on transforming five more beach huts at Langland Bay as part of the revival of the historic huts.

The third phase of major hut refurbishments follows continued interest from people willing to invest £10,000 for a 10-year beach hut lease to funds its reconstruction.

The latest phase will take the number of wooden huts restored to 26. The remaining 52 are continuing to be maintained and let on a seasonal basis by way of a draw for three-month periods.

The number of huts to undergo transformation could increase depending on demand but it's expected that at least half the huts will remain available through the traditional summer let scheme.

The beach huts have graced Langland Bay since the 1920s but had in recent times been showing their age thanks partly to the wear and tear of decades of sea spray and weather.

Swansea Council's Corporate Property Department evolved a scheme to take a number of huts and reconstruct them to enable them to stand the test of time for years to come.

To meet the cost of replacement 10-year leases were granted in return for a one-off payment.

Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: "I'm delighted that people have come forward and invested in the 10-year lease scheme which has enabled us to transform these huts despite the current economic climate.

"Not only are they benefiting from the new-look huts in this amazing setting but they are helping us transform the look of the area to the benefit of other beach users too.

"I am looking forward to seeing the latest huts completed."

People considering getting involved in the 10-year hut lease scheme and contributing to Langland's revival should contact Paul Jenkins of Corporate Property on 01792 636775 or email him at paul.jenkins@swansea.gov.uk for more information.

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Concert celebrates Swansea officially becoming a city

Swansea is to host a free concert on December 10 to celebrate the momentous day it officially became a city.

On December 10 in 1969 letters of patent were issued by HRH Queen Elizabeth II which officially confirmed Swansea as only the second town in Wales to be granted city status.

These documents confirmed an announcement that Swansea was to receive city status made by HRH Prince Charles on July 3 in 1969 during a visit here to celebrate his investiture as Prince of Wales.

To mark the official day Swansea became a city, the Local Authority is planning a concert at the Brangwyn Hall where the presentation of the official document was made four decades ago.

Eight hundred free tickets are being made available to enable Swansea residents to join in the celebrations.

The event on December 10 will include stars such as Steve Balsamo and Mal Pope and the Jacks. Songs through the decades will be performed as well as latest stage hit Cappuccino Girls. The event will be hosted by Kevin Johns.

The letters patent that confirm the city status complete with the royal seal are on display at the Guildhall.

The event will be the climax of celebrations of Swansea becoming a city which have included a garden party for people celebrating their 40th birthday or 40th wedding anniversary.

A time capsule is also being stored in the archives at Swansea's civic centre for the next 40 years and will be opened on the city's 80th birthday celebrations.

In July a Freedom Ceremony for 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry) that included a march through the city centre took place.

And babies born in the City and County on July 3 this year were given a unique silver coin especially commissioned from the Royal Mint.

There is also an online exhibition including photographs and video clips celebrating the anniversary at http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=30127

Swansea's Lord Mayor Cllr Alan Lloyd, the only serving Swansea Councillor who was also a Councillor when Swansea officially became a city said:

"I am delighted we are holding this free concert because becoming a city was a landmark event in the life of Swansea. We have been moving steadily forward since that day and that surely makes it an important anniversary for us to celebrate.

"It seems like nothing could stop Swansea once it was granted its city status. The city centre was back on its feet by the 1960s but we still had areas of dereliction and decay. It is easy to forget a time when the Marina we have today was a derelict dock and the lower Swansea Valley was just wasteland.

"I hope people will join us to celebrate Swansea's historic day, its successful development over the past 40 years and the promise of more to come in the next four decades."

Anyone who would like to attend the event can contact Swansea Council's Corporate Marketing Team by emailing corporate.marketing@swansea.gov.uk or by calling 01792 637553 or 01792 637554. Tickets are limited to two per person and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

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Splendour of Chrismas past recreated at Picton Castle

The splendour of Christmas past will be recreated at Picton Castle near Haverfordwest later this month.

Visitors to this year’s Christmas Market on November 28th and 29th will be able for the first time ever to wander through the Castle’s public rooms dressed for Christmas.

There will be a roaring log fire in the Great Hall, the dining table will be laid for a feast and the intimate drawing room ready to receive guests.

“Dressing the beautiful public rooms will create a very special festive atmosphere and we hope it will help to get everyone in the Christmas spirit,” said Picton Castle trust manager Dai Evans.

The medieval undercroft and modern galleries of the Castle in Rhos, just a few miles west of Narberth’s popular High Street, will also be home to nearly 50 stallholders selling stocking fillers, festive food and original gifts from Wales and around the world.

A free indoor children’s treasure hunt will take place and Karlos the Clown will also be on hand to provide roaming entertainment.

“With the courtyard also decorated, a Santa’s grotto and free hot chocolate or mulled wine with entry, it’s a great way to entertain the kids and do your Christmas shopping at the same time,” added Mr Evans.

“Once again, we’ll have a Santa’s Grotto to raise money for charity and there will also be a bouncy castle.”

The inside stalls will be selling everything from silver fingerprint jewellery and Christmas cakes to handmade ceramics and bird tables.

“This is the third year of our Christmas Market and it gets more popular each year,” added Mr Evans. “Visitors will not only be supporting local craftworkers and traders but also helping to pay for the upkeep of this magnificent castle. We are very grateful to Pembrokeshire Tourism for supporting the event this year and we hope to attract visitors from all over Wales.”

*The Picton Castle Christmas Market is open 10.30am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday November 28th and 29th. Entry for over 15s £3 to include a mulled wine or hot chocolate and entry to the castle. For more details check out www.pictoncastle.co.uk.

Photograph: Sharon Swift (left) and Maureen Prentice from Picton Castle get the decorations ready to dress the castle’s Great Hall in time for the Christmas Market taking place between Saturday November 28th and Sunday November 29th.

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Historic places of worship conference – November 12

The upkeep and care of historic churches and chapels for now and future generations will be the focus of a conference organised by the Church in Wales this week.

From archaeology and architecture to grants and fund-raising, the conference will explore a variety of issues relevant to historic places of worship. The first of its kind in Wales, it will bring together congregations, architects, government agencies, funding bodies as well as various religious denominations.

The speakers include Professor John Harvey of Aberystwyth University, who will look at the history of Welsh chapels, architectural historian Julian Orbach, who will talk about Victorian churches and Trefor Thorpe, chief architect with Cadw, who will address building maintenance.

The conference will be held on Thursday, November 12, at St Mary’s Priory Centre, Abergavenny. This ancient building is itself a Grade 1 Listed building and has a newly opened Tithe Barn restaurant and exhibition centre.

Alex Glanville, head of property services for the Church in Wales, hopes the conference will become an annual event to allow all those charged with caring for historic places of worship a chance to meet and share experience and information.

He said, “As well as being places of worship churches are vital heritage buildings, often hosting unique collections of art and local history. Two-thirds of those owned by the Church in Wales, for example, are listed buildings. They are managed by local volunteer members of the church congregation who are responsible for maintaining and repairing them. We are custodians of these buildings and need to protect them for future generations to enjoy.The cost, however, is huge and funding is a continual challenge. This conference aims to inspire and inform all those involved in their upkeep.”

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The Caernarvonshire Historical Society Annual Lecture

The Caernarvonshire Historical Society Annual Lecture will be held at Siambr Dafydd Orwig Council Chamber, Gwynedd Council, Shirehall Street, Caernarfon at 2.30pm on Saturday, 28 November.

The lecture will be delivered by Revd. Dr D Ben Rees, Liverpool. The lecture’s title will be ‘Scandal and success of a Caernarfonshire-Liverpool Minister—Revd. W.O. Jones (1861-1937)’.

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Darran House, Deri: The Mine, the Medal and the Men

Deri residents joined together recently to commemorate the people who lost their lives during the Darran Pit Disaster.

More than 50 residents flocked to Deri Library to meet Julia McDonald, author of the recently published book "Darran House, Deri: The Mine, the Medal and the Men." During her visit Julia delighted the crowd with anecdotes of her time writing and researching the book.

The event was publicised throughout the borough and saw an excellent turn out with the library filled to maximum capacity.

Julia, who received a warm welcome from the residents, presented the library with a framed display of the copy of the original petition sent to the Home Secretary Winston Churchill.

The petition contains 272 names of local people respectfully requesting William Evans be considered for the Edward Medal, after assisting to save lives during the devastating disaster.

In turn the Library staff and organisers Dori and Julie Thomas gifted Julia with crystal clock engraved with the Deri emblem of Oak leaves and acorns and a personal inscription from the people of Deri, as a thank you for writing the book that marked such an important day in the history of the valley.

For further information about the book or the history society, please call 01443 875 549.

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The Story of the St Davids Lifeboats is launched

St Davids RNLI are pleased to announce the publication of the latest edition of “The Story of the St Davids Lifeboats” by Dr George Middleton.

The book was first published in the early 1970’s and told the history of the station from its opening in 1869 when a rowing and sailing lifeboat was kept on a carriage in the centre of St Davids. It also covers the tragic events of 1910 when the lifeboat Gem and three of her crew were lost in Ramsey Sound and the various award winning rescues performed by the crews over the 140 years that the station has been open. This latest version brings to story right up-to-date in 2009.

Thanks to the sponsorship of several local companies all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the St Davids Branch of the RNLI.

The book is available from Dr George Middleton, 52 Bryn Road, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6QU priced at £3.00 including P&P for one copy or £5.50 for two copies.

Copies are also available from St Davids Bookshop, 5a The Pebbles, St Davids or directly from the lifeboat station at St Justinians.

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AM witnesses bluestone's rise from muddy field to multi-million pound tourist attraction

The transformation of a muddy field into a multi-million pound tourist attraction has been praised by Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

Mr Davies visited the site of Bluestone soon after ground breaking work began three years ago.

He was invited back for a revisit and bowled over by what has arisen out of the mud.

“When I last visited I was an Assembly candidate and I went with the shadow environment minister to learn about Bluestone’s green credentials,” explained Mr Davies.

“The major ground-breaking work had just begun and it was a wet Autumn so all you could see in every direction was mud.

“We were given a presentation in the old farmhouse - at the time it was the only building in a sea of brown - but now it’s sited between the Blue Lagoon and the sports centre.

“It’s easy to forget what an incredible transformation has taken place on these Pembrokeshire fields but because I hadn’t been there for three years I got the full impact of their achievement.

“The Blue Lagoon is a wonderful facility for Pembrokeshire and I was very impressed by the build quality and attention to detail in the lodges.”

Photograph: Bluestone rising: Paul Davies AM is pictured with Richard Harries and Liz Weedon from the Bluestone team.

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Hightech history with Tweeting from hill forts project

Work of maintaining and protecting one of the Clwydian Range AONB’s most prestigious hillforts is well underway and is expected to end later this year.

Local traditional skills experts, Countryside Skills, have been working on improving access to Moel Fenlli, a hillfort which can be found near the Offa’s Dyke Path within the Moel Famau country park, as well as carrying out work to protect the hillfort from erosion.

Part of the erosion repair work to the hillfort is being carried out as part of the Heather and Hillforts project.

Work has also been done to upgrade existing old steps and install new furniture.

Samantha Williams, Hillfort Conservation Officer, said: “The site is a scheduled ancient monument and a new innovative solution has been developed which means that nothing is put into the ground that could damage the archaeology.

“The solution has been to build a wooden box that follows the contour of the hill up over the big banks and ditches that make up the defences of the fort. This then allows the contractor to stone pitch inside the box to make a stone staircase which is easier for walkers to use but also provides a protective layer between their feet and the archaeology.

The project has been funded by the Heather and Hillforts project, a Heritage Lottery funded project, and CADW.

The three year Heather and Hillforts Project is developing a £2.3 million initiative for upland conservation work and has received a grant of £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. For more information please visit heatherandhillforts.co.uk.

You can now follow us on twitter! Visit www.twitter.com/HeatherHillfort or join our Facebook group for more updates from the project.

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Transporting the past

The building of the new Glamorgan Archives in Leckwith is complete and today the task of moving all documents into their new home began.

A staggering 45,000 volumes, 60,000 plans and hundreds of items have been transferred from fragile boxes into new robust ones ready for the move. Mike Hodgson, Conservator, was given the task of overseeing the packaging.

It has taken over three years for staff to prepare and package the documents ready for the move, with over 30,000 made-to-measure boxes being made using the Kasemake machine. The machine has become a valuable member of the team over the past few months.

As Mike explains. “At first we began making the boxes by hand, but as you can imagine making 30,000 was quite a daunting task! Thankfully we were successful in securing a CYMAL grant to purchase the Kasemake machine and since then we haven’t looked back.”

The Glamorgan team has also started the mammoth task of numbering the 18,000 shelves in the new building. Laid end to end they would stretch from Pontypridd to Merthyr Tydfil.

The new record office will open in the spring of 2010 and will see for the first time all of Glamorgan’s records being stored in the one location.

The building has been designed to ensure historical documents are kept in the best conditions and has been constructed to create stability in temperature and humidity.

Documents stored include records of local Councils, schools, families and individuals, landed estates, industries, shipping companies, Police, chapels and churches and many others as well as maps, plans and photographs.

Among some of the more intriguing papers is a bill for cloth purchased for the funeral of Oliver Cromwell in 1658 by Col Phillip Jones of Fonmon, who organised the funeral.

As well as being the home to 8km of historical documents the new record office will provide better facilities for people to use the documents as individuals or in groups with space for workshops and lectures in addition to the public search room. Students and school groups will be especially welcomed.

The building also houses a modern paper conservation studio where visitors will be able to watch specialists working to repair and conserve irreplaceable documents. A major feature of the studio is a giant wall board, which large maps can be repaired on. At 3 by 4 metres it is believed to be the largest of its type in Europe and was partly funded by a CYMAL grant.

Executive Member for Finance and Service Delivery, Cllr Mark Stephens, said:” The new Glamorgan Archives will provide a modern space for people to learn more about the past and their family history. There is some fascinating information available and having all documents stored in the one building will particularly benefit people with their searches.

“I know the team at the Glamorgan Archives are looking forward to moving to their new home and I would like to personally thank them for all the hard work they have put into the project.”

The Chair of the Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee, Cllr.Anthony Hampton, said "I am delighted that the first items have been moved into this splendid new repository and hope that staff and public users will enjoy the new premises when they open next year."

Glamorgan Archives provides archive services to Cardiff Council, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan CBCs see www.glamro.gov.uk for further details.

Photograph: Glamorgan County Archivist Susan Edwards with a 1766 survey of land owned by the Earl of Plymouth in Llanishen, Lisvane and Rudry

read more... “Transporting the past”

What to watch: Hidden Histories

This week Hidden Histories (Tuesday, November 10, BBC TWO Wales) reveals the quarry-surveying robots at the foot of Snowdon, how the fish traps of ancient coastal communities in Fishguard are revealing important discoveries about climate change, and an exploration into the work of architect Herbert North whose designs gave many buildings in Snowdonia a distinctive Welsh flare.

Hi-tech meets history as the most detailed survey ever undertaken into the historic Vivien quarry at the foot of Snowdon in north Wales is well underway. Using specially designed robots and laser scanning technology, they gain astonishing never-seen-before 3D views of the quarry.

Aerial photographs above Fishguard on the Pembrokeshire Coast reveal a hidden fishtrap which has been lost for over 60 years. Deena Groom from The Royal Commission looks into the dramatic changes to the sea level of the fishtrap, offering an astonishing glimpse into the impact of climate change on coastal archaeology around Wales today.

Herbert North was arguably the first to bring an individual Welsh style to architecture. Inspired by traditional architecture styles in north Wales and the arts and crafts movement, he spread his artistic flare on the houses and buildings across Snowdonia. His unconventional and often quirky approach is still evident in the designs of the houses and chapels across the landscape today, as architect Adam Voelker looks into his legacy and distinctive style.

Tuesday, November 10, BBC TWO Wales, 7.30pm

read more... “What to watch: Hidden Histories”

Where you there when the Beatles played Cardiff?

That's the question being asked by writer Martin Creasy.

Martin, the author of Legends On Tour - The Pop Package Tours of The 1960s is now working on a new book about the six UK tours of The Beatles between the beginning of 1963 and the end of 1965.

He is now researching every gig on every tour in every town and am interviewing musicians who toured with the Beatles, journalists who covered the shows, staff from the venues and hotels, and fans who were there.

There are three key Cardiff Capitol dates:

The first was Monday May 27, 1963: The Beatles were on tour with Roy Orbison, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and others. For 14 weeks either side of the Cardiff date either the Beatles or Gerry were at number one. And you got The Big O thrown in. That's what I call value! It was this day that Dave Edmunds, who worked at a local music store, went along and watched the show and gave the Beatles freebies from his shop!

The second was Saturday November 7, 1964 when Mary Wells was their special guest.
The third was on Sunday December 12, 1965 on a tour with The Moody Blues, among others.
This third date was the Beatles' final paid gig in the UK. Their final UK performance of course was the rooftop appearance at Savile Row from Let It Be.

Martin says:

"I'd love to hear from fans who saw any of these shows - or anyone else with memories"

Please email us at news@welshicons.org.uk and we will pass your messages on to Martin.

read more... “Where you there when the Beatles played Cardiff?”