Lansio cyhoeddiad newydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol, ‘Llechi Cymru: Archaeoleg a Hanes’, yng Nghastell Penrhyn

Yr wythnos ddiwethaf cafodd cyhoeddiad newydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol, ‘Llechi Cymru: Archaeoleg a Hanes’, ei lansio’n swyddogol. Cynhaliwyd y lansiad yn Neuadd Fawr Castell Penrhyn ger Bangor.

Penrhyn Castle and its parkland, with Bethesda and Penrhyn quarry in the middle distance.  The neo–Norman castle was built in the nineteenth century and was the home of Lord Penrhyn, owner of Penrhyn quarry. NPRN: 16687

 Roedd y castell, cyn gartref yr Arglwydd Penrhyn, perchennog chwarel y Penrhyn, ar un adeg yn gysylltiedig ag un o’r anghydfodau diwydiannol hwyaf erioed yn hanes Prydain. Ym 1900, arweiniodd gwrthdaro rhwng yr Arglwydd Penrhyn a chwarelwyr Bethesda at streic chwerw a barodd am dair blynedd. Mae’r castell bellach yn eiddo i’r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol ac ystyriwyd bod lansio’r llyfr yn y lleoliad hwn yn weithred o gymodi drwy ddwyn ynghyd dreftadaeth y castell a’r cymunedau o’i gwmpas.

Croesawyd pawb gan Dr Eurwyn Wiliam, Cadeirydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol.

Arweiniwyd y lansiad gan Bethan Jones Parry o Gyngor Gwynedd a chafwyd gair o groeso gan Dr Eurwyn Wiliam (Cadeirydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol) ac araith fer gan yr awdur, Dr David Gwyn. Cafwyd cyfraniad arbennig ac arwyddocaol gan yr actor John Ogwen, a anwyd ac a fagwyd ym Methesda, a fu’n darllen rhannau o’r llyfr, a dilynwyd hyn gan ddatganiad gwych gan ddisgyblion Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (http://www.cgwm.org.uk/eng/ ). 

Yr actor John Ogwen yn darllen o’r llyfr.

Gan fod y llyfr yn gwneud cyfraniad o bwys i’r enwebiad datblygol ar gyfer Statws Treftadaeth Byd i Ddiwydiant Llechi Gogledd Cymru, daeth y lansiad i ben gydag areithiau gan Mandy Williams-Davies, un o Gynghorwyr Cyngor Gwynedd a Chadeirydd Grŵp Llywio’r cais, a Syr Neil Cossons, awdurdod blaenllaw ar dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol a threftadaeth byd.

Grŵp llywio’r Cais Treftadaeth Byd.  Arweinir y Grŵp gan Gyngor Gwynedd a’r aelodau eraill yw CBHC, Cadw, Amgueddfa Cymru, Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, Ymgynghoriaeth Govannon, Prifysgol Bangor a’r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol.

Mae fersiynau Saesneg a Chymraeg o’r llyfr ar gael:

Llechi Cymru: Archaeoleg a Hanes (ISBN: 978-1871184-52-5)

Welsh Slate: Archaeology and History of an Industry (ISBN: 978-1871184-51-8).

Llyfrau fformat mawr yw’r rhain yn cynnwys 291 o dudalennau a 243 o ddarluniau o ansawdd uchel. Y gost yw £45, neu £40.50 yn unig i Gyfeillion y Comisiwn.

Fel rhan o’r Ŵyl Archaeoleg, bydd Dr David Gwyn yn rhoi sgwrs am y llyfr yn swyddfeydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol yn Aberystwyth ar 15 Gorffennaf 2015, o 4:30pm tan 7:00pm. Fe’ch cynghorir i drefnu’ch lle. Estynnir croeso cynnes i bawb.

I gael mwy o fanylion cysylltwch â’r Comisiwn Brenhinol ar 01970 621200, chc.cymru@cbhc.gov.uk.

Gellir gweld lluniau pellach o’r lansiad ar ein tudalen Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Royal-Commission-on-the-Ancient-and-Historical-Monuments-of-Wales/146120328739808



Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

Rydym hefyd ar gael ar:


Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales

Royal Commission supporting Dementia Awareness Week 17-23 May 2015

Last Thursday images from the People’s Collection Wales www site provided a talking point at an event promoting Dementia Awareness at Y Plas, Machynlleth. Many of the images were from a previous digitisation event in the town organised by Communities First initiative in 2011, but many were also from the Royal Commission’s own collections.

The photographs included the Queen’s visit in the 1977 Jubilee year; the Eisteddfod held in the town in 1981; former businesses such as the Powys Cinema, Arvonia Bakery and Read’s Garage; and buildings on the PhotoScoot 2014 wheelchair-friendly town trail.
http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/385998

The event was organised by The Alzheimer’s Society and Crossroads Care Mid & West Wales as part of the Dementia Friendly Powys project funded by Powys Council.

A Memory Café for Machynlleth is one of the ideas currently being explored. The venue would provide people with memory problems or dementia and their carers an opportunity to meet regularly with others in similar circumstances. Health and Social Services professionals would also be available to provide practical advice and information about support services.

Memory Boxes comprising old photographs, objects from bygone eras, and games designed to stimulate reminiscences, often form part of the therapeutic activities available at such cafés.
The laminated images provided by the Royal Commission for the event may eventually form part of the ‘Memory Box for Mach’. 

Follow this links to see more of the images available on the People’s Collection Wales www site for Machynlleth:
http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/376935

Ingrid Bernathova, Crossroads Care Mid & West Wales, and Glenys Jones, Carer’s Voice Machynlleth, (left), learning from locaIngrid Bernathova, Crossroads Care Mid & West Wales, and Glenys Jones, Carer’s Voice Machynlleth, (left), learning from local residents that South Pacific and Love Me Tender (starring Elvis Presley) were among the films once shown at the Powys Cinema (http://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/32837).

(left to right) Heather Lewis, Dementia Advisor Nurse, Powys Local Health Board; Deanna Groom, RCAHMW; Richard Jones, Machynlleth Community Council Clerk; Glynis Jones, Carer’s Voice Machynlleth; and Vanessa  Garwood, Alzheimer’s Society.

Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

Rydym hefyd ar gael ar:


Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales

80th Anniversary of the Death of Lawrence of Arabia

Gorffwysfa, Tremadog, Gwynedd.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Lawrence of Arabia. Thomas Edward Lawrence died on 19th May 1935 six days after he had been seriously injured while swerving to avoid colliding with two schoolboys cycling in a dip in the road near his home in Dorset. He lost control of his Brough Superior SS100 motorcycle and was thrown over the handlebars. He was an author, a renowned archaeologist, and a highly regarded British Army officer who mobilised the Arab Revolt during WWI. Otherwise known as Lawrence of Arabia, he was born in Tremadog on the 16th of August 1888. A small plaque mounted above one of the bay windows on the ground-floor of Gorffwysfa (NPRN 17044) notes the birthplace of one of the greatest military leaders this country has ever known.

Gan Medwyn Parry


Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

Rydym hefyd ar gael ar:


Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales

Llechi Cymru: Archaeoleg a Hanes

Bydd cyfrol sydd yn adrodd hanes diwydiant newidiodd tirlun a chymunedau Cymru yn cael ei lansio yr wythnos hon mewn castell fu ynghanol anghydfod diwydiannol gyda’r hiraf erioed yn hanes gwledydd Prydain.

Mae Llechi Cymru: Archaeoleg a Hanes yn cael ei gyhoeddi gan Gomisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru ac yn ffrwyth cydweithio efo Dr Dafydd Gwyn, archaeolegydd diwydiannol sydd yn byw ym Mhen y Groes yn Nyffryn Nantlle. Mae’rlgyfrol yn cyfuno diddordeb oes Dr Gwyn yn y diwydiant ac arbenigedd cofnodi y Comisiwn ynghyd â’i archif gweledol enfawr.

Does gan Dr Gwyn yr un amheuaeth am bwysigrwydd y diwydiant:

“Mae’r diwydiant llechi wedi gadael ei ôl nid yn unig ar dirlun y wlad ond mae hefyd wedi cael effaith gymdeithasol a diwyllianol ddofn ar Gymru a’r byd tu hwnt.”

Mae’r Athro Merfyn Jones, sydd wedi ysgrifennu’r rhagair ar gyfer y llyfr, yn cytuno:

“Efallai bod y Chwyldro Diwydiannol wedi cael ei sefydlu ar decstiliau a’i yrru gan stêm; ond cafodd ei doi efo llechi wedi eu rhwygo o fryniau Eryri.”

Chwareli Ffestiniog a Blaenau Ffestiniog, dinas y chwarelwyr (AP_2011_3093, NPRN 305760)

Statws Treftadaeth y Byd

Roedd llechi o chwareli ar hyd a lled Gwynedd yn cael eu defnyddio i doi rhannau helaeth o’r byd ar un cyfnod, ac mae arwyddocad byd-eang hyn yn cael ei gydnabod trwy gynnwys Diwydiant Llechi Gogledd Cymru ar restr betrus Safleoedd Treftadaeth y Byd y DU i’w gyflwyno i UNESCO.

Mae’r llyfr yn gyfraniad pwysig er mwyn datblygu’r cais, sy’n cael ei arwain gan Gyngor Gwynedd.

Mae’r Cynghorydd Mandy Davies-Williams, Cadeirydd Pwyllgor Llywio’r cais, yn credu y bydd y llyfr nid yn unig yn gam pwysig tuag at ennill Statws Treftadaeth y Byd UNESCO ond hefyd yn cael effaith yn lleol:

“Bydd y llyfr yma yn helpu pobl Gwynedd i ymhyfrydu mewn rhan arall o dreftadaeth gyfoethog y sir, gan sicrhau y bydd y diwydiant yn parhau i ddod â buddion o bob math i’r rhai sydd yn byw yn y cymunedau chwarelyddol a thu hwnt heddiw.”

Cymodi

Mae Llechi Cymru yn hynod gynhwysfawr a’r ymchwil yn drylwyr ond mae hefyd wedi ei ysgrifennu mewn dull sydd yn hawdd i’w ddarllen ac wedi ei ddarlunio gan luniau a ffotograffau eithriadol.

Bydd y gyfrol yn cael ei lansio yn swyddogol yn Neuadd Fawr Castell Penrhyn ger Bangor. Cafodd y castell neo-Normanaidd ei adeiladu yn y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg ac mae bellach yn eiddo i’r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol.

Yn 1900, fe wnaeth anghydfod rhwng yr Arlgwydd Penrhyn a chwarelwyr Bethesda arwain at streic filain barodd am dair blynedd ac mae lansiad y gyfrol yma yn cael ei ystyried heddiw yn gam pwysig tuag at gymodi y castell a’r cymunedau gerllaw.

NODIADAU AR GYFER GOLYGYDDION
Mae’r llyfr ar gael yn Gymraeg a Saesneg:

Llechi Cymru: Archaeoleg a Hanes (ISBN: 978-1871184-52-5).

Welsh Slate: Archaeology and History of an Industry (ISBN: 978-1871184-51-8).

Mae rhain yn lyfrau fformat mawr o 291 tudalen gyda 243 darlun o safon uchel a’r gôst yw £45.

Bydd y lansiad yn digwydd yn Neuadd Fawr Castell Penrhyn, Llandygai, Bangor 17:30 – 19:30 Thursday 21 Mai 2015.

Am ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch efo’r Comisiwn ar 01970 621200, chc.cymru@cbhc.gov.uk.

Am wybodaeth a lluniau, cysylltwch â:

Nicola Roberts, Comisiwn Henebion Brenhinol Cymru, nicola.roberts@cbhc.gov.uk Tel:- 01970 621248

Y Comisiwn Brenhiol ar Henebion Cymru yw corff ymchwilio ac archif cenedlaethol amgylchedd hanesyddol Cymru. Ef sydd â’r rôl arweiniol o ran sicrhau y caiff treftadaeth archaeolegol, adeiliedig ac arforol Cymru ei chofnodi’n awdurdodol, a bydd yn ceisio hyrwyddo dealltwriaeth a gwerthfawrogiad o’r dreftadaeth honno yn genedlaethol ac yn rhyngwaldol.

Gwefan: www.cbhc.gov.uk

Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

Rydym hefyd ar gael ar:


Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales

A View From The Air: Aerial Survey With The Royal Commission

Safely landed at Haverfordwest Airport (K. Davies)

I’m a current PhD student at Swansea University, studying digital heritage and archaeology in Wales. Through Swansea University I was offered a heritage skills training placement with Toby Driver at the Royal Commission, giving me the opportunity to gain experience of the aerial survey work that the Commission carries out. Aerial survey includes monitoring the condition of scheduled ancient monuments across Wales to ensure they are not being damaged, as well as searching for previously unidentified archaeological sites from parch or cropmarks. Cropmarks appear when archaeology under the surface affects the growth rate of plants – for example plants growing over a ditch may grow taller than those around them as they can get more nutrition, whilst plants growing over a buried wall may be stunted, particularly during drought periods. This allows archaeologists to interpret the marks visible and suggest possible further investigative work. Information about these sites is made available to the public through the Royal Commissions online database Coflein.

As part of my week long placement I was given the chance to go on one of the Royal Commission’s aerial reconnaissance flights. Now it has to be said that I’m a nervous flyer at the best of times – but this was an opportunity not to be missed!  The weather was clear and sunny, with barely any wind, perfect for taking to the skies. I was quite nervous when we arrived at Haverfordwest airport, and the four-seat Cessna is by far the smallest plane I have ever been in, but after meeting the pilot and completing the safety checks I was ready to go. Once we were in the air my nervousness was (almost) forgotten; the views were incredible!

Pembrokeshire from the air (K. Davies)

Our first port of call was the current Dyfed Archaeological Trust community excavation at St Patrick’s Chapel in Whitesands Bay. They had asked us to get some aerial shots of their ongoing excavation of the early Medieval cemetery and chapel, which had been exposed during the winter storms of 2013-14. From the air the site looked great, and we got some fantastic photos of everyone hard at work. The dig continues until 22 May 2015 with daily tours for anyone who wishes to visit the site.

Excavations at St Patrick’s Chapel, NPRN: 305394, AP_2015_1168

From Whitesands bay we headed south along the Pembrokeshire coast, and around Ramsey Island.  The sea was so clear that we kept an eye out for any ancient wrecks or fish traps that may be visible, though we didn’t spot any on this trip. We passed several impressive Iron Age promontory forts, including Clawdd y Milwyr (St David’s Head Camp) complete with circles of roundhouses inside, and took photos to update the records. We carried on over Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock, and got photographs of the beautiful gardens at Picton Castle, before heading back to land in Haverfordwest. It was an amazing experience – but I was glad to make it back to land in one piece!

Dinas Fach promontory fort (K. Davies)

We got excellent photographs to update the records, including some by me during my placement, and ensure that the ancient monuments of Wales are fully protected from human or natural damage. We didn’t discover any new archaeological sites on this trip, though every year the Royal Commission identifies dozens of previously unknown sites. However there were good signs of early crop differentiation so far this year thanks so the warm spring, so if we have a dry summer watch this space…

By Kelly Davies, Swansea University


Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

Rydym hefyd ar gael ar:


Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales

Sister Ship to Gallipoli Landing Craft Lost in Welsh Waters

In the past month, when many nations have been commemorating the human losses of the Gallipoli campaign, the Royal Commission has discovered that a small vessel lost off the North Wales in 1948 was built to the same design as the Allied landing craft which took part.

Launch of one of the twelve x-lighters built by Irvine Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, West Hartlepool, in 1915. Reproduced with the kind permission of Bert Spaldin. (http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/irvine/aalist.htm)

The Gallipoli peninsula is in modern-day Turkey but in 1915 it was part of the Ottoman Empire – and the Ottomans were fighting alongside Germany. The Allied plan was to land forces at Gallipoli, move inland to take the capital Constantinople (now Istanbul) and take control the Dardenelles, a vital sea route into the Black Sea for their ally Russia. The rugged terrain and small number of suitable landing beaches created logistical problems. However, in February 1915, James Pollock & Son were asked on behalf of the Admiralty to design and oversee the construction of 200 motor landing craft. Twenty-seven shipyards in the northeast England and three on the Clyde were subsequently appointed to construct these X-lighters.

The Gallipoli landings followed a naval assault and began on 25 April 1915 at six beaches. The ground forces included the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), regular British 29th Division, and the French Oriental Expeditionary Corps. The Ottoman troops occupied good defensive positions and inflicted many casualties. Fifteen awards of the Victoria Cross were made amongst the Allied infantry and sailors in the first two days. So began a terrible eight-month ordeal. The X-lighters were eventually used to withdraw all Allied troops on 7-9 January 1916.

Later in 1916, a further 25 X-lighters were ordered by the Admiralty. The RIVER LOYNE was one of these - designated X 215 and built by J T Eltringham & Co Ltd, Willington Quay, North Tyneside.

X30, X31 and X32 being completed in dry dock of the Irvine Shipbuilding Company. Reproduced with the kind permission of Bert Spaldin. (http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/irvine/x301915.htm)

After the war, many lighters were sold off. This is how X 215 eventually ended up in the ownership of R Gardener of Lancaster, carrying stone from the Penmaenmawr quarry to Liverpool. On 8 December 1948, the vessel foundered off Puffin Island with the tragic loss of all its crew.

Although the RIVER LOYNE/ X215’s wartime history is still being researched, we’d like to take this opportunity to recognise the sacrifices made by people from so many countries and the bravery shown on all sides during one of the most iconic and controversial campaigns of the Great War.

Remembering all who gave their lives for their country but who have no grave but the sea.

• http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/415321
• http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/240015/details/RIVER+LOYNE/

Follow this link to discover first-hand accounts of Welsh soldier who took part:
http://www.peoplescollection.wales/node/443935

By Deanna Groom, Maritime Officer, RCAHMW

Tanysgrifiwch i Newyddion Treftadaeth Cymru a chofrestrwch ar gyfer yr RSS porthiant llawn: cliciwch y botwm RSS hwn a thanysgrifiwch!

Rydym hefyd ar gael ar:


Twitter Hashtag: #RCAHMWales