CPAT Trustees' Annual Report 2000-01

Introduction

The Trustees present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 in the format recommended by the Charity Commission (SORP 1995). The annual report and accounts will be presented in the revised format recommended by the Charity Commission (SORP 2000) at the end of the next financial year.

 

The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital (Registered No 1212455) and Registered Charity (Registered No 508301). The governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association as incorporated on 14 May 1975.

 

Principal activity

The principal activity of the Trust is the education of the public in archaeology which is fulfilled by providing archaeological advice and information to the community.

 

 

SUMMARY OF THE TRUST'S AIMS

The Trust is one of the four Archaeological Trusts established in Wales in the 1970s. It is both a limited company and a registered charity. The Trust works closely with other national, regional and local bodies, to help record, interpret and protect all aspects of the historic environment. Its main field of operations is in the Clwyd-Powys area, namely  the county of Powys and the local authority areas formerly in Clwyd - Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham County Borough Council and the eastern part of Conwy County Borough Council.

 

 

SUMMARY OF THE TRUST'S ACTIVITIES

DURING THE YEAR

 

Archaeological research and investigation

The Trust continued to undertake a wide variety of projects in the field, usually in response to proposed developments or to enhance the archaeological record. As in previous years these included rescue excavations, building recording, desktop assessments, field evaluations, field surveys and watching briefs. Examples of the types of project which were undertaken during the course of the year are given below. The names of the former counties of Brecknock, Radnor and Montgomery are used for convenience in the following text. Progress on a number of fieldwork projects was inevitably disrupted towards the end of the financial year following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Powys in February 2001.

 

Projects funded by Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments included the following, a number of which have continued from previous financial years:  Churches Project  Copying and dissemination of individual reports and regional overviews of the archaeology of about 260 pre-Victorian churches in the Clwyd-Powys area, copies of which were circulated to individual dioceses and churches, the Cathedrals and Churches Commission of the Church in Wales, local authorities, Cadw, and the Royal Commission. Deserted Rural Settlements  This was the fifth and final year devoted to rapid survey of deserted medieval and later rural settlements for purposes of record enhancement and conservation, funded as part of a pan-Wales initiative. Work undertaken during the year included visits to over 460 sites in Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire and eastern Conwy.  Cwmhir Abbey  The Trust contributed to a publication report concerning the remains of the Cistercian abbey at Abbeycwmhir, Radnorshire, summarising the survey work carried out in previous financial years involving the standing remains, aerial survey and geophysical  survey and the dispersal of architectural fragments following the Reformation.  Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites in North Radnorshire  Rapid survey of about 270 sites, including round barrows, ring-cairns, standing stones, stone circles and stone rows, for the purpose of Scheduled Ancient Monument enhancement. This continued the work undertaken in the upper Severn Valley in 1997/98, Denbighshire and Conwy in 1998/99, and Flintshire and Wrexham in 1999/2000. A total of over 50 sites were recommended for scheduling.  Historic Landscapes  As part of a new pan-Wales initiative, work was undertaken on the characterization the  Middle Wye Valley  between Talgarth and Hay-on-Wye, one of the Historic Landscape areas defined in Part One of the Historic Landscapes Register published by Cadw in conjunction with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and ICOMOS UK. Sixteen historic landscape character areas were defined in both of the historic landscape areas on the basis of a number of historic landscape themes, including settlement, agriculture, transport and communications, industry, defence, funerary, religious associations, and the presence of ornamental and picturesque landscapes. The project is being carried out in parallel with CCW's LANDMAP programme being undertaken by local authorities in Wales, and it is anticipated that the studies will provide information about the historic environment that will contribute to various landscape management initiatives. Copies of a report on the project were submitted to local planning authorities, Cadw and the Royal Commission, and it is hoped that a summary will be made available on the Trust's website in due course.  Castell Blaen Llynfi  A report was produced summarising the history and archaeology of one of Brecknock's lesser known medieval stone castles, which will be submitted for publication in the near future. The work was undertaken in conjunction with a programme of conservation work carried out by Brecon Beacons  National Park with financial assistance from Cadw.

 

Projects funded by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales included the following:  Aerial Photography  Grant aid enabled the Trust to undertake aerial monitoring of about 100 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and other sites in the area between the Lugg and the Wye, as far west as Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire.  Uplands Initiative  Production of a summary of upland survey work carried out as part of this national initiative, to appear on the Royal Commission's website, and the production of a feasibility study for the publication of a monograph on this work.

 

Projects funded by other bodies included the following:  St Cyngar's Church, Hope, Wrexham  Archaeological excavation and recording on behalf of the parochial church council, during the course of an extensive programme of restoration at this important medieval church, revealed new evidence about the history and structural development of the church. Part of a previously unknown  9th or 10th-century stone cross was discovered during the course of the project.  Criccin Cross, Rhuddlan, Denbighshire  Evaluation work on the site of this medieval cross base, in advance of conservation work, was undertaken on behalf of Cadw and Denbighshire County Council in February 2000. Llandrinio, Montgomeryshire  Assessment and excavation on behalf of the Environment Agency on a flood bank defence confirmed the presence of a much denuded medieval motte and bailey castle known as 'Domen Gastell', just downstream from Pool Quay. Excavation revealed that the mound of the medieval earthen castle had been used as a source of material for the construction of the flood bank in the late 18th century.  Trannon Moor, Carno, Montgomeryshire  Small-scale excavations were undertaken with the aid of funding from National Windpower via Powys County Council, with the assistance of three Dutch archaeologists from the city of Zwolle. The programme allowed for the evaluation of six archaeological sites which proved to be part of an extensive prehistoric funerary and ritual complex within the area of the existing windfarm. As part of the project an assessment was also made of the palaeoenvironmental potential of the windfarm area by staff of Lampeter University.  St Trillo's Church, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos,  Conwy  Archaeological recording was undertaken on behalf of the parochial church council during the course of repairs to the external walls of the church, involving detailed recording of the blocked 13th-century arcade on the north side of the church, the recording of architectural and sculptural fragments in the south nave wall, together with a reconsideration of the structural history of the building.  Montgomeryshire Nature Reserves  A detailed archaeological assessment was undertaken of the 16 nature reserves belonging to the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to help with the process of drawing up management plans for each of the reserves.  Old Mill, Pont Faen, Brecknock  Detailed survey of the former water corn mill, last used for the preparation of animal feed in the 1950s, in advance of its conversion into a dwelling.  Warren Wood, Radnorshire  Archaeological assessment on behalf of Forest Enterprise in order to help with the future management of the wood which lies to the west of New Radnor.  Vyrnwy Environs Survey, Montgomeryshire  Continued systematic survey of the uplands around Lake Vyrnwy on behalf of Severn-Trent Water, which notably revealed three previously unrecorded round barrows, two medieval or later building platform sites, and a number of boundary stones.  Llanrhos, Conwy  Archaeological assessment in response to proposals to extend the cemetery adjacent to St Mary's Church, including geophysical survey of potential buried archaeological remains.

 

Education and publication

Every opportunity is taken to carry out educational work, even though only a relatively small proportion of the grant aid which the Trust currently receives is given specifically for this purpose. All the Trust's activities, however, contribute directly or indirectly towards a greater understanding of the historic environment of the Clwyd-Powys area. Development work continued on the Trust's website whose address has now changed to www.cpat.org.uk. The website includes information about the Trust and its activities and is continuing to be important in publicising the Trust's activities and the services it provides to the community.

 

Over 60 project and topic reports were produced during the course of the year for limited circulation. Short reports on individual projects undertaken by the Trust are generally summarised in Archaeology in Wales, published annually by the Council for British Archaeology: Wales, as well as in a number of national period journals including Britannia and Medieval Archaeology. Other publications by Trust staff during the course of the year included reports on recent discoveries in the vicinity of  Castell Collen, Llandrindod Wells  (published in the journal Studia Celtica) and a report on  Deserted Rural Settlements  of medieval or later date (published in a monograph in the British Archaeological Reports series).

 

Archaeological advice and information

With the help of funding from the Royal Commission the Trust maintains an archive and computerized record of sites, finds, historic buildings and areas of archaeological importance known as the  Regional Sites and Monuments Record  (SMR), covering Powys, eastern Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Powys, and Wrexham. The main purposes of the record are to provide advice about the archaeological implications of planning policies and developments, advice about the management of archaeological sites and landscapes, and to serve as a resource for initiatives concerning the preservation, interpretation and presentation of the archaeology and historic landscapes of Wales. The total number of entries in the main computerised SMR records at the end of the financial year stood at 44,556 of which about 7,247 new records were added during the course of the year, new information being gathered from recent fieldwork and from published sources. The record has now been formally adopted for planning purposes by all the planning authorities in the Clwyd-Powys area - Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council, Flintshire County Council, Powys County Council, and Wrexham County Borough Council.  SMR Internet Access  A major initiative during the course of the year resulted in access to the SMR by means of the internet. Following discussions with the Archaeology Data Service (an element of the Arts and Humanities Data Service) an extensive database of records in the Clwyd-Powys area was made available through the on-line catalogue ArchSearch (www.ads.ahds.ac.uk) in the Autumn of 2000. In addition an index of sites was also made available on the CARN database of Welsh sites hosted by the Royal Commission (www.rcahmw.org.uk). The SMR continues to be mostly used for checking planning implications, though 396 other enquiries were made during the course of the year for other purposes, including private research. An increasing number of external enquiries are made by email, and consequently an on-line enquiry form was added to the Trust's own website during the year.

 

With the help of funding from Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments the Trust continued to provide  Development Control  advice about all aspects of the historic environment throughout the Clwyd-Powys area to national and local planning authorities, public and private sector developers, and other local and national organisations. The Trust received notification of about 5,800 planning applications, highway scheme proposals and minerals applications from local authorities during the course of the year, all of which were checked to see whether they had significant archaeological implications. The Trust was also consulted on about 330 other development proposals outside the planning system including the following: Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent applications; Environmentally Sensitive Area management schemes; Woodland Grant Scheme applications; Forest Design Plans; Environment Agency capital and management schemes; schemes proposed by various utility companies including Welsh Water, Severn Trent Water and the Wrexham Water Company, MANWEB, SWALEC, MEB, British Gas/Transco. Regular liaison meetings were also held with staff of the Forestry Authority, the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales. Notable casework during the course of the year involved  Hope Church, Buckley  Willow Pottery and  Bannel Lane  Colliery Haulage Engine House (Flintshire),  Evenjobb  and  Presteign  (Radnorshire),  Ffrith  (Wrexham), the  Talerddig to Machynlleth  gas pipeline and proposed  Mynydd y Cemmaes windfarm, Welshpool  Salop Road and  Llandrinio  flood defences (Montgomeryshire),  Pontfaen Mill  and proposed  Inner Circular Road, Brecon (Brecknock)

 

The Offa's Dyke Initiative  The initiative, managed by the Trust and jointly funded by Cadw and English Heritage, was established in the previous financial year in response to growing concerns about the deteriorating condition of this remarkable earthwork. Work undertaken during the course of 2000/01 included practical conservation,  development control and planning advice, and strategic management advice. Proposals for practical conservation work was developed on 39 sites in Wales and England involving about 10 kilometres of dyke, of which work was started on 13 sites during the year. Other conservation work included  two other archaeological monuments on the course of the Offa's Dyke National Trail and a stretch of Wat's Dyke in north Wales. A significant piece of strategic development work during the year was the preparation of the  Offa's Dyke Conservation Statement  which outlines the significance of the monument, the erosion pressures on the earthwork, and the conservation principles governing its future preservation. The Offa's Dyke initiative has made good progress during the first year of its existence. As well as success in planning and implementing practical conservation works along the dyke a significant start has been made in developing a conservation strategy for this intriguing monument.

 

Archaeological advice and information continued to be provided to the Countryside Council for Wales and landowners relating to applications to  Tir Gofal  the all-Wales agri-environment scheme initiated in 1999. The primary purpose of the work is to provide detailed management advice about features of archaeological or historical significance on farms which are entering the scheme. Other  Heritage Management  work undertaken by the Trust with funding from Cadw included the provision of strategic planning advice, particularly in relation to Unitary Development Plans. The Trust continued to be involved with the  Portable Antiquities Scheme  supported in Wales by the Council for Museums in Wales and the National Museums and Galleries of Wales.

 

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION

The Trust is managed by a board of Trustees elected from the Trust Members at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees met on four occasions during the course of the financial year, in April, June, September 2000 and January 2001. The Advisory Committee, comprising the Trustees, other Members co-opted by the Trustees, and an observer nominated by Cadw: Welsh Historic Monument, met on two occasions during the year, in April and September 2000. Nominations for Membership of the Trust is by invitation from local authorities, museums, local historical and archaeological societies, and other bodies with interests in the historic environment of Wales. Members normally meet once a year at the Annual General Meeting.

 

 

SOURCES OF FUNDS

The Trust is grateful for the financial support it continues to receive from Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, an Executive Agency within the National Assembly for Wales, and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Cadw provides a contribution to the Trust's administrative costs, within the terms of the National Assembly's support for Voluntary Sector Organisations. Most of the remainder of the Trust's income came in the form of grant aid and contract awards from the public and private sectors, and is almost exclusively designated for the provision of archaeological services and for specific field or office-based projects within the Trust's annual programme of work.

 

TRUSTEES, COMMITTEE, MEMBERS, STAFF AND ADVISORS 2000/01

 

Trustees/Company Directors

Mrs F M Lynch Llewellyn, Chairman, University of Wales, Bangor

Dr J L Davies, Vice Chairman, University of Wales, Aberystwyth

Dr C J Arnold, University of Wales, Aberystwyth

Mr D F Petch, University of Liverpool

Mr D W L Rowlands, Llanerfyl

 

Advisory Committee

Dr S H R Aldhouse-Green, University of Wales College, Newport

Mr K S Brassil, National Museums and Galleries of Wales

Mr P Dorling, Brecon Beacons National Park

Dr E Plunkett Dillon, The National Trust

Mr D M Evans, Society of Antiquaries of London

Mrs F Gale, Denbighshire County Council

Mr S Grenter, Wrexham County Borough Council

Mr D F Keast, Powys County Council

Mrs H Malaws, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

Dr S Rees, observer for Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments

Mr C J Spurgeon, Aberystwyth

 

Members

Miss J Ashton, Radnorshire Society

Councillor G R Banks, Powys County Council

Miss E Bredsdorff, Powysland Museum

Mr R Brewer, National Museum of Wales

Councillor Mrs S D Francis, Powys County Council

Councillor S Greenaway, Wrexham County Borough Council

Councillor Mr J H Hughes, Powys County Council

Councillor Mrs I B Lewis, Powys County Council

Mr C R Musson, former Director, CPAT

Mrs N P Parker, Flintshire Historical Society

Mrs J Pierson Jones, Council for Museums in Wales

Mrs M T Read, Denbighshire Historical Society

Councillor P C Evans, Conwy County Borough Council

 

Staff

Administration Team/Tim Gweinyddol

Mr W J Britnell, Director/Company Secretary

Mrs J E Britnell, Administrative Officer

Mrs M Godsell, Finance Assistant

 

Curatorial Team

Mr C H R Martin, Principal Curatorial Officer

Mr I Bapty, Offa's Dyke Archaeological Management Officer

Mr P Copleston, Heritage Management Officer

Ms J L Mitcham, Sites and Monuments Records Officer

Mr M Walters, Development Control Officer

Ms C Waller, Heritage Management Assistant [May-December 2000]

Ms A Kennedy, Heritage Management Assistant [March 2001]

 

Project Team

Mr R J Silvester, Deputy Director, Head of Field Services

Mr N W Jones, Senior Project Archaeologist

Mr W G Owen, Project Archaeologist

Ms W J Owen, Project Archaeologist

Mr R Hankinson, Project Archaeologist

 

Accountants

Tranter Lowe, 6 Market Street, Oakengates, Telford

 

Auditors

Whittingham Riddell, 23 Severn Street, Welshpool

 

Solicitors/Cyfreithwry

Turnbull Garrard, 24 The Crescent, Town Walls, Shrewsbury

 

Bankers

National Westminster Bank, Broad Street, Welshpool