CPAT Trustees' Annual Report 2001-02

Introduction

The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital (Registered No 1212455) and is also a Registered Charity (Registered No 508301). The governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association, as revised in September 2001.

 

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.

 

 

Trustees and Trustees’ interests

The Trustees of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust also act as directors of the limited company. As the company has no share capital, the question of shares held by the directors does not apply. The following Trustees were elected at the Annual General Meeting held on 14 September 2001 and held office throughout the 2001/02 financial year:

 

Mrs F M Lynch Llewellyn  (Chairman)

Dr J L Davies  (Vice Chairman)

Mr H H Jones

Mr D R Morgan

Mr C R Musson

Mr D F Petch

Mr D W L Rowlands

 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing those financial statements the directors are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

 

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

 

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 primary area of activity is in the Clwyd-Powys area of mid and north-east Wales covered by the present-day counties of Powys, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and the eastern part of Conwy though it also carries out project work in other adjacent counties in England and Wales from time to time.

 

 

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 in the earlier part of the year due to the of foot and mouth epidemic.

 

Projects funded by Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments are detailed below, a number of which continued from previous financial years and are being undertaken as part of the scheduling enhancement programme. The Trust is particularly grateful to Cadw for agreeing to a number of variations to the agreed programme for the year due to the foot and mouth epidemic which started just before the beginning of the financial year. As a consequence a greater emphasis was placed upon desk-based studies, which it is anticipated will be followed by fieldwork during the next financial year: Deserted Rural Settlements  Production of text and illustrations for forthcoming publication summarizing the fieldwork undertaken on this project throughout Wales over the last five years. Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites  Desk-based study of about 1,680 sites in south Radnorshire, the Dyfi Valley in Montgomeryshire, and in Brecknock, the majority of which are Bronze Age round barrows. It is anticipated that most if not all sites will be visited during the course of the next 3 years, with a view to recording their present condition and making recommendations for scheduling. Historic Landscapes  Historic landscape characterization was undertaken on the Mynydd Hiraethog historic landscape defined in Part Two of the Historic Landscapes Register, as part of a continuing pan-Wales initiative. A total of 15 historic landscape character areas were defined on the basis of past and present land-use. Lithic Scatters  A desk-based study involving the identification and categorization of flint and stone finds in the Clwyd-Powys area, as part of a broader initiative concerned with prehistoric settlement in Wales. A database was created listing individual find-spots and finds scatters, largely dating to the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Short Dykes in the Welsh borderland  Predominantly desk-based study involving the collation of records relating to short dykes and other linear earthworks in the borderland area. All the known short dykes in mid and north-east Wales were plotted from existing plans and entered into a GIS to provide a tool for further analysis and subsequent fieldwork which it is anticipated will be carried out during 2002/03. Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites  Preliminary desk-based study of early medieval ecclesiastical sites in the Clwyd-Powys area as part of a new pan-Wales initiative. There is a considerable but diverse range of information relating to these sites, which include early church and chapel sites, monastic sites and hermitages, inscribed and cross-marked stones, freestanding crosses, and holy wells. Buttington waterfront  Fieldwork recording of medieval timber structures revealed in eroding bank of the river Severn which tree-ring dating has shown to have been built in about 1175. Roman Roads  Initial desk-based assessment of recorded evidence relating to Roman roads in the Clwyd-Powys area of which only a limited number of stretches are scheduled. It is anticipated selected sites will be visited in the field in a subsequent financial year.

 

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 in the Clwyd-Powys area, focusing on scheduled ancient monuments combined with the identification and recording of previously unidentified sites. Uplands Initiative Production of articles summarising work undertaken as part of this initiative, to appear in a forthcoming monograph to be published by the Royal Commission.

 

Many other fieldwork and desk-based projects were carried out during the course of the year which were funded by other bodies, including the following: Colliery Winding Engine House, Bannel Lane, Buckley Desk-based study and detailed building recording of winding house formerly belonging to Buckley Collieries, in advance of conversion, on behalf of private developer. St Mary’s Church, Llanrhos Archaeological evaluation in advance of the proposed extension of cemetery, on behalf of Conwy County Borough Council. Llanymynech Golf Course Archaeological watching brief during renewal of greens within the scheduled Iron Age hillfort, on behalf of Llanymynech Golf Club. Shrawardine Castle Detailed topographical and geophysical survey of the medieval castle and its environs, just across the border into Shropshire, as part of a Local Heritage Initiative on behalf of Montford Parish Millennium Green Trust and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Clive Engine House Field survey and desk-based study of the substantial stone-built 19th-century engine house associated with the former Talargoch lead mine, in advance of proposed reconsolidation work by Denbighshire County Council.

 

 

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 at the following address: 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 work and the services it provides to the community.

 

About 50 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 a number of contributions to the volume on the medieval aisled hall at T~-mawr, Castle Caereinion, published in The Montgomeryshire Collections, an article on Medieval Upland Cultivation on the Berwyns in north Wales, published in the Landscape History journal, and an article analysing patterns of long-term erosion on Offa’s Dyke which appeared in Erosion Control on Archaeological Earthworks and Recreational Paths, published by Northumberland County Council.

 

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, 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 at the end of the financial year stood at 46,085 of which about 1,500 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 — Brecon Beacons National Park, Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council, Flintshire County Council, Powys County Council, and Wrexham County Borough Council. The  SMR continues to be principally used on a day-to-day basis for development control and in responding to Tir Gofal enquiries. In addition the Trust responded to over 400 external enquiries during the course of the year for other purposes, including private research. A significant development during the course of the year was the creation of HTML pages for each SMR entry which has greatly enhanced the Trust’s ability to respond to both internal and external enquiries.

 

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 5,977 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. Notable casework during the course of the year involved Welshpool (Montgomeryshire), development of former garage in Salop Road, Llandeilo Graban (Radnorshire), proposed new car-park near the church, Arddleen (Montgomeryshire), refurbishment of New Cut Argae, New Radnor (Radnorshire), proposed housing development at The Porth, Denbigh, development of land adjacent to Howell’s School, Machynlleth (Montgomeryshire), proposed new factory at Rhiw Gwreiddyn slate quarry, Llanidloes (Montgomeryshire), proposed conversion of former factory at Cwm Belan.

 

The Offa’s Dyke Initiative  This initiative, managed by the Trust and jointly funded by Cadw and English Heritage, was first established during the previous financial year in response to growing concerns about the deteriorating condition of this nationally important linear earthwork. Work undertaken during the course of 2001/02 included practical conservation,  development control and planning advice, and strategic management advice. As in other areas of the Trust’s work, the financial year proved a difficult time due to the impact of foot and mouth disease, the dyke being effectively out of bounds from March until late summer of 2001. Despite this disruption practical repair works were possible from the autumn onwards, including schemes near Knighton, Forden and Mellington (Powys) and Bryndreinog and Mardu (Shropshire) and survey work in advance of repair work on Llanfair Hill (Shropshire). Significant research relating to particular conservation issues was undertaken during the year. A survey commissioned on the impact of badger burrowing has indicated both the true extent of the problem on some sections of Offa’s Dyke and the need for a properly managed and integrated management approach if a better balance is to be achieved between the interests of a protected animal and a protected monument. A leaflet introducing the dyke in Shropshire and Powys was prepared which it is envisaged as the first of four such leaflets covering the whole monument.

 

Archaeological advice and information continued to be provided to the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and landowners in response to applications to Tir Gofal, the all-Wales agri-environment scheme. The primary purpose of this work is to provide detailed management advice about features of archaeological or historical significance on farms which are entering the scheme. The Trust provided archaeological information in response to 130 applications to Tir Gofal during the course of the year as well as producing more detailed reports on 8 selected farms accepted into the scheme following field visits. The Trust also contributed to training sessions organised for CCW staff. 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. Archaeological advice was given in response to 179 development proposals outside the planning system including the following: Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent applications; Woodland Grant Scheme applications; National Native Woodland Scheme proposals; Private Long-Term 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; and on faculty applications submitted to Welsh Diocesan Advisory Committees in the Trust’s area. Regular liaison meetings were also held with staff of the Forestry Authority, the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales.  The Trust also 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, and September 2000 and in 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. A list of the Trustees, Committee Members, Members, Staff  and Advisors during all or part of 2001/02 is given below.

 

 

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.

 

 

NEW PREMISES

The Trust has been seeking new premises in the Welshpool area for a number of years in order to combine its workforce currently split between two buildings, provide disabled access, and enable improved facilities to be established for outside bodies and members of the general public. One of the options that is currently being explored is that of shared accommodation with the Powysland Library Trust, a registered charity also based in Welshpool. A designated fund towards the acquisition and conversion of new premises has been accumulated by the Trust over a number of years (see Financial Review).

 

Mrs F M Lynch Llewellyn

Chairman of Trustees

5 July 2002

 

 

TRUSTEES, COMMITTEE, MEMBERS AND 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

Mr H Jones, Holt

Mr C R Musson, Llanfihangel  y Creuddyn

Mr D F Petch, University of Liverpool

Mr D W L Rowlands, Llanerfyl

Mr D Morgan, Christ College, Brecon

 

Committee Members

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

Mrs F Gale, Denbighshire County Council

Ms K Kucharski, Wrexham County Borough Council

Mr D F Keast, Powys County Council

Mrs Hilary 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 David Rogers, Wrexham County Borough Council

Councillor Mr J H Hughes, Powys County Council

Councillor Mrs I B Lewis, Powys County Council

Mrs N P Parker, Flintshire Historical Society

Mrs J Pierson Jones, Council for Museums in Wales

Mr D Pratt, Denbighshire Historical Society

Councillor P C Evans, Conwy County Borough Council

 

Staff

Administration Team

Mr W J Britnell, Director

Mrs J E Britnell, Administrative Officer

Mrs M Godsell, Finance Assistant

 

Project Team

Mr R J Silvester, Head of Field Services

Mr N W Jones, Senior Project Archaeologist

Mr W G Owen, Project Archaeologist

Mr R Hankinson, Project Archaeologist

 

Curatorial Team

Mr C H R Martin, Head of Curatorial Services

Mr I Bapty, Offa’s Dyke Archaeological Management Officer

Mr P Copleston, Heritage Management Officer (until end of January 2002)

Jenny Mitcham, Regional Sites and Monuments Record Officer (until end of April 2001)

Ms W J Owen, Senior Project Assistant/Development Control Assistant

Mr M Walters, Development Control Officer

Ms A Kennedy, Heritage Management Assistant/Tir Gofal

 

Accountants

Tranter Lowe, Oakengates

 

Auditors

Whittingham Riddell , Welshpool & Shrewsbury

 

Solicitors

Turnbull Garrard, Shrewsbury

 

Bankers

National Westminster Bank, Broad Street, Welshpool