CPAT Trustees' Annual Report 2003-04

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

The Trustees present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2004 in the format recommended by the Charity Commission (SORP 2000).

 

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 in September 2003 and held office throughout the 2003/04 financial year:

 

Mrs Frances M Lynch Llewellyn  (Chairman)

Dr Jeffrey L Davies  (Vice Chairman)

Mr H H Jones

Mr David R Morgan

Mr Chris R Musson

Mr David 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. 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 sphere 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 in Powys are used for convenience in the following text.

 

 

The following projects were funded by Cadw during the course of the year, some of which continued work initiated in previous financial years. Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites  Visits were made to many hundreds of sites in parts of Montgomeryshire and in the Black Mountains, Breconshire, as part of a pan-Wales initiative being promoted by Cadw. The project is designed to look at a wide range of field monuments including Bronze Age round barrows and cairns, standing stones and stone circles, with a view to recording their present condition and making recommendations for protection and management. Historic Landscapes    Historic landscape characterization was undertaken in the Elan Valley area as defined in Part Two of the Historic Landscapes Register, as part of a continuing pan-Wales initiative. Leaflets for public distribution were also produced on the English Maelor, Middle Wye Valley and Vale of Montgomery historic landscape areas, and further information about historic landscape characterization was posted on the Trust’s web site. Short Dykes in the Welsh Borderland Further work was undertaken on this project, designed to re-examine a series of linear earthworks which together with their larger cousins - Offa’s Dyke and Wat’s Dyke - form a distinctive element of the archaeology of the Welsh borderlands. The principal objectives during the year were the preparation of a published report on the survey work undertaken in the previous year as well as a programme of environmental sampling in order to try and understand the landscape conditions at the time several of the dykes were constructed. Early Medieval Ecclesiastical and Burial Sites  The principal objective here was to complete the programme of fieldwork initiated in the previous financial year. Roman Roads  Fieldwork was undertaken on the basis of the desktop study initiated in previous years, with a view to making recommendations for preserving a number of the better-preserved stretches of road. Round Huts in north-east Wales Field survey and recording as part of the continuing audit of prehistoric and later settlement sites in the Clwyd-Powys area.

 

Research Framework for the Archaeology of Wales As part of an initiative involving the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts, Cadw, the Royal Commission, the National Museums and Galleries of Wales and the Cambrian Archaeologial Association, and the Institute of Field Archaeologists, the Trust mounted the papers relating to the research framework on the internet, which are now available at <www.cpat.org.uk/research>.

 

Many other fieldwork and desk-based projects of varying degrees of scale and complexity were carried out during the course of the year with funding from other bodies, including the following:  Brecknock LANDMAP Preparation of the archaeology and history aspect of the Brecknock LANDMAP on behalf of Powys County Council and the Countryside Council for Wales.  Montgomery Canal Archaeological field assessment of the canal corridor in Shropshire and Montgomeryshire as part of the Montgomery Canal Conservation Management Strategy, part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, on behalf of British Waterways. Arddleen Enclosure Partial excavation of the Iron Age and Roman enclosed settlement at Arddleen in advance of a private residential development. Vyrnwy Environs Project Continued archaeological field survey of the environs of Lake Vyrnwy, on behalf of Severn Trent Water. Offa’s Dyke Walks Development of guided walks exploring the archaeology of the historic landscape of Offa’s Dyke, on behalf of Powys County Council. Bangor Is-y-coed Community Archaeology Project A community archaeology project funded by the Northern Marches Cymru Leader + programme, funded through Wrexham County Council. Aerial Photography A progamme funded by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, including flights over the Elan Valley, northern Montgomeryshire and eastern Flintshire and Wrexham. Royal House, Machynlleth Building recording and exacavation in advance of building conversion, on behalf of the Machynlleth Tabernacle Trust. Llanymynech Heritage Site  Extensive survey of industrial remains between the canal and Llanymynech Hill on behalf of Oswestry Borough 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 www.cpat.org.uk which is proving popular with members of the general public, archaeological practitioners and students. 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.

 

Over 95 (2002/03: 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. Publications during the course of the year included a report on survey and excavations at the sixteenth-century hall house at Tyddyn Llwydion, published in the Archaeological Journal, several articles on the archaeology of the Welsh uplands in the book The Archaeology of the Welsh Uplands, published by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, and articles on the prehistoric and funerary monuments of north Wales, which appeared in the Transactions of the Denbighshire Historical Society and the Flintshire Historical Society Journal.

Work also continued on the production of a number of other reports which it is anticipated will be published in subsequent financial years.

 

The Trust is actively involved in the work of a number of local and national historical and archaeological societies and groups and staff attended meetings of the following bodies during the course of the year: Association of Diocesan Archaeologists, Brecknock Society, British Aviation Archaeology Council, Cambrian Archaeological Association, Cathedrals and Churches Commission, Council for British Archaeology, Herefordshire Historical Society, Holt Local History Society, Llanfihangel Social History Group, Llanymynech Heritage Group, Medieval Settlement Research Group, Offa’s Dyke Association, Oswestry and District History and Archaeology Group, Post-Medieval Archaeology Society, Powysland Club, Radnorshire Historical Society, Society for Landscape Studies, Society for Church Archaeology, Twentieth-Century Military Structures Working Group, Wales Industrial Archaeology Panel, Vyrnwy Conservation Group, Welshpool Evening Institute. Members of staff have also acted as editors for Montgomeryshire Collections, the local historical and archaeological journal published annually by the Powysland Club, and for Archaeologia Cambrensis, published by the Cambrian Archeological Association, and reviews editors for Archaeology in Wales, Landscape History and Archaeologia Cambrensis.

 

Archaeological advice and information

With the help of funding from the Royal Commission the Trust continues to maintain a 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 54, 323 (2002/03: 51,243) of which 3,080 new records were added during the course of the year, new information being gathered from recent fieldwork and from published and unpublished sources.

 

The SMR 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 Tir Gofal, responding to 8,832 enquiries for these purposes during the course of the year. With the help of financial assistance from Cadw the Trust responded to 556 external enquiries during the course of the year for other purposes, including responding to enquiries by individual researchers, archaeological contractors and consultants. Work continued during the year on a thesaurus of archaeological terms in conjunction with the Royal Commission and the SMRs maintained by the three other Welsh Archaeological Trusts.

 

With the help of funding from Cadw, Conwy Borough Council, Flintshire County Council, and Powys County Council 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 7,981 (2002/03: 6,725) planning applications together with over 851 (2002/03: 560) non-planning proposals such as 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 developments at Arddleen, Clyro, Llansilin, Four Crosses, Hay-on-Wye, and Brecon.

 

The Offa’s Dyke Initiative  This initiative, managed by the Trust and jointly funded by Cadw and English Heritage, was first established several years ago in response to growing concerns about the deteriorating condition of this nationally important linear earthwork. Work undertaken during the course of 2003/04 included practical conservation, development control and planning advice, and strategic management advice. Practical management projects included major tree-removal and refencing of protective path surfaces on various lengths of the Dyke. Altogether, work was in progress or development at nineteen sites involving 5.5 kilometres of dyke in both England and Wales.

 

Advisory and management advice was also provided for conservation of other earthwork monuments. It is hoped that detailed proposals prepared on behalf of Cadw for improved care of sections of the medieval defensive circuit of Montgomery will now be implemented by the owner over the summer of 2004, while management recommendations have also been developed for mottes at Tyn-y-Celyn (Powys) and East Dudston (Shropshire). The expansion of Agri-environment schemes on both sides of the border continue to generate opportunities for pro-active archaeological management work of this kind.

 

Archaeological advice and information continued to be provided to the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and to 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 242 (2002/03: 225) farm applications to Tir Gofal during the course of the year as well as producing more detailed surveys and reports on 52 (2002/03: 18) 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 numerous 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, July, and September 2003 and in January 2004. The Advisory Committee, comprising the Trustees, other Members co-opted by the Trustees, and an observer nominated by Cadw met on two occasions during the year, in April and September 2003. 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 a number of national bodies, including Cadw, an Executive Agency within the Welsh Assembly Government, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales, and English Heritage (see note 2 to the accounts). Cadw continues to provide a contribution to the Trust’s administrative costs, within the terms of the Welsh Assembly’s Government’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.

 

ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS

The Trust continues to look for better premises in the Welshpool area 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. A designated fund for the acquisition and/or conversion of new premises has been accumulated by the Trust over a number of years (see Financial Review). An audit was undertaken of the Trust’s responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, leading to several amendments to former practice.

 

Mrs F M Lynch Llewellyn

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

16 July 2004

 

 

TRUSTEES, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MEMBERS AND STAFF IN 2003/04

 

Trustees/Company Directors

Mrs F M Lynch Llewellyn, Chairman, Bangor

Dr J L Davies, Vice Chairman, Aberystwyth

Mr H Jones, Holt

Mr C R Musson, Aberystwyth

Mr D W L Rowlands, Llanerfyl

Mr D Morgan, Brecon

 

Committee Members

Professor 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

Mr D F Keast, Powys County Council

Ms K Kucharski, Wrexham County Borough 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 of the Trust

Miss J Ashton, Radnorshire Society

Councillor G R Banks, Powys County Council

Miss E Bredsdorff, Powysland Museum

Mr R Brewer, National Museums and Galleries of Wales

Councillor P C Evans, Conwy County Borough Council

Councillor Mr J H Hughes, Powys County Council

Councillor Mr J F Jones, Flintshire County Council

Councillor Mrs I B Lewis, Powys County Council

Mrs N P Parker, Flintshire Historical Society

Mr D Pratt, Denbighshire Historical Society

Councillor D Rogers, Wrexham County Borough Council

 

Staff

Administration Team

Mr W J Britnell, Director/Company Secretary

Mrs J E Britnell, Administrative Officer

Mrs M Godsell, Finance Assistant

 

Project Team

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

Mr N W Jones, Senior Project Archaeologist

Mr R Hankinson, Project Archaeologist

Mr I Grant, Project Archaeologist

Ms W J Owen, Project Archaeologist

 

Curatorial Team

Mr C H R Martin, Head of Curatorial Services

Mr I Bapty, Offa’s Dyke Archaeological Management Officer

Mr D Bull, Heritage Management Assistant/Tir Gofal

Ms A Kennedy, Heritage Management Assistant/Tir Gofal

Mr R Phipps, Heritage Management Assistant

Mr J Spencer, Regional Sites and Monuments Record Officer

Mr M Walters, Development Control Officer

 

Accountants

Tranter Lowe, Oakengates

 

Auditors

Whittingham Riddell LLP, Welshpool & Shrewsbury

 

Solicitors

Turnbull Garrard, Shrewsbury

 

Bankers

National Westminster Bank, Broad Street, Welshpool