Day 3 - Saturday 22nd August

The day started with the news (uhum, slight bombshell) that having fitted the landscape to the map yesterday, the map was not the correct one for the area. This illustrates how it is really easy to "find" exactly what you are looking for if you try hard enough. This is not the setback it might seem as we had identified enough targets to demonstrate that the landscape at Pwyll Court and Court Farm has changed over a period of time, and that features have been found that are worthy of recording for their own sake.

Today was spent making records of ten features, mainly agricultural, that would have been overlooked and possibly lost in time. Our "finds" include a decorated stone gate post, several platforms and lynchets, remains of stone walls, a track and possibly a stone building. These will be reported to CPAT for the HER.

Later in the day we travelled up the valley to look for the more obvious sites and to get a "feel" for the terrain. Those who had not travelled this way before were amazed at the beauty and peacefulness of the valley. It is timeless.

On Sunday we will be working at the Neuadd. Meet 9.30 at village car park or 9.50ish at the Neuadd. Take the south side road up the Dyffryn. Just past the junction where the road returns along the north side of the valley turn in left and park near first cottage. You will see the blue truck.

Day 2 - Friday 21st August

Considering the rain at the start of the day we were blessed with bright sunshine and just the occasional shower today. 15 people came along and this allowed us to work in 3 groups. We walked designated fields and noted features of interest. After lunch 1 team recorded features in a large field which has lost some of its original boundaries and contains a number of lumps and bumps. The other two groups went in search of a lane shown at the west side of the 1587 map. It defied us for a while, but with persistence it was located and traced. We also established a possible site for a house and two outbuildings show on the oldest map. This may make an interesting area for excavation later in the project. Overall the field boundaries are much altered from the 1587 and 1760 maps.

We will be returning to Pwll Court tomorrow to complete recording of the features found today. It has made us realise that even with a significant number of people the project as a whole is a monumental task. Thanks to everybody who turned out today. It was great to see more old friends.

Saturday - meet at village car park at 9.30 or Pwll Court entrance at 10.00. Look out for the blue truck parked inside the farm entrance.

Day 1 Thursday 20th August

In all 23 people met at the Red Lion. Dr Bezant gave a short talk and explained what we hope to achieve over the 15 days of the project. Bob Sylvester (CPAT) gave the background to the maps available for the survey. He showed examples of the Badminton atlas (1587) and told us about his work using these maps in the Dyffryn Crawnon. He extended his talk to the later maps (1760) and showed an example of how encroachment had taken place on common land at Llangattock. Bob gave some helpful suggestions of tasks we might undertake, given that there are gaps in the area covered by the Badminton survey. He also directed us to some of the grey literature, which will allow us to research further.

After lunch we walked to a field site in Castle Road to assess how we might go about recording, and as the walk progressed ideas about the features we might like to cover, and the variety of methods we could use were generated. The walk continued on a triangular route back to top village where we took the opportunity to look at some of the older cottages and to look at Persondy Field, the site of excavations up to 2002.

Thank you to everybody who supported the first day. I look forward to day 2. As usual, meet in the car park opposite the village hall at 9.30. The focus for day 2 will be Pwyll Court and Court Farm. These can be found on the road from top village up the east side of the Dyffryn Crawnon. Walking from the church gate head up hill on the wider road and bear right in front of the Beaufort. Prepare for showers.

The night before.....

......not quite Christmas! But every bit as exciting.

Hopefully everything is now in place for the project. We have volunteers for every day, a talk to get us started, a leader with a vision, essential kit retrieved from its hiding place, initial research and documents to show us the way and permission to visit the majority of sites we are interested in - and a few others besides.

Personally I am looking forward to meeting those of you who are coming along for the first time, and to catch up with those who are old friends to Llangynidr History Society.

We start indoors tomorrow at the Red Lion (near the church for those who do not know the village). Dr. Bezant and Bob Sylvester are going to set the scene for us in an informal session, with coffee. After lunch we will be visiting a nearby site to practice recording and measuring.

For the remaining days - meet in the car park opposite the village hall at 9.30. Bring lunch and plenty of liquid refreshment and outdoor clothing appropriate to the weather conditions. We will return to the car park at around 4.30 each afternoon. For those who cannot come at the start of the day I will be posting venues on the blog so you will know where to find us if you come later.