Royal Commission Archive Bulletin of Newly Catalogued Material – August 2023

Welcome to the latest monthly edition of the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) Archives Bulletin which lists all newly catalogued material. The archival items, library books and journal articles are all available to view in our public reading room. The full archive catalogue is available on Coflein and contains digital copies of many of the items listed. All publications may be found on our online Library Catalogue.

Our Library and reading room is open:
We are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 – 16:00, Wednesday 10:30-16:30
An appointment is advisable.

Archives

Archive items have been added to the following collections in the past month:

Many of these items are hard copy, including large scale plans, photographs and reports, and are available to view in our searchroom in Aberystwyth; others are digital and can be viewed on our online catalogue Coflein.

Now catalogued and available on Coflein:

Photograph showing exterior of Shri Swaminaryan Mandir temple, Cardiff, taken in November 2021.
Reference: DD2023_013_014

Marked by three gold-topped white spires (called shikars) in the style of a traditional Hindu temple, each marking an altar inside the building, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple was the first Swaminarayan temple in Wales. Opened in 1982, it acquired its distinctive appearance following major refurbishment work between 2005 and 2007.

Read more in our site record: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/414969

Read our blog about the history of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Cardiff, here: https://rcahmw.gov.uk/the-shri-swaminarayan-mandir-cardiff/

Digital photo from a survey record of Electric Mountain Visitor Centre, Llanberis, produced in February 2023 as part of planning conditions. Reference: ERC2023_013_010

Dinorwig pumped-storage hydro-electric power station is one of the largest engineering projects in Britain. Work began on the conversion of the quarry in 1975, when millions of tons of slate had to be removed to create tunnels and machine halls. Dinorwig comprises sixteen kilometres of underground tunnels, deep below Elidir mountain. Its construction required 1 million tonnes of concrete, 200,000 tonnes of cement and 4,500 tonnes of steel.

Externally, all that is visible is a door on the side of the mountain, ensuring that the area of outstanding natural beauty is not impaired. The visitor centre closed in 2018. Read more in our site record: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/408885

Contextual view of the western navigation marker at Porthgain, taken in July 2023. The western one of a pair (see NPRN 525091) of navigation markers located on the cliffs on either side of the entrance to Porthgain Harbour. Reference: DS2023_186_013

Read more in our site record: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/525092

The marker was recorded with a photogrammetry survey undertaken by RCAHMW on 30/06/2023 as part of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Survey Project, in collaboration with the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton. A 3D model of the marker is available here:

Cymraeg: https://skfb.ly/oIVOC
English: https://skfb.ly/oIVOy

Digital photograph showing the bell-frame of St Michael’s Church, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn.

The bell-frame, dating to 1537-8, is a King-post design to hold a peal of 3 bells. A system of Arabic numbers are carved into the timbers which would have helped guide those tasked with assembling (or reassembling) the frame up in the tower.

The church is a Grade II* Listed Building, an example of a largely unaltered Welsh medieval church. It is plain and dignified in style and built in a cross shape, complete with imposing 3-storey central tower. It is the best example of the three surviving cruciform churches with central towers in Ceredigion.

Reference: DS2023_106_014.

Read more in our site record: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/105145 Read our blog post celebrating the recent completion of a 4 year restoration project for the church: https://rcahmw.gov.uk/celebrating-the-completion-of-important-heritage-project-at-st-michaels-medieval-church-ceredigion/

View of Carmel Chapel and graveyard looking northwest (taken from laser scan survey point cloud). Produced as part of Terrestrial Laser Scanning Survey of Carmel Chapel, Nantmel, carried out by Dr Jayne Kamintzis, in September 2022. Reference: TLS2022_003_03_01.

Carmel United Reformed (Independent) chapel, built c.1829, is in the later Vernacular style of the long-wall entry type and is distinguished by an unspoilt interior retaining its early 19th century character. There are just four rows of wooden benches facing a simple pulpit.

Read more in our site record: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/8297

You can view the animation produced as part of the survey here.