Royal Commission Archive & Library Bulletin of Newly Catalogued Material – March 2023
Welcome to the latest monthly edition of the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) Archives and Library 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:
- General Digital Donations Collection
- BMA – Black Mountains Archaeology Collection
- Investigators’ Digital Photography
- Archaeology Wales Project Archives
- Headland Archaeology Projects Archive
- RCCS22 – CHERISH Project
- RCAHMW Rabbit Farms Collection
- ArchaeoDomus Archaeological and Heritage Services Collection
- Investigators’ UAV Survey
- Castell Tan y Castell Collection
- Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Project Archives
- Paul R. Davis Collection
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:
Bryn Eglwys dates from the mid-19th century, a time when the lead mining industry at Dylife was flourishing. The house has strong connections with lead mining as the early occupants worked in the industry. Internally the house has seen little modification since its construction. The building was demolished in 2020.
See more in our site record here: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/545133
The scheduled ancient monument of the medieval church on Ynys Seiriol / Puffin Island, off Anglesey, is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of early medieval ecclesiastical monasteries. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits.
See more in our site record here: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/424033
The Clarence Hall is a Victorian Gothic building designed by E. A. Johnson in 1890. Built from local sandstone with Bath stone dressings, it is named after the Duke of Clarence who laid the foundation stone. Pevsner notes that the building ‘adds a defiantly Victorian note, its chapel-like front with corner tower with steeply hipped roof’. It includes some extravagant detailing such as the carved stone door hood. The building was refurbished in 2022.
See more in our site record here: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/545135
Plas Menai Watersports Centre was designed by Bill Davies of the Bowen Dann Davies Partnership and is one of their largest projects to date. The centre appears sensitive to the locality with its stepped roofline complementing the surrounding landscape of Snowdonia and the sea. The internal and external spaces reflect the influence of American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) and the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto 1898–1976). The building won a Civic Trust Award in 1984, the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1985, and a RIBA Commendation in 1986. Richard Weston argued in 2002 that it was ‘arguably, the most admired and influential building completed in Wales in the last quarter of a century.’
See more in our site record here: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/406861
A former watchman’s hut built alongside the main A4061 road above Treherbert, running over Rhigos mountain below the escarpment of Cwar Du, was once occupied by a ‘watchman’ who would examine the road to make sure it was clear of rocks and sheep. He was hired by the council to clear hazards for passing cars, which were especially dangerous in the dark. The job came with a small hut for use in bad weather. The final watchman, George Cole, had the job for 16 years and became famous for making small sculptures out of discarded plastic and copper wire that would adorn the landscape surrounding it. The hut ceased to be used in the early 1990s when the council installed mesh on the rocks above to prevent them falling onto the road.
See more in our site record here: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/424630
The Resurrection of The Saviour Catholic church, Morfa Nefyn was built in 1967-68 in light of the increasing number of summer visitors to the area. The church contains a series of 12 dalle de verre windows by the artist Jonah Jones. In 2016 it was earmarked by the Bishop of Wrexham for closure before planners gave consent for demolition in 2019 and the windows and other features were recorded.
See more in our site record here: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/421669
Books
All our books and journals can be found on the Royal Commission’s Library Catalogue and viewed in our Library and Search Room.
Journals
- Antiquity Volume 97, Number 391 (February 2023).
- Archive Volume 117 (March 2023).
- Building Conservation Directory Volume 30 (2023).
- The Chapels Society Newsletter Volume 83 (February 2023).
- DBRG News Volume 153 (January 2023).
- Eavesdropper Volume 66 (Spring 2023).
- Essex Historic Buildings Group Newsletter Volume 03 (April 2023).
- Journal of Community Archaeology and Heritage Volume 10, Issue 01 (February 2023).
- Melin: The Journal of the Welsh Mills Society Volume 38 (2022).
- Railway and Canal Historical Society Bulletin Volume 502 (March 2023).
- Railway and Canal Historical Society Journal Volume 41, Part 01, Number 246 (March 2023).
- Sheetlines Volume 126 (April 2023).
- Tools and Trades Volume 154 (Spring 2023).
- Welsh Mills Society Newsletter Volume 150 and 151 (January and April 2023).
Contact us
If you have any comments or enquiries, please feel free to contact us:
NMRW Library and Enquiries Service
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Penglais Road
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion SY23 3BU
Telephone: +44 (0)1970 621200
Email: nmr.wales@rcahmw.gov.uk
Website: rcahmw.gov.uk
Croesewir gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg | Correspondence welcomed in Welsh and English
22/05/2023