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Cymdeithas Hynafiaethau Cymru - Cambrian Archaeological Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meetings and Events

The Cambrians’ Summer Meetings are justly famous for their combination of intellectual rigour and bonhomie and have even been the subject of a memoir Out with the Cambrians! The week-long meeting in the summer has now been joined by an autumn weekend and, every other year, by an easter conference. The aim is to establish a comfortable base and explore the historic sites of all periods in the region under expert guidance, covering all parts of Wales and occasionally venturing into England, Ireland and Europe. The weekends tend to be more concentrated in scope, usually persuing a single topic, while the Conferences provide the opportunity to discuss academic issues of the moment.

'Out with the Cambrians’ – a visit to Strata Florida in 1847

A Cambrian’s visit to Rouen in Northern France

 

Meetings Planned for 2008


SUMMER MEETING : CONWY VALLEY
Monday JULY 7th - Saturday JULY 12th

Because the base for this meeting is in Betws y Coed the dates are early in July in order to get hotel rooms and relatively empty roads. Like last year the visits will be based around the river and the estates in the valley, dominated for much of the time by the Wynn family. We will be visiting their two main houses, in Conwy and at Gwydir, but also other estates carved out of the medieval lands of Aberconwy Abbey. Betws itself is a product of the tourist industry and we will be looking at the origins of that lucrative business and the transport infrastructure which supported it. In Plas Mawr, Gwydir and Hendre we will see very notable examples of historic conservation, some completed, some on-going and some in process.

The meeting begins after lunch on Monday but members wishing to come on Sunday can arrange an extra night with the hotel. Please book early, with a £50 deposit, because the hotel is not enormous (however rooms can be found nearby) and make it clear that you are part of the CAA meeting. Betws y Coed can be reached by train, changing at Llandudno Junction. Those leaving Cardiff at 9.20am would reach Betws at 2.00pm. The Annual General Meeting will be held on the evening of Thursday July 13th, after dinner in the church hall next to the Royal Hotel.

Conwy Valley Summer Meeting 2008
Dates : Monday pm July 7th - Saturday noon 12th

Base : Royal Oak Hotel, Betws y Coed LL24 0AY Tel 01690 710219
Cost (Dinner Bed Breakfast) Double/twin £59.00 per person per day;
Single occupancy of double room £74.00 per person per day.

Monday July 7th Arrive lunchtime : walking tour of Betws y Coed in pm
Medieval Church; 19th cent church; Pont y Pair; Motor Museum; Waterloo Bridge

Tuesday July 8th : Full Day : Conwy Valley West side
Conwy Church; Plas Mawr (Wynn mansion);
lunch (find own)
1.30 Telford Bridge; Caerhun Roman fort and church; Gwydir Castle and Chapel.
Possible alternative walks this day 1. Rowen Roman road, fields etc.
2. Gwydir Forest lead mining sites
Presidential Address and Reception after dinner

Wednesday July 9th : Full Day: Dolwyddelan and Penmachno
Dolwyddelan: Castle, motte and church;
Fedw Deg and Bishop Morgan’s house, Ty Mawr Wybernant
picnic lunch at Ty Mawr
Ysbytty Ifan church (Hospital of St John) and tea at new rural enterprise café
Penmachno 6th cent. stones in church
Public Lecture after dinner

Thursday July 10th : Full Day: Pentrevoelas
Pre-A5 roads; Dinas (Telford offices);
Plas Iolyn and Giler (two important late medieval estates, now farms)
lunch at White Lion, Cerrig y Drudion
Brenig Bronze Age cemetery (part); Hen Voelas motte and Levelinus stone
AGM after dinner

Friday July 11th : Full Day: Conwy Valley East side
Capel Garmon Neolithic tomb; Soflan 16th cent house (view from road);
Hendre House; 18th cent. house and garden currently being restored
Lunch at Amser Da restaurant attached to famous delicatessen, Blas ar Fwyd
Llanrwst town, church and almshouses ; Llandoged Church

Saturday morning : Capel Curig
Plas y Brenin (18th cent hotel and Richard Pennant’s bridge and road);
St Julitta’s church; Ysgubor y Glyn timber-framed barn. Ty Hyll (view from road)
Return to Betws y Coed for lunch (find own) and disperse

Booking form for the Summer Meeting 2008 in Adobe Acrobat format (opens in a new window)

 


AUTUMN MEETING IN POLAND
SEPTEMBER 11th - 15th 2008

It is proposed to visit, and stay in (at the Hotel Cracovia), the beautiful and historic city of Kraków over the weekend of 11 to 15 September 2008. For various reasons - especially the Saturday visit to Jedrzejow Abbey, it will be necessary to limit numbers to 44 persons, but there will be a waiting list. (If the numbers wishing to go proved to be very large, one would endeavour to organise a second trip at a later date).

Those wishing to attend must return their forms by 29 February at the very latest, as in early March the Association must send a deposit over to Poland.

The basic cost, and the daily additions, are about £350 (double occupancy) or £410 (single). We have a group rate for dinner, bed and breakfast. All drinks, lunches, are extra (except perhaps Saturday lunch). The hotel has a casino.

On three occasions alternative excursions are suggested, (a) for those who do not wish to visit Auschwitz; (b) for those who by reason of claustrophobia or vertigo or disability, may not wish to descend the salt mine [600 steps down in easy stages] - but there is a lift to take those with walking difficulties down in very small groups looked after by a guide; They do not see all the mine, but two of the best levels. (If you wish to be in one of these special small groups, please indicate this on your application form) (c) as time precludes a visit to both the Clock Museum and to Tokarnia village.

This meeting is being organised by Rev Dr David Williams who, as most members will know, has lived in Poland for several years, visits regularly and has many friends in all the religious communities there. This is a tremendous opportunity for members to be given an exclusive tour. Kraków is Poland’s original capital, an enchanting medieval city, site of Poland’s first university and location of all royal coronations and burials, not to mention the more recent significance of its archepiscopal see!

He has made enquiries about the various methods of travel to Kraków. Easyjet from Liverpool, Gatwick or Luton are conveniently timed (leaving c. 13.00 on Thursday and returning by c 19.00 on Monday for about £50 (current prices)). Easyjet also flies from Bristol and Ryanair from Dublin and Stansted, but at less convenient times. Bmi Baby is starting a flight in February from Birmingham, but will not be flying daily (ie not Thursday out or Monday return). Travel by Eurostar will involve travelling on Wednesday, but will give you a tour via Brussels, Cologne, and Berlin. There are coaches which go direct from London to Kraków (let Dr Williams know if you are interested in this option).

Dr Williams will, if necessary, spend most of the day at the airport to welcome and assist you, but try to arrive in the afternoon when you can catch the CAA bus. For those who can’t, there are trains and buses from the airport to the Central Station, from where a taxi to the hotel costs anywhere between 12 to 25 zlotys [£2.50 to £5].

He can provide you with advice on all possibilities but you need to make your own enquiries and bookings as soon as possible as cheap flights fluctuate. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TELL HIM WHAT YOU HAVE BOOKED AND YOUR TIME OF ARRIVAL.

As members return their application forms, they will be sent further details regarding currency exchange, water supply, suitable clothing. security and permissibility of photography at historic sites. Passport, travel insurance, and European Health Insurance Card, are essential.

KRAKÓW, POLAND : September 11th - 15th
Base: Hotel Cracovia, Kraków

Thursday 11 September 2008.
Please make your own way to Krakow. If you need further advice, please contact the organiser, Dr David Williams 01970 612736.

A coach (cost included) will leave Kraków Airport for the hotel at about 17.30pm. Persons arriving much earlier than 17.30 or very late, must make their own way to the hotel. It is important that when you have made your travel arrangements, you let the organiser know the projected time of your arrival at the railway station or the airport.

Friday 12 September 2008.
Group A, in the morning, will be taken on a guided city walk and, after finding their own lunch, will go to the historic Benedictine abbey at Tyniec.

Group B, will spend much of the day visiting the former concentration camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau.
In the evening, after dinner, a local archaeologist will deliver an introductory lecture.

Saturday 13 September 2008.
In the morning, we will all be together to visit Jedrzejow Abbey, one of the first Cistercian abbeys to be founded in Poland in the twelfth century, and the burial place of Bl. Vincent Kadlubek, a noted medieval historian. Our guide will be an archaeologist who has worked on the abbey, and I anticipate that we shall be served lunch in the monastery refectory.

In the afternoon, Group A will visit the Clock and Watch Museum in Jedrzejow, and then explore the town while awaiting the return of Group B from the Polish timber village at Tokarnia a few miles distant. I hope that in the evening we can meet up with local historians and archaeologists.

Sunday 14 September 2008.
Group A will visit in the morning an European Heritage Site, the Great Salt Mine at Wieliczka - lunch can be taken in the mine or above ground Group B will visit Wieliczka Museum and Castle.
In the afternoon, we all visit the Art Collection at Niepolomice.
The evening will be free for those who may wish to attend a concert or organ recital.

Monday 15 September 2008.
After visiting Kraków Cathedral and Castle, there should be time for shopping before a coach leaves for the airport at about 2.30pm. (There will be shopping time on most evenings when we return to the hotel)

Booking form for the Autumn Meeting 2008 in Poland in Adobe Acrobat format (opens in a new window)

 

Reports of Previous Meetings

Report on the Easter Conference 2008 held at the Llety Parc Hotel in Aberystwyth on March 28th -30th
(in Adobe Acrobat format - opens in a new window)

Report on the Autumn Meeting of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Paris, September 23-26th 2007
(in Adobe Acrobat format - opens in a new window)

The 154th Annual Summer Meeting of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Carmarthen, August 12th - 18th 2007
(in Adobe Acrobat format - opens in a new window)

Report on the Cambrian Archaeological Association Easter Conference April 8-9th 2006
(in Adobe Acrobat format - opens in a new window)

Notes About the Status of Local History Societies in North Montgomeryshire
(in Adobe Acrobat format - opens in a new window)