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Meetings and EventsThe 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.
Meetings Planned for 2008
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 Base : Royal Oak Hotel, Betws y Coed LL24 0AY Tel
01690 710219 Monday July 7th Arrive lunchtime : walking tour
of Betws y Coed in pm Tuesday July 8th : Full Day : Conwy Valley West
side Wednesday July 9th : Full Day: Dolwyddelan and
Penmachno Thursday July 10th : Full Day: Pentrevoelas Friday July 11th : Full Day: Conwy Valley East
side Saturday morning : Capel Curig Booking form for the Summer Meeting 2008 in Adobe Acrobat format (opens in a new window)
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 Thursday 11 September 2008. 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 B, will spend much of the day visiting the
former concentration camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau. Saturday 13 September 2008. 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. Monday 15 September 2008. Booking form for the Autumn Meeting 2008 in Poland in Adobe Acrobat format (opens in a new window)
Reports of Previous MeetingsReport on the Easter Conference
2008 held at the Llety Parc Hotel in Aberystwyth on March 28th -30th Report on the Autumn Meeting
of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Paris, September 23-26th
2007 The 154th Annual Summer Meeting of
the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Carmarthen, August 12th
- 18th 2007 Report on the
Cambrian Archaeological Association Easter Conference April 8-9th
2006 Notes About the Status of Local History
Societies in North Montgomeryshire
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