heritage Research

Collaboration with the University of Wales Trinity St. David’s Sacred Landscapes of Medieval Monasteries research project.

Activities include:

• Investigation of the historic boundary of the Manor of Gollon (Gollon being the old name for Abbeycwmhir) using township and hundred boundaries
• Establishment of the historic townships of St. Harmon
• Examining St. Garmon as a potential ‘clas’ church of the early medieval period, only the third in Radnorshire
• Mapping the boundaries of Gollon and Cefn Pawl, including townships, hundreds and the sheep walks
• Photogrammetry over an upland farm (Cwmffrwn)
• Mapping historic land use as recorded in the Tithe survey c.1840
• Interpretation of the Surveyor’s map of 1817 and the Enclosure maps
• Accessing the extensive archive of Thomas Wilson, previous owner of Abbeycwmhir Hall, located in Australia
• Development of a QGIS geographical information system, click here

Sacred Landscapes and Abbey Cwmhir Heritage Trust held a very successful field school at Cwmffwrn Farm in September 2020.

Since then we have continued investigations including

Surveying hafod sites and house platforms
Surveying at Gelynen, Llanerch-Dirion and Cwmffwrn
Photogrammetry
Investigation of field boundaries

Our future plans include

Further study of hafod sites
Further study of potential house platforms
Small-scale excavations at Llanerch-Dirion and Cwmffwrn

Outputs

An interim paper is about to be published in Archaeology in Wales
Julian Lovell has written an article in the CBA Wales newsletter. A copy of this article is given here CBA Wales Newsletter 65 Spring 2023
Longer term detailed reports and publications on aspects of the on-going research
Authorship will often be in collaboration with Sacred Landscapes