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From fort to pit to port

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

The Trust is established with the object of educating the public in archaeology.

They currently hold about 25,000 records of archaeological and historical interest and make this information available to all those who have an involvement in the past whether as researchers, developers, school children or farmers. Their aim is to advance the education of the public in archaeology.

Activities

The Trust is well networked into National, regional and local heritage and historic environment bodies.

Some of their current and recent activities have included:

  • landscape Characterisation Works in Merthyr and Rhondda Read More
  • assessments of the major ironworks, related transport system and extractive industries along the northern coalfield rim Read More
  • scoping work across South Wales to inform future exercises in assessing industrial sites in South Wales. Read More
  • assessment of surviving First World War sites in South Wales, including buildings in Merthyr and Cardiff
  • assessment of Urban Waterfronts in South Wales including Cardiff
  • assessments, evaluations, excavations and surveys in Cardiff including part of the Roman Fort(s) within Cardiff Castle, and currently holds artefacts whilst post-excavation is progressed

Assessments in Merthyr

The Trust has undertaken numerous assessments, evaluations, excavations and surveys in Merthyr. In the past five years these have included:

  • Extensive excavations at Ffos-y-fran where much of the extractive and water-power management for Dowlais was sited. This work was Runner-up in the Best Archaeological Project Category at the British Archaeological Awards in 2012. Post-excavation work is well-progressed.
  • Excavations at Ynysfach Ironworks (below Merthyr College) where parts of the refining house (where the Crawshay’s developed the so-called ‘Welsh’ process of converting Cast Iron to Wrought Iron) were excavated. 
    • Permanent displays resulting from this work can be seen in the college and a micro-website is hosted by the Trust this includes a walk-through animation designed in collaboration with ThinkIdea which won the Association for Industrial Archaeology Peter Neaverson Award for Digitial Initiative and Innovation in 2014. Post-excavation works are complete but not published
  • Excavations of parts of the Coking Ovens for Cyfarthfa (mostly during the steel making phase, but including parts of the earlier ovens used during iron production). An open day attracted several thousand visitors.

The Trust is currently facilitating a Youth Heritage Forum for Red House Merthyr on behalf of Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association (HLF Supported). They are undertaking several other outreach and engagement activities in Merthyr in the summer and autumn of 2015.

The Trust is an appointed advisor to the Unitary Authorities of Cardiff and Merthyr on Historic Environment matters.

Resources

  • Access to Regional Historic Environment Record.
  • Access to Expert Knowledge of the Historic Environment of South Wales.
  • Access to Professional Archaeologists (the Trust is Registered Organisation with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists).
  • Access to staff with skills and experience of delivering outreach and engagement activities relating to Historic Environment of South Wales to multiple audiences and through different media and methods.

Contact details 

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd
Heathfield House
91 Heathfield
Swansea
SA1 6EL

Tel: 01792 655208
Email: enquiries@ggat.org.uk