Annual General Meeting

Our AGM will be held on Monday November 7^th at 8.00pm in the function room of the Wentwood Inn. We would especially be glad of an offer of help with our library collection, the nucleus of which is in the Parish Church, and with subs/membership records. After the AGM we will go over the history of the Wentwood Inn such as we know (it won’t take long – see below!).

Subscriptions: around the AGM is the great time for paying this year’s subs (if you are late) and next year’s (if you are early)! Membership is £5 per household, £3 single persons, please pay to any Trustee.

in Caerwent Parish Church

Caerwent has produced evidence for early Christianity in Britain. Legend suggested that this may have started with Caractacus, the Celtic leader taken to Rome as a captive. Evidence from later Roman times has been linked to the Life of St Patrick. The situation here during the late and sub-Roman periods is beginning to be revealed. It seems the present Church is built on the site of St Tathan’s original monastery of the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Mark will explain what is known and evaluate some of the wealth of tantalising historical interpretations of this exceptional if not celestial city.

Advance notices

Further to the interest in Wentwood generated by the sale of some of it, Peter Strong is preparing a talk and supporting booklet about the history of the Forest. The Woodland Trust is planning a public celebration of its successful purchase, probably to be held in May.

Further publications from our collection – available to order

Down Memory Lane a personal memoir of the whole Caerwent Community area by Tonny Thomas. Reprinted from his articles with many added photographs £12

The Archaeology of Gray Hill the 1999 report by Graham Makepeace updated with additional notes and photographs £3

History of the Royal Naval Propellant Factory Caerwent by Medwyn Parry, augmented by our own notes and photographs £3

A Pre-Norman Cross from Caerwent by Mark Redknap with a personal note from Pat Bladon on its discovery £2

The Diary of Mr Till the daily diary for 1881 of the principal farmer of Caerwent, edited and transcribed by Dr Elwyn Hughes. £2.50

The Circle of Legends a DVD relating the known and mythical history of our part of Gwent to the present landscape by KBMF of Llanvaches £10

Living History

We are collecting "new" history of our district all the time. Ten years ago we were seeking relatives of the Wheeler family who lost two sons in WW I, and at last we had an e-mail from a great grandson (thanks to the web site recently restored by Kevin Evans). This week Derrick Williams has given us a report on the decoy site at Coed Llifos, which existed to distract enemy bombers from the Factory in WW II. And do you have any photos or other mementoes of the Wentwood Inn, Austral or Pat’s Café? If so please let us know – preferably before the AGM!

John Nettleship Secretary 01291 420745 e-mail john@rose-cottage.freeserve.co.uk