Notice of AGM

Our Annual General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday January 26th 2009 in the Westgate Barns, Caerwent.  The main business will be followed by one or more short talks on topics of local interest.  Our current Trustees are:

Peter Bonvoisin (Chair)             01633 400208  Jennifer Powell  (Treasurer)     01291 421086

John Nettleship  (Secretary)      01291 420745  Jan Hewlett (Membership)       01633 400817

Mark Lewis (Archivist)             01291 431599  John Barnard (Custodian)        01291 424950

Subscriptions

Any members (= supporters) who have not yet paid a sub this year could give it to any Trustee or alternatively contact our Membership Secretary Mrs Jan Hewlett, 01633 400817. Household membership is £5 (£3 for single persons).

 

Metal Detectorists

 

The Gwent Metal Detectorists treated us to a stunning exhibition of their finds in S.E. Gwent.  I wish we could compile a full list of things which have shown up all over our district.  A field at Caerwent Brook has recently yielded musket balls, lots of buttons, harness fittings, thimbles and two dessert spoon-and-fork pairs!  Fortunately the Portable Antiquities Scheme is now encouraging all detectorists to come forward with their finds.  Details of this scheme are available from the Trust.  N.B. metal detecting is not permitted on the sites of designated ancient monuments.

 

The Midwinter Sunrise

 

Alas, a cloudy morning, but it was good to find the main paths have been cleared.  Better luck next year!  The faint hearted may prefer to look for the sunrise with our friends from Shirenewton – the Shirenewton Local History Society goes up about a week late but has breakfast in the Woodland Tavern on the way back to make it worth while getting up early!

 

Time Team Broadcast

 

The programme based on their Caerwent visit last June will be shown on Channel 4 on Sunday 25th January, late afternoon (check schedules for exact time).

 

Next Dinham Factory Tour

 

Will be a detailed tour, car assisted, hopefully covering the old villages too, 10.00am Saturday morning, March 21st.  More details later

 

Hitting the Press

 

Three of our members have made contributions on historical/archaeological topics recently, contact me if you want to consult the following articles:

Gaer Llwyd Burial Chamber – a reassessment by Ian McFarlane jointly with Neil Philips in the Monmouthshire Antiquarian

Clay Altars from Roman Cremation Rituals – box-like structures found near Caerleon, by Mark Lewis, also in the Monmouthshire Antiquarian

Llyn Liwan  - Caerwent’s lost lake, by Andrew Evans with myself as co-author, in the Folklore journal.

 

Thanks  John Nettleship  01291 420745  john@rose-cottage.freeserve.co.uk  June 2007