News

The CBA Festival of Archaeology is in progress this month. See link Here

Look at our facebook page but also our Events and Projects tab on this website for CADVAS contributions. For further information

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Look out on the website and Facebook for several volunteering opportunities coming up over the next few months. See Calendar tab.

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SUMMER SOLSTICE EVENTS – Fundraising and Walk

Solstice Book Fayre

Oriel Corwen Gallery, The Square, Corwen, will be hosting a Solstice Fayre, with crafts, books, plants etc in aid of CADVAS and Calon Riding for the Disabled (The RDA will have a stall too) on Saturday 20th June. 10.00am to 3.00pm. There will be a follow on Solstice walk up to Moel Ty Uchaf (departing Llandrillo Carpark at 7.30pm – sorry strictly no dogs because of live stock roaming freely up the mountain.)

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What we have been up to this May:

CADVAS Members recently assisted archaeologists from Heneb and National Landscape volunteers on an evaluation dig on a possible Medieval house platform situated below the Iron Age enclosure at Caer Drewyn near Corwen. The results, following five days of careful excavating, were way beyond expectations. Several fine examples of Twelfth and Fifteenth century pottery were found along with solid evidence of a house or hut platform which suggests occupation on this site over a significant period of time.

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History Fair of 12th April

CADVAS had a pop up stall at the History Fair of 12th April. We re-established links with links with several historical groups in NE Wales leading to Chris being invited to give a few talks for various of the groups who were there. CADVAS interacted with well over 120 people including the MP, Beki Gittins.

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The Mark Olly talk on Tuesday 11th November was well attended despite floods, road closures and temperamental traffic light on the A5. The origins of the Green man proved to be both varied and original. it was a surprise how international and ancient the Green Man turns out to be. Mark’s book is available on Amazon. Revealing The Green Man Book.

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October 14th talk by Siobhan Wordingham on early medieval monumental sculptures was very well received by over 25 of our members and visitors who listened intently to her intrigueing illustrated and well researched presentation. Siobhan also supplied a list of her commended places to visit and see some of these fascinating monuments in situ.

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Northeast England: Durham Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, Lindisfarne Priory, Escomb Church, Lastingham.

Northwest England: Heysham, Kirkby Stephens, Addingham, Bewcastle, Penrith and Gosforth.

Wirral: West Kirby Museum.

North Wales: Penmon Priory, Penmachno, Whitford, Dyseth, Pillar of Eliseg, Corwen Church.

East Midlands: Eyam, Wirksworth, Litchfield, Bakewell, Repton, Bradbourne.

West Midlands: Wroxeter Church and St Andrews Preaching Cross, Wolverhampton

Southeast England: Brixworth, Breedon on the hills

Southwest England: Deerhurst, Hereford Cathedral, St Martins, Wareham

Scotland: Jedburgh, Whithorn, Kirkmadrine, , Govan, Iona Abbey, Keills Chapel, Portmahomack Visiting places is England https://www.ascorpus.ac.uk/

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Rock-Art expert visits CADVAS finds. George Nash of the Univ of Liverpool is a recognised expert on Neolithic rock-art and recently visited our dig-site near Bryneglwys where some of our members, discovered not one; not two; but three possible examples on a recent field-walk. Dr Nash was satisfied that two of the stones were the genuine article; with one stone in particular, being given a 10/10 rating. (see images) As one can imagine, these finds are of great archaeological importance, and in an area rich in Bronze Age remains, are another piece in the jigsaw, in understanding how our ancestors made sense of their lives and surroundings. 

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September 29th until October 12th – weather permitting. CADVAS has started a dig on the outskirts of Bryn Eglws. Chris Jones, our Chairman, is leading the dig group and Philomena Hearn, our club secretary, is leading the Geophys team. We are looking for members who are keen to have practical hands on archaeological experience to come and join us. No experience is necessary as you will be helped and shown just what to do. If you do not feel able to kneel or bend down for long periods, there are plenty of other “jobs” to do. These include sorting and cleaning finds. Other tasks are sifting soil, gathering soil samples, and recording progress. Taking photographs, even. Please contact Chris (07876192208) or Phill (07971880150) if you are interested to check on days, times and address. You will need to sign up to be a member, if you are not one already, so that you are covered by our insurance. All tools and equipment necessary will be provided.

To see how we are progressing please click “Dig Diary” by Chris Jones

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The wheel turns and already we are looking forward to our October gathering when we will be welcoming Siobhan Wordingham whose illustrated talk is entitled “Just a Pile of Old Stones.’  Siobhan is a Post-Graduate Researcher at Chester University with her area of study being early Medieval monumental sculpture in Cumbria between AD750 and AD1050 

In her presentation Siobhan will be addressing four main themes….

“What are early Medieval monument scupltures?”

“Why do they matter?”

“What are people doing to protect them?”

“How can we champion them?” 

Siobhan is no stranger to the area having been a teacher in Ysgol Dinas Brân and, also ran the Corwen Schools Wind Band which used to meet on a Wednesday night in Carrog Village Hall. 

All Welcome….Croeso i Pawb

#CADVAS

At the AGM on 9th September Chris Jones was re-elected to the office of Chairman, Philomena Hearn is Secretary/Bookkeeper and Sharon Edwards is Treasurer. Angela Weston is now our Communications Officer. Minutes will be available soon. Agenda

The following Members night was a great success, with Andy Harrop-Smith amusing us all with his digeridoo and origins of the Yidaki. That was followed by Nia Richie on DNA links and her ancestors leaving Wales for Patagonia in 1865. Next up was Anne Falloon on Bishop Morgan’s enemy, Ievan Merredith, who was one of her ancestors. To close was Wendy Bird’s talk on Rock Art in North Eastern Spain, accompanied by amazing photographs.

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August 12th 2025

One of our best attended talks this year, has been Morgan Ditchburn “The Witches of North Wales”. Over 45 people attended this talk and the reports/reviews have all been very favourable. The witch hunts and associated folk-law, including herbal healing, have been a big part of the social and local history for North Wales.

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August 2025: Our most recent activities related to The CBA Festival of Archaeology:

Our three guided walks were a success, The theme of the fesitival was Archaeology and well-being, therefore we organised three walks that were combined with history and memories of the three locations along the Dee Valley. The starting points for all three walks were based off the Llangollen and Corwen Railway. The walk around Glyndyfyrdwy (the third walk lead by our President Fiona Gale MBE) was mostly around the slate works and therefore, industrial revolution and the relevance of the railway in this area, was critical. The first walk was based on Corwen, starting from the Railway station and included Pen Pigyn, The Church and reminiscences of The Old Pavilion site by our own Chairman, Chris Jones. The Carrog walk, lead again by Chris Jones, included people who had family connections to Carrog and lead to a lively exchange of local memories by the participants.

We also took on a test-pit in Carrog, as part of the festival. We found some interesting Victoriana (eg clay pipe stems and a few bits of ceramic). We decided not to proceed past half a meter depth once we reached bedrock but the landowner now has plenty of for stones for his new rockery.

The “GeoPhys” we had planned could not go ahead as the dry weather is very unfavorable for the best results.

CADVAS, as members of The Council for British Archaeology, had the privilege of a guided tour with Ian Brooks at Bryneglwys. There was also some expert input on the day from the esteemed expert Francis Lynch. There were also Members of CRAG who are the leading group for this project.

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Our latest brochure and events programme for Autumn 2025

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Lithics Studies grants

Further to the presentation and brief training session from Dr. Ian Brooks on lithics please note that there is a bursary of up to £500 to any individual who has a serious interest in furthering their studies in lithics. Applications for a bursary are invited from students, academics, others professionally engaged in lithic study, and those simply pursuing an interest in lithics as a hobby. It is expected that applicants are members of LSS (The Lithic Studies Society – promoting research into flint and stone tools) To join the LSS (https://membermojo.co.uk/lithics), though no minimum membership period is required. The bursary can be used to support activities in the UK or abroad.

To apply for a bursary of up to £500, please complete the application form and email it to bursaries@lithics.org. The deadline for applications will be announced soon. Successful applicants will provide accounts and a brief report on the activity supported by the bursary. The latter will be published in the Society’s annual journal, Lithics.

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12th June 2025 – NEWHF visit to Stori Brymbo

As part of North East Wales Heritage Forum our Chairman and Secretary went on a visit to Stori Brymbo HOME | Stori Brymbo. We can highly recommend a visit here. Perhaps CADVAS will organise a field trip. We had a talk in January about the 300 million old “fossil swamp” from Dr Tim Astrop PHD and here he is again actually standing in the midst of the finds, and showing us all present what they have been doing there.

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8th June – Holywell History Fair Sunday 8th June 2025 from 09.30am – 3.30pm we will be at this fair with a stand, selling our merchandise and promoting our membership.

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Obituary 30th May 2025

One of our keen supporters and a regular attendee at our events until earlier this year has sadly passed away. Keith Charles Austin came to our events from Stoke on Trent with his companion Winifred, rarely missing a meeting. Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences are offered from all of us to Trevor (his son) and Win. The funeral was yesterday (30th May), which was attended by a large number of friends and relatives, including our Chairman and Secretary.

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Here today (24th May)