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Moderated by : Andy B , TimPrevett , coldrum , Klingon , MickM , TheCaptain , bat400 , davidmorgan , Runemage , SolarMegalith , sem
The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
Stones Forum >> How best to proceed: your advice sort
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How best to proceed: your advice sort |
Anonymous
User not Registered |  Posted 16-11-2005 at 11:18
Next year I will be returning to live permanently in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
As luck would have it there are the best part of 20 fairly wrecked chambered long cairns (Cotswold-Severn, or if you're Welsh, Severn-Cotswold).
One of the largest was rediscovered in 1973, and since that time plans on how best to preserve it, as well as access rights have stood still.
Anyone got any experience on how best to jolly organisations along into making decisions?
I'd like to be a force for good rather than have the National Park authorities regarding me as a mad trouble-maker bothering them all of the time.
Needless to say every year the plant growth is weakening and dislodging the cairn. In previous years the local farmer was paid £500 a year to keep an eye on it, but recently CADW took over the responsibility, and to be honest I'm not sure how often it gets a once over to make sure it's okay.
So, contacting the National Park authorities and CADW is a certainty, but as a member of the great unwashed with no allies or influence, how should I proceed?
elderford
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Jimit
Joined:
31-05-2002
Messages: 289
from winchester
 OFF-Line
|  Posted 16-11-2005 at 13:37
Hi elderford. The best place for you to start (and anyone else who is concerned) is Heritage Action and post a message to "Sites under threat". The people at HA are increasingly becoming a force to be reckoned with. 
Jim.Heritage Action
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mishkin
Joined:
11-09-2005
Messages: 213
from Chelmsford
OFF-Line
| Posted 16-11-2005 at 15:18
"The best place for you to start (and anyone else who is concerned) is Heritage Action and post a message to "Sites under threat"
Photos as well are a good way of highlighting the damage, not only appearing on the web, but being sent to the relevant bodies in charge, at least they will have a record....
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TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
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| Posted 16-11-2005 at 18:55
Elderford, I assume you are talking about Penywyrlod, see http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=4082 which could indeed do with a bit of TLC, but its problems are mostly neglect. But from my visits to many of these sites a year and a half ago, the one I saw which is desperately in need of some action to prevent further destruction is Ty-Isaf, see http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=4100 which is unfortunately suffering badly from the destructive efforts of the farmer.
Please read my comments for both sites on their respective pages mentioned above.
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 17-11-2005 at 11:53
Ty Isaf (or "tea-sha" as the locals pronounce it) isn't in too bad nick. bearing in mind most of it is now underground again (ditto with the nearby Pipton). The major problem is that enormous manure pile. at least its not on top of the mound now.
A couple of years back I grassed them up to CADW, but CADW re-assured me the earth moving close to the mound didn't infact touch the monument.
In the 1930s there was a capstone in place. opposite the entrance to the field the mound is in is a large flat roundish stone half buried next to a gate. Check it out and your opinions please Captain.
Don't forget if you are up there to check out the very nearby Cwm Fforest site. I go with Medieval weirdness rather than chambered cairn on that one.
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 17-11-2005 at 12:14
That previous post was me as well (elderford).
Yes Captain, I am speaking of Penywrlod.
The largest chamerbered long cairn yet rediscovered in Wales.
I was in awe when I first visited.
It's only been partially excavated back in 1973.
I know a man who helped with that excavation and he just casually told me that National Parks, whomever were still in the process (now 2005) of deciding how best to preserve and present it.
I recokon the time has arrived to at least preserve it, if not sort out the access.
Before CADW, as I mentioned earlier the farmer got £500 per annum for cutting the grass and weeding. What he used to do was give the money to a local charity whose volunteers would look after the site for him.
Now, only professionals are involved, and so there it sits fenced off slowly disintergrating.
Over 30 years of thinking about thinking about having a meeting to decide on a procedure for a policy to preserve and present one long cairn.
elderford
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TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
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| Posted 17-11-2005 at 19:24
They'll be calling in extremely expensive consultants to make some charts up about when to think about having those meetings if you're not careful !
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megawoogi
Joined:
18-01-2005
Messages: 8
from Inverness
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| Posted 06-12-2005 at 15:38
Penywyrlod is in fact a Cadw Guardianship site, owned and managed by the state. I would suggest writing to the Inspector of Ancient Monuments for the area (Dr Sian Rees) at Cadw (Cefn Coed, Parc Nantgarw, CF15 7QQ) highlighting your concerns. As I understand it, it is hoped that one of the outcomes of the Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Survey (undertaken by the Welsh Archaeological Trusts and funded by Cadw) is a more holistic approach to the management of the Black Mountains long cairns. However, the failure of the state in ensuring the basic management of this guardianship site is unfortunate.
You could also write to the CE of the BBNP and ask why they have got rid of their archaeologist.
Incidentally, the Cwm Fforest site is a badly damaged corn-drying kiln (in my humble opinion).
megawoogi
[ This message was edited by: megawoogi on 2005-12-06 15:47 ]
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sem
Joined:
12-11-2003
Messages: 1708
from Bridgend,S.Wales
 ON-Line
| Posted 10-12-2005 at 00:56
Hi Elderford
As per Megawoogi's message, The Clywd-Powys Arch. Trust are currently conducting a survey of the Ritual & Funerary monuments of Brecknock.
In my experience they are receptive to ideas if a bit slow to reply.
Maybe we could collaborate on this?
Sem
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megawoogi
Joined:
18-01-2005
Messages: 8
from Inverness
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| Posted 14-12-2005 at 10:43
Hi Elderford,
I visited Penywyrlod on Friday. I have to report that things are not quite as bad as you make out - OK it is vulnerable to damage (the quarry face is exposed and very slowly eroding), but there is no stock damage, little visitor damage and the vegetation is under control. I have seen much, much worse. The problems lie with how to present it to the public (without backfilling the quarry or cleaning back the section etc - intrusive archaeology), interpretation (particularly in such a cramped enclosure) and how to get the public onto site. Access is tricky (indeed, no disabled access at all) and there is nowhere to park. The site is a real problem as far as a Guardianship monument goes - it is no Parc le Breos! However, its archaeological potential, in terms of 'untouched chambered tomb' (except, obviously, that bloody quarry - arrgh) is ENORMOUS. This is an important monument. It could do with some TLC - indeed, it deserves some TLC - but it is broadly stable. Resources are tight and threat based (nearby Llangorse Crannog, which was being washed away, has just been saved from erosion with the construction of a circuit of wave defences, grant aided to the tune of over 100k). I am sure that Cadw does what it can and will, rest assured, turn its attention toward Penywyrlod (although this makes it sound like the Eye of Sauron - not quite as powerful one suspects).
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sem
Joined:
12-11-2003
Messages: 1708
from Bridgend,S.Wales
ON-Line
| Posted 14-12-2005 at 21:07
With the reference to Tolkein, maybe the barrow wights are best left to their own devices. Hobbits always did mess with matters best left to others.
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