Tag: Cambrian Archaeological Association

Early archaeology in Wales: the ‘Precambrian’ era

August 11, 2023 0 Comments
Early archaeology in Wales: the ‘Precambrian’ era

The Cambrian Archaeological Association, established in 1847, was the first society devoted to the study of archaeology of Wales. This piece aims to tell the story of archaeology before that date. Archaeology, in the sense of the systematic study of the material remains of prehistoric and early historic times, can hardly be said to have […]

Continue Reading »

The Cambrian Archaeological Association in the 19th century

July 28, 2023 0 Comments
The Cambrian Archaeological Association in the 19th century

The first society in Wales devoted to the study of archaeology, the Cambrian Archaeological Association, was founded in 1847, largely through the efforts of two Welsh clergymen, Rev. Harry Longueville Jones (1806-1870) and Rev. John Williams, ‘Ab Ithel’ (1811-1862). Longueville Jones, London-born and not a Welsh speaker, had led a varied life: he was educated […]

Continue Reading »

Some nineteenth century Cardiff archaeologists

January 13, 2023 0 Comments
Some nineteenth century Cardiff archaeologists

Nineteenth century Glamorgan saw the birth and rapid growth of an industrial working class. But also significant was the rise to prominence, and eventually to power, of an enlarged middle class.  Cardiff, though it failed at first to diversify industrially much beyond coal-exporting, found a role as the chief commercial and administrative centre of south-east […]

Continue Reading »

Stephen W. Williams, engineer, architect, archaeologist

August 26, 2022 2 Comments
Stephen W. Williams, engineer, architect, archaeologist

His name’s been familiar to me for years, but it’s only in recent months that I’ve got to know him better.  In May this year I happened to stay the night in Penralley House, his home in Rhayader, and earlier in our walk up the Wye we passed Bryn Wern, a country house he designed […]

Continue Reading »

The Powysland Club: its origin and early development

May 13, 2018 0 Comments
The Powysland Club: its origin and early development

1   Foundation The first county archaeological society in Wales was the Caerleon Antiquarian Association, founded in 1847 and renamed the Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquarian Association in 1857. It was twenty years before a second local archaeological society in Wales was founded, in 1867.  The gap is puzzling, especially when one considers that this period […]

Continue Reading »