BAAS Programme
June - October 2008
Important; Please Note
(1) All events are FREE to members (NON-MEMBERS are welcome to attend at a charge of ONE POUND per meeting).
(2) Please make your own arrangements for transport to meetings; in the case of the FIELD TRIPS on 13 JULY, 17 AUGUST and 6 SEPTEMBER please complete the BOOKING FORMS provided with Bulletin No 51. Non-members wishing to attend, please contact Mike Gwyther
SUMMER MEETINGS
| WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE |
| WALK: COLLEGE GREEN AND QUEEN SQUARE (Leader: James Russell) |
| A walk looking at two contrasting public spaces in central Bristol. College Green was originally part of the precincts of St Augustine's Abbey (now Bristol Cathedral) but is now dominated by the bulky mediocrity of the Council House, begun in 1938. Queen Square, laid out c. 1700, reflects the mercantile wealth of the 18th century city. Easy walking (under 1Km) on roads and pavements. Meet 7:15PM in College Green, outside the entrance to Bristol Cathedral. |
| SUNDAY 13 JULY |
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FIELD TRIP: "HILLS OF FIRE & IRON"; THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF INDUSTRY IN MERTHYR TYDFIL (Leader: Mike Gwyther) |
The industrial remains at Blaenafon, Gwent (visited by BAAS in 2001) have recently been granted World Heritage Site status. This tour will demonstrate that the industrial archaeology of Merthyr is at least as rich and well preserved as that of Blaenafon. Merthyr was the world's greatest centre of iron manufacture from the late 18th to the late 19th centuries. We will visit the impressive remains of the ironworks at Dowlais and Cyfarthfa; the site of the earliest steam-hauled train journey and the ironmaster's house of Cyfarthfa Castle (now a museum - lunch and picnic facilities available). In the afternoon we will visit the remains of the extensive transport infrastructure connected with the ironworks and finish our day with a visit to medieval Morlais Castle, recalling Merthyr's pre-industrial history. TRAVEL BY CAR to meet at 10:30AM in the south-east corner of the car park of ASDA's store at Dowlais Top (NGR SO 007083) |
| WEDNESDAY 23 JULY |
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WALK: SEA MILLS (Leader: James Russell) |
Sea Mills, at the mouth of the River Trym, is the site of both the small Roman town of Abona and an innovative early 18th century "wet dock", begun in 1712. This walk will explore the evidence for both. Easy walking (under 1Km) on roads and pavements. Meet 7:15PM at end of Sea Mills Lane, next to Sea Mills station (NGR ST550758). |
| SUNDAY 17 AUGUST |
| CAMELY CHURCH & STANTON DREW (Leader: Bob Williams) |
Camely Church, now redundant and in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, is a small but fascinating building unspoilt by Victorian "restoration" and full of interesting furnishings and wall-paintings. Bob Williams is actively involved in the local management of the church and is well placed to explain its history. We will return to Bristol via Stanton Drew where the important prehistoric stone circles will be visited. TRAVEL BY CAR to meet at Camely Church (NGR ST610576) at 2:30PM. The church is located on an unclassified road 1Km west of Temple Cloud (travelling from Bristol, turn right from the A37 just south of the village). Parking is available at Camely Lodge (2nd entrance on the right past the church). |
| SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER |
| FIELD TRIP: DEERHURST AND TEWKESBURY (Leader: Richard Sermon) |
Our new Chairman Richard Sermon has kindly agreed to lead this field trip which will start in the Severnside village of Deerhurst, 3Km south of Tewkesbury. Here we will visit two notable Anglo-Saxon ecclesiastical buildings, the parish church of St Mary and Odda's Chapel. The rest of the day will be spent in Tewkesbury itself, with visits to the Abbey, Old Baptist Chapel, Merchants House and other historic buildings. TRAVEL BY CAR to meet in the car park of Odda's Chapel (NGR SO869298) 10:30AM. |