Excursion No 6 : Sunday 6th September 2020 (All day)
A Walk around Monmouth Town and the ‘Lost City of Trellech’
Excursion Leader: Roger Wilkes Phone: 0117 986 5018
e-mail: roger_wilkes@talktalk.net Mob: 07763 550999
Summary
The excursion will be in two parts, namely a guided walk around Monmouth in the morning and then after lunch (not included) you will be able to visit the ‘Lost City of Trellech’ or one of the nearby attractions such as The Kymin (NT) or the upper Wye Valley.
Monmouth
Monmouth is the historic county town of Monmouthshire, situated where the River Monnow joins the River Wye. Evidence of a Bronze Age boat building community and a Neolithic crannog in a now vanished lake was discovered by the Monmouth Archaeological Society in 2013. A small fort was built by the Romans (Blestium), as part of the border defences, with evidence of iron working, which later became an established settlement by the Normans when they built a castle, around 1067. The medieval stone gated bridge is the only one of its type in Britain and one of only three remaining in Europe! The castle later came into the possession of the House of Lancaster, was extended and fortified by John of Gaunt and was where King Henry V was born in 1387. From the 14th C the town’s prosperity suffered following numerous attacks in the area by Owain Glyndwr, – however much of the medieval town layout survives and is recognizable in the street pattern today.
The Lost City of Trellech Project
Trellech is a private archaeological site, owned and currently being excavated by an archaeologist as an educational resource. Stuart Wilson purchased the field nearly twenty years ago after finding pottery thrown up by moles! Since then Stuart, with the help of volunteers has uncovered many buildings and artifacts pointing to the existence of ‘the lost city of Trellech’ – once the largest urban centre in Medieval Wales, which survived until it was sacked by Owain Glyndwr! The Project is funded by donations.
Meeting time and place : In front of the Shire Hall in Agincourt Square at 10.30am.
There shouldn’t be any problem parking on a Sunday. The Glendower Street car park is the most convenient; the first two hours are free, after that it is £1 an hour – there are also lots of free on-street parking places.
Directions
Coming in from the traffic lights on the A40 at the Wye Bridge along the A466, take the first left (it’s only about 100 yards from the A40) and then after about 300 yards you will see the car park on your right. There are walking routes from the top of the car park into town, bringing you out into Agincourt Square.
Trellech (NP25 4PE) is about 15 mins drive south of Monmouth on the B4293 towards Llanishen.
Note
Please wear suitable clothing and comfortable footwear as we will be walking in public streets with traffic!
Please remember that you are responsible for your own safety and by joining the BACAS excursion you do so at your own risk.
Maximum participants – 20 Latest booking date – 23rd August 2020
Member’s priority booking until 6th August
Cost: member’s priority £10 / non-members £12