Tag: Pembrokeshire

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Community Outcomes Pilgrimage

Pilgrim Product Development

PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrim Product Development

As part of Ancient Connection’s business support strand, we worked with a number of businesses in Pembrokeshire to develop new bespoke tourism products that linked in with the new pilgrimage route. Five businesses were supported to develop and test the following products:

Pilgrim Tokens

St Davids Cathedral designed and produced beautiful pilgrim tokens, pendants and pilgrim bags with the with the bee of St Aidan and the dove of St David forming the basis of their design. These are now for sale in St Davids Cathedral shop and the Ferns Medieval Experience.

 Click here to visit the St Davids Catherdral Online Shop.

Art Photography Book

Karel Jasper’s art photography book documenting her Creative Camino 2022 experience is now printed and distributed to local gift and bookshops in North Pembrokeshire.

To buy a copy of the book, Click here to visit Karel’s website.

Pilgrim Merchandise

Ditsy Puffin Designs have created a catalogue of pilgrim merchandise for a more budget market (e.g. mugs, pin badges, water bottles etc.) for sale in various outlets in Pembrokeshire and Wexford as well as online.

These are now on sale. Click here to visit Ditsy Puffins website.

International Walking Tour Product

Waterford Camino Tours have now developed a new guided pilgrimage product ‘St Davids Way’, along the Pembrokeshire section of the route, marketed to Irish and North American tourists.

Click here to see Waterford Camino Tour’s offering.

Pilgrimage On Wheels

North Pembrokeshire Trade and Tourism have developed a mini-bus pilgrimage aimed at cruise ship visitors and those who, for whatever reason are unable to access the new pilgrimage route on foot. It starts in Goodwick and ends at St Davids and visits many of the important spots along the pilgrimage route in between.

The product is now publically available and bookable on their website. Click here to view.

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Community Outcomes Pilgrimage

Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way

PILGRIMAGE

Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way

The new pilgrim Route between Ferns in County Wexford and St Davids in Pembrokeshire is a major legacy of the Ancient Connections project. 

Click here for more information on the route, guided pilgrimages, accommodation, transport and pilgrim passports.  

In addition an Outdoor Active app was developed that includes an interactive digital map which runs using GPS technology, route content, turn-by-turn guide, and audio interpretation guide produced for 18 locations.

Click here to view the route on the Outdoor Active App

Pilgrim image Abercastle
Cnoc na dTobar Pilgrim path lower res
pilgrims landscape
Pilgrims to St Nons Credit - Ruth Jones
pilgrims
stick landscape pilgrimage
BPT Over Kittuck Barrows
in-the-preselis-opt
Sr Declan's Way
Screenshot 2020-02-07 19.58.35
Screenshot 2020-02-07 19.58.35
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Archaeology Archive Reports

Rediscovering Ancient Connections: Wexford – Archaeological Geophysical Survey Report

Archaeology

Rediscovering Ancient Connections: Wexford - Archaeological Geophysical Survey Report

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Report Introduction

DigVentures was appointed by the Rediscovering Ancient Connections Project Team of Pembrokeshire County Council to carry out geophysical surveys across four sites in County Wexford, Ireland. The sites were located at Kildoran Graveyard (SF 77521 05529), Toome Graveyard (SG 02754 12642), Kilmyshall Old Graveyard (SF 86162 13767), and St Mary’s Field in Ferns (SF 95919 08664).

This report details the results of the geophysical magnetometer and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys undertaken across the four sites between the 7th to the 10th of October 2021 (DigVentures Project Code ANC21), which forms part of a third phase of works following surveys undertaken at St David’s in August 2020 (Roberts, 2020) and across Pembrokeshire in May 2021 (DigVentures, 2021). Due to the Covid19 Pandemic, the community participation aspect of the works could not take place and the surveys were carried out independently. The potential of these results to achieve the Aims and Objectives of the project are discussed in the final section of this report, along with recommendations for further investigation.

This report conforms with current best practice and to the guidance outlined the Management of Archaeological Research Projects in the Historic Environment (Historic England 2015), the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (2014), and the Europae Archaeologiae Consilium (EAC) Guidelines for the Use of Geophysics in Archaeology (Schmidt et al. 2016).

The work forms part of the Rediscovering Ancient Connections – The Saints project, which is a cross-border heritage and arts program. The program is 80% funded by the European Rural Development Fund and is led by Pembrokeshire County Council, with joint beneficiaries Wexford County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Visit Wexford.

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Archaeology Archive Reports

Rediscovering Ancient Connections: Pembrokeshire – Archaeological Geophysical Survey Report

Archaeology

Rediscovering Ancient Connections: Pembrokeshire - Archaeological Geophysical Survey Report

Download Survey Report

Report Introduction

DigVentures was appointed by the Rediscovering Ancient Connections Project Team of Pembrokeshire County Council to carry out geophysical surveys across four sites in Pembrokeshire. The sites comprised of Capel yr Hen Fynwent (SM 77581 28267), Llanrhian Church (SM 81932 31446), The Church of the Holy Martyrs at Mathry (SM 87930 32000) and Rosina Vallis / Hodnant Porthclais Caerbwdy (SM 74080 24410).

This report details the results of the geophysical surveys undertaken across these sites between the 17th to the 21st May 2021 (DigVentures Project Code ANC21), which form a second phase of works following surveys undertaken at St David’s in August 2020 (Roberts, 2020). The potential of these results to achieve the Aims and Objectives of the project are discussed in the final section of this report, along with recommendations for further investigation.

In format and content, this report conforms with current best practice and to the guidance outlined the Management of Archaeological Research Projects in the Historic Environment (Historic England 2015), the Research Framework for the Archaeology of Wales (Edwards et al 2017), the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (2014), and the Europae Archaeologiae Consilium (EAC) Guidelines for the Use of Geophysics in Archaeology (Schmidt et al. 2016).

The work forms part of the Rediscovering Ancient Connections – The Saints project, which is a cross-border heritage and arts program. The program is 80% funded by the European Rural Development Fund and is led by Pembrokeshire County Council, with joint beneficiaries Wexford County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Visit Wexford.

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Archaeology Archive Reports

‘Discovering St Aidan’s Monastery’ Preliminary Archaeological Excavation Report December 2021

Archaeology

‘Discovering St Aidan’s Monastery’ Preliminary Archaeological Excavation Report December 2021

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Report Introduction

This interim report details the first season of excavations at Ferns Demesne townland in Ferns Co. Wexford by the Irish Archaeology Field School (IAFS), which took place in 2021 (specifically July-August). The site, located adjacent St Mary’s Abbey in Ferns Demesne, is in the private ownership of Mr Patrick Cousins and is a recorded monument (SMR WX015-003004-, WX015-003031-, WX015-003032-, WX015-003033-) protected under the National Monuments Acts. This site is a multi-period complex, originally founded by St Aidan c. the turn of the seventh century, which also contains early medieval crosses and cross slabs, a twelfth century Augustinian Abbey (St Mary’s Abbey, which is a listed National Monument), and a thirteenth century medieval cathedral (Edan’s Cathedral) within its wider confines.

The excavations were undertaken within the context of a larger research project, entitled Discovering Saint Aidan’s Monastery. This archaeological project is part-funded as part of a larger cross-border arts and heritage project linking North Pembrokeshire and North Wexford called Rediscovering Ancient Connections – The Saints (Ancient Connections). This cross-border project is intended to revive the ancient links between communities in Pembrokeshire and Wexford and hopes to motivate both communities to rediscover their shared heritage and trade knowledge, experience, and skills.

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Archive Community Stories

The Shared Stories of North Pembrokeshire and North County Wexford

Stories

The Shared Stories of North Pembrokeshire and North County Wexford

in-the-preselis-opt
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Shared Stories Introduction

This document aims to highlight some of the wealth of historical stories, archaeology and folklore that connects the north-west Pembrokeshire coast in Wales, with north Co. Wexford in Ireland, with a particular focus on the communities of St Davids, Fishguard, Goodwick, Ferns, Enniscorthy and Gorey. Even on the surface, these communities have much in common, being largely historically focused on the coast for their living, whether from trade or fishing, but the connections go much deeper and much further back in time.

We will discover the shared stories of north Co. Wexford and north-west Pembrokeshire and how the two regions have influenced each other through the movement of people, ideas, technology, culture, religion, and occasionally, conflict. We will examine these connections from the time of hunter-gatherers in the Mesolithic Period, passing on to the time of the first farmers in the Neolithic, the transformative arrival of metalworking in the Bronze and Iron Ages, to the time of St David and his Irish pupil St Aidan. From those early days of Christianity, we travel on to the time of castles and conquests with the Normans and their role in Pembrokeshire and Co. Wexford. We will look at later trade and commerce and explore some of the folk tales and traditions in the two regions.

These stories reveal that the Irish Sea has never been a barrier; it has always been a highway.

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Archaeology Archive Reports

Community Archaeology Excavation at Rosina Vallis/Hodnant Porthclais Caerbwdy, 2022

Archaeology

Community Archaeology Excavation at Rosina Vallis/Hodnant Porthclais Caerbwdy, 2022

Caerbwdy excavation
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Report Introduction

DigVentures was selected by the Ancient Connections project team to undertake a community-based archaeological research project at Rosina Vallis field, Hodnant Porthclais Caerbwdy (hereafter ‘the Site’), funded by the Rediscovering Ancient Connections project. This report details results of that fieldwork, with an account of the site archive, specialist analysis of finds and recommendations for project completion.

Fieldwork took place between the 7th and 29th of November 2022, investigating several potential archaeological features identified in a geophysical survey conducted at the site by DigVentures in November 2021. Following analysis of the geophysical results, targeted archaeological interventions were selected and located to understand if they related to early medieval monastic remains. Four trenches were excavated in Rosina Vallis field to establish dating sequences, evidence for structures and feature relationships, amongst other objectives.

The project was supported by a comprehensive learning, engagement and activity plan which aimed to both raise awareness of the site and provide tangible learning outcomes. Specially developed learning materials were used to deliver field school sessions, underpinned by a digital and audience building strategy, that aimed to engage the local community and a global audience in the project whilst being conscious of the sensitive location of the works.

This assessment report details the results of this fieldwork, providing baseline information to contribute to the future management, research and presentation of the site, creating multiple educational and participatory learning experiences for community participants.

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Archive Stories

Saint Aidan in Wales

St. Mogue's (St. Aidan's) holy well in Ferns, Co. Wexford
Folklore

Saint Aidan in Wales

Aidan’s power and influence amongst the Britons of Wales appears to have been considerable. In one story, Aidan was encouraged by David and others to use his miraculous powers to cure the son of the King of the Britons, who was blind, deaf and lame. The boy was sent to Aidan, who prayed earnestly for his recovery and in due course the boy was miraculously cured. Following this miracle, we are told that Aidan’s name became known throughout the kingdom. 

Stories like these illustrate that holy men such as Aidan were relied upon by the most powerful family in the kingdom. The ecclesiastics who wrote these stories, who would have been the successors of Aidan, undoubtedly wanted to impress this point on their own rulers.

St. Mogue's (St. Aidan's) holy well in Ferns, Co. Wexford

Another story from Aidan’s period in Wales shows how events of the eleventh and twelfth centuries had an impact upon how Aidan’s story was communicated. It tells how the native Britons of Wales were confronted by the prospect of an invasion by a large Saxon army. Aidan was sent by David to the battlefield and prayed for the Britons, who were outnumbered by their Saxon foes. Following Aidan’s intercession, the Saxons turned and fled and were pursued and slaughtered by the Britons over the following seven days. 

“Not one man of the Britons fell by the hands of the Saxons all that time through the favour of God and the miracles of Maedoc. And no Saxon invaded Britain while Maedoc was there after the manifestation of these miracles”. It is possible that this story was composed at a time when Wales was under threat of invasion by the Normans and can be interpreted as an attempt by the Welsh to warn off potential invaders.

Other Stories

Many other stories are told of Aidan’s time in Wales. He healed a man who had a facial deformity, “whose face was all as flat as a board, without eyes or nose”. Once when carrying ale back to the monastery, the container was damaged and the ale was spilt. But Aidan made the sign of the cross, repaired the damage and carried the ale back to his fellow monks.

Source:
“Life of Máedóc of Ferns” in C. Plummer (ed). Bethada Náem nÉrenn: Lives of the Irish Saints, Edited from the Original MSS. with Introduction, Translations, Notes, Glossary and Indexes, Vol. 2, The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1922.
Categories
Archive Stories

Ancient Connections: Stories that Connect and Confound

Folklore

Ancient Connections: Stories that Connect and Confound

There’s more to historic research than that found on parchment and vellum or between the pages of books. Much still lives within a place’s culture, landscape and memory. So very importantly, during this project, we’re asking our communities to share with us those half remembered tales told to them as children, to tell us their colloquial names for places and to explore with us fragments of local folk knowledge that’s everyday stuff to them, but may well lead us together, to a little treasure trove of knowledge and understanding about their place. We’ll also be sharing some of the gems we unearth through our research in archives and with community members.

So let’s begin with a saint’s tale. St David’s Cathedral and St Edan’s Cathedral Church in Ferns, Ireland are both within the project areas, so the stories of saints and their comings and goings across the Irish sea, their interactions and miracles loom large in our research. Trying to tease apart what might be counted as history from the Age of Saints as opposed to mythology and folklore is virtually impossible. Our ancestor’s did not think of history or recording it as we do today, and much of saintly happenings were spread orally, growing in colour and wonder as the tales passed from tongue to ear.

In Pembrokeshire, we benefit from the work of author Brian John, who has lovingly collected local folktales over many years and published them in four excellent volumes: Pembrokeshire Folk Tales, The Last Dragon, Fireside Tales from Pembrokeshire and More Pembrokeshire Folk Tales. 

Saint David and the Chieftain Boia

Here’s just one of his collected tales that relates to Wales’ patron Saint, David – or Dewi to give him his Welsh name.

At the end of his missionary travels in about the year 560, according to the tale, Dewi was guided by an Angel to return to found a monastery in the land of his birth. And so he returned to Glyn Rhosyn with some companions, including Teilo, Ismael and Aidan (also known in Ireland as St Edan, who later founded the Cathedral in Ferns).

Once there, the companions lit a fire to warm themselves and prepare some food, but the curling smoke drew the attention of a local chieftain, Boia who ruled this corner of the land from his hill fort of Clegyr Boia. He was furious that intruders were planning to settle a short way from his fort – and without doing due homage to him, and paying the respect he felt he deserved. And so, with the encouragement of his wife, he took warriors down to Glyn Rhosyn to drive Dewi and his followers away. But as Boia and his men attacked, they were afflicted with a terrible fever and dropped to the ground and were forced to crawl away in retreat. When they returned to the fort, it was to find that their sheep and cattle were dead, and that Baia’s wife was in a frenzy of fury.

However, aware that he had encountered in these men powers beyond his understanding, and in a little awe and fear, Boia granted Dewi the land at Glyn Rhosyn for his community. Sure enough, as soon as he did so, the warriors were cured of their affliction and the livestock restored to life.

Boia’s wife however, was not so easily won over. She sent her maidens to bathe naked in the River Alun, to tempt Dewi’s followers away from their vows, but they held fast, and through fasting and prayer Dewi helped his companions withstand these great temptations. Finally, Boia’s wife led her step-daughter Dunawd down to the river Alun and sacrificed her to the old gods in an attempt to drive the Christian men away. Her failure drove her to utter madness and she fled, never to be seen again.

Boia was devastated by his loss and again tried to attack David, but an Irish chieftain by the name of Lisci had just landed nearby, and attacked Boia’s poorly defended camp and killed him. Lisci’s name remains in the landscape to this day in the name Porthlysgi.

To complete the tale with one final miracle, fire poured down from heaven during a great thunderstorm and the whole of Boia’s hill fort settlement was destroyed by the inferno. And all this must be utterly true because over 1400 years later, when archaeologists excavated Clegyr Boia, what you think they discovered? Beneath the turf lay the charred remains of huts and storehouses.

You can easily visit Clegyr Boia as it’s accessible from a little lane running out of the city of St David’s in Pembrokeshire (see the OS map above). There are also a number of holy wells nearby to explore – enjoy, and please unearth some more myths and legends as you walk.

Categories
Archive Stories

Shemi Wâd’s Flight

Shemi Wâd, National History Museum, Wales
Folklore

Shemi Wâd's Flight

James Wade, better known as Shemi Wâd was something of a local character and storyteller, and a number of folktales from north Pembrokeshire in particular either involve him, or are attributed to him. in a small, whitewashed cottage opposite Berachah Chapel in Broom Street, Goodwick (which was later renamed Duke Street). Shemi earned his crust as an itinerant worker: gardening for the local well-to-do, going from farm to farm to kill pigs and help out with the harvest. But he also owned a small boat, and spent much of his time fishing for Fishguard herrings which he sold on to be salted and fried, and also shellfish which he sold to locals and visitors during the season.

Shemi Wâd, National History Museum, Wales

He died on 2 January 1897 at the grand age of 80. His tombstone in Rhos-y-Caerau, Pencaer faces some of his favourite haunts, Garn Fawr, Garn Fechan and Garn Folch. Shemi was also somewhat notoriously known as the best tobacco spitter around, and anyone poking holes in his tall tales did well to stand more than six feet away. Here’s one of them.

A Tall Tale

One summer’s day, Shemi was fishing on the Parrog with a dozen hooks all baited to lure fish. After a long hot afternoon, waiting for a bite, Shemi felt his eyelids droop, so he took a few steps back, lay down on a grassy bank, tied the lines around his right ankle and within moments, he was fast asleep. He was so deeply asleep and bound in dreams that he didn’t notice the tide go out, exposing all the bait on his fishing lines.

Soon a flock of seagulls descended, swallowing the bait – hook, line and sinker. Moments later, Shemi’s snoring disturbed them and they all took flight, heading off across Cardigan Bay, dragging the still sound asleep Shemi with them! They flew all the way across to Ireland, coming to land finally in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Shemi came down to earth with such a thud that finally he woke up. Startled, he freed himself from the fishing lines and stumbled around in the strange surroundings trying to get his bearings. He soon realised that he was in Ireland, but knowing nobody and with the night setting in, he went in search of somewhere he could shelter for the night. At the edge of the park he saw a row of cannons. Now Shemi was only a small, slight man and so he climbed into the barrel of one of the great guns, curled up and went to sleep.

What poor Shemi didn’t know was that the military fired a salute from the cannon ever morning. And so it was that a still slumbering Shemi was shot out of the barrel straight across the Irish sea. Lucky for him, he had a soft landing on the lush grass of Pencw, just above his Goodwick home.

Shemi swore ‘till his dying day that every detail of the story was true…..and those who heard the tale swore blind they believed him…..unless they were standing at least six feet away.

Sources:

The Story of the best tobbacco spitter around, County Echo Reporter, 13 December 2017

Tall Tale from Goodwick (8.4), Pembrokeshire Folk Tales by Brian John