Hi Paul

Hope you are well.

As my computer has been broken all week I am using the library's PC. Just in case I cannot get access again this week, I'm going to send you the census returns up to and including 1871.

I hope to have a brand new PC tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to send you the census results up to 1911.

Cheers

Keith

Research

Hi Paul

I've sent you some photos from are first Friday walk for the display panels.

I have been in touch with Gwent Archives in Ebbw Vale and have made appointment for this Wednesday.

I was down my local yesterday talking to one of the old boys, he said he knew a Billy Morgan who is in his 80s and lives some where in Garn -yr- Erw, but he grew up on the farm behind Hill Pits, and he as said that he would ask him if he as any photos of the area, he also said that the houses was demolished in 1951 and most of the bricks re used also where.

See you Thursday!

Michael

Session 7: Planning leaflet etc.

Tonight we had a look at photos and the GPS surveyed outlines of the enclosures and the cottages. Paul suggested we start planning a 6 panel leaflet. We also may make posters for an exhibition, plan a walk, and have been invited to give a presentation at a university summer school. Keith will continue to see if Blaenavon Museum can find photos of the HP cottages and more information.

Re: the leaflet, 4 pages will be about the course (Andy will write about his experience and thoughts on the course). Keith will write up to about 150 words on the cottages history (including the census information summary), and Dennis something about the enclosures. Paul asked us to send him our photos by next Weds for possible use in leaflet or posters.

From an OS Ed1 map (1ins to 1 mile), surveyed mainly in 1813-20 - Tyr Abraham Harry extended about 50% more than it's current area in a SW direction (covering the Hill pits and enclosures area. No buildings are shown where cottage row and pit is shown on later maps, suggesting the cottages were later than about 1820, but the detail of the cottage enclosures may not be shown on this scale map.

Dennis.

Session 7:Getting the Message out

For tonight's delight and delectation the group will start to assemble the information obtained from the previous workshops enhancing the Historic Environment Record and consider how best to disseminate their findings to the wider community.

Session 5: Way of the Archaeologist-Recording an archaeological site

Last nights hands-on workshop provided the group with a taste of basic archaeological recording methods.

The group split into two, half the group learned how to carry out an offset survey with Rowena Hart (GGAT Project Officer), while the rest tried their hand at planning an archaeological feature (they never realised how fun drawing flagstones could be!) and placing levels on their drawing.

Session 4: The Way of the Archaeologist-initial site visit

An walk was undertaken by the group on the 21st October. We started at Pwll Du tunnel before walking past the Powder House, the engine brake wheel, finally finishing up at Hill's Pit.

At the Pit we carried out an initial walkover survey of the enclosure, measuring the length of the earthen and stone constructed banks.

Surprising what turns up!

Research

Hello Paul,
I did a search in Google Scholar for "Hill Pits Enclosures Blaenavon", and found a link to the very interesting article written by Laun in the Industrial Archaeology Review, 1979. This can be downloaded for free http://scholar.google.co.uk/.
Regarding enclosures: page 9 states - "Maps (ref 17) prior to the sinking of Hill Pits show the smallholding of Tyr Abraham Harry as two distinct enclosures. The enclosure to the south west (the smaller of the two) is now occupied by part of the tramroad." Regarding the maps, Ref 17 states "Various from 1812 onwards" Just for fun I overlaid the 1st edition OS (1880) map with a Google Earth photo of 2001 (having long shadows). There's a lot of room for errors in doing this - but the the enclosures align quite well on the first image.

A larger area is shown on the second picture. There seems to be an outline of a building or something in the north most enclosure on the 1st edition OS map.
Dennis Hopkins