Welsh Journals

THE CAMBRIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH MEETING HELD AT PRESTEIGNE, AUGUST 25-29, 1958 When the question of inviting the C.A.A. to make Presteigne the venue for their 1958 Summer Meeting was first discussed, there were those who felt that the problems of housing, feeding and transporting about the County over one hundred people might prove insuperable, but a little missionary work soon ensured the co-operation of the Urban District Council, the Chamber of Trade, the hoteliers, and the towns- people and early in December 1957, a strong and indefatigable Local Committee was appointed to make all the necessary preparations. A most interesting programme of excursions was drawn up, with notes on the places and buildings to be visited, and a fuller account of these will be appearing in Archaeologia Cambrensis the object of this present article is merely to give an informal account of what was an exceedingly friendly and stimulating week for all who took part in it. Monday, August 25th, was a domestic day. After lunching at the Radnorshire Arms, the visitors adjourned to the Assembly Rooms for the welcome by the Chairman and Members of the Local Committee, and an introduction to the week's proceedings. This was followed by a conducted tour of the town with visits to the Church and the Shire Hall after which there was a Civic Welcome and tea at the Memorial Hall. The highlight of the day was the public lecture with slides by Mr. Leslie Alcock, M.A., F.S.A., on the Roman excavations at Castell Collen. Tuesday was a Border day. Visits were made to the recently restored Tudor manor house of Monaughty, and the hill-fort of Caer Caradoc. The party then went on to Clun for lunch, visiting Clun Church, Castle, Museum, and the Trinity Hospital. Tea was provided in Knighton, after an interesting visit to the Castle, House, and Church of Brampton Bryan. After tea, Members had the choice of viewing Mr. J. Griffiths's collection of 17th century pottery at Birtley or Dr. Richard Williams's unique collection of arms and armour at Norton. In the evening at Presteigne Grammar School, Dr. T. Alwyn Lloyd of Cardiff was installed as President of the C.A.A. for 1958-59, and read a fascinating paper on the origin and growth of some of the old historic towns of Wales.