Visit to Caerleon Legionary Fortress, Monday, 4th August

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Annie

We were very lucky that the rain held off for our visit to the Legionary Fortress at Caerleon. The museum proved to hold a fund of artefacts and our guide Dai, was very informative.

: President Brian Lodwick, and members examine the headstones

: Members examining the stone coffin

: Mrs. Ann Davidson asks the question

: But guide Dai and everyone else is stumped!

: A Roman legionary soldier

: Mrs. Ann Harries studies the artefacts closely

: A horde of silver coins found at the site. Two counterfeit coins were found in the horde.

: One member really gets into period feel

: Demonstrating the legionary’s weapons

: Demonstrating the legionary’s weapons

: Members enjoying a rest after walking around the amphitheatre

There was an exhibition of wood carvings depicting scenes from World War One near the amphitheatre:-

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Family Fun Day in the Memorial Park

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Annie

The Society was represented at the Family Fun Day this year. Interest was shown in our WW1 displays and hopefully many of those who came will attend our Heritage Day next month.

DSCF0808: The wind almost blows the tablecloths away

DSCF0809: The display boards with some of our WW1 results on show

DSCF0810: Mrs. Sharon Shorney tried to avoid being in the picture!

DSCF0807: Mrs. Lynette Drake and Mrs. Virginia Jones deep in discussion

Society gives talk to local school

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Annie

Mynachlog Nedd Junior School invited the Society to talk to their pupils about our World War One researches into the War’s links with Skewen and District. In the Autumn Term the pupils will embark on their own research into WW1 so this was a springboard for them into the topic.

Chairperson Virginia Jones led the talk, giving information about her researches into the military aspects of the war and the stories she has unearthed about their exploits. Anne Morgans then gave the pupils information about some of the families living in Skewen at the time.

During our researches we found that four of the teachers from the school enlisted in the army. We have found that two returned to the school after the war ended, but we are still researching into what happened to the other two teachers.

We are grateful to the pupils and their families who were able to provide us with valuable information about their stories of WW1 and Skewen. If you have any information for us get in touch, or come along to our Heritage Day on September 1st in the Carnegie Hall.

Chairperson Virginia Jones and Anne Morgans with pupils Harvey John, Eden Rowlans and Courtney Fellows

Chairperson Virginia Jones and Anne Morgans with pupils Harvey John, Eden Rowlands and Courtney Fellows

Lottery funding secured

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Annie

The Officers and members of the committee are pleased to announce that we have been granted the sum of £6,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund Wales. This enables us to go forward with the research work needed on Skewen and District and World War One so that we can produce a book on the subject.

For the book to be a success we need as much information as possible from local people about the area in the period 1914 – 1919. Material may be donated to the Society, or we can copy/scan and return material. It is not only the military aspects of the period that we looking at, but civilian life in the period also.

If you have anything that would be of interest please contact any member of the Society’s committee, or bring it along to Heritage Day at the Carnegie Hall on Monday, September 1st. Reminiscences will be recorded on Heritage Day also, so you tell us your family’s WW1 story.

We are very grateful to Heritage Lottery Fund Wales for this award.

Report on visit to Tredegar House, May 19th

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Annie

The Society rounded off its Lottery funded visits with a trip to Tredegar House followed by tea at the Celtic Manor. It is with great thanks to the Lottery Big Fund that we have enjoyed such a successful season of visits over the past year.