Expert articles and latest updates about Nevern Castle
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Mugs!admin31 Oct 2024There are now Nevern Castle mugs for sale!
Buy one at our online shop, where you can also buy copies of the Nevern Castle guidebook. -
BBQadmin2 Sep 2024Friends of Nevern Castle held the annual barbecue on the August bank holiday Monday. An interesting mixture of local residents and visitors from distant parts, including several young families, came to sit in the bailey and eat delicious beefburgers, sausages and rather good beanburgers.
Food and drinks were served by members of the Friends committee and members of Nevern Community Council, who own the site. -
Square Tower repairedadmin21 Jul 2024Repairs to the Square Tower have recently been completed. Part of the original wall was undergoing a gradual collapse.
We hope that this will mean that the visible parts of our castle are protected for a good while into the future. The work was supervised by Chris Caple, and PCNPA’s community achaeologist Tomos Jones, and carried out by local artisans RTS Lime Conservation. -
Guidebook publishedadmin21 Jul 2024A guidebook to Nevern Castle written by the archaeologist Dr Chris Caple has now been published. It is available in English and Welsh and is on sale for £10.
Buy the Guidebook from our online shop. -
Friends’ AGM 12th JulyFriends of Nevern Castle15 Jun 2024We held our AGM at the Trewern Arms on 12th July. Thanks as always to the Trewern for hosting us.
Our chair Katharine Whitehead reviewed activities over the year, including telling people about the Castle at various shows; publication of Chris Caple's guide book to the castle; the repair of the Square Tower; and scrub clearance. -
Craft fair 2nd Marchadmin1 Feb 2024There will be a craft market at the village hall on 2nd March, with the church bells as an acoustic backdrop. Information and tours of the castle will be on offer.
The village hall is at the end of Nevern nearest the bridge. From the Trewern Arms (SA42 0NB), cross the bridge and look to your right. -
Nevern before the NormansRhiannon Comeau21 Dec 2023Dr Rhiannon Comeau
In the area around Nevern Castle, the estates of Robert FitzMartin’s knights very likely originate in the pre-Conquest lands of Nevern church. Dr Rhiannon Comeau investigated Bayvil as part of her PhD research into pre-Norman Cemais. -
Making Sense of the FragmentsChris Caple11 Dec 2023A talk given in July 2023 at the Trewern Arms, Nevern, by Chris Caple, chief archaeologist at Nevern Castle. -
Clearing the scrubFriends of Nevern CastleScrub clearance at Nevern Castle28 Nov 2023On a sunny and cool morning in November 2023, nine volunteers and a very enthusiastic spaniel helped PCNPA ranger Richard Vaughan and community archaeologist Tomos Jones to hack at brambles and saplings near the paths at Nevern Castle.
Several came from different parts of Pembrokeshire to lend a hand, and stories were exchanged of digs and clearances on all sides. Lunch was very pleasant at the picnic tables, and we went home well exercised and, if not exactly sun-tanned, nevertheless having enjoyed time in the fresh air. -
Nevern Show 2023Friends of Nevern CastleNevern Show 20239 Aug 2023Once again, Friends of Nevern Castle took a stand at Nevern Show, to promote knowledge of the castle and connect with visitors and local residents who might not know of it. Gaynor, Mick, Kath and Alan chatted to people who'd turned out on a very pleasant day to enjoy the competitions, crafts, and exhibitors at the lively Show.
We talked to lots of people! Of the 35 conversations we made a note of: -
Castles come to WalesFriends of Nevern Castle24 Jul 2023A devastating innovation
The castle was an important tool of conquest. Initially built quickly in wood, it served as a base for the invading soldiers, a place to protect their equipment and provisions, and a place to defend from counter-attacks. -
AGMFriends of Nevern CastleThrone and motte15 Jul 2023The first Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Nevern Castle was held at the Trewern Arms on 12th July.
During the past year, we have: -
Talk by Chris CapleFriends of Nevern Castle15 Jul 2023Dr Chris Caple, the archaeologist who led the digs at Nevern Castle for ten years, gave a popular and fascinating talk at the Trewern Arms on Wednesday 12/7/2023.
Since its destruction in 1196, ploughing and weathering have obscured what remains of the castle. Only fragments remain - and the task of the archaeologist is to piece them together, to reveal the dramatic events of the time, and the life that people led. -
PCNPA tourFriends of Nevern Castle27 Apr 2023Tomos Jones, PCNPA Community Archaeologist, led a group on a tour of Newport Castle, St Brynach's Church, and Nevern Castle.
Early Purple Orchid seen at the Castle today -
Pilgrimage conferenceFriends of Nevern Castle19 Mar 2023Alan represented Friends of Nevern Castle at the Pilgrimage Today conference in Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford in March 2023. The gathering celebrated the opening of the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way from Ferns in SE Ireland across the sea to St Davids. The meeting, sponsored by the Ancient Connections project and British Pilgrimage Trust, was attended by about 80 people including artists, businesses and places of interest along the route, officers of Visit Pembrokeshire and Fáilte Ireland, together with academics studying tourism and pilgrimage.
Alan was also there for his part as a software developer in Pererin Wyf, a project sponsored by Ancient Connections which links people of the Irish and Welsh diasporas worldwide. -
School visitFriends of Nevern CastleSchool children being shown a drawing of the tower atop the motte6 Dec 2022Friends of Nevern Castle conducted a tour of the Castle for a group of 9-10 year olds from St Dogmaels Primary School on 14th November 2022.
While walking around the site, we looked at mock-up pictures, talked about the characters of the time, and had great fun role-playing the coming and goings between Norman and Welsh control. And of course we talked about archaeology. -
Wexford visit to CastleFriends of Nevern CastleSpeaking to a party of visitors in the bailey23 Oct 2022Friends of Nevern Castle showed round a group of visitors from Ireland on Sunday 23/10/2022.
The visit was a first trial of a guided tour round the castle. We told the story of the main characters in its 90-year history, while explaining the visible remains and showing artists' impressions of what it looked like at the time. -
BBQ Aug 29thFriends of Nevern CastlePeople picnicing at the barbecue August 202215 Aug 2022We had a great time at the barbecue in the castle bailey on bank holiday Monday.
Good company in lovely surroundings, and delicious barbie food! -
Nevern ShowFriends of Nevern CastleFriends speaking to people at Nevern Show 202211 Aug 2022Friends of Nevern Castle had a stand in the craft tent at Nevern Show on 10th August. Gaynor, Mike, Kath and Alan chatted to show goers about the castle.
The aim was to raise awareness of the existence of the site and the importance of the castle in the 12th century. We told visitors how the castle's history, with its alternation between Norman and Welsh control, encapsulated that pivotal period in the history of Wales. -
Trail guide updateFriends of Nevern CastleMap/aerial photo of Nevern for updated trail guide leaflet 20228 Jul 2022Nevern Trail Guide leaflet was published in 2016 by Nevern Community Council and Pembrokeshire National Park Authority. It's now due for a reprint, and so there's an opportunity for updates and improvements.
Friends of Nevern Castle recently had a meeting with other residents of Nevern to discuss changes to the leaflet. We've also had discussions with representatives of St Brynach's Church, the Village Hall, and the Trewern Arms. -
Nevern’s Apotropaic SlatesChris Caple11 Apr 2022by Dr Chris Caple
In 2011, we unearthed a series of slates forming a threshold in the gateway of the southern entrance to the castle. A number of these slates contained faint scratched designs. As the slates were bedded on their edges, these designs could not be seen by the people passing over the threshold; only by supernatural forces. The designs were almost certainly incised into the slates by the workmen building the gateway (constructed circa 1170-1191). -
Friends’ Meeting – Trewern 30/3/2022Nevern Community CouncilBarbecue 20211 Apr 2022Inaugural meeting of the Friends of Nevern Castle
Enthusiasts for Nevern Castle met on Wednesday 30/3/2022, kindly hosted by the Trewern Arms. We created a formal association, with a constitution and the usual officers. We’ll be able to open a bank account, apply for grants, etc. -
The Great HallRob AnthonyGreat Hall in Stokesay Castle4 Mar 2022The brief life and times of the Great Hall, Nevern Castle
Fig 1 Artist’s impression of Nevern Castle: -
My Dig MemoriesGaynor Bussell6 Feb 2022Gaynor Bussell, Volunteer at Nevern Dig 2009-2018
After working over 30 years in London, in June 2008 I decided to give it all up. I was not sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life; I was not quite 50! But I had developed hiraeth for the lands from where my family had come and where many of my relatives still lived. -
Podcast: Tomos Jones, PCNPAPembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority10 Jan 2022The Archaeology of Nevern Castle
Tomos Jones, Community Archaeologist at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, talks about the archaeological excavations at Nevern Castle between 2008 and 2018. -
The Lord Rhys’ OathRob Anthony1 Jan 2022The broken oaths of the Lord Rhys would have put him at risk of eternal damnation, according to the tenets of the 12th century.
Dr Robert Anthony -
Was Nevern really a borough?Rob Anthony15 Dec 2021Were there really 18 burgage plots within the castle? Can we believe the claim by George Owen, 16th/17th century antiquarian and lord of Cemais, that Nevern was once a borough, with special privileges?
Dr Rob Anthony explains, and examines the evidence. -
A decorated keyChris Caple23 Nov 2021An object that has come up recently in the research on Nevern is the shaft of a key, a slide key for a padlock, with inlaid spiral decoration.
Keys like this only turn up on 12th century sites such as York, Winchester, Castle Acre. Unnecessarily decorated and expensive, they were probably mainly owned by aristocratic ladies safeguarding things which they wanted to keep safe: perhaps documents, jewellery, clothes or shoes. -
Family feudsPembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority3 Nov 2021
Delun Gibby tells the story of Rhys' imprisonment in his own castle. (Delun was Community Archaeologist for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.) -
Archbishop Baldwin 1188Rob Anthony24 Oct 2021Dr Robert Anthony
Monday, 28 March 1188: it is not often in medieval history that an event can be dated with such precision, especially when concerning Wales, and we have Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis), scholar, canon of St David’s and Archdeacon of Brecon, to thank for this. The event in question is described in his book: The Journey Through Wales (1191), an account, almost in diary form (although with lavish digressions), of the six week mission to south and north Wales by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury to preach the Cross in support of the Third Crusade. -
The ThroneNevern Community Council21 Oct 2021It is said of the bleeding yew tree in Nevern churchyard, "The Yew will bleed until a Welsh King sits upon the throne in the Castle!"
The saying goes back a long way. We don't have a Welsh king yet, but in 2008, Nevern Community Council took the first step by providing a throne. -
BarbecueNevern Community Council14 Oct 2021About 50 people attended the barbecue in the bailey in the August bank holiday 2021. We're looking to hold more events in the future.
