Author Archives: Graham

Request for Information

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It has come to the Society’s attention that a new road to be built linking the Coed Darcy development, on the old BP refinery site, to Fabian Way, may involve the demolition of the remains of St. Margaret’s Chapel in Jersey Marine.

As an historical society we care about the preservation of sites of historic interest in our locality, and will do our best to have the remains of the chapel preserved; however we need your help to achieve this aim.

Very little is known about the chapel except that it was part of a convent that was linked to the Cistercian Abbey at Neath Abbey.  Do you know anything about St. Margaret’s Chapel?  If you have any information please get in touch with the Society (see contact page) and help us preserve our local heritage.

Society Annual Visit: Highclere Castle

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The Weather was not kind this year for the Society’s annual visit on 9th August. It was a dull day with frequent heavy showers, but they failed to spoil the event.

When we arrived there were several other coaches and many cars in the car park. Highclere is a relatively small house and the large number of visitors on the day did prove a problem, as entry to the house and Egyptian exhibition were not timed. Undaunted by crowds or weather, Society members made the best of the situation and found that in-between the showers the gardens were a delight, especially the secret garden and the wildflower meadow.

The interior of the house was no surprise to those who watch “Downton Abbey” on television, but it was a surprise to find that it was so “homely”, because the rooms were not on a vast scale, as is the case in so many of the larger stately homes. It was a house one felt you could live in today.

Sited in the basement area originally housing the kitchen and servants’ area, there were many items of great interest in the Egyptian Museum, mostly connected of course, with Lord Carnarvon’s discovery, with Howard Carter, of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Pity the crowds and the heat made it difficult to give one’s full appreciation to the artefacts.

So a very successful visit despite the weather and the crowds.

Society visit to Neath Abbey Monastery

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The Society’s Vice President, Mr. John Richards, led the Society on a tour of Neath Abbey in July.  It proved to be a very informative and enjoyable visit – helped by the fact that it was a sunny summer day, which showed off the ruins to their best effect.

Mr. Richards gave us a history of the site prior to the building of the Abbey, and then took us around the site recounting the history of the Abbey itself when it was a working a Cistercian monastery, leading us to the period after the dissolution of the monasteries when the prior’s house was converted into a Tudor mansion, and the later use of part of the monastery by the copper industry.

Mr. Richards (wearing a yellow shirt) is standing at the back of the group photograph.

Neath Abbey Visit Group Photo