Monuments in the Landscape Series

Vol. I Prehistoric Sites of Herefordshire

Temporarily out of print

 Vol. II Castles & Moated Sites of Herefordshire

Out of print

Vol. III Castles of Radnorshire

by Paul Remfry. 160pp with some 35 photographs, plans and maps. £7.95

ISBN 1 873827 54 7

Paul Remfry, who studied the history of the Welsh Princes of central Wales in some depth whilst undertaking his M.A., is also a keen explorer and interpreter of castles.

The history of Radnorshire from the time of the Norman Conquest up until the end of the thirteenth century is covered in detail, as that sets the background for the period when most of the castles were built and in use, and then each of the castle sites is covered. For a few there is only limited information, but for others there is some recorded history which helps establish when the castles were built and when they were occupied. Paul weaves this information in the site entries together with his knowledge of the history of the period and examination of what lies on the ground, to create a picture of each castle, its owners, its use and eventual demise.

by George Children and George Nash. 144pp with 40 photographs, plans and maps. £7.95

ISBN 1 873827 49 0

In this volume the authors have developed their theories in the light of additional research in Monmouthshire, an area which has interesting Stone Age finds along the shores of the Severn Estuary, in addition to Bronze Age complexes, standing stones and later

Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire

by George Children and George Nash. 160pp with 50 photographs, plans and maps. £7.95

ISBN 1 873827 99 7

This uses anthropology to develop ideas of how Neolithic society operated in south-west

Vol. VI Holy Wells of Bath & Bristol Region

by Phil Quinn. 246 pp. with maps and illustrations. £9.95

ISBN 1 873827 90 3

This book covers the cities of Bristol and Bath, together with the adjoining areas of south Gloucestershire and north Somerset—an area roughly equivalent to the county of Avon recently done away with. The book is in two parts. The initial chapters describe the offerings made in prehistoric times, the life of Roman Bath, the early Christian days when saints were often associated with wells and springs, to medieval days and monastic connections. The tale leads on to the conduits which served Bath and Bristol—the wooden and lead pipes which conducted the water from wells and springs in the surrounding hills to troughs and reservoirs in the towns, and of which there are many reminders still around. The coming of the spas, so important to this area, is also recounted.

The gazetteer covers the area parish by parish, detailing their springs and wells, together with the cures, ghosts, stories and customs associated with each. The research has been meticulous, not just from written sources, but also as a result of conversations with local people throughout the area covered by the book. Whilst a great deal of this information has not appeared in print before, much of the rest has been hidden away in obscure works on topography and rarely-seen old maps.

Vol. VII Prehistoric Sites of The Gower & West Glamorgan

by Wendy Hughes. 118 pp. with maps, plans and photographs. £7.95

ISBN 1 873827 75 X

In this book Wendy Hughes delves into the early evidence for mankind in this area, using largely archaeological and some anthropological evidence to build a picture of how man first found, visited and settled in the area before starting to adapt the landscape for agricultural production. In these early days much use was made of the caves in the limestone outcrops, both for living and for burial. Burial practices changed from the group Neolithic tombs to individual cairns and it is during this period that standing stones appear, and many still remain on the Gower. Later arrivals brought iron making technology and left their own indelible mark on the countryside in the form of both

The book is divided into three sections—The Stone Age, The Bronze Age and The Iron Age. Each section is followed by individual guides to the more important and often more accessible sites, explaining how to gain access and interpreting what there is to see.

by Paul Remfry, 196 pp. with some 50 photographs, maps & plans. £8.95

ISBN 1 873827 80 6

It was not long after the Norman kings had completed their great tax survey, The Domesday Book, that a series of attacks was launched on Wales. In Breconshire during 1093 the forces led by Bernard Neufmarché were establishing a walled town, priory and castle on the River Honddu, at Brecon the castle proving capable of defence in almost all the subsequent conflicts.

The first part of this book details the campaigns which led to the building, capture, destruction and possible rebuilding of the castles of Breconshire. It relates the various allegiances between Normans, English and Welsh, with marriage often used to strengthen title, or expand territorial gains. The second part takes each castle in turn, giving its history, and describing what is left or is likely to lie beneath the vegetated mounds and hollows.