Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society
Cymdeithas Hynafiaethol Sir Gaerfyrddin
Events in Autumn 2006
October: Dolaucothi and Caio
For the last field day of the year, led by
Jeremy John, over 60 Antiquarians travelled to Dolaucothi and
Caio, following in the footsteps of their predecessors in 1908,
when a similar sized group were photographed on the lawns of
Dolaucothi Mansion, dressed in suits, long skirts and boaters.
Current members, with Chairman Roy Davies, came dressed for
an underground tour of the gold mines, meeting first at the
"Tin Tabernacle", the affectionate local name for
the village hall in Dolaucothi. Recently renovated, the hall
is a fitting setting for the portrait of General Sir Hills-Johnnes,
and here the group were reminded of the way in which he won
the V.C. and of the generosity of the family to the local community
in donating the hall and its site.
Following in the footsteps of George Borrow,
the group walked up the long tree-lined drive to the parkland
where the mansion formerly stood, now occupied by Dolaucothi
Farm. Here the tenant Nigel Williams described the way in which
the estate is organised by the National Trust and how the 8
tenants have developed the market for their lambs, winning,
among other awards, the first National Trust Fine Farm Produce
Award and a contract with Sainsburys for a premium product labelled
Dolaucothi lamb.
The Romans need for gold dictated the site
of the fort in the village and the huge pits and galleries of
the mine. Vast quantities of shale and ore-bearing quartz were
removed, leats several miles long carried water for processing
the ore and large spoil heaps are now covered with trees. Mining
restarted in Victorian times, then again in the 1930s, with
shafts, levels and adits being constructed.
At the church in Caio Heather James, an archaeologist
with special expertise in the Roman period, set the parish in
the context of the Dark Age communities who inhabited the area
and the vicar, the Revd Jo Penberthy, outlined the history of
the church. An interesting display of material relating to the
parish had been set out by Gwenfys James.
When space allows, prospective new members
are welcome to attend events. Membership runs from January 1st.
Contact Programme Secretary John Saunders on ronaldaroo@btinternet.com
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