DOCUMENT NO 194 May 2013

A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy

Topographical and Archaeological Survey

Topo

Western Valley, Varteg.

Prepared for:
Cllr. O Clarke

By: Dr N Phillips.
 A.P.A.C. Ltd Western Valley, Varteg TR/VTG/13

Summary

Dr N Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd., was commissioned in March 2013, to undertake a

topographical survey of an area of upland known as Western Valley, Varteg.

The area of the survey is currently the subject of proposed land reclamation and
landscaping.

The purpose of the survey was to establish the existence of any archaeological
resources that would be impacted upon by the proposed work.

The client is specifically interested in ‘scouring activity’ associated with iron

working which he believes is evident on the ground.

The findings of this survey however were unable to justify the client’s claims.

Copyright Notice:
A.P.A.C. Ltd. retains copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577) to reproduce map information; Copyright remains
otherwise with the Ordnance Survey.

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd Western Valley, Varteg TR/VTG/13

Summary .........................................................................................................................................1
Figures.............................................................................................................................................3
Plates ...............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................4
Location and description of the evaluation areas ............................................................................4
Brief archaeological and historical background..............................................................................4
Objectives........................................................................................................................................4
Methodology ...................................................................................................................................5
Data Presentation.............................................................................................................................5
General description (fig 06 throughout)..........................................................................................5
Recorded detail:...............................................................................................................................6
References: ......................................................................................................................................6
Staff .................................................................................................................................................6

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd Western Valley, Varteg TR/VTG/13

Figures

01 Site Location map

02 Ordnance Survey, 1833., 1880, 1901,1920, 1962, 1:2500 & 1938-54 1:10560map
03 Map regression, overlays 1880-1962
04 Survey result
05 Survey overlay on aerial photograph
06 Survey overlay on map regression

Plates

1. General view north from road: Marsh below and causeway, centre
2. General view east from road: Recent motorbike tracks to left
3. General view east from road: Leat/track to pond centre picture
4. View towards road from within the washed away section
5. Track/leat in centre earlier leat above
6. View along leat/track, note water retention on inner slope (vegetation}
7. View along revetted section of track just short of the upper causeway
8. Area with leat/track washed away to expose bedrock
9. View down the washed away slope from leat/track
10. View from bank down into washed away area showing bedrock

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd Western Valley, Varteg TR/VTG/13

Introduction

The land of interest to this survey forms the western extent of proposed land reclamation/coal recovery scheme
proposed by Glamorgan Power Company, Ref 0092029., (ERM. March 2009).

The report produced by Glamorgan Power Company accepts that the general area to be worked has had an industrial
past and that the activities of that past remain at the site; however, in the next line of text they go on to state that
‘there are no historic remains on the site’, (1.1 ERM. March 2009).

The client, Cllr Owen, has commissioned this survey to check this ambiguity, and to make a case that
archaeological resources do indeed survive in the proposed area.

Location and description of the evaluation areas

The location of the site of interest can be gained along an access road to Blaenmelyn Farm, which turns west off the
B4246 Varteg road, to the north of the village, fig 01.

The site consists of a shallow valley which is badly drained as a result of former landscaping in the form of the
causewayed access road to Blaenmelyn Farm, Plates 01, 02 &03.

The resultant dam like feature, collects water drained from the surrounding hills; forming a very marshy bog/pond,
Plate 04.

There is a further dam like structure to the north, the result of another raised track, Plate 01

Brief archaeological and historical background

It has been stated above that the area has been the focus of industrial activity, Blaenafon World Heritage Site is after
all only a couple of miles north, on the opposite side of the same valley.

The earliest recorded being that of the Varteg Iron Company, 1802-1852, (Foster, B).

Figure 02 best illustrates the land use in the mediate vicinity of interest, using a set of six ordnance survey maps of
the site.

The First Series 1833 is difficult to orientate with any precision but id does show the Varteg Iron Works listing two
furnaces and a level surrounding the site.

By the time of the 1880 survey, the immediate are of interest is edged east and west by trial shafts, levels and even
an air shaft which testifies to the successful mine underneath. The topography of the western valley however
suggests it was wider although the streams were still present.

The 1901 map shows more linear features within the valley which are not very clear on the copy available.

In the 1920 edition, the area has become fairly devoid of any features of interest the only exception being the
labelling of the mineral railway on what is now the access road.

In the 1938-54 edition even the track/wall bordering the east of the valley top was not recorded and by the time of
the last record in 1962, even the raised causeway has lost its hatching.

Objectives

The objective of the survey was to record the topography of the western valley and the various linear features visible
within its confines.

It was hoped that these could be shown to be related to past historical industrial activity within the area.

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd Western Valley, Varteg TR/VTG/13

Methodology

A set of map progressions were scanned into Adobe Photoshop and cropped before importing into Adobe Illustrator
for presentation and to compile the figures see fig 03. Fig 03 was the crucial map for comparing the topographic
survey.

The topographic survey was undertaken using a Topcon GPT3007 Reflectorless Totalstation, set to prism mode.

A set of spot heights were taken across the valley to establish the contours and then each visible feature was
recorded with a coded string, fig 04.

The area does not have much in the way of recognisable datum point with which to tie in the survey. A pair of gate
posts on the track way were used for positioning.

All of the data was processed in CivilCad 6 and downloaded into AutoCad for processing.

An aerial image of the site was imported into Cad and overlaid with the survey for correct placement and scale, fig
05.

Finally, fig 06 was produced combining the present topographic survey with the historic mapping in order to
compare the features recorded.

A few photographs were taken during the survey in order to illustrate some of the features.

Photographs were taken with a Sony Cybershot F828 digital camera, a 8mpg and recorded in RAW and JPG formats

Simple phasing was undertaken based on observable, constructional anomalies.

Data Presentation

Data referred to within the text is included in the appendices under Figures, and Plates.

Figures are given in appendix I and provide relevant plans and maps etc.

The Plates in Appendix II are the photographs taken as part of the survey and included as annotated data records.

Appendix III presents, in spreadsheet format, details of all the photographs, including those not used in the text.
Photographs used in the text are listed with P numbers in the right column. A contact sheet is also provided and the

full set of photographs is included in an archive disc.

Appendix IV contact sheets.

General description (fig 06 throughout)

Figure 06 shows the details that have been recorded in the western valley since the 1880 ordnance survey.

Each is colour coded and annotated with a set of dates at which each feature was present.

The back drop map is the 1962 1:2500 edition which has the least background annotation.

Onto the backdrop has been overlaid the present survey including features and contours.

It is evident from the map progression that the features which were recorded during the present survey do not relate
to any historical activity predating 1962, the time of the last available small scale map.

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd Western Valley, Varteg TR/VTG/13

Recorded detail:
Please refer to figs 04 & 06

At the top left is a blue line which runs across along one of the contours of the valley. It is visible in Plate 05 just
beneath the two gorse bushes and edged by tufts of tall grass.

The next track down is shown as a double blue line. For the majority of its course it is raised on both sides with the
exception of one stretch where it is sunk and revetted. The track then turns more easterly across the upper causeway.

This track has also suffered some damage, having been partially washed away by water breaking through from the
inner edge of the raised track which feeds from an upper pond/marsh, Plate 06.

The washed away area is shown in red on figs 04 & 06 and in Plates 08 & 09.

At the deepest part of this washed out area is an exposed platform of Ironstone, which could easily give rise to an
interpretation of mineral extraction by scouring, P10.

References:

Cadw 2012 Pontypool, Understanding Urban Character

ERM 2009. Varteg Hill Land Reclamation/Coal Recovery Scheme. Final Report.

Foster, B., NA Tales of the Ironworks at Abersychan, Pentwyn, Golynos and Varteg.
(GR0)

GGAT 2005 Southeast Wales Industrial Ironworks Landscapes. 2005/056. GGAT 80.

Gwent Record Office. Ordnance Survey maps

Staff
Dr. Neil Phillips, AIFA.
Mr A.O Phillips

The copyright for this report shall remain with the A.P.A.C. Ltd.

A.P.A.C. Registered Address: 36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP7 7RG.

Tel: 07734962919. Mobile: 07734962919 Email: apac.philips@btinternet.com
Company Registration No 5041541 VAT Reg No 826 3628 19
Director: Dr. N. Phillips D.Phil. M. Phil. BA (Hons).Cert Ed/FE. AIFA. AAI&S.

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 Western Valley, Varteg

Fig 01: Location

A.P.A.C. TR/VTG/13
 Western Valley, Varteg

1901
1920

1880
1901
1920
1880 1954
1901

1880
1901
1920
1954

1880

Fig 03: Earlier features plotted on 1962 OS map

A.P.A.C. TR/VTG/13
 Western Valley, Varteg

Notes:

North set at magnetic

Contours at 1m
Position centred on gate:
E 325833. N 205850

Key

1m contour
5m contour
Leat?
Raised track
Washed bank
Stream

Location:
Western Valley,
Varteg
Type:
Position
Stage:
Topographic
Survey
Produced for:
Cur
rent r
oad/
Cllr. O Clarke
trac
k Scale at A4: Bar
Survey:
Dr. N. Phillips
Processing:
Dr. N. Phillips
May 2013

A.P.A.C. Ltd
0 50m Gate 36 Hatherleigh Rd,
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
NP7 7RG
apac.philips@btinternet.co.uk

Fig 02: Survey

A.P.A.C. TR/VTG/13
 Western Valley, Varteg

Notes:

North set at magnetic

1962 1:2500 Ordnance Survey

N

Contours at 1m
Position centred on gate:
E 325833. N 205850

Key
1m contour
5m contour
Leat?

1901 Raised track

1920 Washed bank
Stream

Western Valley,
1880
Varteg
1901 Location:
1920
1880 1954 Type:
1901 Overlays
Stage: Topographic
Survey over
1880 1962 OS map
1901 with earlier features
1920
1954
Produced for:

1880 Cllr. O Clarke

Scale at A4: Bar
Survey:
Dr. N. Phillips
Processing:
Dr. N. Phillips
May 2013
Gate

A.P.A.C. Ltd
36 Hatherleigh Rd,
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
NP7 7RG
apac.philips@btinternet.co.uk

Fig 06: Curent survey over earlier features and their dates of listing.
A.P.A.C. TR/VTG/13
Western Valley, Varteg. Appendix I
TP/VTG/13 A.P.A.C. Ltd
Digital Photographic Record

Photo No Date Camera Size Area View Description

DSC03865 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 2448x3264 Road N General view north from road: Marsh below and causeway, centre P01
DSC03866 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 2448x3264 Road E General view east from road: Recent motorbike tracks to left P02
DSC03867 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 2448x3264 Road W General view east from road: Leat/track to pond centre picture P03
DSC03868 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road N View from west of road showing line of leat/track
DSC03869 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road NE View along leat/track, note water retention on inner slope (vegetation} P06
DSC03870 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road SW View back along track showing retaining pond for water from leat/track
DSC03871 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road NE Area with leat/track washed away to expose bedrock P08
DSC03872 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road SE View down the washed away slope from leat/track P09
DSC03873 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road W View from bank down into washed away area showing bedrock P10
DSC03874 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road NW Track/leat in centre earlier leat above P05
DSC03875 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road SW Northern edge of track/leat ate washed away section
DSC03876 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road SE View towards road from within the washed away section P04
DSC03877 06/04/2013 DSC-F828 3264x2448 Road SW View along revetted section of track just short of the upper causeway P07