Bedwellty House, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent. Phase 1 Watching Brief

A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy
WATCHING BRIEF AND RECORDING PROJECT RBWB/TRE/09
Bedwelty House, Tredegar
PREPARED BY DR N PHILLIPS 1ST FEBRUARY 2010
A.P.A.C. Ltd
Bedwellty House, Tredegar
RBWB/TRE/09
Contents
Contents............................................................................................................................................ 1 List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. 1 List of Plates..................................................................................................................................... 2 1 Non Technical Summary .......................................................................................................... 3 2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Location and scope of work ............................................................................................ 3 2.2 Geology and topography ................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Archaeological and historical background ...................................................................... 4 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................................................ 5 3 3.1 Watching Brief ................................................................................................................ 5 3.2 Watching Brief Methodology ......................................................................................... 6 3.3 Watching Brief Results ................................................................................................... 7 4 Discussion and Interpretation ................................................................................................. 11 4.1 Reliability of field investigation ................................................................................... 11 Overall interpretation .................................................................................................... 11 4.2 5 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 13 6 Bibliography and references ................................................................................................... 14 Appendices
List of Figures
Figure 1 Location Map Figure 2 Site Plan Figure 3 1826 map, Tredegar Iron Works Figure 4 1839 Tithe map. Figure 5 1886 Ordnance Survey map Figure 6 Survey Plan Figure 7 Site drawing Figure 8 Flue sections
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.
A.P.A.C. Ltd
RBWB/TRE/09
List of Plates
Plate 01 Plate 02 Plate 03 Plate 04 Plate 05 Plate 06 Plate 07 General view of heater room General view of orchid house General view both rooms with later modification between Heater house with ongoing demolition boards to the left Demolition of Orchid House flue and debris build up. Drainage system and fire door slot Smoke flue at junction and fire door. Two different flue base constructions. One fire brick the other fireclay brick Plate 08 Plate 09 Plate 10 Plate 11 Plate 12 Plate 13 Plate 14 Plate 15 Access cover for flue inspection/cleaning? Junction of main flue and different phase addition, built on a fire clay base Later pipe installation blocking the older flue. South drain of orchid room, Fire door slot & manhole? Second drain on south corner of the orchid house flue. North of Plate 11 but separate flue channel. Drain? and cover support struts to the north west corner of the orchid house flue. Confusing drainage structure/s North east drain of orchid room. On the left can be seen the covered south flue with one flue vent grill and one flue cover plate. Plate 16 Plate 17 Plate 18 Plate 19 Plate 20 Vent from the flue with an iron grill, lifted, to the side Transverse set grill vent with a tree growing through it. South flue, west cover. South flue, 2nd cover cover. Support struts for access covers, short NW/SE flue section of the orchid house, left of and including Plate 09 Plate 21 Plate 22 Plate 23 Plate 24 Heater room, flue strut west corner Heater room, flue strut north west edge Fire-door/sluice setting General shot of heater room after channel cover removal and clearing of internal chamber. Plate 25. Service pipe, east edge Plate 26 Plate 27 Plate 28 Heater room, rectangle feature, in filled west edge South internal edge of heater room flue and later wall abutments. Contemporary build of yellow brick platform and wall, north and east of heater room central structure. Plate 29 Plate 30 Plate 31 Plate 32 Brick platform at south end of rectangular structure, heater room. one metre below floor level in the heater room. Drain, 1.27 metres below the heater room floor. Flue cover fireclay brick with childs hand impression. Recovered from orchid room by contractors employee. Plate 33 Plate 34 Stable block, flag floor. The separating wall to the heater room is on the left. Stable block. Floor covered in red and yellow, cobble affect bricks. Heater room wall in background.
Cover photograph DSCO5710 Overview.
A.P.A.C. Ltd 1
RBWB/TRE/09
Non Technical Summary

On 6th November 2009, Dr N Phillips of A.P.A.C.. Ltd was contacted by F. Olding, of Blaenau Gwent Leisure Services; agents in relation to proposed restoration work being undertaken at Bedwellty House, Tredegar. The proposed work involved recording of surface structures relating to a former Orchid house, to the rear of the building and a watching brief during the removal its sub floor ducting and associated features. Mr Olding advised A.P.A.C. Ltd. that the work would involve recording of the structures at their present state, followed by controlled removal of capping and a second phase of recording. Dr N Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd visited the site on the 10th of November, work commenced on the 16th, and continued until the 25th. The work uncovered the complete ducting system of the orchid room and an associated duct linked room that would have housed the heating system. Also revealed were various phases of reconstruction or modification to the original design/working procedures involved in the structure.
2 2.1
Introduction
Location and scope of work
The property: Bedwellty House, Morgan St, Tredegar, Gwent. NP22 3XN, is located at Grid Ref: SO 14320854, fig 01. Bedwellty House, Tredegar, NPRN 36445, is Grade II listed, Cadw record no: 1862. It is a particularly important example of a surviving ironmasters residence in Gwent, (ASL, 7 2008). The property is undergoing extensive restoration, conservation and development in order to convert it to a multi-use facility (Tredegar Forum 2009). The project design for this outcome is outlined in Bedwellty House and Park, Tredegar, Conservation Plan, (revised) ASL 2008. As part of this document, an earlier recommendation by Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division, (GUARD), regarding archaeological concerns was included. The inclusion identifies strategies which should be employed during work on the house and grounds. Bedwellty House is a Grade II listed building and Bedwellty Park a graded II registered historic garden and conservation area, and therefore of national importance. It is also a site high intensity. Archaeological monitoring of any future ground disturbance works in the vicinity of the building and within the site is recommended, as they may have direct and irreversible impacts on undiscovered archaeological remains. (GUARDb. 10. 2006). A specific recommended strategy for the present work included the area of the orchid house thereby providing the basis for this report. The original recommendation read: Carry out archaeological recording of the surviving features of the orchid house. Record footprint and trace its line from west elevation of the house to its former abutment to the south elevation of stable block. (GUARDa. 22. 2006).
A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 In this report, the recommendation was re-worded as: Orchid house Watching brief during wider excavation also recommended, (ASL, 74. 2008).
The rational was: as the area on which the orchid house had stood fig 02, was to be redeveloped then any archaeological resources should be recorded prior to their removal. Furthermore, it was anticipated from the structure already revealed during previous work, that more archaeological resources would be uncovered. It was therefore proposed that after initial recording of the observable resource, a watching brief would be undertaken during further development. Should any further archaeological resource be revealed then this would be recorded also. A.P.A.C. Ltd was contacted to undertake the recording and watching brief and submitted a WSI (RBWB/TRE/09) which was approved. During the above work, demolition in the stable block revealed some areas of cobbled and flag stone floor. A.P.A.C. Ltd was asked to photograph these areas for the record. A selection of the photographs have been included Plates ? with the complete set in the archive.
2.2
Geology and topography
Tredegar lies at the northern head of the Shirowy valley; one of a series of valleys draining NW-SE from the higher plateau of Mynydd Llangynidr. The site lies within a public park which itself encompasses approximately 26 acres of NW-SE sloping ground, to the south of Tredegar town centre. The underlying drift geology is of glacial deposits of till (boulder clay), whilst the solid geology exposes Carboniferous Limestone and Millstone Grit (BGS 1990). The more visible landscape however is made up from industrial waste derived from mining and iron production, for which Tredegar was a major centre during the 19th century.
2.3
Archaeological and historical background
Both Bedwellty House and the landscaped park, in which it stands, are Grade II listed. The house as a good example of a large 19th century, ironmasters residence whilst the park, itself early 19th century, contains many significant historic resources: an ice house, limestone rockwork, fishponds, a walled garden, a grotto, a long shelter, a bandstand a cast iron fountain and of course the remains of an orchid house. Unfortunately, the very changes in fashion, fortune and use over the last 200 years, which in the first instance have created this remarkable site, have also served to confuse the chronology of change that has been wrought here. The initial report by Guard drew attention to the combination of: a paucity of information relating to the multiphase development of the house, due to a lack of original architectural detail and unclear or insubstantial documentary evidence, (Guard a. 24. 2006). Documentary evidence for the house is somewhat sparse in the early years and what there is appears questionable. An 1884 report relates that in 1817, Bedwellty House was reconstructed and enlarged as a residence for the future manager and partner; of Tredegar Ironworks. (Powell. 39 1884). It can be assumed from this that a building stood before 1817. An assumption that is further promoted by Newman in 2000: Plas Bedwellty, a minor house of the Morgans of Tredegar Park, was bought in 1800 by the Merthyr ironmaster Samuel Homfray of Penydarren. He rebuilt the house in plain but elegant Regency style in 1825. (Newman. 561, 2000) Unfortunately, as pointed out in the Icosse document, neither Powell nor Newman gave their sources (Icosse. 28. 2006). The date of 1825, mentioned above, is more dependable as it is cast into some fitted iron shelving in the basement. Furthermore, the date tallies with a period of prosperity for the Tredegar Ironworks (ibid. 35.). Later documentation does offer some history of the residents of the house:
A.P.A.C. Ltd
Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 Samual Homfray ?- 1853, Mr R.P.Davies, Mr J Reed, Mr C.L. Hunter, Mr C.A. Browne, Mr J Colquhoun, Mr W Harbridge and finally Mr W,H Routledge (ibid. 39.).
In 1900, the house and grounds were given to The Tredegar Urban District Council for public use, the house becoming the council offices in 1901. The house kept this role until 1974 when through government reorganisation it became the base for the Tredegar Town Council. Tredegar Town Council finally moved out of Bedwellty House in 1994 at which point the house has been in some structural decline (ibid. 41-46). Although interesting in its own right; none of the above offers much help in dating the various features of the house and park. More useful are cartographic sources. The house is first recorded in 1826, fig 03 which again fits in with the 1825 cast iron shelving stamp. Another useful insight can be drawn from comparisons between the 1839 map, fig 04 and the 1882 OS map fig 05. At some point within the intervening 43 years: The fishponds to the west of the house have been reduced in number to four Two fountains have been added A summer house has been built, west of the stable block A croquette Ground has been laid out to the south of the house The Great Exhibition Lump of Coal had been set up The house has a second porch The Assembly Room is almost complete An extension has been built to the north of the stables Finally and important to this report; The orchid house has been constructed. (ibid. 39). In its appraisal of chronological developments at Bedwellty House and park, Icosse make a suggestion that the Croquette lawn may have been constructed in the 1850s, at a time when the game was popular, (ibid. 39). Using a similar argument, it is possible to reasonable postulate that the Orchid House may have been built after 1851, following the success of Joseph Paxtons, Crystal Palace; a construction of cast iron frame and glass. Although Paxton was designing and using glasshouses since the 1830s, exotic plant growing in hot houses had been part of a gentlemans pleasure since earlier centuries. McIntosh provides an unreferenced account of 15th century Dutch hot-houses, (McIntosh. 141, 1853) and Kew Gardens for example was under way with hot-houses in the 17th century. By the beginning of the 19th century the spread of exotic gardening had become popular enough for a treaties on improvements to hot-houses, covering built or new build to be written in 1805, (Loudon 1805). Even so, it could be argued that popularity of this hobby would have become heightened after the Great Exhibition. It should also be remembered that there was a tax on glass until 1845 and window tax until 1848. A contemporary opinion on the popularity of Orchid growing states: The taste for orchids, of late years, has formed quite a new feature in the management of plants; indeed, at the present time, their cultivation may be ranked as the most popular of all the departments of exotic culture. (McIntosh. 405, 1853).
3 3.1
Aims and Objectives

Watching Brief
The aim of the watching brief was to preserve by record, within the resources available, any archaeological deposits uncovered during groundwork. The watching brief would also ensure that: in the event of archaeological resources of significance, being discovered requiring treatment beyond the remit of the watching brief; then steps would be implemented to ensure that their treatment would be undertaken within the standards recommended by the IFA. The outcome of the work will be presented in report form and two archives of the data will be digitised. The primary archive will remain with A.P.A.C. Ltd and a secondary archive will be kept at Bedwellty House.
3.2
A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar Watching Brief Methodology
RBWB/TRE/09
Fieldwork
The proposed fieldwork at the site was to take the form of a photographic record and a simple survey followed by a watching brief whilst the structure was removed. A visit to the site on the 11th November however, showed that any practical recording of the orchid house remains would first have to wait for the site to be cleaned off. Situated on an active building site the area had become obscured by a lot of debris and spoil. It was agreed that the contractor would undertake the bulk of the clearance work and that final cleaning and recording would take place on the 16th November. Unfortunately, heavy rain badly affected the clearance work and indeed would continue to cause problems throughout the project, affecting not only water-logging and mud deposition but also the lighting conditions. On the 16th November, work finished on the clearance and the revealed structure was given a final pressure wash to try to remove the most of the surface mud. Then a series of general shots were taken, Plates 01-03 give a sample, followed by a more detailed photographic vertical record for use in photogrammetric recording. Once the photographic record was completed, a survey of the structure using a total station was undertaken. Once the recording was complete, the contractor undertook removal of the smoke flue covers which consisted of large, purpose moulded fireclay bricks. Again, the site was cleaned off with the structure being jet washed for final recording. Unfortunately, this was more difficult than in the first instance. Demolition work in the heater room added to problems of debris build up and space restriction, Plate 04. Lack of space in the orchid room meant debris built up within the site and all was exacerbated by the continual rain, water-logging and mud, Plate 05. Once the smoke flue covers were removed however, it was possible to examine the entire flue run and also note for the first time a series of features not revealed before, such as: The two drains and fire door channel shown in Plate-06. The different materials used on the flue base, in the two channels and the different construction of the walls, the right curve having cavity linings Plate 07. Metal access covers to the underlying flue, plate 08. The support struts for another access cover at a point where fireclay flue joins a brick based flue at a fire door, Plate 09. A later modification to the flue system ensuring its redundancy by cutting and blocking the earlier flues with a modern water-pipe within an enclosed brick duct, Plate 10. This new configuration, without flue cover, was again photographed with general views, then photographed with more detail for photogrammetric processing and then finally surveyed with a total station. During the second clearing of the heater room, it became apparent that certain of the structures that had been revealed actually lay over the top of earlier structures that could not be fully understood. In order to investigate those hidden structures it was necessary to excavate the fill from within the central rectangle; itself, as will be explained below later addition. Once the fill had been removed sufficiently in order to understand the area, a further sequence of photographic recording was undertaken and the newly exposed features were surveyed and added to the plot, fig 06. All excavation was undertaken manually by the employees of the development contractor, John Weaver Contractors Limited. All photographs taken have been given a unique number and listed in the appendix of this report. The photographs were taken with a Sony Cybershot DSC-F828, 8MP digital Camera.
A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 The survey was undertaken with a Topcon GPT 3007 reflectorless total station. Surface texture and water cover required that most of the survey was undertaken with a reflector prism and one of the contractors labourers was commandeered to act as a chain boy.
No small finds were made during the work but one piece of flue cover was found by the labourer and retained by the archaeologist. The leisure officer for Blaenau Gwent was informed of the find and it was taken into safe keeping for future display. The fireclay brick has a distinct hand impression belonging to a small child c 6-7 years of age and provides a poignant example of the times in which it was made. As an addition to the contracted work, clearance of the ground cover to the north of the heater room and south of the Ice house revealed sections of brick tiled flooring. These were photographed to provide a record. No survey was requested.
Data processing.
All of the photographs were processed into data sheets and saved in digital PDF files for the archive. A complete excel database of all the photographs is included in the appendix of this document as well as for the archive. The detailed photogrammetry sequences remain in an unprocessed state, for future use if needed. Such processed data will be able to provide all 3 dimensional measurements for the site. The survey data was downloaded into CivilCad 6.7 for initial processing. The processed data was then saved in dxf format and transferred into Adobe illustrator for final graphic display. Copies of the CivilCad files, Autocad files and illustrator PDFs are included in the Archive The primary archive will be kept with A.P.A.C. Ltd with a secondary copy to Bedwellty House.
3.3
Watching Brief Results
Soils and ground conditions

The weather conditions during the work were very poor with almost continual drizzle and some heavy periods of rain. As a result of this, not only was any clearance of the site hampered with mud and standing water but also the light conditions for recording were poor. On top of this, the constricted nature of the site did not allow for the removal of overburden and debris from the site and so they were constantly contaminating the cleared surfaces. In some instances, already deposited debris piles, had to be moved when it was found that the archaeological structures ran underneath them. The site was also bordered to the north by active demolition which again was a source of contamination. Stratigraphic recording was not really relevant as all of the structures were contained within a built environment. Of more importance was phasing as areas of older structure were affected by modification. Such phasing will be addressed below.
Description
The site drawing presented in fig 02, already referred to above, shows the layout of the orchid house and its heater room in relation to the main house and outbuildings. The survey shown in fig 06, also mentioned above, gives an accurate layout of the various features of the orchid house and heater room. All phases and levels are presented as one overlay. Although there are cross section positions marked for later discussion, there is no annotation to identify any chronology of phasing as the figure merely serves to represents size and layout of features. The general layout of the site consists of three separate areas: the orchid house to the south, Plate 02, the heater room to the north and an area of concrete to the north east of the heater room which is separated from it by a wall, Plate 01. The heater room and concrete area are separated by a high wall from the orchid house with an opening to the south west. The whole area of the site is enclosed from the NW-NE by the main
A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 house and bounded by a retaining wall to the SW. A doorway in the west corner of the north wall allows access to the former stable block and courtyard.
Not shown on the plan; elements of the flue system continue under the retaining wall to the SW and therefore beyond the current focus of work. It is possible that other parts of the orchid house may also go under the retaining wall but this has not been confirmed with any satisfaction. The SE side of the site has an open aspect, as would be expected for a structure which needed to collect maximum sun light. The overall measurements of the rooms are: Orchid house W long axis of flue E, long axis of flue, curved end to drain and fire-door Width, centre flue to centre flue Total length of flues 2x 4.29m + 27.70 Approximate area of room Heater room SW/NE, axis of enclosure room, not including concreted area NW/SE long axis of flue Width, centre flue to centre flue SW/NE, Width, centre flue to centre flue NW/SE long axis of flue Total length of flue Length of heater base Width of heater base Approximate area Concrete area NW/SE long axis SW/NE axis Approximate area of room
13.1064m. 15.2893m. 2.6636m. 36.28m. 68.6m.
5.6077m. 6.4281m. 3.8987m. 4.3533. 16.71m. 2.9692m. 1.3275. 36.05m.
5.6041m. 2.5650m. 14.4m.
Although it is possible to assess the relative sizes and directions of various structures of the orchid house and heater room from fig 06, it is not possible to understand any representation of the structural components. Display of the structural components has been addressed in the site drawing, fig 07, which shows the site after the flue covering has been removed but before the excavation of the heater base. The flue covering itself consisted of smooth blocks of fire clay which were laid in a recess of fire brick and supported on a narrower inner wall, Plates 01-05. Orchid House With the flue covering removed, the difference in shading of the flue bases, see key, clearly identifies two separate construction materials: smooth orange brown fire/clay bricks and course, yellow firebrick. Visual confirmation of this can be seen in plates 07-10; the position of the photographs can be identified on fig 06: Plates 07 & 08 area at section line AA Plate 09 is at section line DD Plate 10 is at section line CC
The cross section schematic of the flue, fig 08, however, shows further construction differences. The flue at AA, in the orchid room, has a central channel of lined with smoothed fire brick, two courses high and laid end on. The base is of degraded yellow fire brick, possibly re-used and is laid with general alignment changes over its length and between the orchid house and heater room. Outside of the flue wall is a cavity, one bricks width before the main wall on which the flue cover rested.
A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 The flue at BB, in the heater room, was almost identical with that at AA with the exception of three courses of brick liner instead of two. The inner cavity wall was cleared out at BB and found to be identical in depth to the flue with a continuation of the firebrick base.
The flue at CC, as Plate 03 clearly shows, was aligned with the SW section of the heater room flue but although of similar height, the width was increased and there was no cavity wall. The sides were also constructed with bricks laid flat and both the sides and bottom made use of better quality firebrick or else brick which had survived better than that of the flues at AA & BB. The flue at DD differed the most; its depth being similar to BB, its width similar to CC but its construction was that of fire/clay bricks of the same material as the flue covers. Furthermore, Plate 07 shows that the brick base of the AA flue has been disturbed by the fire/clay base of the DD flue which is in better repair.
Other features clearly identified are the two drainage elements in the south corner of the orchid house, Plates 06, 11, & 12, and a rather confusing drainage set up to the NW corner, Plates 13, 14 & 15. Plate 15 also shows one of two grill plates in the south flue. In closer detail, Plate 16 shows one aligned with the flue, whilst Plate 17 shows the other transverse; with a tree base growing through. The drawing, fig 07, also shows the position of access covers; metal plates with a central lifting attachment. Plate 05 shows the general layout of these access covers and they are recorded in more detail in Plates, 08, 18 & 19. Plate 8 shows the remains of the ring, lifting attachment. The cover plates themselves were found to lie on metal supports which were cemented into the brickwork atop the flues. The supports that remained were recorded in situ, Plates 09 & 14 as above, also Plates 20; north west of Plate 09, and two of the supports found above the flue in the heater room, Plates 21 & 22. Other features that were discovered after the flue cover was lifted, were the settings for movable door plates along the circuit of the flue; fire-door? The setting for one exists after the drain, Plate 06 and can be identified as the small rectangle space outline in a single course of brick; centre picture. The space is the top of a slot within which was fitted a metal door. The door was able to move up and down, to open and close the flue. The other setting is in the flue between the heater room and the orchid room at the base of the dividing wall, Plate 03. The vertical plate, Plate 23, shows where the gate used to be but the setting had mostly been destroyed by the wall to the left which cuts through the flue system as will be described below. At the top of the Plate 23 and on the base of the dividing wall plate 03 is a brown metal plate, which is the actual firedoor. It is possible that other doors were situated at junctions but the available evidence is inconclusive. Heater room The heater room presented more of a recording problem as there was distinct evidence of multiphase development. At the outset, the most noticeable aspects of the heater room were the curved channel of the flue and the central rectangular space with its brick edging walls, Plate 01. After the first clearing work, involving the removal of the channel cover had been completed; the former simpler structure became a bit more complicated Plates 04 & 24. The flue channels have all ready been described above but two areas of the circuit need to be addressed. Firstly, bottom right of Plate 24, the flue from the heater room lies on direct alignment with that of the orchid room, but form two different constructions. Secondly, the top right of Plate 24 shows the flue channel in the heater room cut by a single skin orange brick wall.
Plate 10, shows the point where both heater room and orchid room channels are adjacent. In between and terminating both, were a pair of single skin walls which form a duct for a cast iron water pipe and valve. At the bottom of the duct, to the right of the pipe, are three bricks which are at the same level as the bottoms of both flues. The bricks are of the same material and alignment as those base bricks in the heater room flue. Clearly, these bricks predate the duct wall and form a continuation of the heater room flue.
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Referring back to Plate 03, it can be seen that the duct wall continues across the flue to the orchid room, as discussed above, and cuts the east section of the heater room flue. The point of intersection can be seen in Plate 25. The single skin wall was built of a more modern mass produced brick which for relative dating purposes, bore the frog stamp, TREDEGAR. The original flue structure, including both cavity walls, has been truncated by the pipe duct as it continues towards the main house. A similar coloured brick wall but with un-stamped brick, can be seen to the left of Plate 24. The wall is under a platform of yellow firebrick and has been used to remove the inner curve of the flue. The wall is not structural as can be seen in Plate 26 which gives another view of its haphazard, non mortared construction. It is also worth noting the substantial wall to the left and the three course wall to the right. These two walls are the two long sides of the rectangular structure within the flue circuit, Plate 24. The three course wall to the right of plate 26 is the wall shown in Plate 24 with the ranging rod. During the clearing operations, it became apparent that this wall is a later addition as it could be easily moved away from the curved circuit wall in one piece. The other wall; south-western; however was much more substantial reaching a depth of 0.441m before continuing beyond the limit of excavation. Again referring to plate 24, between the south-western wall and the south-western flue circuit, is a length of yellow brick and half brick wall, not mirrored on the east side. As the majority of the rectangular structure appears mostly symmetrical across its long and short axis, this wall is worth noting; although, nothing more can be said of it as it was part of a very solid mortared mass. Its southern end, where it overlays the flue circuit, can be seen in Plate 27. Plate 27 also shows another later addition to the structure, a diagonally cut brick, which forms part of another single skinned wall. The entire wall and the area it surrounds can be seen in Plate 24; bottom right. Although, it is not known what function this additional area performed, it is possible to see that it respected the original curve of the flue. The last structures to be discussed are the two yellow firebrick ends of the rectangular brick area. It has already been discussed that the yellow platform to the north was built on top of an unmortared infill, Plate 24, left of image. As such, it would be unlikely to be structurally sound enough to carry much weight. It is also contemporary with the north east wall, Plate 28, itself only three courses thick and built on infill. The southern platform was a very much more solid structure. Plate 24 shows its shape and position prior to clearing and plate 29 shows it after. It is possible that the missing bricks are a result of original clearance work prior to the watching brief or previous demolition. The purpose of the gap in the brickwork is not known. As mentioned above, the heater room presented more of a challenge in that there was incontrovertible evidence of multiphase development. Two intriguing avenues which led to further clearing were a rubble filled void in the middle of the rectangular structure, floor and four sets of cemented flagstones under the east wall, of the rectangular structure, fig 06. The flagstones are visible to the right of the rectangular hole in Plate 29 and the start of the hole is in the centre of the photograph. The flagstones lay beyond the limit of excavation and so were recorded but not disturbed. It is important for phasing to note that the largest flagstone, to the south east, extended both sides of the eastern rectangle structure at a depth of 0.37m below it. The rubble filled hole was investigated in order to understand its purpose. The hole was enlarged only enough to clear rubble and at a depth of 0.520m beneath the flagstone mentioned above, another flagstone was found, Plate 30. This flagstone was removed to reveal a brick culvert running on the same alignment as the orchid house flue but at a depth of 1.127m below the heater room floor, Plate 31. Concrete area The concrete area was not examined.
10
A.P.A.C. Ltd Finds
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Plate 32 shows the childs hand impression in the fabric of one of the flue cover fireclay bricks. The brick came from the orchid room but its exact position was not recorded.
4 4.1
Discussion and Interpretation

Reliability of field investigation
The confined nature of the site, the lack of space for the deposition off site of the spoil, and the poor weather all had a detrimental affect on the work. That said, the resultant report is an accurate record of the site as it stood at the beginning of the work and as it was left at the end. Further work could have been profitable in interpreting the chronology of the site but this would have led outside of the development parameters. However, with the above noted, it can be stated that the watching brief has provided a clear understanding of the potential of archaeological resources at the site and has recorded them adequately within the confines of the remit.
4.2
Overall interpretation
As has been shown above the site has had different phases of development, all of which have had an effect on the surviving archaeological record. No absolute dating was found during the work but it is possible to derive some tentative relative dating for the perceived phases of development. By nature of its stratigraphic location, the oldest phase of construction within the site covered by this work would have to be the drainage culvert found at 1.2m beneath the floor of the heater room. The direction of the drain would suggest that it travels towards the main house but there is no way to know this without further excavation. Certainly, there are other known drains close to this level, such as in the south and north corners of the orchid house and at places in the adjoining stable yard. It is possible that the orchid house may simply have been laid out with pre-existing drainage in mind. The next phase of development would seem to be associated with the construction of the orchid house and its heater room. An interpretation of this original structure can be made from the condition of the older firebrick, flue floors and contemporaneity can be established by the similarity of flue design. Working on this premise, the heater would have been set on the flag floor surrounded by a flattened circular flue. At the most southern point, the heater flue connected, by means of a fire-door to the long run of the orchid house itself. Whether or not provision was made for the air to re-circulate back into the heater room or whether it was vented out, is not known nor is there any evidence of such a contemporary feature. The connecting lengths of flue that were recorded, were not only of different construction but also different or material and so must have been built during a different phase. Their better preservation would suggest a later date and the pattern of overlay shown in Plates 07 & 23 would tend to support this. In addition, the shaped brick to fit the existing wall at the south end of the heater room supports this idea of later modification, Plate 27. Another phase of development, or imply part of the previous flue layout can be seen in the heater base itself, where the original inner curve of the flue line was modified to a raised rectangular base. Finally, at some point, the orchid house either became redundant or another form of heating, not derived from the heater room was used. This can be seen from the fact that the duct containing the cast iron water pipe severed the connection between the heater room and orchid house. The Heating system. Providing a system of artificial heating for any environment; be it a residential property or an exotic plant house as in this case, has some fundamental problems to over come. A heated atmosphere must be healthy, controllable, economic and sustainable. A further imposed consideration rather than a practical necessity
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A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 would have been a need for the entire enterprise to have aesthetic appeal i.e. the workings and waste products should be hidden from view.
Over the centuries, heating systems and their associated labour source have improved. Various methods of producing heat and delivering it to an intended destination have been put into place. Usual hot-house systems of heating tend to use water heated from beneath in tanks or in a boiler and pushed through culverts or pipes. In the case of the Bedwellty orchid house; with the exception of some drains, none of the heating system present shows any of the necessary fittings for a water based system. Furthermore, the fire-doors preclude the use of pipes and there is no evidence of any sealant within the flue channels to make them waterproof. It would seem therefore that the system at Bedwellty would have been an air-flue system; The air-flu, which collects heated air around and near the furnace, and conveys it to the opposite end of the house, (Loudon. 18. 1805). Loudon describes improvements made to smoke and air flues, which do have some resemblance to the system at Bedwellty even though it post dates Loudons expertise by at least 35 years. For example, it is possible that the cavity wall running around the older part of the flue may have been the air-flue with the smoke flue in the middle. The heights of the smoke flu walls being a recommended three bricks placed on edgeabout 15 inches (ibid. 32), whilst the air flue is one brick on edge (ibid. 37). This has similarities in dimension to the Bedwellty example although it should be remembered that the Loudon system has the smoke flue under the air flues, unlike at Bedwellty. It may also be indicative that the entire flue in the heater room and the first section of the flue of the orchid room exhibited a lot of black residue, and staining presumed to be soot. The build up of soot one of the greatest non conductors of heat and its removal from the flue was discussed in McIntosh and he applauded the legislature which prevented children undertaking such tasks, (McIntosh. 150. 1853). Could the access covers with lifting their handles have been used for cleaning soot from the flue? The way the system works was: The vacuity around the fire-place is continued on each side, and over the top as well as under the bottom of the smoke flue, for about four feet in length The two side and bottom vacuities, are continued no farther, but there unite with the space at top, which top space is continued on, as an air flue to the opposite end of the house. And there it terminates, allowing the heated air to escape (Loudon. 1805. 36). The interpreted early part of the flue at Bedwellty may not have returned to the heater circuit but may have indeed vented along the south extreme where it is known the flue appears to continue under the retaining wall, towards the woods. Another comparison can be seen with Loudons condemnation of plastering the internal flues. He believed that plaster was a bad heat conductor so the internal bricks would be better left course. (ibid. 37). This would tend to agree with the bricks of the flue that has been considered the oldest part of the system. McIntosh argued that the brick flue system was preferable to other systems because they are less expensive and more quickly heated than steam or water pipes, and therefore useful in repelling sudden attacks of frost in plant-pits and green-houses, (McIntosh. 141. 1853.). He also stated in support of brick linings that: The great objection to the admission of heated air into houses by such means, is the introduction of noxious gases, consisting of sulphuretted, phosphorated, and carburetted hydrogen, besides various compounds of nitrogen and carbon, all of which are highly injurious to both animal and vegetable life. Certainly these effects are not so great where the air is heated by passing over bricks only. (ibid. 143).
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A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 In conclusion, the contemporary descriptions and archaeological remains would tend to support a heated-air system. Unfortunately, nothing remains to from which to deduce the heater itself although there are modifications to suggest that the heater may have undergone changes. Such changes may have caused a rethink to the system, which developed a circulatory flow and the need for drainage, as found at the south end of the orchid house. The new system also had no facility for a combined smoke/air flue configuration. 5
Acknowledgements
Thanks to John Weaver Contractors Limited, site staff for their help with the work and providing a dry refuge. In particular, Lee who assisted with efficiency in this undertaking and rescued the hand stamped brick. Thanks also to Frank Olding at BG Heritage for giving A.P.A.C. Ltd the opportunity to undertake this work. Thanks also for the diligence of Jilly Farley at A4A Research.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd 6
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Bibliography and references

RBWB/TRE/09 Bedwellty House and Park, Tredegar. Conservation Management Plan. (revised). Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. 1:50,000, Sheet 232, Abergavenny, Solid and Drift, 1990). AN INITIAL CHRONOLOGY AND CONTEXTUALFRAMEWORK FOR BEDWELLTY HOUSE AND PARK, TREDEGAR. Project 2218. Glasgow University. BEDWELLTY HOUSE AND PARK, DATA STRUCTURE REPORT Project 2232. Glasgow University. An Initial Chronology and Contexturalframework for Bedwellty House and Park, Tredegar. Standard and Guidance for an archaeological watching brief. 2001. Code of Conduct and the Code of Approved Practice for the regulation of Contractual Arrangements in Field Archaeology. 2002. Standard and Guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials. 2001.
A.P.A.C. Ltd. 2009. Austin-Smith:Lord LLP, 2008
British Geological Survey. GUARD a 2006
GUARD b 2006
Icosse 2006
Institute of Field Archaeologists,
Kew Loudon, J.C., 1805
http://www.kew.org/heritage/timeline/16_17C_kewfield.html Treatise on Several Improvements, Recently Made in Hot-Houses. Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme, London.
Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). McIntosh, C., 1853. The Book of the Garden Vol 1 Stuctural Blackwood & Sons: Edingburgh & London. Gwent/Monmouthshire, The Buildings of Wales Series. Pevsner Architectural Guides. The History of Tredegar Chair Eisteddfod. South Wales Printing Works.
Newman, J., 2000
Powell, E., 1884.
RCAHMW (Corflein) 14/11/2009 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/36445/details/BEDWELLTY+HOUSE%2C+TREDEGAR/ Tredegar Forum 14/11/2009 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 http://.tredegar.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC-D=1150&which
A.P.A.C. Ltd, Registered Address: 36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. NP7 7RG . 07734962919. Email: apac.philips@btinernet.com. Company Registration No 5041541. VAT Reg No 826 3628 19. www.apac.ltd.uk Director: Dr N. Phillips. D.Phil. BA (Hons). Cert Ed/FE. AIFA. AAI&S
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A.P.A.C. Ltd ARCHIVE COVER SHEET
RBWB/TRE/09
Site Name: Site Code: PRN: NPRN : SAM: Other Ref No: NGR: Site Type: Project Type: Project Officer: Project Dates: Categories Present: Location of Original Archive:
Bedwellty House, Tredegar RBWB/TRE/09 N6445 A.P.A.C. Ltd Report No. 101 S0 1432 0854 19th c Watching Brief and recording Neil Phillips November 2009 N/A A.P.A.C. Ltd
Location of duplicate Archives: Bedwellty House Number of Finds Boxes: Location of Finds: Museum Reference: Copyright: Restrictions to access: A.P.A.C. Ltd None 1 Bedwellty House
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Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09 Photo No

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Digital Photographic Record Time Camera

13.31 DSC-F828 13.32 DSC-F828 13.32 DSC-F828 13.32 DSC-F828 13.33 DSC-F828 15.17 DSC-F828 15.17 DSC-F828 15.17 DSC-F828 15.17 DSC-F828 15.22 DSC-F828 15.23 DSC-F828 15.23 DSC-F828 15.23 DSC-F828 15.25 DSC-F828 15.25 DSC-F828 15.26 DSC-F828 15.26 DSC-F828 15.26 DSC-F828 15.26 DSC-F828 15.26 DSC-F828 15.26 DSC-F828 15.27 DSC-F828 15.27 DSC-F828 15.27 DSC-F828 15.27 DSC-F828 15.27 DSC-F828 15.27 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.28 DSC-F828 15.29 DSC-F828
A.P.A.C. Ltd Drawing
Date
16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009 16/11/2009
jpg Size
2448x3264 2448x3264 2448x3264 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 2448x3264 2448x3264 2448x3264 2448x3264 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944 2592x1944
MB Area
3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.5 Duct 3.6 Duct 3.6 Duct 3.6 Duct 3 Hall
View Description
General view of orchid room ducting General view of orchid room ducting and heater room with separating wall General view of heater room Later pipe channel cutting earlier ducts 2nd General view of orchid room ducting and heater room with separating wall Vertical shot of north east end of duct showing vents? South west shot of north east end of duct Roof light General view of orchid room ducting 2nd cleaning General view of orchid room ducting and heater room. 2nd cleaning General view of heater room. 2nd cleaning right side General view of heater room. 2nd cleaning left side Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence NE NE NE V V V V V V V NE NE NE V SW
3.7 Orchid room NE
3.5 Pipe channel NE
VSW Vertical, south west shot of north east end of duct showing vents
3.4 Orchid room NE 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.7 Heater 2.4 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.4 Heater 2.2 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.2 Heater
2.3 Pipe channel V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Heater 2.4 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.2 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater V V V V V V V
2.3 Pipe channel V 2.2 Orchid room V
Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

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Digital Photographic Record

2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater V V V V Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence
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2.3 Pipe channel V 2.3 Pipe channel V 2.3 Heater 2.4 Heater 2.2 Heater 2.4 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.4 Heater 2.2 Heater 2.3 Heater 2.3 Heater V V V V V V V V V V
2.3 Pipe channel V
2.4 Pipe channel V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V


2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.2 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence
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2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.4 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.3 Orchid room V 2.2 Pipe channel NE 2.2 Pipe channel SE 2.4 House 2.1 House 2.2 House 2.7 Heater 2.3 Stables 2.3 Stables 2.3 Stables 2.1 Stables 2.2 Stables 2.2 Ice house 2.3 Ice house 2.3 Brick SE SE NW N NE NE V SW SW NW NE V Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Closer view of the brick wall forming the pipe channel Closer view of the brick wall forming the pipe channel Internal shot of chamber showing ceiling Internal shot of chamber showing ceiling Internal shot of chamber showing ceiling Lifting the duct cover of furnace brick Survey of heater room Record of Stables floor prior to removal Record of Stables floor prior to removal Record of flagstone floor prior to removal Record of Stables floor prior to removal Record of Stables floor prior to removal General record Steps revealed behind wall Brick found in upper room. Possible display piece Clearance at south west corner of orchid room. Drains and Vents Clearance at orchid room. Drains and Vents Clearance at f orchid room. North east Flag floor, old stables Flag floor, old stables Flag floor, old stables Flag floor, old stables Flag floor, old stables Stable floor. Relief bricks. (Ebbw Vale stamp) Stable floor. Relief bricks. (Ebbw Vale stamp) Stable floor. Relief bricks. (Ebbw Vale stamp) Stable floor. Relief bricks. (Ebbw Vale stamp) Stable floor. Relief bricks. (Ebbw Vale stamp)
A.P.A.C. Ltd
2.1 Orchid room NE
2 Watching B V 3.4 Watching B NE 3.6 Watching B NE 3.5 Stables 3.5 Stables 3.5 Stables 3.5 Stables 3.5 Stables 3.6 Stables 3.3 Stables 3.4 Stables 3.5 Stables 3.7 Stables SE NE V V NE SW SW SW SW SW

DSCO5651 DSCO5652 DSCO5653 DSCO5655 DSCO5656 DSCO5659 DSCO5660 DSCO5661 DSCO5662 DSCO5663 DSCO5664 DSCO5665 DSCO5666 DSCO5667 DSCO5668 DSCO5669 DSCO5670 DSCO5671 DSCO5672 DSCO5673 DSCO5674 DSCO5675 DSCO5676 DSCO5677 DSCO5678 DSCO5679 DSCO5680 DSCO5681 DSCO5682 DSCO5683 DSCO5684 DSCO5685 DSCO5686 DSCO5687 DSCO5688 DSCO5689 23/11/2009 23/11/2009 23/11/2009 23/11/2009 23/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 14.07 DSC-F828 14.07 DSC-F828 14.07 DSC-F828 14.07 DSC-F828 14.11 DSC-F828 11.08 DSC-F828 11.08 DSC-F828 11.08 DSC-F828 11.08 DSC-F828 11.08 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.09 DSC-F828 11.1 DSC-F828 11.1 DSC-F828 11.1 DSC-F828 11.1 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.12 DSC-F828 11.13 DSC-F828 11.13 DSC-F828 11.13 DSC-F828 11.13 DSC-F828 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater

NE NE NE NW V Furnace base in the heater room being cleared of loose fill. Furnace base in the heater room being cleared of loose fill. Orchid house ducts at south west corner Furnace base in the heater room Furnace base in the heater room being cleared of loose fill. Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence
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3.7 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.5 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.5 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.5 Orchid room V 3.5 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V


3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.4 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.5 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.6 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.4 Orchid room V 3.7 Orchid room V 3.5 Orchid room V 3.4 Heater 3.7 Overview 3.5 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.5 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater NE N V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Childs hand print in furnace brick Childs hand print in furnace brick Pipe channel and sequencing Overview Veiw of demolition Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence
A.P.A.C. Ltd

DSCO5727 DSCO5728 DSCO5729 DSCO5730 DSCO5731 DSCO5732 DSCO5733 DSCO5734 DSCO5735 DSCO5736 DSCO5737 DSCO5738 DSCO5739 DSCO5740 DSCO5741 DSCO5742 DSCO5743 DSCO5745 DSCO5747 DSCO5748 DSCO5845 DSCO5846 DSCO5847 DSCO5848 DSCO5849 DSCO5850 DSCO5851 DSCO5852 DSCO5853 DSCO5854 DSCO5855 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 24/11/2009 25/11/2009 25/11/2009 25/11/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 09/12/2009 15.17 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.18 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.19 DSC-F828 15.2 DSC-F828 15.21 DSC-F828 11.52 DSC-F828 12.1 DSC-F828 12.1 DSC-F828 11.21 DSC-F828 11.22 DSC-F828 11.22 DSC-F828 11.27 DSC-F828 11.31 DSC-F828 11.36 DSC-F828 11.36 DSC-F828 11.39 DSC-F828 11.42 DSC-F828 11.46 DSC-F828 11.49 DSC-F828 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3264x2448 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.5 Heater 3.5 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.5 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.7 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.6 Heater 3.5 Heater 3.5 Heater 3.7 Heater 2 Brick 3.4 Brick 3.6 Brick 3.6 Brick 3.6 Brick 3.4 Brick 3.1 Brick 3.3 Brick 3.2 Brick 3.4 Brick 3.4 Brick

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V NW V V SW X X X X X X X X X X X Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence Photogrammetric sequence View within the furnace base of later modifications to the north west side Flagstone some 40cm beneath the furnice pit floor. Earlier drain beneath flagstone Overall position of excavation through furnace pit floor Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House Brick sample from Bedwelty House
A.P.A.C. Ltd
V SE View of the pipe channel cutting the heater duct
Bedwellty House Tredegar
Fig 01: Location
A.P.A.C. Ltd
RBWB/TRE/09
Notes:
Ice house
North set at magnetic
Key:
Main building plan in red supplied by ASL 2008. Positions of orchid house, heater room and ice house in black.
Location:

Type: Stage:
Position
Watching Brief January 2010 BGLS of BGCBC Bar Dr. N. Phillips Dr. N. Phillips 24/01/2010
Heater room
Period:
Produced for: Scale at A4: Survey: Processing:
A.P.A.C. Ltd
36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 7RG apac.philips@btinternet.co.uk
25m
Orchid house
Figure 02: Position of orchid house to main house
A.P.A.C. Ltd RBWB/TRE/09
Bedwelty House, Tredegar
Fig 03
Fig 04
Fig 05
Detail from: New Plan No.31 (Tredegar Iron Works), August 1826 (Hilling, 2003,69) in (Icosse. 31. 2006).
Detail from: 1839 Tithe Map (Gwent Archives D.917.19) in (Icosse. 32. 2006).
Detail from: Ordnance Survey 1886 Monmouthshire in (Icosse. 40. 2006).
Figures 03, 04, 05: Map progression

Bewellty House, Tredegar.
Key
Wall of house & out-buildings Brick wall, top edge Bottom of flue Brick interface with mortar Drains Iron lintels Water pipe Flue cover Concrete Flagstones
B B
A A D
SITE
Bedwellty House. Morgan Street. Tredegar Monmouthshire. NP22 3XN SCALE RBWB/TRE/09
JOB No:
10 m
15
20
25
NEW SURVEY 105 sq m
TITLE
DRAWN BY: N Phillips DATE 1/03/10
Topographic Survey Orchid House
NOTES
A.P.A.C. Ltd
36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. NP7 7RG. Tel: 07734962919 apac.philips@btinternet.com
Fig 06: Full survey
Bewellty House, Tredegar.
Key
Wall of house & out-buildings Brick wall, top edge Bottom of flue, old brick Bottom of flue, fire clay bricks Brick interface with mortar Drains Iron lintels Water pipe Drain cover Concrete Waterlogged Mortar
SITE
Bedwellty House. Morgan Street. Tredegar Monmouthshire. NP22 3XN SCALE RBWB/TRE/09
JOB No:
10 m
15
20
25
Drawing 105 sq m
TITLE
Drawing of Orchid House
NOTES
A.P.A.C. Ltd
Drawing made after the fire clay duct covers had been removed. The drawing was produced from the survey and digital photographs.
36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. NP7 7RG. Tel: 07734962919 apac.philips@btinternet.com
DRAWN BY: N Phillips DATE 1/03/10
Fig 07: Drawing
debris fill Firebrick base
debris fill Firebrick base
Location:

Type: Stage:
Flue sections
Watching Brief January 2010 BGLS of BGCBC Bar Dr. N. Phillips Dr. N. Phillips 02/02/2010
debris fill
Period:
Produced for: Scale at A4: Survey: Processing:
Firebrick base
fireclay brick base
A.P.A.C. Ltd
36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 7RG apac.philips@btinternet.co.uk
1m
Figure 08: Flue sections/ relative pro les
Bedwellty House, Tredegar DSC05659 DSC05678
Plate 11: South drain of orchid room, Fire door slot & manhole?
Plate 12: Second drain on south corner of the orchid house ue. North of Plate 11 but separate ue channel.
DSC05676 DSC05704
Plate 13: Drain? and cover support struts to the north west corner of the orchid house ue.
Plate 14: Confusing drainage structure/s
DSC5505
DSC5503
Plate 01: General view, heater room
Plate 02: General view, orchid house
DSC5507
Plate 03: General view both rooms with later modi cation between
Plate 15: North east drain of orchid room. On the left can be seen the covered south ue with one ue vent grill and one ue cover plate.
DSC05667
Plate 16: Vent from the ue with an iron grill, lifted, to the side
DSC05664
Plate 17: Transverse set grill vent with a tree growing through it.
Plate 18: South ue, west cover.
Plate 19: South ue, 2nd cover cover.
Plate 20: Support struts for access covers, short NW/SE ue section of the orchid house, left of and including Plate 09
DSC05711 DSC05724
Plate 21: Heater room, ue strut west corner
Plate 22: Heater room, ue strut north west edge
Plate 23: Fire-door/sluice setting
Plate 24: General shot of heater room after channel cover removal and clearing of internal chamber.
DSC05735 DSC05743
Plate 25: Heater room, ue /duct interface
Plate 26: Heater room, rectangle feature, in lled west edge
Plate 27: South internal edge of heater room ue and later wall abutments.
DSC05655
Plate 28: Contemorary build of yellow brick platform and wall, north and east of heater room central structure.
DSC05745
Plate 29: Brick platform at south end of rectangular structure, heater room.
late 30: one metre below oor level in the heater room.
Plate 31: Drain, 1.27 metres below the heater room oor.
Plate 32: Flue cover reclay brick with childs hand impression. Recovered from orchid room by contractors employee.
DSC05642 DSC05650
Plate 33: Stable block, ag oor. The separating wall to the heater room is on the left. room.
late 34: Stable block. Floor covered in red and yellow, cobble a ect bricks. Heater room wall in background.
Plate 04: Heater house with ongoing demolition boards to the left
DSC05653
Plate 06: Drainage system and re door slot
Plate 05: Demolition of Orchid House ue and debris build up.
Plate 07: Smoke ue at junction and re door. Two di erent ue base constructions. One re brick the other reclay brick
DSC05661
Plate 08: Access cover for ue inspection/cleaning?
DSC05716
Plate 09: Junction of main ue and di erent phase addition, built on a re clay base
Plate 10: Later pipe installation blocking the older ue.

Bedwellty House, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent. Phase 1 Watching Brief

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Bedwellty House, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent. Phase 1 Watching Brief

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A.P.A.C. Ltd.

Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy

WATCHING BRIEF AND RECORDING PROJECT RBWB/TRE/09

Bedwelty House, Tredegar

PREPARED BY DR N PHILLIPS 1ST FEBRUARY 2010

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Cover photograph DSCO5710 Overview.

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Non Technical Summary

Geology and topography

Archaeological and historical background

Aims and Objectives

A.P.A.C. Ltd Bedwellty House, Tredegar Watching Brief Methodology

Watching Brief Results

Soils and ground conditions

13.1064m. 15.2893m. 2.6636m. 36.28m. 68.6m.

5.6077m. 6.4281m. 3.8987m. 4.3533. 16.71m. 2.9692m. 1.3275. 36.05m.

5.6041m. 2.5650m. 14.4m.

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

A.P.A.C. Ltd Finds

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Discussion and Interpretation

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Bibliography and references

A.P.A.C. Ltd. 2009. Austin-Smith:Lord LLP, 2008

British Geological Survey. GUARD a 2006

Institute of Field Archaeologists,

Kew Loudon, J.C., 1805

Newman, J., 2000

Powell, E., 1884.

A.P.A.C. Ltd ARCHIVE COVER SHEET

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09 Photo No

Digital Photographic Record Time Camera

A.P.A.C. Ltd Drawing

3.7 Orchid room NE

3.5 Pipe channel NE

2.3 Pipe channel V 2.2 Orchid room V

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

Digital Photographic Record

2.3 Pipe channel V

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

Digital Photographic Record

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

Digital Photographic Record

2.1 Orchid room NE

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

Digital Photographic Record

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

Digital Photographic Record

Site Bedwelty House RBWB/TRE/09

Digital Photographic Record

V SE View of the pipe channel cutting the heater duct

Bedwellty House Tredegar

Fig 01: Location

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

North set at magnetic

Bedwellty House Tredegar

Produced for: Scale at A4: Survey: Processing:

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

Bedwelty House, Tredegar

Detail from: Ordnance Survey 1886 Monmouthshire in (Icosse. 40. 2006).

Figures 03, 04, 05: Map progression

Bewellty House, Tredegar.

NEW SURVEY 105 sq m

DRAWN BY: N Phillips DATE 1/03/10