Bedwellty House Culvert Report

Bedwellty House culvert, Bedwellty Park,
Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent

Archaeological building survey
June 2009
GGAT report no. 2009/045

Project no.P1348
A report for Austin-Smith:Lord National Grid Reference:
by Rob Dunning BSc and Rachel Bowden BA SO 14419 08498 and SO 14428 08391
ST ER
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The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

Heathfield House Heathfield Swansea SA1 6EL
Bedwellty House Culvert, Bedwellty Park, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent: archaeological building survey
Contents Page
Summary........................................................................................................................... 1
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 1
Copyright notice............................................................................................................... 1
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Project background....................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Location and topography.............................................................................................. 2
1.3 Archaeological and historical background................................................................... 2
2 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 3
3 Results ................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Stone arch culvert 1001................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Narrow iron culvert 1002 ............................................................................................. 4
3.3 Wide iron culvert 1009................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Sluice gate chamber ..................................................................................................... 5
3.5 Stone and brick culvert 1010........................................................................................ 5
3.6 East-west aligned stone culvert 1028 ........................................................................... 5
4 Conclusion........................................................................................................... 16
Bibliography....................................................................................................................... 17
Appendix I .......................................................................................................................... 18
Figures
Figure 1: General location ........................................................................................................................................11
Figure 2: Plan showing development boundary (red) and area of archaeological survey (blue).....................12
Figure 3: South facing sketch elevation of stone arch culvert 1001.....................................................................13
Figure 4: Sketch plan of sluice gate chamber area ................................................................................................14
Figure 5: West facing elevation of east-west aligned stone culvert 1028.............................................................15
Plates
Plate 1: South facing exterior view of stone arch culvert 1001, showing stonewall 1006 situated on the
east and stonewall 1008 situated on the west, view to the north ..........................................................6
Plate 2: Exterior view of narrow iron culvert 1002 showing damaged sections; stone arch culvert 1001
can be seen in the background, view to the north..................................................................................6
Plate 3: Exterior view of wide iron culvert 1009, view to the south.......................................................................7
Plate 4: Wide iron culvert 1009 showing detail of rivets, view to the south .........................................................7
Plate 5: The southern edge of wide iron culvert 1009 showing detail of rivet sockets, view to the north .........8
Plate 7: Showing extent of sluice gate chamber with wide iron culvert 1009 located to the left. The iron
high-beams 1012 can be seen covering the extent of the chamber area, view to the north ..............9
Plate 8: The remains of a metal grate (1022) and void 1020 that distributed water from the north-south
stone and brick culvert 1010 into the east-west aligned stone culvert 1028; the culvert can be
seen in the background, view to the east.................................................................................................9
Plate 9: The stone and brick culvert 1010 is located in the background and the remains of a metal grate
1022 can be seen in the stone floor of the culvert 1030, view to the south ........................................10
Summary
During recent renovation works at Bedwellty Park, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, by Afan
Landscapes Ltd, a stone and iron culvert was uncovered running from NGR SO 14419 08498
to SO 14428 08391. GGAT Projects were commissioned to record the remains. The structure
was aligned in a north-south direction for a minimum of 109m, with on site mortar analysis
suggesting that it dates to the Post-medieval period. Local knowledge indicated that it drained
water from the gravity-fed ponds located to the west, into the Sirhowy River to the east. It has
been decided to incorporate the structure into the renovation project and the remaining works
will aim to fence off and preserve the culvert in situ.
Acknowledgements
The project was managed by Richard Lewis BA, MIfA (Head of Projects) and the report
prepared by Rob Dunning BSc (Project Officer) and Rachel Bowden BA (Project
Archaeologist). The fieldwork was conducted by Rob Dunning, Rachel Bowden, Andy
Sherman BA and Jon McQueen BA. The illustrations were compiled by Paul Jones (Senior
Illustrator). The authors would like to acknowledge the help of Frank Olding (Blaenau Gwent
County Borough Council), Martin Coles (Austin-Smith: Lord LLP) and Steve Hall (Afan
Landscapes Ltd).
Copyright notice
The copyright of this report is held by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, which
has granted an exclusive licence to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and their agents
to use and reproduce the material it contains. Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced under
licence (AL 10005976). Annotations are GGAT copyright.
1
1 Introduction
1.1 Project background
During recent renovation works at Bedwellty House, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, the remains of
a stone and iron culvert were uncovered. After consultation with Frank Olding (Heritage
Officer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council) and Neil Maylan (archaeological advisor to
the Local Planning Authority (LPA)), GGAT Projects were commissioned to undertake a
survey of the remains. The fieldwork was undertaken on the 7th May and the 20th – 21st May
2009.
1.2 Location and topography

The feature is located in the southeast corner of Bedwellty Park, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent,
with a north-south alignment and running parallel to the Promenade D’Orvault (from NGR SO
14419 08498 to SO 14428 08391) (see Figure 1). The land is relatively flat but generally
slopes towards the Sirhowy River and is at approximately 288m OD.
1.3 Archaeological and historical background

Bedwellty House (PRN08851g/LB1862) was a minor house belonging to the Morgans of
Tredegar Park. The house was purchased by the Merthyr ironmaster Samuel Homfray of
Pehydarren in 1800. In 1826 Homfray rebuilt the house in a plain but elegant style.
Homfray’s son continued remodelling the house and made further additions when he became
manager of the Tredegar Ironworks, with work culminating in 1842 with the house achieving
its present form. A survey by William Adams of the Ebbw Vale and Tredegar Ironworks
shows the additions that were made. From the mid-19th century the house was again the
property of the Morgan family, who reserved it for the managers of the Tredegar Iron and Coal
Company: one manager was R.P. Davis, whose wife initiated the building of the Tredegar town
clock between 1858 – 1859 (Cadw Listed Buildings information).
The Tithe map published in 1839 shows a significant number of changes to both the park and
the house. A considerable addition to the grounds was the sequence of five square ponds that
step down the hill towards the house; an irregular shaped pond to the southwest of the highest
pond fed these ponds. The Nant Rhos appears to be the source of water for the ponds; early
maps show the Nant Rhos crossed these fields before they were enclosed to become Bedwellty
Park. The waterway must have been culverted as part of the construction of the park. The
Tithe map shows a linear feature running alongside the boundary wall in the same place, and
that it returns under the wall before the south entrance in the direction of the Sirhowy River
(Icosse 2006).
The house and grounds were given to the town in 1901 and the interior of the house was
remodelled as council offices, with a good deal of Art Nouveau glazing, at this time (Newman
2000). The gardens became a public park (PRN06086g), crowded with specimen trees. To the
northwest of the house is a rock garden, the stalactitic entrance arch of which and the rockwork
surrounds to beds and ponds are of artificial ‘Pulhamite’ rock. The square building with a
bellcote, just beyond, stands over a well-preserved icehouse (PRN04642g/LB1878). To the
southeast of Bedwellty House is a war memorial (PRN08876g/LB22488) in bronze showing a
fully kitted First World War soldier presenting arms. The figure is signed by N.A. Trent and
was cast by the Morris Art Foundry (Newman 2000).
2
2 Methodology
The survey was carried out to the requirement of the Institute for archaeologists Standard and
Guidance for the archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings or
structures 1996 (revised 1999) and the methodology generally followed, where appropriate,
those set out by English Heritage (2006) to Level 2 standard.
A written, drawn, and photographic record was made of all structures in accordance with the
GGAT Manual of Excavation Recording Techniques. All significant features were
photographed using a digital camera (with a resolution of 8mp), scales were included where
appropriate. An on-site photographic catalogue, stating subject, direction, date and the
photographers’ initials, was also made. All archaeological structures were recorded with a
single continuous context numbering system and are summarised in Appendix 1. The survey
consisted of a measured drawing of the culvert structures and the sluice gate chamber. Sketch
elevations of the structures were also recorded. Mortar from the structure was studied on site.
The area was located in relation to standing structures and published boundaries and related to
the Ordnance Survey datum through a benchmark (288.17m OD) located on the outer corner of
Bedwellty Park’s northeastern pedestrian entrance, off Stable Lane.
The project archive will be deposited with an appropriate receiving organisation, in accordance
with the UKIC and IFA Guidelines (Archaeological Archives: a guide to best practice in
creation, compilation, transfer and curation (2007). Copies of the report and archive index
will be deposited with the regional Historic Environment Record, curated by the Glamorgan-
Gwent Archaeological Trust, Swansea; the National Monuments Record, Royal Commission
on the Archaeological and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), Aberystwyth; and
with the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Heritage Section.
3
3 Results
The area along the eastern wall of Bedwellty Park was uncovered by machine excavation
during landscaping works and revealed structures running parallel to the existing eastern
garden wall of Bedwellty Park (see Figure 2). The structures investigated consisted of a series
of five culverts: a stone arch culvert (1001, see Figure 3), a narrow iron culvert (1002), a wide
iron culvert (1009), and a stone and brick built culvert (1010); all of these culverts were
aligned north-south. In the southern area a sluice gate chamber was recorded (see Figure 4),
and situated within this area was the remaining east-west aligned stone culvert (1028, see
Figure 5).
3.1 Stone arch culvert 1001

The stone built arch culvert 1001 (see Plate 1) was constructed of worked blocks of sub-
rounded and sub-angular sandstone that had been bonded together with a pale grey lime mortar
with occasional flecks of lime and isolated coal fragments as inclusions (>1mm to <5mm).
The largest of these stones measured 0.34m by 0.10m and the smallest stone measured 0.26m
by 0.09m. The internal diameter of the culvert was 1.52m. Forming supporting walls for the
stone arch culvert (1001) were two stonewalls, 1006 and 1008. The walls form the supporting
structure for the culvert (1001), and continue north beyond the arch (1001) but their full extent
could not be surveyed. Contained within the eastern stonewall (1006) was a single layer of
slate (1005) that measured 0.15m in length and was of unknown width and appears to have
been utilised in the structure to bridge the space between the two walls 1004 and 1006.
Overlying the slate was a brick structure (1004) constructed of two courses supporting a
horizontal iron crossbar (1003). Contained within the western stonewall (1008) was a single
course of brick (1007). Analysis of the brick proved they were machine-manufactured with no
frog and had a standard measurement of 0.24m by 0.07m. The bricks and crossbar (1003) had
been bonded together with a hard, dark greyish black mortar of probable 19th century date (See
Figure 3). On the west side of the iron crossbar there was an empty bolthole that may
originally have secured it to the single brick course (1007).
3.2 Narrow iron culvert 1002

Contained within stonewalls 1006 and 1008 and situated to the south of the stone built arch
culvert (1001) was a narrow iron culvert (1002) (see Plate 2). The northern end of which
extended into 1001. The culvert was constructed from iron with a thickness of 10mm and had
a minimum internal diameter of 0.98m. The culvert was constructed in sections that were a
minimum of 1.50m in length and had been secured together by rivets. The minimum length of
the culvert was 17.10m, however, sections at each end of the iron culvert had sustained
significant damage due to the corrosion.
3.3 Wide iron culvert 1009

Constructed in a similar way to 1002, the wide iron culvert (1009) was constructed in sections
that were 0.60m in length and had been secured together by rivets (See Plate 4). The culvert
had sustained similar damage as culvert (1002) as a result of corrosion to the iron, this damage
was most apparent in the northern and middle section of the culvert. The minimum length of
the culvert was 89m; the maximum extent of the culvert could not be determined due to the
extent of the damage. The culvert had a minimum internal diameter of 1.11m and was
constructed from iron that was 10mm thick.
4
3.4 Sluice gate chamber

The sluice gate chamber was funnel shaped and was located at the southern end of the wide
iron culvert (1009) (see Figure 4). The chamber was constructed of two sandstone walls that
extended diagonally out from the eastern garden wall of Bedwellty Park. The two walls (1031
and 1032) formed parallel flanking structures at the mouth of the funnel-shaped sluice (1013
and 1014). Abutting these two walls (1031 and 1032) at 90° was the main north-south aligned
culverts (1009 and 1010) and the sluice gate itself (1021). The sluice gate had a length of
3.80m, width of 0.33m and a depth of 0.33m. It was constructed from iron and was both
supported by and slotted into two large sandstone blocks. The southern block was 0.48m wide
by 0.52m in depth and an exposed length of 0.94m, and the northern block had a width of
0.40m, a depth of 0.52m and an exposed length of 0.88m. A recess was built into each stone
block for the sluice gate; at the southern end this was 0.085m wide and 0.065m in length,
whilst its northern counterpart was 0.080m wide and 0.060m in length. Situated at ground
level but overlying the culvert (1010) to the south of the sluice gate was the manual hoisting
mechanism (1029) used to control the flow of water into the funnel-shaped sluice chamber.
Five iron high-beams were recorded spanning the funnel-shaped sluice chamber forming
supports for an overlying structure. It would appear that the chamber was purposefully
obscured by a covering sometime after 1839 when the Tithe depicts it as open, no remains of
this 19th century covering survives as several large modern steel sheets now form the cover.
3.5 Stone and brick culvert 1010

Located within the sluice gate chamber were a further two culverts (1010 and 1028). Aligned
on a north-south orientation across the west end of the sluice gate chamber was a stone and
brick built culvert (1010) (see Plate 9). Due to Health and Safety concerns it was not possible
to access this area to measure the extent of the structure. This culvert (1010) distributed water
from the wide iron culvert (1009) into the sluice gate chamber. Towards the southern end of
(1010) was an iron grill (1022) that measured 0.70m in length and 0.40m in width; underneath
this was a void (1020) that distributed water from culvert 1010 into the east-west aligned stone
culvert (1028, see Plate 8). This culvert ran below the sluice gate chamber floor (1019).
Located to the east of the sluice gate chamber was a probable inspection chamber (1034) that
had a length of 1.10m and a width of 2.13m and was likely to have been constructed in order to
inspect water flow and level in the culvert.
3.6 East-west aligned stone culvert 1028

The east-west aligned stone culvert (1028) was constructed forming a segmental ashlar
archway (see Plate 6). The base and overlying four courses were constructed of roughly faced
sandstone blocks (1027 and 1026). Overlying the basal courses were ten courses of very neat
ashlar blockwork (1023, 1024 and 1033), surmounted by a single rough course of masonry,
brick and an iron high-beam (1011 and 1012).
5
Plates
Plate 1: South facing exterior view of stone arch culvert 1001, showing stonewall 1006 situated on the east
and stonewall 1008 situated on the west, view to the north
Plate 2: Exterior view of narrow iron culvert 1002 showing damaged sections; stone arch culvert 1001 can
be seen in the background, view to the north
6
Plate 3: Exterior view of wide iron culvert 1009, view to the south
Plate 4: Wide iron culvert 1009 showing detail of rivets, view to the south
7
Plate 5: The southern edge of wide iron culvert 1009 showing detail of rivet sockets, view to the north
Plate 6: East-west aligned stone culvert 1028, showing iron high-beam 1012 in foreground, view to the east
8
Plate 7: Showing extent of sluice gate chamber with wide iron culvert 1009 located to the left. The iron
high-beams 1012 can be seen covering the extent of the chamber area, view to the north
Plate 8: The remains of a metal grate (1022) and void 1020 that distributed water from the north-south
stone and brick culvert 1010 into the east-west aligned stone culvert 1028; the culvert can be seen in the
background, view to the east
9
Plate 9: The stone and brick culvert 1010 is located in the background and the remains of a metal grate
1022 can be seen in the stone floor of the culvert 1030, view to the south
10
Bedwellty House Culvert, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent: archaeological building survey
Based on the 1996 Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure

13 map with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent
Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number Al10005976
GRID
Bedwellty Park
(Area shown in
Figure 2)
0 1.00 2.00 3.00km
Figure 1. General location
11
Elevation
(see Figure 3)
Area of sluice
shown in
Figure 4
Key
Development area boundary
Area of culvert surveyed
GRID
N 0 50 100metres
Figure 2. Plan showing development boundary (red) and area of archaeological survey (blue)
12
Key to conventions used in Figures 3-5
1020
Stone Feature context number
Brick Continuation
Stone (hidden outline detail) Hachure (slope)

Assumed location of
Slate non-existing feature
620 Measured distance

Iron (in millimetres between points)
Mortar
1001
Structure context number
Extent of context
West East
1740
1001
1003
1000
1007
1004
1520
1005
620
1008
1006
Vegetation and silt build-up below this level
All measurements in millimetres

Not scaled (drawn at 'sketched' size)
Figure 3. South facing sketch elevation of stone arch culvert 1001

13
1460
1009
1032 1013
1030 Wall
1800 East-west aligned stone culvert

(see elevation Figure 5)
1018 1012
1012
1019 1019
1021
1012
1011
1019 1019
1100
1034
1019 1019
1020
1012
3800
1022
1019
1030
1019
1017 1014
1010
1031 1016
Probable location of sluice-gate
Manual hoisting mechanism 1029
GRID
All measurements in millimetres N
Figure 4. Sketch plan of sluice gate chamber area
14
North South
2130
1011 Lime mortar
1012
1033 1033
AREA
NOT AREA
2700
SURVEYED NOT
SURVEYED
1024
1023
1026
1025
1027
All measurements in millimetres
Figure 5. West facing elevation of east-west aligned stone culvert 1028
15
4 Conclusion
The structures recorded during the present survey have been identified as forming a complex
system of culverts. On site analysis of the pale grey mortar from the structures suggests that
construction dates to the early 19th century. The Tithe map from 1839 records a linear feature
running alongside the eastern boundary wall, further corroborates the early 19th century date
suggested by the mortar analysis.
The culverts form a series of impressive structures and appear to have been constructed at the
same time as a series of gravity-fed ponds, built to the west in Bedwellty Park, after the land
had been bought by Samuel Homfray in 1800. The ponds were created to form an impressive
water feature within the park. A total of five ponds were constructed, four of which were
located above each other, narrow rockwork channels linked each pond, and were also
surrounded by rockwork.
The walls belonging to the funnel-shaped sluice chamber had been constructed using very neat
ashlar blockwork, creating an attractive finish. It would appear that the culverts were built in
this way in order to be seen as a feature of Bedwellty Park, and as the Tithe map would appear
to suggest these features were exposed at least until 1839.
The culverts form part of a complex water management system that was intended to drain
water from the large ponds. The water was directed through the stone arch culvert (1001), the
narrow iron culvert (1002) and the wide iron culvert (1009). The sluice gate chamber
controlled the flow of water by utilising the sluice gate (1021) and manual mechanism (1029)
to be diverted down through the sluice overflow (1020) where the water would then travel
through the east-west aligned stone culvert (1028) before continuing its course eastwards
towards the Sirhowy River.
16
Bibliography
Printed sources sited in text
Cadw and ICOMOS, 1994, Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historical
Interest in Wales: Pt1 Parks and Gardens of Gwent. Cardiff
Icosse, 2006, An initial chronology and contextual framework for Bedwellty House and Park,
Tredegar, Icosse
Newman, J, 2000, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent and Monmouthshire, Yale University Press
English Heritage, 2006, Understanding Historic Buildings: a guide to good recording practice,
English Heritage
Printed sources not sited in text

Icosse, 2008, Bedwellty House Park Research: Gwent Archives, Icosse
Cartographic sources
Tithe Map for the Parish of Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Gwent Archive Accession no.
D.917.19
17
Appendix I
Inventory of contexts:
Context Type Description Period

1001 S Stone arch culvert Post- Medieval
1002 S Narrow iron culvert Post- Medieval
1003 S Iron crossbar bonded to 1004 and 1007 Post- Medieval
1004 S Brick structure overlying 1005 Post- Medieval
1005 S Single layer of slate overlying 1006 Post- Medieval
1006 S Eastern stone wall underlying 1005 Post- Medieval
1007 S Brick structure overlying 1008 Post- Medieval
1008 S Western stone wall underlying 1007 Post- Medieval
1009 S Wide iron culvert Post- Medieval
1010 S Stone and brick culvert Post- Medieval
1011 S Brick structure supporting iron high beams 1012 Post- Medieval
1012 S Iron high-beams supporting modern metal plate Post- Medieval
covering 1035
1013 S Neat ashlar blockwork wall forming northern edge of Post- Medieval
sluice gate chamber
1014 S Neat ashlar blockwork wall forming southern edge Post- Medieval
of sluice gate chamber
1015 S Brick work bonded within 1013 Post- Medieval
1017 S Neat ashlar blockwork forming the western edge of Post- Medieval
the sluice gate chamber
1019 S Sluice gate chamber floor Post- Medieval
1020 Void Sluice overflow underlying 1022 Post- Medieval
1021 S Sluice gate Post- Medieval
1022 S Iron grate overlying 1020 Post- Medieval
1023 S Neat ashlar blockwork wall forming the southern Post- Medieval
edge of 1028, overlying 1025
1024 S Neat ashlar blockwork wall forming the northern Post- Medieval
edge of 1028, overlying 1026
1025 S Roughly faced sandstone blocks overlying 1027 on Post- Medieval
southern edge
1026 S Roughly faced sandstone blocks overlying 1027 on Post- Medieval
northern edge
1027 S Base of east-west aligned stone culvert underlying Post- Medieval
1025 and 1026
1028 S East-west aligned stone culvert Post- Medieval
1029 S Manual hoisting mechanism Post- Medieval
1030 S Stone base of stone and brick culvert Post- Medieval
1031 S Southern stone wall of sluice gate chamber Post- Medieval
1032 S Northern stone wall of sluice gate chamber Post- Medieval
1033 S Neat ashlar blockwork wall forming the eastern edge Post- Medieval
of the sluice gate chamber
1034 Void Inspection chamber for east-west aligned stone Post- Medieval
culvert 1028
1035 S Modern metal plates overlying iron high beams 1012 Post- Medieval
18

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Bedwellty House culvert, Bedwellty Park,

Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent

GGAT report no. 2009/045

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

1.2 Location and topography

1.3 Archaeological and historical background

3.1 Stone arch culvert 1001

3.2 Narrow iron culvert 1002

3.3 Wide iron culvert 1009

3.4 Sluice gate chamber

3.5 Stone and brick culvert 1010

3.6 East-west aligned stone culvert 1028

Based on the 1996 Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure

0 1.00 2.00 3.00km

Figure 1. General location

Area of culvert surveyed

Key to conventions used in Figures 3-5

Stone (hidden outline detail) Hachure (slope)

620 Measured distance

All measurements in millimetres

Figure 3. South facing sketch elevation of stone arch culvert 1001

1800 East-west aligned stone culvert

Probable location of sluice-gate

Manual hoisting mechanism 1029

Figure 4. Sketch plan of sluice gate chamber area

1011 Lime mortar

Figure 5. West facing elevation of east-west aligned stone culvert 1028

Printed sources not sited in text

Context Type Description Period

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