The Trostrey Excavation Group - dedicated to the pursuit of archaeological excavation for the purposes of research, recreation and exploration of our pasts.
BACK AT PENPERGWM FOR 2012
This season we will be back at Penpergwm to investigate the water mill in same field as the Manor House and Chapel. It is in the south east corner of the field at the end of what we believe was a leat.
On Thursday 15 March we dug some trial pits and came up with what we think are walls which may be part of the water mill. (see pictures below)
Excavations will commence on Thursday 22 March and will continue each Thursday until we have fully investigated the site. We also hope to have digs on Saturday as well if there is demand.
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If you would like to have a go at archaeology, click on the link above for more details.
Geoffrey Mein, Usk’s active historian and archaeologist, started the Trostrey Excavation Group to help him in his task of researching the history of Trostrey castle and deserted village. Before that, he excavated with some of the well known archaeologists of the time but his main passion after retiring was his excavations alongside Trostrey Church near Usk. His discoveries included a revelation that this little hilltop overlooking the river Usk had been used as a village site by the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and medieval to post medieval peoples. The site is now empty save the little church all alone.
The excavations at Trostrey ended in 2005. However, those of us who enjoyed the practical side of archaeology wanted to continue. We started a new site near Penpergwm in 2006, using an aerial photograph from John Sorrell as an initial guide. However, Geoff did not want the responsibility of being in charge but promised to support our efforts. Unfortunately Geoff unexpectedly died in 2008. We decided to continue to use the name of the group started by Geoff and so constituted ourselves as Trostrey Excavation Group, initially to continue the, by now, very interesting moated manor site.
We excavated near Penpergwm from 2006 – 2010. The site is medieval – dating evidence from pottery and a silver half penny gives us a period 13th to 14th century. The excavation, having run for four years, has now sadly come to and end. For the remainder the year we assisted Stuart Wilson on his Lost City of Trellech site.
For the 2011 season we dug at Llangwm Prehistoric site.
A 60 page A4 booklet has been published describing the architectural interpretation of the buildings discovered at the Penpergwm site together with historical research into probable owners and occupants of the site.
To download a free copy please click here.