‘Beneath the Vale: Living Through Time’ is a collaborative project between Cardiff University and Fonmon Castle that has conducted a range of research and uncovered a range of archaeological materials at the castle, with findings including jewellery and pottery.
They aim to expand their important research and develop inclusive programmes of public outreach, engagement, and education that are of wider community benefit, helping locals and historians understand the communities that lived in this area centuries ago.
As it stands today, Fonmon Castle is more of a country house than a castle. Its development over time has left its medieval core relatively untouched, leading researchers to become curious about what may still be in the ground from these early developments of the castle and its grounds.
Every fortnight, these researchers run surveys and excavations around the grounds to gain a better understanding of how the area might have looked hundreds of years ago.
Tudur Davies is one of the researchers running the project and excavations at the site. He told the Barry and District News: “We found a wall and that was quite exciting because you look at Fonmon its completely flat. It’s covered in carpets of grass and there is nothing that would suggest that there is anything there.
“We came across a lovely limestone and mortared wall and didn’t find anything that dates it but next to the wall were made grounds. The level of the surface was artificially raised to create the flat land in front of the castle and in there we found pottery.”
“We think what happened is that in the Tudor period, people were more concerned with living in luxury and less about living in drafty old castles. That’s exactly what was happening with the castle, but what we didn’t know is that they’ve potentially demolished a huge section of curtain wall to create this flat lawn. They wanted the views instead.”
The public can aid the future excavations and may even find unearth their own piece of history at Fonmon Castle at one of the public excavations, regardless of experience level.
Those who don’t want to swing their mattock or shovel in the field can process artefacts with the aim of helping analysts maximise their findings.
More information about future public excavations can be found on the archaeology section of the Fonmon Castle website.
