The Cambrian Archaeological Association’s Summer Meeting
The Summer Meeting of the Cambrian Archaeological Association takes place on Sunday the 29th of June to Friday 4th of July 2025. This year’s theme is ‘The Historic Gardens of North Wales’, and the base for the week will be Bangor.
The programme of talks and tours has been prepared by Jo and Andrew Davidson, longstanding supporters of ISWE, and it promises to be a wonderful week which showcases the best gardens that north Wales has to offer. Jo is Chair of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust and Andrew retired as Director of the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust last year. ISWE is delighted to be participating in the week, with Director Dr Shaun Evans giving the evening lecture on Tuesday 1st July on the subject of the houses of the Mostyn family.
The programme is outlined below:
Sunday 29 June (afternoon)
Destination: Bangor area
Visits to: Penrhyn Castle, Treborth Botanic Gardens
Evening Lecture: Dr Martin Cherry - ‘The early houses of North Wales and their setting: some new insights from dendrochronology’
Monday 30 June
Destination: Western Caernarfonshire
Visits to: Glynllifon, Plas Brondanw, Portmeirion
Evening Lecture: Glynis Shaw - ‘Gardens of North Wales’
Tuesday 1 July
Destination: Eastern Caernarfonshire
Visits to: Wern Isaf, Bodysgallen, Nant Clwyd y Dre, Llanrhaeadr Church, well and Almshouses, Plas Ucha
Evening Lecture: Dr Shaun Evans – ‘The Houses of the Mostyn Family: Ancestry, Inheritance and Gentility in the Welsh Landscape’
Wednesday 2 July
Destination: Denbighshire
Visits to: Plas Mawr, Bodnant, Gwydir
Evening Lecture: Presidential inauguration and lecture by Professor Huw Pryce
Thursday 3 July
Destination: North Anglesey
Visits to: Bodorgan Hall, Penrhos, Brynddu, Cestyll Gardens
Evening Lecture: Prof. Robin Grove-White – ‘The families and houses at Brynddu and Plas Coch’
Friday 4 July (morning)
Destination: South Anglesey
Visits to: Plas Newydd, Plas Cadnant
Attendees may join for the whole week or only select days, and there are plenty of options for accommodation and evening meals. Further information and instructions for how to book can be found on the Cambrian Archaeological Association website.
