This month's talk - Jonathan Williams
Jonathan will tell the story of a 1960s scheme to create a huge reservoir in the Usk valley west of Brecon. The so-called ‘Big Usk’ scheme would have flooded 1,800 acres of agricultural land, submerging 52 dwellings, including the villages of Aberbran and Aberyscir, the Grade 1 listed mansions of Penpont and Abercamlais, the medieval manor house at Aberbran Fawr, the churches at Bettws Penpont and Aberyscir, nine historic bridges and the Roman camp at Brecon Gaer, not to mention a great deal of wildlife, nature and beautiful scenery, mostly in a National Park. It was one of several options which also included flooding the Senni, Cilieni, Bran and Yscir valleys and which led to a public enquiry in 1969.”
About Brecknock Society and Museum Friends
Since it was founded in 1928, the Brecknock Society has been studying and promoting the history and culture of the historic county of Brecknock. It gives particular support to the Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery, and as Museum Friends, seeks to assist its operation and development.
The Society arranges lectures, meetings, exhibitions, and other events, to which all are welcome. The most notable of these events is the annual Sir John Lloyd Memorial Lecture, one of the most significant lectures of its kind in Wales. In recent years, speakers have included: Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, speaking on justice in Breconshire over the centuries; the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, speaking on the work of local seventeenth-century poet, Henry Vaughan; Mr Richard Suggett from the Royal Commission, speaking on the vernacular buildings of Breconshire; and Professor Anne Curry, speaking on the battle of Agincourt and its Breconshire connections.
The Society publishes an annual journal, Brycheiniog, which reflects the activities of the Society and seeks to stimulate a wider understanding of the history, archaeology, literature, and arts of the former county of Brecknock.
https://www.brecknocksociety.wales/
