Graffiti Recording Project

Over the past few months we've been running two graffiti recording projects, working alongside volunteers from Bangor University History and Archaeology Society (BUHAS). Our work with Bangor University students is one strand of the closer working relationship the Trust are building with the University.

During the first project students recorded graffiti left on the 14 th Century medieval alabaster tomb of Goronwy ap Tudur Hen and his wife Myfanwy Fychan , at St Gredifael's Church, Penmynydd, Anglesey. Goronwy was a constable of Anglesey and great uncle of Henry VII. The project was an offshoot of work Gwynedd Archaeological Trust has been carrying out as part of a wider conservation plan for the church and tomb.

The second project took place at Penrhyn Bridge, Port Penrhyn, Bangor. The bridge was constructed in 1820 by Douglas Pennant, with the addition of further arches as the new quarry railway was built in 1878-9.

Students recorded graffiti left on the bridge's slate slabs. Much of the graffiti here is early; images include ships, horses and a big top circus tent.

Training on photographic technique was provided as part of the project and resources include cameras, graffiti recording sheets, photo record sheets and graffiti categorisation sheets. One of the publications used in preparation for the sessions was Historic England's ‘Recording Historic Graffiti: Advice and Guidance'.

A series of input sessions have been running in parallel to the field sessions, in preparation for inclusion of the data into the Historic Environment Record. The graffiti project forms part of GATs wider ‘Involving Young volunteers' project, funded by GwirVol.

“Members of Bangor Universities History and Archaeology Society and myself have found that Volunteering for GAT has given us all a new found appreciation for the subject we love and the vast amount of archaeology still to be discovered in North Wales. GAT has given us new opportunities to enhance our experience of working within archaeology and they never cease to come up with new and exciting archaeology to study and explore. We are very grateful to them for being so accommodating of our studies and helping to widen our understanding of archaeology in North Wales”.

[Lauren Lewsely, student, president of Bangor University History and Archaeology Society.]