Medieval Village in Danger with Update

Cosmeston, a recreated medieval village in Wales from 600 year-old foundations discovered in 1978, has served as a tourist attraction almost as long. Once archaeologists and the Vale of Glamorgan Council decided to rebuild, they settled on the year 1350 and rebuilt thatched huts, wattle fences, wagons, and farm and craft implements. And they had docents dressed in fourteenth century garb and caring for a variety of animals in the compound. Docents could explain to tourists what life was like and show them how they used their tools.

But no more.

In this village that was used as a backdrop for the BBC Wales television show Merlin, the docents are being given their walking papers. The animals are gone. It will become a medieval ghost town. The Vale of Galmorgan council said it will save some £50,000 by eliminating the costumed docents and the animals, and opening the gates for free. But what good will that do, says archaeologist Karl-James Langford, when visitors can get in for free but there will be no living history to see. Only empty buildings.

"There will be no money to pay for the roofs to be re-thatched as I'm told will be needed in the next few years," said Langford. "There's going to be nobody sitting next to you by an open fire telling you about the history of the village...You can't get that from a tape recording."

Helen Reeves-Howard, who for years also dressed in costume as a docent, has started a petition to change the council's decision. "Not only is [the village] a tourist attraction," she said, "it provides a unique taste of the 14th Century that people will not get anywhere else...It's also a site of huge historical interest, and contains the earliest example of a semi-detached cottage in Britain."

What the Black Death couldn't do, misguided government decisions might.

You can see more about the village here.

 

UPDATE: From Helen Reeves-Howard

Thank you for your interest. I am only sorry I didn't know earlier. The petitions have gone off. however, it is never too late to write directly to the man behind the scenes who has brought all this about. Feel free to write as many letters to Bob Guy as you wish. Contact: Bob Guy 01446 724333 rrguy@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. or write directly to him at the docks office, Dock Office,. Barry Docks,. Barry. CF63 4RT. much love Helen Reeves-Howard.

Comments

[Kay Theodoratus]

Nothing like mis-guided govermental boards to shoot themselves in the foot. I wonder how much revenue the open-air museum brought into the area -- including the surrounding businesses who pay rates [or taxes].

[Bess]

I used to go to Cosmeston in costume many years ago in my late teens. I remember a fabulous weekend when I with a medieval group, "lived" as a medieval person for the entire weekend even sleeping in one of the buildings. Since then I have moved away to East Anglia so I can't just go and visit any longer. But I have such fond memories of the place.

What annoys me about the excuses made to stop using the re-enactors is that the vast majority of them were volunteers, coming to teach/entertain visitors without any payment. They would provide their own food and in many cases would be doing repair work on the site, look after the animals and source firewood etc themselves.

The local council just want to stop managing the site. If that is the case, then hand it over to the re-enactors and they will run it as they used to quite happily. I know there are plenty of them in the area, some of whom I know.

Allowing visitors in free of charge with no one there to keep an eye on the place, will inevitably result in vandalism and damage.

Wonder how long it will be before we hear that one or more of the buildings has been burnt down because some misguided visitor thought to start a fire in one of the fireplaces?

But perhaps that's exactly what the local council want?

[Jeri Westerson]

That's terribly sad, Bess. But I do envy you your opportunity to re-enact there. Perhaps contact the lady putting together the petition?

[Helen Reeves-Howard]

Thank you for your interest. I am only sorry I didn't know earlier. The petitions have gone off. however, it is never too late to write directly to the man behind the scenes who has brought all this about.
Feel free to write as many letters to Bob Guy as you wish. Contact: Bob Guy 01446 724333 rrguy@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. or write directly to him at the docks office, Dock Office,. Barry Docks,. Barry. CF63 4RT.

much love
Helen Reeves-Howard.