A Town in Terminal Decline? A study to the rise and fall of the town of Trellech in the period between the 13th and 17th century in Wales

This MA thesis research has taken all of the available archaeological and historical research related to medieval Trellech to address the ongoing debate regarding the precise location and layout of the original settlement, as well as investigate the exact cause and time of the decline of this town.This thesis was not able to provide a definitive conclusion to the debate surrounding the location of 13th century Trellech. However, the available archaeological evidence tips the scales heavily in favour of the theory that places the centre of medieval Trellech along Catbrook Road, rather than the current village centre. The Lost City of Trellech project has provided strong archaeological evidence for this theory, but is hampered by a lack of academic publications. Further excavation of the site is needed, but a focus on analysing the available but unprocessed archaeological data should be a high priority. The available archaeological evidence points to a hiatus of activity in the 15th...Show moreThis MA thesis research has taken all of the available archaeological and historical research related to medieval Trellech to address the ongoing debate regarding the precise location and layout of the original settlement, as well as investigate the exact cause and time of the decline of this town.This thesis was not able to provide a definitive conclusion to the debate surrounding the location of 13th century Trellech. However, the available archaeological evidence tips the scales heavily in favour of the theory that places the centre of medieval Trellech along Catbrook Road, rather than the current village centre. The Lost City of Trellech project has provided strong archaeological evidence for this theory, but is hampered by a lack of academic publications. Further excavation of the site is needed, but a focus on analysing the available but unprocessed archaeological data should be a high priority. The available archaeological evidence points to a hiatus of activity in the 15th century for most of the excavated areas of Trellech. The historical evidence seems to confirm this, leading to the conclusion that the 15th century was the start of Trellech’s decline from major town to the small village it currently is. Based on the available evidence, the combination of the Black Death that hit Trellech in the second half of the 14th century, combined with the revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr in the early 15th century, seems the obvious cause of this decline, though further research is needed.Show less

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A Town in Terminal Decline? A study to the rise and fall of the town of Trellech in the period between the 13th and 17th century in Wales