An update on the exciting and interesting developments taking place in our own parish, based on St Mary’s on the hill.

I attended the activity day at St Mary’s Church on Saturday as part of the Caerau and Ely Rediscovering Heritage Project, (CAER Heritage Project).

It was a glorious day and when I arrived at about 10.00 am there were already a number of people and children there. 

Archaeologists from Cardiff University had been working all week at the site with pupils from Glyn Derw, Fitzalan and Mary Immaculate schools and were carrying out tests on the old Whitsun treat field to see if there was anything of interest under the grass.  They are still looking at the results and hope to carry out further tests in April I believe.  Activities had also been arranged throughout the week with the children and also on Saturday.  Tea and coffee were freely available along with information and photographs on the site and the project.  Stephen Jones and Nigel Billingsworth (local Ely historians) also attended and were able to give a short talk on the history of Ely as we looked over the area from St Marys.  It was really lovely with the sun shining and the birds singing!

It is hoped that the project will capture the interest of local schoolchildren and local residents in the hope that the site can be preserved and valued by all.  There is talk of perhaps the television programme Time Team coming to the area to carry out an archaeological dig but at present this has not been confirmed but who knows!

For further information on St Mary’s please visit the website www.stmaryscaerau.org

Denise Pole