An Offa’s Dyke Collaboratory public day conference: ‘Conflict, Collaboration and Early Medieval Frontiers‘ is taking place 09.30-16.30, 1st June, at the Venue in the Park, Alyn Waters Country Park, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, LL11 4AG . Save the date!
A day conference supported by, and organised with, the Offa’s Dyke Association addresses key themes in the study of early medieval frontiers and borderlands.
The ODA, based at the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton, is keen to extend the delivery of its charitable objects along the full length of the Dyke. It is therefore very pleased to fund the venue and equipment hire of this important Offa’s Dyke Collaboratory conference.
Conference registration £10 to include tea/coffee. Book here from the ODA online shop
Conference FAQs
Car parking? –There is a Wrexham council car park on site, cost £1.
Accessible venue? – Please advise Dave if you require space in the conference room to park a mobility aid.
Café facilities? – It is only a small café so will be unable to cater for large numbers. You might want to consider bringing your own packed lunch.
Offa’s Dyke Association pop-up shop
Selling special discounted conference price Offa’s Dyke Journals 1 -5; ODA memberships and merchandise.
Conference programme
09.00–16.00, Saturday 1st June 2024
09.30–10.00 The Offa’s Dyke Association – David McGlade
10.00–10.30 The Dykes of the Welsh Border and the PAS data – Pauline Clarke
10.30–11.00 Conflicting evidence: the dating and character of Wat’s and Offa’s Dykes – Ian Grant, Richard Hankinson and Tim Malim
11.00–11.30 Break
11.30–12.00 Making the March: Contesting Lands in the Early Medieval Frontier – Charles Insley and Andy Seaman
12.00–12.30 Walking the Line: Offa’s Dyke from Shore to Shore in 2023 – Keith Ray
12.30–13.00 Seeing the Line: Art, creativity and perceptions of Offa’s Dyke – John G. Swogger
13.00–14.00 Lunch
14.00–14.30 The Offa’s Dyke Conservation Project – Helen Upson
14.30–14.40 New work exploring Offa’s Dyke in Flintshire – Ray Bailey
14.40–14.50 Offa’s Dyke near Ross-on-Wye: Observations and Next Steps – Terry Morgan
14.50–15.00 Drone photography of the Dyke – Julian Ravest
15.00–15.30 Break
15.30–15.40 The Future of the Offa’s Dyke Journal – Howard Williams
15.40–15.55 The Future of the Collaboratory – Keith Ray
15.55–16.00 The Offa’s Dyke Association: Next Steps – David McGlade
Exhibition
Seeing the Line: Art, creativity and perceptions of Offa’s Dyke – John G. Swogger & colleagues
Online material
Interview with Ray Bailey
Interview with Diana Baur and John G. Swogger
Your attention and cooperation is required for the next few weeks while essential practical conservation works are carried out to a section of Offa’s Dyke near to the village of Evanjobb in Powys.
For your safety the works require a temporary closure of the National Trail with a diversion to avoid the working area. For a map of the diversion visit the National; Trail website: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/offas-dyke-path-temporary-diversion-for-works-near-evenjobb/?trail=offas-dyke-path
The works, undertaken by specialist contractors, are being carried out under the supervision of Helen Upson, the Offa’s Dyke Conservation Officer. The ODA fully supports the aims of this complex project design and encourages walkers to follow the signed diversion route.
The ODA’s 2024 Passport season gets underway this year with an Easter start. Proceeds from sales of the Passport support our own Offa’s Dyke Conservation Fund. Price £5 from our online shop https://offasdyke.org.uk/shop/page/2/
Join us in 2024 to share, enjoy, understand and discover more about Offa’s Dyke. Our newly curated interpretive displays at the Offa’s Dyke Centre will inspire you.
Prof Keith Ray, curator of our Offa’s Dyke interpretive exhibition, talks to English Heritage’s Charles Rowe about King Offa, the Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the archaeological earthwork Offa’s Dyke. Walking along a section of the eponymous Offa’s Dyke Path in Gloucestershire, where the Trail is coincident with the monument, Keith explains some of the challenges associated with managing visitors in a sensitive archaeological landscape. He also discusses the important role played by the Offa’s Dyke Association in influencing long distance walkers towards walking the Trail during drier months of the year when there is less risk of erosion and damage to the Dyke. Listen to the podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/EHE9742327131?selected=EHE6080520973
The photo was taken in March 2023 during Keith’s Offa’s Dyke, Encounters and Explanations project, an epic 23 day, 209 mile walk along the entire length of Offa’s Dyke. Also visit @digitalself4 on X (formerly Twitter) to for his daily VLOGs broadcast along the journey.