The Usk Civic Society describes its ambitious plaque-marking project

It has always been the Society's policy and practice to be positive and to take the opportunity to invest in projects which fulfil the Society's aims of education, sustainability and the promotion of civic pride. That occurred late last year with the announcement that the Welsh Assembly Government had earmarked funds under Article 33 for which bids for grants could be submitted. The Society's outline bid for the installation of plaques on sites and buildings important in the historic development of Usk satisfied the criteria for acceptance in principle. We were invited to expand our submission to a fully worked out bid which, if approved, would enable work to start as soon as the money was authorised. One of the many requirements was that of a commitment to finding 20% locally of the total costs, another that the bid had to be with the County Council by the end of June.

The Society Committee thought that the best way to complete the necessary work and to involve those who could contribute effectively and knowledgeably was through a working party from the Committee, Usk Town Council, Usk Rural Life Museum and the Vale of Usk Tourist Association, all of whom were enthusiastic. We met in the library of the Glen yr Afon House Hotel (thanks to Peter Clark) and with the aid of the recently published Usk Town Trail (thanks to Geoff Mein and Angela Bowyer — the latter a member of the working party) we drew up a shortlist of potential sites and buildings mentioned, choosing those which seemed the most significant in the history of Usk. We also had to have regard to whether a plaque would be seen, its wording and the likely response of the building owner and occupier. This process gradually produced a list of twenty sites and buildings we thought suitable and acceptable for a wall plaque; and seven for a plaque in the pavement to identity the location of long-gone features such as the line of the walls of the Roman forts and the position of Porthycarne Gate.

As some of the buildings are statutorily listed as being of architectural or historic interest, the advice of the County Conservation Officer — Edward Holland — was sought. He proved to be extremely helpful in indicating where listed building consent would or would not be needed and on the potential location of plaques on the buildings themselves (plaques would be about 18 inches in diameter in dark or slate blue recycled aluminium with white lettering and made locally).

The Principal Highways Engineer — Paul Keeble — was similarly extremely helpful in indicating where bronze plaques could be placed in the pavement and the installation requirements.

Approaches to potential manufacturers and suppliers enabled us to estimate those total costs plus delivery and instalment. The bid had to be specific about expenditure targets and outgoings. And we achieved the need for the local financial commitment of 20% by the generous contribution from the Vale of Usk Tourist Association (who were winding up their organisation) plus Society funds in the first year 2005 and from Society funds (principally the sale of the booklet Usk Town Trail) in the second year.

We are assured that a WAG decision will be made in September. If we are successful in our bid, the working party will be concentrating from then on finalising designs, obtaining agreement to the wording which has to be bi-lingual, commissioning the manufacture from local craftsmen and seeking the necessary approvals to installation. One of the most notable of the total of 27 plaques would be the commemoration of the Battle of Pwll Melyn in 1405 for installation in July 2005 to coincide with the events presently planned for that month.

If all this works out as successfully as hoped, the Society and those from the organisations who have contributed to the project will rightly feel that the aims of education, sustainability and the fostering of civic pride have been furthered.

09/2004