Welcome to this EarthCache at Brecon Cathedral.
Open from 8.30am - 6.30pm every day
Because of the characteristic round shape of its churchyard, the cathedral is thought to be on the site of an earlier Celtic church, of which no trace remains. A new church, dedicated to St. John. In the Middle Ages, the church was known as the church of Holy Rood or Holy Cross, because it owned a great 'golden rood' which was an object of pilgrimage and veneration until it was destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.
In 1538 the Prior was pensioned off, and the priory church became the parish church. Some of the surrounding buildings were adapted for secular use; and others, such as the cloisters, were left to decay and later demolished. By the 19th century, the church was in poor repair and only the nave was in use. Some restoration took place in 1836, but major renovation of the church did not start until the 1860s. The tower was strengthened in 1914.
The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.
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This EarthCache is about the rocks used to build the Cathedral and the ground it is built on
Sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of material. Together, all these particles are called sediment. Gradually, the sediment accumulates in layers and over a long period of time hardens into rock. Generally, sedimentary rock is mostly hard but with soft surfaces, and may break or crumble apart easily due to erosion (see later paragraph for info on this). You can often see sand, pebbles, or stones in the rock, and it is the only type that contains fossils. .
Metamorphic rocks are formed under the surface of the Earth from the change that occurs due to intense heat and/or pressure. e.g. Can also form under lava flows due to heat. The rocks that result from these processes often have minerals or crystals in bands and may have shiny crystals, formed by minerals growing slowly over time, within the rock.
Igneous rocks are formed when magma (molten rock deep within the earth) cools and hardens. Sometimes the magma cools inside the earth, and other times it erupts onto the surface from volcanoes (in this case, it is called lava). When lava cools very quickly, no crystals form and the rock looks shiny. Sometimes gas bubbles are trapped in the rock during the cooling process, leaving tiny holes and spaces in the rock.
Weathering is the process where rock is dissolved, worn away or broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. Once the rock has been weakened and broken up by weathering it is ready for erosion. Erosion happens when rocks and sediments are picked up and moved to another place by ice, water, wind or gravity. In this case it is wind.
Wind erosion is common, occurring mostly in flat, bare areas; dry, sandy soils; or anywhere the soil is loose and dry. Wind erosion damages land and natural vegetation by removing soil from one place and depositing it in another. Dust and dirt is inevitably deposited over everything. It blows on and inside buildings, covers roads and smothers crops.
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There are 2 sets of questions for you to choose between - either go inside the cathedral and answer Set 1, or if it is shut/a service going on/you simply don't wish to enter, please answer set 2 which are based outside.
Set 1 (Inside) Questions:
The Co Ordinates take you to the entrance of the cathedral. Go inside the cathedral, turn right and follow the obvious path around the cathedral
1) After you have walked 10 metres or so you should see the Sharpening stone on your left (may occasionally be moved so look around if it's not here!). This was used by archers to sharpen their arrows on it:
a) Describe the texture of this stone. Is it rough/smooth, does it have grains/crystals in it?
b) What colour is the stone?
2) Follow the path around to the left. Please study the stone in the floor - look for the ones with the inscriptions on it. What type of stone do you think this floor is made out of?
Set 2 (Outside) Questions:
Look at the section of wall immediately to the right of the entrance
1) Describe the colours of the outside Cathedral wall.
2) Describe and explain the difference in texture between the ground and wall. e.g. If the wall is rougher, why is this?
Optional: Take a photo of you and/or your gps outside the cathedral.
Please send your answers via message or email at the same time as you log