Gwynedd Archaeological
Trust Regional Historic Environment Record
Ynys Leurad Settlement, Valley
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 2000 Trust : Gwynedd Community : Valley Unitary authority : Ynys Mon NGR : SH27687896 Site Type (preferred type first) : PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT Status : Scheduled Monument
Description : A group of two or three circular huts and one rectangular in poor condition on a low lying promontory at Ynys Leurad, visible as superficial banks. (RCAHMW, 1937)
In 1874 remains of between 12 and 15 circular and 2 rectangular huts were partially excavated and hearths and stone mortars were found in situ. Also a saddle quern and muller pounding stones and whorls. <2>
Published Survey (25") Correct. <3>
In the Arch. Camb. for 1855, p. 18, there is a list of Early British remains in Anglesey by the Rev. H. Longueville Jones, in which he mentions, under the name of Cyttiau Gwyddelod, numerous remains of circular habitations from 10 ft. to 20 ft. in diameter, on a low island in the estuary, two miles north-west of Llanfair yn Neubwll Church, and one mile south-west of the Valley Station on the Holyhead railroad.
In the Arch. Camb. for the same year(1876), p. 136, there is an account by the Hon. W. O. Stanley of excavations at Ynys Lyrad, Anglesey. This is on the mainland of Anglesey, in Llanynghenedl Parish. It appears to be a link with those in Holyhead around the mountain. Mr. Stanley says that the excavations were made in 1874 by Colonel Augustus Fox and himself. The arrangement and size of the huts were exactly similar to those of Ty Mawr, described in the December number for 1869, vol. xxvi, of the Archaeological Journal. The following features appear to be characteristic:- a. There were fire-places. b. A stone basin was sunk in the ground of the hut floors. c. There were large pounding stones. d. The spindle-whorls were of the same type. e. There were sharpening stones, with a hole in the corner for suspension, similar to those found in the Swiss Lake- dwellings. (Annwyl, 1908)
A brief descriptive account of Cambrian Archaeological Association’s visit to the site in August 1870 (Griffith 1870).
Sources :
Griffith, J. L. , 1870 , The Twenty Fourth Annual Meeting
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales , 1937 , An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Anglesey
Waddington, K. , 2010 , Early Celtic Societies in North Wales
Waddington, K. , 2013 , The Settlements of Northwest Wales: From the Late Bronze Age to the Early Medieval Period
Walker, D. , 1985-1988 , Parish Church Index Cards
Stanley, W. O. , 1878 , Archaeologia Cambrensis , <2>
Ordnance Survey , 1970 , <3>
Johnstone, N. , 1989 , Gazetteer of Late Prehistoric and Roman Hutgroups , <6>
Various , SH27NE 1 , <5>
Smith, G. , 1998 , Hut Circle Settlement Survey , <8>
Events : 42201 : Prn 2000 Part Excavation (year : 1874) 42202 : Prn 2000 25 Inch Survey (year : 1970) 40782 : Hut Circle Settlement Survey (year : 1998) 44557 : Early Celtic Societies in North Wales (year : 2010)