Gwynedd Archaeological
Trust Regional Historic Environment Record
Hendai Medieval Farmstead, Newborough Warren
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 3083 Trust : Gwynedd Community : Rhosyr Unitary authority : Ynys Mon NGR : SH40486371 Site Type (preferred type first) : MEDIEVAL DESERTED RURAL SETTLEMENT Status : Scheduled Monument
Description : Hendai medieval farmstead was excavated in 1973 (<1> <10>). It revealed a two roomed house, consisting of a living area and an animal storage area, constructed of unfashioned stones with clay packing set on a layer of red clay directly over sand dune. It has a Snowdon slate roof. The larger room contained a central open hearth consisting of seven large stones set in thick bedding clay. Surrounding this was a hard packed layer of clay and pebble flooring. There was also evidence of a sleeping platform near the hearth. The smaller room reached by a centrally placed doorway in the S wall contained a feeding walk of clay and pebbles down its centre surrounded by pure sand. Cow ribs and vertebrae were found in the sand flooring. Material coated with rust and metal oxide and large pieces of pitted clay, apparently subjected to tremendous heat were found within the house. This and local tradition suggests that this might have been a forge to shoe cattle of horses before being driven across the Menai Straits to Caernarvon. <2>
Description of foundations and lower walls of this possible sub-medieval farm house with attached byre. Monument was cleared of sand by Forestry Commission. <3>
Rectangular building aligned NE - SW 17 x 5 m in size separated into two cells, One 10 x 5 and the other 7 x 5. Two doorways are both on the south side. Wall stand to 1 m above present level. Two spoilheaps from the excavation survive.
Sources :
Lynch, F. , PRN 3083 , <4>
Evans, L. , 1973 , PRN 3083 , <10>
Brooks, I. & Price, J. , 1999 , Penllyn Archaeological Assessment , <5>
Earwood, C. , 2000 , FE WHA Update , <6>
, 1981 , Schedule of Ancient Monuments , <1>
Ordnance Survey , 1970 , SH46SW 12 , <2>
