The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Pen Y Castell Enclosure, Cynffig

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00161m
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Cynffig
Unitary authority : Bridgend
NGR : SS84228270
Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Hillfort
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Small fortified enclosure at the W end of a low lime- stone ridge. About 30m of interior has been removed by quarrying from the W end.

Description :
Small fortified enclosure at the W end of a low lime- stone ridge. About 30m of interior has been removed by quarrying from the W end.

Pen y Castell, Kenfig Hill is a small fortified enclosure at the W end of a low limestone ridge SE of Kenfig Hill village, 130m OD. About 30m of the interior has been removed by quarrying at the W end leaving present length at 110m max. Width across the ridge at 52m. Enclosed area 0.4ha.
Enclosure completely surrounded by two banks, each with a ditch. The inner rampart contains a made up height of 1m, 10m wide and 1.5m deep. The second bank is 0.3m high, 5m wide with a ditch 3m wide and 0.6m deep.
At the E end the inner bank survives, crossing the ridge, where it is 8m wide and up to 1.7m high. The outer bank has been destroyed, but the inner ditch is visible in the hedge line at the NE corner.
The entrance probably represented by simple gap 4m wide in the inner rampart at the SE corner. No internal features. (Wiggins and Evans 2005)

Sources :
Ordnance Survey , 1st Edition OS map 6"
Savory H.N. & Nash-Williams V.E. , 1949 , List of Hill-Forts and other Earthworks , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : XIII pt.3 : 157-
Wiggins, H and Evans, E , 2005 , Prehistoric defended enclosures in Glamorgan with recommendations for fieldwork
01/PM List/RCHM//1976/Glam Invent/No.680;
02/MM Record Card/OS//1957/SS 88 SW 30/;
06/MM Photo//Griffiths B/1984//;
07/MM Desc Text/Cadw/Whittle E/13.01.86 AM7/SS 88 SW/
05/MM Record Card/OS//1976/SS 88 SW 30/;
03/PM Desc Text//Savory H.N/1949/Bull Board Celtic Stud/13 p.153-55;
04/PM Map/Rees W/1932/S.Wales & Border in 14th C/SE Sheet;

Events :
E001455 : Prehistoric defended enclosures in Glamorgan (year : 2005)
E008353 : Margam Restoration Surface Mine, Cefn Cribwr, Mid Glamorgan (year : 2016)
E008569 : Land of the A48, Pyle, Bridgend (year : 2018)
E008576 : Land of the A48, Pyle, Bridgend (year : 2018)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 94621
National Monuments Record NPRN 307355 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307355/details

Compiled date : 01-02-1977


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