The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Harold's Stones, Trellech

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00854g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Trellech United
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO49930514
Site Type (preferred type first) : Prehistoric cup marked stone / Bronze Age Standing stone
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
The stone row was described by OS workers in 1956 as the remnants of a possible cromlech or stone circle standing some distance around a large sepulchral mound. The stone row is comprised of three upright menhirs that are situated within a pasture field at the S end of the village of Trellech. The central stone bears cup-marks.

Description :
Large cupmarks are visible on the smoothed south-west face of the middle stone of Harold's Stones (Peterson and Pollard 2004, 76). The stone row was described by OS workers in 1956 as the remnants of a possible cromlech or stone circle standing some distance around a large sepulchral mound. The stone row is comprised of three upright menhirs that are situated within a pasture field at the S end of the village of Trellech adjacent to the B4293. The stones are a conglomerate, sometimes called pudding stone, aligned NEE-SWW and decline in individual height from the largest in the W to the smallest in the E.

The stone row is edged by two raised linear banks aligned N-S and E-W, the latter having been an old and now extinct field boundary by the appearance of many mature hedgerow trees growing upon it. The most W stone is the largest; it is rectangular at its base and tapers to a point at its top. The stone leans to the SE and has dimensions of (base) 1.3m x 0.8m (height) 3.8m. The centre stone is slightly smaller and is cylindrical in form at the base and tapers in to its top. The stone leans to the NW and has dimensions of (base) 0.9m x 0.7m (height) 3m. The E stone is the smallest and is rectangular at its base and tapers to its top. It leans slightly to the W and has dimensions of (base) 1.1m x 0.45m (height) 2.5m.

(1889) The three standing stones now remaining at Trelleck probably formed part of a large circle which stood at some little distance around a sepulchral mound. (Source 01/)

(1958) The stones are in a pasture field and are in no danger of damage. They are of conglomerate. The SW stone is of rectangular section measuring 1.1m by 0.7m at the base and tapering towards the top. It leans to the SE. The centre stone measures 0.8m by 0.7 at the base and tapers slightly. The NE stone measures 0.4m by 0.8m in section and tapers to 0.3m by 0.5m at the top. (Source 01)

(1987) The stones stand in a permanent pasture field, grazed by cows and sheep. It lies just to the S of Trellech next to the B4293 road. By the entrance to the field, which is off the road, Trellech school has erected a plaque with information about the stones (put up in 1986). There are 3 stones in a NE-SW alignment. The total distance between them is 14m. They are made of conglomerate stone called pudding stone. The stone at the NE end is 2.2m high, 1m wide and 0.4m thick. It leans slightly towards the N. The middle stone is 2.5m high, 0.7m wide and 0.7m thick, and leans slightly towards the W. The stone at the SW end is the largest, being 3m high, 1m wide at the base, tapering to 0.4m at the top, and 0.7m wide. It leans considerably towards the SE. (Source 04).
GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project 2003.

Sources :
Blockley, M and Dingwall, L , 2000 , An assessment of the archaeological and industrial heritage of the Wye Valley AONB
Peterson, R and Pollard, J , 2004 , The Neolithic: The first farming societies
Wakeman, T , 1855 , Pre-Historic Remains in Monmouthshire , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 10 : 120-123
Webley D. , 1958 , Harold's Stones, Trellech (Mon) , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : XVIII pt.I : 76
01/MM Record Card/OS/1956/SO 40 NE 7
02/PM List/Cadw/Scheduled Ancient Monuments Record Form
01/PM Note/1973/Parkes LN/Arch in Wales p53 no76
04/PM Desc Text/AM107/Whittle E/1987/
Pm desc text/Evans EM/2003/GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project
02/PM Note/1973/Parkes LN/Arch in Wales p53 no76
03/PM List/Cadw/Scheduled Ancient Monuments Record Form
08Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report/2007/Copy in further information file.

Events :
E002646 : Assessment of the Wye Valley DBA (year : 2000)
E002646 : Assessment of the Wye Valley DBA (year : 2000)
E008772 : GGAT52: Monmouthshire Historic Settlements, Trellech & Usk (year : 1997)

Related records

Compiled date : 02-04-1988


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