The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Gray Hill Circle

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00987g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Caerwent
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : ST43809353
Site Type (preferred type first) : Bronze Age Stone circle
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
A stone circle comprising of 14 visible stones. Nine of these form the circle and appear to be laid on their sides, end to end. Three can be found in the interior and the final stone, 3.6m NE of the stone circle, appears to anchor the circle with the st

Description :
A stone circle comprising of 14 visible stones. Nine of these form the circle and appear to be laid on their sides, end to end. Three can be found in the interior and the final stone, 3.6m NE of the stone circle, appears to anchor the circle with the stone row PRN 988g. It appears the anchor stone has a special relationship with the stone circle and stone row. There is a further sub-rectangular stone NE of the anchor stone that may also be related to the circle.
Located within the centre of the stone circle under a dense layer of vegetation is an earthwork bank aligned NW-SE; this may be the cairn that was described by Bagnall & Oakley (1889), although the vegetation has grown with such vigour that clearly identifying its form is difficult. Three stones can be viewed within the interior of the stone circle; the first SE of the centre is 2.4m long and is aligned NE-SW and is almost certainly the one discussed in Bagnall & Oakley (1889). The second is 0.5m long and is lying partly beneath the first. The third, SW of the centre, is 1.6m long and is aligned N-S. Both the first and third stones are elongated and from the manner of their position appear to have once stood upright. The stones are a sedimentary rock with easily identifiable sediment stratification and rich calcite inclusions. The monument has commanding views of the Severn estuary, at the Second Severn crossing, and the English shore is visible even on a day of poor weather.
Reference: Bagnell & Oakley 1889
Dimensions: diameter 10m; height 0.4m-0.6m
(1889) The remains of a stone circle 32ft in diameter, and which probably surrounded a large cairn or mound. The stones which compose it are set on edge, are c2ft high, and almost touching each other. Of these there are only 13 stones now remaining, several having been removed since 1868. Inside the circle on the SE side, are 2 stones which are probably the remains of the burial chamber or cist. The largest of these is 6ft 6in high, the other stone has been broken off and is 2 ft high. 8ft outside the circle on the SE side stands another large stone 5ft 9in high, which may have been a single stone or an upright support of another burial place. About 60 yds to NW, visible from the circle, stands a large maentin 7ft 6in high, and in the same direction on the brow of the hill is an old field wall, composed of 2 rows of stone about 18in high, set up on end c2ft apart. (Source 01/03)
GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project 2003

Evidence of quarrying has been noted.

Sources :
Makepeace, G. A. , Gray Hill (Mynydd Llwyd), Llanvair Discoed, Monmouthshire: Archaeological Assessment
Pearson, A F and Lewis, R , 2003 , Prehistoric funerary and ritual sites. Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan ( © GGAT)
08/MM Map/GGAT/Parkhouse J/11.9.85
02/PM Desc Text/Cadw/AM107A
07/PM Mention/1979/Arch Camb vol CXXVIII Report of Annual Report 1978 pp178-85
03/PH Desc Text/Bagnall-Oakley ME & W/1889/Account of Rude Stone Monuments in Monmouthshire pp16-7
04/PM Desc Text/Crawford OGS/1921/Long Barrows of the Cotswolds p173
05/PM Desc Text/Daniel G/1950/Prehist Chambered Tombs of Eng & Wales p212
06/MM Photo/GGAT/Lewis W/1981
01/MM Record Card/OS/1957/ST 49 SW 6
Pm desc text/Evans EM/2003/GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project
09/Mm letter/2003/Nettleship J/Caerwent Historic Trust

Events :
E001753 : Field visit Gray Hill Circle (year : 2003)
E001754 : Field visit Gray Hill Circle (year : 1987)
E001755 : Field visit Gray Hill Circle (year : 1991)
E001756 : Field visit Gray Hill Circle (year : 2000)
E001757 : Field visit Gray Hill Circle (year : 2002)
E001758 : Field visit Gray Hill Circle (year : 2004)
E002498 : Gray Hill, Llanvair (year : 1999)
E002498 : Gray Hill, Llanvair (year : 1999)
E002498 : Gray Hill, Llanvair (year : 1999)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 93399
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 987g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 988g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1002g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1003
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1004g & 8395g
National Monuments Record NPRN 307979 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307979/details/gray-hill-stone-circle

Compiled date : 02-05-1988


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