Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment
Record
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Pen-y-felin Wynt;coed Lluest
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 1992 Trust : Dyfed Community : Melindwr Unitary authority : Ceredigion NGR : SN68157825 Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Promontory Fort Status : Scheduled Monument
Summary : This is an Iron Age fort located on an inland promontory above the Rheidol valley at 190m above sea level. It is naturally well defended on the west, northwest and southwest sides by the steep valley sides. On the east side a bank 2.4m high with a ditch 0.7m deep cut across the narrowest point of the promontory and continues about halfway along the south and north sides. There are traces of a quarry ditch inside the bank on the north side. The internal area is roughly rectangular, 90m east - west and 34m north - south. An original simple entrance lies midway along the northern side. Traces of an 8m square building were noted by the Ordnance Survey outside this entrance in 1974. A modern gap has been pushed through the eastern rampart - this could easily be mistaken for an original entrance. A possible house platform lies in the uneven centre of the fort. The site is under bracken/rough grazing and is surrounded by woodland. K Murphy 22 December 2005 - compiled from several sources approximately 70m in diameter, and would have enclosed an area of c.0.5 hectares. In 2008 there was no trace of any earthworks on the ground. F Murphy and R Ramsey 13 January 2008
Description : A small promontory fort, sited in an exceptional position on the leading edge of a north-west projecting promontory overlooking the Rheidol Valley from its southern edge. Described in most detail by Ordnance Survey surveyor, 20th July 1974:"At the E end a rampart, 2.4m high, and ditch, 0.7m deep, cut across the spur at its narrowest point and continue about halfway along the N and S flanks. Inside the northern rampart are traces of a quarry ditch. The natural slopes complete the defences enclosing a roughly rectangular area 90.0m E-W by 34.0m N-S internally. An original entrance exists half-way along the N side and a modern entrance has recently been cut through the rampart in the east. Opposite the original entrance are the remains of an 8.0m square building which is the only evidence of habitation in the stony, turf and bracken covered interior; it appears to be contemporary."A field visit on 10th March 2004 confirmed the description. Prior to the modern mutilation of the east rampart cutting across the neck of the promontory (which has resulted in the spurious appearance of a gateway), this facade rampart would have been a most impressive feature concealing a very poorly defended hillfort beyond. Approaching along the descending slope of the promontory towards the fort, the position of the main gate would not have been obvious. There is some evidence that a rib of rock underlies part of this main rampart on the south side, which may contribute to its overall height. The main gate, positioned towards the centre of the long north-east side, lacks any diagnostic elements and represents a rather broad gap with no sign of a bastion or any significant height to the inturns. T Driver 2004.
Sources :
Cadw , 2015 , Scheduled Ancient Monument Management Plan
K. Murphy, R. Ramsey and M. Page , 2006 , A SURVEY OF DEFENDED ENCLOSURES IN CEREDIGION, 2006: GAZETTEER OF ORDNANCE SURVEY GRID SQUARES SN67
CADW , 1998 , Notification of scheduling ,
CADW , 1998 , AM107 ,
CADW , 2001 , Application for scheduled monument consent ,
CADW , 2001 , Decision letter ,
Cadw , 2000 , AM107 ,
Driver T , 2004 , Appendix 1 of thesis by T Driver ,
Hall,J & Sambrook,P , 2003 , Melindwr Community Audit ,
Hogg,AHA , 1962 , Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies ,
Murphy,K , 2004 , Assessment of Prehistoric Defended Enclosures 2004-5, Report No 2004-100 ,
OS , 1974 ,
RCAHM , 1970 , Cardiganshire Handlist ,
