The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

The following information has been provided under the terms and conditions of access as detailed on GGAT’s website www.ggat.org.uk.  Copyright is reserved on all data supplied by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust. All output resulting from the use of the data must acknowledge the source as follows:-
Derived from information held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust copyright.

The data below is intended to be used for information and research only and is not for use as part of a commercial project.  If you wish to use information derived from material held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. For further information or to arrange a visit to the Trust please send an enquiry form http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/english/enquiry_form.html to her@ggat.org.uk.

Foresters Cave, West Cliff

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01425w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Pennard
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS55068719
Site Type (preferred type first) : Prehistoric Cave
Status : AONB

Summary :
Cave discovered and excavated in 1919 by Egerton Forester, whom the cave was subsequently named after, later excavated sometime prior to 1970 by Valdemar. Material recovered by Forester included the femur of a woolly Rhinoceros.
Cave 80 of the mainland caves recorded by Davies (see bibliography).

Description :
Only a six figure grid reference was available at the time of the previous National Trust survey, within that it was assumed to be a narrow entrance, washed by high tides, at most 4m high, although other smaller caves were visible. Davies describes it as a wide entrance, facing southwest, 12m high, 10m wide and 8m deep. Allen & Rutter and Evans describe the cave as south facing, 0.9m high and 1.5m wide, with a passage leading off it 1.5m high and 12.2m long. At the grid reference above was a small south facing triangular entrance with the dimensions given by Allen & Rutter and Evans. The cave sits at the base of a wide open recess in the cliffs. The base of the cave is filled with fallen stone and rubble, the sediment inside appears intact, filling the cave to its roof.
It was discovered and excavated first in 1919 by Egerton Forester, whom the cave was subsequently named after, later excavated sometime prior to 1970 by Valdemar. Material recovered by Forester included the femur of a woolly Rhinoceros, Valdemar apparently reports finding Pleistocene animal bones, although their location is unknown.
The cave appears to be washed by high tides but seemingly undisturbed sediment still remains. As such the cave still has a high archaeological potential, some Holocene deposits are still apparently intact against the western wall.
The tides occasionally washes rubbish up to the cave, including at present a small rusting outboard motor. Above the cave in the rock face are a few climbing pins with the remains of ropes still attached.(Poucher 2002-3)

Sources :
Davies, M. , 1993 , The Caves of the South Gower Coast: An Archaeological Assessment
Dillon E & Latham J , 1987 , Pennard Cliffs and Bishopston Valley The National Trust Archaeological Survey
Poucher, P , 2002-3 , Archaeological Survey: Pennard and Bishopston
01/PM Desc Text/Valdemar AE/1970/Trans Cave Res Group/vol12 pp113-26
03/PM Desc Text/Oldham T/1986/Caves of Gower/p34
02/MM Desc Text/NT/1987/Gower Survey/p19
04/Pm desc text/Poucher P/2002-03/Archaeological Survey: Pennard and Bishopston/National Trust/SMR Report 1274

Events :
E003821 : The Caves of the South Gower Coast: An Archaeological Assessment (year : 1993)
E003897 : Pennard and Bishopston National Trust Properties (year : 1987)
E004945 : National Trust Archaeological Survey: Pennard and Bishopston (year : 2002-2003)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 4713w

Compiled date : 29-10-2003


May 21, 2025, 2:58 am - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
Data supplied by in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © GGAT HER Charitable Trust, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025).