Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Summerhouse Fort
Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Boverton, Cowbridge / Y Bont-Faen, Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, designated on 16 December 2004.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Miscellaneous
- Date of designation
- 16 December 2004
- Locality
- Boverton
- Town
- Cowbridge / Y Bont-Faen
- Community
- Llantwit Major
- Unitary authority
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.38847, -3.44697
- Cadw reference
- 83401
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1858 · 20. Bridgewater. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
On the cliffs in the far south-easterly corner of Llantwit Major Community set in the centre of Summerhouse Camp.
History
Part of a picturesque concept of a toy fort to be used as a summerhouse, look-out and picnic place on the top of the cliffs. It is built in the middle of the Iron Age cliff castle of Summerhouse Camp and dates probably from the period of 1780-1820 when such conceits were popular. During WWII it was apparently used as a site for a defensive point of some kind. The early history of the fort is unknown.
Exterior
Built of local limestone rubble in the form of a octagonal curtain wall about 2m in height, with corner towers at least one of which on the north side seems to have been a privy. The finished design of both walls and towers is uncertain since they are both damaged and much covered in ivy but there appear to be small battlements in the form of a cock-and-hen parapet in parts. On the east side a small barn-like building is incorporated into the curtain. This is unroofed and featureless apart from a doorway but it has a WWII gun-loop on the north corner.
Reason for designation
Included for its special interest as a picturesque folly dating from about 1800.
Nearby in the register
- Summerhouse TowerMiscellaneousunder 1 mi
- Summerhouse CampHillfortunder 1 mi
- Batslays FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Limpert Bay Anti-invasion DefencesAnti Invasion Defence Siteunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.