Dinas Gynfor Hillfort

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a promontory fort, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 43). It is bounded on three sides by the sea and on the landward side by a steep slope to a marshy valley, running between two inlets of the sea. The main defence is drawn across the top of the landward slope, and consists of a wall of limestone blocks; there is an irregular quarry-ditch inside. On the NW the wall encloses a natural terraced area backed by an outcrop, and then runs SE along the crest of the slope for about 228m, where is it broken by an original in-curved entrance approached by a trackway running diagonally up the hillside. The wall continues 91m SE to a natural citadel of rock, where another entrance is formed by a naturally defended gully leading up from Porth Cynfor, with remains of a defensive wall at its base. The main wall is carried on for 45m NE of this gully, and then dies out against the precipitous cliff.

A second line of defence, roughly parallel with the first and lower down the slope, runs from the E side of the in-curved entrance, looping round so as to protect the approach, and running NW, dying out where the slope becomes precipitous. The bank at the base of the second entrance consists of a length of stone bank 2-3m wide and 1m high.

The interior is very rocky and has been much damaged by quarrying. No habitation sites are visible.

Also within the scheduled area lie some industrial remains at Porth Llanlleiana, connected with the china clay industry, and on top of the fort is a tower commemorating the coronation of King Edward VII.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation and settlement. The site forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, layout, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.