Standing Stone, Llanwrthwl Churchyard

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises a massive slab of sandstone conglomerate located 2m from the SE corner of the S porch of St Gwrthwl’s Church, in a raised and part-circular churchyard on the floodplain of the Wye. It stands 1.82m above the present level of the churchyard and is an irregular trapezoid in plan, its faces measuring 1.00m (SW), 1.30m (NW), 1.50m (NE) and 0.8m (SE) wide. There is no evidence that the stone was once higher. Whilst the SE face is very flat and may have been worked, there are no signs of any inscription or decoration, suggesting a prehistoric origin. There are surface indications that the churchyard was formerly wholly circular, in which the stone would have been offset to the SW. The form of the churchyard and dedication of the church are indicative of an early medieval establishment.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. It is a rare example of a prehistoric standing stone located within a later ecclesiastical enclosure and has further potential to increase our understanding of the subsequent or continued use of such sites in the early medieval period.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and the area around them within which related evidence might be expected to survive. This is circular in area and 3m in diameter.