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Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales

Bwlch-yr-Oerfa Settlement

Pontarfynach, Ceredigion, Wales

A scheduled monument in Pontarfynach, Ceredigion, recorded as Grange (Medieval).

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Bwlch-yr-Oerfa Settlement, Pontarfynach, Ceredigion, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation
Scheduled monument
Site type
Grange
Period
Medieval
Date of designation
14 December 1989
Community
Pontarfynach
Unitary authority
Ceredigion
Country
Wales
Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
52.35864, -3.81660
SAM number
CD149
Cadw record number
1898

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1899 · 178 Llanilar (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a grange, dating to the medieval period. A grange is an outlying farm or estate, usually belonging to a religious order or feudal lord. The term is specifically related to core buildings and structures associated with monastic land holding. The monument comprises a well preserved complex of earthworks just to the north of a recent plantation and set within a hollow in the hills. To the west of a stream is an embanked oval enclosure measuring c.35m by c.17m. It contains nine closely-packed raised sub-rectangular platforms. Attached to the east is an additional or earlier enclosure also with raised platforms internally. To the east of the stream is a raised sub-rectangular platform measuring c.35m by c.17m with traces of long ridges. Under the eastern slope of this platform are the substantial stone footings of a rectangular building measuring c.17m by 6m.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical and settlement organisation. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A grange may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can be further enhanced by their group value.

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

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0
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