Abandoned Settlement 300m NE of Troed-y-Rhiw

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument consists of a well-preserved complex of building foundations with associated paddocks, probably dating to the medieval and/or post-medieval period. It divides into three areas. The western part centres on a rectangular building with a sub-rectangular enclosure with raised beds to the west and another enclosure to the east containing a small building. A relict field boundary connects this part to the central area. It has a mortared stone building within a kidney-shaped enclosure with a figure-of-eight enclosure and a smaller building to the east.

The eastern area lies 100m to the SE. This consists of the footings of a substantial stone building 32m by 9.5m in size with further earthworks extending another 11m to the south. This unusually elaborate complex upland building is associated with a system of earth and stone fieldbanks that pre-date the drystone boundaries visible higher up the hillside.

The site lies within the area of the Pennardd Grange of Strata Florida Abbey and the very large building at the eastern end of the site may have monastic origins, whilst there are post-medieval elements as well. This site closely compares with another potential grange site, Bwlch-yr-Oerfa settlement (Cd 149).

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval or post-medieval settlement organisation. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A deserted rural settlement 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.