Fagwyr Las Deserted Rural Settlement

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises the well preserved remains of a small upland settlement, probably dating to the Medieval period, which sits in a naturally sheltered location overlooking a small valley. The settlement consists of a large earthen house platform which has the remains of a long hut upon it and four other smaller platforms, two circular and two linear.

The large artificial platform measures 20m by 10m upon which stands the two cell 'long hut' measuring 15m by 5m. Comparisons with other examples suggest that the platform could pre-date the building, leading to the possibility of there being remains of an earlier structure beneath. Also on the platform is a small earth banked enclosure measuring c. 5 x 5m and attached to the northern wall of the house.

The two 'sunken' linear platforms are located 30m to the south-west of the platform on a facing slope. These measure 4 x 1m and have been lined using large upright stone slabs. It is likely that they had a storage function. The two artificial circular banked platforms, one to the north-west and one to the south-west of the main platform, are 4m in diameter and could have supported timber structures acting as dwellings, shelters or animal pens.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval settlement. The monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the scheduled area may be expected to contain a wide range of archaeological information, including chronological detail and evidence in regard to construction techniques and agricultural methods. House platforms may be part of a larger cluster of settlements 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.