Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Aberystwyth Harbour Defences
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales
A scheduled monument in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, recorded as Pillbox (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Pillbox
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 13 December 2007
- Community
- Aberystwyth
- Unitary authority
- Ceredigion
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.40604, -4.08901
- SAM number
- CD248
- Cadw record number
- 1227
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesBayerische Staatsbibliothek, MunichDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1588 map "Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0" (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1588 · Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0 (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich)
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 163 Aberystwyth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.
The monument consists of a reinforced concrete pillbox, dating to the early period of World War II (AD 1940-41). The pillbox is located on top of a small knoll overlooking the entrance to Aberystwyth Harbour and the bridge from Trefechan over the Afon Ystwyth to the Bar. The pillbox is built to standard War Office FW3/24 specifications, possessing seven embrasures, and was originally one of at least three known structures defending the harbour. It is an irregular hexagon in shape on plan and measures c. 4.85m in length N-S by 3.8m transversely and a maximum of 2.3m in height externally. The walls measure 0.39m in thickness. The pillbox entrance is shielded by a porch and two protective walls, which measure c. 2.7m in length and 1.7m in width. A grass and turf covering protects the roof and provides camouflage through concealment.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of World War II anti-invasion practices. The monument is well preserved. It is an important relic of actions taken against the perceived threat of a German invasion from Ireland. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. The scheduled area is circular and measures 12m in diameter.
Nearby in the register
- LimekilnIndustrialunder 1 mi
- LimekilnIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Malthouse Kiln including B & D Joinery Warehouse (formerly listed as Oasthouse only)Industrialunder 1 mi
- Pen Dinas CampHillfortunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.