The Castle, Woodreefe

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises the remains of a defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). Inland promontory forts are usually located on a ridge or spur with steep slopes on 2 or 3 sides, and artificial ramparts on the level approaches. Alternatively they may have been constructed on a promontory above the confluence of two rivers, or in the bend of a meander. The Castle, Woordreefe, is situated on a small promontory above a steep sided valley. It is a small, well-preserved univallate fort, defended on its eastern side by a rubble stone and earth bank, 6-7m wide and 2.5m high, and a shallow flat-bottomed ditch c 6m wide, both of which run NE-SW across the neck of the promontopry forming a roughly triangular enclosure of about 0.6 of a hectare. The other sides of the fort fall steeply down to the stream gorge and the interior is pasture and relatively undisturbed.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation and settlement. The site forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.

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