Pont Clydach settlement

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a building, probably dating to the late-medieval or post-medieval periods and situated within open moorland on a sheltered terrace immediately above and to the NE of the Afon Clydach. The building is subrectangular on plan and measures 10m from NW to SE by 2.7m transversely within grass covered wall footings measuring 1m in thickness and 0.3m in height. What may be an entrance is visible as a gap in the NE side. An outshot extends 4.6m to the NW. The settlement presumably represents the remains of a seasonal hafotai.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval and post medieval land use, settlement and economy. It is a relatively well preserved example of an upland settlement and retains great archaeological potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval and post medieval stock rearing practices in the upland zone, whether as permanent settlement, regular transhumance, or intermittent opportunistic expansion.

The area scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is rectangular and measures 24m from NW to SE by 14m transversely.