Moel Gornach 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 the sheltered W-facing slopes of Moel Gornach, at the head of a tributary to the Afon Clydach. The building is subrectangular on plan and measures 9.8m from NW to SE by 2.3m transversely within rubble walls measuring 1.1m in thickness and 0.4m in height. The building is orientated perpendicularly to the slope and occupies a slight terrace above the stream, with wide views over the surrounding moorland. It has two compartments: that to the NW is larger and better defined, with a probable entrance visible on its SW side, while that to the SE may have opposed entrances. An enclosure extends 6.5m to the NW of the building. 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 25m from NW to SE by 14m transversely.