Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Moel y Gest Camp
Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales
A scheduled monument in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, recorded as Hillfort (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Hillfort
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Community
- Porthmadog
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.92833, -4.15890
- SAM number
- CN059
- Cadw record number
- 3607
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 119 Snowdon (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
A hillfort on the W end of Moel y Gest, with two inner enclosures at the SW corner. The outer fort is defended by a stone bank which was originally some 2.4 m wide. This wall is absent on the S side, where the site is naturally defended. There is a simple entrance, a little over 1.0 m wide, just S of the NW corner.
In the SW corner of the fort, on the summit of the ridge, is an enclosure 25 m W to E by 16 m, surrounded by a bank 2.2 - 2.4 m thick, and about 0.2 m high. White quartz pebbles are visible in this bank on the W side. A modern cairn (trig. point) sits in the middle of the N side. The rectangular sheep-shelter shown on the OS 1:2,500 map is no longer obviously present. A similarly sized enclosure joins the E end of this enclosure, but the enclosing wall is much slighter (1.3 m wide) and it may be of a later date.
E of the outer fort is a short length of additional walling running between two outcrops.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement and defence. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Enclosed Hut Circle Settlement North of Coed GwlybEnclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Cist Cerrig Burial Chamber & Cup Marked RockChambered Tombunder 1 mi
- Summerhouse at Wern ManorGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Ornamental Garden Pool at Wern ManorGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.