Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Bedd-y-Cawr Hillfort
Cefnmeiriadog, Denbighshire, Wales
A scheduled monument in Cefnmeiriadog, Denbighshire, recorded as Promontory Fort - inland (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - inland
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Community
- Cefnmeiriadog
- Unitary authority
- Denbighshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 53.23641, -3.47986
- SAM number
- DE037
- Cadw record number
- 3589
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 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)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (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 for the scheduled ancient monument.
Bedd-y-Cawr Hillfort comprises the remains of a defended enclosure or hillfort. Such enclosures probably date to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74), although several are known to date from the Late Bronze Age with activity through to the early post-Roman period. Bedd-y-Cawr is an inland promontory hillfort, located on the south-eastern end of the ridge of Bryn Meriadog, with views south and east over the valley of the River Elwy. The monument forms a roughly rectangular enclosure, c.156m by 74m, defined by a bank and ditch to the NW and NE, elsewhere resting on rock outcrops. The south-eastern end has been destroyed by later quarrying.
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.
Nearby in the register
- Church of St MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Tyddyn Bleiddyn Burial ChamberChambered Long Cairnunder 1 mi
- Pentre MeredyddDomesticunder 1 mi
- Bont Newydd CaveCaveunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.