Gardden Camp

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

Gardden Camp comprises the remains of a defended enclosure or hillfort. Such monuments 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. Gardden Camp is situated on the south-eastern end of a low ridge. There are relatively steep slopes in the west and south down to the Afon Eitha, and views eastward across the lower-lying lands to the plain of the River Dee. The enclosure measures approximately 166m NE-SW by 133m, and is surrounded on the southern and eastern sides by multiple lines of ramparts and ditches. On the northern and western sides only the innermost rampart survives intact. The interior of the hillfort is complete. The entrance faces east.

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. It extends around the perimeter of the hillfort continuing from its present conclusion on the western side to follow the outside edge of the inner rampart (eastern side of the modern metalled trackway) to the boundary of the grounds of Chapel House. Here it diverts southwards along the boundary to rejoin with the present scheduled area.