Ffrith y Garreg-Wen Round Barrow

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

From Williams 1921:
It is one of a line of round barrows which runs alongside the main road from Holywell to St Asaph, suggesting it to be on the route of an ancient trans-plateau trackway.

A menhir, 'Maen Pen Melyn', was recently removed to Rhyl from the NW corner [of the heath] [SS 1307 7588 - 500m W on Whitford/Caerwys parish boundary].

From Ellis Davies 1949:
The tumulus ... is situated ... in a large enclosure known as Ffridd-y-Garreg-Wen, formerly used as a training ground for racing on the Holywell Racecourse. The mound is about 150 yds S from the Holywell-St Asaph road...

Before excavation in 1921, the tumulus was undisturbed... After the excavation [it] was restored as nearly as possible to its original form.

Tim Morgan's 1986 visit text:
Turf covered mound, its centre 50m S of the perimeter of the A55 new Holywell by-pass, with extensive views over a shallow bowl-shaped valley to the S and W. It stands on the edge of a slight plateau; the field showing a few traces of limestone outcropping through the turf. Its top is somewhat flattened and irregular, but it is almost circular in plan. Diameter N-S 18m, W-E 19.5m. Height from N 1.0m, from E 1.6m, from W 1.3m and from the S side 1.9m. Complete excavation revealed at least 3 stages of burial, mostly within a hollow formed by a natural limestone shelf, with a wide variety of finds - including earthenware pots, a bronze dagger, a bronze pin, a stone pendant of Ludlow Shale, and flints (scrapers and arrowheads). In 2 or 3 places the turf is broken.