Platform Houses on East Side of Gelligaer Common

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises the remains of 11 rectangular earthen hut platforms, which probably date to the medieval period. They are scattered along the north-east ridge, over an area of moorland overlooking the valley of the Bargoed.

Item A - Three huts side by side, each 12-18m long by 6-7m wide. Excavated by Lady Fox in 1938, producing late 13th - early 14th century pottery.

Item B - Two huts, 10-16m long by 6m wide.

Item C - Two huts, one above the other, 12m and 16m long respectively.

Item D - Isolated hut, 11m long by 5.4m wide.

Item E - Isolated hut, deeply cut into the ground, but with typical square platform.

Item F - Two huts, one unfinished.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval settlement. The monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the scheduled area may be expected to contain a wide range of archaeological information, including chronological detail and evidence in regard to construction techniques and agricultural methods. House platforms may be part of a larger cluster of settlement and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.