Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Remains of Medieval Building & Church at Rhossili
Rhossili, Swansea, Wales
A scheduled monument in Rhossili, Swansea, recorded as Church (Medieval).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval
- Date of designation
- 24 June 1980
- Community
- Rhossili
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.57159, -4.28791
- SAM number
- GM414
- Cadw record number
- 3625
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1907 · 246 Worms Head (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1920 · Sheet 100. Llanelly. (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.
The monument consists of the remains of a medieval church and associated stone building. Inundated by sand, the church and building fell out of use during the 14th century. Excavation, carried out in 1980, found a church with a nave measuring 16m x 6m and a chancel 4.5m square. The walls were well preserved and made out of stone - the external chancel wall standing to about 2.5m. There were traces of wall paintings in the interior. The chancel arch had been removed in antiquity and probably re-used in the door of the present Rhossili church. The architectural style would indicate construction before c. 1200. The associated building comprises stone walls with rounded corners. The south wall remained intact to a height of about 1m. Two middens produced finds including 12th-13th century pottery, a bone comb and iron key.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard 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
- Rocket Cart ShedMaritimeunder 1 mi
- Church of St MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Old Castle CampPromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
- Rhossili Old RectoryDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.