Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Lewes Castle Promontory Fort
Rhossili, Swansea, Wales
A scheduled monument in Rhossili, Swansea, recorded as Promontory Fort - coastal (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - coastal
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 31 October 1994
- Community
- Rhossili
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.56252, -4.28881
- SAM number
- GM470
- Cadw record number
- 3626
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)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (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)
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 a defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74). It is located on a rocky headland. Two concentric ramparts and ditches cross the neck of the promontory, beyond which it rises to a summit. The inner bank and ditch, with two right angles lengths, each c. 5.5m wide and 1m high, cuts off a shallow hollow in the lee of the headland. The outer bank and ditch, 9m overall by c. 1m deep, curves round in an arc, its ends resting on the cliff edge.
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, layout, 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
- Perimeter wall of The Vile open field systemAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Thurba CampPromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
- Church of St MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Old Castle CampPromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.