Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Roman Practice Camps 190m W of Llyn Hiraethlyn
Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, Wales
A scheduled monument in Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, recorded as Practice Camp (Roman).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Practice Camp
- Period
- Roman
- Date of designation
- 27 October 2009
- Community
- Trawsfynydd
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.91424, -3.87308
- SAM number
- ME261
- Cadw record number
- 978
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.
This monument comprises the remains of four well-preserved Roman practice camps that primarily survive as extant earthen banks and ditches with well-defined central entrances and associated tituli, or entrance shielding ditches. The camps were constructed as part of a military training exercise by auxiliary soldiers from the primary fort at Tomen-y-Mur. The camps demonstrate particular attention to the corners and entrances, which were the most difficult elements to build.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Roman military organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider context of the Roman occupation of Wales and the structures may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques, together with a strong probability of environmental evidence. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by the group value and association with the adjacent Roman Road (ME262) and Tomen-y-Mur fort and amphitheatre (ME002 & 078).
The area scheduled consists of four areas, one for each camp, comprising the remains described and an area around each within which related evidence may be expected to survive. The four scheduled areas are square in shape on plan and measure:
Camp A - 35 x 35m
Camp B - 28 x 27m
Camp C - 15 x 15m
Camp D - 24 x 24m.
Nearby in the register
- Roman Road extending SE 650m from Llyn Hiraethlyn toward GlasgoedRoadunder 1 mi
- Ty NewyddDomesticunder 1 mi
- Dol-ddinas Roman EarthworksPractice Campunder 1 mi
- Castell PrysorMotte and Bailey1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.