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Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales

Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke

Meifod, Powys, Wales

A scheduled monument in Meifod, Powys, recorded as Linear Earthwork (Medieval).

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke, Meifod, Powys, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation
Scheduled monument
Site type
Linear Earthwork
Period
Medieval
Date of designation
13 December 1932
Community
Meifod
Unitary authority
Powys
Country
Wales
Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
52.74219, -3.21259
SAM number
MG077
Cadw record number
720

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David 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)
  • 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1899 · 151 Welshpool (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1916 · Sheet 60. Shrewsbury. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

The following provides a general description of the scheduled monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a dyke, a defensive boundary or earthwork, dating to the later prehistoric/medieval period. At the north-east Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke rests on a stream-bank, with a ditch and counterscarp bank visible. Upon entering a wood and approaching a brook three banks and two ditches are visible and well preserved. Within a few yards of the brook is an original entrance causeway 3m wide, banked across the ditches. On the other side beyond the brook the dyke continues as before but the second and third banks die out on top of the hill by Bidffald (possibly one has been ploughed out). Beyond Bidffald three banks are again visible in the wood. Beyond the wood the system is completely ploughed out except for the first bank, visible as a scarp under the hedge. In the next wood, the bank (or scarp), ditch and counterscarp occur, but in open areas only the scarp and occasionally the ditch are visible along by Ty-newydd. Beyond Ty-newydd there is a bank only, with a possible ditch as far as the road at Pen-y-Boncyn.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric/medieval defensive organisation and settlement. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A dyke may be part of a larger cluster of monuments 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.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0
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