Root Store at Bon-y-Maen 800m NW of Blaen y Cwm

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 root store, a building used to prepare and store dry food, probably dating to the medieval or post-medieval period and is associated with the abandoned farmstead of Bon y Maen. The site consists of a passage about 1.0m wide, with drystone retaining walls on each side and large capstones above. The majority of the original structure is still intact and covered with the original turfed earthen mound, measuring c 7.0 x 3.6m externally. At the eastern, uphill end, the passage meets a field wall, and a ventilation-hole has been provided. To the west, the original entrance has been somewhat damaged at its outermost end and the original arrangement is not clear. The passage is at presnet c. 0.55 m deep, but is likely to have been deeper originally. The earthen mound is retained on the south by a stone wall.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval or post-medieval agricultural and subsistence practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.

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