Llanwddyn Hospitium

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the scheduled monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a grange, dating to the medieval period. A grange is an outlying farm or estate, usually belonging to a religious order or feudal lord. The term is specifically related to core buildings and structures associated with monastic land holding. Llanwyddyn Hospitium represents a farming establishment developed by the Hospitallers more than six hundred years ago. It consists of the foundations of a rectangular building, with additional platforms which may have also supported structures, although some of these may be attributed to later activity. Surrounding the buildings is a rectangular bank and ditched enclosure, with an additional internal sub-dividing bank. A spring, Ffynnon y Mynaich also lies within the enclosure. Cultivation ridges are evident both within the upper part of the enclosure, and also on the slopes to the east of the enclosure. The site is approached from the south by crossing Nant y Ddwy Wern via a finely constructed dry-stone bridge.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical and settlement organisation. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A grange 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.