Woodbarn Camp

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises a small defended enclosure or rath, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (800 BC - 43 AD). Usually enclosed by a bank and ditch, raths often contsin evidence of intensive occupation. Woodbarn Camp is a small circular enclosure with a diameter of 250ft, occupying the north-east corner of a field known as Rath field. It crowns the summit of a low hill and for one half of the circumference the bank is crowned by a modern hedge outside of which there is a vertical fall of some 15ft. For the rest of the circuit the bank falls about 8 to 10ft to the bottom of the ditch and is covered with rough grass. The ditch can be traced on all sides and there are traces of an entrance to the south west and slight traces of outer bank.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Iron Age settlement and social organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric landscape. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, 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.