Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Watery Bay Rath
Marloes and St. Brides, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - coastal
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 8 June 1950
- Community
- Marloes and St. Brides
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.72582, -5.23197
- SAM number
- PE194
- Cadw record number
- 3039
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 43). The enclosure is located on a narrow coastal promontory above the sea that marks part of the defensive circuit. The construction of one or more ramparts placed across the neck of the promontory divide it from the mainland. Watery Bay Rath is defended on lanward side by triple banks and ditches.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation and settlement. The site forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, layout, 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.
Nearby in the register
- Hut Groups on Gateholm IslandSettlementunder 1 mi
- West HookDomesticunder 1 mi
- Deer Park WallGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Martin's Haven Early Christian Inscribed CrossCross-marked stoneunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.