Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Castell Coch Promontory Fort (by Ynys Gwair)
St. David's and the Cathedral Close, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - coastal
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 31 March 1976
- Community
- St. David's and the Cathedral Close
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.92713, -5.23684
- SAM number
- PE391
- Cadw record number
- 3537
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. A double bank and ditch protects the interior on the landward east side running from cliff top to cliff top and encloses an irregular area of about 56m north to south and 45m east to west, the entrance to which is located centrally. South of the entrance the flat topped inner bank is 15m wide, 3m high above the interior and 4m high above the exterior ditch which is 8m wide. The outer bank is separated from it by a 6m berm and is c 1m high above a shallow (0.5m) external ditch. North of the entrance the defences are less substantial and curve away to the north west to run along the crest of the steep coastal slope before terminating at the cliff edge.
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
- Range of Outbuildings to NW.of Tremynydd FawrAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Outbuildings at E.end of N.Farmyard Range at Tremynydd FawrAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Tremynydd FawrDomesticunder 1 mi
- Coach House to SW of Temynydd FarwDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.