Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Old Castle Head Promontory Fort
Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, Wales
A scheduled monument in Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, recorded as Promontory Fort - coastal (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - coastal
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 22 April 1982
- Community
- Manorbier
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.63568, -4.78209
- SAM number
- PE405
- Cadw record number
- 2719
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
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 245 Pembroke (Hills) (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. Old Castle Head Promontory Fort has a rampart and ditch on the north-west side, and square "annex" enclosure, adjoining the main part on the west. The ditches survive to a depth of about 1m, and the external height of the ramparts is c. 1 - 3m. Three circular hollows in the interior may represent the sites of house terraces.
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
- Radar Station, Old Castle HeadRadar Stationunder 1 mi
- Hill FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Skomar Defended EnclosurePromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
- Ruins adjacent to Church Hill Cottage, Ruin CDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.