Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Promontory Fort on Great Castle Head
St. Ishmael's, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - coastal
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 7 February 1983
- Community
- St. Ishmael's
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.71167, -5.11604
- SAM number
- PE416
- Cadw record number
- 2082
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 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (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 a well-preserved coastal promontory fort, probably dating from the Iron Age period (800 BC - 74 AD). It is located at the S end of a headland, which projects S into Milford Haven. The fort is defended by steep natural cliffs on the E, S and W sides. The N side of the fort is defended by a single E-W aligned bank and ditch that runs across the neck of the headland. The bank measures 150m in length and is well preserved, except for a gap on the W side where the access road has cut through. The bank ends abruptly on the E side some way short of the edge and may have been disturbed here, although this may be the site of the entrance. The outer ditch is for the most part invisible. A lighthouse compound is situated towards the W edge of the interior and is excluded from the scheduled area.
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 area scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is an irregular polygon in shape and measures 290m E-W by 220m transversely.
Nearby in the register
- Leading lightCommunicationsunder 1 mi
- Promontory Fort on Little Castle HeadPromontory Fort- coastalunder 1 mi
- Lime Burner's Hut at Sandy HavenCommercialunder 1 mi
- Lime Kiln at Sandy HavenCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.