Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Little Castle Point Defended Enclosure
Dale, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Promontory Fort - coastal
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 21 July 2008
- Community
- Dale
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.69042, -5.18723
- SAM number
- PE536
- Cadw record number
- 1266
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 the remains of a small, univallate defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 43). The enclosure is roughly triangular in shape and measures 50m N-S by 40m transversely. It is located on a coastal promontory above steep sea cliffs that mark the defensive circuit on the N, W and S sides. A curvilinear rampart protects the E side and measures 75m in length, 0.6m in height and 5m in width. An outer ditch measures 3m in width. The bank and ditch fade somewhat towards the S, but a simple gap in the bank and a causeway over the ditch mark the location of the entrance on the SE side.
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 area to be scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is roughly triangular in shape on plan and measures 90m N-S by 70m transversely
Nearby in the register
- Veronica CottageDomesticunder 1 mi
- Broomhill FarmhouseDomestic1 mi
- Great Castle Head RathPromontory Fort - coastal1 mi
- The War MemorialCommemorative1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.