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Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales

Howelston Defended Enclosure

The Havens, Pembrokeshire, Wales

A scheduled monument in The Havens, Pembrokeshire, recorded as Promontory Fort - inland (Prehistoric).

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Howelston Defended Enclosure, The Havens, Pembrokeshire, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation
Scheduled monument
Site type
Promontory Fort - inland
Period
Prehistoric
Date of designation
21 July 2008
Community
The Havens
Unitary authority
Pembrokeshire
Country
Wales
Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
51.76550, -5.11345
SAM number
PE538
Cadw record number
1268

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1898 · 227 Milford (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1898 · 227 Milford (Outline) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1901 · Sheet 13. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a small defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 43). The enclosure is located on a moderately steep E-facing slope and is locally situated upon an inland promontory overlooking a valley. It is sub-rectangular in shape and measures 50m NW-SE by 30m transversely. The defensive circuit is marked on the N and W sides by an L-shaped bank and outer ditch; steep scarps provide natural defence on the S and E sides, although there are also slight traces of a bank on the S side. The bank measures 55m in length, 1m in height and a maximum of 10m in width. The ditch measures 0.5m in depth and 5m in width.

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 importance of the monument is further enhanced by the group value it shares with the adjacent sites of Little Haven Enclosed Settlement (PE456) and Woodland Rath (PE191).

The area to be scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape on plan and measures 85m N-S by 60m transversely.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0
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