Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Cwm Berwyn Camp
Glascwm, Powys, Wales
A scheduled monument in Glascwm, Powys, recorded as Hillfort (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Hillfort
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Community
- Glascwm
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.18405, -3.35778
- SAM number
- RD123
- Cadw record number
- 1958
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 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)
- 1637 · Particular description of Wales. Cambria seu Wallia (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 196 Builth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (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 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). Inland promontory forts are usually located on a ridge or spur with steep slopes on 2 or 3 sides, and artificial ramparts on the level approaches. Alternatively they may have been constructed on a promontory above the confluence of two rivers, or in the bend of a meander. Cwm Berwyn Camp occupies a south-eastward facing promontory and is protected by very steep natural slopes on the east, south and west, and by artificial defences running across the saddle at the north and north-west. The defences consist of an inner bank with an inner construction hollow, external ditch and counterscarp bank, beyond which there is a gap of c.12m to the outer bank and ditch. The inner bank stands c.1.2m high internally but up to c.5m externally, while the outer bank is c.0.6m high internally and c.1.7m high externally. Both lines of defence run across the promontory but the inner earthwork is more securely anchored against steep slopes or scarps at both ends. The simple entrance arrangements lie towards the west of the two lines of defence. The enclosed area measures c.75m by c.75m, and contains possible traces of numerous hut platforms, each about 5m in diameter.
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, 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
- Barn and stable at CarneddauNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Carneddau, including attached cow houseNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Cwm-berwyn round cairnRound Cairnunder 1 mi
- Carneddau, cairn on N end ofRound Cairnunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.