Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Cwmbettws Defended Enclosure

A Scheduled Monument in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro)

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.0294 / 52°1'45"N

Longitude: -4.6697 / 4°40'10"W

OS Eastings: 216953

OS Northings: 240137

OS Grid: SN169401

Mapcode National: GBR CZ.G8CM

Mapcode Global: VH2N2.08P4

Entry Name: Cwmbettws Defended Enclosure

Scheduled Date: 9 March 2010

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1389

Cadw Legacy ID: PE564

Schedule Class: Defence

Category: Enclosure - Defensive

Period: Prehistoric

County: Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro)

Community: Cilgerran

Traditional County: Pembrokeshire

Description

The site comprises two enclosures; one substantial defended enclosure which dates to the Iron Age (c.800BC - 43AD) and one smaller enclosure represented by a slight earthwork, also thought to date to the Iron Age. The two are only 110m apart, and clearly intervisible. Item A is located on a natural promontory. It is an enclosure c.35m E-W, defended to the north by a natural steep drop. To the south and west the ground slopes steadily down - on these sides the earthwork defences are constructed to augment the natural contours of the hill and consist of a bank and ditch on the south side and a terraced scarp on the southwest side. Here the interior of the site is raised up to 1m above the surrounding ground. To the east, the ground is more level and the defences of a bank and ditch can clearly be seen. Item B is a small earthwork enclosure, 17m in diameter with a scooped interior, and defended by a plough-spread bank up to 0.4m in height. Traces of an external ditch encircle the earthwork, and there may be an entrance on the west side.

These sites are of national importance for their potential to enhance our knowledge of Iron Age land-use and settlement, as well as the chronology and construction of different forms of prehistoric enclosure. The very close proximity of these two different forms of enclosure is unusual, and their potential to shed light on contrasting aspects of Iron Age life lends them substantial group value. Item A is well-preserved, and is one of a large group of Iron Age enclosures, widespread in Pembrokeshire. Item B is less well-preserved but its completeness of form lends it a significance which, combined with its group value with Item A, merits its inclusion on the Schedule. The Scheduled area comprise those remains described, and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area A is centred on NGR SN16933 40414 and measures 50m N-S and 65m E-W. Area B is centred on SN17061 40123 and measures 23m N-S and 25m E-W.

Source: Cadw

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.