Waun Gynllwch, Castle Earthwork south of Coed Caeau

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NPRN305764
Map ReferenceSO04SE
Grid ReferenceSO0592041270
Unitary (Local) AuthorityPowys
Old CountyBrecknockshire
CommunityErwood
Type Of SiteRINGWORK
PeriodMedieval
Description

1. Waun Gunllwch is a subcircular enclosure, 40m in diameter, set on the tip of a promontory above steep slopes, defined by a crescentic bank facing level ground, a ditch and counterscarp, with a ESE causewayed entrance.
(source Os495card; SO04SE1)

2. Cadw Scheduled Monument Description (BR 179): The monument consists of the remains of a castle ringwork, dating to the medieval period. The site comprises a sub-circular, univallate, enclosure measuring 85m in diameter. A V-shaped ditch, up to 4m deep encircles the site, with an outer bank, up to 1.25m high, visible around much of the circumference of the monument. A causeway crosses the ditch on the SE side, leading into the interior of the site which comprises a level platform 50m in diameter. The interior is enclosed by high banks to the N and S of the entrance which stand 6m above the base of the ditch and 2m high on the internal side. The northern internal bank extends for around 40 to the NNW, while the southern internal bank only extend for 20m. In the interior of the monument the ground is undulating which may be a result of erosion rather than an indication of internal features. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive practices. The monument is well-preserved and an important relic of the medieval landscape. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both structural evidence and intact associated deposits.

3. Recorded during Royal Commission aerial reconnaissance.

Dr Toby Driver, RCAHMW, March 2025

Reference: Scheduled Monument - Full Report - HeritageBill Cadw Assets - Reports

Resources
DownloadTypeSourceDescriptionapplication/pdfAENT - Archaeological Reports/Evaluations (non Trust)Castle Earthwork SAM BR179 Completion Report prepared by AQB Historic Landcapes and deposited with NMRW as a condition of scheduled monument consent, 2015.