1. In paddock to SW of Cwrt-Gilbert farm can be seen polygonal earthwork enclosure with external ditch, surviving under pasture. Within enclosure, on N side, is rectangular enclosure, possibly a building platform. Enclosure is bisected by meandering stream. Substantial earthworks can be seen outside enclosure, under trees, on SE side. Air photo ref: 995026-53.

Earthworks of a substantial enclosure and other features, surviving under pasture in a paddock to the west of Cwrt-Gilbert farm, were discovered during RCAHMW aerial photography on 22nd January 1999. Air photo mapping from the oblique photographs, and a field visit by TGD and CSB on the 4th October 2000, showed the earthworks to survive well on the ground. The earthworks are not marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map (Brecknockshire Sheet XXXIII.4).

The remains comprise a polygonal enclosure 81m x 59m, with an outer ditch preserved on the N,W and S sides. On the N side the ditch is broad, c 5m wide, and partly lined with stone walling. On the W and S the ditch forms a shallow depression in the ground, but appears to have been deliberately in-filled. An original section of deeper ditch survives at the SE corner approximately 1metre deep, with a buried pipe visible in section draining water from the in-filled ditch. The remains are set within a roughly rectangular field, 119m x 178m.

Grass-covered footings of a rectangular stone building 21m x 10m, are set within the SE corner of the smaller enclosure. The ground rises to a poorly-defined platform in the NE, now supporting a chicken coop, on what may have been the site of another building. The enclosure is bisected by a small stream, apparently artificially channelled, possibly for picturesque effect. It forms a meander around a low, central mound within the enclosure nearly 5m in diameter. It leaves the enclosure on the west side, following a dog-leg course along the side of the enclosure and continuing west to converge with one or two other drainage ditches taking water from the enclosure ditch. The field is wet throughout. Possible traces of other earthworks were observed in woods to the W of the main field, and to the E of the farm driveway, but these were not investigated.

To the SW, lines of small pits noted on air photographs appear on the ground to represent tree-pits, possibly from an orchard or a formal planting scheme. In the SE corner of the field, against the present field boundary, a short section of fine dry-stone walling was seen. This may be all that remains of a more extensive field wall or part of a building. The trees present in the field are worthy of note by virtue of their extreme age. Two particularly fine old oaks stand in the SE part of the field. One has a girth of about 7 m These, and others in the field, are marked on the Second Edition OS map (1904).

In conclusion, the place-name evidence of the farm and surface appearances seem to suggest a possibly Medieval origin for this enclosure. It may be a moated site, the 'Cwrt' of the place-name. The present farm buildings on the east of the site appear to date at least from the 17th or 18th centuries. The house is briefly described by Jones and Smith in 1965 (132) as a 'Derivative form of longhouse with attached byre. Mostly late 19th century, but the small kitchen block is probably an older house.'. It is possible that the larger enclosure may later have accommodated a formal garden associated with the present farm buildings. The earthworks had note been not by the present landowner, and are tolerably well preserved in wet pasture.

References: Jones, S R and Smith, J T. 1965. 'Cwrt Gilbert', Brycheiniog 11, 132.
RCAHMW Air photo reference: 995026-52/3.
T.G.Driver and C.S.Briggs 2001

2. The site of these features is depicted on the Ordnance Survey 25-inch map of Brecknockshire XXXIII, sheet 4 (1888, 1904).C.S.Briggs 06.12.05.