West Rath II

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NPRN404497
Map ReferenceSN02SW
Grid ReferenceSN0059023140
Unitary (Local) AuthorityPembrokeshire
Old CountyPembrokeshire
CommunityWiston
Type Of SiteDEFENDED ENCLOSURE
PeriodIron Age
Description
Concentric antenna enclosure at West Rath II, discovered by Terry James for Dyfed Archaeological Trust in 1989 as a parchmark in grass. Re-mapped by T. Driver in 2006 for 'Pembrokeshire: Historic Landscapes from the Air'.

Enclosure lies on east side of the Cartlett Brook, with its main gate aligned NW. Outer enclosure measures 131m NW/SE by 104m NE/SW; inner enclosure is c. 45m diameter, with a 5m diameter pit placed centrally. Gateway and antenna is elaborate. The 'arms' of the antenna are not continuous with the gateway and outer enclosure ditches, creating access points to the outer enclosed area just behind the main gate. New mapping from rectified aerial photograph also suggests a long ditch running NW from the gateway, and two arcs of large pits running W and SW. Overall, this suggests the survival of complex buried remains and post-built structures on site.

T. Driver, 27th June 2006.

2. Three prehistoric enclosures, one revealed by aerial photography, the others mapped by the Ordnance Survey, overlook Cartlett Brook just west of Walton East. These sites are Plenty Park Rath (304486), West Rath (304487) and the West Rath II enclosure (404497). The sites are described in Driver, T. 2007. Pembrokeshire: Historic Landscapes from the Air, RCAHMW, page 173.
T. Driver, RCAHMW, 16th April 2010.