A cropmark located in the field immediately adjacent to Lisburne House (NPRN 589) was recorded during RCAHMW aerial reconnaissance undertaken during a widespread drought in July 2018. The aerial photographs (RCAHMW AP_2018_4369-70) appears to show a bivallate rectangular enclosure, with a central rectangular feature 13.7 x 10 metres surrounded by a larger outer enclosure some 25 metres across.

To verify the feature in March 2022 RCAHMW commissioned SUMO Geophysics Ltd (Cockcroft 2022) to carry out a geophysical survey across the wider area of the cropmark on either side of the Afon Ceunant.  The survey, a magnetometer survey (sample interval 0.25m) identified a few elements of the cropmark features, but two water pipelines crossing the field largely mask the results. The survey detected the south-western side and north-western corner of the central smaller rectangular and also detected the south-western side of the outer enclosure; indicating that it is not parallel to the inner feature and may therefore represent more than one phase of construction.

A band of increased magnetic responses along the same alignment as the outer enclosure was also recorded between it and the road, along with a number of uncertain pit-like anomalies and evidence of ploughing.

In 2020 a watching brief undertaken in the field during the construction of a glamping hut and barn, with their associated services and septic tank did not reveal any archaeological deposits, features or remains in the development area to the north, south and west of the cropmark (Cook, R, 2020).

The cropmark is of archaeological significance and is located c.120 metres to the north-north-east of St Michael and All Angels’ Church (NPRN 105145). The church was built in the thirteenth century and the ambitious character of it likely derives from its associations with the Welsh Lords of the Commote of Creuddyn, for which the village was the administrative centre. No traces of the original early medieval church survive.

In this context, the cropmark may be highly significant.  Could it relate to the early period of the church and potentially be the documented though unlocated Llys (princely hall) associated with the Welsh Lords of the Commote, or a building associated with the small, nucleated settlement of that date?

On the 1847 Tithe Map the field is named Cae’r Llan (Church Field), suggesting that it was once part of a glebe originally held by the church (Cook 2020, 10).

Louise Barker, RCAHMW, April 2022

References

Cockcroft, T, 2022,  Cropmark adjacent to Lisburne House, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ceredigion (SUMO Geophysical Survey Report No. 06841)

Cook, R 2020 Glamping Hut and Barn Development at Lisburne House, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Ceredigion: Watching Brief Report (ArchaeoDomus Report No. AD086)