Rhondda Cynon Taf is a county borough in South Wales. It has 89 scheduled monuments, seven of which cross or are on a border with a neighbouring authority. Of the 54 prehistoric sites, 40 are burial sites, with four hillforts and ten domestic and hut circle sites. There are three Roman sites, all military in purpose, and a variety of medieval mottes, churches, houses and a bridge. The 17 post-medieval sites are various forms of industrial and transport-related sites.
Scheduled monuments have statutory protection. The compilation of the list is undertaken by Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments, which is an executive agency of the National Assembly of Wales. [1] The list of scheduled monuments below is supplied by Cadw [2] with additional material from RCAHMW and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.
Image | Name | Site type | Community | Location | Details | Historic County | Period | SAM No & Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brynbychan Round Cairn | Round cairn | Mountain Ash, (also Merthyr Vale), (see also Merthyr Tydfil) | 51°40′52″N3°21′23″W / 51.6812°N 3.3564°W , ST063989 | A turf-covered mound on the top of the ridge, close to a trig-point and radio mast. The monument sits on the border between Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire | GM286 [3] | ||
The Beacons Round Barrows | Round barrow | Llanharan | 51°32′46″N3°25′08″W / 51.5461°N 3.4189°W , ST017839 | Glamorganshire | GM280 [4] | |||
Two Round Barrows, Naboth's Vineyard | Round barrow | Llanharry | 51°30′59″N3°25′55″W / 51.5163°N 3.4319°W , ST007806 | Glamorganshire | GM346 [5] | |||
Rhos-Gwawr cairn cemetery | Round cairn | Aberaman | 51°41′48″N3°27′22″W / 51.6968°N 3.4561°W , SN994007 | Glamorganshire | GM404 [6] | |||
Carn Pentyle-Hir & Adjacent Round Cairn | Round cairn | Aberdare | 51°44′16″N3°25′13″W / 51.7378°N 3.4203°W , SO020052 | Glamorganshire | GM402 [7] | |||
Garn Las Earthwork | Round cairn | Aberdare, (also Troed-y-rhiw), (see also Merthyr Tydfil) | 51°43′29″N3°24′26″W / 51.7248°N 3.4073°W , SO028038 | Glamorganshire | GM236 [8] | |||
Ring Cairn South of Twyn Blaennant | Round cairn | Aberdare | 51°43′47″N3°24′45″W / 51.7297°N 3.4125°W , SO025043 | Glamorganshire | GM368 [9] | |||
Darren Fawr Round Cairns | Round cairn | Cwmbach | 51°42′44″N3°24′01″W / 51.7121°N 3.4002°W , SO033024 | Glamorganshire | GM287 [10] | |||
Graig-y-Gilfach round cairn and earthwork | Round barrow | Cwmbach | 51°43′14″N3°24′20″W / 51.7206°N 3.4056°W , SO030033 | Glamorganshire | GM288 [11] | |||
Carn-y-Pigwn Round Cairn | Round cairn | Ferndale | 51°40′00″N3°25′49″W / 51.6668°N 3.4302°W , ST011974 | Glamorganshire | GM372 [12] | |||
Mynydd Ty'n-tyle cairns | Round cairn | Ferndale | 51°39′23″N3°27′26″W / 51.6565°N 3.4573°W , SS992963 | Glamorganshire | GM574 [13] | |||
Tarren Maerdy Cairn (W) | Round cairn | Ferndale | 51°39′51″N3°28′55″W / 51.6642°N 3.482°W , SS979972 | Glamorganshire | GM576 [14] | |||
Cadair Fawr Round Cairn | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°47′57″N3°29′04″W / 51.7992°N 3.4844°W , SN977122 | A large cairn, 9m across, near the summit of Cadair Fawr (also sometimes called Cader Fawr). | Brecknockshire | BR135 [15] | ||
Cefn Sychbant Round Cairns | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°47′14″N3°28′32″W / 51.7873°N 3.4755°W , SN983108 | Brecknockshire | BR137 [16] | |||
Cefn Sychbant, round cairns to the S of | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′51″N3°27′58″W / 51.7808°N 3.4661°W , SN989101 | Glamorganshire | GM560 [17] | |||
Four Round Cairns on Mynydd-y-Glog | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′10″N3°29′20″W / 51.7694°N 3.489°W , SN973089 | Glamorganshire | GM522 [18] | |||
Nant-Maden Round Cairn | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°47′04″N3°29′36″W / 51.7845°N 3.4933°W , SN970105 | Brecknockshire | BR156 [19] | |||
Onllwyn Round Cairn | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′18″N3°27′24″W / 51.7718°N 3.4566°W , SN995091 | Glamorganshire | GM530 [20] | |||
Pant Sychbant Round Cairn and Earthworks | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′41″N3°27′27″W / 51.7781°N 3.4574°W , SN995098 | Brecknockshire | BR166 [21] | |||
Penmoelallt Round Barrows | Round barrow | Hirwaun | 51°46′34″N3°26′19″W / 51.7761°N 3.4385°W , SO008095 | Glamorganshire | GM528 [22] | |||
Round Cairn and Ring Cairn South of Twyn-y-Glog | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′05″N3°30′30″W / 51.7681°N 3.5083°W , SN960087 | Glamorganshire | GM523 [23] | |||
Round Cairn North of Mynydd-y-Glog | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′24″N3°29′45″W / 51.7733°N 3.4958°W , SN968093 | Glamorganshire | GM521 [24] | |||
Tarren y Bwlch round cairn | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°43′10″N3°31′27″W / 51.7194°N 3.5241°W , SN948033 | Glamorganshire | GM565 [25] | |||
Three Round Cairns on the Southern Side of Mynydd-y-Glog | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°45′58″N3°28′52″W / 51.7661°N 3.481°W , SN978085 | Glamorganshire | GM525 [26] | |||
Two Round Cairns at Onllwyn | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′34″N3°26′56″W / 51.7761°N 3.4489°W , SO001095 | Glamorganshire | GM529 [27] | |||
Two Round Cairns on the Summit of Mynydd-y-Glog | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′04″N3°29′04″W / 51.7677°N 3.4845°W , SN976087 | Glamorganshire | GM526 [28] | |||
Twyn Bryn Glas round cairn | Round cairn | Hirwaun | 51°47′39″N3°28′24″W / 51.7943°N 3.4732°W , SN984116 | Glamorganshire | GM561 [29] | |||
Wernlas ring cairn and cairnfield | Ring cairn | Hirwaun | 51°46′40″N3°29′48″W / 51.7778°N 3.4967°W , SN968098 | Glamorganshire | GM558 [30] | |||
Mynydd Maendy Round Cairn | Round cairn | Llanharan | 51°33′51″N3°28′17″W / 51.5642°N 3.4713°W , SS981860 | Glamorganshire | GM294 [31] | |||
Garn Bica | Round cairn | Maerdy | 51°41′36″N3°31′53″W / 51.6933°N 3.5314°W , SN942005 | Glamorganshire | GM539 [32] | |||
Ring Cairn 350m W of Penrhiw Caradoc, Llanwonno | Round cairn | Mountain Ash | 51°40′20″N3°23′11″W / 51.6723°N 3.3863°W , ST042979 | Glamorganshire | GM373 [33] | |||
Mynydd Ton Cairns | Round cairn | Pentre | 51°38′04″N3°31′17″W / 51.6345°N 3.5215°W , SS947939 | Glamorganshire | GM540 [34] | |||
Tarren Maerdy cairn (E) | Round cairn | Pentre | 51°39′48″N3°28′31″W / 51.6633°N 3.4754°W , SS980970 | Glamorganshire | GM575 [35] | |||
Craig y Bwlch round cairn | Round cairn | Rhigos | 51°43′14″N3°32′00″W / 51.7206°N 3.5332°W , SN941035 | Glamorganshire | GM564 [36] | |||
Rhondda Fach Cairn | Round cairn | Rhigos | 51°42′34″N3°31′37″W / 51.7094°N 3.527°W , SN945022 | Glamorganshire | GM541 [37] | |||
Bachgen Carreg Round Cairn | Round cairn | Treherbert | 51°40′16″N3°34′49″W / 51.671°N 3.5804°W , SS908981 | Glamorganshire | GM234 [38] | |||
Crug yr Afan Round Cairn | Round cairn | Treorchy | 51°38′51″N3°33′42″W / 51.6474°N 3.5618°W , SS920954 | Glamorganshire | GM233 [39] | |||
Carn-y-Wiwer Cairnfield & Platform Houses | Cairnfield | Ynyshir | 51°38′15″N3°24′28″W / 51.6376°N 3.4077°W , ST026941 | Glamorganshire | GM323 [40] | |||
Mynydd y Gelli Kerb Cairn | Kerb cairn | Ystrad | 51°38′07″N3°28′53″W / 51.6353°N 3.4815°W , SS975939 | Glamorganshire | GM354 [41] | |||
Gwersyll | Enclosure | Aberdare | 51°43′36″N3°24′37″W / 51.7266°N 3.4102°W , SO026040 | Glamorganshire | GM239 [42] | |||
Craig y Ddinas Hillfort | Hillfort | Hirwaun | 51°45′40″N3°34′22″W / 51.761°N 3.5729°W , SN915080 | Brecknockshire | BR178 [43] | |||
Cwm Cadlan Settlement and Field System | Hut Circle | Hirwaun | 51°47′20″N3°28′56″W / 51.7889°N 3.4823°W , SN978110 | Brecknockshire | BR414 [44] | |||
Pant-y-Gadair Hut Circle Settlement | Hut Circle | Hirwaun | 51°48′18″N3°28′19″W / 51.8049°N 3.4719°W , SN986128 | Hut circle 6m acrioss, with walls of unworked limestone, on the north slopes of Cadair Fawr. | Brecknockshire | BR413 [45] | ||
Ring Cairn and Round Cairn on Southern Side of Mynydd-y-Glog | Ring cairn | Hirwaun | 51°45′40″N3°29′19″W / 51.7612°N 3.4886°W , SN973079 | Glamorganshire | GM524 [46] | |||
Wernlas hut circle | Hut circle settlement | Hirwaun | 51°46′30″N3°30′08″W / 51.7749°N 3.5022°W , SN964095 | Glamorganshire | GM562 [47] | |||
Rhiw Season Caerau | Hillfort | Llantrisant | 51°32′23″N3°21′00″W / 51.5397°N 3.3501°W , ST064831 | Glamorganshire | GM065 [48] | |||
Hut Circles & Enclosures on Buarth Maen | Unenclosed hut circle | Llwydcoed | 51°44′16″N3°25′51″W / 51.7379°N 3.4307°W , SO013053 | Glamorganshire | GM401 [49] | |||
Caer Gwanaf | Enclosure | Pont-y-clun | 51°30′40″N3°22′26″W / 51.5112°N 3.3738°W , ST047800 | Glamorganshire | GM070 [50] | |||
Ring Cairn and Two Standing Stones on Coedpenmaen Common | Ring cairn | Pontypridd | 51°36′13″N3°19′48″W / 51.6036°N 3.33°W , ST079902 | Glamorganshire | GM510 [51] | |||
Lle'r Gaer | Hillfort | Tonyrefail | 51°34′27″N3°22′20″W / 51.5742°N 3.3721°W , ST050870 | Glamorganshire | GM219 [52] | |||
Blaenrhondda settlement | Hut circle settlement | Treherbert | 51°42′19″N3°33′35″W / 51.7052°N 3.5598°W , SN923018 | Glamorganshire | GM101 [53] | |||
Ffos Toncenglau cross ridge dyke | Cross Ridge Dyke | Treherbert | 51°42′46″N3°33′53″W / 51.7129°N 3.5648°W , SN919027 | Glamorganshire | GM118 [54] | |||
Earthwork 360m NNE of Crug yr Avan | Enclosure | Treorchy | 51°39′02″N3°33′34″W / 51.6506°N 3.5595°W , SS922957 | Glamorganshire | GM278 [55] | |||
Mynydd Maendy hillfort | Hillfort | Treorchy | 51°38′55″N3°30′31″W / 51.6486°N 3.5086°W , ST957955 | Glamorganshire | GM099 [56] | |||
Twyn y Bridallt Roman Camp | Marching camp | Aberaman | 51°40′26″N3°26′41″W / 51.6738°N 3.4448°W , ST001982 | Glamorganshire | GM259 [57] | |||
Miskin Roman fort | Fort | Pont-y-clun | 51°31′04″N3°22′46″W / 51.5179°N 3.3794°W , ST043807 | Glamorganshire | GM591 [58] | |||
Pen-y-Coedcae Roman Camp | Marching camp | Pontypridd | 51°35′01″N3°20′53″W / 51.5835°N 3.3481°W , ST069880 | Glamorganshire | GM267 [59] | |||
Cross Ridge Dyke & Cairn on Twyn Hywel | Cross Ridge Dyke | Pontypridd, (also Aber Valley), (see also Caerphilly) | 51°36′42″N3°18′03″W / 51.6116°N 3.3007°W , ST100911 | Glamorganshire | GM456 [60] | |||
Cross Ridge Dyke & Earthwork on Cefn Eglwysilan | Cross Ridge Dyke | Pontypridd | 51°36′14″N3°18′05″W / 51.604°N 3.3013°W , ST099902 | Glamorganshire | GM452 [61] | |||
Bwlch y Clawdd Dyke | Linear earthwork | Treorchy, (also Ogmore Valley), (see also Bridgend) | 51°38′21″N3°31′59″W / 51.6391°N 3.5331°W , SS940944 | Glamorganshire | GM500 [62] | |||
Cadair Fawr settlement | House platform | Hirwaun | 51°47′57″N3°28′19″W / 51.7993°N 3.472°W , SN985122 | A group of medieval or later house platforms east of the summit of Cadair Fawr. | Glamorganshire | GM559 [63] | ||
Pant Sychbant Medieval Hamlet | Deserted Rural Settlement | Hirwaun | 51°46′33″N3°29′39″W / 51.7759°N 3.4942°W , SN970096 | Glamorganshire | GM520 [64] | |||
Pant Sychbant Medieval House | Rectangular hut | Hirwaun | 51°46′39″N3°27′23″W / 51.7774°N 3.4563°W , SN996097 | Glamorganshire | GM532 [65] | |||
Gadlys | Moated Site | Llanharan | 51°31′12″N3°28′23″W / 51.5199°N 3.473°W , SS979811 | Glamorganshire | GM081 [66] | |||
Llanilid Castle Mound | Motte | Llanharan | 51°31′18″N3°28′29″W / 51.5216°N 3.4748°W , SS977813 | Glamorganshire | GM080 [67] | |||
St Peter's Church, Remains of | Church | Llanharan | 51°33′28″N3°27′13″W / 51.5577°N 3.4536°W , SS993853 | Glamorganshire | GM338 [68] | |||
Llantrisant Castle | Castle | Llantrisant | 51°32′29″N3°22′29″W / 51.5415°N 3.3748°W , ST047834 | Glamorganshire | GM074 [69] | |||
Tarren Deusant Sculptured Rock & Spring | Petrosomatoglyph | Llantrisant | 51°34′33″N3°22′10″W / 51.5758°N 3.3694°W , ST052872 | Glamorganshire | GM406 [70] | |||
Tomen y Clawdd | Motte | Llantwit Fardre | 51°34′11″N3°18′44″W / 51.5698°N 3.3121°W , ST091864 | Glamorganshire | GM064 [71] | |||
Castell Nos | Motte | Maerdy | 51°41′27″N3°29′56″W / 51.6908°N 3.4989°W , SN964001 | Glamorganshire | GM408 [72] | |||
Medieval Chapel of Talygarn | Chapel | Pont-y-clun | 51°30′42″N3°24′14″W / 51.5118°N 3.4039°W , ST026801 | Glamorganshire | GM442 [73] | |||
Pontypridd Bridge | Bridge | Pontypridd | 51°36′18″N3°20′18″W / 51.605°N 3.3382°W , ST074904 | Glamorganshire | GM015 [74] | |||
Glynneath Gunpowder Works | Industrial monument | Hirwaun, (also Ystradfellte), (see also Powys) | 51°45′57″N3°33′55″W / 51.7658°N 3.5654°W , SN920086 | Glamorganshire | BR230 [75] | |||
Y Garreg Siglo Bardic Complex | Unclassified site | Pontypridd | 51°36′08″N3°19′40″W / 51.6022°N 3.3277°W , ST081901 | Glamorganshire | GM507 [76] | |||
Ventilation Furnace, Trehafod | Building (Unclassified) | Porth | 51°36′42″N3°23′01″W / 51.6118°N 3.3836°W , ST042912 | Glamorganshire | GM437 [77] | |||
Remains of Iron Furnace at Cwmaman | Industrial monument | Aberaman | 51°41′05″N3°26′29″W / 51.6848°N 3.4415°W , ST004994 | Glamorganshire | GM266 [78] | |||
Gadlys Ironworks (Remains of Blast Furnace) | Ironworks | Aberdare | 51°43′00″N3°26′55″W / 51.7167°N 3.4486°W , SO000029 | Glamorganshire | GM438 [79] | |||
Gelli-Isaf Tramroad Bridge, Abernant Tramroad | Bridge | Aberdare | 51°43′44″N3°27′49″W / 51.7288°N 3.4637°W , SN990043 | Glamorganshire | GM411 [80] | |||
Iron Tram Bridge, Robertstown | Bridge | Aberdare | 51°43′21″N3°27′12″W / 51.7224°N 3.4533°W , SN997036 | Glamorganshire | GM347 [81] | |||
Remains of Gamlyn Railway Viaduct | Bridge | Aberdare | 51°44′01″N3°28′33″W / 51.7336°N 3.4758°W , SN981049 | Glamorganshire | GM533 [82] | |||
Tramroad East of Robert's Town Bridge, Aberdare | Tramway | Aberdare | 51°43′21″N3°26′58″W / 51.7224°N 3.4495°W , SN999036 | Glamorganshire | GM527 [83] | |||
Dinas Silica Mine | Tramroad | Hirwaun | 51°45′38″N3°34′15″W / 51.7605°N 3.5708°W , SN916080 | Brecknockshire | BR229 [84] | |||
Site of Hirwaun Ironworks | Industrial monument | Hirwaun | 51°44′29″N3°30′40″W / 51.7414°N 3.5112°W , SN957058 | Brecknockshire | BR157 [85] | |||
Pillow Mound at Bryn y Gwyddel | Pillow mound | Llwydcoed | 51°45′13″N3°26′23″W / 51.7536°N 3.4397°W , SO007070 | Glamorganshire | GM517 [86] | |||
Hetty Pit | Pit | Pontypridd | 51°36′33″N3°22′00″W / 51.6091°N 3.3666°W , ST054909 | Glamorganshire | GM459 [87] | |||
Newbridge Colliery Engine | Beam engine | Pontypridd | 51°35′17″N3°19′32″W / 51.5881°N 3.3256°W , ST082885 | Glamorganshire | GM457 [88] | |||
Nantgarw China Works & Museum, Nantgarw | Pottery kiln | Taffs Well | 51°33′41″N3°16′13″W / 51.5614°N 3.2704°W , ST120854 | Glamorganshire | GM335 [89] | |||
Incline Haulage Systems, Cefn Ynysfeio, Treherbert | Incline Drumhouse | Treherbert | 51°40′26″N3°31′10″W / 51.674°N 3.5194°W , SS950983 | Glamorganshire | GM508 [90] | |||
Locomotive Type Steam Boiler, Blaen Rhondda | Colliery | Treherbert | 51°42′08″N3°33′37″W / 51.7021°N 3.5602°W , SN922015 | Glamorganshire | GM509 [91] | |||
Cadair Fawr is a hill in the northern corner of the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park and Fforest Fawr Geopark. The 485m high summit at OS grid ref SN 978123 is marked by a trig point. Cadair Fawr is the highest point of a broad ridge known as Cefn Cadlan which forms the northern edge of Cwm Cadlan, a valley which itself runs east-northeastwards from the village of Penderyn. The name Cadair Fawr signifies the 'big chair' whilst Cefn Cadlan signifies the 'ridge of the battlefield'.