The Vale of Glamorgan county borough is a rural and agricultural area of south Wales. With 110 scheduled monuments, evenly spread across the borough, it is an area with a high density of such sites. Forty-one sites date to prehistoric times, including three neolithic tombs, eighteen round barrows and sixteen Iron Age hill forts. The four Roman sites include two Roman Villas, and there are seven pre-Norman medieval sites, mainly chapels and crosses. It is the 52 medieval monuments that provide some of the most visible remains. There are seven castles and a further eighteen defensive locations. There are also eight religious sites, including crosses, a chantry and a priory. Unusually, four of the six post-medieval sites are 20th-century structures, being World War II defences. All of the Vale of Glamorgan administrative area lies within the historic county of Glamorgan.
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 | Period | SAM No & Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coed-y-Cwm Chambered Cairn | Chambered tomb | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°27′20″N3°19′26″W / 51.4556°N 3.324°W , ST081737 | Limestone slabs excavated in 1936. There is doubt that the stones are manmade, but a stone axe was found, showing neolithic activity at the site. | (Neolithic) | PrehistoricGM116 [3] | |
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber | Chambered long barrow | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°27′05″N3°18′26″W / 51.4513°N 3.3072°W , ST092732 | Chambered long cairn with stone walling and a megalithic chamber. Excavation in 1914 found disarticulated bones from at least 50 individuals. The site is in the care of Cadw, and accessible to the public. | (Neolithic) | PrehistoricGM009 [4] | |
St Lythans Burial Chamber | Chambered long barrow | Wenvoe | 51°26′33″N3°17′42″W / 51.4426°N 3.2951°W , ST100723 | Also known as the Maesyfelin Chambered Long Cairn, and Gwal y Filiast (The Greyhound's Kennel), this was once a mound 25 m (80 ft) long, of which only the chamber at east is end now visible. The massive capstone weighs an estimated 35 tons. It is in the care of Cadw, and accessible to the public. | (Neolithic) | PrehistoricGM008 [5] | |
Two Cooking Mounds E of Ty'n-y-Pwll | Burnt mound | Pendoylan | 51°28′19″N3°20′21″W / 51.4719°N 3.3393°W , ST070756 | GM365 [6] | |||
Round Barrow 612m N of Bendrick Rock | Round barrow | Barry | 51°23′56″N3°15′02″W / 51.399°N 3.2505°W , ST131674 | GM310 [7] | |||
Westward Corner Round Barrow | Round barrow | Barry | 51°23′38″N3°18′25″W / 51.3939°N 3.307°W , ST091669 | GM360 [8] | |||
Round Barrow 800m SE of Malborough Grange | Round barrow | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°26′51″N3°28′11″W / 51.4474°N 3.4698°W , SS979730 | GM292 [9] | |||
Round Barrows N of Breach Farm | Round barrow | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′16″N3°29′01″W / 51.4545°N 3.4835°W , SS970738 | GM104 [10] | |||
Stalling Down Round Barrow | Round barrow | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′52″N3°25′27″W / 51.4645°N 3.4241°W , ST012749 | GM230 [11] | |||
Corntown causewayed enclosure | Causewayed enclosure | Ewenny | 51°28′36″N3°32′51″W / 51.4766°N 3.5476°W , SS926764 | GM585 [12] | |||
Domen Fawr Round Barrows | Round barrow | Llan-maes | 51°25′45″N3°27′40″W / 51.4292°N 3.4612°W , SS985710 | GM189 [13] | |||
Walterston ringwork | Enclosure | Llancarfan | 51°25′56″N3°20′30″W / 51.4321°N 3.3417°W , ST068712 | GM251 [14] | |||
Morfa House Round Barrow | Round barrow | Llantwit Major | 51°25′13″N3°29′51″W / 51.4202°N 3.4976°W , SS959700 | GM188 [15] | |||
Heol y Mynydd Round Barrow | Round barrow | St Brides Major | 51°27′51″N3°36′28″W / 51.4641°N 3.6078°W , SS884751 | Bracken-covered mound near the roadside at Heol y Mynydd | GM242 [16] | ||
Croes Heol y Splott Round Barrow | Round barrow | St Donats | 51°25′28″N3°30′59″W / 51.4245°N 3.5163°W , SS946705 | GM187 [17] | |||
Nash Point Round Barrows | Round barrow | St Donats | 51°24′40″N3°33′43″W / 51.4111°N 3.562°W , SS914691 | GM114 [18] | |||
Round Barrows NE of Church Farm | Round barrow | St Donats | 51°25′30″N3°33′06″W / 51.4249°N 3.5517°W , SS922706 | GM262 [19] | |||
Round Barrows South of Monkton | Round barrow | St Donats | 51°25′29″N3°32′15″W / 51.4248°N 3.5375°W , SS931706 | GM109 [20] | |||
Round Barrows W of Cant-Erw | Round barrow | St Donats | 51°25′51″N3°31′59″W / 51.4309°N 3.5331°W , SS935713 | GM111 [21] | |||
St-y-Nyll Round Barrow | Round barrow | St Georges-super-Ely | 51°29′47″N3°17′48″W / 51.4964°N 3.2967°W , ST100782 | GM204 [22] | |||
Maes-y-Hwyaid Round Barrow | Round barrow | Welsh St Donats | 51°27′57″N3°23′20″W / 51.4658°N 3.3888°W , ST036750 | GM321 [23] | |||
Two Round Barrows 300m North of Tair Onnen | Round barrow | Welsh St Donats | 51°27′54″N3°22′52″W / 51.4651°N 3.3811°W , ST041749 | GM390 [24] | |||
Greave Round Barrow | Round barrow | Wenvoe | 51°27′04″N3°15′38″W / 51.4512°N 3.2606°W , ST124732 | GM183 [25] | |||
Rhyle Round Barrow | Round barrow | Wick | 51°26′32″N3°33′37″W / 51.4423°N 3.5604°W , SS916726 | GM181 [26] | |||
Caer Dynnaf hillfort | Hillfort | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′29″N3°27′51″W / 51.4581°N 3.4641°W , SS983742 | GM100 [27] | |||
Llanquian Wood Camp | Hillfort | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′39″N3°24′35″W / 51.4607°N 3.4096°W , ST021744 | GM182 [28] | |||
Castell Moel | Hillfort | Llancarfan | 51°27′08″N3°21′45″W / 51.4521°N 3.3624°W , ST054734 | GM298 [29] | |||
Castle Ditches | Hillfort | Llancarfan | 51°25′17″N3°21′17″W / 51.4214°N 3.3546°W , ST059700 | GM071 [30] | |||
Llantrithyd Camp | Enclosure | Llancarfan | 51°26′58″N3°23′06″W / 51.4494°N 3.3849°W , ST038731 | GM257 [31] | |||
Llanvithyn Camp | Hillfort | Llancarfan | 51°26′15″N3°21′41″W / 51.4374°N 3.3615°W , ST054718 | GM293 [32] | |||
Mynydd Bychan | Settlement | Llandow | 51°28′12″N3°29′39″W / 51.4699°N 3.4942°W , SS963756 | GM076 [33] | |||
Castle Ditches Camp | Hillfort | Llantwit Major | 51°23′48″N3°29′46″W / 51.3967°N 3.4961°W , SS960674 | GM019 [34] | |||
Summerhouse Camp | Hillfort | Llantwit Major | 51°23′19″N3°26′46″W / 51.3885°N 3.4461°W , SS994664 | GM032 [35] | |||
The Bulwarks Camp | Hillfort | Rhoose | 51°23′19″N3°19′15″W / 51.3887°N 3.3208°W , ST081663 | GM029 [36] | |||
Dunraven Castle Hillfort | Hillfort | St Brides Major | 51°26′33″N3°36′09″W / 51.4425°N 3.6025°W , SS887727 | Promontary fort at the top of 60 metres (200 ft) sea-cliffs, on the Southerndown Coast. The distinctive headland is known as Trwyn y Witch. Half of the ramparts and interior are lost to coastal erosion. Later castle buildings have also erased parts of the earthworks. 21 roundhouse sites are located within the fort. | Iron Age | PrehistoricGM350 [37] | |
Promontory Fort on Fleming's Down | Promontory Fort - inland | St Brides Major | 51°28′46″N3°36′03″W / 51.4794°N 3.6009°W , SS889768 | Bank and ditch across a high promontary overlooking the Ewenny and Ogmore valleys. | Iron Age | PrehistoricGM466 [38] | |
Cwm Nash Defended Enclosure | Promontory Fort - inland | St Donats | 51°25′18″N3°34′16″W / 51.4218°N 3.5711°W , SS908703 | GM614 [39] | |||
Nash Point Camp | Hillfort | St Donats | 51°24′18″N3°33′39″W / 51.4049°N 3.5609°W , SS915684 | GM033 [40] | |||
Y Gaer | Ringwork | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°27′50″N3°20′59″W / 51.4638°N 3.3496°W , ST063747 | GM079 [41] | |||
Sully Island, "Danish" Fort | Hillfort | Sully | 51°23′45″N3°11′47″W / 51.3957°N 3.1965°W , ST168669 | GM035 [42] | |||
Cwm Bach Camps | Hillfort | Wick | 51°26′02″N3°35′15″W / 51.4339°N 3.5876°W , SS897717 | GM186 [43] | |||
Knap Roman Site | Villa | Barry | 51°23′26″N3°17′46″W / 51.3905°N 3.2961°W , ST099665 | GM419 [44] | |||
Romano-British Farmstead, Dinas Powys Common | Settlement | Dinas Powys | 51°25′52″N3°13′21″W / 51.4311°N 3.2224°W , ST151709 | GM431 [45] | |||
Moulton Roman Site | Building (Unclassified) | Llancarfan | 51°25′04″N3°20′00″W / 51.4177°N 3.3332°W , ST073695 | GM253 [46] | |||
Caermead Roman Site | Villa | Llantwit Major | 51°25′08″N3°29′57″W / 51.419°N 3.4991°W , SS958699 | GM020 [47] | |||
St Barruch's Chapel | Chapel | Barry | 51°23′32″N3°16′02″W / 51.3923°N 3.2672°W , ST119666 | GM120 [48] | |||
Llancarfan Monastery (Site of) | Monastery | Llancarfan | 51°25′17″N3°21′55″W / 51.4215°N 3.3653°W , ST051700 | GM075 [49] | |||
Pillar-Cross in Llandough Churchyard | Cross | Llandough, Penarth | 51°27′08″N3°11′56″W / 51.4522°N 3.1988°W , ST168732 | GM209 [50] | |||
Llangan Celtic Cross | Cross | Llangan | 51°29′23″N3°30′11″W / 51.4898°N 3.5031°W , SS957778 | Located near the west wall of St Canna's Church in Llangan a disc-headed cross slab, 1.3 m high, depicting the crucifixion, 9th or 10th century; set in a stone within an open shelter. | GM211 [51] | ||
Cwm George Camp | Earthwork (unclassified) | Michaelston | 51°26′34″N3°13′38″W / 51.4427°N 3.2272°W , ST148722 | GM023 [52] | |||
Tyn y Coed Earthwork | Earthwork (unclassified) | Michaelston | 51°26′27″N3°13′33″W / 51.4407°N 3.2258°W , ST148720 | GM024 [53] | |||
Croes Antoni | Cross | St Brides Major | 51°27′53″N3°35′41″W / 51.4648°N 3.5946°W , SS893751 | Weathered socket stone, probably from a pre-Norman cross. | GM333 [54] | ||
Barry Castle | Manor | Barry | 51°23′48″N3°17′38″W / 51.3966°N 3.2939°W , ST100671 | GM135 [55] | |||
Highlight Church, Remains of | Church | Barry | 51°25′15″N3°18′01″W / 51.4208°N 3.3003°W , ST096698 | GM344 [56] | |||
Highlight Medieval House Site | House (domestic) | Barry | 51°25′11″N3°17′42″W / 51.4197°N 3.2951°W , ST100697 | GM301 [57] | |||
Site of Medieval Mill & Mill Leat Cliffwood | Mill | Barry | 51°23′39″N3°18′41″W / 51.3943°N 3.3114°W , ST088669 | GM446 [58] | |||
Llanquian Castle | Motte | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′36″N3°24′49″W / 51.4601°N 3.4135°W , ST018744 | GM225 [59] | |||
South Gate | Gatehouse | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′40″N3°27′02″W / 51.4612°N 3.4505°W , SS993745 | GM136 [60] | |||
St Quentin's Castle, Llanblethian | Castle | Cowbridge with Llanblethian | 51°27′27″N3°27′23″W / 51.4576°N 3.4564°W , SS989741 | GM094 [61] | |||
Dinas Powis Castle | Castle | Dinas Powys | 51°26′15″N3°13′13″W / 51.4374°N 3.2203°W , ST152716 | GM021 [62] | |||
Ewenny Priory | Priory | Ewenny | 51°29′20″N3°34′03″W / 51.4888°N 3.5676°W , SS912778 | GM190 [63] | |||
Horseland moated homestead | Moated Site | Llancarfan | 51°26′33″N3°22′55″W / 51.4424°N 3.3819°W , ST040723 | GM388 [64] | |||
Llancadle Deserted Medieval Village | Deserted Medieval Village | Llancarfan | 51°24′15″N3°23′20″W / 51.4042°N 3.3888°W , ST034681 | GM534 [65] | |||
Medieval House Site, Llantrithyd | Enclosure - Domestic | Llancarfan | 51°26′43″N3°22′30″W / 51.4453°N 3.375°W , ST045727 | GM282 [66] | |||
Llandow Castle-Ringwork | Ringwork | Llandow | 51°26′52″N3°31′27″W / 51.4477°N 3.5241°W , SS941731 | GM515 [67] | |||
Llandough Castle, Remains of Hall | Castle | Llanfair | 51°26′49″N3°26′51″W / 51.447°N 3.4476°W , SS995729 | GM337 [68] | |||
Old Beaupre Castle | House (domestic) | Llanfair | 51°26′19″N3°25′39″W / 51.4385°N 3.4274°W , ST008720 | GM001 [69] | |||
St Mary Hill cross | Cross | Llangan | 51°30′11″N3°30′10″W / 51.503°N 3.5028°W , SS957793 | Medieval cross head in the Churchyard at St Mary Hill, north of Llangan. Original carved canopied figures are on each side of the head. The socket stone and the shaft are not original. | GM224 [70] | ||
Medieval Cross in Churchyard | Cross | Llangan | 51°29′23″N3°30′10″W / 51.4896°N 3.5029°W , SS957778 | Church Cross at St Canna's Church in Llangan. Set on a four-step base with cross-shaft and sculptured head, possibly 15th century. | GM210 [71] | ||
Ringwork & Bailey at Gelligarn | Ringwork | Llangan | 51°29′51″N3°29′56″W / 51.4975°N 3.4988°W , SS960786 | GM377 [72] | |||
Bedford Castle | Motte | Llantwit Major | 51°24′49″N3°28′05″W / 51.4136°N 3.468°W , SS980693 | GM113 [73] | |||
Boverton Place | House (domestic) | Llantwit Major | 51°24′18″N3°27′51″W / 51.4049°N 3.4641°W , SS982683 | Built by Robert Fitzhamon and rebuilt 1598 by Roger Seys, Attorney General for Wales. | GM422 [74] | ||
Llantwit Major Castle | Manor | Llantwit Major | 51°24′40″N3°29′17″W / 51.411°N 3.488°W , SS966690 | Ruin of an Elizabethan manor house, built by Griffith Williams for his daughter and son-in-law Edmund Vann in 1596. | GM137 [75] | ||
Llantwit Major Dovecot | Dovecote | Llantwit Major | 51°24′25″N3°29′19″W / 51.407°N 3.4887°W , SS965686 | Dove Cote covered by a domical vault and 13th-century cylindrical column close, to St Illtuds Church, next to the site of the old tithe barn, built for the monks at the St. Illtud's monastery. | GM140 [76] | ||
Llantwit Major Gatehouse | Gatehouse | Llantwit Major | 51°24′27″N3°29′19″W / 51.4075°N 3.4886°W , SS965686 | Gatehouse to the monastic grange at Llantwit Major | GM141 [77] | ||
Llantwit Major Monastic Settlement (Site of) | Grange | Llantwit Major | 51°24′28″N3°29′22″W / 51.4078°N 3.4894°W , SS965686 | Foundations, excavated in 1912, of utilititarian buildings associated with a large monastic establishment. | GM142 [78] | ||
The Chantry House | Chantry | Llantwit Major | 51°24′28″N3°29′16″W / 51.4077°N 3.4877°W , SS966686 | GM490 [79] | |||
Leckwith Bridge | Bridge | Michaelston, (also Canton), (see also Cardiff) | 51°28′12″N3°12′43″W / 51.4699°N 3.212°W , ST159752 | GM014 [80] | |||
Cogan Deserted Medieval Village | Deserted Medieval Village | Penarth | 51°25′41″N3°11′41″W / 51.428°N 3.1948°W , ST170405 | GM535 [81] | |||
Penarth Churchyard Cross (Now in St Augustine's Church) | Cross | Penarth | 51°26′29″N3°10′08″W / 51.4415°N 3.1689°W , ST188720 | GM227 [82] | |||
Felin Isaf Castle Mound | Motte | Pendoylan | 51°30′16″N3°21′17″W / 51.5045°N 3.3547°W , ST060792 | GM370 [83] | |||
Ystradowen Castle Mound | Motte | Penllyn | 51°29′21″N3°25′34″W / 51.4891°N 3.4262°W , ST010776 | GM228 [84] | |||
Remains of Peterston Castle | Castle | Peterston-super-Ely | 51°28′44″N3°19′16″W / 51.479°N 3.3212°W , ST083763 | GM450 [85] | |||
Penmark Castle | Castle | Rhoose | 51°24′41″N3°21′18″W / 51.4113°N 3.355°W , ST058689 | GM229 [86] | |||
Deserted Medieval Village North East of Rock Farm | Deserted Medieval Village | St Athan | 51°24′14″N3°24′33″W / 51.4039°N 3.4092°W , ST020681 | GM307 [87] | |||
East Orchard Manor House | Manor | St Athan | 51°24′12″N3°23′52″W / 51.4032°N 3.3977°W , ST028680 | GM082 [88] | |||
Fleminston Deserted Village | Deserted Medieval Village | St Athan | 51°25′08″N3°24′10″W / 51.4188°N 3.4027°W , ST025697 | GM300 [89] | |||
West Aberthaw Medieval Site | Settlement | St Athan | 51°23′30″N3°24′15″W / 51.3918°N 3.4043°W , ST023668 | GM297 [90] | |||
West Orchard Manor House | Manor | St Athan | 51°24′13″N3°25′43″W / 51.4035°N 3.4285°W , ST007681 | GM083 [91] | |||
Ogmore Castle | Castle | St Brides Major | 51°28′50″N3°36′41″W / 51.4805°N 3.6115°W , SS881769 | Construction from 1116 or earlier, it includes one of the earliest stone keeps in Wales. Now a spectacular ruin between the Ogmore and Ewenny rivers. | GM037 [92] | ||
Ogmore Stepping Stones | Stepping stones | St Brides Major, (also Merthyr Mawr), (see also Bridgend) | 51°28′51″N3°36′44″W / 51.4808°N 3.6122°W , SS881769 | Rare survival of a complete stepping-stone crossing. 33 rectangular blocks span the river Ewenny hear Ogmore Castle. | GM184 [93] | ||
St Bride's Major Churchyard Cross | Cross | St Brides Major | 51°27′48″N3°35′35″W / 51.4633°N 3.593°W , SS894750 | Base of six steps, a socket stone and tapering shaft, in St Bridget's Churchyard. | GM174 [94] | ||
Stepsau Duon | Stepping stones | St Brides Major | 51°28′10″N3°34′20″W / 51.4695°N 3.5722°W , SS908756 | Also called Stepson Downs, these are 15 stone steps across the Afon Alun, alongside a ford near Castle-upon-Afon. | GM185 [95] | ||
Area of Shrunken Medieval Village | Shrunken Medieval Village | St Donats | 51°24′50″N3°32′43″W / 51.414°N 3.5452°W , SS926694 | GM375 [96] | |||
St Donat's Churchyard Cross | Cross | St Donats | 51°24′05″N3°32′03″W / 51.4014°N 3.5343°W , SS933680 | GM361 [97] | |||
Tithe Barn, Dovecot & remains at Monknash | Barn | St Donats | 51°25′29″N3°33′26″W / 51.4247°N 3.5571°W , SS918706 | GM143 [98] | |||
Castle Ringwork 850m ENE of Ty'n-y-Coed | Ringwork | St Nicholas & Bonvilston | 51°27′06″N3°20′19″W / 51.4517°N 3.3386°W , ST070733 | GM613 [99] | |||
Coed y Cwm Ringwork | Ringwork | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°27′17″N3°19′17″W / 51.4546°N 3.3215°W , ST082736 | GM117 [100] | |||
Cottrell Castle Mound | Motte | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°27′43″N3°19′28″W / 51.462°N 3.3244°W , ST080745 | GM364 [101] | |||
Cottrell Ringwork | Ringwork | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°27′51″N3°19′08″W / 51.4641°N 3.3188°W , ST084747 | GM096 [102] | |||
Doghill Moated Site, Dyffryn | Moated Site | St Nicholas and Bonvilston | 51°26′21″N3°18′25″W / 51.4393°N 3.3069°W , ST092719 | GM069 [103] | |||
Middleton Moated Site | Moated Site | Sully | 51°24′37″N3°13′22″W / 51.4102°N 3.2229°W , ST150686 | GM378 [104] | |||
Castell Tal-y-Fan | Castle | Welsh St Donats | 51°29′06″N3°24′41″W / 51.4851°N 3.4114°W , ST020771 | GM421 [105] | |||
Buarth-Mawr Barn | Barn | Wick | 51°26′18″N3°33′06″W / 51.4383°N 3.5517°W , SS922721 | GM148 [106] | |||
Llantrithyd Place: remains of house, relict gardens and wells | House (domestic) | Llancarfan | 51°26′44″N3°22′40″W / 51.4456°N 3.3777°W , ST043727 | GM555 [107] | |||
Early Cement Works, Aberthaw | Industrial building | Rhoose | 51°23′10″N3°23′01″W / 51.386°N 3.3835°W , ST038661 | GM318 [108] | |||
Treguff RAF Airfield Decoy Control Centre | Decoy | Llancarfan | 51°25′44″N3°23′44″W / 51.4289°N 3.3955°W , SO030709 | GM604 [109] | |||
East Orchard Wood Pillbox | Pillbox | St Athan | 51°23′59″N3°23′50″W / 51.3996°N 3.3973°W , ST028676 | GM598 [110] | |||
Limpert Bay Anti-invasion Defences | Anti-invasion defence site | St Athan | 51°23′19″N3°26′18″W / 51.3887°N 3.4384°W , ST000665 | GM601 [111] | |||
Anti-aircraft and Coastal Battery W of Lavernock Point | Battery | Sully | 51°24′16″N3°10′46″W / 51.4044°N 3.1795°W , ST180679 | GM448 [112] | |||
Merthyr Mawr is a village and community in Bridgend, Wales. The village is about 2½ miles from the centre of Bridgend town. The population of the community at the 2011 census was 267. The community occupies the area west of the Ewenny River, between Bridgend and Porthcawl. It takes in the settlement of Tythegston and a stretch of coastal sand dunes known as Merthyr Mawr Warren. It is in the historic county of Glamorgan.