234 CEFNTELYCH

GRID REFERENCE: SN 799322
AREA IN HECTARES: 257.90

Historic Background
A small area on the western fringes of the Brecon Beacons, formerly within Maenor Myddfai, Cwmwd Perfedd, of the former Cantref Bychan, which was invaded by the Anglo-Normans under Richard Fitz Pons who established a caput at Llandovery in 1110-16 (Rees n.d.). It was acquired soon after by the Clifford lords of Brecon as the Lordship of Llandovery but reverted to Welsh rule until 1282 when it was acquired by John Giffard (James n.d., 87). It retained native tenurial customs until the end of the Medieval period when it was incorporated within modern Carmarthenshire. The lordship was later held by the Audleys, and in the Post-Medieval period by the Vaughans of Golden Grove and the Earls of Cawdor (James n.d., 87). Cefntelych ridge is now enclosed with large, fairly regular fields which were established by 1840 (Myddfai tithe map). They may be later Post-Medieval rather than earlier, and the ridge may have been unenclosed for much of the historic period. It is crossed by the Roman road following the upland route from Llandovery (Alabum) to Brecon (Cicutio), as a result of which the region (including neighbouring Area 240), exhibits a number of Roman military sites (James 1982, 9), such as a marching camp and a practice camp at Allt-y-hafod-fawr. There has been no subsequent development within the character area apart from one small informal holding.

Base map reproduced from the OS map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright 2001.
All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272221

Description and essential historic landscape components
This relatively small character area comprises a northwest to southeast ridge between 180 m and 270 m. Apart from a single small farm with a 19th century farmhouse in the vernacular tradition and a small range of outbuildings, there are no settlements in the area. A straight lane - the course of a Roman road - runs along the ridge. Essentially this is a landscape of medium- to large-sized fairly regular fields which are divided by earth banks topped with hedges. Apart from alongside roads and tracks, hedges are in poor condition and are either derelict or overgrown. There are few distinctive hedgerow trees, and this factor combined with the lack of woodland and the derelict hedges lends an open feel to the landscape. Land-use is almost entirely improved pasture.

Archaeology is dominated by the Roman road, practice camp and marching camp which survive as earthworks and provide time-depth to the landscape. There is also a possible inscribed stone

There are few buildings within the area and none are distinctive.

The character area to the west, shares many historic components with this area - here there is a zone of change rather than a hard-edged border. Elsewhere to the south and west the heavily wooded aspect and smaller fields of neighbouring area provide a reasonably clear boundary. A conifer plantation lies to the east.