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![Bryngwyn](webphotos/bryngwyn3.jpg)
BRYNGWYN
GRID REFERENCE: SN 645870
AREA IN HECTARES: 537.2
Historic Background
The early history of this area has not been researched.
By the late 18th century nearly all the land was divided between the estates
of Gogerddan, Court Grange, Bryngwyn and Cynull Mawr. Estate maps (NLW
Gogerddan 35, 36; NLW R.M. C22; NLW Vol 38, 8; NLW Vol 42) of the late
18th and early 19th century show a landscape almost identical to that
of today, with dispersed farms, irregular fields and scattered woodland.
The origin of the settlement pattern and field system is unknown, but
it is likely that the estates mentioned above were created during a period
of transition in the late Medieval Period, when the concept of private
ownership was becoming accepted. If so, then it is likely that the settlement
pattern of dispersed farms dates to at least this period. The field system
may have been established contemporaneously with the farms. Place-names
such as Maesnewydd and Maes-y-dogn suggest, however, the former presence
of a strip- or sub-divided field system.
![Bryngwyn](webphotos/bryngwyn4.jpg)
Description and essential historic landscape
components
This area consists of undulating west- and northwest-facing
slopes of a minor valley lying between 50m and 150m. The historic landscape
comprises a settlement pattern of dispersed farms and houses, with a small
nucleation of modern houses at Dolau, set in a landscape of irregular,
small enclosures, with small stands of deciduous woodland and coniferous
plantations. Improved pasture dominates, with very little rough pasture
or poor quality land present. Boundaries are mostly of earth banks topped
with hedges, with occasional dry-stone walls on the higher slopes. Hedges
are generally in good condition, with occasional distinctive trees, but
in some areas, particularly at higher levels they are becoming overgrown
and neglected.
Local stone – left bare, rendered or painted –
is the traditional building material, with commercial slate for roofs.
Farmhouses mainly date to the mid to later 19th century, are relatively
small, of two storeys and in the typical Georgian vernacular style –gable
end chimneys, central front door, and two windows either side of the door
and one above. Many have vernacular traits, such as an irregular plan,
asymmetrical window layout, low rooms and unequal sized chimneys. However,
Maesnewydd is larger and displays strong polite Georgian characteristics,
and Pant Glas is a substantial double pile house of probable 18th century
date but with vernacular traits. On average farms have two or three ranges
of small 19th century stone outbuildings, although more substantial buildings
set around a yard demonstrate the greater wealth and status of some farms.
Working farms generally have medium sized modern concrete and steel agricultural
buildings, but some very large examples are also present. In addition
to farms there are dispersed houses, which are generally of the same style
and date as the farmhouses, although usually smaller, but with some late
19th century ‘villas’, and a scatter of late 20th and early
21st century houses and bungalows.
The recorded archaeology includes the remains of minor
metal mines on the eastern border of the area and two corn mills. A time-depth
element to the landscape is provided by a small Iron Age hillfort, four
Bronze Age burnt mounds or hearths - possible settlement sites - and finds
of Bronze Age date.
This area is not easy to define. To the west and north
the landscape areas have yet to be described, and to the east and south
this area merges with less ancient but nevertheless similar, land.
![Bryngwyn map](webphotos/bryngwynmap2.jpg)
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 |