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![LOWER RHEIDOL VALLEY](webphotos/lowerrheidolvalley.jpg)
LOWER RHEIDOL VALLEY
GRID REFERENCE: SN 672788
AREA IN HECTARES: 268.1
Historic Background
The early history of this area has not been researched.
By the 18th century at least part of the area lay within the Nanteos estate.
1819 estate maps (NLW Vol 45, 16, 17, 18) show that a dispersed settlement
pattern and system of small irregular fields had been established. It
is likely that the settlement pattern is relatively ancient, dating to
at least the later Medieval Period. It is not known how the field system
evolved. The origin of the small loosely nucleated settlement of Aberffrwd
was probably dependent on the metal mining industry. A chapel was constructed
here in 1756, and a school room shortly after (Percival 1998, 518). Two
post-Medieval mills lie within the area. Opencast gravel working was carried
out in the 20th century, and the pits have now been restored and converted
to fishing lakes.
![LOWER RHEIDOL VALLEY](webphotos/lowerrheidolvalley2.jpg)
Description and essential historic landscape
components
This area comprises the valley floor at approximately
50m and the un-wooded lower sides of the Rheidol up to 100m. The field
pattern is one of small irregular enclosures divided by earth banks topped
with hedges. Hedges are generally in good condition, although approximately
20% are overgrown or otherwise neglected, and wire augments most hedges.
All land is enclosed. Improved grazing dominates, with very little rough
ground. Metal mine remains are evident close to Aberffrwd. Former gravel
workings at the western end of the area have been restored and are now
used for recreational purposes.
The settlement pattern is of dispersed farms, with most
dwellings located towards the foot of the valley sides. A small, loosely
nucleated settlement at Aberffrwd consists of a chapel, school and mainly
19th century dwellings. Local stone is the traditional building material
with slate (north Wales slate) used for roofs, although some late 19th
century houses are brick-built. Walls are either cement rendered, painted
or left bare on houses, and are always bare stone on traditional farm
buildings. However, traces of whitewash are evident on some farm buildings,
and careful examination shows that some are built of river cobbles rather
than the more common quarried stone. Older farmhouses/houses almost entirely
date to the mid-to-late 19th century, are relatively small, of two storeys
and in the typical Georgian vernacular style, with gable end chimneys,
central front door, and two windows either side of the door and one above.
One substantial late 19th century gothic style stone-built house with
brick details is present. There are a few modern houses, particularly
close to the old gravel pits. Stone-built outbuildings are generally confined
to one or two small ranges. Several farms are not now working and their
outbuildings are not in use. Working farms generally have small ranges
of modern steel and concrete agricultural buildings, although a couple
of farms with very large modern agricultural buildings are present. A
number of detached modern agricultural buildings are recorded.
The recorded archaeology of this area consists mostly
of post-Medieval industrial remains, including the metal mine mentioned
above, and two mills. Prehistoric finds provide some time-depth to the
landscape.
This area is very well defined to the north and south
by deciduous and coniferous forestry. To the east the Rheidol valley is
characterised by industry, past and present, rather than the agriculture
of this area, only to the west is the boundary blurred between this area
and its neighbour.
![LOWER RHEIDOL VALLEY MAP](webphotos/lowerrheidolvalleymap.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 |