![RHOS BRYNBERLLAN](webphotos/rhosbrynberllan.jpg)
RHOS BRYNBERLLAN
GRID REFERENCE: SN 745668
AREA IN HECTARES: 75.9
Historic Background
This area probably formed part of Strata Florida Abbey’s
demesne. This was acquired in 1567 by John Stedman, and remained in the
Stedman family until 1746, when Richard Stedman died intestate. The estate
then passed to the Powell family of Nanteos. It is likely that this area
was open sheep-walk throughout the Medieval Period through to modern times.
The earliest large-scale maps of the area, an 1819 estate map and the
tithe map (NLW Vol 45, 73; Gwnnws Tithe Map and Apportionment, 1847),
show the area as sheep-walk fringed with woodland on its south and southwest
slopes (roughly the same as the present woodland extent). It is only recently
that subdivision seems to have occurred.
![RHOS BRYNBERLLAN](webphotos/rhosbrynberllan2.jpg)
Description and essential historic landscape
components
This is a steep-sided and craggy hill to the east of
Pontrhydfendigiad ranging in height from 250m to 350m. Some low earth
banks are present on the lower slopes, although they no longer act as
stock proof barriers, except where they are reinforced with wire fences.
Wire fences are also present on higher ground; these sub-divide the area
into a series of large enclosures. However, none of these boundaries detract
from the unenclosed appearance of this area. Land-use is mostly of improved
pasture with rougher ground on steeper slopes. The southern slopes of
the hill are clothed with ancient broadleaf woodlands.
As well as several earthworks of undefined age and character,
the recorded archaeology includes the major Iron Age hillfort of Pen y
Bannau.
This area is well defined by field systems of small enclosures
to the south, west and north. To the east the boundary between this area
and the block of large enclosures of area 35, is less clear.
![RHOS BRYNBERLLAN MAP](webphotos/rhosbrynberllanmap.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 |