![YSTRAD CARON](webphotos/ystradcaron.jpg)
YSTRAD CARON
GRID REFERENCE: SN 674603
AREA IN HECTARES: 273.4
Historic Background
This area of river terrace to the west of Tregaron probably
comprised lands granted to the town of Tregaron and functioned either
as a sub-divided field or common, although no research has been undertaken
to substantiate this. By the late 18th century the land had been divided
between several large estates: Nanteos, Crosswood and Thomas Johnes’s
Llanfair Clydogau estate. For the sake of clarity it is easier to break
down the description of this area into smaller areas based broadly on
farm boundaries.
An 1819 estate map (NLW Vol 45; 54) shows the farmhouse
of Ystrad Caron with one small field, set in unenclosed land labelled
‘Ystrad’. Within this unenclosed land a few small enclosures
are shown close to the river to the south of Ystrad Caron. They belong
to several different holdings.
East of Tregaron the land in 1819 is shown parcelled
up into the system of regular enclosures that now exist. A further map
of 1819 (NLW Vol 45; 56) demonstrates that the system of regular fields
to the north of the town had been laid out by this date, and that further
subdivision of these large enclosures took place in the 19th century.
To the north on the fringes of Cors Caron a pattern of
enclosure had been firmly established by 1808 (NLW Nanteos 216). An estate
map of 1791 (NLW Vol 36; 147) indicates that a boundary on the fringes
of Cors Caron had been newly laid out. However, it is difficult to reconcile
this boundary with the modern landscape.
The same map (NLW Vol 36; 147) shows Pen-y-bont farm
surrounded by small, irregular enclosures with the current pattern of
regular, larger fields further out.
By 1845 (Caron Tithe Map and Apportionment) the field
system now in existence across the whole of this landscape area had been
finalised.
Estate map evidence and the pattern of regular medium-sized
fields suggest that this area was largely unenclosed until the 18th century,
and was only fully enclosed during the early to mid 19th century. The
presence of a relatively large block of unenclosed, rich, level farmland
on the outskirts of Tregaron, at least until 1819, is not easy to explain.
It may have been common that had been acquired by the Nanteos estate and
subsequently enclosed, or possibly a former sub-divided field system that
had been engrossed into a few holdings, but not enclosed until the 18th
century. Pen-y-bont farm is clearly of greater antiquity, the present
building dates to the first half of the 17th century (Lloyd-Johnes 1952-55,
170), but whether it originated in the 16th century or is older is not
known. It is a substantial farm that was originally part of the Herbert
estate (the Herberts of Powis Castle rapaciously acquired properties in
Ceredigion in the 16th century). It passed into the hands of Thomas Johnes
and was the home of John Jones, Thomas Johnes’s Hafod agent in the
18th century (Rees 1936, 54).
Description and essential historic landscape
components
This is a block of regular, medium-sized enclosures
on a trrace of the Afon Caron and Afon Teifi, to the east and north of
Tregaron , between 160 to 170m. Improved pasture dominates, with virtually
no unimproved land or rough grazing. Earth banks topped by hedges divide
the fields. On the western side of the area the hedges are in good condition
and well maintained, but towards the north eastern side the hedges are
in poorer condition and are even derelict, and wire fences have replaced
them. Here the earth banks are also less substantial than to the west.
The farmhouse of Pen-y-bont is a three storey, stone-built, stucco Georgian
building probably dating to the late 18th and early 19th century, but
perhaps incorporating earlier elements. It is one of the largest farmhouses
in upland Ceredigion. It has a wide range of traditional stone-built outbuildings
and large modern agricultural buildings. The other major farm in this
area also has extensive farm buildings. An old railway line - the Milford
Manchester Railway of 1866 - runs across the western side of this area
from north to south.
The recorded archaeology comprises standing buildings.
This landscape area is delineated by clear boundaries
except to the northwest. To the north is Cors Caron/Tregaron Bog, Tregaron
town lies to the southwest, and the Afon Teifi to the west. On its northwestern
side this area gradually merges with its neighbouring area.
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 |