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Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200415CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Non Technical SummaryThe Uplands Initiative – ‘Nant y Moch’ / ‘Pumlumon’ or ‘<strong>Plynlimon</strong>’ survey, covers the upland hillsimmediately north of the village of Ponterwyd and the small farming settlement of Eisteddfa Gurig, bothwithin the old county of Cardiganshire or the modern county of Ceredigion. The eastern quarter of thesurvey area is located immediately above the small farming settlement of Pont Rhydgaled, within the oldcounty of Montgomeryshire, the modern county of Powys. The survey area reaches just north of themountain of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> itself and just north of the Nant y Moch Reservoir. From these northernmost areas,the survey area stretches down through the Rheidol Valley, otherwise known as the ‘Cwm Rheidol’.The survey area covers approx. 57.74 Km 2 . There has already been some focused archaeologicalinvestigation on specific sites and areas within the project boundary by the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on Ancientand Historic Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), the Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT) and the ClwydPowys Archaeological Trust (CPAT), within the last few decades.Several significant sites within the survey area are featured in the RCAHMW contribution to ‘The Historyof the County of Cardiganshire’, including several prehistoric round barrows along the banks of the AfonRheidol, as well as a series of barrows now submerged by the Nant y Moch Reservoir, a handful of themeven having been excavated. Field surveys by the Dyfed Archaeological Trust have focused mainly onDeserted Rural Settlements within the area as a whole. Field Surveys by the Clwyd Powys ArchaeologicalTrust have included the Metal Mines Survey initiated in 1996 and a small assessment for a wind farmproposal atop ‘Y Foel’ in the 1990s.In total the uplands survey of the <strong>Plynlimon</strong> area recorded 1216 sites and features. Of this number 67were already recorded on the RCAHMW database. A further 261 sites and features were recorded on theDAT county Sites and Monuments database, and a further 99 sites and features were recorded on theCPAT county Sites and Monuments database. Although these researching bodies had already carried outsurveys in the area, no systematic survey had been undertaken before using the methodology of 30-50mtransects as prescribed by the Uplands Initiative programme.Of particular interest in the project area are the remains of 17 post medieval lead mines, each with itsown network of leats. The majority of these mines began work either in the mid-late 18 th century or else inthe early-mid 19 th century,, however a few have much earlier 18 th century origins. Most of the mines cameinto disuse in the late 19 th century, however a few, such as Bryn yr Afr Lead Mine, were still in productionin 1912.Also of significance, the field survey discovered the existence of several more Bronze Age round barrowsalong the banks of the Afon Rheidol. Also discovered was a possible small prehistoric settlement on theupper eastern slope of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>. Again, still of prehistoric origin, was the remains of a stone row towardthe south-western base of ‘Disgwylfa Fach’. Also, again likely of prehistoric origin, the field surveydiscovered the existence of two small Iron Age forts or camps, one on the upper slopes of ‘Pen-Lluest-ycarn’,and the other on the top of the southernmost summit of ‘Esgair Gorlan’. The surface evidence forboth of these sites is slim however, the one on Esgair Gorlan being only evidenced by a low curvilinearbank, the other a deep cut ditch and bank on the southern slope of ‘Pen Lluest-y-carn’. Again, on the eastside of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, at the southern base of ‘Pen-Lluest-y-carn’, the field survey recorded the existence of asmall deserted settlement, possibly of medieval origin. Also discovered were several other bronze ageburial cairns throughout the survey area. Several deserted rural farmsteads were also recorded.The largest single category of site type recorded during the survey were banks, 68 in total. This typeincludes field, boundary and enclosure banks. The following report details the results gathered from theuplands Initiative survey of the area known as ‘Nant y Moch’ and ‘Pumlumon’.1 INTRODUCTIONAs part of the ongoing <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW)Uplands Initiative programme 2004-2005, in March 2004 Cambrian Archaeological Projects Ltd. (CAP) wereawarded a grant for the systematic survey of the area of ‗Nant y Moch and Pumlumon‘ or ‗<strong>Plynlimon</strong>‘, just15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004north of the village of Ponterwyd (old county of Cardiganshire, which is now Ceredigion), north of EisteddfaGurig (Ceredigion) and north of Pont Rhydgaled, in the old county of Montomeryshire or the modern countyof Powys. In line with the aims of the Uplands Initiative programme, the Nant y Moch and <strong>Plynlimon</strong> fieldproject aimed to rapidly identify and record the archaeological resource in the area north and above 250mO.D. of Ponterwyd, Eisteddfa Gurig and Pont Rhydgaled, through systematic field survey, where there aresignificant gaps in the existing record of the area.The study area comprises c. 57.74 km 2 of uplands as outlined in red on the Location Map (See Fig 1). Theapprox. centre of the survey area is at NGR SN 7800 8600. The landscape lies at the northernmost part ofthe Ceredigion Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales (HLW No: 4). The area is entirelywithin the Cambrian Mountains Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). This uplands landscape isdominated <strong>central</strong>ly by ‗Pumlumon Fawr‘, otherwise known as ‗<strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain‘. This reaches amaximum height of 753m O.D. This marks the highest point in the survey area and is a Site of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSI). West of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain the landscape is characterised by the Nant y MochReservoir (300m O.D) and the Afon Rheidol water-course, which cuts its way through the Cwm Rheidolvalley southwards, whereupon it reaches the Dinas Reservoir (250m O.D) and then continues onwardtoward the village of Ponterwyd. The area to the far east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain is characterisedtopographically by a peat covered landscape punctuated by the activities and remains of former 19 thcentury Lead Mines. Presently, most of the far eastern area is used for auto rallying by the Sweet LambMotorsport Complex.Although no systematic field study using the methodology of 30-50m transects had been undertakenpreviously in the area, there has already been some focused archaeological investigation on certain areasand sites within the project area, by both the RCAHMW, the Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT) and theClwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT).Essentially, the proposed survey area may be divided for ease of description into three main zones: thefirst, the <strong>central</strong> area dominated by <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain, the second, the landscape west of the AfonRheidol, and the third, the landscape east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> within the old county of Montgomeryshire.Previously known significant sites within the survey area include a series of Bronze Age barrows alongboth the eastern banks of the Afon Rheidol (Area 7) and a further series of barrows submerged by theNant y Moch Reservoir (Area 2). The remains of an Iron Age hill-fort is to be found atop the hill knownas ‗Dinas‘ (Area 4). On the western side of Dinas, a medieval settlement is also known to exist, althoughthis has never been investigated systematically. Further west from Dinas, toward the base of ‗DisgwylfaFach‘, there exists three Bronze Age standing stones. The area west of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain as a whole, isalso home to several post medieval deserted rural farmsteads and farmsteads still in use as dwellings andworking farms. At the summit of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain itself (Area 9) and on the summit of ‗PenPumlumon Arwystli‘ (Area 12) are a series of Scheduled Bronze Age cairns. East of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain,known prehistoric sites are very scarce, significant sites predominate however in the form of abandonedpost medieval Lead Mines, such as <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Lead Mine, West Wye Valley Lead Mine, Nant Iago LeadMine and Nant y Eira Lead Mine.The Pumlumon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Uplands Initiative survey was undertaken by a small team fromCambrian Archaeological Projects Ltd., headed by Richard Scott Jones.2 AIMS & OBJECTIVESThe aim of the Pumlumon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Uplands Initiative survey was to systematically rapidlyidentify, record and interpret the archaeological resource within the uplands survey boundary area, bymeans of a desk-top study, a field assessment, the production of an illustrated report, to include a gazetteerof all recorded sites and incorporate all of the collected information into the National Monuments RecordCORE database. The survey aimed to record evidence of all periods. Work began on the desktop of thecontract in July 2004 and the fieldwork was undertaken between the months of September and December2004.15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 20043 METHODOLOGYThe survey was undertaken in accordance with the submitted design brief (CAP Specification (Revised) -24.01.2004). Essentially the survey was divided into three main areas of work, the desktop assessment, theGIS digital/aerial mapping and database work, and the field survey.Desk-top AssessmentTo maximise the retrieval of information, concerning the potential archaeological sites present in thesurvey area, the desktop study included the examination of primary and secondary sources; cartographyand aerial photographic archives at the following repositories:The Regional Sites and Monuments Records – Dyfed Archaeological TrustThe Regional Sites and Monuments Records – Clwyd-Powys Archaeological TrustNational Monuments Record – RCAHMW, AberystwythCounty Records Office.National Library of Wales, AberystwythCADW: Welsh Historic Monuments.Countryside Council for WalesNational Galleries and Museums of WalesDigital MappingThe survey area in cartographic terms extends over six modern OS 1:10000 map sheets (SN78NE, SN78NW,SN78SE, SN78SW, SN88NW, SN88SW). These were supplied by the RCAHMW as part of their AirMapping Project. The maps were registered into a GIS package for reasons of site accuracy, and in terms ofthe final report with a gazetteer of recorded sites, the modern OS 1:10000 maps acted as an ideal foundationon which to present the final survey data. Also, as most of the survey entailed comprehensive study of boththe first and second edition 6in County Series maps, these too were registered using GIS. This aided dataentry and again offered better locational accuracy for sites identified through documents alone.For the OS 6 inch 1 st and 2 nd edition maps, longitude and latitude registration points were marked on eachmap from the map‘s graticule. The maps were then scanned using an A3 scanner. Rectification of theresulting raster images to the OS National Grid was carried out in MapInfo Professional (V5.0). During theregistration process the longitude and latitude co-ordinates of the registration points were converted intodecimal degrees, minutes and seconds (dms) so as to make them compatible with the MapInfolongitude/latitude co-ordinate system. After registration, the projection of the map was converted to the OSBritish National Grid.As part of the Uplands Initiative the RCAHMW also supplied results of the Aerial Mapping Project of thestudy area., with digital GIS files detailing the interpretative results of the study were also supplied.DatabaseDigitising and the completion of attribute data were conducted in MapInfo. The database is compatiblewith Foxpro.2x and conforms to the END Core data structure, as defined by the RCAHMW. With theaccuracy of digital mapping, GIS and GPS, all sites have a precise National Grid Reference of 8 figuresand are accurate to within 6-10m of the precise location of the site, so as to accord with END datastructure.Field AssessmentThe survey area was field walked wherever possible in transects of 30m, however in open moorland it wasconsidered adequate to walk in transects of 50m. All standard field study techniques and skills wereperformed within the context of Uplands survey methodology. Pro-forma site visit forms were created toensure that all the relevant information was recorded at each site and that recording was standardisedthroughout the project. When required quick sketch plans were drawn of significant newly discovered sites.15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200415CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200415CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004In administrative terms the area is divided into five communities, within the old counties of Cardiganshireand Montgomeryshire. The northern part of the survey area is within the ‗Trefeurig‘ community. Thisincludes all of the Nant y Moch Reservoir area and the western slopes of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> and <strong>Plynlimon</strong> itself.The valley that runs south from here, following the course of the Afon Rheidol, falls within thecommunity of ‗Cwmrheidol‘, also known as the ‗Blaenrheidol‘ community. This community continuesdown to Ponterwyd Village. The area west of ‗Dinas‘, which includes the hills surrounding ‗DisgwylfaFawr‘ falls within the community of ‗Melindwr‘. All of these communities are within the old county ofCardiganshire. The area east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> falls within the community of ‗Llangurig‘ and a small parttouching the community of ‗Llanidloes‘ at the north-eastern most point. These latter communities fallwithin the old county of Montgomeryshire.Topography (see Fig 2)As a whole the survey area may be described as a landscape with steeply sided rolling hills with a ruggedrocky terrain in the <strong>central</strong> area dominated by Pumlumon Fawr. The main river cutting through the areafrom north to south is the Afon Rheidol. The western banks of this river are characterised by very steeprocky slopes, whereas the eastern banks of this river have a fairly fertile rich plains area, which initiallygently slope upwards toward <strong>Plynlimon</strong>. The Afon Rheidol eventually converges with the Afon Castell,which borders the southern extent of the study area, running east to west. The river at the far east end ofthe area is the beginning of the River Wye.The survey area may be divided topographically into 16 zones. For ease of description, each of these areaswill be discussed in terms of topography individually.1. Drosgol2. Nant y Moch Reservoir3. Disgwylfa Fawr & Bryn Gwyn4. Dinas5. Esgair Gorlan6. Ponterwyd7. East bank of Afon Rheidol8. Bryn Beddau / Pumlumon Fach9. Pumlumon Fawr10. Drum Peithnant11. Eisteddfa Gurig12. Craig y March13. Llechwedd Hirgoed14. Esgair y Maen15. Bryn Daith16. Y FoelArea 1. Drosgol‗Drosgol‘ or ‗ Rough Place‘ is located at the north-west point of the survey area. It is characterised by astark rocky hill with natural terracing on its south-east facing slopes. Drosgol‘s summit reaches a height of550m O.D., topped by two Bronze Age cairns. The southern and eastern base of Drosgol are bordered bythe northern extremities of the Nant y Moch Reservoir. The base of the west-facing slope is cut by theNant y Barracs watercourse, which flows into the reservoir. The southern lower slopes of Drosgol arehome to the remains of forming lead mining activity and quarrying. Lead mining has also been an activitytoward the summit of Drosgol due to a natural fault line of galena that runs north-east to south-west. Assuch the line of this geological fault is punctuated along its length by several mine shafts and spoil heaps.At the north-east end of Drosgol is the ruins of a post medieval farmstead known as ‗Drosgol House‘. Asa whole, the environs of Drosgol is one of rough scrub, occasional marshy areas, heath covered slopeswith rocky crags. It is also a hill exposed to strong winds from the south and north-east, as such it lives upto its name as being a ‗Rough Place‘.Area 2. Nant y Moch ReservoirThe landscape area of ‗Nant y Moch‘ or ‗Pig Brook‘, is essentially the landscape that lies above andbeneath the Nant y Moch Reservoir. The surface water of the reservoir is generally at a height of approx.300m O.D. Before the flooding of the valley in the 1960‘s, the valley landscape was one of smallfarmsteads and settlements with abandoned lead mines and associated buildings, including a chapel. Now,15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004only partial remains of lead mining activities are scattered around the reservoirs edges at the base ofDrosgol and the southern base of Cefn yr Esgair. The south and west banks of the Nant y Moch Reservoirare characterised by the modern Forestry on the hill of ‗Bryn Gwyn‘ as well as a long strip of forestryalong the edge of ‗Esgair Ffosfudr‘ to the west.Area 3. Disgwylfa Fawr & Bryn GwynThe area of ‗Disgwylfa Fawr‘ or ‗Great Watch/lookout‘ is characterised in the main by the large hill of thesame name. Disgwylfa Fawr reaches a height of 506m O.D, topped by a Bronze Age cairn on its summit.This hill marks the centre of this topographic area. In general, the slopes of Disgwylfa are characterised asbeing predominantly rough scrub and heath with pockets of marsh and peat land and rocky crags towardsthe summit, as well as along the steep east facing slopes that run alongside the west banks of the AfonRheidol. The east facing slopes of Disgwylfa are what essentially characterise the Rheidol Valleygenerally, that is, a landscape of rocky crags, gorges and waterfalls. Immediately north of Disgwylfa Fawris the modern forestry on the hill known as ‗Bryn Gwyn‘. To the north-west is the rocky hill known as‗Pen Cerrig‘. At the west facing base of Pen Cerrig is the abandoned ruins of the ‗Bwlch-y-styllen‘ LeadMine and associated ruined homesteads. Further south from here is the Llyn Syfydrin reservoirArea 4. DinasThe area of ‗Dinas‘, or ‗Fort‘, is characterised by the hill known as ‗Dinas‘, which supports the remains ofan iron age hillfort within its rocky summit which reaches a height of 385m O.D. From the top of Dinasthere is a clear view north, east, and south. The east and western slopes are fairly steep and scree covered.At the base of the west facing slopes the area is predominantly marshy with rough scrub and grassescovering much of the area. Within this marshy area is the remains of a medieval settlement. This area iscut by a small stream running westward toward ‗Llyn Rhosgoch‘. Immediately west of Dinas is a smallhill known as ‗Disgwylfa Fach‘, or ‗Small Watch/lookout‘. This hill reaches a height of 414m O.D. Thesouth and south-west facing slopes of this small hill are marked by a post medieval leat system with aseries of Bronze Age standing stones toward the main southern track. Toward the south-east side of Dinasis the Dinas Reservoir whose surface water generally reaches a height of 250m O.D.Area 5. Esgair GorlanThe area of ‗Esgair Gorlan‘, or ‗Sheepfold/Enclosure Ridge‘ is characterised by two small ridged slopesdirectly south-west of Disgwylfa fach. Both of these ridges reach a height of approx. 380-400m O.D. Thesouth-eastern portion of this area is bordered by modern forestry, the area known as ‗Banc CreignantMawr‘ and the ‗Bog Pond Reservoir‘. The northern portion is bordered by the main track or road leadingto Llyn Syfydrin. Within the bounds of this northern area the landscape is very marshy, being the floodplain for a small stream that leads to the Llyn Rhosgoch. The west part of this area marks the southwesterntip of the survey area.Area 6. Ponterwyd‗Ponterwyd‘ or ‗Bridge of Poles‘ is located at the south-western end of the survey area. It is characterisedby a fairly steep slope called ‗Mynydd Ponterwyd‘, which reaches a height of 400m O.D. MynyddPonterwyd has over the last 200 years or so seen considerable lead mining activity. As such its southfacing slopes are covered fairly extensively in the activities of these former mines, in the form of acomplex network of leats, disused shafts, spoil heaps, abandoned quarries, an engine house, a magazinehut, a barrack house and wheelpit. The main lead n this area were Bog Mine/Ponterwyd and LlywernogLead Mine.Area 7. East bank of Afon RheidolThis landscape has been prescribed an individual area because of its individual archaeological character.Essentially, this area is ‗Cwm Rheidol‘ or the Rheidol Valley. In the field it is plain to see that this valleywas in the medieval and the post medieval periods a fairly fertile landscape used for cultivation purposes.Remnants of ridge and furrow are particularly visible in the areas near the farmsteads of ‗Hirnant‘ and15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004‗Lle‘r-neuddau‘. The Afon Rheidol has cut a fairly deep passage through the geology of this area, somuch so, that the immediate east river banks are very steep and not easily accessed. As a whole, above thebanks of the river, the environment now is one of a sloping plain with areas of marsh, heath and roughscrub land. This plain slopes from a gradient of, on average, 260m – 320m, until reaching the main trackroad. Particularly prevalent archaeology in this area are the fairly extensive coverage of Bronze Age roundbarrows which imply that this landscape was once an important ritual landscape in prehistory. This is truefrom the northernmost point of this area toward ‗Bryn Beddau‘(Area 8), and down to the southernmostpoint toward the Dinas Reservoir. This area is bordered on its east side by the main track road that runsnorth-south almost parallel with the Afon Rheidol. Along the length of this road are several farmsteadsstill in use as dwellings and working farms, these include, ‗Lle‘r-neuaddau‘, ‗Hirnant‘, ‗Aber Ceiro‘,‗Nant Caerhedyn‘ and the farmstead of Ty‘n Rhos.Area 8. Bryn Beddau / Pumlumon FachThe area of ‗Bryn Beddau‘ or ‗Hill of Graves‘, is located at the far north of the survey area, on the northwesternlower slopes of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>. This area is bisected by the ‗Maesnant‘ watercourse, which runs downfrom the upper west facing slopes of the mountain in a westerly direction, having cut a deep and welldefined path. The upper slopes of this area are characterised by rough scrub and heath land with largepockets of rocky limestone outcrops, with occasional boulders of white quartz stone. Although this is thecharacter of most of this particular area, there is a small pocket of land near the lower slopes, approx.450m O.D, where the landscape changes into a flat heath and marsh land, with a series of three smalllakes or pools. This area is commonly known as ‗Fainc Ddu‘, or ‗Black Bench or Level‘. Below here thelandscape drops down sharply over a rocky ridge and then begins to level off as it reaches the valley floor.This lower valley, prior its flooding for the Nant y Moch reservoir, have been a fairly dry area, howevernow it is a wet peat and marsh land. The name Bryn Beddau‘ or ‗Hill of Graves‘, likely has associationwith the Bronze Age round barrows in the immediate area. The northern extremities of Area 8 are withinthe <strong>Plynlimon</strong> SSSI.Area 9. Pumlumon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong>‗Pumlumon Fawr‘ or ‗Great Five Peaks‘ marks the centre of the survey area and is the <strong>central</strong> focus of theSSSI. <strong>Plynlimon</strong> reaches a height of 753m O.D. Geologicaly, <strong>Plynlimon</strong> is a limestone ridge runningnorth-south, with a flat plateau at its summit. Three large scheduled Bronze Age cairns mark the summit.The view from the summit gives clear visibility all around with clear sight of the coast toward the west.Immediately north of the plateau area the landscape becomes very rocky and then drops sharply over acliff area and opens out onto the Llyn Llygad Reservoir, which was very likely a small natural lake area,even prior to the hydro-electric scheme damming of the area. The west facing upper slopes of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>are predominantly peat covered, indicative of once dense woodland. The maximum depth of peatobserved during the field visit of this area was approx. 1m -1.5m. The east facing slopes of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>drop fairly steeply from a flat rocky plateau area and into a green scrub landscape. Throughout the autumnand winter months the top of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> is generally known to be a very harsh and windy environment.Area 10. Drum Peithnant‗Drum Peithnant‘ or ‗Ridge of the Peithnant‘ is a large hill at the southern end of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Fawr. Itreaches a height of 684m O.D, the summit of which is capped by a scheduled Bronze Age cairn. Directlybelow the summit of Drum Peithnant to the south is the area known as ‗Dyll Faen‘. This is area ispresently occupied by modern forestry. Directly north of Drum Peithnant is a glacial cut landscape, cutsouth-east to north-west by the Nant y Moch water course. This area has very steep slopes from all sidesand is only easily accessible from the north-west following the course of the stream. Because of itsgeological form, this small valley is very sheltered and rarely sees strong sunlight, as such , in the autumnand winter months is a very cold landscape. The west facing slopes of Drum Peithnant appear to bepresently used as rough pasture and scrub land with occasional strips of modern forestry. However, thereare also occasional pockets of peat land with evidence of peat-cutting along the flatter ledged areas.Area 11. Eisteddfa Gurig15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004‗Eisteddfa Gurig‘ or ‗Seat of the rock‘ is a small settlement at the <strong>central</strong> southern point of the surveyarea, at the edge of the Afon Castell, at a height of approx. 250m O.D. The area of this settlement isoccupied presently by a modern farmstead. North of here is a long valley cut by the ‗Afon Tarenig‘. Thisrough scrub and heath landscape is occupied predominantly by the abandoned ruins of the 19 th century<strong>Plynlimon</strong> Lead Mine. To the west is the east-facing slope of Drum Peithnant and to the east is the longridge known as ‗Crib yr Esgair‘ or ‗Crest of the Ridge‘. This valley terminates to the north with a steepslope that rises up toward both ‗Pen Lluest-y-carn‘ or ‗Head of the camp/cabin of the cairn‘, and<strong>Plynlimon</strong> Fawr. South-west of Eisteddfa Gurig this area extends across the bare hillside known as ‗FoelWyddon‘, and further still onwards towards the ‗Dyffryn Castell‘ hotel.Area 12. Craig y March‗Craig y March‘ or ‗Rock of the Horse‘ is a rocky topographic feature at the northernmost point of thesurvey area, immediately west of the area known as ‗Pen Pumlimon Arwystli‘, which reaches a maximumheight of approx. 730m O.D. Craig y March is the end of a steep sided narrow valley called ‗CwmGwerin‘ that runs north-south then curves west and joins with the ‗Afon Hengwm‘. Both the northern andsouthern slopes of this valley are covered extensively in rocky crags. The far south-eastern end of thevalley bottom is inaccessible from the upper reaches of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Fawr and is only accessible from thewest. The base of the valley is covered extensively in tall grass and reeds. The north-west end of this areais occupied by a deserted rural farmstead known as ‗Lluest Fach Hengwm‘.Area 13. Llechwedd Hirgoed‗Llechwedd Hirgoed‘ or ‗Hillside of the long wood‘ is the area at the far south-east of the survey area thatstretches from ‗Eisteddfa Gurig‘ to ‗Pont Rhydgaled‘. This area is within the old county ofMontgomeryshire and occupied by the ‗Sweet Lamb Motor Rally Complex‘. The south facing slope ofthis long hill reaches down to the main A44 Llangurig road and the Afon Castell. The north facing slope iscut intermittently by a series of streams that run down and meet up with the Afon Cyff. The highest pointof this hillside is approx. 536m O.D. Presently there is no woodland along the slopes of this hill apartfrom a few narrow forestry strips at the fareast end. The tupper reaches of Llechwedd Hirgoed arecharacterised by occasional pockets of natural ponding and areas of peat, this is especially true at the farwest end in the area known as ‗Cripiau Eisteddfa-fach‘.Area 14. Esgair y Maen‗Esgair y Maen‘ or ‗Slope of the Mine‘ marks the <strong>central</strong> area immediately east of Pumlimon Fawr. Thisarea is within the old county of Montgomeryshire and owned and occupied by the ‗Sweet Lamb MotorRally Complex‘. Topographically this area is characterised by undulating peat covered slopes,predominantly at the west end, and tall grass covered plains in the areas of the Afon Cyff. At the far northof this area is the source of the River Wye, immediately north of ‗Pen Lluest-y-carn‘. This area is partlycut by a north-south running trackway that eventually curves around decending down into the main coreof the ‗Sweet Lamb Motor Rally Complex‘. This area is punctuated occasionally by the activities offormer lead mining.Area 15. Bryn DaithThe landscape surrounding the area known as ‗Bryn Daith‘ is dominated by the remains of extensive leadmining activity in the form of the former ‗Nant y Iago‘ and ‗Nant y Eira‘ lead mines. Both of these leadmine complexes are located along the banks of the north-south running water course of the Nant Iago.This area is cut from all directions by forestry access tracks as well as those laid out by the Sweet LambMotor Rally Complex. The landscape surrounding the remains of these lead mines varies from a peatcovered landscape to an enclosed landscape, particularly in and around the main core of the RallyComplex. The eastern end of this area is a landscape that may be characterised as a bog and peat coveredenvironment.Area 16. Y Foel15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004‗Y Foel‘ or ‗The Bare topped hill‘ is a high steep sided bare hill that reaches a height of approx. 546mO.D. The curtained west facing slope is almost vertical and as such is always in the dark. At its westernbase is a small stream that runs southwards eventually reaching up with the Afon Castell to the south. Thishigh hill dwarfs a smaller hill to the west known as ‗Y Drum‘ or ‗The Ridge‘ and shades the <strong>central</strong> coreof the Sweet Lamb Rally Complex‘. In the shadow of ‗Y Foel‘ and at the southern base of Y Drum is thedeserted rural farmstead of ‗Cefn-brwyn‘Geology(see Fig 3)The exposed solid geology of the study area is predominantly that of Ordovician Ashgill with alithological ornament of ‗Greywacke‘ atop <strong>Plynlimon</strong> and its low lying rock outcrops. To the east of<strong>Plynlimon</strong> in the region of the village of Ponterwyd and over towards the Powys region, the geology ispredominantly of the Silurian Llandovery Series, of Telychain, Rhuddanian and Aeronian types. A seriesof surface fault lines, generally of lead, run east-west and north-north-east to south-south-west across thewhole of the study area(Ordnance Survey Geological Map of Great Britain, 3 rd series, 1979, 1:25,000).In terms of localised geological forms, there exist bands or veins of ferric white quartzite in the areas ofCraig y March and Cwm Gwerin (Area 12), particularly along its north and south facing slopes. Exposedveins of ferric white quartz are also visible in areas along the top platform areas to the east of PumlimonFawr (Area 9). A further surface exposed seam is in the area near Maesnant (Area 8).As demonstrated by the extensive lead mining activity in the survey area, fault lines containing lead orecover much of the area. These faults run across the hill known as Drosgol (Area 1), through the formerNant y Moch valley and through the northern areas of Pumlimon Fawr (Areas 2, & 9). In the Powysregion, these fault lines run through Bryn Daith, Esgair y Maen and Llechwedd Hirgoed (Areas 15, 16 and13). In the areas of the former Nant y Iago Lead Mine, seams of galena and white/grey calcite are alsoevident, particularly at the surface where they have been heavily extracted along with lead ore.The east and west base of Pumlimon Fawr is heavily peat covered, with some areas having peat as deep as3.5m. This is particularly evidenced by the landscape just east of ‗Pen Lluest-y-carn‘, where much of thepeat has been dug away or else has eroded and left areas of peat bog. This particular depth however isextreme, on average the depth of the peat around the <strong>Plynlimon</strong> varies from between 1m –2m in depth.Having said this however, this depth has only been ascertained from areas where the ground surface peathas slipped downslope, having created open-pockets of exposed peat cross sections, which give theimpression of former peat cutting. As such the average depth of the peat surrounding <strong>Plynlimon</strong> may bemuch greater.5. ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDIn summary, parts of the survey area have in the 1960s, 1980s and 1990s undergone a certain amount offocused archaeological research, by both the RCAHMW, the Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT) and theClwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT). In the 1960s the RCAHMW under the auspices of A.H.AHogg concentrated primarily on bronze Age burial cairns in the area of the Nant y Moch prior to theflooding of the valley in 1962/63. These cairns and further sites and features along the banks of the Nant yMoch Reservoir were investigated further, some with excavation, in the late 1970s and early 1980s by theRCAHMW when the water levels were low. Former small surveys by the Dyfed Archaeological Trust(DAT) have focused on identifying deserted rural settlements around the area of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> as part ofCadw‘s DRS project.The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) however have carried out an extensive study of oldmetal mines within the region to the east in 1994. A further small evaluation survey was undertaken in the1991 around the hill of ‗Y Foel‘as part of a preliminary investigation into a proposed windfarm.Other than these small investigative studies however, no systematic aerial mapping project nor rapid fieldsurvey has been performed using the prescribed Uplands Initiative methodology.15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004The landscape surrounding Pumlimon Fawr, particularly that to the west, houses the remains of a varietyof different periods, but none so extensively as that of the Bronze Age. Archaeology of the Neolithicperiod in this area is very slim, in the form of a handful of Neolithic arrowheads found below area ofweathered away peat in 1968 by school children during a school trip. These Artefacts were likely formerlygrave goods from a cairn close by, perhaps one of the Pen Pumlimon Arwystli cairns to east (see BBCSarticle 1969). Prior to this season‘s field survey 68 Bronze Age data points are recorded within the surveyregion. This number comprises of burial cairns, standing stones, flint working sites and find spots. Of thistotal number, 13 sites are now submerged beneath the Nant y Moch Reservoir. The majority of thesesubmerged sites are burial cairns. A few of these however may be former clearance cairns (NPRN‘s284056 / 303675 / 284105 / 284119 / 284121 / 284126 / 284127 / 284128 / 284129 / 284130 / 284116 /284122 / 284123). Two of these cairns at Aber Camddwr were part excavated by A.H.A. Hogg in the1960s (NPRN‘S: 284056 and 104101). In summary, these two cairns consisted of a small platform cairncovering an elongated grave with socket for an upright post, but no grave goods, and a ring cairnenclosing stakes and other ritual features (HOGG 1977). The following text and figures have beenextracted and adapted from the article in the 1977 Archaeologia Cambrensis (For the complete article seeHogg, A.H.A 1977 Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol 126 p24-37).THE PLATFORM-CAIRN(Aber Camddwr II kerb cairn - NPRN: 104101)― This is the less interesting of the two, so it will be convenient to describe it first, although it wasin fact excavated in 1962, after work on the ring-cairn had been completed.The cairn stands within sight of the ring-cairn, on ground, which falls fairly uniformly eastwardstowards the river Camddwr. Its siting suggests that the builders were unconcerned with display,as there are small natural hillocks quite near which could have provided a much more effectivesetting. Before excavation its character was in doubt, as nothing was visible except a rather stonyarea and "the tops of the four upright stones, everything else being covered by peat. Clearance,however, showed that these stones formed part of a kerb around a nearly circular platform, 13 ft.north-west to south-east and 14 ft. north-east to south-west. Except for the four upright stonesalready mentioned, the kerb was built of blocks or slabs laid on their broader faces, in one or twocourses according to their thickness, and resting on the original surface of an inch or two ofhumus; the outer faces of the kerb-stones are shown thickened. The kerb had a fairly uniformheight of about 1 ft., and delimited a stony platform; the top of this was almost flat, apart fromtwo or three fairly large stones, which rested on its surface. Half this platform was removed, andit was found to consist basically of two layers of large stones. The interstices were filled withearth and small rubble, with a considerable admixture of broken quartz, in pieces ranging from 1 / 2in. to 2 or 3 in. cube. Removal of this make-up exposed an oval hollow, 7 ft. north-east to southwestby 3 ft. 6 in., and cut nearly a foot into the natural/subsoil (here a soft broken rock with aconsiderable proportion of clay). The sides of the hollow had been built up roughly with uprightor laid slabs (shown black in plan and section), leaving a clear space about 6 ft. by 2 ft., whichwas filled with .dark humus, containing some small stones and broken quartz. At the north-eastend of the pit the filling descended into a hole about 15 in. deeper and 5 in. in diameter. The onlyother feature beneath the platform was a shallow hollow on the south edge of the pit, about 1 ft. indiameter and containing black peaty soil. This is probably no more than the site of a stone, whichwas removed before the cairn was built.In the absence of any evidence for a date, little can be said about the cairn. The <strong>central</strong> pit wasalmost certainly a grave, the inhumed body having been dissolved, and it seems likely that thedeeper hole held an upright post; in any case these features show that the structure was not merelya stack-base. It would be possible to argue that the elongated pit corresponds to a 'boat of thedead', the post being its 'mast', but such an interpretation seems unnecessarily fanciful. It is betterto regard the post simply as a marker for the grave. The form of the grave is suited to burial at fulllength rather than contracted as was usual in prehistoric times, and this, together with its roughorientation, would be consistent with a post-Roman burial; but there is no Early Christiantradition associated with the area, and the local concentration of cairns probably of the BronzeAge suggests rather that this structure also should be attributed to that period.15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative - Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004FIGURE 4. Aber Camddwr II Platform cairnfollowing 1960s excavation by A.H.A. Hogg (NPRN: 104101).FIGURE 5. Aber Camddwr ring cairn.Following excavation by A.H.A. Hogg in 1962 (NPRN: 284056)15CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004THE RING-CAIRN (NPRN: 284056)This proved to be a structure of some interest. It stands on an almost level natural platformprojecting from the hillside, and commanding clear views up and down the Rheidol valley and upthe Gamddwr. Before excavation it appeared as a circular grass-grown stony bank with an entranceto the south, and the writer regarded it as either an ancient fold or more probably as an early hutfoundation;the fact that no stone-built huts are known in this area increased its interest. Excavationshowed at once that the masonry at the entrance was little more than piled stone and the antiquityof the structure seemed doubtful, but a trench was cut along one radius to make sure that the ringcontained no evidence for occupation, and this revealed the top of a 'post-hole' almost at the centre.This left the excavator with little doubt that the structure was a hut, although so poorly built, andrather more than a quarter of the site was cleared for detailed examination; as the work was beingdone largely single-handed, it was intended to investigate this before deciding whether completeclearance would be needed. The next step was to empty the supposed post-hole, and at once the rimof a small pot was exposed; it thus became evident that the structure was neither a hut nor a fold,but some form of religious or sepulchral monument of the Bronze Age. Finally, about threequartersof the <strong>central</strong> area was examined. A 5 ft. section was cut through the stone ring on the eastside, and the surface of one quadrant of it was completely cleared. The site was re-visited in 1975when the water was low, but although almost all the peat cover was eroded no additional internal orexternal features were found, and there was no convincing indication of further kerbing.The whole structure was buried in peat; the first 7 in. below the grass was brown, merging intoabout 3 in. of black peat at the bottom but with no sharp division; these layers are thinner over thestone ring. Beneath, the natural soil is a whitish/yellow rock, mostly soft but with harder masses,over which lies 2—3 in. of light greyish brown clay. The surface of this clay was covered with anetwork of mouse burrows, which had led to the formation of lines of iron concretion.The structure produced evidence for a fairly elaborate ritual in its construction, but theworkmanship throughout was of poor quality. There was no properly built' masonry, and if thedesigners were aiming at regular planning it can only be said that the setting out was done 'by eye',and by someone whose 'eye' was very poor.The stone ring was about 6 ft. or 7 ft. wide, built up to a height of about 18 in. above the oldsurface. The external diameter was roughly 43 ft. There was a very rough suggestion of kerbing(outer edges shown thickened on plan), rather less indefinite at the outer circumference than at theinner. The fill was mostly loose rubble, but with some pieces of clayey material, suggesting thatlumps of turf were also used. Peat had penetrated into the voids in the upper part of the fill, butthere was no trace of any under the lowest stones, and it seems fairly certain that there was little ornone on the site when the structure was built.A flint scraper was found among rubble just outside the bank, in the south-east quadrant. Sincethere were no impermeable layers anywhere on the site to prevent the migration of pollen, no peatsamples were taken.The way in which the stones lay in the bank and on the enclosure suggested that the builders hadkept off the <strong>central</strong> area, so that when stones intended for the inner kerb fell out of place they werenot picked up and re-set; this, however, is merely a subjective impression, incapable of proof. Onthe south the bank was interrupted by a gap about 5 ft. wide. The west side of this was merely aroughly built-up slope of stones, but the east was fairly well defined by a kerb of three large blocks.The gap itself was clear except for a single large slab, about 2 ft. across and 6 in. thick. It was tooheavy to have been moved accidentally into this position, and may possibly represent a formalritual blocking of the entrance. If so, the fact that it does not extend right across the entrancepassage would be in, keeping with the quality of the structure as a whole.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004FIGURE 6. Urn from Aber Camddwr ring cairn (NPRN: 284056).Within the ring, the <strong>central</strong> space for a diameter of about 12 ft. was almost clear of stones, apartfrom those covering the burnt skeleton (see below). Outside "this area stones were more frequent,mostly, it appeared, the casual scatter natural to the surface. In the south-east quadrant, however,their appearance and greater frequency suggested deliberate rough pavings, perhaps with a kerbabout 3 in. high in the north half, running parallel to the inner kerb of the bank and about 3 ft. fromit. It must be emphasised, though, that the stonework is all so rough that it is impossible to be quitecertain whether minor features of this kind were intentional. In the following account, stake-holesare lettered (A—Z, a—e), larger hollows are numbered (Pits 1-9).The traces of ritual activities were almost confined to the cleared area. Near its centre was a hole(Pit 1) about 1 ft. in diameter and of similar depth, tapering slightly towards the bottom. Thiscontained a small Collared Urn, the surrounding space being filled with black peaty soil containingbirch and alder charcoal. Near this point was found a bun-shaped lump of white quartzite, similar indiameter to the top of the pot, which may have formed a cover for it, but apart from this possibility,the hole was not sealed in any way, except by the peat which had formed over it.At least two dozen stakes had been set upright within the ring. One (L) had been driven close to thehole on its west side and another (QJ diametrically opposite to it into the hole itself, breaking theside of the pot. The position of the fragments showed that this had been almost full of earth whenburied. The contents were examined by Dr. I. W. Cornwall, but there was nothing to distinguishthem from ordinary soil humus; this does not, of course, exclude the possibility that someuncarbonised organic material was present originally. Eight other hollows (Pits 2-9) had been cutinto the floor of the enclosure; five of these lay on a semicircle of radius 7 ft. with centre 4 ft. southof the pot, and the remaining three close within it. All were bowl-shaped, not post-holes; details ofsize and contents are given in Appendix III, but most of them contained nothing to indicate whatpart they had played in the ritual associated with the site.North-west of the pot, however, Pits 2, 3 and 4 were covered by four large irregular slabs laid flat,with two more resting on them. In Pit 2 were the remains of a child, which had been incompletelyburned in situ. The bones were too fragmentary to determine age or sex, but before removal it couldbe seen that the largest surviving long-bone (femur ?) had been about 8 in. long. They rested on amass of oak charcoal, suggesting that they had been placed on a thick plank or tray; its shape wasnot recoverable, but the part which had been fully carbonised suggested a width of about 9 in., witha roughly rounded end. The bones themselves were not in any sort of order, as though the body hadbeen completely disarticulated before burning; there was no trace of skull or teeth. Since thescraper found outside the south-east quadrant has been crackled by heat (see below), and there wasno other fire on the site, it may have been utilised in some way in this part of the ceremony.The bones were restricted to Pit 2, but the burnt earth and charcoal (all oak) extended over theintervening space into Pit 3; both these were very shallow. Pit 4 contained no charcoal, so waspresumably dug and refilled before the fire was lit. Fragments of oak and hazel charcoal werepresent in the filling of Pits 5 and 6.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Scattered scraps of charcoal (oak, birch and hazel) were found in the <strong>central</strong> area, but the only otherfeatures recovered were stake-holes. Twenty-eight of these were identified (A to Z, a to e, omittingI, O, X). They were about U-3 in. in diameter, usually about 2 in., arid penetrated the subsoil to adepth of 3—4 in., G and K being about 6 in. deep. They were mostly filled with the greyish-brownclay, slightly discoloured, and were difficult to detect, while on the other hand over-enthusiasticinvestigation of a mouse burrow could produce a very plausible stake-hole. Holes W, Y and Z are alittle doubtful, but are probably genuine as mouse holes were relatively scarce in that area. All theother twenty-three holes -were regarded as certain, but it is very probable that others were notdetected or, having been utilised by mice, were regarded as entirely their work. Only one (R)produced enough charcoal to identify; it was of hazel. Two of the stakes marked the position of the<strong>central</strong> pot. As for the rest, the search for regularities in groups of dots is notoriously likely to giveresults, which are merely subjective, but it does seem permissible to accept it as significant thatfourteen of the holes lie between 37 in. and 54 in. from the centre of the pot. (A-G, K, M, N, S-V.)Whether to accept the remainder as aiming at two rings, with H, J, P, R, W between 60 in. and 74in. and Y-E between 92 in. and 115 in., must be a matter of choice.Again, it is guesswork whether the stakes were left standing when the structure was finished.Almost all could have been so, and the way in which P, in particular, lay immediately beneath agap in the stones above suggests that it did remain. In fact, only five of the holes were beneathstones. Of these, Z is a probable but doubtful \hole; the slab over V was quite loose; and F, G and Kwere just under the edges of the slabs. All these could be accounted for on the assumption that theslabs were leaned against the stakes and fell across the holes after the wood rotted.THE ASSOCIATION AND CHARACTER OF THE RING-CAIRNThe individual features of the Aber Camddwr ring-cairn can be paralleled from many sites, but areusually incorporated in barrows and are very much more carefully set out. The attention ofarchaeologists has tended to concentrate on impressive mounds, so that ring-cairns have generallyescaped not only excavation, but even recognition as a distinct class of structure. In fact they arequite common, at least in Wales, though examples with entrances are unusual. The only other ringcairnexcavated in Wales before 1962 seems to be 'Circle 278' on Penmaenmawr, but this was morecarefully built and had no entrances or internal structures.In the absence of any close parallel, and pending the excavation of other ring-1 cairns, the mostuseful comparison would seem to be with the composite barrows ' of the Early and Middle BronzeAge discussed by Sir Cyril Fox. Taken individually, all the elements found at Aber Camddwr arerepresented there. But | apart from the fact that the excavated Glamorgan sites are all barrows, thefeatures | found within them are generally carefully set out and constructed, as elsewhere, | whereasthe Aber Camddwr workmanship is consistently poor. The stake-circles 3 under the Glamorganmounds are interpreted as representing huts, either actual s or symbolic. Considering the AberCamddwr ring from this aspect, it becomes ' evident that there also all the characteristics of a hutare present: the stone bank with its entrance corresponds to the main wall, and the stake-holes tothe rings of posts supporting the roof. To judge from the irregularity of the setting out, though, itseems likely that to the builders these features were merely ritual elements, of which the originalsignificance had been forgotten. It is, of course, impossible to say with certainty that the stakes didnot support a roof, though the resulting structure would have been a very ramshackle affair.Equally, it is possible that the builders intended to 'complete' the structure by building a moundover it; but there is no | evidence whatever to justify such an assumption.The function of the structure was almost certainly 'ritual'. The <strong>central</strong> burial of an urn containingearth only may be compared with the <strong>central</strong> pits at Six Wells 267' and 2 71' and must surely beaccepted as the most important deposit on the site. The burnt remains of the child must then beregarded as sacrificial. Indications of the use of children probably as dedicatory sacrifices havebeen found at other Bronze Age sites, such as the Druids Circle, Sutton 268', and Pond Cairn.This ring-cairn, then, can be regarded as a sacred structure incorporating, probably as ritual featuresof forgotten significance, the elements of a round house with a stone wall and at least one ring ofroof supports. Its location suggests two questions. Was its site deliberately chosen because of thecommanding view? And was the concentration of burials lower down the Rheidol a result of thesanctity conferred by the erection of this ring? The evidence from this site alone provides no71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004answer, as coincidence could account for the observed facts; but the possibilities deserveconsideration when further sites of this type are investigated ‖. (HOGG 1977 p 24-32)Further completed excavation of these cairns was undertaken in 1984 when the reservoir water levels weretemporarily low. With regards the Aber Camddwr kerb cairn (NPRN: 104101), complete denudation of thepeat cover revealed an ‗annexe‘ measuring 2m x 2.1m on the SW, complete with kerb and ‗paved‘ area.Immediately to the W of the cairn was a group of five upright stones (BRIGGS 1984) (see Fig 7).FIGURE 7. Aber Camddwr II Kerb cairn.Following excavation in 1984.The completed excavation of this cairn was undertaken in 1986 folowing partial draining of the Nant yMoch reservoir. This seasons work exposed a large number of stake-holes surrounding the main cairn, oneof them containg a small Bronze Age sherd. Also discovered were a series of charcoal filled pits(MURPHY 1986).Other significant bronze age burial cairns are located in the area north and south of Hirnant on the east bankof the Afon Rheidol (Area 7) and on the west facing slopes of the Pumlimon Fawr mountain range. Thisimmediate area appears to have once been an important ritual landscape. Many of these cairns or carneddauwere first noted in 1917 by W.J. Hemp and later investigated by J. Evans in 1952 and since described insubsequent investigations and articles. In total there are 22 possible cairns in this area, however theexistence of only 8 of this total number has since been confirmed as burial cairns. Three of these areScheduled Ancient Monuments (NPRN‘s: 284067 / 105582 / 303686). Two of these SAM sites (NPRN105582 / 303686) are described as cairn circles, however are likely former round barrows that have beendug out in the 19 th century and only the upright kerb stones having been left. The Hirnant cairn circle(NPRN: 105582) is described thus;―A circle of small stones 18f" in diameter. 16 remain, the highest about 2'. The stones are settangentially with spaces of about 1ft between the edges; the only gaps are on the east and SE. Thereis a slight mound now rising to about 1' in the centre. A good example of these small circles.Kerb of robbed cairn standing on the edge of a slope above Rheidol valley. When seen byW.J.Hemp, early this century, a certain amount of cairn mass was to be seen. This was reducedpractically to ground level by 1932 (A R Sansbury), and its condition was little different in 1953(W E Griffiths). The kerb comprises 16 stones, most of which are 9-14 inches high, encompassinga grass-covered mound of some 20 feet in diameter. The <strong>central</strong> area has clearly been disturbed onthe north and west. (Listed by Lynch as a kerb cairn, and mentioned by Burl as a possible stonecircle). Hirnant: stone circle of uncertain status, 5.9m diameter, internal oairn. A cairn kerb71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004comprising 16 visible stones forming a circle, with an internal diameter of 5.5m. Four stones arebetween 0.5 and 0.7m in height, the others are 0.3m or less in height. The interior is level pasturewith no visible stone. In good condition. Were it not for Hemp's imputation that a stone moundexisted, this feature would be classified as a kerb cairn or cairn circle, but if a mound existed, thenwhat remains mus be either the retaining kerb or a peristalith.A circle of small stones, 6m diam, standing at the side of a fenced, field of unimproved moorlandused for sheep. Sixteen stones survive and there are gaps on the E and SE side for ?2 more. Thestones are irregular boulders, and vary considerably in size and shape, two being very small andalmost obscured by the grass with which the site is covered. Some are pointed, others long and low,and others square headed, but none is higher than 1m, and the circle is by no means conspicuous. Afine site, high priority for preservation.The circle is still as described. It is interesting to note the differences between commentators as towhether or not there are any traces of an internal cairn structure, with both versions beingcanvassed at about the same dates. The circle does look as if it ought to have a <strong>central</strong> cairn mass,but I was not able to see any trace of one myself (no stones, no apparent rise in ground level). Thissite does compare closely with that at SN 755846, 750m to the N (see Cd 42), although the interiorof the latter has been dug into, rendering it somewhat irregular; there are still no traces of aninternal cairn mass. Here at Hirnant, there are a few large stone in the churned, area by the gate,which may include those missing from the circle (Cadw listing 1988 – Cd 14).FIGURE 8. Hirnant Cairn Circle(from W.J. Hemp drawing of 1917)The other cairn circle near ‗Lle‘r-neuaddau‘ farmstead (NPRN: 303686), just north of Hirnant is describedthus;―The diameter of the cairn is 25 feet. It is reduced practically to ground level. The circle has adiameter of 22 feet east-west and 19 feet north-south and consists of 19 stones, all of local grit, andfrom 1 foot 6 inches to 4 inches in height. There are now 18 uprights. A hollow exists where themissing orthostat was uprooted. Several slabs are a good metr,e in length, and few lean from theiroriginal positions; one is fallen on the west. In the south-west sector is a large hollow, at the eastend of which is an orthosts about 0.6m long, presumably all that remains of a cist. A circle of 19earthfast stones, in diameter, 7.0m east-west by 6.5m north-south. Six of the stones are from 0.6 to0.9m in length and up to 0.6m in height, but the others average 0.2m in height, and arecomparatively small boulders. There are socket holes of two missing stones on the north-west andsouth-east. A rectangular depression on the south-west side is 1.6m by 1.5m in size, and 0.55m indepth. It is stone-lined at the south-east end and may be the remains of a cist. The complete absenceof a mound, or of any loose stone (the site is under turf) suggests very little else ever existed hereother than the kerb/circle (CADW listing 1988 - Cd 42).71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004FIGURE 9. Lle‘r neuaddau Cairn circle.(From 1975 drawing in RCAHMW archive)Although there are other smaller low lying Bronze Age cairns in the survey area as a whole, none of themare as significant in form or relationship as those already mentioned. The known burial mounds and cairnsthat lie along the east bank of the Afon Rheidol represent the main low lying ritual landscape that surroundsthe <strong>Plynlimon</strong> range. A further series of low lying cairns are also located in the area just north of Fainc Ddu(Area 8). This is only a small cluster of three mounds, but it has been suggested that these may be later peatmounds (NPRN: 284132 / 284138 / 284137).Other known significant Bronze Age cairns are to be found on the high summits, atop Drosgol (NPRN:282107 / 282106), Pumlimon Fawr (NPRN: 284062 / 303678 / 275659 / 309800), Pen Lluest y Carn(NPRN: 275647), Pen Pumlimon Arwystli (NPRN: 304829 / 284058 / 304830 / 304831), Y Garn (NPRN:303675) and Disgwylfa Fawr (NPRN: 303696).The two cairns on the summit of Drosgol (Area 1) are characterised by being much denuded and have beenreformed over time into stone shelters. The four large Scheduled cairns on the platform summit ofPumlimon Fawr (Area 9) are in much the same state as those on Drosgol, in that they too have been muchreformed over the centuries into stone enclosures for shelter. The best preserved cairn on top of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>(NPRN:275659) is approx……. ― 55ft in diameter and about 10ft in height, including a modem cairn ontop. There is a doubtful trace of a short length of laid-facing on the west. The site remains much asdescribed by the OS except that a modern shelter has appeared on the NE side and a fence erected acrossthe eastern edge. There is now no trace of laid facing. The cairn appears to be founded on a natural boss ofrock. The very top has been altered slightly since my 1988 visit, but the cairn is otherwise unchanged. Ashort length (c. 0.5m) on the west appears as if constructed of drystone walling, with the stones laid flatabove one another; this may be the laid facing reported by OS, but the effect appears fortuitous to me.These cairns are visible from the next summit to the east, where there are traces of further unscheduledcairns, but not from the intervening saddle; they are also visible from Pen <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Arwystii beyond (Cd35). They dominate the view of the range from many directions to the west ‖ (CADW listing SAM Cd 150 -1993).The cairns atop Pen Lluest-y-carn (Area 9), Pen Pumlimon Arwystli (Area 12), Y Garn (Area 10) andDisgwylfa Fawr (Area 3) are all scheduled monuments and are all very similar in form, being summit cairnsconsisting of heaps of piled stones and each aving been reformed at some time into sheep folds or shelters.The cairn on top of Disgwylfa Fawr (Area 3) is the only summit cairn however that has a record of anyexcavation. The Cadw listing description for this site is as follows;― The barrow was opened in 1937 by Alfred R. Jenkins, The Garage, Ponterwyd and JW Smith,who produced a sketch of the barrow. They uncovered two wooden "dug-outs" and a "Food Vessel.The Bronze Age round barrow was approx. 65ft in diameter and 6ft high on Disgwylfa Fawrsummit, excavated and wrecked in 1957. It contained a <strong>central</strong> cremation accompanied by a smallflint chip, in a canoe-shaped dug-out oak trunk 5ft long, beneath which lay a similar trunk 8 to 9ft71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004long; they were surrounded by a large stone ring. A biconical grooved lugged food vessel of Irishtype was associated with the burial It is 6.7ins high, 8.2 ins at its widest, and preserved in theNational Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Tumulus on Disgwylfa Fawr summit, at 1660 feet above OD.Now a turf covered mound, about 6feet high and 70 feet in diameter, apparently composed mainlyof fine, gravelly soil, though a few stones are visible. It has been opened by a trench, refilled, fromthe south. Condition good. Examined by A.H.A.Hogg, 4/6/65. A turf-covered round barrow asdescribed above, 21.0m in diameter, 2.5m in height. There is a slight <strong>central</strong> depression, otherwisethe feature is in good condition. No visible remains of a ditch. Cairn on unenclosed moorland. Thelarge, turf-covered barrow is still as described, with a <strong>central</strong> hollow. A small stone summit cairn ofpresumably recent date has been built on the W edge of the barrow. A quite well worn track fromthe west branches near the barrow and passes part on each side. There are commanding views in alldirections (as far as I could tell in the mist!)‖(CADW listing 1988 - Cd 30). (For a more in depthdescription of the findings see the article in Antiquity Journal 1939; BBCS 1938)With regards known standing stones in the area there are surprisingly few, only 7 in total. There is astanding pair (NPRN: 301687), locally known as the ‗Bwlch a‘r Llo‘ or ‗Cow and Calf‘, at the far west endof the survey area near Esgair Gorlan (Area 5). The largest stone is approx. 2m in height x 1.25m girth. Thesmaller stone is approx. 4m further east, and is approx. 1.25m in height x 1.25m in girth. There are nomarkings evident on either of these stones. The landscape here is tall grass and marsh land. A furtherstanding, similar in form to this pair, is also located 100m to the west, although this stone is outside of thesurvey area. However approx. 800m to the east is a small white quartz boulder (Area 4) which has beendescribed in the past as being a standing stone (NPRN: 282137). A further pair of standing stones (NPRN:284077), are to be found on the hill above the Llywernog Lead Mine museum (Area 6). This stone pair areeach approx. 0.50m high x 0.50m wide. They are set approx. 3m apart and orientated NW-SE. They arelocated on a rising slope only approx. 20m from a ponded area. In the area known as Garn Lwyd, in theritual landscape close to Hirnant (Area 7), is a small standing stone at the base of a rock outcrop (NPRN:303683). This standing stone is reportedly approx. 1.10m high with a girth of approx. 3 ft. However, at thetime of the field visit a standing stone only approx. 0.60m high with a girth of approx. 0.30m was observedat the given location. The last standing stone in the area is located in the area of ‗Fainc Ddu‘ (Area 8)known in the archive records as Pen Cor-maen standing stone (NPRN: 303680). Although marked on themodern Ordnance Survey map at the time of the field visit no standing stone was found at the givenlocation. It is presumed that this stone has either been moved or destroyed or else the grid reference given iswrong.Other than these few Bronze Age sites the only other evidence for Bronze Age activity is in the form offind-spots. These include a bronze age socket-looped spearhead found in the 1930s (NPRN: 284255) foundon the south-west upper slope of Pumlimon Fawr, and a further bronze age object, for which there is noinformation readily available within the archive, found close to the summit of Pen Pumlimon Arwystli(NPRN: 284072). It is very likely that both of these finds were originally found within the cairns atop bothof these summits and then later discarded.With regards the Iron Age period, there are two known Iron Age sites within the survey area, both of theseare Iron Age hill fort remains. The first of these is located on top of the small rocky hill known as ‗Dinas‘ or‗Fort‘ (NPRN: 303697). The following description of Dinas hillfort has been extracted from the CadwScheduled Monument listing description;―The top of an isolated hill reaching 1262 feet above sea level is crowned by an enclosure. Theelongated oval is determined by the ground, which falls precipitously with sheer rock outcropsalong the longer sides. The enclosure appears to be stone built with material from an inner spoilditch which can be traced irregularly on all sides. There is no apparent ditch. The entrance, a simplegap, is on the north side. Open moor. A small early Iron Age univallate hill fort, the bank havingbeen formed from the large internal quarry ditch; there is no outer ditch. There is one hut platformnear the centre of the enclosure and possibly three others. One exists on the hillside 450 yards tothe south (SN 78 SW 21). 'Dinas', an IA univallate hilltop settlement or fort, at 1250 feet above sealevel,occupying the summit of an isolated hill, with very steep natural slopes on all but the southside. The work measures internally, 112.0m north-south, by 54.0m transversely. The rampartaverages 6.0m in width, and 0.5m in height internally, but is up to 2.0m high externally. Precipitous71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004scree slopes and natural rock outcrops are incorporated into the defences on the east and west sides.A simple cut original entrance is in the south end of the work. A hut site near the centre is 5.0m indiameter. North of it is a 7.0m stretch of bank with a ditch on the lower, north side, possibly theremains of an internal division. 50.0m to the southeast is the possible site of another hut. Quarryditches exist around the north and south ends of the enclosure. The site is under moorland pasture,and is in good condition. Oval shaped hillfort on summit of rocky hill,with steep slopes to W andE, and a saddle of gently sloping ground to N and S. The whole is on unenclosed rough moorland,used for sheep grazing. Probably never cultivated, certainly not in recent years. The defences alongthe steep longer E and W sides are insignificant, but on the short N and S sides, there is a singlebank 2m high internally, 5m high externally. The entrance seems to be on the N side, and is nowused for occasional vehicular access. There are two slight tracks elsewhere through the rampartsmade by sheep, neither have erosion problems. Grass. Possibly disturbed on S side - there are anumber of irregularities within the bank here. It is interesting to note in the foregoing descriptionsthat Sian Rees would put the main entrance on the N, while OS would have it on the S; their plandoes not even show a break on the N. In fact, there are clear breaks which would make plausibleentrances at both ends, that on the S being accompanied by a gap in the internal quarry ditch. Thequarry ditch on the N is rather less clear, being more in the nature of a series of stepped hollows tothe E of the entrance. There are numerous possible positions for huts, especially towards the northand south ends; the quarry ditch may also have afforded a sheltered location. The hill is humped inthe middle, so that the two ends are not visible from each other. The hut position marked by OS inthe external scree does not look very convincing. The banks are most pronounced at the south end,where I certainly would not describe them as irregular; those on the north seem moreuneven…………..The gentlest approach is from the S, although that from the N is not too steepeither. There is a small sheep scrape on the W side of the S entrance, not serious There are rushesin and just outside the entrance, and also in the eastern quarry ditch; otherwise the site is coveredwith short unimproved grass. The cross-bank marked by OS just to the north of the crest of the hillinside the enclosure is not especially high, although clearly visible. It is about 4.5m wide and about12m long, although it is hard to be precise because it merges with the rock outcrop on the W andpeters out on the E. If this bank defines an inner and outer enclosure, there does not seem to-be ananswering stretch to the E where one might have been expected, this could always have been filledby fencing. The mound might also be seen as a later boundary (although it does not seem toconnect with any line outside the enclosure) or perhaps a pillow mound, although it seems veryremote for this‖ (CADW listing 1988 – Cd55).The other Iron Age hillfort (NPRN: 282931) remains are located toward the base of Disgwylfa Fach (Area4), approx. 800m north-north-west of Dinas. The location and remains of this fort are not nearly asimpressive as that of Dinas. The Disgwylfa Fach fort is a tri-vallate hillfort sitting atop a steep-sided ridgeand is defended on its north side by three banks. A single bank defends the west, south and part of the eastsides: a scarp forms the edge on the remainder of the east side. There is one possible hut circle (NPRN282932) inside the fort.At the western base of Dinas are the remains of a former enclosed settlement, however this is thought to bemedieval in date.Although there are no sites or features within the survey area pertaining to the Roman Period, the remainsof a Roman fort, that of ‗Cae Gaer‘, is to be found just south-west of Pont Rhydgaled in the lower valleybelow Llechwedd Hirgoed (Area 13)(NGR: SN 82235 8189). It is thought that this fort was probablyabandoned by A.D. 80 (BURNHAM 1995).Before mention of sites and features within the survey area of the Medieval period, it is worth noting at thispoint the inclusion of ‗Pumlimon‘ within the Mabinogion in the ‗Story of Culhwch and Olwen‘, one of theearliest Welsh Arthurian tales. As part of Culhwch‘s quest for his bride, his followers happen to findthemselves atop <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain. Within the story it says,―As Cei and Bedwyr were sitting on top of Pumlumon on Carn Gwylathyr, in the highest wind inthe world, they looked about them and they could see a great smoke towards the south, far off fromthem, and not blowing across with the wind. And then Cei said, 'By the hand of my friend, see71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004yonder the fire of a warrior.' They hastened towards the smoke and approached thither, watchingfrom afar as Dillus the Bearded was singeing a wild boar. Now, he was the mightiest warrior thatever fled from Arthur. Then Bedwyr said to Cei, "Dost know him?' 'I know him,' said Cei; 'that isDillus the Bearded. There is no leash in the world may hold Drudwyn the whelp of Greid son ofEri, save a leash from the beard of him thou seest yonder. And that too will be of no use unless it beplucked alive with wooden tweezers from his beard; for it will be brittle, dead.' 'What is ourcounsel concerning that?' asked Bedwyr. 'Let us suffer him,' said Cei, 'to eat his fill of meat andafter that he will fall asleep.' Whilst he was about this, they busied themselves making tweezers.When Cei knew for certain that he was asleep, he dug a pit under his feet, the biggest in the world,and he struck him a blow mighty past telling, and pressed him down in the pit until they hadentirely twitched out his beard with the tweezers; and after that they slew him outright ― (JONES +JONES 1949 pp127-128).Within this 14 th century text, the fact that the mention of Pumlimon along with the name of a cairn, that of‗Carn Gwylathyr‘or ‗Watch or look-out‘ cairn, exists in the text, shows that the Pumlimon range was amuch respected and inspiring topographic feature in this landscape.According to Meyrick‘s 1810 ‗History of Cardiganshire‘, the greater part of the survey area, that of‗Llanbadarn Fawr‘ fell within the old Hundred of ‗Geneu‘r Glyn‘. Within this parish and within the surveyarea were the hamlets of Trefeurig, Parcel Canol, Cwm Rheidol and Melindwr. The manor for this hundredwas called ‗Y Vaenor‘ and belonged to the Duke of Leeds (MEYRICK 1810; LEWIS 1833).Known early medieval sites within the survey area are non-existent and even later medieval sites are veryscarce. Although rare, later medieval - early post medieval sites are present however in the form ofplatforms, a few long huts, one burnt mound, early lluests and boundary banks, along with the remains of apossible late medieval settlement at the western base of Dinas (NPRN:284162 - Area 4). Perhaps one of themost significant medieval finds this century in this area however, is the discovery in 1938 of a medievalburial cairn atop Dinas wherein human bones and a portion of a suit of armour were unearthed by A.Jenkins, G. Edwards and J.W. Smith (NPRN 284079). It is thought that the plate of armour is of 15 thcentury origin. The whereabouts of this armour is unknown. Supposedly this cairn was one of three atopDinas, the other two are no longer present or else are hidden.According to Meyrick, ‗The blade of a British spear, or pike, called Fonwayw, found about forty years ago,was in the possession of Mr Lewis Morris, the antiquary. It was dug up in a bog on the side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>Mountain, and was two edged, and about ten inches long, having been nailed in a slit in the end of awooden handle. It was of brass, and the nails of the same materials‘(MEYRICK 1810, p 300). Thewhereabouts of this object is unknown.One of the lluest site‘s (‗Bwlch-y-hendre‘ NPRN: 284055), now submerged by the Nant y Moch reservoir,was excavated in 1962 by LAS Butler. The following has been extracted and adapted from an article inCeredigion 1963, detailing the results of this excavation;―This note describes the examination of an isolated long hut in the upper Rheidol valley. The workwas part of a survey by the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on Ancient Monuments of those areas to be floodedas a result of the Rheidol Valley Hydro-Electric Scheme.The hut stands beside the Afon Camddwr, one mile above its junction with the main stream of theRheidol at a point some 4 1 / 2 miles north of Ponterwyd and 10 1 / 2 miles east-north-east ofAberystwyth. The site lies at about 1080 feet above sea level, occupying a shelf of level ground 8feet above the stream's south bank and lying slightly to the west of an extensive peat bog, Cors-ygarreg.When first noted by Mr. Hogg, the outline of the hut was clearly visible in the coarse turf asa stone-faced bank, generally 3 feet wide and 2 feet high except where robbed at one corner. Theinterior was filled with rushes. Limited excavation was undertaken during 1962 and in the spring of1963 the site was submerged as the Nant-y-moch reservoir reached completion.The hut was 30 feet long by 11 feet internally and the method of examination adopted was to clearsections 6 feet wide by 5 feet long alternately throughout the hut. Beneath the turf, mainly rushes,was a stone tumble on to a gravel layer 4 to 6 inches thick which in turn overlay natural yellowbrownpeaty soil. It was necessary to clear a complete cross section at the centre to reveal the71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004doorway and at each end to examine the domestic arrangements. At the south end the gable hadfallen inwards on to a clean gravel floor, while at the lower (north) end, where the gable had fallenoutwards, a hearth and bakestone were <strong>central</strong>ly placed. The lower end wall -was 4^ feet thickwhile the other three walls were 3 feet thick. The doorway was slightly nearer the lower end andwas a simple gap 30 inches wide without sill or door posts ; it could be distinguished only becausethe gravel spread continued through it instead of stopping at the side walls.All the walls were of simple construction ; massive boulders formed the outer faces and a packingof smaller stones and turf provided the infilling. At a few points the side walls stood three or fourcourses high. Their material was entirely local, using shales or boulders from the bottom farms;such ruins also occur at Nant glas and Nant coch on the hillside above Bwlchystyllen and at Lluestyr-helfalas, Lluest-y-cerrig, and Lluest nant-y-clehir on Disgwylfa Fawr.The utilisation of these uplands for cattle rearing and sheep raising was not an innovation of themid-eighteenth century. Documentary evidence from Llandre parish provides names for a numberof Iluestau in the upper reaches ofAfon Leri. From them it seems likely that at least by the end ofthe sixteenth century, if not earlier, the penetration of the valleys eastward from the coast hadreached the 600 foot contour and a ring of Iluestau stood on the uplands by the infant streams eachcomplementary to the settlement beside the streams' middle reach. The next stage was presumablythe extension of grazing, and accompanying seasonal settlement, onto the plateau at the head of theRheidol basin. Within such a sequence of expanding settlement the isolated long hut beside theCamddwr could well be an early seventeenth-century summer outpost of a farm in the Ceulan orPerfedd valley, four or five miles away. It could have had a secondary function as a peat-cuttinghut. In contrast to the westward penetration of the upper Rheidol from the coast, the development ofthe Rheidol's middle reach would be undertaken from the south ; perhaps Hen hafod (8 N.W., SN763845) marks the limit of late medieval advance.Within this pattern of development must be accommodated the trackways which roam across theuplands linking the summer pastures with the initial lowland settlement, the hendre, and leading tothe common turbaries or peatbogs. The main track through the Camddwr valley is the one passingfrom Bwlch-yr-hendre to Esgair hir, at one time forming the most frequent route betweenPonterwyd and Mach-ynlleth. Later miners' routes now link many side valleys and by traversing theheights obscure the earlier pattern of trackways. The name Bwlch-yr-hendre (the pass of the oldsettlement) is given to the point (SN 737872) at which the route climbs southwards out of theCamddwr valley and drops into the valley now graced by Llyn Craig-y-pistyll. This suggests anadjacent settlement of greater antiquity than the temporary Iluestau. Yet the nearest habitation, andthe only one visible from the pass, would be this isolated long hut. However, this is hardly to beidentified as the hendre at any time in the hut's existence. Presumably this pass led to the hendre butwhether this is to be sought in the valley of the Rheidol or that of the more distant Leri is uncertain.The excavation serves to indicate how difficult is the dating of archaeology. An approach to theproblem from an examination of land utilisation suggests that a date within the period 1550-1750 ismost likely. The primary function of this hut was a summer dairy house (Iluest) with possiblesecondary use as a peat-cutting shelter. This seasonally occupied hut with no associated cultivationshould predate the permanent settlement of the Camddwr valley in the mid-eighteenth century‖(BULTLER 1962, pp 400-407).71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004FIGURE 10. Ground plan of Bwlch-y-Hendre lluest.After Butler 1963 (NPRN: 284055).This lluest appears to be one of a series of huts of likely the same period in the area of the Nant y Mochreservoir. Further known similar sites are also located along the reservoir‘s tidal banks. Other known lonelong huts of the early post medieval period are known in the area as a whole. These include ‗Bryn yr Afr‘long hut (NPRN: 284112), Lluest y Cerrig hut (NPRN: 284075), Bryn Beddau long hut (NPRN: 284111),Bwlch Craig Goch long hut (NPRN: 284117), Nant Llechwedd Mawr long hut (NPRN: 111743), BwlchHengwm long hut (NPRN: 284113), Bryn y Afr long hut (NPRN: 284112), Nant y Moch long hut (NPRN:284154), Nant Rhudd (NPRN: 284084), Pen Lluest-y-carn (NPRN: 284083).Further post medieval deserted rural settlement sites are also recorded across the whole survey area. Theseinclude, Nant Dinas (NPRN: 284162), Lluest Carreg Wreiddin (NPRN: 282946), Lluest y Meinciau(NPRN: 282889), Lluest y Nant y Cleehir (NPRN: 282740), Afon Tarenig (NPRN: 282898), Carreg yMarchfaen (NPRN: 282910), Crugiau Lluest Gerig (NPRN: 284074), and Lluest Fach Hengwm (NPRN:282904).Known ruinous deserted rural farmsteads in the area include ‗Blaen Peithnant (NPRN: 282998), Nant yMoch (NPRN: 284154), Lluest Fawr Hengwm (NPRN: 29483), Lluest Maesnant (NPRN: 282906),Syfyddrin (NPRN: 282943), Geifaes (NPRN: 284085), Hen Hafod (NPRN: 282519), Nant y Llyn (NPRN:282905 ) and Nant Caerhedyn (NPRN: 282965).Farmsteads in the survey area still in use as dwellings or working farms include, Maesnant (NPRN:282906), Aber Ceiro (NPRN: 309472), Ty‘n Rhos (NPRN: 282527), Lle‘r neuaddau (NPRN: 282518),Aber Peithnant (NPRN: 282496), Nant y Caerhedyn (NPRN: 282890), Hirnant (NPRN: 310537), PontRhydgaled (NPRN: 282648) and Eisteddfa Gurig (NPRN: 282595).A great number of these farmsteads and lluestau are mentioned in a 1744 manuscript by Lewis Morris, theantiquarian, addressed to one T. Walker, the Surveyor General in response to the Crown Treasury‘sawakened interest in the potential for lead and silver mines in the area. The following text has been71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004extracted and adapted from a copy of a letter to Lewis Morris from the Surveyor General and the results ofMorris‘s survey taken from Lewis Morris ‗Lead & Silver Mines of Cardiganshire‘. All lluestau confidentlyidentified and known within the survey area are highlighted and marked by NPRN;A copy of the Surveyor General's warrant―SirIt being necessary for His Majesty's service to have a correct survey and plan of the manner ofCumwood y Perveth in the county of Cardigan, these are therefore to authorise and desire you torepair to the said mannor and survey the same and make a correct plan thereof, particularlydescribing the wastes and commons within the said mannor belonging to the Crown, and the landsbelonging to the freeholders, and also all mines of copper, lead, tin or other minerals within the saidmannor; but more particularly to describe a lead mine within the parish of Llanbadarn Vawr withinthe said mannor, concerning the right to which mine a dispute is now depending in the court ofExchequer. And you are desired to transmit such survey and plan under your hand to me with allconvenient speed, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.Burlington Garden T. Walker, Surveyor General 2nd August 1744.To Mr Lewis Morris surveyor.Of the division of the mannor and common and of the cottages and summer houses.The mannor of Perveth is of antient time divided into 4 parts or parcels, called the parcel ofMelynddwr, the parcel of Cwmrheidiol, the parcel of Canol and the parcel of Treveirig. The majorcollects the chief rent of the parcel[s] of Melynddwr and Cwmrheidiol, and the biddle the other two.In each parcel there is a constable appointed yearly at the Leet, who is to look after the stocks andcommon pound in his parcel.In this mannor, interspers'd all over the common, there are small cottages which were originallysummer houses for shepherds and have an inclosure of a few acres of ground annex'd to them. Mostof them are now habitable all the year round, paying rent to the owners, generally under 20s to savetaxes. These cottages are called by the natives Lluestai to distinguish them from the freeholds.There hath been time out of mind a division of the common into particular districts or liberties, nextadjoyning to the freeholds and cottages, which all the shepherds thro' boldness or ignorance claimas their own right, and sometimes chase other people's-cattle away.The names and number of the cottages are as follows (See Lewis Morris map in cartographicsection Fig 27)Parcel of Melynddwr Above the Rheidol River: Aberpaethnant (NPRN: 282496), Blaen Paethnant (NPRN: 282998),Hen Havod (NPRN: 282519 ), Hirnant (NPRN: 310537 ), Lle'r Neuaddau (NPRN: 282518), TyCanol Henhavod (in ruins) (possibly NPRN: 282237).Below the Rhidol River: part of Dinas (NPRN: 284162), Blaen Llawerog, Y Geufaes(NPRN: 284085 ), Nant y Dinas (NPRN: 284162), Magwyr Pen Rhiw Hir.Above the Rheidol: Lluest Nant Graianog, Y Gelli Lechog, Troed Rhiw Widdon, Gwaun yLlynnau( in ruins), Eisteddfa (NPRN: 282595 ), Bryn Glas, Lluest y Garn(in ruins) (NPRN:284083 ), Nant y Nod (in ruins) (NPRN: possibly 282601), Nant yr Hydd (in ruins), Ceiro,Aberceiro (NPRN: 309472), Nant Garedyn (NPRN: 282890 ), Ty'n Rhos (NPRN: 282527), PontErwyd.Parcel of CwmrheidolBelow the Rheidol: West Pont Erwyd, Creignant, part of Dinas, Bryn Bras, Bryn Bras Isaf, LluestJohn Rowland, Lluest David John Evan, Lluest Llwyd Abertrinant, Lluest Tomas Parry, Lluest71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Pen y Graig Ddu,GwenffrwdLluest Thomas John Griffyth, Lluest Nant y Bwla, Glan y Dwr,Parcel of CanolAbove the Rheidol: Helfa (NPRN: 282915) near Lle'r Neuaddau, Nant y Moch (NPRN: 284154), CarregWreiddin (NPRN: 282946).Below the Rheidol: Lluest y Trafle, Lluest Blaen Melynddwr, Lluest Safydryn (NPRN: 282943), TyGwyn Safydryn (possibly NPRN: 282283), Lluest y Nant Coch (possibly NPRN: 282881), Lluest y NantGlas (NPRN: 284081 ), Bwlch Ystyllen (NPRN: 282260), Camdwr Mawr (NPRN: ), Lluest Helfa Las(NPRN: ), Lluest y Cerrig (NPRN: 284075), Lluest Nant y Clehir (NPRN: 282740), Lluest y Drosgol(NPRN: 282548) Magwyr y Rhos (near Camdwr, in ruins, no owner)Parcel of TreveirigAbove the Rheidol: Maesnant(NPRN: 282906), Nant y Llyn(NPRN: 282905), Hengwm (NPRN:284113), Lluest Fach Hengwm (NPRN: 282904) Lluest y Meingciau (in ruins, no owner) (NPRN:282889), Gelli Gogau.In all threescore and one.Some few of these cottages pay chief rent, as Carreg Wreiddyn, Lluest Thomas John Griffyth, TyddynLlawerneg, Ty‘n Rhos, etc, as appears by the Roll.The mannor of Perveth, commonly called Cwmmwd y Perveth, in the county of Cardigan, Southwales,is in length from east to west 14 miles [and] in breadth from north to south about 4 miles, so that itcontains about 50 square miles or 32,000 acres, near 20,000 acres of which is a common, and is rich inmines of lead and silver. It belongs to the Crown, the king being lord of the manner, and a court byprescription is kept there every fortnight in the king's name to try actions of debts or damages under 40sby a jury of 6 men, the steward of which court is judge there appointed by patent under the Crown, andthere are two Leet courts kept there yearly to examine into public nusances and matters in relation to thepeace as in other manners. The number of the resident freeholders that ought to attend the Leet here inAD 1747 are 16.There is a chief rent paid yearly by the freeholders of this manor of £17:3:10 which is collected bycertain officers chose yearly by the Leat jury and paid into the audit.The major or praepositor's part, 7:3:10The biddle‘s part, 10:0:0Of escheated land, mesne lordships or other pretended manners within the mannor of Perveth.In the west corner of this mannor there is a mesne lordship called Rhyd onnen, the tenants of which paybetween them 13s 4d cheif rent to Thomas Johnes of Abermade, esq., and also pay to the lord of thismannor as lord paramount, like other freeholders, and have always paid suit and service to the court ofthis mannor.About the middle of the mannor of Perveth there are some tenements and cottages which are pretendedto be a distinct mannor from Perveth and belonging to John Pugh Pryse, an infant, heir of the lateThomas Pryse of Gogerthan, esq., and called by the name of Nant yr Arian, [marginal note : Nant yrArian}.There is a large tract of a common of several miles grazed by these tenants pretended also to be part ofthe said new mannor. None of these tenements pay at present any chief rent to Perveth, tho' by an oldrentroll it appears some of them did formerly, most of them being originally but cottages andencroachments on the mountain. The family of Gogerthan have rais'd for their own use there the waivesand strayes for 40 years past, and have chased and impounded from the common, the poor neighboursbeing not able to dispute with them. But they never disputed paying suit and service to the mannor ofPerveth till about two years ago [marginal note: Suit and service withdrawn}. And even the late Thomas71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Pryse hath sued his own tenants of that pretended lordship in the court of Perveth for arrears of rent.They never kept either a Court Leet or a Court Baron of their own, there being not a freehold of anyman but Mr Pryse in the pretended lordship. This common is very rich in mines, but never work'd,because (it is like) the family of Gogerthan always knew they had no power to set the mines.Adjoyning to this large tract of a common to the southward there is another common of vicinage,[marginal note: The common where Bwlch Gwyn mine is ] divided from it by the river Llawerneg andgrazed by all the adjoyning inhabitants time out of mind and to this very day without interruption. Andthey have always and to this day upon their several districts or liberties cut turf, heath and wood upon itwithout interruption. About the year 1735 Thomas Powell of Nanteos, esq., having a freehold tenementof escheated land joyning on this mountain upon which there was a lead minework, and the veinpointing into the mountain or common, some of the miners discovered ore on the common at a placecalled Bwlch [text breaks off at foot of p. viii, next page or pages missing]‖ (adapted from Lewis Morris‘Lead and Silver Mines of Cardiganshire).As the lluestau mentioned by Lewis Morris in this text were in existence in 1744, this implies that theywere in existence for some time previously, many of them likely being either 17 th century or slightly earlieror else early 18 th century in date.The Lewis Morris text of 1744 aptly introduces the 18 th and 19 th century mining history of this landscape.The post-medieval history of the landscape within the bounds of the survey is essentially a history of thelead mining industry in Cardiganshire and west Montgomeryshire. For a comprehensive study into thishistory see W.J. Lewis‘ ‗Lead Mining in Cardiganshire‘, in the ‗Cardiganshire County History Vol 3‘ andD. Bick‘s ‗Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales‘. In order to understand the post medieval mining sites andfeatures found within this uplands landscape, short adapted extracts have been taken from the abovementionedstudies. The W.J. Lewis article focuses mainly on the large key mines in the Cardiganshirecounty along with its key elite landowners and entrepreneurs. With regards the uplands area underinvestigation, it seems that the principle landowners were the Pryse family of the Gogerddan estate. Shortexerts from parts of the W.J. Lewis text relating to the Pryse family and mentioned sites in the survey areaare included below, however the principle text for the mines within the area are from D. Bick‘sdescriptions;― In the late seventeenth century the lead mining industry in Cardiganshire embarked on a period ofstriking development. In 1690 a valuable vein of silver-lead ore was discovered by a shepherd atEsgair-hir on the Gogerddan estate. Anxious to profit from the discovery, Sir Carbery Pryse ofGogerddan began to work the mine himself. Since the ore was argentiferous, the mine was claimedby the Mines <strong>Royal</strong> Society, but Pryse refused to hand it over. As a result, the dispute was broughtbefore the House of Lords. The first hearing went in Pryse's favour but, because it was proved thatthe sample of ore shown at the hearing was not from Esgair-hir, there was a retrial. The Lords,composed almost entirely of landowners, sided with the squire of Gogerddan. As a result,Parliament passed an Act which deprived the Mines <strong>Royal</strong> Society of its monopoly and gave tolandowners the right to work and profit from all mines on their land, provided they sold anyargentiferous ore to the Crown at £9 a ton. Delighted with this, Sir Carbery is said to have ridden onhorseback from London to Gogerddan in forty-eight hours to spread the glad tidings. Insofar as thisAct opened the mines to far more people, it increased the supply of capital available. It alsoincreased the supply of labour, for incoming mine promoters often brought in skilled miners. SirCarbery began to work Esgair-hir with vigour, but was prevented from raising much ore bydrainage problems. He then formed a company, but before it could become fully operational hedied, and work at the mine ceased. His successor, Edward Pryse, showed no aptitude for mining.In 1697 Sir Humphrey Mackworth, the Neath coalowner, called at a tavern in Llanbadarn Fawr andheard of the company's predicament. He made inquiries and was informed that, if managedproperly, Esgair-hir would provide work for 600 men and yield an annual profit of over £70,000.Mackworth then took a lease on the mines and soon realized that more capital would be required.To obtain this he devised a scheme whereby partners in Carbery Pryse's company could either selltheir shares to Mackworth or exchange them for tickets in a lottery. His plan was immediatelyaccepted and the Company of Mine Adventurers was formed in 1695. One of its aims was thegranting of ‗several Charities‘ out of the profits ‗to the Poor of every county in England and71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Wales‘. The sale of tickets for the lottery was opened to the general public in October 1698; over£25,000 was subscribed on the first day. In five months enough tickets had been sold to enable theprize draw to be held. Those who held the first 700 tickets to be drawn were also to share in themanagement of the company.One of the men behind the scheme was William Waller, a former employee of the Mines <strong>Royal</strong>Society in Westmorland, where he had been dismissed for some misdemeanour. He then made apractice of invading the rights of the Society until he was forced to leave the area. He settled inCardiganshire and attached himself to Sir Carbery Pryse, whom he persuaded to defy the Mines<strong>Royal</strong> Society. It was Waller, too, who persuaded Mackworth to take over the mines. Thecompany's prospectus, written by Waller, contained many exaggerations, such as the statement thatEsgair-hir had ‗eight large veins of silver, lead and copper … which can't be parallelled in thewhole of the Christian World‘. He called the mine ‗the Welsh Potosi‘ to emphasize its similarity tothe great silver mines of Bolivia. Thousands of pamphlets describing the mine and its prospects inglowing terms were distributed throughout Britain in order to attract investors.In practice, the much-publicized treasures of the Welsh Potosi proved difficult to unearth and it wasnot long before shareholders became restive. Statements, most of them misleading and prepared byWaller, were sent out in an attempt to restore confidence. The main difficulty was ridding the mineof water and Waller ‗was not skilled in engines‘ which could do this work. Eventually committeesof inspection visited the mine and found much to condemn in Waller's management. He wasdismissed and forced to leave his house at Ynys-hir. He then went to London where he conducted acampaign of vilification against the Company of Mine Adventurers.For the first ten years of working the mines of Cardiganshire, the company had little to show.Although it leased twenty-eight mines, fifteen of them did not produce any ore worth recording. Atotal of 3,658 tons of ore was produced up to August 1708, but at a very high cost. Only 1,123 tonswere raised at 'the Great Mine of Esgair hir‘ and what Waller called ‗the Glorious Work ofGoginan‘ yielded only twenty tons, which cost £627 to raise. Mackworth was accused ofmisleading the public; he was brought before the House of Commons and found 'guilty of manynotorious and Scandalous Frauds'. There is little or no evidence to suggest that he gained financiallyby his actions. As for Waller, the question was asked: 'How a certain person that was so poor in1698 as to want Money to buy bread for his Family came to be so Rich in a few Years as to aboundboth in Money and Plate‖ (LEWIS 1998, p160).Within the survey area as a whole are the remains of 17 post medieval lead mines, each with its ownnetwork of leats. These metal mines include, the Lywernog Lead Mine (now a museum near Ponterwyd,Cardiganshire), the Ponterwyd Lead Mine (north-east of Llywernog Lead Mine, Cardiganshire), the Bryn yrAfr Lead Mine (now submerged by Nant y Moch Reservoir, Cardiganshire), the South Cambrian LeadMine (partly submerged by Nant y Moch Reservoir, Cardiganshire), the Nant y Cwpl Lead Mine (nowsubmerged by the Nant y Moch Reservoir), the Camddwr Lead Mine (now submerged by the Nant y MochReservoir ), the <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Lead Mine (south-eastern lower slopes of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, Cardiganshire), the Bwlchy stylllen Lead Mine (west end of survey area, Cardiganshire), the Hore Lead Mine ( east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>,Montomeryshire), the Bog Lead Mine (north of Ponterwyd, Cardiganshire), the Nant yr Eira Lead Mine(east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, Montomeryshire), the Nant y Iago Lead Mine (east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, Montomeryshire), theWest Wye Valley Lead Mine (south-east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, in old county of Montomeryshire), the Llyn LlygadLead Mine (northern slopes of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>), Blaen Wye (east of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>), Hirgoed Ddu Lead Mine (nearEisteddfa Gurig), and the Nant Nod Lead Mine (near Pont Rhydgfaled). The majority of these mines beganwork either in the mid-late 18 th century or else in the early-mid 19 th century,, however a few have muchearlier 18 th century origins. Most of the mines came into disuse in the late 19 th century, however a few, suchas Bryn Afr Lead Mine, were still in production in 1912.David Bick in his ‗Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales‘ describes the readily available history of only a handfulof the key mines mentioned above.―The first to attract our attention is PLYNLIMMON (SN 795856) to which a long and rough carttrack ascends from Eisteddfa Gurig. Within the shadow of the highest mountain in Mid-Wales, its71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004situation at 1800 ft above sea level is bleak in the extreme, with shocking weather for much of theyear. Even so, drought often brought the water-powered machinery to a stand, so that one way oranother the elements played havoc with operations both above ground and below. Under suchconditions a considerable output of lead ore (3270 tons) was nevertheless achieved.The mine commenced production in 1866, after a working miner found solid galena about 3 incheswide in the stream. Results were immediate and highly promising; the adit penetrated 155 fathomsin good ore and when a new company took possession in 1870, about 1000 tons had already beensold, with one foot of galena still showing in the 12 fathom level. A new 50 ft diameter water wheelstarted work on 26th October 1870 and the old 40 ft wheel thenceforth served for crushing anddrawing. But water supplies proved so unreliable that within a year an 18 inch horizontal steamengine costing £700 was installed and connected by gearing to the pumping wheel.Captain John Garland succeeded John Paul as manager in February 1873 - a position which thelatter was no doubt glad enough to relinquish. In addition to the shortage of power, great difficultypersisted in attracting labour to so desolate a spot, where the lack of a nearby public housepresented ' a grievous fault in the eyes of the miners '.At the 1875 A.G.M. it was admitted that the steam engine had proved totally useless, having almostshaken the pumping wheel to pieces, and in the October a breakage occurred in the line of flat rodsto the new shaft (sunk on rising ground to the east). Hardly was this repaired when the balance bobbroke in two. However these setbacks were minor compared to lack of water for pumping, and forlong periods flooding rendered the bottoms unworkable.Although £38,000 of ore had been raised by the end of 1876, Plynlimmon still failed to pay costsand a new concern took over in the following year. Previously the winzes below the 24 fathomlevel were drained by the primitive expedient of man power, which was soon replaced by a systemof wire ropes from the 50 ft wheel to pumps via the adit. Further troubles included the bursting ofthe reservoir in December 1876. But by now, lead prices were on the verge of decline, and twelveyears of struggle ended in 1878 when the 36 fathom level turned out poorer than expected,In spite of the record, Plynlimmon revived a few years later and yielded 195 tons of ore between1887 and 1891. Apart from a little further work in 1895 it has lain dormant ever since.Today the dumps (still with good specimens of galena) point like some giant finger down thevalley, with the shafts, tramroads and wheelpits forming their own memorial to one of the mostdiscouraging mine sites in Wales (BICK 1923, pp 6-8)Although just out of the bounds of the present survey area it is worth mentioning the former existence of themines of ‗Castell‘, also known as the ‗West Esgairlle‘ (SN 775813) and the ‗Bryn Glas‘ mine (SN 753815).Both of these mines must have had a pronounced affect on the surrounding landscape as well as having hada significant impact on all of the other mines in the area as well offering employment.―Across a watersplash just below Dyffryn Castell Hotel lies CASTELL or WEST ESGAIRLLE(SN 775813). This shallow mine exploited the powerful lode that extends as far as the Vale ofRheidol, and was being opened for blende by Thomas Bonsall in 1785 ; it had however, probablyclosed by 1803, when the thriving South Wales ironworks had attracted nearly every Cardiganshireminer.During a re-working in 1856, Nicholas Ennor favoured Castell with a passing glance during hisannual tour of mines likely to interest investors. Writing to the Mining Journal he ridiculed themanagement for erecting a waterwheel' so high on the hill as to be unable to obtain sufficient waterto turn it'. This drew a strong retort and explanations from Captain Lester, who also stated that thewheel was for a crusher 18 fathoms north of Engine Shaft, with a pumping and drawing wheel to beplaced between. Nevertheless, Ennor judged correctly, for in November 1856 the property completewith 30 ft x 4 ft waterwheel came up for sale, being optimistically described as ' in perfect workingorder and offering to capitalists an opportunity seldom to be met with '. The auctioneer was T. P.Thomas.The mine reopened again on several occasions, the longest run being from 1898 to 1908. Thepresent crusher house with its lofty tapering walls was erected in 1898 by Captain J. Owen for the71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004New Castell Mines Ltd., and the fine wheelpit alongside (43 ft x 5 ft) may date from this period.Castell produced over 5000 tons of blende and a little galena.Behind the crusher house and guarded by a fence are huge opencut workings, to the west of whichis Engine Shaft with walls of the balance pit. Towards the crusher house is a hollow that no doubtcontained Captain Lester's wheel, but of his pumping and drawing wheelpit there is no trace—probably it was never built.A mile west of Castell and north of the river is BRYNGLAS (SN 753815) which was first workedabout 1745 when some poor miners sank a shaft a few fathoms onto a solid rib of galena 5 ins thick.Several lodes occur here and at later dates five or six adits were driven to intersect them, some fromclose beside the main road. The mine was active for a few years after 1855 and in 1860, 32 tons oflead ore were sold; but only a few months afterwards the following sale notice in the MiningJournal announced the venture's demise.‗The above mine has been worked by the present proprietors for nearly three years, and themachinery for pumping, crushing, and dressing the ore is of the very best description, and in perfectworking order.Upwards of £5000 has been expended in the erection of the machinery and the development of themine. The shaft is sunk 26 fms. In the level in the bottom of the lode is worth from 15 to 20 cwts. perfm. The lode in the 20 fm. level is also worth from 15 to 20 cwts. per fm. There is an abundantsupply of water, and the royalty is moderate.For further particulars, apply to the Secretary, at theoffices, Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury‘.This however was not quite the end of Brynglas, for an attempt at promotion occurred in 1879when it was claimed that a company of farmers and tradesmen had earlier sold 3114 tons of richsilver-lead ore from the mine. But nothing materialized beyond a fresh coat of paint on thewaterwheel.Remnants at Brynglas include the wheelpit near the river opposite a small car park, and the leatwhich can be followed along the hillside.Beyond Ponterwyd the road to Aberystwyth runs close to Afon Llywernog and watercourses thatfed the mines in the valley stand out high on the north side, like the parallel roads of Glen Roy.The mines were mainly active in the last century and suffered considerably at the hands of sharepushing speculators whose phoenix-like promotions sprang up every few years. Perhaps for thisreason none achieved more than a very limited success. The first is PONTERWYD (741807), apoor mine, little more than a trial, just north of the road. For a short time it was also known asCALIFORNIA of WALES - a reflection of the euphoria sweeping the Old World after fabulousgold discoveries in the New. A 32 ft waterwheel for pumping was erected near the turning to YstumTuen and commenced work on 10th September 1853. It was connected to two shafts by long runsof flat rods crossing the main road (see plan); the pitwork and rods had been derived from the bogmine which was then lying idle.In 1858 the Llywernog United Silver-Lead Mining Co. amalgamated the three mines of Llywernog,Bog and Ponterwyd, and at this period the pumping shafts were down to the 22 fathom levels. From1861 to 63 Ponterwyd became part of Clara United with J. B. Balcombe as Managing Director.Production figures are unknown, but must have been quite negligible judging from reports in theMining Journal.Across the road from Ponterwyd and on the same lode is CLARA (SN 737806) another small minewhere in February 1854 a new engine shaft was down 17 fathoms with nine men sinking. Preparationswere in hand to transfer the pitwork from the old shaft, and a new wheelpit was in course ofconstruction.In 1861 Clara United took over, and by 1867 the engine shaft had reached 44 ft below the 50 fathomlevel. According to the agent, the lode in the latter was deranged and changing its underlie, and thesinkers had encountered very hard ground. Nevertheless Clara's best years, such as they were, lay71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004ahead with 80 tons of lead ore returned in 1871/2 ; this being almost a half of the mine's total output.The mine closed in 1882.A little to the north, BOG or CRAIGNANT BACH (SN 738813) occupies a position near thesummit of Mynydd Ponterwyd. It was discovered by one W. Lewis about 1830 and was worked tojust below adit (10 fathoms) by Job Sheldon. In the 1840's John Taylor & Sons sank the mine 30 or40 fathoms deeper on a good shoot of ore with pumping effected by flat rods and a waterwheel asshown opposite. In 1858 it was again active above adit as part of Llywernog United.The workings reopened as Cardigan Old Bog in 1872 with James Overton as manager, and a newlode 15 fathoms to the south revealed some good ore in a shaft sunk 9 fathoms upon it. The companyerected an iron waterwheel (33 ft x 3 1 / 2 ft) for pumping and drawing, and it commenced work on 7thMarch 1873. It was situated well beyond sight of the mine to the south-west and the wheelpit withmassive granite bearers is still visible from the main road. Unfortunately the company collapsed alittle later without gaining the lowest levels, and all equipment came up for auction including ‗T bobbalances, pullies, standards, 440 yards of iron rope and 25 fathoms of 6 inch pumps‘.But the failure did not deter the Craignant Bach company from securing the lease in 1882 at a timewhen lead prices were at their lowest for 50 years. In this attempt both pumping and drawing wereeffected by wire ropes, the cable for working the drawing machine was ^ ins diameter and rancontinuously with presumably a clutch at the machine itself. 50 yds beyond, the shaft was fitted outwith a skip road for raising ore.By the October a pit for a 40 ft waterwheel was well under construction but the purpose and even thesite of this project is obscure. A month afterwards, when Bog had been forked to the 24 fathom leveland progress appeared very satisfactory, the agent revealed that the equipment could not withstand thestrain of another lift of pumps. Faced with such a predicament the management lost heart and Bogvery soon closed for the last time. It was indeed a sad commentary that neither company had beenable to reach the old bottoms; far less to carry out any serious new developments.1542 tons of lead ore were recorded, probably largely from the Taylor period, and 703 tons of blende.This mine well repays a visit from the industrial archaeologist. Both wheelpits and the drawingmachine foundations survive as well as indications of the courses taken by flat rods and cables thatworked at various times.FIGURE 11. Plan of Llywernog United Mines 1858.On the same lode and close to the main road is LLYWERNOG (733809) which now provides the siteof the recently opened Mining and Folk Museum. Lewis Morris leased a mine of this name in 1756,71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004probably for prospecting purposes only, and in 1810 the Cardiganshire historian S. R. Meyrickobserved that two mines called Llywernog were then operating in the vale, one by Sir Thomas Bonsalland the other by William Poole. He went on to say that ‗they were discovered about 40 years ago butwere so overpowered by water that they could not be worked. However an engine [waterwheel] hasbeen erected on each mine and the water cleared off. They consist of lead ore; quartz and black jack orzink ore‘. Poole's mine is apparently the one later known as Llywernog whilst Bonsall's workingprobably equates with Powell mine across the road. Bonsall's operations consisted of deep opencuts ' 28yards long in good ore ' with 50 men employed, but the venture had closed by 1813.Subsequently Llywernog attracted little attention until the early 1840's when the Francises werelooking for ventures to promote, not least to create jobs for several unemployed members of thefamily. It was then held by Robert Dunkin of Llanelly and a company named Rheidol United Mineswas proposed to manage the mine in association with Rhiwrugos and Nantglas, the latter two beingseveral miles away. George Francis jnr. was to act as manager with Absalom Francis of Flintshire avisiting director. However, it is doubtful whether much was done, for when in 1858 the LlywernogUnited prospectus appeared, the depth was only 30 fathoms from surface. Little output followedthis later attempt though better results attended a reopening by the Clara company; returns of orewere maintained for the next 14 years during which time a depth of 72 fathoms was reached.The state of the mine in March 1864 was given in a report by Matthew Francis who referred to adepth of 40 fathoms with a 40 ft x 4 ft waterwheel for pumping and crushing. In order to releaseenough power to enable the wheel also to drive a drawing machine, Francis advised gearing downthe crushing machine 2:1 - he did not record how output was to be maintained!Though steam engines were later installed at Llywernog and Powell running costs were prohibitiveand several mines in the area bandei together to construct a long leat from north of Ponterwyd, thecourse of which is clearly shown on the 2 1 / 2 inch Ordnance map. Full advantage wa taken byerecting a new 50 ft x 3 1 / 2 ft wheel at Llywernog which accordinj to Peter Lloyd Harvey, thefounder and director of the museum, was provided by the well known firm of John Mills,Llanidloes, in 1875 Mining came to a virtual end in 1878, for attempts at revival by this ScottishCardigan Mines Ltd. in 1907 lasted only a few years with m output resulting. As for the 50 ftwheel, after its working life ceased, this fine example survived in full view of the main road untilthe 1950's at a time when the history of mining was an interest shared by the very few. Those whosensed a certain symbolism in the scene will find it fitting that this of all sites has been chosen for amuseum.Most of the Llywernog ore came from the intersection of two lodes. Om of these in striking towardsthe main road enters the POWELL mini (SN 728808) the early history of which has already beenmentioned. One of the shafts is close beside the main road, with other workings on the hill side tothe south. In 1868 the mine was operating as Powell United, with a ' splendid oscillating engine'running at 55 lbs pressure for pumping, drawing and crushing.Steam however, became merely a stand-by after construction of the new leats and erection of a 45 ftwaterwheel in March 1874. The mine was then known as Powell Consolidated, with CaptainNicholas Bray in command. It finally closed in the 1890's having attained a depth of 80 fathoms,with workings on several lodes.At various times Powell and Llywernog operated together, and the total production of the twomines amounted to 3813 tons of lead ore with 560 tons of blende.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004FIGURE 12. Llywernog Mine c. 1850. From Bick and NLW, Aberystwyth.FIGURE 13. Photo of Llywernog Mine c. 1930, showing engine shaft and balancebob, and wooden launder conveying water to the wheel.Across the valley and perhaps upon the same lode is CAMDWRBACH (SN 738893). AbsalomFrancis launched this mine in 1878 under the name South Cambrian, as a means of cashing in onthe nearby Cambrian or Esgair Fraith, then returning good quantities of copper ore. At that timeCamdwrbach ' consisted of an adit driven about 90 fathoms, which according to Francis containedrich courses of galena and blende, together with malachite, grey and black copper ores simplywaiting to be sloped. Sufficient capital materialized to construct a long tramway and extensive newdressing floors opposite Henfwich, but when a 40 ft x 4 ft waterwheel and a pair of 30 in rollscommenced work on 17th August 1880, the truth could no longer remain "concealed. Thepromotion collapsed a year or two later having sold only a couple of tons of blende.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004The mine revived about the turn of the century, when the scene of activity shifted to a new adit tothe east, at the head of the Camdwrbach stream ( SN 747892). A long tramroad was again laid tothe dressing floors but the venture faired hardly better than its predecessor, returning only 26 tonsof blende. It closed about 1905.The dressing floors occupied a pleasant site close to the Camdwr. The buildings and site werelevelled during construction of the Nantymoch reservoir, the waters of which are only a few yardsbelow. An interesting feature next to the stream is an ancient adit driven easterly a few fathoms;there is no lode visible and its purpose is obscure. Though no trace of Francis's tramroad seems tosurvive, we can follow the course of the later line right up to the adit, where Taylor's leat on its longjourney to Cwmsymlog will be noticed encircling the valley on a slightly higher contour.To the south and just above the reservoir is BRYNYRAFR (SN 746879). It is of note since little, ifany, work had been done here before a group of Liverpool businessmen formed a company with£8000 capital in 1879. Within a year a cross-cut adit driven 80 fathoms had intersected a fine loderunning 2 tons of lead ore per fathom, and the South Cambrian dressing floors were employed untilfacilities could be provided at the mine. A 40 ft waterwheel for pumping and drawing was erectednear the banks of the Camdwr in July 1884 but it was soon relegated to drawing purposes only, alarger wheel being constructed for pumping. Each level proved longer in ore than the one above,until at the 67 fathom level ore extended over a total length of 200 fathoms, though not always inpayable quantities. Throughout the life of the mine, which ended in 1912, very poor lead pricesprevailed. No doubt in earlier times a greater output could have derived from the working of lowergrade ores. As it was, 4952 tons of lead ore and 8116 tons of blende were sold, this being (with thepossible exception of Esgairhir) easily the most productive return from the wild plateau north ofPonterwyd.The area was of course, extremely remote though the population justified the building of anIndependent Chapel, the demolished ruins of which can still be seen by the roadside at SN 736886.W.J. Lewis Lead Mining in Wales has recorded how in the early 1900's miners living in tlieTalybont vicinity would leave home every Monday at 5.30 a.m. with a weeks supply of food in asack to walk to their barracks where they resided until the following Saturday. Conditions were badby modern standards with two or three men in a bed, which due to shift working was hardly everempty. Such however, had been the norm ever since Waller's day. The rough road leading southfrom Brynyrafr has been built upon Taylor's leat, and where it turns into the valley of Nant yBarracks, the remains of CAMDWRMAWR (SN 751877) can be seen across an arm of thereservoir. The mine was one of several trials on the Camdwr lode near Plynlimmon, and in thebarren mountain of Drosgol it contains appreciable quantities of manganese ore; it is designatedManganese vein on the Old Series one inch map. 'A Vein of Ore' is shown at Camdwrmawr onMorris's map, and there was an adit and embryo engine shaft at the spot when in February 1854Matthew Francis announced the discovery of'ore of excellent quality, very solid, and bearing strongresemblance to the greatest. courses of ore I have seen in Cardiganshire'.In 1856 the engine shaft was sinking below a 20 fathom level by which time 22 tons of copper oreand 5 tons of lead ore had been sold. However, the company dissolved soon afterwards. The minereopened in 1877 but no production materialized ‖. (BICK 1991 p 6-53).71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004FIGURE 14. Former winding drum at Bryn yr Afr Lead Mine, c. 1932. From D. BickFIGURE 15. Pumping wheel from Bryn yr Afr Lead Mine, c. 1932. from Bick.Although there are several other mines within the Cardiganshire side of the survey area, these were smalland very little, if any information is readily available on them. For the Montomeryshire or Powys side of thesurvey area we must return to Bick.―The mines of West Montgomeryshire, if less renowned than those of Cardiganshire, eventuallyachieved a greater importance and can certainly claim an equal antiquity. Some of the workings datefrom the dawn of Christianity and were attracting archaeologists over a hundred years ago.In the early 18th century the Dylife area was the scene of much activity but poor transport and alow silver content of the ores retarded development. The great expansion began in the 1840's aidedlater by the railways, and in particular by the providential discovery of Van near Llanidloes whichin a few years created the most productive and successful lead mine in the whole of mid Wales.For the explorer the wild and remote hills that form the shoulders of Plynlimmon are those of whichhe will never tire. Almost every view bears testimony to the works of the Old Men and we can71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004agree with W.G. Hoskins the landscape historian, that abandoned metal mines are 'perhaps the mostappealing of all the industrial landscapes ... in no way ugly but indeed possessing a profoundmelancholy beauty'. Unlike the medieval castle with its overtones of bloodshed and war, these sitesof honest endeavour as yet have few protagonists. They have been badly mauled and evendestroyed in recent years regardless of archaeological merit, especially in forestry areas under theheading 'removing the scars of industry', and until the climate changes the industrial archaeologisthas urgent tasks before him.For the most part the old mines of West Montgomeryshire are lost within a land of rough tracks andheather, a land more suited to the pedestrian than the motorist. But in any event our motives and notthe state of the roads should determine our transport. If we wish to gain a closer kinship with theOld Men — in a sense to step into their shoes, — surely we must walk there, treading the old pathswith the old winds in our faces. We lose a little time but we gain admission into another world‖(BICK 1991, p5)On the immediate east side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> are what Bick has termed the Wye Valley mines. These he hasdivided into those west of the river and those on the east. Those that concern us here are the ‗Wye LeadNing Company‘ 1868-72, the ‗West Wye Valley Mine‘ 1875-80, the ‗Wye Valley‘ 1874-79, the ‗New WyeValley‘ 1879-82 and the ‗Wye Mine Ltd‘ 1883-85.―We shall deal first with the eastern mine, the better of the two and sometimes known asNantygwrdy after a tributary of the Wye. W.W. Smyth reported a great width of veinstone at thespot and about the same time (1846) Matthew Francis expressed 'a good opinion of Nanty Gwrdu, itis an excellent lode'. These remarks rather suggest that little or nothing had then been done.In July 1863 John Taylor & Sons were managing operations which consisted of sinking an engineshaft, driving an adit crosscut to the lode and preparing for a 30 ft wheel. By 1866 five stopes overthe adit were yielding ore but the lode in the 10 fathom level was described as 'much disordered bya very powerful crosscourse of hard spar'. The mine came up for sale together with Nanty in 1867,having reached a 34 fathom level under the adit, or 52 fathoms from surface.An attempted revival took place in May 1874 by a company styling itself North Van Mines Ltd,with the peculiar objective of combining the works with a worthless trial near Trefeglwys.A few months later the Wye Valley Company was formed with Messrs. Ross and Kitto among themanagement. Aided by Captain Walter Eddy's statement that the mine was on the Van lode andKitto's assertion that the machinery only needed 'trifling repairs to put it in thorough workingcondition' sufficient capital was raised to commence. Taylors had missed some good ore, for almostat once the adit provided 30 tons of lead ore monthly and 10% dividends were soon being paid. Inplaces the lode measured 10 fathoms wide, making extensive cross-cutting necessary to avoidmissing ore. Patent self-acting dressing machinery was installed and a new shaft sunk to the east. In1876 a winze sinking below the 10 ran into a splendid run of ore worth 5 tons/fathom, but thereafterfortunes declined and the company dissolved in 1879. However, mining continued under theoptimistic Kitto and his son, and the new shaft complete with skip road was sunk to a 46 fathomlevel. Unfortunately the lode although 'masterly and promising' showed very little ore, and afterdeeper levels brought no improvement the mine finally faded away in the mid 1880's. Altogether,the returns came to 1904 tons of lead ore and 446 tons of blende.We now cross the river to where the Wye Lead Mining Company commenced its work in 1868.This concern was a child of the formidable company secretary and promoter of lead mines, JohnHenry Murchison. An adit represented the sum total of earlier trials but under Captain John Paull anengine shaft bearing Murchison's name was soon sinking by six men. A 40 ft waterwheel forpumping and drawing went to work in 1869, powered by a mile-long leat from the Cyff Brook, andby the end of the year six men were cross-cutting from Murchison's Shaft to the lode for a 14fathom level, 22 fathoms from surface.Early in 1872 a 40 fathom level had been attained but with very little ore in sight. Murchisonthereupon attempted a reconstruction under the alluring title of New Van, but work soon ceased dueto lack of support.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Operations did not revive until Kitto & Co., encouraged by their success across the river, formedthe West Wye Valley Lead Mining Company in 1875. To test the ground nearer Wye Valley,Brooke's Shaft was sunk 77 fathoms east of Murchison's and in December 1876 Kitto reported itsdepth as 25% fathoms. Both the 14 and 26 fathom levels driving east from Murchison's were ingood ore and on surface dressing floors had been laid out and a new water-wheel erected forpumping, drawing and running a sawmill. A 30 ft wheel worked a crusher and nearly completedwere 'four very good miner's cottages, which will supply sleeping accommodation for 32 menbesides the occupiers.Early in 1878 Brooke's Shaft was sinking under the 40 but as at Wye Valley the lode failed indepth. Mining ceased in 1880 after yielding only 360 tons of lead ore.Not much remains of the Wye Valley mines. The western workings are partly submerged in treesand the dressing floors on the east side are occupied by farm buildings. There is however, in thelittle ravine of Nantygwrdy a very fine lode (probably a branch) of breccia and brown sugary quartzno doubt just as W.W. Smyth saw it, that revealed a splendid stone of galena to me, as a youthfulexplorer many years ago.Higher up the valley 1500 ft above sea level is NANTIAGO (SN 826863) - a mine which may besaid to epitomise all those minor workings in the wildest parts of Wales that struggled on forgenerations, rarely paying cost and always in hopes of better times to come. In its early daysNantiago was known as Plynlimmon, and mining had barely started when Matthew Francisexamined the property in 1846 for the lessee Robert Parry. As to the machinery Francis did notmince his words.‗Nothing can be more absurd than the idea of erecting a 12 feet water-wheel 2 feet Breast andattaching Pitwork crushing and dressing Machinery to it, it is like harnessing a Mouse to a BrewersDray and I would advise you to lay in a Capital of £4000 or £5000. Erect in the first place a goodthirty feet wheel with 3 feet Breast, attach a good crushing mill to it as well as your pump powerand erect a 25 ft wheel for drawing the stuff.‘This advice, sound though it was, probably sufficed to finish the attempt, but the following report of1853 shows that the mine was in work again before long. It also reveals something of the harshphysical environment.This venture also failed, but work revived early in 1860 when the engine shaft was 5 fathoms belowadit in a lode '5 ft wide composed of mundic, prian, lead and blende producing 4 tons of the latterper fathom'. A waterwheel was brought from Esgairlle and James Roach became manager in 1861.A 30 fathom level was reached in 1863 but the mine came on the market with all the machinery foronly £500 in March 1865.By 1872 William Lefeaux who had earlier realized a fortune at Penyclun, was a director and heremained involved for many years, eventually dying penniless at the mine. A new 60 ft wheelcommenced pumping in 1873 and subsequently ore was raised almost without intermission up to1888 after which all work seems to have ceased until formation of a new company about 1900.John Mills & Co. of Uanidloes Foundry erected a new 56 ft pumping wheel (normal speed 3 RPM)and an extensive dressing plant three stories high and powered by two Pelton Wheels was built withstone breaker, rolls, trommels and six 4-compartment jigs.Twelve men worked underground and four above in 1905, and a glimpse of life at Nantiago aboutthis time was given to me long afterwards by the head dresser, Mr.Pliilpot. He cycled there everyMonday from his home near Shrewsbury for a 9 a.m. start and lived in barracks during the week.Normal hours were 7 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. in winter and 6 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. in summer. Philpot was agreat advocate of water power which he considered 'better than steam' provided there were nodelays from frost or drought. For such emergencies the managing director Arthur Onslow installeda Crossley gas engine to assist the pumping wheel. Philpot's wages were 30/- per week.Will Richards worked at Nantiago during the Great War and he has written a vivid impression of aworld of gunpowder, kibbles and candles, still within a lifetime's span and yet whole worlds away.He records the carrier Robert Ingram driving a cart and two horses from Llanidloes every Monday71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004for 30 cwt of ore, and how Onslow and his wife would come up at Christmas with 1 / 2 Ib of tea, apound of sausages and a small plum pudding for each of the men. On one occasion H.M. Inspectorof Mines approached Richards underground and requested a signal to slowly lower the kibble. Acandle was held close, and after a minute's examination the man turned and said 'there will be nomore mining here until you have a new rope'. That, combined with an almost unsaleable ore due torelease of Government stock-piles brought an end to Nantiago. The life was desperately primitiveby modern standards but for Richards ‗it was a happy mine to work in and it was a sad day when itclosed‘. The total output was 1709 tons of lead ore and 1929 tons of blende‖ (BICK 1991 p 54-58).One feature that binds all of the mines together within the survey area is that of the vast network of leats. Ingeneral these are approx. 3ft wide x 2ft deep, dug and lined with clay or else hewn from the hillside,sometimes through solid rock, laid over bogs and shorn with masonry. The greatest length of leat within thearea was a high level leat built by the engineers John Taylor and Sons c. 1850. This leat network, now reedfilled, stretches from the area north of the present Nant y Moch Reservoir, in the area of the AfonLlechwedd Mawr, south toward Camddwr Bach and further south toward Llywernog and Nant y ArianMines.―As may be anticipated, the chief architect was John Taylor who began by building a very long leatto the Lisburne mines at Pontrhydygroes about 1835. Some fifteen years later he commenced amuch more important development in the isolated plateau north of Ponterwyd to supply the rapidlyexpanding mines of Cwmsymlog, Cwmerfin and Cwmbrwyno for which the headwaters of theRheidol presented the only adequate source.Part of the task had been unwittingly completed in the early 1840's by John Horridge when heconveyed the waters of the Leri from Craig y Pistyll to Cwmsebon by a leat running in great loopsround two intervening mountain spurs. Near Lletty Evanhen the level dropped considerably aftercrossing a ridge and somewhere in the Cwmsymlog valley it dropped again, the overall fall toCwmsebon being approximately 400 ft. About 1850, Taylors turned this loss of head to goodaccount by building a high level leat from Lletty Evanhen to Cwmsymlog and Cwmerfin, fromwhence it descended to other mines down the valley, including Cwmsebon.This supply was augmented by bringing the Rheidol tributaries into the Leri above Craig y Pistyllby means of a long watercourse through wild and difficult country via Brynyrafr andBwlchystyllen. Near the latter, the flow could be discharged either towards Cwmsymlog or intoPond Syfydrin and thence to Goginan and/or Cwmbrwyno. The eastern Rheidol tributary, AfonUuestgota, was tapped below the Welsh Potosi mines, which obtained supplies from Llyn Conachand Llyn Dwfn, whilst the western tributary yielded its share near Dolrhyddlan (Eaglebrook). Thissystem was to form the main framework of the leats north of the A44 road, and once understood theremaining watercourses fall quite readily into place…...‖(BICK 1991, p 69).FIGURE 16. Previously recorded leats in Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire area .Leat built by John Taylor & Sons. Represented by numbers 2 + 3.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004As already mentioned, all of the mines had become abandoned by the early 20 th century. This abandonmentalso seems to have begun the abandonment of most of the cottages and small settlements in the area.As well as these leats supplying water to the mines, the major source of public water supply in northCardiganshire was from reservoirs formed by compounding works at Llyn Craig-y-Pistyll and ‗Llyn LlygadRheidol‘ (Area 9). The major sources of water supply in North Cardiganshire are reservoirs formed bycompounding works at Llyn Craig-y-Pistyll and Llyn Llygad Eheidol. Water from Llyn Llygad Rheidol,lying in the bosom of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, has supplied the town of Aberystwyth since 1885, It was, and still is,conveyed to the Cefnilan reservoir in Aberystwyth by means of 16 miles of 8 inch diameter iron pipes.Apart from chlorination, there was no treatment. Of these waters, it was reported in 1879 by ProfessorFrankland of the <strong>Royal</strong> College of Chemistry, - "The water is clear, palatable, wholesome and of mostexcellent quality for dietetic purposes. It is also very soft and therefore well suited to washing".Over the years this soft water has attacked the pipes to such an extent that their present carrying capacity isless than half of the designed half a million gallons per day. The existing source and works had thereforebecome quite inadequate for the supply of water to a thriving town such as Aberystwyth and consequentlymajor new works became pressing necessity.Llyn Craig-y-Pistyll was developed for the benefit of the Rural District of Aberystwyth. Treatment Workswere built at Bontgoch in 1939 and these not only sufficed over the area but enabled the District Council tosell surplus water to the Aberystwyth borough Council in times of need. The reliable yield of this sourcewas about 450,000 gallons per day (From Cardiganshire Water Board manuscript in RCAHMW archive).The catchment of the Llyn Llygad Rheidol reservoir lies within the greater catchment 'contributing to theCentral Electricity Generating Board's Nantymoch reservoir which forms a part of their Rheidol HydroElectric Scheme. The Board's reservoir has an esitimated reliable yield of 560,000 gallons per day which itis hoped to. increase to 1 million gallons per day, and to this end gauging weirs have been built in theNantymoch and Maesnant streams6 CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCESCartographic sources consulted spanned the years 1693 -1948, including the later modern 1:10000 map.Each of these will be discussed individually in the following summary.i) William Wallers Map of 1693FIGURE 17. William Wallers Map of 1693.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004This map is essentially just a topographic and locational map drawn up by William Wallers in 1693 whilsthe was assessing the prospect of lead and silver mines in the area. Although of little use in terms of newarchaeological sites and features, it is interesting to note the sheer size that Pumlimon Mountain has beenrepresented.ii) Lewis Morris Map of 1744 (See Fig 27)As already mentioned in section (5), this map was drawn up by Lewis Morris in 1744 in response to theSurveyor General of the Crown Treasury‘s awakened interest in the potential for lead and silver mines inthe area. As such the map has been drawn with interests on topography, the main key farmsteads and a fewcertain ‗lluest’‘. Although the key farmsteads layouts aren‘t necessarily depicted it does help give us someform of chronology from which to ascertain the age of some of these upland farmsteads. A few of thesmaller lluest haven‘t been depicted by Morris, but nevertheless they have been mentioned within his text.iii) Gogerddan Estate Maps of 1784-1790 (see Fig 18)These estate maps are held in the National Library of Wales within the Gogerddan or Gogerthan Collection.Relevant to the survey area are, Estate map of ‗Bwlch-y-styllen‘ in the parish of Gogerthan, property of Margaret Pryse (1784)(MSS Gogerthan 71). This map shows land east of Bwlch-y-styllen‘ house and totaled over 822acres. From this map three houses are named and shown, that of ‗Nant Glas‘, ‗Fagwyr isaf‘ andBwlch-y-styllen‘, along with the approx. location of sheepfolds or ‗corlan‘ and a series of oldwalls.Estate map of ‗Camddwr Mawr and Drosgol‘ in the parish of Gogerthan, property of MargaretPryse (1788-90)(MSS Vol 37). This map is entitled ‗Camddwr Mawr‘ with land encompassingDrosgol and shows the mines now submerged beneath the reservoir along with two quarries, thehouse of ‗Drosgol‘, the tenant of which was one Richard Williams esq. It also shows two furtherstructures beneath the reservoir, one ‗Magwyr-y-Rhos‘ and ‗Magwyr Bryn Shrinkin‘. A furthermine is depicted covering over 50 acres with two structures shown.Estate map of ‗Maesnant‘ in the parish of Gogerthan, property of Margaret Pryse (1790) (MSSVol 37 p46) This map shows the house and garden of Maesnant. The Maesnant estate coveredover 797 acres. Also part shown is the Nant-y-Llyn estate that covered over 517 acres.Smaller estates held by Margaret Pryse shown within the Gogerddan collection are ‗Craignant,which covered just over 403 acres and that of ‗Dan-y-Dinas‘ which covered over 261 acres.Esate map showing ‗Bwlchstyllen‘, ‗Camddwr Faw‘r and area to the west of Camddwr and northof Bwlchstyllen called ‗Camddwr fach‘ and ‗Camddwr Llity‘ (MSS Gogerthan 82). On themodern OS map these areas are now depicted as an area of quarry.71CAP Report No: 355

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004OS Surveyors’ Drawing 1822-1834) (See Figs 19 + 20)FIGURE 19. OS Surveyors drawing of Montgomeryshire (Llangurig) side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> (1822).The quality of the copy of the OS Surveyors drawing of 1822 depicting the east side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> held inthe National Library of Wales is of very poor quality, however three main sites in the survey area are justvisible and named. These are the farmsteads of ‗Pont Rhydgaled‘ at the base and that of ‗Cefn Brwyn‘. Alsomarked are the Hore mine workings to the north, however only marked by an enclosure and the name Hore(this mine is just outside of this seasons field survey). For the west side of Pumlimon however the early OSSurveyors drawings are much more helpful (see Fig 20)Farmsteads marked on this map, along with their enclosed lands include, Nant-y-Llyn, Hengwm Annedd,Maesnant, Drosgol, Camddwr Mawr, Nant y Moch, Camddwr Bach, Syffyddrin, Ffrydd, Castell Coch,Glandwr, Bwlchstyllen, Dinas, Nant y Rhedydd, Aber Ceiro, Ty‘n Rhos, Hen Hafod, Aber Peithnant, BlaenPeithnant, Hirnant and Dyffryn Castell. As well as these farmsteads the map also depicts a few field barns,two associated with the Hen Hafod tenement and one with Syffydrin farmstead. Interesting to note on thismap is the absence of ‗Lluest Nant y Cleehir (NPRN: 282895) and ‗Lle‘r Neuaddau farmstead‘ whichwould normally be adjacent to ‗Hen Hafod. This may imply that these small farmsteads had beenabandoned by this time, perhaps so with ‗Lluest y Cleehir‘, but unlikely with ‗Lle‘r Nueadau‘, as this likelyreplaced ‗Hen Hafod‘, although it does seem to have been depicted and mentioned in Lewis Morris‘s mapand text of 1744.iv) Crown Estate Maps 1860-1865These report maps are dated between the years 1860-1865. Although there are a few farms marked on thisearly series, such as Nant Llyn, Maesnant and Eisteddfa Gurig, these appear to be solely for locational useonly and don‘t show any detail of farmstead layout, but essentially they seem to relate to water courses inthe area as well as highlighting the series of boundary posts and stones along the east side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> thatdemarcate the Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire county boundary. In the field the majority of these postsare dated 1865. Because of the character of these maps it is likely that they were part of a survey reportassociated with mining in the area and may have an association with leat building.71CAP Report No: 355

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004v) Tithe Apportionment Maps and schedules of Llanbaddarn Fawr 1845 and Llangurig 1845parishesAccording to the Tithe apportionment records the survey area was divided into 2 parishes, that ofLlanbadarn Fawr and Llangurig. Llanbadarn Fawr occupies the western side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> and Llangurigthe east. Each of these will be discussed individually.Llanbaddarn Fawr parish (1845)This Tithe Map covers the western portion of the survey area. The principal landowner within the area atthis time was Pryse Pryse. The areas and farmsteads of Hengwm Annedd, Maesnant, Bwlchstyllen, Nant-y-Llyn, Blaen Peithnant, Gifaes, Camddwr Mawr, Dinas and the area of Llywernog mine were all owned byPryse Pryse but were tenanted out to local farmers. All other farmsteads in this parish at this time wereowned by other landlords and tenanted out.Farmstead Landowner OccupierDyffryn Castell Edward Powell William DaviesEisteddfa Gurig Issac Rowlands John ThomasAber Ceiro Elizabeth Edwards Hugh ReesSyffydrin Humprey Jones Elizabeth EvansDrosgol Roderick Richards Thomas ReesNant y Moch Mason Lewis Rees WilliamsAber Peithnant Henry Gwynne Elizabeth JonesHirnant Henry Gwynne Rees WilliamsHen Hafod Mary Morgan Lewis MasonGlandwr Morgan Jones Mary JenkinsTable 1: Other farms and tenements in area of Llanbadarn Fawr parish not owned by Pryse PryseInteresting to note here is the fact that Drosgol farmstead, although previously within the Pryse Pryse estate,now appears to have been sold off to one Roderick Richards, but was still tenanted out.Llangurig Parish (1845)The Tithe map of the Llangurig parish 1845 covers the eastern portion of the survey area on the east side of<strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mountain. The only farmsteads marked in the area of the survey are Cefn Brwyn, BontRhydgaled, Hirgoed and Pont Rhydgaled.Farmstead Owner OccupierCefn Brwyn Humphrey Rowlands William JonesBont Rhydgaled David Thomas Richard PughHirgoed David Lewis Edward MatthewsPont Rhydgaled David Lewis HimselfTable 2: Farmsteads within survey area of Tithe map of Llangurig Parish 184571CAP Report No: 355

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004vi) OS First Edition Maps (1891, surveyed 1885).(Cardiganshire Sheet No’s: VIII NE; VIII SW; V SE; VII SE; VII NE; IV SE; VSW; V NW; VII NW)The Survey area extends over nine OS 6 inch First edition maps of the old County of Cardiganshire andMontgomeryshire. In terms of significant archaeological sites and features marked on the map very little ismarked in the main uplands areas above 350m O.D except for the Iron Age fort atop Dinas and the cairns atthe summit of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, Pen Lluest-y-carn, Pen Pumlimon Arwystli, Drosgol and Dysgwylfa Fawr. Othercairns including the Garn Lllwyd and the carn circle near Hirnant are also marked.With regards the lower valleys, all farmsteads marked on the OS Surveyors maps of 1845 are present andall are marked as roofed and in use as either dwellings or working farms. In association with thesefarmsteads the OS First edition series marks 26 sheepfolds within the survey area as a whole, the greatestcluster being around the farmsteads of ‗Nant y Moch‘, ‗Nant-y-Llyn‘ and ‗Hengwm Annedd‘, the latter twofarms being the property of the Pryse family.The main sites and features worthy of note on this first OS series however are the lead mines. In total 11lead mines are marked as in use. These include ‗West Wye Valley Mine‘(NPRN: 284169), the ‗Wye ValleyMine‘(NPRN: 284171), the ‗Nant-y-Eira Mine‘(NPRN: 34005), the ‗Nant-y-Iago Mine‘(NPRN: 34004),the ‗Craignant Bach Mine‘(NPRN: 301519), the ‗Llywernog Mine‘(NPRN: 301517), the ‗South CambrianMine‘(NPRN: 282574), the ‗Bryn-yr-Afr Mine‘(NPRN: 268145), the ‗Camddwr Mine‘(NPRN: 282551),the ‗<strong>Plynlimon</strong> Mine‘(NPRN: 33896) and the ‗Nant Nod Mine‘(NPRN: 309806). Only one mine in this1891 OS series is marked as disused, that of ‗Bwlch-y-styllen‘(NPRN: 282581).With regards the network of leats within the area, these are marked extensively above the Llywernog Mineand the Nant y Iago Lead Mine. For Nant-Iago, this map series also shows a series of aqueducts crossing thestreams via the River Wye that helped feed water along the leat network.vi) OS Second Edition (Revisions of 1901-1903)(See Fig 22 + 23)(Cardiganshire Sheet No’s: VIII NE; VIII SW; V SE; VII SE; VII NE; IV SE; VSW; V NW; VII NW)With regards farmsteads in the survey area very little has changed since the OS 1 st edition map, apart fromthe fact that both the farmsteads of ‗Geifaes‘ and ‗Nant Glas‘ are now shown as unroofed, implyingabandonment. The farmstead of ‗Hen Hafod at this time is still shown as roofed, along with itsaccompanying farm of Lle‘r neuaddau‘.With regards the lead mines all are now marked as disused (see Fig 22), apart from ‗Bryn-yr-Afr‘(NPRN:268145) and its accompanying smaller mine near ‗Camdwr Bach‘ and ‗Nant Iago Lead Mine‘(NPRN:34004) (see Fig 23).vii) OS Provisional Edition (Revisions of 1904 with additions in 1948)(Cardiganshire Sheet No’s: VIII NE; VIII SW; V SE; VII SE; VII NE; IV SE; VSW; V NW; VII NW)The later OS Provisional edition maps span the periods from 1904-1948. For this series there are nosignificant changes except for the farmsteads of ‗Blaen Peithnant‘, ‗Nant-y-Llyn‘ and ‗Castell Coch‘ whichare now shown as being unroofed, implying abandoned.Worth noting is the fact that the OS haven‘t marked that he Bryn-yr-Afr and Nant Iago lead mines wouldhave been in disuse well before this time.71CAP Report No: 355

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004viii) Aerial Photographs (see Fig 24, 25 & 26)Aerial photographs used were predominantly vertical APs taken by the RAF in 1948-1958 and theOrdnance Survey in 1973-1994 and various obliques taken by the RCAHMW. The analysis of these verticalphotos was undertaken by the RCAHMW.In total the aerial photo mapping managed to record 409 individual features. The greatest number of theseappeared on the west side of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> with very little on the east side in the old county ofMontgomeryshire. With regards the mountain of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> itself and its upper slopes hardly any newfeatures were noted.The largest number of features recorded were banks, 133 in total. The next largest was that of areas of peatcutting,82 in total. Other features noted included ditches, levels, mounds, quarries, spoil heaps, shafts/pits,trackways and walls.Added to these features small areas of cultivation ridges were also noted in the southern area of the surveyin the region of Craignant, just above the village of Ponterwyd and in another area just south of Dinasfarmstead.Two interesting areas are those at the southern and western base of Dinas (see Fig 25 and 26). The area onthe west of Dinas is the remains of an early settlement complete with oval hut enclosures and banks with asurrounding enclosure bank. This site is likely Medieval in origin (NPRN: 282786). On the southern slopeof Dinas, just below Dinas farmstead, the AP mapping noted a fairly extensive series of banked enclosures(NPRN: 282771). This site may also be medieval in date.71CAP Report No: 355

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 20047 RESULTS OF FIELD SURVEY (see drawings in Appendix I)The following section relates the results of the field survey by topographical area for ease of description.Only key significant sites will be mentioned in this section. For further sites and details within areas seeGazetteer and Map Index Sheets.Area 1. DrosgolWith regards prehistory in this area, the cairns atop Drosgol have been much disturbed over the centuries,so much so that the southernmost cairn is now a small circular shelter or sheepfold. The presence of a ringof stones is between the two cairns. Whether this ring is the remains one of the disturbed cairns or else alater modification is unknown. The northernmost cairn however still remains as a stone pile. At the time ofthe field visit it was generally a fairly calm day, however once at the summit of Drosgol the wind was sostrong as it drove up the Rheidol valley from the south, that standing upright was a task.No new prehistoric sites were discovered on or on the slopes of Drosgol, except for a possible burial cairnat the far north (NPRN: 282176), however this mound because of its close proximity to an enclosure and apossible early Lluest site (NPRN: 282714), is more likely a clearance cairn.In the main this area is dominated by post medieval industrial sites and features, in the form of the remainsof Camdwr Lead Mine on the southern slopes of Drosgol by the edge of the reservoir, and mine shafts andspoil heaps running in an NE-SW direction across Drosgol following a fault line. With regards CamdwrLead Mine there is not much to see today as much has now been either flooded or else washed away by thewaters of the reservoir.On the north facing side of Drosgol is the remains of Drosgol farmstead (NPRN: 282548). This desertedfarmstead is now in complete ruin with standing remains only to a height of approx. 1m. The ground plan ofthe house and byre is still fairly evident, but both are heavily covered by vegetation within the interior. Aseries of sitka spruce have also been planted in the small rear enclosure of the house garden. Surroundingthe main house are two small sheepfolds alongside the stream that runs to the west of the house. The mainhouse is surrounded to the north and east by a series of high field banks forming large enclosures. These arestill in fairly good condition. The farm of ‗Maesnant‘ to the east on the other side of the Rheidol is in clearview of Drosgol House.No new sites were noted on the east facing slopes of Drosgol.Area 2. Nant y Moch ReservoirThis area is represented by the Nant y Moch Reservoir and as such all sites in this area are now submergedbeneath its waters. However along the banks of the reservoir a few sites have managed to survive. At the farnorth of the reservoir are a few remains of the former Bryn-y-afr Lead Mine. These consist of formerenclosures, sluice channels, a level, a shaft and parts of the foundations of the former crushing and jigginghouses (NPRN: 282563). These latter however are merely footings, as the greater part of these structureshave been submerged.Also in this northern area much of the former South Cambrian Lead Mine has suffered the same fate asBryn-y-Afr Lead Mine, in that nearly all of the mine complex is either beneath water or else has been underwater at some time, and as a result the majority of the structures are now absent.Along the west banks of the reservoir, the field survey discovered the remains of a possible long hut,possibly one of those mentioned by Lewis Morris (NPRN: 282810). The building ground plan is whollylost, but there is with the ‗eye-of-faith‘ a possible entrance at the north end with two internal rooms and a<strong>central</strong> hall. Very close to this feature is the remains of a small hut (NPRN: 282811), 8m x 4m with twointernal divisions at the south end.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004With regards prehistoric sites, a possible cairn or else a former round hut was discovered in the north-westarea (NPRN: 282115) and a further one (NPRN: 282255) on the west banks. This latter one is only smalland may in fact be clearance, although kerb stones do appear to be present.Previously recorded on the southern banks of the reservoir was a possible cup marked stone (NPRN:284133), but this was not located at the time of the field visit.Further up the southern slopes of the reservoir was discovered the remains of Lluest y Helfa and LuestFagwr Isgaf (NPRN: 282546 / 284074). Both the sites are in very poor condition and very little remains tobe seen apart from grass covered wall and rubble remains.Area 3. Disgwylfa Fawr & Bryn GwynWith regards prehistory in this area, two bronze age burial cairns (NPRN: 282862 / 282863) werediscovered just northeast of Llyn Syfyddrin reservoir on its northern banks. Both these were oval in formand each approx. 6m x 3m and 0.50m high. Accompanying these two cairns was discovered a smallstanding stone very close by (NPRN: 282861). A further standing stone (NPRN: 282257) was also found inthe area near the ruined farmstead of ‗Bwlchstyllen‘. This was quite small however, approx. 0.70m high x0.50m width. Not standing but a prominent stone nevertheless was that of a boulder of white quartz (NPRN:282832) found on the north-east facing slope of Disgwylfa fawr, alongside the edge of an old trackway orold packhorse track that ascends Disgwylfa Fawr. This stone is likely a way-marker stone marking the edgeof the trackway and can be seen from a distance in the mist. A series of stone piles are also located alongthe edge of the forestry to the north, likely demarcating an old boundary line, possibly that opf Lluest HelfaLas to the north-east.On route to the ruins of Nant Glas House at the far north of Disgwylfa Fawr, is the possible remains of aburnt mound (NPRN: 282143). The mound is approx. 5m long x 2m wide and 1m high and located at theedge of stream.With regards the post medieval period, this area houses the remains of four deserted rural farmsteads, thatof ‗Syfyddrin‘ (NPRN: 282943), Nant Glas (NPRN: 284081) and Bwlchstyllen (NPRN: 282260) and‗Lluest y Cleehir‘ (NPRN: 282895). Each of these sites is in complete ruin and unroofed. The bestpreserved and impressive of the three however is that of Bwlchstyllen, whose walls still stand in places toapprox. 2m high. All of the out buildings are also in ruin. As to ‗Syffyddrin‘, not much is left of hisfarmstead. Standing remains on average are only approx. 1m high. With regards the lluest ‗Nant Glas‘, thissite sits on its own in a very secluded spot tucked up against an east facing slope. Standing remains for thissite are approx. 1m high. Close to and associated with this lluest site, the field survey found a large squarebanked enclosure (NPRN: 282745). Just north-east of Nant Glas house, at the top of a ridge, the field surveyrecorded an area or a ‗pocket‘ of land that appeared to be a natural topographic enclosed area, howeverthere was a vague trace of a possible low bank, implying that this area may have been used at some stage asa naturally formed enclosure, but with an enclosure bank to complete its character (NPRN: 282744).Whether this feature is contemporary in date to Nant Glas or not is uncertain. Further south from here thefield survey also recorded the existence of a likely post medieval prospecting pit (NPRN: 282744).As to ‗Lluest y Cleehir‘, this site is located in a very secluded but impressive spot overlooking the Rheidolvalley. From the records of Lewis Morris and later estate maps and Tithe maps, it would appear that this sitebecame abandoned at around the turn of the 19 th century, or at least before the Tithe Map of 1845, as it isnot scheduled in the apportionments. As such, this site is in a very poor state with grass and reedsoccupying much of the internal ground plan. The walls of the main lluest are approx. 1m high. The entrancefaces east. The site is enclosed by a large enclosure.When standing within the ruined farmstead of ‗Lluest y Cleehir‘ and looking south, a long curvingsubstantial grass bank is visible. Initially it appears that this is an impressive medieval enclosure bankcurving over the hillside and running down toward Disgwylfa Fach, however the OS 1 st edition map impliesthat this bank may have had an association with the Aberystwyth Corporation Water Works pipeline. This isuncertain and this bank needs to be investigated more thoroughly.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004There were no significant new sites or features located on the summit of Disgwylfa Fawr nor along itsslopes other than those sites already recorded.Area 4. DinasThis area along with ‗Area 5’ proved to be one of the most fruitful areas in terms of interesting andsignificant archaeological sites. Starting with the top of Dinas, no new features other than thos alreadyrecorded were discovered. As to the remains of Dinas fort, the northern and southern ramparts consist offairly substantial bank and ditches, however the east and west ends are not as well defined on the ground asthey appear on aerial photos. The defined rampart along the west side of the fort appears to be a naturalwalk through natural geology. This is the same with the east side. No evidence of the cairns reported in1938 were found to exist, these likely having been destroyed or else are now hidden from view.From the top of Dinas however, looking down at the base of the western slope there is a good view of a welldefined early large enclosed settlement with small hut oval hut enclosures within its bounds (NPRN:284162). The remains of a post-medieval sheepfold helps to pin-point this site. This site has been notedbefore but never before investigated fully in the field. Once down from Dinas and within the settlementsbounds it is plain to see that this was once a fairly substantial settlement with two possibly three small ovalhut enclosures encircled by enclosure banks. Part of the outer bank has been incorporated into a possiblenatural cut ditch at the far east side, approx. 3m in depth in places. This ditch may once have been a smallwatercourse that has since been dug-out further. This is uncertain, but at first meeting it appears to bedefensive, but this is not the case. A few other small oval enclosures associated with this settlement werenoted in the area immediately to the south. Access to this however was hindered by water logging of thearea because of its close proximity to the ‗Nant Glandwr‘ watercourse.Just north of this settlement the field visit recorded the existence of two semi-circular curvilinear banks atthe southern base of Disgwylfa fach (NPRN: 282149 / 282,837). Both of these features are similar in formto each other and each, if their circumference continued to form a circle, have a diameter of approx. 10m -12m. If this were indeed the case then it may be likely that these two features are in fact 2 bronze age ringcairns. Both these features warrant further archaeological evaluation.Further west the field survey discovered a stone row (NPRN: 282230) in the immediate area alongside anaready known quartz stone (NPRN: 282137). This stone row appears to consist of a series of 7 possibly 8stones barely protruding through the ground surface. They are orientated in a NW-SE direction and stretchover a distance of approx. 10m. The known quartz stone is approx. 0.50m square and may be standing, butwithout excavation this is uncertain. A further known standing stone (NPRN: 303695) is also recorded inthis area, approx. 70m to the north. From the stone row, approx. 30m east, a large square slab shaped stonewas also recorded that gives the impression of a possible former Neolithic cap stone for a burial chamber.No uprights are visible however but may be present beneath the ‗cap stone‘ (NPRN: 282848).Within this area three post medieval farmsteads are sited, ‗Glandwr Uchaf‘, ‗Castell Coch‘ and ‗Dinas‘.Two of these farmsteads are still in use as dwellings, the other in ruin. With regards Dinas however, a newmodern bungalow has been built on the former foundations of Dinas House. But the standing remains of aformer out-house or byre still remain, being used presently as a sheepfold. The unroofed standing remainsof this building are approx. 2m high. Within the interior of this building at the far north-east corner is asmall niche that probably used to be used as a shelf. The entrance to this building faces west (NPRN:282218).The other farmstead ‗Catell Coch‘ was not visited as it was outside of the survey area, but a record has beenmade of its documentary and cartographic history. It is known however that this dwelling is presentlyunroofed and in a very ruinous condition (pers comm.).Area 5. Esgair GorlanWith regards prehistory, the most significant site recorded during the field visit in this area was the remainsof a possible small Iron Age defended enclosure on top of the hill just south of Esgair Gorlan. The evidencefor this is slim however, existing only in the form of a very low curvilinear bank facing north-east (NPRN:71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004282215). The hill-fort of Dinas is clearly visible from the top of this hill. A Bronze Age burial cairn wasalso located at the summit of this hill (NPRN: 282778).Further down the north facing slope from here a further curvilinear bank qwas discovered, barely traceablewithin the tall grasses (NPRN: 282214). On the summit of Esgair Nant y Moch, the hill on the east side ofEsgair Gorlan, a further bronze age cairn was located. This cairn was approx. 4m x 3m oval with evedenceof a cist.With regards the known standing stones known as ‗Bwlch ar Llo‘ or the ‗Cow and Calf‘ these wererecorded photographically and examined for any evidence of markings, but none were found (NPRN:301687). One further recumbent stone (NPRN: 282,882) was recorded to the east at the side of the road. Itis apparent from communication with one of the locals that many standing stones were pulled down a fewdecades ago to discourage visitors to the area. This recumbent stone may well be the remains of one ofthese ‗removing‘ episodes.Immediately to the south of the ‗Cow and Calf‘ stones the survey discovered the remains of a leat runningeast to west toward Llyn Rhosgoch reservoir. This leat is recorded on the OS 1 st edition map. Further southstill was recorded the ruins of the post medieval deserted rural farmstead of ‗Geifaes‘ (NPRN: 284085). Theonly remains of this farmstead now are the foundation remains of the house and out-building.Lastly of interest, in the area just above ‗Bog Pond‘ reservoir, the field visit recorded the existence of whatappeared to be a grave, a rectangular patch of ground approx. 2m in length x 1.5 wide and slightly raised(NPRN: 282213). This feature may need further investigation in order to identify its character and age.Area 6. PonterwydThe field visit of this area essentially recorded extensive post medieval remnants of the former lead miningindustry that covered the upper parts of Mynydd Ponterwyd hill from the late 18 th century onwards.Features recorded include vertical shafts and accompanying spoil heaps in the area of the former CraignantBach Lead Mine along with an engine house and a small leat system. The main core of Craignant BachLead Mine however, also known as ‗Bog Mine‘, is located within the modern forestry. Toward the base ofMynydd Ponterwydd however the field survey recorded the existence of Craignant Bach lead mines largepumping wheel pit (NPRN: 282961). The size of this wheel appears to have been about 12m in diameter.Further down the slope from the wheel pit the field visit discovered the top dressed stones that once coveredpart of the pumping wheels axle (NPRN: 282199).Further east from Craignant Bach the field survey recorded the complex system of leats that cover the eastside of Ponterwyd hill. This system is recorded on the OS edition maps. In the same area a series ofenclosures and pits (NPRN: 282185) were noted. The RCAHMW aerial photography study notedcultivation ridges in this area, however in the field these are very hard to discern.With regards prehistory, the field survey confirmed the existence of two standing stones toward the west ofthis area (NPRN: 284077). These are both very small, each approx. 0.50m high. Whether these stones areBronze Age in date is speculative however. Immediately north-west of these stones is a small ponded areawith a circular bank within its limits (NPRN: 282792). At first sight this gives the impression of a possibleformer ring cairn, but this is uncertain. Both these sites need further investigation in the form of excavation.Area 7. East bank of Afon RheidolThis area is that on the east bank of the Rheidol that stretches all the way from Nant y Moch Reservoir toPonterwyd village. Perhaps the most significant sites discovered in this area are a series of three lowmounds, each between 10m-12m in diameter (NPRN: 282830 / 282829 / 282828). These features are onlyeasily visible when viewed from above from the upper eastern slopes. At ground level the <strong>central</strong> mound isjust visible. Because of the archaeological nature of this area, known to be a prehistoric ritual landscape, itseems likely that these mounds are very likely bronze age burial mounds.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004On the upper slopes above these mounds, a series of small clearance cairns appear to mark the line of eithera former dry-stone wall or else a dry stone wall that was once under construction or else deconstruction(NPRN: 282823). At the far southern end of this line of stone piles, was discovered a possible former roundhut or former shelter (NPRN: 282826). At first impression this site would appear to be a possible prehistoricsite, however because of the fact that it lies at the end of a line of clearance cairns may suggest that thefeature is considerably younger in age, possibly post medieval. This is uncertain.Further south still, the field survey confirmed the existence of a series of burial mounds around the‗Hirnant‘ farmstead, as well as recording the possible existence of two more mounds (NPRN: 282177 /282493). Other mounds in this area formerly noted by W.J. Hemp and J. Evans and later un-located by theRCAHMW were again un-located. It is presumed that these mounds are now either too low to be visible onthe ground or else have been ploughed out at some stage, post Evans and Hemp.On the northern extremities of the Dinas Reservoir, following observations from aerial photo mapping, thefield survey confirmed the existence of an area of extensive small interconnecting enclosures. Thesehowever are partially hidden by extensive bracken and fern cover (NPRN: 282859). These enclosures areeither formerly associated with the early Dinas farmstead or else were formerly part of a farmstead nowsubmerged beneath the reservoir. Just north of Nant y cae-Rhedyn farmstead (NPRN: 310534), at thenorthernmost tip of the Dinas Reservoir, the field visit identified the remains of what appears to be theremains of a bronze age ring cairn (NPRN: 282762). Present ground surface remains indicate a former stonering approx. 8m in diamater. The enclosing ring is approx. 1m wide x 0.20-0.30m in height. The east side isnow almost completely gone, however there is much stone scatter around the feature and within theenclosed field itself. Ring stones, each approx. 0.30m irregular in size. There was no evidence of anymound at its centre.Area 8. Bryn Beddau / Pumlumon FachThis area covers the landscape extending from Bryn y Beddau to Fainc Ddu, inclusive of Pumlimon Fach.The most significant sites located in this area are two Bronze Age barrows (NPRN: 282345 / 282344)located in the region just north of Maesnant farmstead. Both these barrows are oval in form, some 6m x 3m,and each stand approx. 1.5m high. Kerb stones are plainly evident in each. To the north east from thesemounds a small standing stone was recorded located conveniently in cross-section across the bank of asmall stream. At the present ground level only 0.50m of this stone is exposed, however a further approx.0.50m is beneath the surface (NPRN: 282343).A series of mounds were also recorded in the area just north of the former Nant y Llyn farmstead. Thesemounds however would appear to be more likely former peat mounds. Two of these mounds areinterconnected with a field bank and as well as being very close to Nant y Llyn farmstead, a peat moundinterpretation would seem likely, however without further investigation in the form of excavation this mustremain inconclusive.The farmstead of Nant y Llyn (NPRN: 282905) is now in a very ruinous condition with much of thesouthern and northern extensions of the main house now collapsed with ground plan wholly lost, howeverthe main core of the early part of the house is still visible, although much of the interior is now rubble filled.What has preserved very well however is the extensive series of dry stone sheepfolds and field walls thatmake up the outer parts of the farmstead itself.With regards further potential prehistoric sites in this area, two sites and features warrant decription. One ofthese areas is that located on the north bank of the Nant y Llyn water course enroute to the Llyn LlygadRheidol. Here the remains of two round huts were located amongst rocky outcrops (NPRN: 282329 /282328). The ground plan of both of these features is hard to discern. One of them is definitely circular inform and the other only delineated by a line of stones. In the area surrounding these two sites it is possiblethat further sites similar in form may well exist, but a more focused study needs to be undertaken in order todiscover these. The area is heavily strewn with stone scatter and tumble from rock outcrops.71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004The other interesting area is located in a natural ledged area on the upper west facing slope of Pumlimon.Here a series of up to 7 large white quartz boulders were recorded, one of them as much as 2m square, eachseeming to be deliberately positioned in such a way that they deserve attention (NPRN: 282295).No significant features were located in the area of Bryn Hydd.Area 9. Pumlumon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong>This Area is represented by the upper platform area of Pumilmon and its immediate upper eastern slopes.In terms of prehistory the most significant sites discovered here were three possible round huts on the eastfacing slope of <strong>Plynlimon</strong>. These are located on a ledged area in an area heavily strewn with stones. Each ofthese hut circles is characterised by a ring of stones between 4-5m in diameter with a height of only approx.0.40m. Because of their Pumlimon Fawr location it is tempting to interpret these sites as possible modernfeatures set up by walkers and campers in the area, however each site does appear to have an entrancedemarcated at the S end (NPRN: 282426 / 282427 / 282429). A further feature, more ruinous than thesering of stones is a possible cairn only 20m further south from the southernmost round hut. This feature isonly approx. 3m oval (NPRN: 282428). Each of these features needs more focused investigation andsurvey.Other than the sites mentioned above, the scheduled cairns and smaller modern cairns on the top of<strong>Plynlimon</strong> itself no new features were discovered in this area.Area 10. Drum PeithnantWith regards prehistory in this area, the field survey discovered a possible burial cairn, approx. 5m indiameter, at the base of a rock outcrop (NPRN: 282309). Because of its location below a source of stone itis tempting initially to think of this feature as a stone collection pile, however because it complete circularform it may be likely that this site is indeed a burial cairn.The only other new features discovered in this area was an area of mining activity on the west facing slopesof Drum Peithnant, within an outcrop of white quartz (NPRN: 282306), an area of Peat cutting (NPRN:284012), again on the west facing slope and not noted by the aerial mapping, and a sheepfold on thenorthern bank of Nant y Moch stream (NPRN: 282310). Further downstream to the west the layout andcondition of a 2 celled sheepfold and sheep dip was also recorded (NPRN: 282944).Area 11. Eisteddfa GurigThis area is represented by the stretch of land from Dyffryn Castell all the northwards toward the south-eastfacing slope of Pumlimon inclusive of the west facing slopes of Pen Lluest-y-carn.Prehistoric sites in this area, newly discovered, include a possible remnant of a bank and cut ditch of an ironage hillfort located on the southern slope of Pen Lluest-y-carn (NPRN: 282393). This bank and ditch runsE-W for approx. 40m and is incorporated into the natural rock outcrop. The bank is approx. 1.75m high andthe ditch approx. 2.5m wide x 1.5m deep. Given its location toward this summit, this is a prime location foran iron age hillfort, with strategic views looking south. Just above this linear feature, in the area of the PenLuest-y-carn, the rocky platform area is heavily strewn with rocks and potential features. This area warrantsmore focused investigation.Immediately below the south facing slope of ‗Pen Lluest-y-carn‘ the field survey discovered the remnantsof a series of crudely built lluest structures around a known deserted rural lluest site. Three of thesestructures were recorded and each was approx. 7-8m in length x 3m in width. Each has dry stone wallsapprox. 0.60m high (NPRN: 282390 / 282390 / 282384). At the far north end of one of these structureswere the remains of a possible crude hearth and fireplace (NPRN: 282390).71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004This area is predominantly occupied however by the remains of the former post medieval <strong>Plynlimon</strong> LeadMine (NPRN: 33896) This lead mine hadn‘t been investigated to a recording level fully before other thanD. Bicks accounts and photographs of the mine. Recorded were three wheel pits, several shafts and spoilheaps, reservoirs and the remnants of a large dam and sluice crossing the Afon Tarennig, along with anetwork of leats running from the area of the former Nant Nod Mine (NPRN: 309806). The Nant Nod mineis in a very poor state of condition as modern farm building have destroyed much of the sites and features.An unusual feature discovered on the top of Foel Wyddon was a line of 5 stones protruding from theground by approx. 10cm (NPRN: 282442). These were only small, each approx. 20cm irregular in size.There purpose is unknown.Area 12. Craig y MarchThe most significant sites recorded in this area was the remains of Hengwm Annedd farmstead (NPRN:282904). This is one of the lluest houses mentioned by Lewis Morris in 1744. At the time of the field visitthe farmstead was very ruinous and unroofed with most of the walls now in a complete state of collapse.The best preserved part of the main farmstead is the house at the far west end, which appears to havepossible replaced an earlier house that once faced south-east looking up at Lluest y Graig. This farmsteadaccording to the tithe schedule was belonged to the Pryse family in 1845. Its location is very aestheticallyplaced with high cliffs and waterfalls at the far south end.Along the upper slopes of Lluest y Graig the field survey noted the existence of early mining activity in thenorth facing slopes, within areas of white quartz, indicative of lead mine prospecting (NPRN: 282318). Asimilar area was also located along the upper slopes of Craig y March (NPRN: 282319). This area verylikely also has an association with three large platform areas found in the same area (NPRN: 282320 /282323 / 282321).Area 13. Llechwedd HirgoedVery little was found on the summit and the slopes of this hill other than the scant remains of post medievallead mining in the form of Hirgoed Ddu lead mine (NPRN: 284177) and a few further platform andquarrying features toward Eisteddfa Gurig (NPRN: 282398 / 282397).An area of peat-cutting was also noted (NPRN: 284032). With regards the farmsteads of Pont Rhydgaledand Eisteddfa Gurig, both of these are now renovated modern dwellings.Area 14. Esgair y MaenThe most significant site located in this area is that of the deserted rural settlement of Blaen Cyff (NPRN:282395). This site doesn‘t seem to have been noted before on any maps, not even on Lewis Morris‘s mapnor text, implying that this site likely pre-dates 1744. This is extremely likely considering the present stateof the settlement. The ground plan of the settlement is still fairly well preserved. It consists of a series ofstructures with walls now grass covered. Division between the buildings is fairly evident. A walkwayappears to have linked two areas of the farmstead together, possibly to long huts other than one long hutwith accompanying house and byre. Just north of the main farmstead is the remains of an oval enclosure,located unusually on a fairly steep slope and cut by a stream (NPRN: 282404). In the area just north of thefarmstead two small ring enclosures were discovered, which may be early animal pens, possibly medieval.These are located just over a rocky ridge above the main farm complex. (NPRN: 282396 / 282408).Enclosing the whole of the settlement site at the north-east end is a high enclosure boundary bank, approx.1m in height x 1.5m in width (NPRN: 282403).North of ‗Blaen Cyff‘ DRS, on the upper east facing slope of Pen Lluest-y-carn, the field survey recordedan area of deep peat, some 4m in depth in places. This area was given a data point for future environmentalsampling (NPRN: 282409). From this point looking down the valley eastwards, from the source of the riverWye, the field visit recorded the existence of a dam and sluice associated with the former Blaen Wye andNant Iago Lead Mines (NPRN: 284190). This mine is now almost completely destroyed with very littleremains apart from a few shafts and a wheelpit (NPRN: 284187).71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Area 15. Bryn DaithThis area is best characterised by the remains of the former Nant Iago Lead Mine (NPRN: 34004). Theremains here are fairly extensive and in places fairly well preserved. Grey and white Calcite covers much ofthe dressing floor as well as near the base of the Crusher. As well as the remains of structures, including thecrusher house, wheelpit, ore bins and settling pits, this mine still holds much of its mechanics in place,especially winding gears above a few of the shafts. Also, in the area of Nant Iago north, parts of the woodenlaunder are still in place.Further south from Nant Iago, much of the landscape here has been altered by the insertion of a multitude oftrackways, put in by the ‗Sweet Lamb Motor Sport Complex‘, however off the tracks, there are still a fewsites still preserved. In the area of Bryn Daith the field survey discovered the remains of a small burialcairn, some 3m in diameter x 0.30m high. This cairn was made up of white quartz stone (NPRN: 282475).A further cairn (NPRN: 284251), recorded by CPAT in their ‗Y Foel Windfarm Assessment‘ in 1991 wasnot located. This cairn may have been destroyed by the insertion of new trackways.Area 16. Y FoelThe area of ‗Y Foel‘ is best characterised by the remains of the former Wye Valley and West Wye ValleyLead Mines. Very little remains of both of these mines, especially that of the Wye Valley Lead Mine. Allthat remains today of the Wye Valley Lead Mine is shafts, sluices and reservoirs. The rest of the minesfeatures have since been destroyed. Eventhough very little remains of the West Wye Valley Lead Mine,there are still remnants however of a large building with evidence for two large furnaces (NPRN: 282482).The ground plan of this building indicates that it was formerly approx. 20m in length x 8m wide. A verydeep vertical shaft, approx. 10m in diameter, is also plainly visible just north of this building and ispresently used for dumping broken car parts (NPRN: 282481).Further south from this mine the field survey noted on the east facing slope of the hill known as ‗Y Drum‘ aseries of cultivation ridges running E-W. (NPRN: 282868).The farmstead of Cefn Brwyn (NPRN: 282652) in this area is now in complete ruin with very littleremaining, with much of the building stone having been removed.8 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONSThe uplands survey of the Nant y Moch and Pumlimon Fawr landscape just north of Ponterwyd inCardiganshire and Montgomeryshire generated 1216 site records. Of this number 67 were already recordedon the RCAHMW database. A further 261 sites and features were recorded on the D.A.T county Sites andMonuments database, and a further 99 sites and features were recorded on the C.P.A.T county Sites andMonuments database. This gives a total number of 856 new sites and features in this area.The largest category of site types recorded were banks, of which 68 were recorded. These werepredominantly grass covered field banks and enclosure banks. The second largest category was that ofenclosures, 60 in total. This number includes both potential prehistoric, medieval and post medievalenclosures. This was followed by the remains of former lead mine leats of which there were 59 in total. Themajority of these leats link up Bryn Afr lead mine with Llywernog lead mine and Nant Iago with West WyeValley(For further details see Summary Tables Appendix IV).In terms of site location by contour heights, between 250m – 300m, site types varied considerably fromenclosures, round barrows through to lead mines and leats. The same is true of contour heights between300m – 350m, however at about the 350m height peat cutting seems to appear regularly. Between thecontour interval of 350m – 400m sites recorded were again very varied. Between 400m – 550m sitesrecorded were predominantly lead mine related. Between 680m – 753m sites recorded were predominantlyboundary stones, stone piles, marker cairns and burial cairns on the higher summits (For further details seeSummary Tables Appendix IV).71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Leaving aside post medieval deserted rural farmsteads, settlements and lead mines for now, essentially therewere five key areas with significant prehistoric archaeology; Dinas (Area 4), Esgair Gorlan (Area 5), theEast bank of the Rheidol (Area 7), Pumlimon Fawr (Area 9) and Eisteddfa Gurig (Area 11). Although theseareas had already been surveyed to some extent over the years by the RCAHMW, by Dyfed ArchaeologicalTrust and Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust, they had not been subjected to a systematic survey governedby the present uplands initiative methodology of 30-50m transects.The area of Dinas arrests attention, in that the settlement below Dinas hillfort at the western base, is verypossibly of medieval date, and if so needs further investigation to ascertain its origins. Other features veryclose by to this settlement also exist, that may well have either early medieval origins or else are prehistoricin origin, such as the two semi-circular enclosure banks or ring cairns at the base of Disgwylfa Fach. Thesecircular enclosures may also be the remains of ring cairns, having had their ring of stones partly robbed(NPRN: 282149 / 282,837). Again, further west at the base of the same hill, the field survey discovered apossible stone row along with a small cluster of five burial cairns. These potentially new prehistoric siteswithin this area, implies that this area may once have held a ritual importance. This interpretation may bereinforced by the existence of known standing stones close by. This is accepting of course that these stoneshad a former ritual identity. As a recommendation, each of these sites in the area of Dinas and DisgwylfaFach warrants further archaeological evaluation.In the area of Esgair Gorlan, the field survey also recorded a possible remnant of a small Iron Age camp ontop of the ridge. The low bank in this area is very faint, but most definitely exists. It would seem from theresults of the field survey that these two areas form a small pocket of prehistory that needs to beinvestigated more thoroughly.This seasons work also managed to discover three more potential Bronze Age round barrows on the eastbank of the Afon Rheidol (Area 7). These are very hard to discern on the ground, not only because of highgrass and marsh, but because of their low height, but they are definitely visible from the upper slopes.This area, as previous studies have shown, appears to have once been an important funerary area. Thereasons for this strong funerary focus at this particular spot are of course speculative. But the fact that thearea is immediately below the dark west facing slope of the dramatic Pumlimon Fawr must have played aprime role in the decision of their siting.The slopes of Pumlimon Fawr in terms of new archaeological sites were fairly fruitful also. This isespecially true of the east facing slopes. Here a series of three possible round huts were discovered on aledged platform area, each approx. 5m in diameter. It is possible that these features haven‘t been discoveredbefore because the normal route up to <strong>Plynlimon</strong> is from the south or else from the west. Because of theimportant status of ‗Pumlimon Fawr‘ within historic texts it is recommended that these sites be furtherinvestigated. The west facing slope of <strong>Plynlimon</strong> however didn‘t not reveal any new sites of greatsignificance however a few features do warrant further investigation. These include an area directly belowthe western base of Plymnlimon where a series of 7 or more white quartz stones are located in an ‗arena‘type location at the source of the Maesnant watercourse. These stones do appear to have been deliberatelypositioned on small platform areas.Lastly in terms of prehistory, the area of ‗Pen Lluest-y-Carn‘ (Area 11) exposed a fairly deep curvilinearditch and bank within rock outcrop at the southern head of the summit. This area is heavily covered instones and boulders of all sizes with a very strong possibility of further sites such as platforms and the sortwithin the many pockets of rock outcrops in this area. This area needs more thorough focused investigation.With regards the medieval period, only three areas are worthy of mention, Dinas (Area 4), Eisteddfa Gurig(Area 11) and Esgair y Maen (Area 14). With regards the possible medieval settlement site at Dinas this hasalready been mentioned. In the area of Eisteddfa Gurig, just below ‗Pen Lluest-y-carn‘ a series of three longstructures were discovered in the area of the known lluest site recorded by Lewis Morris in 1744. Each ofthese structures was approx. 8m in length and were of very basic crude construction and may well pre-datethe lluest site in the area or else they are contemporary. In the area of Esgair y Maen the field survey71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004discovered the remains of an extensive settlement that appears to pre date Lewis Morris‘s text of 1744. Herethe remains of two long huts are evident along with byre extensions and small enclosures. A large fairlyhigh enclosure or boundary bank borders the site to the north, which has the characteristics of a medievalboundary bank. This site is fairly well preserved and as a recommendation it warrants further investigation.With regards post-medieval sites, these were dominated by deserted rural farmsteads and lead mines. All ofthe post-medieval farmsteads in the area have been mentioned by Lewis Morris in his map and text of 1744.This would suggest that these farmsteads are likely either early 18 th century in date or else they are late 17 thcentury. Of these farmsteads, all of those along the east bank of the Rheidol are still in use as either workingfarms or else as dwellings and have seen much conversion over the centuries.The post medieval lead mines in the area are best represented by the remains of the <strong>Plynlimon</strong> Lead Mineand the Nant Iago, however of the two, perhaps Nant Iago is the best preserved. This area however appearsto be under constant change from the insertion of new trackways by the Sweet Lamb Motor Sport Complex,and as such what remains of Nant Iago lead mine may be under threat, but presently it seems fairly safebeing down at the waters edge.Probably one of the most impressive industrial features recorded by this season‘s work is the extensiveseries of leat networks not before recorded. These are far more extensive than previously thought and havenow become almost fossilized into the surrounding landscape, epitomising the engineering skills anddetermination of the post medieval lead mining industry in Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire.This season‘s Uplands Initiative was helped greatly by the RCAHMW‘s Aerial Mapping project, whichadded greatly to the total number of sites recorded. Perhaps the greatest number of features noted by themapping was related to peat-cutting, which, when in the field can at times be very hard to distinguishamongst the marsh and reed coverOverall the Nant y Moch and Pumlimon Fawr uplands survey of the area above Ponterwyd and EisteddfaGurig, was beneficial in that it has enhanced the archaeological record with new and previously knownsites. As such a greater awareness of the existence and condition of archaeological sites, both prehistoricand post medieval, within this uplands landscape is beginning to emerge.9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThanks to David Leighton from the RCAHMW for all of his help and advice during the project. Also thanksto all others involved in the Uplands Initiative Project at the RCAHMW, particularly Tom Pert for his aerialmapping interpretation. Also thanks to the SMR offices at Dyfed Archaeological Trust and Clwyd PowysArchaeological Trust, the National Library Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales for theircontributions toward the project. Also thanks to all those at the County Records office and those local71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004people who helped with information about some of the mines in the area, particularly Llywernog Lead Mineand those at the Sweet Lamb Motor Sport Complex.10 BIBLIOGRAPHYAnthony, C R , 1995 , "Penson's Progress: the work of a nineteenth-century county surveyor ", TheMontgomeryshire Collections 83 , 165Bick.D.E. 1975. Old Metal Mines of Mid Wales.Bick, D E , 1991 , The Old Metal Mines Of Mid-Wales , 53-56Bird.A.J. 1972. Ceredigion Vol VII, No: 1, p44.Bowen.E.G. 1979. A History of Lalnbadarn Fawr. Gomer Press.Briggs.C. 1982. Ceredigion. Vol 9, No 3, p275.Briggs.C & Murphy. K. 1984. Archaeology in Wales, Vol 24, p28-33.Butler, L.A.S. 1963. Ceredigion, Vol IV, p400-407.Crew, P , 1976 , "Pen Pumlumon Arwystli ", Archaeology in Wales 16 , 22Darvill, T. 1986. The Archaeology of the uplands – a rapid assessment of archaeological knowledge andpractice.Davis. D. 1997. Welsh place-names and their meanings.Davies.J.L. + Kirby.D.P (Ed) 1994. Cardiganshire County History, Vol 1. Cardiff University Press.Hogg.A.H.A. 1962. . Bulletin Board of Celtic Studies. Vol 19, A list of hillforts in Cardiganshire.Hogg.A.H.A. 1962. Bulletin Board of Celtic Studies. Vol 19, p360.Hogg.A.H.A. 1977. Archaeologia Cambrensis, Vol 126, p28Jenkins.G + Jones.I.G. 1998. Cardiganshire County History, Vol III. Cardiff University PressJones. G + Jones. T. 1940. The Mabinogion, p 125, The Story of Culhwch and Olwen‘.Jones, J A & Moreton, N J M , 1977 , The Mines and Minerals of Mid-Wales.Lewis. S. 1833. Topographic Dictionary of Wales Volume 1. M.DCCC.XLIX.Lewis. W.J. 1967. Lead Mines in Wales.Meyrick.S. 1810. History of the County of Cardigan.Morris Lewis. 1744. Lead/Silver Mines of Cardiganshire.Morgan Rees, D. 1978. Industrial Archaeology in Wales.Murphy. K. 1986. ‗Archaeology in Wales‘, Vol 26, p31.Owen, W G , 1991 , Y Foel Windfarm, near Llangurig, Powys: an archaeological assessment of theproposed area , CPAT report 21 December 1991 .71CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Peate. I. 1940. The Welsh House. Llanerch publishing.RCAHM , 1911 , Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouth I - County of Montgomery.Wade.E.A. 1976. A History of the <strong>Plynlimon</strong> and Hafa Tramway.Other Sources consultedArchaeologia Cambrensis – All Volumes and Index consulted for <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, Pumlimon, Eisteddfa Gurig,Nant y Moch, Dinas.Archaeologia Cambrensis – 1981, p75, p88Bulletin Board of Celtic Studies - All Volumes and Index consulted for <strong>Plynlimon</strong>, Pumlimon, EisteddfaGurig, Nant y Moch, DinasCartographic Sources consulted William Wallers Map of 1693 Lewis Morris‘s Map of 1744 Early OS Surveyors drawing 1822 of Lalngurig area (c. 1822) Early OS Surveyors drawing 1833-34 of Llanbaddarn Fawr area (c. 1833) Tithe map and apportionment of Llanbaddarn Fawr parish (1845) Tithe Map and apportionment of Llangurig parish (1845)Crown Estate Map showing boundary between old County of Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire(1866).OS First Edition 6 inch map (1891) – Cardiganshire Sheet No‘s: VIII NE; VIII SW; V SE; VII SE; VIINE; IV SE; VSW; V NW; VII NWOS Second Edition 6 inch map (1901-1903) – Cardiganshire Sheet No‘s: VIII NE; VIII SW; V SE; VIISE; VII NE; IV SE; VSW; V NW; VII NW.OS Provisional Edition 6 inch map 1903-1948 – Cardiganshire Sheet No‘s: VIII NE; VIII SW; V SE;VII SE; VII NE; IV SE; VSW; V NW; VII NWOS 1:10000 raster baseline maps as supplied by RCAHMWOS 1:25000 Landranger (2cm to 1km) Ordnance Survey Geological Map of Great Britain, 3 rd series, 1979, 1:625,00071CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Aerial Photographs consulted as part of RCAHMW Aerial Mapping ProjectSortie Scale Date Frame End frameRAF 541/515 1:60000 1947 4053RAF f21 58/178 1:60000 1947 4663 0002RAF 541/515 1:60000 1940-1950 4083RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3073RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3063RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 4062RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3061RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3065 5250RAF 106G/UK 1:60000 1940-1950 1457 3039RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 4060RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 4058RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 4056RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3014RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3056RAF 540/488 1:60000 1940-1950 3061OS 73/064 1:10000 1973 36OS 73/064 1:10000 1973 37OS 73/064 1:10000 1973 38OS 72/121 1:10000 1973 02OS 94/347 1:10000 1994 35OS 94/347 1:10000 1994 38RCAHMWOblique2001/5096-681:10000 200171CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

APPENDIX 1: SITE ILLUSTRATIONSUplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 200471CAP Report No: 355

Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004APPENDIX 2: SITE DISTRIBUTION MAPSPLEASE SEE REPORT ARCHIVED IN THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS RECORD OFWALES AT THE ROYAL COMMISSION‘S OFFICES IN ABERYSTWYTH71CAP Report No: 355