Banc y Celyn, Brecknockshire - Royal Commission on the Ancient ...

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Uplands Initiative – <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> 20083.3.2. FarmsteadsThere are no occupied, modern farmsteads within the study area, only two desertedfarmsteads are found here, at Pant y Llyn (NPRN 247281) and Cwm Hafotty (NPRN247428).Both of these farmsteads stand isolated, their field systems being surrounded bycommon land. Both were also abandoned before the 20 th century. We know nothing oftheir origins, but the name of Cwm Hafotty is suggestive of it having roots in themedieval hafod/hendre system.In the case of Pant y Llyn abandonment appears to have occurred before the mid-19 thcentury, as the dwelling is not shown on the parish tithe map. Cwm Hafotty is shown asan occupied dwelling on late 19 th century Ordnance Survey maps (rather confusingly, itis named as Pant y Llyn on the 1891 Ordnance Survey series).At both sites, all buildings have been reduced to wall bases and only the general outlineof their ground plan can be made out. It appears that the farmhouses in both locationsbelonged to the longhouse tradition.At Pant y Llyn, the farmhouse (NPRN 247277) is associated with a series or earthworkbanks which define apparent garden plots or possibly even folds, but there is noindication that a substantial range of outbuildings ever stood here. Only a small shelterwas noted near the farmhouse (NPRN 247278).The Cwm Hafotty farmhouse (NPRN 247317) appears to have been a more substantialconstruction, and a considerable amount of stone was scattered across the site. Evidenceof outbuildings was apparent here too, including possible additional cells added onto themain house, which seems to have been a three-celled structure with a fourth cell addedto its upslope end. The whole structure measures 25.5m overall by 6m.Despite the fact that the dwellings at both farmsteads have long fallen into ruin, theirfield systems have never fallen out of use. At Pant y Llyn, several of the field boundarybanks within the holding have been grubbed out, but the perimeter fence around thefield system (NPRN 247275) has been maintained and the land within is improvedpasture.The Cwm Hafotty field system (NPRN 247307) is also maintained, although thecondition of the pasture here is markedly better, possibly due to the lower altitude andmore sheltered position of its location. It has been farmed from nearby Fforest farmduring the past century. Most of the field boundaries seem to survive within the CwmHafotty field system, although they are now generally denuded. Former hedgerowsalong these boundaries have matured during the decades in which the farm has beenunoccupied and most now have rows of mature deciduous trees growing along them.46
Uplands Initiative – <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> 2008Plate 23: The fields surrounding the now deserted Cwm Hafotty farm (NPRN 247428)are surrounded by common land. Its name is a reminder that the upland pastures heremust have been “hafod” lands during medieval times.Plate 24: Pant y Llyn (NPRN 247281) viewed from the north. The earthworks of whatseem to be garden plots can be seen to the left side of the field parcel at the centre of thephotograph; the farmhouse is attached to the left side of the earthworks.47
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