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

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Uplands Initiative – <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> 2008Llyn Hill Platform II is close to two other platforms of similar form to itself (NPRNs247045 & 247048).The third previously recorded platform, found at Waun Hirwaun II (NPRN 247139) isassociated with a very different agricultural and settlement regime. Placed on a southfacingslope, it is situated alongside a cultivated field system (NPRN 247140), whereridge and furrow cultivation marks can still be seen on the surrounding slopes. Thisseems to indicate that this it was permanently occupied settlement and not associatedwith seasonal pastoral farming. Whether it can be surmised that the Waun Hirwaunplatform belongs to a later period, perhaps the early post medieval, when populationpressure may have seen more encroachments onto common land is not certain.A fourth platform type was encountered to the west of Pant y Llyn, where a platformpair was recorded (NPRNs 247035 & 247036). Such platform pairs are not uncommonin other areas, and typically include a large and small platform. They are likely torepresent a dwelling and an ancillary structure.Platforms at the smaller end of the scale, platforms such as Pant y Llyn Hill III (NPRN247066) or Cwmhindda V (NPRN 247062) can only be interpreted as the sites of someform of structure ancillary to a settlement, or were possibly created as stackingplatforms or are even the result of land clearance activity (removal of boulders forexample).In summary, it can be said that;• those platforms and huts which are not associated with enclosures or cultivation aremost likely to have been associated with the transhumant system of hafod andhendref that was fundamental to medieval management of the land resource inWales• The association of some of the settlements, enclosures or field systems, may suggestthat they were attempts to permanently occupy and, in places, cultivate the mountainwastes, relating to an early post medieval expansion of farming onto the hills at atime when population levels were rising and trade in stock was increasing betweenWales and the great English cities• As is usual for such monuments, dating evidence is not available and it can only bespeculated that these deserted settlements have medieval or post medieval origins,becoming abandoned well before the first Ordnance Survey maps were produced inthe early 19 th century, by which time they had ceased to play a part in the life of thedistrictThe greatest significance of the deserted settlement sites recorded within the <strong>Banc</strong> y<strong>Celyn</strong> study area is that they demonstrate that most parts of the area have been exploitedfor settlement and pastoral farming in the past. This belies the modern view of thisupland block as an uninhabited, mountainous tract.64
Uplands Initiative – <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> 20083.4 Post Medieval Industry & Water ManagementFor geological reasons, the <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> study area has not historically been suited tothe development of significant industries. The rocks of the area are mostly Silurianmudstones, siltstones and marls, and generally not suitable as building stones. Theyalso do not include any metalliferous ores or other mineral deposits.It should also be noted that there was very little evidence of turf or peat cutting in thestudy area. There are only thin peat deposits in limited areas of the common, such as onthe eastern end of Cefn Gledwen. Some traces of what may have been turf or peatcuttings were noted on Cefn Gledwen (NPRN 247004), but it does not appear that therewas any widespread exploitation of this resource.The only industrial activity has been the small scale quarrying of stone, almost certainlyfor local use, as well as limited use of local lakes and streams as water sources.3.4.1 Quarrying86 quarries and 7 possible quarries have been recorded within the study area, but theseare all small workings. The quarries tend to be concentrated chiefly along edge of thecommon land, and in some locations they seem to have been worked to provide buildingstone for the construction of the walls defining the common boundary. It is likely thatquarrying has been a relatively recent activity, belonging to the post-18 th century period.The southern edge of Cefn Llwydallt, at the southeastern corner of the study area,possesses the greatest concentration of quarries, the greyish sandstone of this hillevidently proving to be a more suitable stone than the friable, thinly bedded mud andsiltstones found on <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong>, to the north.It is notable that there are very few stone structures in the study area, which is probablya reflection on the lack of good building stone here. The high number of clearancecairns in the area shows that the best stone available was usually the numerous erraticsmixed into the boulder clay that masks the hard geology of the area.3.4.2 Water SupplyWater management seems to have played an important role in the development of the<strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> common, and numerous, disused, minor leats or drainage channels wererecorded which tapped into mountain streams to carry water. The largest of these wasabove Groes Wen (NPRN 247371) and ran for over 800 metres across the common,although it is not clear where it was intended to carry water to, as it comes to an endwhere it meets the substantial earthwork bank NPRN 247368. The ditch still carriessome water and it may be that these, and many of the smaller leats, were actually cut toassist with draining some slopes.There is only one lake in the area which was large enough to provide a water supply.During the 20 th century, the small lake at Pant y Llyn (NPRN 247273) was dammed andslightly enlarged, and an underground water pipe was installed to carry water to thewest, away from the common, presumably as a domestic water supply.65
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