CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
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Pigwn stone row I

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 50276
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Llywel
Unitary authority : Powys
NGR : SN83303107
Site Type (preferred type first) : BRONZE AGE STONE ALIGNMENT / MEDIEVAL FIELD SYSTEM
Status : scheduled monument

Description :
ROW OF 4 STONES (OR SITES OF) RUNNING W FROM STONE CIRCLE PAR 3409A FOR SOME 18.8M. SIMILAR ROW ADJOINS THE FIRST NORMALLY ON W. THEIR SITING IS IRREGULAR AND BOTH ARE PROB OLD FIELD BOUNDARIES AND NOT BRONZE AGE FEATURES. SEE ALSO PAR 801.

Other low stones in immediate neighbourhood of the circles are of same general character as those of the alignment [4 stones in line to SW of smaller circle) but only excavation would decide if they are artificially set (Grimes 1930)

An alignment seems to link both circles: consists of 4 or 5 stones leading almost right up to the smaller circle. [it lies SW of circle].

Spicer gives a lot of information about geometry and relationships of stones and the circles. Also a plan (Spicer 1979)

(SC 4 v) Depending upon the number included in the grouping, there are four or five groups of outlying uprights, none of which are certainly associated with the circles, and indeed, some or all may even be natural. Running between the two circles and aligned N.-S. along their E. perimeters are three stones. To the immediate W. of the S.W. circle are two more, and beyond, to the S. of it, two further pairs of apparently unrelated stones. Roughly at right angles to this grouping, and about 40 m from it, is a further alignment of four stones. It has been suggested9 that at one time, at least some of these stones may have formed part of a field boundary.
RCAHMW, 1995 - Draft Inventory description

Within scheduled area Br 069 for PRN 50275 and 50467 but not described by Cadw
RCAHMW say they are scattered groups of stone and do not give a specific grid reference.

A NE- SW alignment of 4 very small stones (two of which are barely visible through the turf), which lies to the SW of the smaller of the Pigwn/Trecastle Mountain stone circles.(PRN 50275). Three of the stones are as plotted by Grimes(1963, p.135), but the NE stone on his plan is not now apparent, and there is a small stone now to be seen much closer to the circle. The overall length of the row is c.24 m. A further 3 very small stones lie between the two circles, on the E side, and appear to continue the alignment. These have been plotted by RCAHMW 1997, p.154. It is unclear whether any of these actually form a row which is associated with the circles. (CPAT 2004)

Sources :
Burl, A , 1977 , The Stone Circles of the British Isles
Cadw , 1988 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - Br069(POW)
Cadw , 1991 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - Br069(POW)
Cadw , 1992 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - Br069(POW)
Cadw , 2000 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - Br069(POW)
Cadw , 2006 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - Br069(POW)
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1985 , Site visit record - PRN50276
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 2004 , Site visit record - PRN 50276 ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Grimes, W F , 1963 , The stone circles and related monuments in Wales
Jones, N W , 2002 , Prehistoric Funerary & Ritual Sites: Brecknockshire; Initial Project Report ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Jones, N W , 2005 , Prehistoric Funerary & Ritual Sites; Central Brecknock, Project Report ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Jones, Nigel W , 2007 , Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monuments in Breconshire , Brycheiniog : 39 : 23-46
Morgan, L , 1908 , title unknown - Nant Tarw Stone I
Ordnance Survey , 1981 , OS record card SN83SW 6
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales , 1995 , An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Brecknock (Brycheiniog); The Prehistoric and Roman Monuments, Part i - draft text
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales , 1997 , An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Brecknock (Brycheiniog); The Prehistoric and Roman Monuments, Part i
Spicer, R., D., 1979 , Stone Circles of Wales Powys Extract
Thom, A, Thom, A S & Burl, H A W , 1980 , Megalithic rings: plans and data for 229 monuments in Britain
Welsh Office Ancient Monuments Branch , 1980 , Scheduling map - Br069(POW) ( © Welsh Office Ancient Monuments Branch)
1. MS O.S.Maps, Brit. Lib. (1818);A.P.s, C.U.A.P. QJ 15,17;A.P., R.C.A.M., 88 MB 69-72.
2. The site is first noted by W. Rees, Arch. Camb. 8 (1854), pp.125-134.
4. Grimes, Map L.B.M.;Stone Circles, pp.135-6;Barnatt, Stone Circles, p.391,nos 13:45-6.
6. Thom, Megalithic Sites, table.
7. An unsigned MS of 30th July 1933, which includes sketch plans of two circles and notes about them written upon Castle of Brecon Hotel notepaper, probably in the hand of W.F.Grimes, suggests there were at that time many more outlying stones than later
survived. The writer felt that a handful of stones may have at one time have belonged to an outer circle. It is difficult to correlate the second circle described in this MS with the known sitings. It had 8 peristaliths, was some 95 feet [about 29 m] in
diameter, also had a slightly raised centre, and apparently lay roughly equidistant between the known, larger, N.E. circle, and the N.W. corner of Y PIGWN Roman Camp (Lloyd MSS).
8. W.E.Griffiths in R.C.A.M. files.
Llywel (E), Traean-glas (C)

Events :

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12386

Compiled date : 31-12-1981


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Archaeological data, from the Historic Environment Record, supplied by The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © CPAT, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025). It is intended to be used for private research only and is not for use as part of commercial projects. If you wish to use this information for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. Use of this information is subject to the terms and conditions of access to HER data published on CPAT's website. Please contact the HER if you have any further questions regarding this information. Please quote the Primary Reference Numbers (PRNs) in any correspondence.

May 13, 2025, 10:33 am - File produced for Archwilio from CPAT's Regional HER.
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, The Offices, Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP
tel (01938) 553670, email her@cpat.org.uk, website www.cpat.org.uk

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