Merthyr Tydfil County Borough has 43 scheduled monuments. The prehistoric scheduled sites include many burial cairns and several defensive enclosures. The Roman period is represented by a Roman Road. The medieval periods include two inscribed stones, several house platforms and two castle sites. Finally the modern period has 14 sites, mainly related to Merthyr's industries, including coal mining, transportation and iron works. Almost all of Merthyr Tydfil was in the historic county of Glamorgan, with several of the northernmost sites having been in Brecknockshire.
Scheduled monuments have statutory protection. The compilation of the list is undertaken by Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments, which is an executive agency of the National Assembly of Wales.Cadw: Ancient Monuments and Scheduling. Accessed 25 April 2013 The list of scheduled monuments below is supplied by CadwCadw will send their list as a spreadsheet, or other electronic formats, on request, as indicated at www.whatdotheyknow.com. This list uses information dated May 2012 with additional material from RCAHMW and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.
Scheduled monuments in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Image NameSite type Community LocationDetailsHistoric CountyPeriodSAM No& RefsGelligaer Standing StoneStanding stoneBedlinog, SO103034A high stone on open moorland. Probably Bronze Age and with the possible remains of a Bronze Age burial alongside. An inscription on the stone, now mostly illegible, is described as either post-Roman/Early Christian or Early Medieval. Glamorganshire1.1Coed Cae Round CairnsRound cairnBedlinog, ST093997Located in a cairnfield with at least 19 stony mounds, the scheduling consists of a group of eight Bronze Age burial cairns.Glamorganshire1.3Gelligaer Common Round CairnsRound cairnBedlinog, SO102032A group of eleven Bronze Age burial cairns.Glamorganshire1.3 Carn Castell y Meibion ring cairnRing cairnTroed-y-rhiw, SO035031A ring cairn, possibly dating to the Bronze Age, with an diameter and surrounded by a wide stony ring bank.Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricBronze AgeBrynbychan Round CairnRound cairnMerthyr Vale, (also Mountain Ash), (see also Rhondda Cynon Taff), ST063989A Bronze Age circular cairn with a diameter of . There is an OS triangulation pillar on the site.Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricBronze AgeCefn Merthyr Round CairnsCairnfieldMerthyr Vale, SO082001Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricGM272. . Cadw SAM: GM272: Cefn Merthyr Round CairnsMorlais Hill ring cairnRing cairnPant, SO052096Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricGM563. . Cadw SAM: GM563: Morlais Hill ring cairnTir Lan round barrow cemeteryRound barrowTreharris, ST095993The remains of six Bronze Age round barrows, three to the north-west and three to the south-east of Tir Lan farm. All six remain substantially intact despite being reduced by ploughing in the past.Glamorganshire1.3Prehistoric. Garn Las EarthworkRound cairnTroed-y-rhiw, (also Aberdare), (see also Rhondda Cynon Taf), SO028038The remains a circular burial cairn measuring in diameter, probably dating to the Bronze Age.Glamorganshire1.3Merthyr Common Round CairnsRound cairnTroed-y-rhiw, SO078042 A group of six Bronze Age burial cairns ranging from in diameter.Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricCarn Ddu platform cairnPlatform CairnVaynor, SO035125Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricGM570. . Cadw SAM: GM570: Carn Ddu platform cairnCefn Cil-Sanws ring cairnRing cairnVaynor, SO024108Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricGM567. . Cadw SAM: GM567: Cefn Cil-Sanws ring cairnCefn Cil-Sanws, Cairn on SW side ofRound CairnVaynor, SO024098Brecknockshire1.3PrehistoricGM599. . Cadw SAM: GM599: Cefn Cil-Sanws, Cairn on SW side ofCoetgae'r Gwartheg barrow cemeteryRound cairnVaynor, SO022114Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricGM568. . Cadw SAM: GM568: Coetgae'r Gwartheg barrow cemeteryGarn Pontsticill ring cairnRing cairnVaynor, SO052117Glamorganshire1.3PrehistoricGM569. . Cadw SAM: GM569: Garn Pontsticill ring cairnDyke 315m E of Tyla-GlasDitchBedlinog, SO111012The remains of a later prehistoric/medieval dyke with a clearly defined bank and ditch running east-west across a ridge top. The wide ditch is deep at its east end.Glamorganshire1.5PrehistoricCefn Cil-Sanws Defended EnclosureEnclosure - DefensiveVaynor, SO027099Brecknockshire1.5PrehistoricGM600. . Cadw SAM: GM600: Cefn Cil-Sanws Defended EnclosureEnclosure East of Nant Cwm MoelEnclosure - DefensiveVaynor, SO039113Glamorganshire1.5PrehistoricGM518. . Cadw SAM: GM518: Enclosure East of Nant Cwm MoelEnclosure on Coedcae'r YchainEnclosure - DefensiveVaynor, SO023112Glamorganshire1.5PrehistoricGM519. . Cadw SAM: GM519: Enclosure on Coedcae'r YchainGelligaer Common Roman RoadRoadBedlinog, SO102034Glamorganshire2RomanGM556. . Cadw SAM: GM556: Gelligaer Common Roman RoadNant Crew Inscribed Stone (now in St John's Church, Cefn Coed )Standing stoneVaynor, SO032081A high square-sectioned pillar stone thought to date to the Bronze Age. A Latin inscription on the west face and cross incised on the north face are from the 6th and 7th-9th centuries. Holes in the stone indicate that it had been used as a gatepost.Brecknockshire3Early MedievalPlatform Houses and Cairn Cemetery on Dinas NoddfaHouse platforms (& Cairnfield)Bedlinog, SO093031Medieval house platforms, also prehistoric cairnfieldGlamorganshire4MedievalGM314. . Cadw SAM: GM314: Platform Houses and Cairn Cemetery on Dinas NoddfaPlatform Houses on Coly UchafPlatform houseBedlinog, SO091022Glamorganshire4MedievalGM320. . Cadw SAM: GM320: Platform Houses on Coly UchafMorlais CastleCastlePant, SO049095The collapsed remains of a castle begun in 1288 by Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan. The walls enclosed an area of approximately . It was captured during the 1294-95 rebellion of Madog ap Llywelyn and may have been abandoned shortly afterwards.Glamorganshire4MedievalCae Burdydd CastleMotteVaynor, SO047102A high motte and ditch dating to the medieval period. The diameter of narrows to at the top.Brecknockshire4MedievalCefn Car settlementBuilding (Unclassified)Vaynor, SO018131Glamorganshire4MedievalGM571. . Cadw SAM: GM571: Cefn Car settlementGurnos Quarry Tramroad & LeatIndustrial monumentGurnos, SO034080Glamorganshire5Post-Medieval/ModernGM478. . Cadw SAM: GM478: Gurnos Quarry Tramroad & LeatSarn Howell Pond and WatercoursesPondTown, SO086062Glamorganshire5Post-Medieval/ModernGM494. . Cadw SAM: GM494: Sarn Howell Pond and WatercoursesAbercanaid egg-ended boilerEgg-ended Boiler, re-purposed as garden shedTroed-y-rhiw, SO056037Glamorganshire5Post-Medieval/ModernGM572. . Cadw SAM: GM572: Abercanaid haystack boilerCyfarthfa Canal LevelCanal LevelCyfarthfa, SO042053Glamorganshire5.7Post-Medieval/ModernGM467. . Cadw SAM: GM467: Cyfarthfa Canal LevelCyfarthfa Tramroad Section at HeolgerrigTramroadCyfarthfa, SO031062Glamorganshire5.7Post-Medieval/ModernGM495. . Cadw SAM: GM495: Cyfarthfa Tramroad Section at HeolgerrigIron Ore Scours and Patch Workings at Winch Fawr, Merthyr TydfilIron mineCyfarthfa, SO017068Glamorganshire5.7Post-Medieval/ModernGM554. . Cadw SAM: GM554: Iron Ore Scours and Patch Workings at Winch Fawr, Merthyr TydfilYnys Fach Iron FurnacesIndustrial monumentCyfarthfa, SO045060Glamorganshire5.7Post-Medieval/ModernGM331. . Cadw SAM: GM331: Ynys Fach Iron FurnacesPenydarren Tram RoadTrackwayMerthyr Vale, ST080977Glamorganshire5.7Post-Medieval/ModernGM359. . Cadw SAM: GM359: Penydarren Tram RoadIron Canal Bridge from RhydycarBridgePark, SO044066Glamorganshire5.7Post-Medieval/ModernGM486. . Cadw SAM: GM486: Iron Canal Bridge from RhydycarPont-y-Cafnau tramroad bridgeBridgePark, SO037071An ironwork bridge spanning the River Taff constructed in 1793. The name, meaning "bridge of troughs", comes from its unusual three tier design of a tramroad between two watercourses, one beneath the bridge deck and the other on an upper wooden structure which is no longer present. Pont-y-Cafnau is also Grade II* listed.Glamorganshire5.7Merthyr Tramroad: Morlais Castle sectionTramroadPant, SO047097Glamorganshire5.75Post-Medieval/ModernGM594. . Cadw SAM: GM594: Merthyr Tramroad: Morlais Castle sectionMerthyr Tramroad Tunnel (Trevithick's Tunnel)TramroadTroed-y-rhiw, SO055049Glamorganshire5.75Post-Medieval/ModernGM573. . Cadw SAM: GM573: Merthyr Tramroad Tunnel (Trevithick's Tunnel)Cwmdu Air Shaft & FanAir ShaftCyfarthfa, SO031051Glamorganshire5.8Post-Medieval/ModernGM460. . Cadw SAM: GM460: Cwmdu Air Shaft & FanRemains of Blast Furnaces, Cyfarthfa IronworksBlast FurnacePark, SO037068Glamorganshire5.8Post-Medieval/ModernGM425. . Cadw SAM: GM425: Remains of Blast Furnaces, Cyfarthfa IronworksTai Mawr Leat for Cyfarthfa Iron WorksLeatPark, SO031076Glamorganshire5.8Post-Medieval/ModernGM479. . Cadw SAM: GM479: Tai Mawr Leat for Cyfarthfa Iron WorksDeserted Iron Mining Village, Ffos-y-franIndustrial monumentTroed-y-rhiw, SO071056Glamorganshire5.8Post-Medieval/ModernGM496. . Cadw SAM: GM496: Deserted Iron Mining Village, Ffos-y-fran
See also Grade I listed buildings in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Grade II* listed buildings in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough List of Cadw properties List of castles in Wales List of hill forts in Wales Historic houses in Wales List of monastic houses in Wales List of museums in Wales List of Roman villas in Wales
References Coflein is the online database of RCAHMW: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, GGAT is the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, Cadw is the Welsh Historic Monuments Agency
Bibliography