View Map Print

Survey Details for CYNONHL988 - 2026-06-08

CYNONHL988

Historic Landscape

H31 Ogmore Valley Agricultural 2

Bridgend-Caerphilly-Rhondda

2017-03-15

  • Level 1: Rural environment
  • Level 2: Agricultural
  • Level 3: Irregular Fieldscapes

Monitoring

Q1 - Date of monitoring?

  • 2017-03-15

Q1a - Monitoring undertaken by

  • Historic Landscape change detection work completed by the relevant Welsh Archaeological Trust (WAT) for this area, the planning authority have been included. Quality Assurance of change detection work was completed by Trysor. Trysor have completed the monitoring amendments to the changed surveys and the WATs to the GIS boundaries. SmartData analysis and update using Designated Historic Asset GIS Data for questions 17, 18, 19, 20 (2025-2026)

Q1b - Has this record been updated following monitoring work?

  • This record has been updated following monitoring work as more up to date information is available

Q1c - Change indicated by

  • Policies, plans & information resources

Q1d - What has changed?

  • Description

Q1e - Has the information ever been verified in the field?

  • Yes
    • 1:25,000

Q2 - Does this area have a special or functional link with an adjacent area?

  • Yes
    • Part of the same historic fieldscape as H09(CynonHL582); fragmented as a result of the development of urbanisation in Cwm Ogwr Fawr. Addirional grazing provided by H05 Unenclosed Uplands (CynonHL215)

Description

Q3 - If Classification is "Other", specify here

  • Empty value

Q4 - Summary Description / Key Patterns and Elements

  • This landscape is an area of irregular fields extending across the angle between the Ogwr Fawr and Ogwr Fach. A small section of the same fieldscape on the southern side of the Ogwr fach has also been included, on the northeastern side of Mynydd y Gaer. There is little evidence for land-use before the Middle Ages, apart from a few Bronze Age cairns. There is no evidence for open fields, and the present field system has evolved out of a gradual colonisation of the hillsides; 15th century documents record 25 ''new tenements'' in Glynogwr (Davies 1981, 23). The majority of farms in Ogwr Fach straddle the 700ft contour, roughly the dividing line between lower-lying meadows and higher mountain pastures on both sides valley. The valley bottom was unsuitable for arable (Davies 1981, 43-5). Together with the absence of open fields, the areas were generally characterised by dispersed settlement, although historically there were a few small nucleations, for example around Llandyfodwg church. This church is probably an Early Medieval foundation; Coal mining assumed some importance in the Ogwr Fach in the post-medieval period, with the first mention of pits being in the 16th century. In the valley pits were mainly abortive or small and short-lived (Davies 1981, 150-1, 163-4). The areas also include some natural woodland, and limited forestry plantations around the head of the Ogwr Fawr valley and on Mynydd Maendy. This afforestation did not occur until after the Second World War.

Q5 - If working at level 3, the classification describes the dominant historic pattern, but which other patterns are important to the historical pattern of this area? (Tick all that apply)

  • Woodland
  • Marginal Land
  • Nucleated Settlement
  • Non-nucleated Settlement
  • Extractive

Q6 - If working at level 4 ,which other 'details' are also significant to the historic character of this area? (Please tick all that apply)

  • No Answer

Q7 - If working at level 4 only, which building types prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)

  • No Answer

Q8 - If working at level 4 only, which periods prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)

  • No Answer

Q9 - If working at level 4 only, which architectural types prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)

  • No Answer

Q10 - If working at level 4 only, which traditional walling materials prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)

  • No Answer

Q11 - If working at level 4 only, which traditional roofing materials prevail in the area? (select up to three)

  • No Answer

Q12 - Which traditional boundary types prevail in the area?

  • Hedgerow With Trees
  • Hedgebank
  • Mortared Wall
  • Post & Wire Fence

Q13 - What is the nature of any archaeological interest in the area?

  • Relict-Earthworks
  • Buildings & Structures
  • Industrial Archaeology

Q14 - Which chronological period is visually dominant in the area?

  • Post Medieval (1536+)

Q15 - Is this a Historic Landscape Character Area (HLCA)? If yes, provide detail

  • No

Q16 - HLCA description url

  • No Answer

Q17 - Are there Scheduled Monuments here?

  • No

Q18 - Are there Listed Buildings here?

  • Yes
    • Number of Listed Buildings in this area: 2

Q19 - Are there Registered Historic Parks and Gardens here?

  • No
    • Checked January 2025, no change.

Q20 - Are there Conservation Areas here?

  • No
    • Checked January 2025, no change.

Q20a - Are there Historic Battlefields here?

  • No Answer

Q21 - Are there World Heritage Sites here?

  • No

Q22 - Is this within a Registered Historic Landscape (RHL)?

  • No

Q22a - Registered Historic Landscape description

  • No Answer

Condition

Q23 - Unused

  • No Answer

Q24 - Condition:

  • Unassessed

Q25 - Trend:

  • Unassessed

Recommendations

Q26 - Existing management

  • Unassessed

Q27 - Management recommendations

  • Empty value

Q28 - Sector Adaptation Plan

  • Historic Environment and Climate Change in Wales Sector Adaptation Plan. https://cadw.gov.wales/sites/default/files/2020-02/Adaptation%20Plan%20-%20FINAL%20WEB%20-%20English%20%281%29.pdf Assessment of likely impacts of climate change on historic assets and significance p8-11. Buildings and Settlements p23 Marginal and upland p26 Marine and coastal p28 Rivers, canals and freshwater p30 Farmland p33 Woodland p36 Industrial landscapes p38 Designed landscapes, parks and gardens p40 Historic landscapes p42

Q29 - Unused

  • No Answer

Aspect Area Boundary

Q30 - To what level was this information site-surveyed?

  • Level 3

Q31 - At 1:10,000, how much of the Aspect Area boundary is precise?

  • Most

Q32 - What baseline information source was used for Aspect Area boundary mapping?

  • OS Landline

Q33 - If OS Data was used, what was the scale?

  • 1:10,000

Q34 - What is the justification for the Aspect Area boundaries?

  • One part of an originally integrgral landscape is divided into two aspect areas (H09 and H31), divided by the transport corridor of H08 Cwm Ogwr Fawr. Boundary drawn at the edge of the main areas of unenclosed land (H05 Unenclosed Uplands and H12 Mynydd y Gaer) and the main road/built up area of H08 Cwm Ogwr Fawr.

Evaluation

Q35 - Evaluation Criteria: Integrity

  • High
    • The dominant landscape pattern in this area, characterised by an irregular upland fieldscape and a settlement pattern of dispersed, isolated farmsteads (with a minor settlement focus at Llandyfodwg), is reasonably well defined and visually coherent; modern forestry plantation on Mynydd Maendy (formerly a tract of partially enclosed moorland as shown on the OS 1st-4th edition maps) has disrupted the coherence of the landscape to a limited extent.

Q36 - Evaluation Criteria: Survival

  • High
    • The irregular fieldscape in this area shown on the OS 1st edition map has survived largely intact, excepting the NE corner of the aspect area, where extensive modern forestry plantation (Cwmogwr Forest) has obscured the pre-existing enclosure pattern. The archaeological record in this area is reasonably diverse in scope, the earliest evidence of occupation dating back to the Bronze Age period. Bronze Age ritual/funerary activity is represented by two isolated cairns on Mynydd Maendy (GGAT PRN 00995m) while medieval settlement activity is evidenced by the early medieval ecclesiastical site of St Tyfodwg at Llandyfodwg (GGAT PRN 00923m) and the earthworks of a deserted medieval settlement at Gelli-fedgaer (NPRN 91966), consisting of a series of house platforms surviving in variable condition, partially damaged by ploughing. Limited evidence of post-medieval industrial activity is represented by isolated examples of disused coal levels and quarries.

Q37 - Evaluation Criteria: Condition

  • Moderate

Q38 - Evaluation Criteria: Rarity

  • Moderate
    • One of several irregular upland fieldscapes in the Bridgend UA (similar to HL582); this area is distinguished by its well-preserved pattern of fieldscape and settlement, with only limited evidence of intrusion by industrial activity and modern forestry plantation.

Q39 - Evaluation Criteria: Potential

  • High
    • This area has not been covered by a detailed historic landscape characterisation. Although the prehistoric and medieval sites within this area have been surveyed by the RCAHMW (RCAHMW, 1976; RCAHMW, 1982), there remains potential for further assessment of these monuments; the substantial earthworks of a deserted medieval settlement at Gelli-fedgaer in particular merit a detailed programme of investigation (e.g. documentary study, geophysical survey, targeted excavation).

Q40 - Evaluation Criteria: Overall Evaluation

  • High
    • A well-preserved irregular upland fieldscape, exhibiting evidence of prehistoric and medieval activity. A significant tract of modern forestry plantation dominates the NE corner of the aspect area.

Q41 - Justification of overall evaluation

  • A well-preserved irregular upland fieldscape, exhibiting evidence of prehistoric and medieval activity. A significant tract of modern forestry plantation dominates the NE corner of the aspect area.

Information Sources

Q42 - Sources and additional assessments

  • Davies, M, 1981, Glynogwr and Gilfach Goch: A history. Questions 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 14/02/25, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Living Heritage

Q43 - Are there any art/artistic expressions associated with the landscape/area?

  • No Answer

Q44 - Are there any folklore/ legends associated with the landscape/area?

  • No Answer

Q45 - Are there any events/traditions associated with the landscape/area?

  • No Answer

Q46 - Are any famous people associated with the landscape/area?

  • No Answer

Q47 - Are there any technical / scientific discoveries associated with the landscape/area?

  • No Answer

Q48 - List of Historic Placenames

  • https://rcahmw.gov.uk/discover/list-of-historic-place-names/