Description
Q3 - If Classification is "Other", specify here
Q4 - Summary Description / Key Patterns and Elements
- This landscape is divided into two aspect areas (H19 and H34), which comprise the lowland fieldscape to the west of Bridgend, south of Parc Slip Opencast. They consist of an evolved fieldscape, mainly of small to medium-sized fields with a rather irregular layout. The existing landscape is largely the product of a Post-medieval reworking of the medieval fieldscape. The only possibly earlier feature to survive as an integrated part of the modern landscape is Fordd y Cyfraith, which RCAHMW consider as a possible Roman road.
Although they have left little impression on the present topographic layout, activities predating the Middle Ages are represented by a wide variety of monuments. There are numerous finds of prehistoric flints, but the earliest monuments are the Neolithic chambered tomb east of Tythegston, and another possible one northwest of Laleston. The Bronze Age is represented by round barrows at Tythegston and Sker, and two standing stones on Cefn Cribwr also probably belong to this period, though they could be earlier. It has been suggested that the standing stones may mark a routeway, though conclusive evidence is lacking. From the Iron Age are a number of enclosures, at least one of which continued in occupation into the Roman period, and there is a Roman villa at Dan-y-graig on the outskirts of Porthcawl, which also developed from an Iron Age farmstead (Newman 1990).
Unlike the other agricultural fieldscapes in the unitary authority, the aspect areas have developed from medieval open field systems. These can clearly be seen in the tithe maps of Newton Nottage and Pyle & Kenfig, and parts are still recognisable on the ground near South Cornelly and southwest of Newton Down. Another possible survival from the Middle Ages is a very large sub-oval enclosure lying between Laleston and Tythegston and bounded on the north and west by the A48 and A4106. This is clearly one of the earliest features of the man-made topography although its original purpose does not appear to be documented. It may perhaps be a Medieval hunting park. Also during the Middle Ages, Margam Abbey had a series of granges at Horegrove, Llangewydd, Sker, Stormy and Tanglwst. Of these, Llangewydd is generally recognised to be an Early Medieval foundation, and Horgrove, which at the time of the tithe map was based on an oval enclosure, may have been the same, though the land divisions around this farm had been resurveyed before the 1st edn OS 6" map was drawn up. Stormy on the other hand was founded on a greenfield site as a motte and bailey castle with village and church site; these structures were demolished by the monks when they took over, and Stormy Down has now reverted to marginal land (Davies 1948, no.L154; RCAHMW 1982, 278). Developments the other way, from marginal land to agriculture, can be seen on Cefn Cribwr, which is documented as common land belonging to the borough of Kenfig in the Middle Ages and was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1572 (Granville 1980, 36-7, 42-3). The small fields which resulted from this enclosure are not necessarily readily distinguishable from some of those enclosed from open fields.
The aspect area includes a number of Post-medieval farmhouses and cottages. This is the only part of the unitary authority where nucleated settlement is the norm. Besides the deserted settlement at Stormy, mentioned above, there were also nucleations at Laleston, Tythegston and South Cornelly; the nucleations at North Cornelly Newton, Nottage and Merthyr Mawr are also part of the general pattern, though North Cornelly has been overtaken by Pyle (CynonHL576) and Newton and Nottage by Porthcawl (CynonHL760), whilst Merthyr Mawr village has been classified with Merthyr Mawr House (as (CynonHL231). Cefn Cribwr is a ribbon development along the crest of the ridge, and probably originated as a collection of farmsteads on the newly enclosed land in the 16th century. Up until the 18th century there were a number of houses scattered along the ridge, but very few along the crest where the present village stands; this developed during the course of the second quarter of the 19th century in response to the industrialisation of the area (Granville 1980, 52, 85).
The areas overlap with the edge of the coalfield, which has resulted in limited industrialisation. There are records of coalmines from the 16th century around Cefn Cribwr. However, anything more than small scale mining had to wait until around 1775, when an ironworks with associated coalmines and limestone quarries was established. The venture was never very successful, particularly in the early days when there was a lack of suitable transport. Although it received a boost after the construction of the Dyffryn Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway and its branch to Bridgend, which was opened in 1830 and connected Cefn Cribwr to Porthcawl, the Bedford Ironworks were still unable to compete effectively with the ironworks of the Llynfi Valley (Granville 1980, 42-3, 65-6, 71-2, 87-8). From the beginning of the 20th century the accessible seams were worked out (Granville 1980, 175).
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)
- Irregular Fieldscapes
- Regular Fieldscapes
- Woodland
- Marginal Land
- Nucleated Settlement
- Extractive
- Designed Landscape
Q6 - If working at level 4 ,which other 'details' are also significant to the historic character of this area? (Please tick all that apply)
Q7 - If working at level 4 only, which building types prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)
Q8 - If working at level 4 only, which periods prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)
Q9 - If working at level 4 only, which architectural types prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)
Q10 - If working at level 4 only, which traditional walling materials prevail in the area? (tick all that apply)
Q11 - If working at level 4 only, which traditional roofing materials prevail in the area? (select up to three)
Q12 - Which traditional boundary types prevail in the area?
- Hedgerow With Trees
- Hedgebank
- Post & Wire Fence
- Wooden Fence
- Cut Drainage
Q13 - What is the nature of any archaeological interest in the area?
- Buried-dry
- Relict-Earthworks
- Relict-Stone Monuments
- Buildings & Structures
- Industrial Archaeology
Q14 - Which chronological period is visually dominant in the area?
Q15 - Is this a Historic Landscape Character Area (HLCA)? If yes, provide detail
Q16 - HLCA description url
Q17 - Are there Scheduled Monuments here?
Q18 - Are there Listed Buildings here?
Q19 - Are there Registered Historic Parks and Gardens here?
Q20 - Are there Conservation Areas here?
Q20a - Are there Historic Battlefields here?
Q21 - Are there World Heritage Sites here?
Q22 - Is this within a Registered Historic Landscape (RHL)?
Q22a - Registered Historic Landscape description
Condition
Recommendations
Q26 - Existing management
Q27 - Management recommendations
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
Aspect Area Boundary
Q30 - To what level was this information site-surveyed?
Q31 - At 1:10,000, how much of the Aspect Area boundary is precise?
Q32 - What baseline information source was used for Aspect Area boundary mapping?
Q33 - If OS Data was used, what was the scale?
Q34 - What is the justification for the Aspect Area boundaries?
- Cefn Cribwr was considered as a possible separate aspect area. However, unlike Newton Down, the boundaries of the parliamentary enclosure on Cefn Cribwr cannot easily be traced, and it was considered inappropriate to attempt to separate it out at Level 3. H19 and H34 are only considered as separate aspect areas due to modern landscape severance.
Evaluation
Q35 - Evaluation Criteria: Integrity
Q36 - Evaluation Criteria: Survival
Q37 - Evaluation Criteria: Condition
Q38 - Evaluation Criteria: Rarity
Q39 - Evaluation Criteria: Potential
Q40 - Evaluation Criteria: Overall Evaluation
Q41 - Justification of overall evaluation
- A small, discrete area of slighly irregular field enclosure associated with Brocastle Farm, adjoining the course of the Roman road from Cardiff to Neath, which delineates the southern boundary of the area.
Information Sources
Q42 - Sources and additional assessments
- Tithe maps for the parishes of Pyle and Kenfig, Newton Nottage, Tythegston, Merthyr Mawr, Laleston and Newcastle
Sucessive OS 6' maps
Granville, N, 1980, Cefn Cribwr: Chronicle of a village. 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?
Q44 - Are there any folklore/ legends associated with the landscape/area?
Q45 - Are there any events/traditions associated with the landscape/area?
Q46 - Are any famous people associated with the landscape/area?
Q47 - Are there any technical / scientific discoveries associated with the landscape/area?
Q48 - List of Historic Placenames
- https://rcahmw.gov.uk/discover/list-of-historic-place-names/
