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Survey Details for MNMTHHL059 - 2026-06-05

MNMTHHL059

Historic Landscape

Estavarney and Kemeys Commander

Monmouthshire

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 for this area, the planning authority have been included. Quality Assurance of change detection work was completed by Trysor. 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 remains unchanged following monitoring work

Q1c - Change indicated by

  • No Answer

Q1d - What has changed?

  • No Answer

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
    • Transport networks cross the area from MNMTHHL055 and 061.

Description

Q3 - If Classification is "Other", specify here

  • Empty value

Q4 - Summary Description / Key Patterns and Elements

  • This landscape, Estavarney and Kemeys Commander, forms a sub-landscape of the Usk Valley, and is essentially similar in landscape terms, the main distinction being the association of the area with monastic institutions, the Cistercians and the Knight's Templars. Monkswood (Estavarney) Grange, a substantial landed estate which belonged to the Cistercian monks of Tintern, to whom it had been granted by William Marshal the younger in 1223-4. The estate was further expanded by the monks, who added a further 62 acres in 1262 (Williams, 1976, 121; Williams, 2001, 176). The site of the grange buildings is occupied by present-day Estavarney Farm and the remains of the grange chapel (recorded in the 14th century) have been investigated. The Grange of Kemeys Commander (Cemais Comawndwr), known to have been a manor of the Knight's of St John during the 14th century, retains an interesting single cell church with an early screen built at the same workshop as that in the church at Betws Newydd and an early (13th century?) bell. Gradual woodland clearance during the post-medieval period, attested to by cartographic and documentary evidence, led to the establishment of the squatter settlement of Monskwood, which also has specific associations with industrial activity. A furnace was established in the 17th century to provide Osmund iron for the Mineral and Battery Companies wireworks in the Angiddy Valley. The furnace is presumed to have been located somewhere within the perimeter of the Army Training Estate of RAO Glascoed (ie within MNMTHHL060 to the south).

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)

  • Regular Fieldscapes
  • Woodland
  • Non-nucleated Settlement
  • Other Settlement

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
  • Hedgerow With Trees
  • Cut Drainage
  • Wooden Fence
  • Post & Wire Fence

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

  • Buried-dry
  • Relict-Earthworks
  • Buildings & Structures
  • Documentary
  • Associations

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

  • Medieval (to 1536)
  • 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: 10

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:

  • Constant

Recommendations

Q26 - Existing management

  • No Answer

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?

  • All

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?

  • The Aspect Area represents the extent of the grange land of Estavarney, belonging to Tintern Abbey, and the Knights Templars estate of Kemey's Commander, belonging to Dinmore.

Evaluation

Q35 - Evaluation Criteria: Integrity

  • Moderate
    • Pattern and Detail visible, but not easily understood Aspect Area retaining only some of its original character, form and functio

Q36 - Evaluation Criteria: Survival

  • High
    • Between 71% and 90% of visible elements surviving; some loss to field pattern through amalgamation and settlement expansion, though significant remains associated with monastic grange appear to survive.

Q37 - Evaluation Criteria: Condition

  • Unassessed
    • The result might be viewed as high with the existence of a number of listed buildings in the area, though a balance has to made between all features, to many unknowns to allow assessment.

Q38 - Evaluation Criteria: Rarity

  • High
    • The area includes features that are historically rare in a regional context, chiefly listed buildings, two of which are in fact at grade II* (ie of national significance), The existence of known and established grange features within the area also add to the rarity value of the area.

Q39 - Evaluation Criteria: Potential

  • High
    • Beyond the work of Williams (eg. 1984, 1990, and 2001), the area has seen little landscape scale study. There is considerable scope for future historic landscape study and investigation, perhaps less potential amenity value.

Q40 - Evaluation Criteria: Overall Evaluation

  • High
    • As an interesting 'lowland' monastic grange landscape, as yet an understudied resource, with unassessed condition, otherwise moderate to high scores. As condition has been left 'unassessed', though is likely to be deemed at least moderate or high, an overall evaluation of high has been viewed as most realistic.

Q41 - Justification of overall evaluation

  • As an interesting 'lowland' monastic grange landscape, as yet an understudied resource, with unassessed condition, otherwise moderate to high scores. As condition has been left 'unassessed', though is likely to be deemed at least moderate or high, an overall evaluation of high has been viewed as most realistic.

Information Sources

Q42 - Sources and additional assessments

  • See bibliography in technical report. 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/