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Survey Details for CRDFFHL006 - 2026-06-04

CRDFFHL006

Historic Landscape

Fforest Fawr and Coed y Wenallt

Cardiff

2017-03-15

  • Level 1: Rural environment
  • Level 2: Non agricultural
  • Level 3: Woodland

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
    • Strong similarity to and extension of the pennant sandstone ridge adjacent to the east CRDFFHL007.

Description

Q3 - If Classification is "Other", specify here

  • Empty value

Q4 - Summary Description / Key Patterns and Elements

  • This is part of the heavily wooded Pennant sandstone ridge, which divides the communities of Cardiff and Caerphilly. The ridge continues (cut by the rivers Ebbw and Usk) eastward through the neighbouring counties of Newport and Monmouthshire to the River Wye. It has always formed a barrier to north-south communications and acted as an important political and cultural divide. The major prehistoric feature in the area is the Iron Age enclosure of Wenallt Camp. This hilltop site is ovoid in shape and defended by a single bank and ditch. It was a defended settlement overlooking the coastal plain. The western end of this landscape is dominated by Castell Coch. This small stone castle was probably built by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century to control communications through the Taff Gorge. It appears to have been destroyed in the early 15th century. The present site was rebuilt on the foundations of the original castle by the Marquis of Bute and his architect William B.

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
  • Woodland
  • Marginal Land
  • Non-nucleated Settlement
  • Extractive
  • Communications
  • Military
  • Designed Landscape
  • Recreational

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
  • Hedgebank

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

  • Buried-dry
  • Relict-Earthworks
  • Relict-Stone Monuments
  • Buildings & Structures
  • Documentary
  • Industrial Archaeology
  • 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?

  • Yes

Q18 - Are there Listed Buildings here?

  • Yes
    • Number of Listed Buildings in this area: 20

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

  • 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?

  • 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 and 1:25,000

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

  • Defined with reference to topography and land use: takes in the majority of the forested ridge, equating to the limits of rural upland Tongwynlais and Rhiwbina. The recent golf courses have been retained within the area as the irregular field pattern of the wider area has been largely retained within their development and the wooded nature enhanced; these areas are also of too small as scale to be separated at level 3.

Evaluation

Q35 - Evaluation Criteria: Integrity

  • High
    • Long-established densely wooded landscape including some elements of outstanding importance, specifically the Iron Age hillfort enclosure of Coed-y-Wenallt and, in particular, the distinctive landmark of Castell Coch which dominates the western half of the area. Within the northern part of the area, extensive modern quarrying activity (Blaengwynlais Colliery) and the construction of a modern golf course have disrupted the landscape pattern to a certain extent.

Q36 - Evaluation Criteria: Survival

  • High
    • Large-scale quarrying activity during the 20th century has had a significant impact on parts of the area, specifically to the N (Blaengwynlais) and to the SE (Cefn-Garw), although the remote, densely wooded character of much of the area, as shown on the OS 1st edition map, has survived. Individual elements within the area, such as Castell Coch (GGAT PRN 00595s), and Coed-y-Wenallt Camp (GGAT PRN 00604s), have survived in an outstandingly good condition.

Q37 - Evaluation Criteria: Condition

  • High

Q38 - Evaluation Criteria: Rarity

  • High
    • Fforest Fawr and Coed-y-Wenallt represent one of two areas of woodland with evidence of industrial extractive activity (HL019). Castell Coch represents one of two medieval castles in the county (the other being Cardiff) substantially reconstructed in a richly extravagant Gothic style for the Marquis of Bute by the noted Victorian architect William Burges.

Q39 - Evaluation Criteria: Potential

  • High
    • This extensive, remote wooded area on the fringes of the urban sprawl of Cardiff has considerable value as a public amenity. Further investigation of prehistoric and later earthwork features within this substantial area of woodland, to establish the precise nature of the archaeological resource in this area, would certainly be worthwhile. Castell Coch itself represents one of the best-known tourist attractions in the region and has been extensively studied and recorded by Cadw and RCAHMW.

Q40 - Evaluation Criteria: Overall Evaluation

  • High
    • A prominent and distinctive, densely wooded landscape including some elements of outstanding importance, specifically the Iron Age hillfort enclosure of Coed-y-Wenallt and the restored medieval fortress of Castell Coch.

Q41 - Justification of overall evaluation

  • A prominent and distinctive, densely wooded landscape including some elements of outstanding importance, specifically the Iron Age hillfort enclosure of Coed-y-Wenallt and the restored medieval fortress of Castell Coch.

Information Sources

Q42 - Sources and additional assessments

  • See full 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/