Penmark Village Defences

Has been described as a Rejected Urban Defence

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NamePenmark Village Defences
Alternative Names
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthorityVale of Glamorgan
1974 AuthoritySouth Glamorgan
CommunityRhoose

Supposed scant traces of medieval earthwork village defences. Hogg and King write 'Clark detected a large outer enclosure (to the castle) which might have contained a defended village, but this is almost certainly merely field boundaries.'

Large oval field to the north of the village of Penmark, recorded by RCAHMW as scarped around its edges, probably either as a result of its use as a cultivated field or representing an enclosed settlement. Any surviving earthworks to the east are probably also associated with the ruinous Penmark Castle as shown on the 1885 1st edition OS map. The site is now believed to be a natural landform rather than an enclosure. (Wiggins and Evans 2005). (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

Gatehouse Comments

The natural scarping on three sides does make this look like a defensible position, particularly for those with unsophisticated ideas about the nature of medieval Wales and warfare. However the village clearly was not inside this field and the name 'Barrenhill' suggests very little else was either.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceST055689
Latitude51.4113807678223
Longitude-3.35997009277344
Eastings305500
Northings168900
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 273
  • Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds), Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report 61) p. 92-116 online copy

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  • Clark, G.T., 1861, 'Some Account of the Parish of Penmark' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 16 p. 10 online copy

Other

  • Wiggins, H. and Evans, E., 2005, Prehistoric defended enclosures in Glamorgan with recommendations for fieldwork