Runston Manor House
Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House
There are masonry footings remains
| Name | Runston Manor House |
| Alternative Names | |
| Historic Country | Monmouthshire |
| Modern Authority | Monmouthshire |
| 1974 Authority | Gwent |
| Community | Mathern |
Within an area measuring roughly 30m by 30m, on the north side of a ruined church, lie the remains of a small medieval fortified site. Overgrown with small trees and bushes the remains are well-defined banks of tumbled rubble averaging 4m wide and 1.3m high. On the SW corner the outline of a tower roughly 5m in diameter can be made out. Some coursed walling is still evident but essentially the monument has been reduced to earthworks. (Coflein as 'Fortified manor house')
The monument comprises the remains of earthworks, platforms and building footings, representing a deserted village, of probable medieval date, and the remains of a small chapel. The chapel survives as a roofless ruin comprising the chancel and nave with a bell tower at the west end. The chancel arch survives intact, with the wall above and the eastern wall standing to their original height. The chapel retains significant architectural details, including finely jointed ashlar blocks in the chancel arch and small romanesque windows, which point to a construction date in the early 12th century. Documentary sources reveal that the chapel was built by the Normans shortly after their conquest of south-east Wales, however reference is made to the presence of a village on the site as early as the 10th century. The remains of the village can be seen to the south and east of the chapel as turf-covered banks, 0.5m to 1m high, some with stones exposed on them. In the centre of the site these banks delineate roughly rectangular areas, corresponding to the layout of houses, while on the edge of the settement the linear banks are probably the remains of field boundaries. Running east/west across the centre of the site is a narrow hollow way, which curves to the north at its eastern end. The village is known to have been deserted in the 18th century
The deserted village remains are of national importance for their potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval settlement, while the chapel is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the organisation and practice of medieval Christianity. (Scheduling Report)
This site is a scheduled monument protected by law
Not Listed
The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | ST495916 |
| Latitude | 51.621208190918 |
| Longitude | -2.73066997528076 |
| Eastings | 349520 |
| Northings | 191630 |
