Historic background

Historic background This is a relatively small area of improved pasture fields between the wooded areas of Glyn Cywarch (area 31) and slopes around Bryn Bwbach (area 22), downslope, and the marginal, rocky area 33 above (see photograph). The earliest evidence for human occupation is a (bronze age) burnt mound, north of Moel Glo, and there is evidence for later prehistoric settlement in two (also scheduled) late prehistoric hut groups (near Moel Glo and Esgair-olwyn). Otherwise there are no relict sites in the area, and the next settlement is in the form of just five farms ( Plas-uchaf, Ffriddfedw, Moel-glo (photograph), Moel-y-geifr and Tynybwlch): most of these would appear to have relatively early, post-medieval origins, and the nature of the pasture implies a long history of improvement.

Key historic landscape characteristics

Pasture fields, stone-built farms, relict archaeological sites

The open, improved pasture fields are the main characteristic features which defines this area. The enclosures are large and irregular (probably late in date), with both straight and some curvilinear boundaries, but the existence of prehistoric settlement sites implies that this layout has superseded an earlier one. The upper reaches of the area are poorly-drained and unimproved.

The scattered, stone-built farms are also important for local character, and the relict sites add historical depth to an otherwise consistent landscape (see photograph).

 

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