CAER PENRHOS
Site Details
Site Details
Online Images (4)
Associated Collection Records (23)
- NPRN
- 300770
- Map Reference
- SN56NE
- Grid Reference
- SN5520569555
- Unitary (Local) Authority
- Ceredigion
- Old County
- Cardiganshire
- Community
- Llanrhystyd
- Type of Site
- HILLFORT
- Broad Class
- Defence
- Period
- Iron Age;Medieval
Site Description
Caer Penrhos is a triangular or boomerang shaped hillfort, some 258m north-south by 142m, with an entrance at the north-eastern end. It occupies a promontory position with its strongest defences facing east. A medieval castle ringwork has been superimposed on eastern side of hillfort. This is some 67m by 48m and is probably the castle recorded as having been built by Cadwaladr apGruffyd - the 'War Dragon of Llanrhystud' - in 1148.
RCAHMW aerial reconnaissance has revealed a double-ditch system cutting across neck of promontory outside the north-eastern entrance, comprising two ditches about 40m apart, following outline of earthwork defences. These lend weight to argument for a prehistoric date for the site, despite it being rejected by Hogg in the 1994 Cardiganshire County History.
Visited T Driver, RCAHMW & A Fleming, UW Lampeter, 15th March 2002.
