83401

 

II  

Designated  

16/12/2004  

16/12/2004  

Summerhouse Fort  

 

Vale of Glamorgan  

Llantwit Major  

Cowbridge / Y Bont-Faen  

Boverton  

299413  

166486  

 

On the cliffs in the far south-easterly corner of Llantwit Major Community set in the centre of Summerhouse Camp.  

Miscellaneous  

 

Part of a picturesque concept of a toy fort to be used as a summerhouse, look-out and picnic place on the top of the cliffs. It is built in the middle of the Iron Age cliff castle of Summerhouse Camp and dates probably from the period of 1780-1820 when such conceits were popular. During WWII it was apparently used as a site for a defensive point of some kind. The early history of the fort is unknown.  

Built of local limestone rubble in the form of a octagonal curtain wall about 2m in height, with corner towers at least one of which on the north side seems to have been a privy. The finished design of both walls and towers is uncertain since they are both damaged and much covered in ivy but there appear to be small battlements in the form of a cock-and-hen parapet in parts. On the east side a small barn-like building is incorporated into the curtain. This is unroofed and featureless apart from a doorway but it has a WWII gun-loop on the north corner.  

 

Included for its special interest as a picturesque folly dating from about 1800.