RD268

Rhos-crug Hill settlement  

17/11/2008  

Designated  

Powys  

Llanbister  

317500  

273480  

Agriculture and Subsistence  

House Platform  

Medieval  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument. The monument comprises the remains of three hut platforms, probably dating to the late-medieval or post-medieval periods and situated within unenclosed moorland on the NE-facing slopes of Rhos-crug above the River Lugg. The largest platform is that to the SE; it is subrectangular on plan and measures 21m from NE to SW by 10m transversely. It is terraced into the slope on its NE end up to a depth of 2m and is terraced out over the slope on its SW end up to a height of 1.6m. The central platform is subrectangular on plan and is situated immediately adjacent and below the first. It measures 14.5m from E to W by 8m transversely. It is terraced into the slope on its W end up to a depth of 1.2m and is terraced out over the slope on its E end up to a height of 0.7m. The smallest platform is that to the NW; it is subrectangular on plan and measures 9m from ENE to WSW by 6m transversely. It is terraced into the slope on its WSW end up to a depth of 0.8m and is terraced out over the slope on its ENE end up to a height of 0.8m. The platforms would once have supported modest buildings and the site presumably represents the remains of a small farmstead. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval and post medieval land use, settlement and economy. It is a relatively well preserved example of an upland settlement and retains great archaeological potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval and post medieval stock rearing practices in the upland zone, whether as permanent settlement, regular transhumance, or intermittent opportunistic expansion. The topographical and likely chronological association of the platform with similar monuments nearby (RD172, RD267 and RD269) further increases the importance of the site. The area scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is square and measures 50m from N to S by 50m transversely.