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Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham: Latest Posts — Fieldnotes |
Previous 10 | Showing 171-180 of 188 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 10 
Moel ty Uchaf (Cairn circle) |
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This is a stunning site; set in magnificent scenery, relatively diminutive, yet equally as magnificent for its completeness. It is quite easy to believe that the original builders abandoned it a few hundred years ago, let alone 4,000 years ago. We visited on a classically beautiful late winter afternoon, and were bewitched. The peace of this cosy circle is deeply regenerating; its effect has continued on in me for days. Do visit, and prepare to be transported. This post appears as part of the blog post "Berwyn Beauties"
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Posted by treaclechops9th February 2005ce |
Bryn-y-Ffynnon (Cist) |
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A rare and unexpected Bronze Age treat to be found, surprisingly, in the heart of Wrexham. In the centre of Wrexham County Borough Museum stands an unassuming box on a plinth, with a large piece of black foam rubber resting on its top. Lift this up, and suddenly you are transported back in time approximately 3,600 years, as you look down into a Middle Bronze Age burial cist. Even more exciting is the fact that the original inhabitant of this large box remains in situ, grave goods beside his disarticulated bones. Brymbo Man, as he is known, was discovered in 1968 when a new housing estate was being built in Brymbo (pronounced 'Brumbo'), an outlying village near Wrexham. Near what is now 79 Cheshire View (give a big clue on the terrain; the most wonderful views of the Cheshire Plain can be had from the local hills; evidently just as emotive these days), a workman's pick hit Bronze Age pay-dirt approximately 1 foot below the ground's surface. Intially they had discovered a capstone five and half feet long, but below this lay a burial cist, containing a human skull and a few bones, besides a large beaker and a flint knife. The entire lot, including the cist, was intially moved to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff - but happily, 30 years later in 1998, Brymbo Man came home to his present resting place in the County Museum. The museum have made much of this corking find, and have a very good display on the Bronze Age as result - very child friendly, too. Probably the next best object after the cist and remains is the reconstructed head of Brymbo Man, giving an idea of what the ancient peoples of this area looked like; not much has changed, really! This is a real archaelogical and anthropological gem, well worth a look if ever you are passing. Find out more at: http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/brymbo_man/bm_revealed.htm |
Posted by treaclechops 19th January 2005ce |
Hillbury Round Barrow (Round Barrow(s)) |
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Originally discovered when excavations took place in the grounds of Hillbury House. Now very little remains of this barrow in what thse days is the Nazareth House complex. Without the aid of a detailed map (and assistance from the County Archaeologist at the local musuem), you would be forgiven for assuming this rise in the ground was just an attractive piece of landscaping. Two medium-sized chestnut trees grow out of it, and a unlovely set of flats in the vast Nazareth House grounds back onto half of it; a concrete path cuts across the barrow, access for the flats. Sad. |
Posted by treaclechops 15th November 2004ce |
Fairy Oak Round Barrow (Round Barrow(s)) |
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A large round barrow dominates a green sward belonging to a Victorian villa in Wrexham, Jewel of North Wales. Fairy Oak lies within the grounds of a Victorian walled garden, with neatly trimmed lawns (as if for croquet), and busy traffic the other side of the red brick walls. The grassy, rotund barrow - about seven feet high or so, and probably not dissimilar in size to Churn Knob - takes up most of the garden. One huge and clearly ancient oak tree grows out of the southern side of the barrow, whilst an equally huge chestnut springs forth from the south-western corner. The owners of the property have plonked two fairy silhouette figurines (of the type found at a garden centre near you), on the barrow, the elvish characters racing their way across to the chestnut tree. Sweet. Corny. Inevitable. The trees themselves provide a wonderful amount of shade and a sepulchral, cathedral-like quality to this well-kept round barrow. The house is called 'Fairy Mount', and can be found on 'Fairy Road'. Splendid that the ancient structure is commemorated in the name of the street - even though it is invisible from the road. The house has just come onto the market - and I can't afford it! Bah! |
Posted by treaclechops 15th November 2004ce |
Eglwyseg (Standing Stone / Menhir) |
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This is a short lump of greyish limestone that points up from the ground at a jaunty angle, probably no more that 2.5-3ft high. Stumpy and solid, it is the smoothest, roundest piece of rock for miles around; everything else is stepped and fissured limestone. It does appear that a few pieces have split or broken away over time, and so it might have stood considerably taller originally. It has the characteristic hollow in the ground on one side where the sheep use it as a leaning/scratching post; and as ever, the views it commands are stupendous. This post appears as part of the blog post "Eglwyseg's Easter Excitement"
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Posted by treaclechops 9th April 2004ce |
Tyddyn Bleiddyn (Chambered Cairn) |
| More or less completely destroyed. |
Posted by rdavymed 23rd December 2003ce |
Moel ty Uchaf (Cairn circle) |
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Yesterday we visited Moel ty Uchaf and although we were expecting something much bigger we were not dissapointed this is truly a wonderful place the views from this circle just blow you away what I particulary noticed about this place as opposed to many other circles I have visited is the complete tranquility here, there are no major roads nearby and no motorways buzzing in the background fantastic. We decided to take the trusty kite out today and fly it from the top of the hill. Whilst flying the kite we noticed some anomolies at the bottom of the hill in the opposite direction to which we'd walked up the hill (see my photos). A jumble of huge stones, more boulders, a peculiar slate arrangement and the remains of a cairn similliar to the size of glassonby in Cumbria, but this one was made up almost entirely of white quartz! The grass is so thick here it must hide so many secrets and all round the circle you can find stones hidden under the turf if you look hard enough theres so much to see here if you just look. Also on the track on the way up, if you look in the field before the first farmhouse, I'm sure there're the remains of another stone circle(?). We also found the chambered cairn on the way up to here but failed to gain access. Our bellies were calling us but its halfway in between Moel ty Uchaf and Cynwyd on your right hand side just next to a farmhouse in a small enclosed field. Directions This place is quite easy to find once youve got directions! As you don't see it until your right upon it! Anyway take B4401 off the A5. Pass through Cynwyd and about half a mile down you'll see a red telephone box and postbox on the corner of a lane on your left hand side. Go up that lane 'til you come to a gate leading up to a hill. We parked our car just behind this gate in a field. We asked the farmer who said it was fine as it is still a public place. Then follow the path up the hill and on the top you will find the circle and over the other side of the hill the ruined/overgrown cairn (and other structures). Enjoy! |
Posted by treehugger-uk1st September 2003ce Edited 16th October 2003ce |
Tan-y-Coed (Chambered Cairn) |
| Visible from the B4401 between Llandrillo and Cynwyd. You need to jump a couple of gates and avoid the chickens to see it closely (had there been a farmer I would have asked). One of those sites where you're not fully convinced you've actually found the genuine article and not a random capstone-like piece of rock. |
Posted by rdavymed 8th June 2003ce |
Branas Uchaf (Chambered Tomb) |
| Quite visible from the road, a pleasant spot. Just a few hundred yards from the Tyfos Cairn Circle between Llandderfel and Cynwyd. |
Posted by rdavymed 8th June 2003ce |
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"Only a few remnants. yet spectacular looking from the road as its the dominant feature in the field. a circular stone earth mound covered by grass with the stones exposed on the top: four flat pieces, three of which are standing, one of which is quite large; a few large stones and smaller ones scattered around. An oak tree and three Hawthorn(?) trees grow around it. Directions: there's a lay-by off the road that runs along-side the field and a style to get over the fence" 1 June 2003 |
Posted by FlopsyPete 3rd June 2003ce |
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