Pentrehobyn Round Barrow(s) View all content for Pentrehobyn

This site and the other I recently added (Nercwys Mountain Cairn) are just two of a number grouped in fairly close proximity in and around the Alyn Valley near my home town of Mold. I have held a keen interest in ancient sites/stones/monuments since being taken to Stonehenge in the late 1960's and it was these local sites that rekindled that interest a few years ago and again more recently the findings of a CPAT/CADW during a dig in 2010. In reply to Howburn Digger's question the view in the photos is from the gate of the Pentrehobyn Estate right next to an occupied lodge across a stretch of open field alongside the estate driveway. I have never asked nor ventured further than the gate so not sure whether access would be granted. It is just off the roundabout on the A494 approx 100yds along the B5444 road to Wrexham. You have to park in the industrial estate adjacent to the roundabout and walk the short distance. I can't help but think that Pentrehobyn, or the people responsible for its building, must have some links with those of the famous Bryn-yr-Ellyllon (site of the 'Gold Cape' now in the British Museum), Llong Barrow, Rhual Isaf Barrow and Penbedw, etc. making me also believe that my humble local patch was rather quite important at one time. Pentrehobyn is described by Coflein as a "sub circular mound, 26-33m diameter and 1.7m high". Its a very 'neat', undisturbed mound visually and I'm sure that there is a line-of-sight from it to the peak of Moel Famau (mother mountain), so perhaps no coincidence? The recent CPAT dig is published in their Report no.1078 and it concerns a "large ring-ditch burial mound" some 44m in diameter. This is a relatively large ring-ditch shown up by crop marks in the field directly opposite the Pentrehobyn site. This adds strength to the possible links theory mentioned earlier. It should be noted that not all the sites in this locality have any real visible evidence remaining (eg Llong, almost totally ploughed out) and Penbedw Barrow/Stone Circle and Rhual Isaf Barrow are also on private land (but much easier to get to unseen). Worth spending 10mins here if passing on a day out to take in others.

Posted by JohnAko 9th November 2011ce

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