The Bulwarks, Porthceri

Also known as:
The Bulwarks, Porthkerry
Nearest town:
Barry (5km ENE)
OS reference:
ST08136632
OS sheet:
170
Latitude:
51° 23' 16.56 N
Longitude:
3° 19' 13.62 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by thesweetcheat

Reverse of the previous image, SW corner of the fort. Unfortunately there’s been some fly-tipping here.

Image credit: A. Brookes (27.10.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 21, 2012
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by thesweetcheat

What appears to be an entrance at the SW corner of the fort. Not sure if this is an original feature.

Image credit: A. Brookes (27.10.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 21, 2012
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by thesweetcheat

Looking along the ditch between the western ramparts. The established trees show that this fort has been wooded for a fair while.

Image credit: A. Brookes (27.10.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 21, 2012
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by thesweetcheat

Looking across the open fort interior at the end of a fine day’s coast walk.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.10.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 15, 2012
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by thesweetcheat

By the time we made our way up through the steep southeastern approach to the fort, it was getting quite dark.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.10.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 15, 2012
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

North-eastern corner, looking very approx north-west.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

The western inner bank, looking towards the caravan site.....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

North front, looking west. Despite the undergrowth, the substantial nature of the defences is hopefully apparent.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

North-eastern corner, looking approx south(ish).

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

The very overgrown northern arc, looking approx east.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

Western front, looking approx north...... another of the Glamorgan coastline’s deceptively impressive ‘forts.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

As you expect, artificial defences are most formidable towards the easiest approach.... in this case to the west of the enclosure. Looking the the central of an apparent trio of banks towards the inner.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011
Image of The Bulwarks, Porthceri (Promontory Fort) by GLADMAN

From the coastline below to the south... it would appear Nature pretty much took care of defences here.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 31, 2011

Articles

The Bulwarks, Porthceri

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 5, 2012

As Carl notes, the simplest manner to visit this overgrown, slumbering giant of an enclosure is via the caravan park immediately to the west. However – for me – the promontory / cliff forts which grace this Glamorgan coastline are far and away best approached from water’s edge. So, particularly following on from a visit to the unique Sully Island, that is what I must do this Boxing Day afternoon. Romantic fool, that I am.

The initial approach in the car is not especially salubrious..... via the perimeter road to the east of Cardiff International Airport, near Rhoose. However, upon reaching the tiny settlement of Porthceri, the visitor is suddenly transported back to an era where gentlemen emerged, ‘glistening’, from lakes and ladies had heaving bosoms laced up in their undergarments. Oh, and the peasants did as they were bloody well told, no doubt. Or something like that. Anyway, there is room to park near the church – no cucumber sandwiches on offer, though – from where a public footpath leads down the left hand of private drives to descend, steeply and with much mud, through woodland to a golf course beneath an impressive viaduct. Advance to the foreshore – dodging any bloody golf balls – and follow the coastline around to the right until a little before the point where the cliffs of the promontory tower above; here a path ascends the wooded, lower slopes to the interior of The Bulwarks, following the line of the south-eastern defences in the latter stages.

Upon arrival within the enclosure the immediate impression is that of ‘so what?, an interpretation not countermanded by several electrical pylon-wotsits standing in the north-eastern corner. Don’t be put off, though.... since the far treeline conceals some pretty substantial tri-vallate earthen banks. The most impressive of these are to the west, terminating at cliff-edge to the south and easily seen by following the footpath to the left towards the caravan park. The northern arc, although much more overgrown and thus less defined, is nonetheless still substantial. As is the eastern/south-eastern flank. Sadly, however, this last section has clearly been treated appallingly, not only having the aforementioned electrical pylons inserted – and being allowed to become completely overgrown – but also acting as a hang-out for local ‘yoofs’.... consequently much litter is to be seen, a general feeling of ‘who gives a damn?’ hanging in the air. Yeah, there is a definite aura of melancholia in evidence here as I force my way through the gorse (and other such prickly, thorny stuff) in the gathering, drizzly gloom. Nevertheless the earthworks, despite such ill treatment, remain as mute testament to this coastline’s rich ancient heritage. If only the locals could grasp what they have upon their cliff-top. If only. Speaking of ‘cliff tops’, that to the south obviously rendered any artificial defences there superfluous.

So, yeah, a visit to The Bulwarks will probably not need to be filed in the TMA ‘classic’ folder.... needless to say it’s not in mine. But an approach from the seashore adds a touch of preceding drama to a viewing of some pretty substantial defences of what was once a major Iron Age site. Now, of course, The Bulwarks is engaged in a new battle for its very survival. The enemy is formidable.... that of apathy and ignorance

The Bulwarks, Porthceri

C
CARL May 5, 2010

The easiest way to access this site is via Porthkerry Caravan Park. As you enter the caravan park follow the road through the site to your left. You will shortly see a gap between the caravans and a small metal sign which gives information about the Bulwark. Access is then along a short path through the trees into the grassed Bulwark. As you walk through the trees you can see the remains of the defences in the undergrowth. You can also access the site via the beach but this involes a steep walk up a very muddy path.

Miscellaneous

The Bulwarks, Porthceri
Promontory Fort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 13, 2010

Coflein description of this Iron Age hillfort sited upon the coast – ar lan y Mor – beside Cardiff International Airport.... not in Cardiff, of course, but at Porthkerry, Rhoose:

‘An enclosed trapezoidal area measuring 230m (N-S), 250m along N, tapering to 120m on S (4.1ha) is defended on the S by cliffs and elsewhere by three close-set banks and accompanying ditches well preserved on the W but reduced to terraces on the other three sides. Entrance on W side.

The camp occupies a blunt promontory, opening onto level ground to the west. Excavations behind the western ramparts, in 1968, identified a sequence of three rectangular buildings, occupied up to the late third or fourth century CE. Early twelfth century pottery occurred in the topsoil.‘

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