Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry)

Nearest town:
Neath (3km NNW)
OS reference:
SS76569425
OS sheet:
170
Latitude:
51° 37' 58.82 N
Longitude:
3° 47' 1.61 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thesweetcheat

Looking across the multiple banks of the central enclosure.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.2.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 24, 2024
Image of Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thesweetcheat

Southwestern arc of the central enclosure, looking towards Mwmbwls.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.2.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 24, 2024
Image of Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thesweetcheat

Looking down on the central enclosure from the outer banks. The prominent hill to the right of centre is Mynydd Marchywel, with Y Mynydd Du distant far right skyline.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.2.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 24, 2024
Image of Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thesweetcheat

The inner/lower of the two outer ramparts. The uppermost/outermost rampart is to the left, parallel with the fence.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.2.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 24, 2024
Image of Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by thesweetcheat

The uppermost/outermost rampart along the southern side of the site. Looking down towards Castell Nedd/Neath.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.2.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 24, 2024

Articles

Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry)

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 24, 2024

Visited 25 February 2023.

Like Carl I come down here after visiting Buarth y Gaer hillfort and cairn. The fences on the current OS 1:250000 are out of date; the fence to the south now encloses the whole site rather than separating the outer earthworks from the central site.

It’s a big site overall, there are two low banks uphill and to the south of the central site, which if continuous would enclose a very large area. Although the OS map describes it as a “fort”, the size suggests a big settlement site, with Buarth y Gaer being a more likely position for a properly defensible spot, with extensive views in all directions.

The inner enclosure is however surrounded by at least three lines of banks and ditches, so there is a sense of something more than the mere domestic here as well. There are great views to the north across the Vale of Neath, stretching as far as Y Mynydd Du’s distant summits, with the prominent ridges of Mynydd Marchywel and Hirfynydd dominating the middle distance (there are plentiful Bronze Age remains on those ridges).

Interestingly neither the Buarth y Gaer cairn or hillfort are visible from the central enclosure, although they can be seen from the uppermost/outermost rampart.

The sun comes out briefly and casts some welcome light on the scene. Not exactly a first rate site, but there’s certainly enough here to warrant a visit coupled with the Buarth y Gaer sites. I head back up to the cairn and then regain the forestry track to the east, which provides an easy and fence-free route up to these sites. I have one more hill to climb, the biggest of the day.

Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry)

C
CARL Mar 25, 2011

Visited 5.3.11
Directions: From Buarth Y Gaer Hillfort head down hill, keeping the trees to your right. In a large field, home to many sheep, there are the remains of this defended ‘enclosure’. At least that is what the o/s map shows but I couldn’t see a thing! Not a sausage! There are two long low ‘mounds’ which run across the field but these looked natural to me. Perhaps these were the remains?
Half of the enclosure is under the trees, the other side of a barbed wire fence, so maybe the remains are better preserved there?
All I managed to get out of this visit was a pair of muddy trainers!

Coflein describes the site:
Gaer Fawr is an oval enclosure, c.50m E-W by 38m, defined by double banks and ditches, has complex outer works, roughly concentric to it, with further banks & ditches & a W-facing approach way, c.164-210m overall diameter.

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