Bridgend County Borough stretches from the south coast of Wales up to the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons. The 57 scheduled monuments cover over 4,000 years of the history of this part of South Wales. There are chambered tombs of the Neolithic, and burial cairns and standing stones of the Bronze Age, Iron Age hillforts, and a Roman villa. Four early medieval sites and 23 from the medieval post-Norman period cover defences, dwellings, stones and churches. Finally the modern period, beginning with an Elizabethan manor house, marks 400 years of industrial history, and ends at defenses from World War II. All of the sites on this list (and the whole of Bridgend County Borough) are within the historic county of Glamorgan.
Scheduled monuments have statutory protection. The compilation of the list is undertaken by Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments, which is an executive agency of the National Assembly of Wales.[1] The list of scheduled monuments below is supplied by Cadw[2] with additional material from RCAHMW and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.
See main article: Lists of scheduled monuments in Wales.
| Image | Name | Site type | Community | Location | Details | Period | SAM No & Refs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coity Burial Chamber | Chambered tomb | Coity Higher | 51.5262°N -3.5482°W, SS926819 | Ruins of a Neolithic chambered tomb, with four large stone slabs | Prehistoric (Neolithic) | GM068 [3] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Tythegston Long Barrow | Long barrow | Merthyr Mawr | 51.5008°N -3.6371°W, SS864792 | Chambered tomb toward the east end of a long mound | Prehistoric (Neolithic) | GM022 [4] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Ogof y Pebyll Bone Cave | Cave | Pencoed | 51.5159°N -3.5131°W, SS951807 | Cave in which have been found flint flakes and the teeth of numerous mammals | Prehistoric (Neolithic or Bronze Age?) | GM434 [5] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Bryn Defaid Mound | Round cairn | Garw Valley | 51.6126°N -3.6071°W, SS888916 | Bronze Age cairn on the ridge between Maesteg and Blaengarw | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM249 [6] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Round Barrow on the Werfa | Round barrow | Ogmore Valley, (also Garw Valley) | 51.6359°N -3.5711°W, SS913941 | Round barrow on the crest of the Mynnydd Llangweinwyr ridge | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM499 [7] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Bridgend Standing Stone | Standing stone | Bridgend | 51.5039°N -3.5832°W, SS902795 | Standing stone with several feint 'cup mark' decorations. It stands by a footpath that leads to Bridgend Bowls Club | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM145 [8] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Cefn Cross Standing Stone | Standing stone | Cefn Cribwr | 51.5314°N -3.6248°W, SS873826 | Standing stone, 2m high, triangular in section, and tapering to a blunt point. Further stones may once have stood in the vicinity. | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM241 [9] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Garn Lwyd Cairn | Round cairn | Garw Valley | 51.5997°N -3.5609°W, SS919901 | A stone-filled hole just below the crest of a hill on Llangeinor Common, between the Garw and Ogmore valleys | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM238 [10] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Groes y Bwlchgwyn Round Cairn | Round cairn | Garw Valley | 51.605°N -3.6055°W, SS889907 | Possible round barrow, now in impenetrable pine forest. | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM250 [11] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Carn y Hyrddod | Round cairn | Ogmore Valley | 51.629°N -3.5618°W, SS919934 | Grass covered mound in a commanding position on Llangeinor Common | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM243 [12] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Mynydd Caerau Round Cairns | Round cairn | Maesteg | 51.6373°N -3.6058°W, SS889943 | A group of 6 cairns around the summit of Mynydd Caerau | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM232 [13] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Mynydd Herbert Round Barrow | Round barrow | Merthyr Mawr | 51.5057°N -3.6564°W, SS851798 | Burial cairn 2m high covered in stones, possibly cleared from nearby fields, in the corner of a field 1 km north of Tythegston | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM025 [14] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Hutchwns round barrow | Round barrow | Porthcawl | 51.4849°N -3.7098°W, SS813776 | Partial survival of a round barrow near a public park. A modern standing stone has been placed alongside it. | Prehistoric (Bronze Age) | GM103 [15] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Pant-y-Pyllau Enclosure | Earthwork (unclassified) | Coity Higher | 51.5306°N -3.5478°W, SS927824 | Banked enclosure with external ditches. Parts destroyed by farm buildings and tracks. | Prehistoric (Unknown) | GM426 [16] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Mynydd y Gaer | Hillfort | Coychurch Higher | 51.5544°N -3.482°W, SS973849 | Hillfort enclosing 1ha of land, with a pronounced bank and ditch | Prehistoric (Iron Age) | GM084 [17] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Ty'n y Warn Camp, Cwm Llwyd | Hillfort | Coychurch Higher | 51.5565°N -3.5178°W, SS948852 | An Iron Age hillfort near Ty'n y Warn farm, on a low spur in the Cwm Llwyd valley | Prehistoric (Iron Age) | GM356 [18] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Twmpath Diwlith Round Barrow | Round barrow | Maesteg, (also Margam) | 51.5858°N -3.687°W, SS832887 | Round barrow which contained burnt bones, excavated in 1921 | Prehistoric | GM557 [19] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Y Bwlwarcau (The Bulwarks) | Hillfort | Llangynwyd Middle | 51.5839°N -3.6771°W, SS839885 | Iron Age enclosure, but with earlier and later occupations, including medieval house platforms | Prehistoric (Iron Age) | GM059 [20] | |
| Merthyr Mawr Warren | Unclassified site | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4813°N -3.6386°W, SS863770 | Area of dunes within which numerous burial sites and other findspots have been uncovered, especially during sand and gravel extraction | Prehistoric | GM432 [21] | |||
| Pen-y-Castell Camp | Hillfort | Pyle | 51.5312°N -3.6704°W, SS842826 | Hillfort enclosure east of Pyle | Prehistoric (Iron Age) | GM240 [22] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Chapel Hill Camp | Hillfort | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4906°N -3.6018°W, SS889780 | Small hilltop camp. St Roques chapel, lying within the enclosure, gives its name to the hill. | Prehistoric (Iron Age) | GM248 [23] | |
| Cae Summerhouse Camp | Enclosure | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4894°N -3.6375°W, SS864779 | Settlement site with intensive 1st to 4th century occupation in a defended enclosure | Prehistoric (Iron Age & Roman) | GM102 [24] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Dan-y-Graig Roman villa | Villa | Porthcawl | 51.4893°N -3.6717°W, SS840780 | Roman villa with agricultural buildings. Partly excavated in 1985-86 | Roman (Mainly 3rd-4th centuries) | GM587 [25] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Nottage Court Inscribed Stone | Inscribed stone | Porthcawl | 51.49°N -3.7005°W, SS820781 | Roman milestone with 3 Latin inscriptions plus possible Ogham moved to its current location in a garden at Nottage Court in the 19th century, from SS763890, now Port Talbot Docks | Roman | GM040 [26] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Bwlch yr Afan Dyke | Dyke | Ogmore Valley | 51.6444°N -3.5617°W, SS920951 | 192m long double bank with central ditch, crossing a saddle south of Werfa summit | Early Medieval (8th or 9th century) | GM246 [27] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Coychurch Celtic Cross-Shaft in Church | Cross | Coychurch Lower | 51.5062°N -3.5294°W, SS939796 | Celtic Cross, inscribed 'EBISSAR/S?' | Early Medieval (11th century) | GM213 [28] | |
| Merthyr Mawr pre-Norman Stones | Cross base | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4856°N -3.6105°W, SS882775 | A series of locally found stone pillars, slabs and crosses, now housed in a shelter within Merthyr Mawr St Teilo churchyard | Early Medieval | GM169 [29] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Vervil Dyke | Dyke | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4848°N -3.6014°W, SS889774 | A bank and ditch runs between the rivers Ogmore and Eweny. Traces of a parallel bank imply a settlement enclosure | Early Medieval | GM465 [30] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Mynydd Ty Talwyn Ancient Farms 1 | House platform | Llangynwyd Lower | 51.5628°N -3.651°W, SS856861 | House platforms near summit of Ty-Talwyn | Medieval | GM092 [31] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Mynydd Ty Talwyn Ancient Farms 2 | House platform | Llangynwyd Lower | 51.5637°N -3.6463°W, SS859862 | House platforms on west side of Ty-Talwyn | Medieval | GM093 [32] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Croes Siencyn Incised Stone | Cross-marked stone | Cornelly | 51.5275°N -3.6989°W, SS822823 | Badly weathered incised cross, standing in a garden in Marlas Road, Pyle | Medieval | GM036 [33] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Conbelani Stone in St Roque's Chapel | Cross | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4908°N -3.6021°W, SS888780 | Inscribed pillar cross, originally on the river bank at Merthyr Mawr. Another cross pillar, the Goblin Stone, is also in the ruined chapel | Medieval | GM026 [34] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Cross in Tythegston Churchyard | Cross | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4967°N -3.6471°W, SS857788 | Sandstone slab set in a modern socket, in St Tudwg's churchyard, Tythegston | Medieval (11th century) | GM214 [35] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Remains of Llangewydd Church & Churchyard | Church | Laleston | 51.5161°N -3.6221°W, SS875809 | Remains of St Cewydd's Church, demolished in the 13th century | Medieval (11th century) | GM237 [36] | |
| Castle | Coity Higher | 51.5221°N -3.5534°W, SS923814 | Circular castle with 3-storey keep. Fell into ruin by the 18th century. | Medieval (12th century) | GM004 [37] | ||||
| < | --insert image here--> | Derwen Moated Site | Moated Site | Coity Higher | 51.5304°N -3.5666°W, SS914824 | A moat, possibly in former parkland of Coity Castle, with no visible trace of habitation. | Medieval | GM444 [38] | |
| Kenfig Castle & Medieval Town | Castle | Cornelly | 51.5292°N -3.7297°W, SS80182 | Castle and walled borough, abandoned to the dunes. Castle excavated in 1920s | Medieval (12th century) | GM042 [39] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Llangynwyd Castle | Castle | Llangynwyd Middle | 51.5852°N -3.6591°W, SS851886 | Medieval fortress with twin-towered gatehouse and curtain walls. Abandoned after the end of the 13th century | Medieval (12th century) | GM085 [40] | |
| Castle | Bridgend | 51.5089°N -3.583°W, SS902800 | Built from 1180s, it has a rectangular keep and Norman gateway. Site is a steep hill above the river, in the centre of Bridgend | Medieval (12th century) | GM063 [41] | ||||
| < | --insert image here--> | Stormy Castle | Motte | Cornelly | 51.5206°N -3.6647°W, SS845815 | Castle Motte built by Geofrey Sturmi. By 1166 it was owned by Margam Abbey | Medieval (12th century) | GM217 [42] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Garth Hill Platform House | Platform house | Maesteg | 51.5976°N -3.6305°W, SS871900 | Platforms of medieval long hut settlement | Medieval | GM552 [43] | |
| Earthwork & Platform Houses N of Nant Fadog | Platform house | Llangynwyd Lower | 51.5584°N -3.6462°W, SS859856 | Scatter of long hut platforms of a deserted settlement along the Nant Fadog valley side. | Medieval | GM340 [44] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | St Roque's Chapel | Chapel | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4908°N -3.6021°W, SS888780 | Ruined medieval chapel, sited inside Chapel Hill Camp, within the park of Merthyr Mawr House | Medieval | GM247 [45] | |
| Bryncynan, Mynydd Ty-talwyn | Deserted Rural Settlement | Llangynwyd Middle | 51.5688°N -3.6449°W, SS860868 | House platforms and hollow ways of a deserted medieval village | Medieval | GM086 [46] | |||
| Candleston Castle | Manor | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4829°N -3.6269°W, SS871772 | Lightly fortified manor house overlooking Merthyr Mawr Warren, which continued in occupation until the 19th century. | Medieval (14th century) | GM095 [47] | |||
| Coychurch Churchyard Cross | Cross | Coychurch Lower | 51.506°N -3.5293°W, SS939796 | Massive stone steps up to a hexagonal cross in St Crallog's churchyard. | Medieval | GM212 [48] | |||
| Merthyr Mawr Churchyard Cross | Cross | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4853°N -3.6103°W, SS882774 | Octagonal cross with part of its original finial, set in three steps of sandstone | Medieval (14th century) | GM226 [49] | |||
| Bridgend Old Bridge | Bridge | Bridgend | 51.5068°N -3.5803°W, SS904798 | Stone bridge over the river Ogmore, with 3 arches. It is now a footbridge | Medieval (15th century) | GM049 [50] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Cefn Hirgoed Rabbit Warren | Pillow mound | St Bride's Minor, (also Coity Higher) | 51.534°N -3.5642°W, SS916828 | Three pillow mounds, medieval warrens built to house rabbits. Now alongside the M4, near Sarn Park Services | Medieval | GM491 [51] | |
| New Inn Bridge | Bridge | Merthyr Mawr | 51.4936°N -3.5989°W, SS891783 | Stone bridge with 4 arches, near Bridgend. Two openings allow sheep washing, giving an alternate name of 'Dipping Bridge' | Medieval (16th century or older) | GM050 [52] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Plas-y-Betws relict garden | House (domestic) | Garw Valley | 51.5685°N -3.5807°W, SS905866 | Three walled enclosures of the Tudor gardens of Plas-y-Betws Manor House | Post-Medieval/Modern (16th century) | GM589 [53] | |
| < | --insert image here--> | Angleton Iron Works | Industrial monument | Coity Higher | 51.5263°N -3.5809°W, SS904820 | Built by Robert Sydney in 1589, it was the only pre-1700 ironworks in Glamorgan. Sandstone slabs are the standing remains, part buried by the railway embankment | Post-Medieval/Modern (16th century) | GM265 [54] | |
| Cefn Cribwr Ironworks | Ironworks | Cefn Cribwr, (also Margam) | 51.5382°N -3.658°W, SS851834 | The Bedford Ironworks were built by John Bedford in 1771. Standing remains include 3 kilns, a smelting house and an 1820s beam engine house | Post-Medieval/Modern (18th century) | GM417 [55] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Bryndu Coke Ovens | Coke Oven | Cornelly | 51.5383°N -3.6755°W, SS838834 | At least 8 brick ovens remain from a large coking plant built in the 1840s | Post-Medieval/Modern (19th century) | GM493 [56] | |
| Maesteg Blast Furnaces | Blast Furnace | Maesteg | 51.6114°N -3.6643°W, SS848916 | A blast furnace and engine house of the Llynfi Cambrian Ironworks remains standing near the centre of Maesteg. The buried foundations of three more furnaces lie to the north. | Post-Medieval/Modern (19th century) | GM418 [57] | |||
| Tondu Ironworks | Ironworks | Ynysawdre | 51.5482°N -3.6007°W, SS891844 | Well preserved mid 19th century ironworks with coking ovens, blast furnaces and wrought iron works. Now open to the public as Tondu Iron Park | Post-Medieval/Modern (19th century) | GM433 [58] | |||
| < | --insert image here--> | Royal Ordnance Factory Pillbox | Pillbox | Coychurch Lower | 51.5028°N -3.5665°W, SS913793 | Two-storey concrete Type 22 pillbox from World War II, built into the Great Central railway embankment, to defend the railway junction | Post-Medieval/Modern | GM605 [59] |