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<< Our Photo Pages >> The Altar - Chambered Tomb in Wales in Pembrokeshire

Submitted by enkidu41 on Wednesday, 12 May 2004  Page Views: 8602

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: The Altar Alternative Name: Colston
Country: Wales
NOTE: This site is 0.8 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Pembrokeshire Type: Chambered Tomb
Nearest Town: Fishguard  Nearest Village: Little Newcastle
Map Ref: SM98282812  Landranger Map Number: 157
Latitude: 51.914978N  Longitude: 4.934434W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 2 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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The Altar
The Altar submitted by enkidu41 : SM 9828 2812 Also known as Colston this collapsed Burial Chamber lies against a field boundary. It has a small rectangular capstone measuring 7’3” x 6’3” and is supported by at least 3 uprights. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Also known as Colston this collapsed Burial Chamber lies against a field boundary.

It has a small rectangular capstone measuring 7’3” x 6’3” and is supported by at least 3 uprights.

Note: Permission should be sought from the nearby farm.
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The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : I was really taken with the place, though it has some serious problems. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cup-marks on the table of the Altar
Cup-marks on the table of the Altar submitted by mpwpir : Cup-marks on the table of the Altar (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Penbron : Cattle always seem to be in this field.Cannot see the burial chamber from the roadside. (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : Looking north, or south, damn I'm lost. (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : No corn (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : Under the capstone

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : The road is on the other side of the hedge and has practically cut the site in half.

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : A little bit less

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Postman : The Altar. Prostrate yourself.

The Altar
The Altar submitted by rogerkread : Now we see how the Altar has got so wrecked - clearly the cattle use it as a plaything.

The Altar
The Altar submitted by rogerkread : The wrecked Altar cromlech, with some young (large) cattle beginning to show interest in me!

The Altar
The Altar submitted by Bladup : The Altar chambered cairn.

Cup-marks on the table of the Altar
Cup-marks on the table of the Altar submitted by mpwpir : Cup-marks on the table of the Altar

The Altar
The Altar submitted by PaulM : The chambered tomb known as The Altar lying in a field boundary in Colston.

The Altar
The Altar submitted by enkidu41 : SM 9828 2812 Also known as Colston this collapsed Burial Chamber lies against a field boundary. It has a small rectangular capstone measuring 7’3” x 6’3” and is supported by at least 3 uprights.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
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"The Altar" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: The Altar by Anonymous on Tuesday, 04 November 2025
I have inherited a document from CADW regarding my family ownership of the altar . My great grandmother farmed the land it is on . My late father gave it to me. I visited the altar with my father about 10 years ago and took a photo as it wasn’t in a good state . I returned last year and had an unpleasant conversation with the farmer who recently bought the farm . The monument has deteriorated so much since I last saw it. I said I’m going to contact CADW about it . I don’t know my rights but in any case this piece of history should be respected and looked after .
Clare
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Re: The Altar by tombraider on Thursday, 16 July 2015
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Don't underestimate those cattle. As soon as I climbed over the gate the whole herd grazing quietly at the very furthest corner of the field came charging down at me and I had to leg it without a photo
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Re: The Altar by coldrum on Tuesday, 20 January 2009
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RCAHMW record:

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/305211/details/ALTAR%2C+THE%2C+COLSTON/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Altar by Anonymous on Wednesday, 23 April 2003
This is quite a substantial structure, but it's completely invisible from the road despite being embedded in the hedge.

Access is from a gateway a couple of hundred yards down the hill. Since it's on private land, the permission of the landowner should be obtianed. (But I didn't. :-) )

The tomb comprises an enclosure of stones almost half of which is covered by a capstone. That half is largely within the hedge.
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