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Moderated by : Andy B , TimPrevett , Klingon , sem , MickM , TheCaptain , bat400 , coldrum , davidmorgan , Runemage , SolarMegalith
The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
General Forum >> Could this be Wales's oldest town ?
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Could this be Wales's oldest town ? |
Steve21
Joined:
28-02-2004
Messages: 13
from South Wales
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|  Posted 28-02-2004 at 20:54
There's a very mysterious place not far from where I live. Up until the mid-15th Century, it flourished, becoming the second largest town in the lordship of Glamorgan, influential enough to challenge laws which threatened its prosperity. Then it disappeared forever, engulfed by sea and sand, vanishing not only from sight, but history books too.
The town had a strong castle, built by its last Welsh lord, and then strengthened by the Normans. The castle's unusual feature was an eight acre Outer Bailey, rectangular in shape, surrounded by high stone walls and a wide moat.
There is no reason why the Welsh or the Normans would have built such a massive structure, which both were incapable of defending, so I researched deeper.
The only suitable candidates were the Romans, who had come this way in AD74, and one of their fortresses, Bovium, has been lost since those times. On the hills behind the fort site lies a strongly defended Welsh hillfort, which is possibly why Bovium was sited here, astride the main highway.
An axe found there confirms possible inhabitation from prehistoric times, and nearby, closer to the coast are remains of sunken huts, so this could possibly be one of Wales's oldest continuously inhabited settlements, and it's all still sitting there under twenty feet of sand, ignored and forgotten.
If anyone knows where I can possibly acquire non-intrusive geophysical surveying equipment then I will happily give them a guided tour of the lost city of Kenfig.
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sem
Joined:
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Messages: 1710
from Bridgend,S.Wales
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| Posted 29-02-2004 at 12:52
Steve,could you post a map reference for the site and the hill fort? I presume you are referring to Kenfig Dunes but an exact position would help.
Thanks
Sem
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Steve21
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from South Wales
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|  Posted 29-02-2004 at 14:15
The location of Kenfig's buried city is within a site of special importance, and protected by CADW, so excavation is out of the question for the time being.
If however a geophysical survey revealed something of importance there, perhaps this policy could be amended slightly.
I'll dig out one of my OS maps later to provide a location for the hillfort however.
[ This message was edited by: Steve21 on 2004-02-29 14:18 ]
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Robc
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from Porthcawl, South Wales
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| Posted 29-02-2004 at 20:50
The RCAHMW has several references for Roman finds in the Kenfig area and of course the "Via Julia Maritima" (constructed in about 75AD by Julius Frontinus) lies very close to Kenfig as well.
There are several hill forts in the area. Mynydd Y Castell in Margam dates from about 700BC to 100AD, Pen-Y-Castell at the top of Kenfig Hill dates from about 7th century. This has been badly damaged by quarrying in the 19th century. There was also one on Stormy down from the 9th century which was totally destroyed by quarrying.
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sem
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from Bridgend,S.Wales
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| Posted 29-02-2004 at 23:29
Sorry Steve,I have to argue with your "No reason" for a fort being built here.Kenfig/Margam is a choke point for anyone coming from the West.Mid Glamorgan has always been a rich agricultural area and this is the easiest place to defend,where the hills meet the sea.
Sem
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Steve21
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from South Wales
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| Posted 01-03-2004 at 18:58
We seem to have some crossed lines here, Sem.
When I said there was 'no reason' for the Welsh or Normans to have built a castle at Kenfig, I was referring to the eight acre Outer Bailey of the castle, not the castle itself.
Iestyn ap Grwgan, its builder, and Robert Fitzhamon, who 'retained' it after defeating Iestyn in 1091, both possessed quite small bands of armed followers.
Neither the Welsh or Normans would have considered enclosing such a vast area unless it was already there, and the only candidate for its construction was Sextus Julius Frontinus, Governor of Britain, and leader of the invasion of Wales in AD74.
Sorry for the confusion.
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Steve21
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from South Wales
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| Posted 08-03-2004 at 16:21
The main Roman highway across South Wales was given the title 'Via Julia Maritima' in recognition of the role in its construction of Sextus Julius Frontinus, governor of Britain, and commander of the three legions which invaded Wales AD 74-78.
We may never discover its Roman name, but coincidentally, it does pass very close to the site of Kenfig's huge rectangular Outer Bailey.
The hillfort mentioned, Mynydd Y Castell, on Margam mountain, overlooking Kenfig, would have become redundant at a very early stage of this invasion. It does however show evidence of later rebuilding and strengthening in the form of a brick tower base, and this could date to the anarchy which prevailed after the Romans left Britain in the 4th - 5th Centuries AD.
Thanks for the interest in Kenfig.
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sem
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from Bridgend,S.Wales
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| Posted 08-03-2004 at 22:19
For an interesting angle on this area try "The Holy Kingdom" by Adrian Gilbert,Alan Wilson & Baram Blackett.Not 100% convincing but a reasonable guide to Dark-Age Glamorgan and Welsh History.
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Robc
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from Porthcawl, South Wales
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| Posted 01-04-2004 at 18:54
I have been trolling through the RCAHMW database for information about Porthcawl-Bridgend area and they have Bomium listed at SS904781. This point is about 1km North of Ewenny.
I also picked up in the local library "Bomium a local history of Bridgend and surrounding villages" by D M Jones. He seems to place Ewenny as the final resting place of Bomium. Although he believes that there were two forts... one seems to be pre-Roman
and the Roman fort itself. He has used the John Spedes 1610 map of Glamorgan as part of his starting point for his search. This shows two forts in that area. He seems to back it up with a few finds. (But there does not seem to be any concrete proof).
But would recommend reading the booklet as it has quite a few other interesting local historical snipets.
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Steve21
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from South Wales
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| Posted 01-04-2004 at 19:57
I still haven't dug out my old OS maps, but, having moved quite recently, they could be anywhere !
I read Mr DM Jones's little book, and it was one of the things that prompted me to look elsewhere than Ewenny for Bovium, or Bomium, whichever you prefer. His books are very interesting, and describe a lost culture as Mr Jones cycles around the district, visiting friends and walking fields now covered by housing.
Ewenny may have been a Roman base, especially as Dunraven on the coast was believed to be the base of Caractus, before his capture in AD 51. Perhaps when they invaded south Wales 23 years later, the hillfort had again become a threat, so a fort nearby would be logical. The Roman road is said to have crossed the river Ogmore at Ewenny, so it would be easily resupplied and reinforced.
However, two problems remain.
The first is that no walls or even traces of walls, have been found at Ewenny, and nothing has shown up in aerial photographs. The scant remains Mr Jones described could have come from farming settlements, possibly even a villa, nearby. The second is a walled rectangular enclosure, the size of four football fields, sitting alongside the same road, underlying the medieval castle at Kenfig.
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 02-04-2004 at 08:35
As your maps are otherwise engaged, try this. The grid ref you gave above translates to this:
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/oldmaps/index_external.jsp?easting=290400&northing=178100
http://www.old-maps.co.uk
Cheers,
Andy
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Steve21
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from South Wales
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| Posted 12-04-2004 at 18:55
Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately every time I've been there, the site isn't working properly.
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 22-01-2005 at 11:47
Well, is it Wales's oldest town or not ?
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 23-01-2006 at 20:20
Sorry for the inordinate delay in responding but I've been busy organising an international music event and building a business empire.
I was taught, as are today's Welsh schoolchildren, that our ancestors were simple shepherds whose lives involved moving their flocks between 'hafods' and 'hendres'. According to my history teachers, my ancestors must have warmly welcomed the first Norman invaders, who brought them civilisation and houses, but the truth is far different. The Welsh were barred from every early English town in Wales and the only difference they saw were that they no longer owned their ancestral lands.
If I am correct, the settlement at Kenfig grew from a vicus outside a Roman fort with its first church recorded in AD 520. It grew to become the centre of a peaceful lordship which covered most of south-east Wales.
When threatened by more powerful Welsh lords in the 11th Century, its lord called upon the Normans to help, which they kindly did.
The rest is history.
I believe that history is wrong. Kenfig is almost certainly one of Wales's oldest towns, and certainly the only one not to have been redeveloped for the last four centuries.
Someone out there must have access to geophysical surveying equipment and share my curiosity surely ?
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DaveM
Joined:
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from Essex
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| Posted 08-02-2006 at 13:15
I remember Mr Jones and his search for Bomium from the days when I worked in Wales. Sadly, the enclosures shown on Speed's map are medieval or later deer parks and are not Roman forts.
The name 'via julia maritima' is unfortunately an invention, in a spurious itinerary supposedly recorded by Richard of Cirencester, but really an antiquarian invention of the 18th century.
A few years ago, the Kenfig Society were carrying out small-scale excavations near the castle, I remember going to visit them with the YACs
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 08-02-2006 at 17:18
I'm aware that the Via Julia Maritima was certainly not the name of the Roman road, but, whatever it was called, there is no doubt that its route goes very close to Kenfig.
I visited the Kenfig Society's dig at Kenfig too and watched as they uncovered a medieval barn well outside the area of the town site.
The town site itself is designated as a site of special interest by CADW, which prevents all excavation there.
That's really why I would like to see a geophysical survey conducted, as everyone knows there's something there, but no-one knows what !
I wonder if Kenfig would be allowed to remain a total mystery if it was sited anywhere else...
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