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Annell Aqueduct (upper section) is a Roman aqueduct located in Wales, forming part of the water supply infrastructure developed during the Roman occupation of Britain. The monument stands on bedrock comprised of Llandovery rocks—undifferentiated mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposited during the Llandovery period. This geological foundation, though composed of relatively soft sedimentary materials, would have required careful engineering to support the substantial weight and water pressure of the aqueduct structure.
The upper section represents a distinct portion of the larger aqueduct system, likely constructed to convey water across variable terrain toward a Roman settlement or military installation. Roman aqueducts in Britain typically employed a combination of stone, mortar and engineering techniques refined through centuries of imperial experience, designed to maintain consistent gradients across landscapes of differing elevations.
The site is protected by Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments service, under reference CM211, recognising its significance as evidence of Roman civil engineering and infrastructure management in Wales. Surviving Roman aqueducts remain relatively rare in Britain, making this example valuable for understanding Roman water management strategies and their adaptation to the Welsh landscape.
Annell Aqueduct (upper section) is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM211. View the official record →
Annell Aqueduct (upper section) is a Roman aqueduct located in Wales, forming part of the water supply infrastructure developed during the Roman occupation of Britain. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CM211.
Annell Aqueduct (upper section) dates from the roman period, and is classified as a aqueduct. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Annell Aqueduct (upper section) is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is CM211.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Nantiwrch round barrow (3.3 km), Dolaucothi Roman Aqueduct (4.1 km), Dolaucothi Gold Mines (4.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Annell Aqueduct (upper section)'s history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Annell Aqueduct (upper section) stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.