Unknown · Enclosure

Caer Du

Radnorshire, Wales
Cadw SAM RD030
Period
Unknown
Site type
Enclosure
Broad class
Monument
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Caer Du is an unknown enclosure located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference RD030. The monument sits upon bedrock of Wenlock formation, comprising undifferentiated mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposited during the Wenlock period. These Palaeozoic rocks provide a naturally stable foundation, typical of Welsh upland terrain where such enclosures are commonly found.

The specific form and date of Caer Du remain uncertain, reflecting the incomplete archaeological record for many Welsh enclosed sites. Such enclosures may have served defensive, pastoral or administrative functions, though without excavation or detailed survey the monument's original purpose cannot be determined. The name, incorporating the Welsh word 'caer' (fort or stronghold), suggests a tradition of perceiving the site as fortified, though this interpretation may post-date its actual construction and use.

The enclosure is preserved within its landscape of ancient geology, where weathered Wenlock rocks have shaped settlement patterns and land use for millennia. Its protection by Cadw recognises the archaeological importance of such monuments, even where their chronology and function remain undocumented. The site contributes to understanding the distribution and diversity of enclosed settlements across medieval and earlier Wales.

Caer Du is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD030. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Caer Du?

Caer Du is an unknown enclosure located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference RD030.

What period does Caer Du date from?

Caer Du dates from the unknown period, and is classified as a enclosure. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Caer Du?

Caer Du 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 RD030.

What other scheduled monuments are near Caer Du?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Castell Cae-Maerdy Castle Mound (6.3 km), Cwrt Llechryd moated site (6.6 km), Fforest Wood Mound & Bailey Castle (7.7 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Caer Du

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Caer Du's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
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Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

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The ground beneath

The bedrock under Caer Du

Caer Du stands on Wenlock Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.

The wider landscape

Around Caer Du

Offa's DykeArchaeological site · ~23.9 miles