© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw
Coed-swydd enclosure is a prehistoric defensive enclosure located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference RD262. The monument sits upon bedrock of Ludlow Rocks formation, composed of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone that would have shaped both the site's topography and the practical construction of its defences. This solid geological foundation provided stable ground for the enclosure's banks and ditches, features typical of Iron Age hillforts and earlier defensive settlements constructed across the upland regions of Wales.
The enclosure's defensive character indicates its primary function as a protected settlement or refuge during the prehistoric period. Such monuments typically served multiple purposes, providing security against raids and wild animals whilst also functioning as gathering places for community activities. The specific positioning of Coed-swydd on Ludlow bedrock would have influenced settlement visibility and strategic control of surrounding land.
Today the monument remains an important archaeological record of prehistoric settlement patterns in Wales. Its preservation under Cadw's stewardship ensures that the earthwork remains available for study and interpretation, contributing to understanding of how early communities organised their landscape and responded to their defensive needs during prehistory.
Coed-swydd enclosure is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD262. View the official record →
Coed-swydd enclosure is a prehistoric defensive enclosure located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference RD262.
Coed-swydd enclosure dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a enclosure - defensive. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Coed-swydd enclosure 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 RD262.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bryn y Maen Alignment (Four Stones) (8.1 km), Gwernfach round cairn (8.8 km), Cwm standing stone (9.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Coed-swydd enclosure'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.
Coed-swydd enclosure stands on Ludlow Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ludlow. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.