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Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement is a prehistoric enclosed hut circle situated in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument under Cadw reference ME188. The site sits upon bedrock of Middle Cambrian age, comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Middle Cambrian period. This geology provided the settlers with stone suitable for construction, a material readily available across the surrounding landscape.
The hut circle represents occupation dating to the prehistoric period, when such domestic structures were common across upland and marginal areas of Wales. The circular form and banking typical of these monuments suggest a permanent or semi-permanent dwelling, likely housing a single family or small household group. The enclosed nature of the site indicates deliberate demarcation of domestic space, possibly for practical defence or social definition.
The monument's dual designation as both prehistoric and medieval reflects evidence of activity across two distinct periods of occupation. Later medieval use of the site demonstrates the enduring importance of this location as a settlement focus, suggesting favourable conditions for habitation or strategic advantages that transcended the centuries separating these phases of use. Today the site remains a significant record of rural settlement patterns in Wales across two millennia.
Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference ME188. View the official record →
Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement is a prehistoric enclosed hut circle situated in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument under Cadw reference ME188.
Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a enclosed hut circle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement 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 ME188.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Settlement and Field System at Bron y Foel Uchaf (7.3 km), Bron-y-Foel West Burial Chamber (7.7 km), Enclosure near Bron y Foel, Moelfre (8.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement'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.
Erw Wen Prehistoric and Medieval Settlement stands on Middle Cambrian, bedrock that formed in the Middle Cambrian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.