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Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural Settlement is a post-medieval rectangular hut situated in Wales on bedrock composed of Llandovery sandstone and conglomerate. The underlying geology of interbedded strata has provided a stable foundation for structures built in this upland setting. The site is protected by Cadw, the Welsh government's historic monuments service, under reference CM298.
This modest stone building represents a type of dwelling common to rural Wales during the post-medieval period. The rectangular plan follows a practical design suited to the exposed landscape of the region. The structure's abandonment marks it as one of many deserted rural settlements that dot the Welsh countryside, reflecting changes in settlement patterns and land use over the past several centuries.
The monument remains an important archaeological record of domestic life in post-medieval rural Wales. Its stone construction utilises materials available from the local Llandovery bedrock, demonstrating the relationship between building practices and geology in the upland areas. As a protected monument, the site contributes to understanding the evolution of Welsh rural settlements and the communities that inhabited these remote localities.
Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural Settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM298. View the official record →
Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural Settlement is a post-medieval rectangular hut situated in Wales on bedrock composed of Llandovery sandstone and conglomerate. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CM298.
Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural Settlement dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a rectangular hut. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural 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 CM298.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Crugiau Merched Cairns (5 km), Maen Bach Standing Stone (5.5 km), Mynydd Mallaen Standing Stone (5.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural 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.
Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural Settlement stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.