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Ffridd Uchaf Deserted Rural Settlement is a post-medieval and modern abandoned farmstead situated in Wales on bedrock of Ashgill age mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. The site represents the archaeological remains of rural occupation that has since been vacated, preserving evidence of upland or marginal agricultural settlement typical of the Welsh countryside. The underlying geology of Ashgill rocks, formed during the Ordovician period, characterises much of the landscape in which such settlements were established, influencing both the soils available for farming and the building materials at hand for construction.
The deserted settlement at Ffridd Uchaf is protected by Cadw, the Welsh historic monuments service, under reference CN329, recognising its significance as a record of rural settlement patterns and land use in Wales. Post-medieval and modern deserted settlements such as this provide important evidence for understanding changes in agricultural practice, demographic patterns and rural society over several centuries.
The site contributes to the broader archaeological understanding of how rural communities adapted to the Welsh landscape, utilising the local geology and terrain for habitation and subsistence. Such abandoned settlements remain visible in the upland terrain, offering insights into the historical occupation and working of the Welsh countryside.
Ffridd Uchaf Deserted Rural Settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CN329. View the official record →
Ffridd Uchaf Deserted Rural Settlement is a post-medieval and modern abandoned farmstead situated in Wales on bedrock of Ashgill age mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CN329.
Ffridd Uchaf Deserted Rural Settlement dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a deserted rural settlement. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Ffridd Uchaf 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 CN329.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Llanrwst Bridge (4.5 km), Capel Gwydir Uchaf (4.8 km), Hafna Lead Mine Mill (5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Ffridd Uchaf 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.
Ffridd Uchaf Deserted Rural Settlement stands on Ashgill Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ashgill. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.