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Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth is a post-medieval and modern fish weir constructed on the Welsh coast. Located on the foreshore near Aberarth in Ceredigion, the structure exploits the local geology where Llandovery sandstone and conglomerate bedrock provides a stable foundation for the trap installations. These interbedded rocks, formed during the Llandovery period of the Silurian era, create natural features that weir builders integrated into their design.
Fish weirs of this type functioned by directing migrating fish, particularly salmon and sea trout, into holding chambers as tidal waters receded. The construction at Aberarth represents a long-established fishing tradition along this stretch of the Cardigan Bay coast, where tidal movement and rocky outcrops offered ideal conditions for such installations. The exposed bedrock would have minimised the need for extensive structural support.
The monument is protected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage agency, under reference CD281, recognising its historical and cultural significance. Fish traps of this period represent an important phase in Welsh maritime economy, when such labour-intensive installations were maintained by coastal communities to provide seasonal catches that supplemented their livelihoods and contributed to local subsistence.
Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD281. View the official record →
Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth is a post-medieval and modern fish weir constructed on the Welsh coast. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CD281.
Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a fish weir. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth 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 CD281.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Castell Allt Craig-Arth (2.6 km), Allt Hengeraint Pillbox (3.2 km), Defended Enclosure 130m ENE of Capel Ciliau Aeron (5.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth'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.
Fish traps on Beach SW of Aberarth stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.