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Gorad Ddu Fish Weir is a post-medieval fish weir situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference AN139. Fish weirs of this period represent sophisticated exploitation of river systems, constructed to trap and direct migrating fish into holding areas where they could be captured for food or commercial sale. The structure would have comprised stone or wooden barriers strategically placed across a watercourse to intercept fish passage.
The weir sits upon ancient bedrock composed of hornblende schist, a metamorphic rock formed during the Neoproterozoic period over 540 million years ago. This resistant stone would have provided both the foundation and likely much of the building material for the weir's construction, as local stone was the standard practice in post-medieval Wales. Such geology shaped not only the monument's physical form but also the character of the surrounding landscape and water systems.
The survival of Gorad Ddu as an identifiable archaeological feature reflects both the durability of its stone construction and the stable hydrology of its location. Post-medieval fish weirs remain important evidence for understanding historical fishing practices, water management and riparian economics in Welsh communities, illustrating how communities adapted permanent structures to harness natural resources from flowing waters.
Gorad Ddu Fish Weir is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference AN139. View the official record →
Gorad Ddu Fish Weir is a post-medieval fish weir situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference AN139.
Gorad Ddu Fish Weir dates from the post medieval period, and is classified as a fish weir. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Gorad Ddu Fish Weir 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 AN139.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Settlement NW of Waen Rhythallt (7.5 km), Hut Group Near Tan-y-Coed Pont Rhythallt (7.9 km), Hut Group and Enclosure Near Cae Cerrig (8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Gorad Ddu Fish Weir'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.
Gorad Ddu Fish Weir stands on Unnamed Metamorphic Rocks, Neoproterozoic, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is hornblende schist.