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Peiran Cascade is a post-medieval garden building located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CD174. The structure stands upon bedrock formed from Llandovery rocks, a geological formation comprised of undifferentiated mudstone, siltstone and sandstone dating from the Llandovery period. This foundation of relatively soft sedimentary stone would have presented both opportunities and challenges for the building's construction and long-term stability.
As a cascade—a type of garden water feature designed to create decorative falling water—the structure represents the aesthetic sensibilities of the post-medieval period, when elaborate water gardens became fashionable amongst those with sufficient means and access to appropriate water sources. The cascade at Hafod would have functioned as both a functional water management feature and an ornamental focal point within the designed landscape.
The building's survival to the present day, despite standing on geology prone to weathering and erosion, testifies to the durability of its construction. Its protected status reflects the historical and cultural significance of post-medieval garden design in Wales, preserving evidence of how estates were shaped and embellished during this formative period of landscape design and horticultural ambition.
Hafod: Peiran Cascade is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD174. View the official record →
Peiran Cascade is a post-medieval garden building located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CD174.
Hafod: Peiran Cascade dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a garden building. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Hafod: Peiran Cascade 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 CD174.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cwm Rhydol settlement (6.4 km), Pen y Bannau Camp (7.2 km), Hafod Frith Deserted Rural Settlement (7.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Hafod: Peiran Cascade'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.
Hafod: Peiran Cascade stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.