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Porthamel Tower is a medieval tower situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under the reference BR047. The monument stands upon bedrock of Pridoli age, formed during the Silurian period from mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposits that underlie much of the surrounding landscape. These sedimentary rocks provided both the geological foundation and potential building material for the tower's construction.
The tower represents a type of fortified structure common to medieval Wales, where such buildings served defensive and administrative purposes in contested or frontier territories. Its position and design reflect the strategic considerations of its builders, responding to local topography and the need for visibility and control of approaches.
Porthamel Tower remains an important example of medieval Welsh military architecture. As a Cadw-protected monument, it is recognized as a structure of national significance, contributing to our understanding of medieval settlement patterns, fortification design and the built heritage of Wales during the period of English expansion into Welsh territories.
Porthamel Tower is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR047. View the official record →
Porthamel Tower is a medieval tower situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under the reference BR047.
Porthamel Tower dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a tower. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Porthamel Tower 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 BR047.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ty-Isaf Long Barrow (6.5 km), Mynydd Troed Long Barrow (6.8 km), Enclosure on Cockit Hill (7.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Porthamel Tower'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.
Porthamel Tower stands on Pridoli Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Pridoli. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.