Scheduled MonumentsWalesTor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement
Medieval · Platform house

Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement

Breconshire, Wales
Cadw SAM BR283
Period
Medieval
Site type
Platform house
Broad class
Domestic
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Tor y Foel is a deserted rural settlement in Breconshire, Wales, comprising the remains of a medieval domestic platform house. The site, designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument under reference BR283, represents the physical traces of domestic occupation typical of the medieval period in the upland regions of South Wales. The platform structure characteristic of such settlements suggests a dwelling constructed on levelled or artificially prepared ground, a common building practice in areas where natural topography presented constraints. The abandonment of such settlements reflects broader patterns of rural depopulation and land-use change during the later medieval period, making the site archaeologically significant for understanding the settlement history and domestic arrangements of medieval Welsh communities.

Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR283. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement?

Tor y Foel is a deserted rural settlement in Breconshire, Wales, comprising the remains of a medieval domestic platform house. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference BR283.

What period does Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement date from?

Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a platform house. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement?

Tor y Foel 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 BR283.

What other scheduled monuments are near Tor y Foel Deserted Rural Settlement?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Twyn Ceilog Round Cairn (6.2 km), Trefil Tramroad (7.1 km), Ponsticill Inscribed Stone (7.2 km).

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