Bryn Seward

Copyright: Paul Blades. Original available at Megalithic Portal.

A probable single stone row measuring 61m long, including at least five medium and large-sized stones standing up to 2.14m high, situated on a north facing slope with sea and landscape views and reveals. The row has been incorporated into a later field boundary and this has inevitably altered its character and form. The row is orientated east to west and an adjacent cairn blocks views to the sea. There are a number of broadly contemporary cairns, settlements and another stone row in the vicinity.

Location

Wales Gwynedd Rest of Wales SH 62588 11760
Lat 52.686048   Long -4.0343226

Map showing the location of Bryn Seward stone row.

Plan of the Bryn Seward stone alignment. Black stones are upright and others are recumbent.

Source: survey at 1:250 by Sandy Gerrard and Sophie Smith.

Characteristics

Type: Single Length: 61m
No. of stones: 5 Size of stones: Medium and large
Orientation: 80° Altitude: 260m
Upper end: Cairn Lower end: –
Straight (Yes or No)  : No Sea View: Yes
Context:  Cairns, prehistoric settlement and trackway
Notes:

Other Information

Public Access:  Yes
Land Status:
Scheduled Ancient Monument: ME083

Identification

Category: Probable. It is likely that the two remaining upright stones once formed part of a stone row. Proximity of the road and the building of a wall have all taken their toll on this site meaning that it is not possible with any degree of certainty to establish what its original form would have been. Despite this a stone row interpretation remains the most probable. The relationship of the row to the adjacent sea views enhances the likelihood that this monument is a stone row.

Typology

This stone row is of Type S9. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.

 Plan showing letters allocated to each stone

Stone heights and comments

Stone A = 0.28m. This large stone now forms one side of a rubble wall. Whilst clearly not in its original position its considerable size may mean that it once formed part of the row.

Stone B = 0.90m. This large stone partly overlies the historic rubble wall and is therefore not in its original position. The stone may have formed part of the row or been dumped here from elsewhere.

Stone C = 2.14m. This impressive standing stone forms part of the row.

Stone D = 0.64m. This large stone has been incorporated into the historic rubble wall. It is not known whether it originally formed part of a stone row or was brought here to provide a solid footing for the wall.

Stone E = 1.5m. Prehistoric standing stone.

The construction of an historic rubble wall along the length of the row has undoubtedly caused severe damage to this monument. Indeed with only two stones remaining in their original positions, we can not be certain whether this is even a stone row. The presence of the large displaced stones lends support to the stone row interpretation, but one needs to accept that the evidence is far from conclusive. This said the relationship with the adjacent cairn and the sea view all support the accepted position that this is the mutilated remains of a stone row.

Landmark Reveals

Two landmark reveals are worth mentioning. The row has been built built across the limit of visibility for views towards Cadair Idris. At the top of the row a tiny part of Cadair Idris is visible, but soon disappears as you walk eastward along the row.  The presence of trees makes it impossible to determine the precise point at which the mountain disappears, but Heywhatsthat.com shows that the row has no Cadair Idris views from its eastern end. The second reveal may be a coincidence, but it is worth mentioning that Foel Offrwn (SH 75017 20948) also disappears with eastward movement along the row.

 Cadair Idris is visible from the top of the row but disappears as you walk eastward.

Photographs

Setting of the Bryn Seward stone row.

View from above and west highlighting stones and position of Cadair Idris.

Upper length of the row and associated cairn. View from south east.

Stone B in foreground partly overlies historic rubble walling. View from west looking along the row (Scale 1m).

Stone C. View from the south (Scale 1m).

Looking east along the row. Stone C in the foreground.

Stone C with Pared y Cefn Hir beyond.

Stone D. This stone is incorporated into the historic rubble wall and may therefore not be in its original position. View from west with Stone E beyond (Scale 1m).

Stone E represents the eastern end of the row. View from east looking along the length of the row. The associated cairn is visible between the two upright stones.

Access Information

The row is situated adjacent to the public highway. Whilst there is no formal car parking available you may be able to find a space to park. Do not leave your vehicle here unattended as the area is frequently used for nearby forestry operations.

Online Resources 

Megalithic Portal     Modern Antiquarian     Coflein     Archwilio

Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Survey     Sea Views

Other References

Bowen, E.G. and Gresham C.A., 1967. History of Merioneth Volume 1, Dolgellau, pgs. 62.

Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 225.

Timeline

VISITED:- 30th July 2016

FIRST PUBLISHED:- 3rd February 2016

LAST UPDATED:- 10th January 2018