Viewpoint 2 - Harbour Way on the Roundabout to East of the Proposed Development

This drawing is for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for any construction or estimation purposes. To be scaled for planning application purposes only. No liability or responsibility is accepted arising from reliance No5 Blast upon the information contained within this drawing. Plans reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller Furnace of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright and database right [2018]. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100020449] CUT LINE

Grid Reference: SS 77173 88814 Date Taken: 21/09/18 Time Taken: 11:32 (GMT)

Viewpoint 2 - Harbour Way on the roundabout to east of the proposed development. (Left View)

No4 Blast Sinter Building Power Plant Furnace CUT LINE

CLIENT: Tata Steel Ltd

PROJECT: Sinter Plant De-Dust 2020 Project

DRAWING: Figure 10.2 -Representative Viewpoints

PROJECT NUMBER: TATA3011

DRAWING NUMBER: CHECKED BY: 10.2 Initial

REVISION: STATUS: 00 Final

DATE: SCALE: October 2018 NTS @ A3

Viewpoint 2 - Harbour Way on the roundabout to east of the proposed development. (Right View) Copyright of Turley

Plans reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright and database right [2018]. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100020449] CUT LINE Margam Mountain Grid Reference: SS 75503 89318 Date Taken: 21/09/18 Time Taken: 12:09

Viewpoint 3 - Wales Coastal Path 887 near the Newbridge Road Overbridge. (Left View) CUT LINE

Blast Furnace Sinter Building CLIENT: Tata Steel Ltd

PROJECT: Sinter Plant De-Dust 2020 Project

DRAWING: Figure 10.3 -Representative Viewpoints

PROJECT NUMBER: TATA3011

DRAWING NUMBER: CHECKED BY: 10.3 Initial

REVISION: STATUS: 00 Final

DATE: SCALE: October 2018 NTS @ A3

Viewpoint 3 - Wales Coastal Path 887 near the Newbridge Road Overbridge. (Right View) Copyright of Turley

Power Plant No4 and Stack 5 Blast Furnaces

Viewpoint 4 -Broomhill at Pen-y-cae. (Left View) CUT LINE

CLIENT: Tata Steel Ltd

PROJECT: M4 Flyover Sinter Building Sinter Plant De-Dust 2020 Project

DRAWING: Figure 10.4 -Representative Viewpoints

PROJECT NUMBER: TATA3011

DRAWING NUMBER: CHECKED BY: 10.4 Initial

REVISION: STATUS: 00 Final

DATE: SCALE: October 2018 NTS @ A3

Viewpoint 4 -Broomhill at Pen-y-cae. (Right View) Copyright of Turley

Plans reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright and database right [2018]. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100020449] Power Plant Stack Grid Reference: SS 77584 89120 Sinter Building Power Plant Date Taken: 21/09/18 Water Tower Time Taken: 10:06

Viewpoint 5 - Dyffryn Road, Port Talbot.

CLIENT: Tata Steel Ltd

PROJECT: Sinter Plant De-Dust 2020 Project

DRAWING: Figure 10.5 -Representative Viewpoints

PROJECT NUMBER: TATA3011

DRAWING NUMBER: CHECKED BY: 10.5 Initial

REVISION: STATUS: 00 Final

DATE: SCALE: October 2018 NTS @ A3 Copyright of Turley

Grid Reference: SS 77721 89251 No4 Blast Power Plant Date Taken: 21/09/18 Furnace Stack Sinter Building Time Taken: 10:45 No5 Blast Furnace

Viewpoint 6- View from Footpath near Margam, Mynydd Brombil (Left View) CUT LINE

CLIENT: Tata Steel Ltd

PROJECT: Sinter Plant De-Dust 2020 Project M4 Flyover

DRAWING: Figure 10.6 -Representative Viewpoints

PROJECT NUMBER: TATA3011

DRAWING NUMBER: CHECKED BY: 10.6 Initial

REVISION: STATUS: 00 Final

DATE: SCALE: October 2018 NTS @ A3

Viewpoint 6- View from Footpath near Margam, Mynydd Brombil (Right View)

Appendix 3: Troopers Hill AVRs

Photoviewpoint 1 - Existing

Viewpoint Information Note: This is a composite image made up of 50mm equivalent photographs joined together horizontally (by means of cylindrical projection) to form an Date: 20 October 2018 Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud,OS GridGloucestershire Reference 277176 GL5 188813 UA Horizontal Field of View 80° Project title: Proposed Secondary Dedust overall field of view which is wider than that seen in detail by the human eye. t 01454 323348 e [email protected] www.troopershill.co.ukGround Level (AOD) 10.73m Camera / Lens Canon EOS 200D Drawing Number: C190_33/P01 For correct perspective viewing, this image should be viewed at a distance of Client: Tata Steel Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 UA Viewer Height 1.60m Date / Time 21/09/2018 - 12:32 Drawn by: MP t 01454 323348 e [email protected] www.troopershill.co.uk approximately 300mm when printed at full size (420mm x 297mm). Distance to Site 900m Weather Conditions 80% cloud, good visibility Checked by: AP Drawing Title: Photomontage Viewpoint 1 TroopersTroopers Hill Limited Hill Registered Limited in England Registered & Wales Number 02052813 in RegisteredEngland Office Braeside, & Wales Cotswold Close, Number Bourne, Brimscombe, 02052813 Stroud, Gloucestershire Registered GL5 2UA Office Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2UA Photoviewpoint 1 - Proposed View (annotated) Note: i) Red hatch shows the extent of development occluded by existing built form and topography); ii) ESP Plant to be demolished, not visible from this viewpoint.

Proposed De-dust Facility

Existing Sinter Building Proposed Stack

Stack to be Demolished

Photoviewpoint 1 - Proposed View

Viewpoint Information Note: This is a composite image made up of 50mm equivalent photographs joined together horizontally (by means of cylindrical projection) to form an Date: 20 October 2018 Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud,OS GridGloucestershire Reference 275503 GL5 189319UA Horizontal Field of View 80° Project title: Proposed Secondary Dedust overall field of view which is wider than that seen in detail by the human eye. t 01454 323348 e [email protected] www.troopershill.co.ukGround Level (AOD) 6.75m Camera / Lens Canon EOS 200D Drawing Number: C190_33/P01 For correct perspective viewing, this image should be viewed at a distance of Client: Tata Steel Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 UA Viewer Height 1.60m Date / Time 21/09/2018 - 13:08 Drawn by: MP t 01454 323348 e [email protected] www.troopershill.co.uk approximately 300mm when printed at full size (420mm x 297mm). Distance to Site 1.6km Weather Conditions 80% cloud, good visibility Checked by: AP Drawing Title: Photomontage Viewpoint 3 TroopersTroopers Hill Limited Hill Registered Limited in England Registered & Wales Number 02052813 in RegisteredEngland Office Braeside, & Wales Cotswold Close, Number Bourne, Brimscombe, 02052813 Stroud, Gloucestershire Registered GL5 2UA Office Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2UA Photoviewpoint 3 - Proposed View (annotated) Note: i) Red hatch shows the extent of development occluded by existing built form and topography); ii) ESP Plant to be demolished, not visible from this viewpoint.

Existing Sinter Building

Proposed Stack Stack to be Demolished

Photoviewpoint 3 - Proposed View

Viewpoint Information Note: This is a composite image made up of 50mm equivalent photographs joined together horizontally (by means of cylindrical projection) to form an Date: 20 October 2018 Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud,OS GridGloucestershire Reference 275503 GL5 189319UA Horizontal Field of View 80° Project title: Proposed Secondary Dedust overall field of view which is wider than that seen in detail by the human eye. t 01454 323348 e [email protected] www.troopershill.co.ukGround Level (AOD) 6.75m Camera / Lens Canon EOS 200D Drawing Number: C190_33/P01 For correct perspective viewing, this image should be viewed at a distance of Client: Tata Steel Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 UA Viewer Height 1.60m Date / Time 21/09/2018 - 13:08 Drawn by: MP t 01454 323348 e [email protected] www.troopershill.co.uk approximately 300mm when printed at full size (420mm x 297mm). Distance to Site 1.6km Weather Conditions 80% cloud, good visibility Checked by: AP Drawing Title: Photomontage Viewpoint 3 TroopersTroopers Hill Limited Hill Registered Limited in England Registered & Wales Number 02052813 in RegisteredEngland Office Braeside, & Wales Cotswold Close, Number Bourne, Brimscombe, 02052813 Stroud, Gloucestershire Registered GL5 2UA Office Braeside, Cotswold Close, Bourne, Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2UA

Appendix 4: Methodology

1. The methodology for landscape and visual assessment is based on current best practice as set out in:

 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, 3rd edition, 2013 (Landscape Institute and Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment) (GLVIA3);

 Landscape Character Assessment, 2017 (Landscape Institute Technical Information Note 05/2017);

 Visual representation of development proposals (Landscape Institute Technical Information Note 02/2017);

 Photography and photomontage in landscape and visual impact assessment (Landscape Institute Technical Information Note 01/2011)

2. The Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA) states that this type of appraisal provides a tool for identifying and assessing the “the effects of change resulting from development on both the landscape as an environmental resource in its own right and on people’s views and visual amenity” (Para. 1.1). It goes on to emphasise that the appraisal has two interlinked elements of: landscape, as a resource; and visual amenity, including views. The effects of both must be addressed in the assessment.

3. The definition of landscape in the European Landscape Convention, which the UK has signed and ratified, includes villages and towns and cities and the GLVIA states that ‘Landscape’ refers to areas where the built environment is dominant. It goes on to state that Landscape includes the buildings and the different types of urban spaces, and the relationship between the two.

Baseline Landscape appraisal 4. The baseline landscape appraisal includes a mixture of desk study and field work to identify and record the character of the landscape. The first stage involves a review of the landscape character context as set out in the current published landscape character studies relating to the study area at national, regional and local level. This is followed by an assessment of the key characteristics of the local landscape character and the identification of local landscape character areas. The key landscape receptors (landscape character areas, landscape features or landscape characteristics) with potential to be affected by the proposed development are then identified and a judgement is made on the sensitivity of each of these. This is based on an assessment of the Value of each receptor and its Susceptibility to Change2. This judgement is made based on the approach set out in GLVIA3 and as described below.

2 When the type and general nature of development proposed is not known at the time of the baseline assessment, the assessment of the sensitivity of receptors is not undertaken as part of

5. The value of the identified landscape receptor is assessed with reference to:

• Any designations or policies (both national and local) which may be present; and,

• The presence or absence of other attributes which contribute to landscape value such as landscape condition, scenic quality, rarity, representativeness, conservation interests, recreation value, perceptual aspects or associations e.g. with writers, artists or historic events

6. Judgements on Value are made based on the criteria set out in Table A.1.

Table A.1: Value of Landscape Receptors 7. The susceptibility of the receptor has been defined within GLVIA3 as “the ability of the l aValue Typical Criteria Typical Scale of Typical Examples n Importance/ d Rarity sVery High High importance International, World Heritage Site, and/or key features of c and rarity. No or National World Heritage Sites a limited potential p for substitution e High High importance National, National Parks or AONBs and/or key features r and rarity. Limited Regional of these, Scheduled Monuments, some e potential for Conservation Areas, and landscape areas with c substitution typically a significant number of Grade I/II* e listed buildings, and/or Registered Historic p Park and Gardens tMedium Moderate Regional, Local Landscape areas designated at local level e.g. o importance and Special Landscape Areas and other r rarity. Limited undesignated areas of moderate landscape potential for importance with value perhaps expressed ( substitution through non‐official publications or w demonstrable use h Low Minor importance Local Landscape features or local character areas e and rarity. which are not related to designated, or non‐ t Considerable designated heritage assets, or a planning h potential for designation; and/or mentioned in guidebooks e substitution or on tourist maps; and/or referenced in art r and literature; and/or is of little landscape

importance. i tVery Low Minor importance Local Landscape features or local character areas in and rarity poor condition or quality and/or identified for b recovery e

the baseline assessment. In those instances,( as recommended by GLVIA3), the assessment of sensitivity is undertaken as part of the assessment of effects.

the overall character or quality/condition of a particular landscape type or area, or an individual element and/or feature, or a particular aesthetic and perceptual aspect) to accommodate the Proposed Development without undue consequences for the maintenance of the baseline situation and/or the achievement of landscape planning policies and strategies” (Para. 5.40). Judgement on susceptibility of change is broadly based on the criteria set out in Table A.2.

Table A.2: Landscape susceptibility to change Susceptibility Criteria to change

High Where the area is unlikely to accommodate the type of development proposed without undue negative consequences for the maintenance of the baseline landscape character and/or the achievement of landscape planning policies and strategies. Characteristics of the landscape which contribute to the landscape character are highly sensitive and would be fundamentally altered by the type of development proposed and would result in a change of landscape character.

Medium Where the type of development proposed could compromise the maintenance of the baseline landscape character and/or the achievement of landscape planning policies and strategies. Characteristics of the landscape which contribute to the landscape character are moderately sensitive and would be altered by the type of development proposed. The general landscape character would remain but would be weakened by the type of development proposed.

Low Where the type of development proposed can be accommodated without undue consequences for the maintenance of the baseline landscape character and/or the achievement of landscape planning policies and strategies. Characteristics of the landscape which contribute to the landscape character are of low sensitivity and would not be significantly altered by the type of development proposed. The general landscape character is resilient to change.

8. A judgement on the overall sensitivity of each Landscape receptor was made based on the combined evaluation of susceptibility and value attached to the receptor together with informed professional judgement and guidance provided in GLVIA3.

Baseline visual appraisal 9. The baseline visual appraisal established the area in which the dbuilding, an emerging scheme proposals, may be visible; the different groups of people who may experience the views of the development (defined as visual receptors); and the areas where views can or are likely to be possible; and the nature of these views. These factors interrelate, but for the purpose of the assessment are dealt with in that order.

10. The visibility of the Site was assessed by a walkover survey which established the area (at ground level) from which the Site is currently visible. The key visual receptors within this area were then identified (i.e. groups of people within this area who experience (or may experience) views of the Site.

11. In most assessments, unless specifically requested by the LPA, visual receptors are restricted to groups of people in publically accessible places. Views from private

residential properties are not included as changes to private views are not a planning consideration3

12. Following identification of the key visual receptors, representative viewpoints are identified to reflect typical views from the key visual receptors. Where possible, the number and location of representative viewpoints is agreed with the LPA. A description and evaluation of the identified viewpoints is then undertaken which takes into account the following:

• type and relative numbers of people, and their occupation or activity • location, nature and characteristics • nature, composition and characteristics of the views (including directions) • elements which may interrupt, filter or otherwise influence the views • seasonal changes in the view

13. When the broad development proposals are known at the commencement of the baseline assessment, an assessment of the sensitivity of the visual receptors is undertaken as part of the baseline assessment. This comprises an assessment of the susceptibility of each receptor to the type of change proposed and a judgement on the value attached to the views.

Value attached to views 14. A judgement on the value attached to the views experienced is based on consideration of:

• Planning designations e.g. Designated Views or Protected Vistas identified in local or regional planning policy’

• Other designations relating to landscape features or heritage assets e.g. key views identified in conservation area appraisals or recorded in citations for listed buildings or registered parks and gardens; and,

• Indicators of the value attached to views by visitors e.g. views identified in guidebooks or on tourist maps, official viewpoints (often with sign boards and interpretive material) or views referenced ein literatur or art

15. Judgements on the value attached to views have been made using the criteria set out in Table A.3 below.

Table A.3 Value attached to views from visual receptors

Value Typical Criteria Typical Scale of Typical Examples Importance/ Rarity

3 Alfred’s Case in 1610 established in English law that views from private property cannot be protected. Only if a view is impacted to such an extent that it is so overbearing or dominating that it would result in unacceptable living conditions is it a relevant planning consideration. In these cases a detailed visual assessment is undertaken as part of a residential amenity assessment.

Very High Very high importance International, Views associated with sites of international and rarity. National importance e.g. World Heritage sites S High High importance and National, Regional, Designated views of national or regional u rarity. importance e.g. views of noted importance to s sites of national importance e.g. Scheduled c Monuments, AONBs, Grade I/Grade II* listed e buildings, and/or Registered Historic Park and p Gardens t iMedium Moderate importance Regional, Local Views identified or protected at local level e.g. b and rarity. identified in local planning policy or guidance i and views associated with heritage or l landscape features of regional or local i importance e.g. some Conservation Areas and t Grade II/II* listed buildings. May also include y views which are undesignated but value perhaps expressed through non‐official o publications or its contribution to enjoyment f of a designated or non‐designated heritage asset. vLow Minor importance Local The view from the identified visual receptor is i and rarity. not related to designated, or non‐designated, s heritage assets, or a planning designation; u and/or mentioned in guidebooks or on tourist a maps; and/or referenced in art and literature; l and/or is of little visual amenity importance.

receptors 16. The assessment of susceptibility is based on the approach set out in para 6.32 of GLVIA3 which notes that:

‘the susceptibility of different visual receptors to changes in views and visual amenity is mainly a function of:

 The occupation or activity of people experiencing the view at particular locations: and,

 The extent to which their attention or interest may therefore be focussed on the views and the visual amenity they experience at particular locations’.

17. Judgements on the susceptibility of a visual receptor to change are broadly based on the descriptions of susceptibility set out in Table A.4 below.

Table A.4: Susceptibility of Visual Receptors

Susceptibility Description of Receptor Group

High Receptors for whom the view and visual amenity is of high importance to the

Susceptibility Description of Receptor Group experience or activity including: people engaged in outdoor recreation whose attention or interest is likely to be focused on the landscape and on particular views e.g. waymarked walks through the landscape; and visitors to heritage assets or other attractions where views of the surroundings are an important contributor to the experience.

Medium Receptors for whom the view and visual amenity is of moderate importance to the experience or activity including: Travellers on road, rail or other transport routes.

Low Receptors for whom the view and visual amenity is of low importance to the experience or activity including: people engaged in outdoor sport or recreation which does not involve or depend upon appreciation of views of the landscape; and, people at their place of work whose attention may be focussed on their work, not on their surroundings, and where the setting is not important to the quality of working life.

18. A judgement on the overall sensitivity of each visual receptor is made based on the combined evaluation of susceptibility and value attached to the view together with informed professional judgement and guidance provided in GLVIA3.

Assessment of Landscape Effects

19. Landscape effects include:

• Changes to, and/or complete or partial loss of features, elements, characteristics or perceptual aspects that contribute to the character and distinctiveness of the Landscape/local Landscape area; and/or,

• Introduction of new elements or features that influence the character and distinctiveness of the Landscape/local Landscape area;

20. The assessment of Landscape effects considers the sensitivity of the Landscape receptor (identified in the baseline appraisal) and the magnitude of the predicted effect. The magnitude of effect considers the size or scale of the effect, the geographical extent of the effect and the duration and reversibility of the effect.

21. Judgements on the magnitude of Landscape effect are broadly based on the descriptions of magnitude set out in Table A.5 below.

Table A.5 Magnitude of Landscape Effects

Magnitude Definition of Effect

High Permanent loss of all or most of the key characteristics of a Landscape area/feature and/or addition of major new elements which would be dominant features. Changes would substantially alter the character of a large area.

Medium Permanent partial loss or change to some of the key characteristics of a Landscape area/feature and/or addition of new elements which would be prominent features. Changes would result in a large change to the character of a small area or a noticeable change to a larger area.

Low Permanent limited/localised loss or change to common characteristics of a Landscape area/feature and/or addition of new elements which would be noticeable features but largely in keeping with the existing character. Changes would result in a small change to the character of a large area or a noticeable change to a small area. Also includes temporary changes of larger scale or extent.

Very Low Small scale changes to common characteristics and/or small scale additions of new elements. Changes would not noticeably alter the character of the area.

No change No discernible change to Landscape characteristics or features.

22. Consideration is also given to the Type of Effect in terms of whether it is Adverse, Beneficial or Neutral. Often, effects will include a combination of both beneficial and adverse effects. However, a judgement is made on the nature of the overall effect which is based on the following terms:

• Adverse: overall harm to Landscape character/feature

• Beneficial: overall improvement to Landscape character/feature

• Neutral: no overall harm or improvement to Landscape character/feature (may include a combination of both adverse and beneficial effects)

Assessment of Visual Effects

23. Visual effects include:

• Changes to, and/or complete or partial loss of features, elements, characteristics or perceptual aspects that contribute to the character and distinctiveness of the view; and/or,

• Introduction of new elements or features that influence the character and distinctiveness of the view;

24. The assessment of visual effects considers the sensitivity of the visual receptor (identified in the baseline appraisal) and the magnitude of the predicted effect. The magnitude of effect considers the size or scale of the effect, the geographical extent of the effect and the duration and reversibility of the effect.

25. Judgements on the magnitude of visual effect are broadly based on the descriptions of magnitude set out in Table A.6 below.

Table A.6: Magnitude of Visual Effects

Magnitude Definition of Effect

High Permanent loss of all or most of the key characteristics of a view and/or addition of major new elements which would be dominant features. Changes would substantially alter the character of the view.

Medium Permanent partial loss or change to some of the key characteristics of the view and/or addition of new elements which would be prominent features. Changes would result in a large change to the character of a small part of the view or a noticeable change to a larger change to part of the view.

Low Permanent limited/localised loss or change to a view and/or addition of new elements which would be noticeable features but largely in keeping with the existing character of the view. Changes would result in a small change to the character of a large part of the view or a noticeable change to a small part of the view. Also includes temporary changes of larger scale or extent within the view.

Very Low Small scale changes to common characteristics and/or small scale additions of new elements to the view. Changes would not noticeably alter the character of the view.

No change No discernible change to the view.

26. Consideration is also given to the Type of Effect in terms of whether it is Adverse, Beneficial or Neutral. Often, effects will include a combination of both beneficial and adverse effects. However, a judgement is made on the nature of the overall effect which is based on the following terms:

• Adverse: overall harm to the character/quality of the view and loss of visual amenity

• Beneficial: overall improvement to the character/quality of the view and improvement of visual amenity

• Neutral: no overall harm or improvement to the view or visual amenity (likely to be the result of a combination of both adverse and beneficial effects or very small changes)

Appendix 5: Landscape and Heritage Designations

The Registered Landscapes of Outstanding and of Special Interest in Wales

Margam Mountain

RecordNumber: HLW (WGl/MGl) 2

Margam Mountain is a distinctive block of South Wales uplands on the south west fringe of the Glamorgan Blaenau, where they meet the Bro and overlook and visually dominate the narrow coastal plain near the modern port and industrial town of Port Talbot. From the coastal plain just above sea level, the flanks of the mountain rise steeply to a series of more gentle slopes and plateaux between 200m and 300m above OD, with local crests reaching over 300m above OD, the highest of which is Margam Mountain itself, at 344m above OD, in the centre of the area. The whole mountain is dissected and indented by several ravines and small wooded valleys or cwmoedd, each with a small stream rising in peat bogs near the crest. On the north east, the area is bounded by the valley of the Llynfi, a tributary of the River Ogmore, and on the north west by the small wooded valley of Cwm Dyffryn. The southern limit is bounded by Cwm Cynffig at the head of the River Kenfig, while the western limit coincides with the modern M4 motorway which more or less follows the edge of the coastal plain. The historic landscape identified here is dominated by the steep southern flanks of Margam Mountain, a strategic location which controlled early routes to West Wales, including the main Roman road linking the Roman forts of Cardiff and Neath. Much of the area is now afforested, though archaeologically it benefited from the early landscape studies undertaken in the 1930s. The area displays continuity, density and diversity of human occupation. This was originally concentrated and scattered on the mountain itself, though recently it grew rapidly, forcing itself into the narrow confines of the coastal plain, where the natural topographical limitations and physical constraints at the junction of the Blaenau and Bro of Glamorgan allowed. Situated above the originally densely wooded valley floors and lowland, yet accessible from the adjacent high ground, the mountain has been the focus of human activity from at least the Bronze Age, as attested by a number of single, and groups of, large cairns and barrows. The Iron Age is also well represented by an unusual concentration of distinctive hill forts, enclosures and habitation sites, and the trackways that connected them. Mynydd y Castell, Caer Cwm Philip and Y Bwlwarcau form a chain of strongholds defending the strategically important route corridor across the southern flanks of the mountain. However, the forts are equally well sited to exploit the extensive mountain pastures to the north, and indeed the complex layout and much lower defences at Y Bwlwarcau could suggest that the site’s primary function was stock-raising rather than defence. The succeeding Roman period is attested by the route of the main Roman road, recorded in the 2nd-century Antonine Itinerary, and the discovery of two Roman milestones in the vicinity. Today, its course is probably preserved in the line of Water Street. The early medieval period is well-represented by the suggested reoccupation of the hillforts and the 7th century Bodvoc Stone sited on a Bronze Age barrow on the mountain. To the south west, at Margam and Eglwys Nunnydd, there are important early religious associations. Here there is a concentration of religious sites and Early Christian Inscribed Stone monuments, associated with an early Welsh monastic focus. This is attested by both the great Cistercian abbey at Margam, the richest monastic house in Wales, founded in 1147 on a site presumed to be on or near its predecessor; and also by an important church site at Eglwys Nunnydd, a dedication probably associated with St Non, the mother of St David, the Patron Saint of Wales. A major collection of Early

Christian Inscribed Stones, ranging from the 6th to the 11th centuries, and found within or close to the area described here, is housed at the Margam Stones Museum next to the Abbey church. Only part of the Abbey church and fragments of neighbouring buildings survive of this once great establishment — the entire area described here lay within the Abbey’s granges. After the Dissolution, much of the Abbey property was acquired by Sir Rice Mansel and remained in the family until 1942. The family’s residence was based on the Abbey’s domestic ranges, which were added to and altered in a variety of building styles by successive generations. The house was demolished in the late 18th century and a new mansion, Margam Castle, was built in the 1830s. During the last two centuries, the main attractions at Margam have been the magnificent Georgian orangery, built in 1787–90 to provide a repository for an ancient and famous collection of citrus trees, and the surrounding pleasure gardens which were developed mainly in the 19th century. The house and gardens are set in a large walled park which originated in the Tudor period. After a period of neglect, Margam Park was eventually acquired in 1974 by the former West Glamorgan County Council, which began an extensive programme of restoration and rehabilitation. The continuity of the military significance of the area is demonstrated by the medieval castle of Llangynwyd in the east of the area, the administrative centre of Tir Iarll (Earl’s Land), a lordship of the lords of Glamorgan, and also more recently, on the southern crest of Margam Mountain, by the Graig Fawr Chain Home Low Radar Site, constructed as part of the Second World War defensive measures. Dominating prospects to the south west, and outside the area currently described here, are the colossal Margam Abbey Steel Works and the Port Talbot area. They represent an example of a new landscape in complete visual contrast with, and out of all proportion to, the earlier, adjacent, more subtly grafted landscape described here.

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