Elwy Solar Energy Farm

HERITAGE DESK BASED ASSESSMENT

P19-2023 | JULY 2020 July 2020 | EP | P19-2023

Document Management

Version Date Author Checked/approved by: Reason for revision

Dr Elizabeth Pratt Gail Stoten 1 17th January 2020 - (Senior Heritage Consultant) (Senior Director – Heritage) Dr Elizabeth Pratt Gail Stoten 2 7th February 2020 Redline change (Senior Heritage Consultant) (Senior Director – Heritage) Dr Elizabeth Pratt Gail Stoten 3 18th February 2020 Redline change (Senior Heritage Consultant) (Senior Director – Heritage) Dr Elizabeth Pratt Gail Stoten 4 15th June 2020 Finalising impacts (Senior Heritage Consultant) (Senior Director – Heritage) Dr Elizabeth Pratt Simon Chamberlayne 5 23rd July 2020 Client comments (Senior Heritage Consultant) (Director – Planning) Dr Elizabeth Pratt Simon Chamberlayne Incorporation of initial 6 30th July 2020 (Senior Heritage Consultant) (Director – Planning) geophysical survey results

Pegasus Group

T 01285 641717 | www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

July 2020 | EP | P19-2023

HERITAGE STATEMENT

ELWY SOLAR ENERGY FARM, ST ASAPH, DENBIGHSHIRE

ON BEHALF OF: SOLARCENTURY

PREPARED BY: DR ELIZABETH PRATT (ACIFA)

Pegasus Group

T 01285 641717 | www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION 1 METHODOLOGY 4 PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK 10 THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT 15 SETTING ASSESSMENT 25 CONCLUSIONS 60 SOURCES 63

APPENDICES: APPENDIX 1: CONSULTATION RESPONSES APPENDIX 2: GAZETTEER OF HISTORIC ASSETS APPENDIX 3: SELECTED DESIGNATION DESCRIPTIONS APPENDIX 4: FIGURES APPENDIX 5: PHOTOGRAPHS OF FEATURES OBSERVED DURING WALKOVER SURVEY APPENDIX 6: PROCESSED LIDAR

FIGURES: FIGURE 1: SITE LOCATION FIGURE 2: DIGITAL TERRAIN MODEL FIGURE 3: PREHISTORIC AND ROMAN ASSETS FIGURE 4: MEDIEVAL AND LATER ASSETS FIGURE 5A: EXTRACT OF 1845 GWERNIGRON TITHE MAP

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FIGURE 5B: HISTORIC LANDHOLDINGS IN 1840 - 1845 FIGURE 6: EXTRACT OF 1900 ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP FIGURE 7: CROPMARKS AND EARTHWORKS VISIBLE ON HISTORIC AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS FIGURE 8A: DESIGNATED HISTORIC ASSETS WITHIN 5KM RADIUS FIGURE 8B: DESIGNATED HISTORIC ASSETS WITHIN 2KM RADIUS FIGURE 9: PHOTO LOCATIONS FIGURE 10: PROGRESS OF GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

PLATES: PLATE 1: AREA OF PROPOSED SOLAR FARM (OUTLINED IN RED) ...... 1 PLATE 2: GLIMPSE OF ST ASAPH CATHEDRAL (CIRCLED) FROM THE FIELD ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TRACK TO GWERNIGRON FARM ...... 27 PLATE 3: COMPONENTS OF GWERNIGRON FARMHOUSE ...... 29 PLATE 4: REAR EAST WING WITH HIPPED ROOF, MENTIONED IN LISTING DESCRIPTION ...... 30 PLATE 5: REAR EAST WING AND REAR BLOCK ...... 30 PLATE 6: VIEW OF REAR BLOCK AND ATTACHED WING WITH HIPPED ROOF ...... 30 PLATE 7: GWERNIGRON DOVECOTE, VIEWED FROM EAST ...... 31 PLATE 8: CONVERTED OUTBUILDINGS TO THE WEST OF THE FARMHOUSE ...... 31 PLATE 9: CLOSE-RANGING KEY VIEW OF GWERNIGRON FARMHOUSE, FROM THE FARM TRACK TO ITS SOUTH ...... 33 PLATE 10: VIEW TOWARDS GWERNIGRON FARMHOUSE (AND DOVECOTE), FROM THE PUBLIC FOOTPATH THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE SITE ...... 33 PLATE 11: VIEW FROM THE FARMHOUSE’S DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE SITE TO THE A55 EMBANKMENT ...... 34

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PLATE 12: VIEW LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS GWERNIGRON FARM FROM THE SITE – WITH THE DOVECOTE PARTIALLY SCREENED BY VEGETATION ...... 35 PLATE 13: PANORAMA FROM THE BOUNDARY OF THE REAR PLOT OF GWERNIGRON FARMHOUSE WITH THE SITE ...... 35 PLATE 14: EXTRACT OF 1845 TITHE MAP FOR GWERNIGRON, WITH PLAS COCH CIRCLED (IMAGE COURTESY OF DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES) ...... 38 PLATE 15: EXTRACT OF 1878 ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP OF PLAS COCH ...... 39 PLATE 16: VIEW OF PLAS COCH FROM ITS ACCESS DRIVE FROM THE A525 ...... 40 PLATE 17: PRIMARY ELEVATION OF PLAS COCH, VIEWED FROM THE TRACK TO GWERNIGRON FARM ...... 40 PLATE 18: GLIMPSE OF REAR ELEVATION OF PLAS COCH, FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE SITE ...... 40 PLATE 19: ENGRAVING OF PENGWERN HALL, DATED 1795 (NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES, CATALOGUE NO. VTLS003373648) ...... 42 PLATE 20: EXTRACT OF 1840 TITHE MAP OF PENGWERN (IMAGE COURTESY OF THE GENEALOGIST) ...... 43 PLATE 21: VIEW LOOKING NORTH FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SITE ...... 44 PLATE 22: EXTRACT OF 1841 TITHE MAP FOR BODELWYDDAN (IMAGE COURTESY OF THE GENEALOGIST) .... 46 PLATE 23: GLIMPSE OF BODELWYDDAN CASTLE (CIRCLED) FROM THE CENTRAL-SOUTHERN FIELD OF THE SITE ...... 48 PLATE 24: GLIMPSE OF LONG-RANGING NORTHERLY VIEW FROM THE LODGE AT GLASCOED ACROSS THE PARK TOWARDS THE COAST ...... 49 PLATE 25: PANORAMIC VIEW SHOWING THE CO-VISIBILITY OF THE CHURCH OF ST MARY AND RHUDDLAN CASTLE FROM THE STATION ROAD RIVER BRIDGE ...... 53 PLATE 26: LOOKING NORTH TOWARDS TWTHILL FROM THE PUBLIC FOOTPATH FROM HYLAS LANE ...... 58 PLATE 27: LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS TWTHILL FROM THE PUBLIC FOOTPATH FROM ABBEY ROAD ...... 58 PLATE 28: PANORAMIC VIEW, LOOKING EAST TO SOUTH TO WEST, FROM THE SUMMIT OF TWTHILL ...... 59

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Introduction

Pegasus Group has been commissioned by A cable will run from the solar energy farm to the Solarcentury to prepare a Heritage Statement for National Grid Bodelwyddan Substation (Figure 1). land outlying Gwernigron Farm near St Asaph, The land to the south of the A55 is excluded from c.106ha of which is proposed for a solar energy farm the scope of this assessment. (Plate 1). Objectives

The aims of the Heritage Statement are:

 To assess the significance of recorded historic assets within the site and to assess the potential for and likely significance of previously-unrecorded archaeological remains within the site;

 To assess any contribution that the site makes to the heritage significance of proximate designated historic assets; and

 To identify any harm or benefit to known and potential historic assets, which may result from the implementation of the development proposals, along with the level of any Plate 1: Area of proposed solar farm (outlined in red) harm caused if relevant.

These objectives are in line with Sections 6.1.9 and

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6.1.26 of the Welsh Planning Policy Wales, Edition Consultation 10, Chapter 6 (December 2018; PPW10), which Prior to the commencement of this Heritage provide that: Statement, consultation was undertaken with the "Any decisions made through the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT), Cadw, planning system must fully consider and the Conservation Officer at Denbighshire County the impact on the historic environment and on the significance and heritage Council (DCC), to seek initial advice and agreement values of individual historic assets and the proposed assessment scope and methodology. their contribution to the character of place.” The response from CPAT (see Appendix 1) advised a “Where archaeological remains are 2km data search area for non-designated historic known to exist or there is a potential assets and 5km for designated historic assets; and for them to survive, an application should be accompanied by sufficient provided a list of key data sources. A systematic information, through desk-based walkover survey of the site, to identify both recorded assessment and/or field evaluation, to allow a full understanding of the and unrecorded historic assets and areas of potential impact of the proposal on the palaeoenvironmental deposits, was requested. It significance of the remains....” was suggested that a Zone of Theoretical Visibility This Heritage Statement has been informed by the (ZTV) would help establish which designated historic Standard and guidance for historic environment assets within this radius the top of the proposed desk-based assessment published by the Chartered solar panels might be visible from. Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA 2014). A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) for this assessment was submitted to CPAT and was approved on 19th November 2019.

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The response from Cadw (see Appendix 1) stated CPAT as one of the few contractors able to offer this that the presented list of designated historic assets technique with prior experience in the locality, and anticipated to require full settings assessment (i.e. so were appointed to carry out the work. A WSI was Stages 2 to 4 of Cadw’s guidance; see Section 3) submitted to CPAT and approved on 2nd December appeared to be correct – but suggested that 2019. confirmation be sought from the Conservation A total of 30ha in the southern part of the site was Officer at DCC. surveyed in mid to late December 2019 (Figure 10). The response from the Conservation Officer (see Unfortunately Storms Ciara and Dennis (causing Appendix 1) named the Listed Buildings located on poor weather and unsuitable ground conditions), the A525 immediately to the east of the site, noted crop cycles (preventing access over fragile emerging that there may be a visual impact on the Clwyd an shoots and through tall and dense vegetation), and Range & Dee Valley AONB, and advised that COVID-19 (prohibiting travel to and non-essential consideration be given to Listed Buildings within St work within Wales) have delayed the survey’s Asaph. completion until August 2020.

Further assessment Reference is made to the initial results in 4.42 below. This Heritage Statement will be updated once the CPAT also recommended that a geophysical survey survey is complete. by caesium vapour magnetometry be undertaken (see Appendix 1). Tiger Geo were recommended by

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Methodology

The aims of this Heritage Statement are to identify  Cadw for information relating to designated historic assets; any known and potential historic assets within the site, to assess the significance of any such known  Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust for Historic Environment Record (HER) and potential historic assets, to assess the data on recorded historic assets and contribution that the site makes to the significance previous archaeological works;

and heritage values of designated historic assets,  RCAHMW for National Monument and to identify any harm or benefit to them as may Records of Wales (NMRW) data on recorded historic assets and previous result from implementation of the development archaeological works; proposals, along with the level of any harm caused  Archival material, comprising if relevant. cartographic and documentary sources, held at Denbighshire Archives This assessment considers the archaeological (visited in person); resource, built heritage and the historic landscape.  The Welsh Government Aerial It presents the results of an archaeological desk- Photography Unit for historic aerial based assessment and settings assessments. The photographs of the site and study area (provided via email as digital scans); results of the geophysical survey will be incorporated  1m resolution DTM LiDAR imagery, once this work is complete. downloaded from the Lle Geoportal for Sources of information Wales;  Published and grey literature reports The following key sources have been consulted as relating to archaeological part of this assessment: investigations undertaken within the

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environs of the site; and Available LiDAR data was downloaded in composite

 Online resources, including: Ordnance Digital Terrain Model (DTM) format, from the Lle Survey Open Source topographic and Geoportal for Wales (accessed December 2019). The environmental data, Google Earth satellite imagery, geological data from data was then processed and interrogated using the British Geological Survey and the industry-standard GIS software. Cranfield University Soilscapes resource, and The National Library of Multiple hill-shade and shaded-relief models were Wales, The Genealogist, and Promap created, principally via adjustment of the following for historic maps. variables: azimuth, height, and ‘z-factor’ or For digital datasets (i.e. Cadw, HER and RCAHMW), exaggeration. The models created were colourised information was sourced for a 2km study area using pre-defined ramps and classified attribute measured from the boundaries of the site. data. The DTM shaded relief model, with azimuths Information gathered is discussed within the text graduated by 45o intervals from 0-360o, is provided where it is of relevance to the potential heritage in Appendix 6. resource of the site. A gazetteer of all recorded events, sites and findspots is included as Appendix 1 Designated historic assets in the wider area were and maps illustrating the resource and study area assessed as deemed appropriate (see Section 5). are included as Appendix 3. Site visit

Historic maps and aerial photographs were reviewed A site visit was undertaken by Dr Elizabeth Pratt, for the site and beyond this where professional Senior Heritage Consultant at Pegasus Group, on 4th judgement deemed necessary. Extracts of historic December 2019, during which the site and its maps are reproduced in Section 4 to illustrate the surrounds were assessed. Selected historic assets discussion of the historical development of the site. were assessed from publicly accessible areas.

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The visibility on this day was clear. Surrounding about past human activity;

vegetation was in partial leaf at the time of the site  Historic value: deriving from the ways visit, and thus the potential screening that this in which past people, events and aspects of life can be connected affords was also considered when assessing through a place to the present; potential intervisibility between the site and  Aesthetic value: deriving from the surrounding areas. ways in which people draw sensory and intellectual stimulation from a Assessment of significance place; and

1 The Welsh Government's Technical Advice Note 24  Communal value: deriving from the (TAN24; discussed further in Section 3) defines meaning of a place for the people who relate to it, or for whom it figures in heritage significance as: their collective experience or memory.

"the sum of the cultural and natural This approach allows for a detailed and justifiable heritage values of a place, often set out in a statement of significance." determination of significance and the values from which that significance derives. The significance of Conservation Principles for the sustainable known and potential historic assets within the site management of the historic environment in Wales2 has been determined in this respect and is described (Conservation Principles) defines significance as as relevant in this report. deriving from a combination of any, some or all of the following four component values: In relation to designated historic assets, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas are designated for  Evidential value: deriving from the potential of a place to yield evidence their special architectural and historic interest, while

1 Welsh Government, May 2017. 2 Cadw, 2011. Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment in Wales.

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Scheduled Monuments are primarily (but not "setting is not a historic asset in its own right but has value derived from exclusively) designated for their archaeological how different elements may contribute interest, i.e. their evidential value. to the significance of a historic asset.”

Setting and significance As such, any impacts are described within this report (Sections 4 and 5) in terms of how they affect the Setting is defined in TAN24 as: significance of a historic asset, and any heritage "the surroundings in which [an historic values that contribute to that significance, through asset] is understood, experienced, and appreciated embracing past and changes to setting. present relationships to the surrounding landscape. Its extent is Settings assessment methodology not fixed and may change as the asset and its surrounding evolve. Elements The settings assessments presented in Section 5 of of a setting may make a positive or this report have been undertaken in accordance with negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect industry-standard methodology provided by Cadw's [the] ability to appreciate that Setting of Historic Assets in Wales, Guidance Note significance or may be neutral." 33. This guidance promotes a ‘stepped’ (iterative) Setting can thus contribute to, detract from or have approach, as follows: a neutral effect upon significance. In addition, whilst  Step 1: Assess which assets would be a physical or visual connection between a historic affected and identify their setting; asset and its setting will often exist, it is not essential  Step 2: Define and analyse the settings or determinative. to understand how they contribute to the significance of the historic assets Of particular relevance, TAN24 further provides that: and, in particular, the ways in which

3 Cadw, 2017. Setting of Historic Assets in Wales.

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the assets are understood, appreciated Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, and experienced4; Protected Wreck Sites and Conservation Areas5.  Step 3: Assess the effects of the Registered historic assets include Registered Historic proposed development, whether beneficial or harmful, on that Parks and Gardens and Registered Historic significance or on the ability to Landscapes. Listed Buildings are designated in three appreciate it; grades as follows:  Step 4: Consider options to mitigate or improve the potential impact of a  Grade I – buildings of exceptional, proposed change or development on usually national interest. that significance.  Grade II* - particularly important Levels of significance buildings of more than special interest.

Under TAN24, an ‘historic asset’ is defined as:  Grade II – buildings of special interest which warrant every effort being made "An identifiable component of the to preserve them. historic environment. It may consist of Registered Parks and Gardens are also registered or be a combination of an archaeological site, a historic building Grade I, II* or II, depending on their comparative or area, historic park and garden or a significance. In that same respect, Historic parcel of historic landscape. Nationally important historic assets will normally Landscapes are registered as either ‘outstanding’ or be designated.” ‘special’. Designated historic assets include World Heritage Archaeological remains that are not designated may

4 The guidance includes a (non-exhaustive) check-list of elements that may historical / artistic / literary / place name / cultural / scenic associations, noise, contribute to a historic asset through setting including: functional and physical smell, tranquillity / remoteness / wildness.

relationships, topographic features, physical surroundings, original layout, buried 5 or archaeological elements, views to/from/across, formal or planned vistas, TAN 24: Appendix prominence, views associated with aesthetic / functional / ceremonial purposes,

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still be nationally important, i.e. of a significance affected and the nature of any impact. The commensurate to a Scheduled Monument, these are identification of benefit would apply where the referred to as non-scheduled nationally important proposals would be anticipated to enhance (i.e. archaeological remains. increase) significance. It is also possible that the development proposals would cause no harm or that Other historic assets include those of special local they would preserve significance. interest and non-designated historic assets of less than national importance. The assessment of anticipated development effects can thus be seen to have been undertaken in Assessment of harm accordance with a robust methodology, formulated Potential development effects (impacts) upon the within the context of current best practice, relevant significance of known and potential historic assets policy provisions, and key professional guidance. identified within the site have been determined with Potential direct development effects, i.e. truncation reference to ‘harm’ and/or ‘benefit’, consistent with of archaeological remains, are discussed in Section PPW10. 4 of this report. Potential non-physical effects, The identification of harm would apply where the resulting from changes to setting, are discussed in proposals would be anticipated to reduce an historic Section 5. asset's significance. An attempt is made to qualify

more precisely the level of any identified harm, taking into account the significance of the asset

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Planning Policy Framework

This section of the report sets out the legislation and desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special planning policy considerations and guidance architectural or historic interest which contained within both national and local planning it possesses.”

guidance which specifically relate to the site, with a With regards to development within Conservation focus on those policies relating to the protection of Areas, Section 72 (1) of the Planning (Listed the historic environment. Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990) states Legislation that:

Legislation relating to the built historic environment “In the exercise, with respect to any buildings or other land in a is primarily set out within the Planning (Listed conservation area, of any powers Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990) which under any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2), special attention provides statutory protection for Listed Buildings and shall be paid to the desirability of Conservation Areas. preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area.” Section 66(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Notwithstanding the statutory presumption set out Conservation Areas) Act (1990) states that: within the Planning (Listed Buildings and “In considering whether to grant Conservation Areas) Act (1990), Section 38(6) of the planning permission [or permission in principle] for development which Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 affects a listed building or its setting, requires that all planning applications are the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State, determined in accordance with the Development shall have special regard to the

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Plan (see below) unless material considerations decisions on an understanding of the impact a proposal may have on the indicate otherwise. significance of an historic asset.” National Policy & Guidance Paragraph 6.1.6 sets out the Welsh Government’s Planning Policy Wales, Edition 10 (December 2018) specific objectives for the historic environment as follows: National policy is set out within the Welsh Government’s Planning Policy Wales, Edition 10  Protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Sites; (PPW10). PPW10 Chapter 6 deals with the historic environment and its contribution to the Welsh  Conserve archaeological remains, both for their own sake and for their role in Government's seven well-being goals for a education, leisure and the economy; sustainable Wales. PPW10 emphasises that the  Safeguard the character of historic positive management of change in the historic buildings and manage change so that environment is based on a full understanding of the their special architectural and historic interest is preserved; nature and significance of historic assets and the recognition of the benefits that they can deliver in a  Preserve or enhance the character or appearance of Conservation Areas, vibrant culture and economy. while at the same time helping them remain vibrant and prosperous; Paragraph 6.1.5 of PPW10 provides that:  Preserve the special interest of sites “The planning system must take into on the register of historic parks and account the Welsh Government’s gardens; and objectives to protect, conserve, promote and enhance the historic  Protect areas on the register of historic environment as a resource for the landscapes in Wales. general well-being... Conservation Principles highlights the need to base In relation to the setting of Listed Buildings,

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paragraph 6.1.10 provides that: "Planning authorities should value, protect, conserve and enhance the “There should be a general special interest of parks and gardens presumption in favour of the and their settings included on the preservation or enhancement of a register of historic parks and gardens listed building and its setting, which in Wales. The register should be taken might extend beyond its curtilage. For into account in planning authority any development proposal affecting a decision making. listed building or its setting, the primary material consideration is the "The effect of a proposed development statutory requirement to have special on a registered park or garden, or its regard to the desirability of preserving setting, is a material consideration in the building, its setting or any features the determination of planning of special architectural or historic applications." interest which it possesses.” In relation to archaeological remains, paragraphs In relation to Conservation Areas, Paragraph 6.1.14 6.1.23–6.1.25 provide as follows: provides that: “The conservation of archaeological “There should be a general remains and their settings is a material presumption in favour of the consideration in determining planning preservation or enhancement of the applications, whether those remains character or appearance of are a scheduled monument or not. conservation areas or their settings. Positive management of conservation Where nationally important areas is necessary if their character or archaeological remains are likely to be appearance are to be preserved or affected by proposed development, enhanced and their heritage value is to there should be a presumption in be fully realised.” favour of their physical protection in situ. It will only be in exceptional In relation to Historic Parks & Gardens, Paragraphs circumstances that planning permission will be granted if 1.1.17 and 1.1.18 provide that: development would result in direct

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adverse impact on a scheduled Development Plan 2006–2021 (adopted 2014), monument (or an archaeological site whilst a new Local Development Plan is being shown to be of national importance). prepared for the period 2018–2033. In cases involving less significant archaeological remains, planning In the adopted LDP, here is no specific adopted authorities will need to weigh the policy for the protection and management of historic relative importance of the archaeological remains and their assets; but there is some mention of heritage in settings against other factors, other policies, as follows: including the need for the proposed development.” Policy RD 1: Sustainable development and good Technical Advice Note 24 standard design

Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment “Development proposals will be (TAN24) provides a detailed supplement to PPW10, supported within development boundaries provided that all the and as such is consistent with those national policies. following criteria are met: It contains detailed guidance on how the planning i) Respects the site and system considers the historic environment during surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, development plan preparation and decision making character, design, materials, on planning and listed building consent applications. aspect, micro-climate and intensity of use of land/buildings It replaces Welsh Office Circulars 60/96, 61/96, and and spaces around and between 1/98. buildings; …

Local Planning Policy & Guidance iii) Protects and where possible enhances the local natural and Planning applications in Denbighshire are currently historic environment; considered against the Denbighshire Local

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iv) iv) Does not unacceptably affect  Historic Landscape, Parks and prominent public views into, out Gardens.” of, or across any settlement or area of open countryside…” Policy VOE 10: Renewable energy technologies (extract only) “Development proposals which Policy VOE 1: Key areas of importance promote the provision of renewable energy technologies may be supported “The following areas will be protected providing they are located so as to from development that would minimise visual, noise and amenity adversely affect them. Development impacts and demonstrate no proposals should maintain and, unacceptable impact upon the wherever possible, enhance these interests of nature conservation, areas for their characteristics, local wildlife, natural and cultural heritage, distinctiveness, and value to local landscape, public health and communities in Denbighshire: residential amenity. In areas that are visually sensitive, including the AONB,  Statutory designated sites for Conservation Areas, World Heritage nature conservation; Site and Buffer Zone and in close proximity to historic buildings, visually  Local areas designated or intrusive technologies will not be identified because of their permitted unless it can be natural landscape or biodiversity demonstrated that there is no negative value; impact on the designation or there is an overriding public need for the  Sites of built heritage; and development.” (our emphasis)

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The Historic Environment

This section provides a review of the recorded A total of 110 other Listed Buildings lie within a 2km heritage resource within the site and its vicinity in radius of the site. Of these, 40 lie within St Asaph order to identify any extant historic assets within the Conservation Area, the north-western boundary of site and to assess the potential for below-ground which is located c.400m south-east of the site; 23 archaeological remains. The key heritage data are lie within Bodelwyddan Conservation Area, the tabulated in Appendix 1 and illustrated on Figures 3, eastern edge of which is located c.1.4km west of the 4, 8a and 8b in Appendix 3. In this section, HER site; 5 lie within that part of Rhuddlan Conservation records are referred to by their unique identifier, Area that falls within the 2km radius; 5 lie within the prefixed by ‘E’ for events and comprising five digits non-designated Bodelwyddan Park, which outlies the followed by a letter for monuments. Grade II* Listed Bodelwyddan Castle.

Designated Historic Assets Rhuddlan Conservation Area also encompasses three Scheduled Monuments: Twthill Norman Castle, Two designated historic assets are located within a the Norman Borough, and Rhuddlan Castle. ‘cut-out’ of the site boundary, at its approximate Bodelwyddan Park also includes a Scheduled centre: the Grade II Listed Gwernigron Farmhouse Monument of First World War practice trenches. and the Grade II* Listed Gwernigron Dovecote. Four Grade II Listed Buildings lie outside the eastern Designated historic assets are considered in further boundary of the site: Plas Coch, and the Talardy detail in Section 5. Hotel and the walls and greenhouse of its historic Previous Archaeological Works garden. No previous archaeological works are recorded

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within the site. boundary. A wooded embankment measuring c.550m in length is located to the west of Land to the west of the site was subject to Gwernigron Farm. geophysical survey and archaeological trial trench evaluation in 2011 and 2013. This work revealed The recorded geological composition of the site numerous enclosures of late Iron Age or Romano- comprises mudstone, siltstone and sandstone British date. The data has not yet been added to the overlain by diamicton (in the south-western area) HER but the reports have been sourced for this and clay, silt, sand and gravel (across the remaining assessment. area) (BGS 2019).

The previous archaeological works that are recorded The majority of the site is characterised by loamy by the HER for a 2km radius of the site are mostly and clayey floodplain soils with naturally high concentrated within the towns of St Asaph and groundwater, with slowly-permeable seasonally-wet Rhuddlan. The outlying events largely comprise slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils photographic survey of historic buildings at farms. found in the south-western area (Cranfield University 2019). Topography, geology and palaeoenvironment Prehistoric (pre-43 AD) The site lies c.5.5km from the North Wales coastline, within the valley floor of the River Clwyd; the river Evidence of Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, and flows c.130m to the east of the site and one of its Iron Age occupation recorded to the south-east of tributaries flows along the western boundary of the the later historic town core of Rhuddlan, c.1.5km site (Figure 2).

The land of the site slopes from c.24m aOD at the southern boundary to c.7m aOD at the northern

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north of the site6. The earliest phases of activity are marks, gullies, and post-holes of two possible represented by concentrations of worked flints structures broadly dated to the 3rd to 1st century BC. discovered near Rhuddlan Castle, and worked flints, After an apparent hiatus, the site was re-occupied in pits, and a hearth discovered at Rhuddlan Abbey the Early Roman period (see below). Nurseries / Nursery Field (now occupied by a primary Romano-British (AD 43 - 410) school and modern housing) (Figure 3, 1). Two large ditched enclosures and associated gullies Other indications of Bronze Age activity are recorded and post-holes suggestive of possible roundhouses elsewhere within the study area: two burial mounds and/or animal pens were identified by geophysical (‘round barrows’), one at Groessffordd Marli c.2km survey and subsequent trial trenching c.485m west south-west of the site and the other at Crychynen of the site (Figure 3, 4). The artefactual assemblage c.1.4km east of the site (Figure 3, 2a and 2b); and indicated occupation during the Early Roman period; two possible standing stones at Coed Faenol-bropor but the excavation report notes the potential for c.500m south-west of the site and at Felin-wynt later prehistoric origins9. On the opposite side of the c.1km east of the site (Figure 3, 2c and 2d)7 . A55, within Bodelwyddan Park, cropmarks are Iron Age activity at Rhuddlan Abbey Nurseries recorded of an enclosure of possible prehistoric (Figure 3, 3) was revealed by archaeological origin10. excavations in the 1960s and 20058. The evidence The B5381 road from St Asaph to Glascoed, c.800m was agricultural in character – comprising plough-

6 HER PRN refs. 57752, 57767 (note that the record is plotted at Pengwern, which 8 HER PRN ref. 128198; Quinnell and Blockley 1994. represents the centre-point of a 4-figure grid reference and not the actual location 9 of the discoveries), 58050, 58052, 58845, 101954–56, 102932, 128197–98, and Goode 2013, pp. 14–18. 81666–69. 10 RCAHMW NPRN ref. 408227. 7 HER PRN refs. 67058, 101478, 102055, 102568.

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south of the site, may trace a Roman road Early medieval (410 AD – 1066) and Medieval connecting the forts of Canovium (Caerhun), Varae (1066 – 1539) (perhaps St Asaph), and Deva (Chester)11. Possible Rhuddlan archaeological evidence for the Roman road has The town of Rhuddlan has early medieval origins. It been recorded at the St Asaph Business Park and is first recorded in 796 AD and was granted its own Upper Denbigh Road in St Asaph12 (Figure 3, 5a and charter in 921 AD. The precise location of the Saxon 5b). There is seemingly no recorded archaeological settlement core is disputed, but the remains of the evidence for Varae and so its siting at St Asaph is north-east and south-east sections of its defensive unconfirmed13. bank and ditch – which would have surrounded the Evidence of Roman settlement is also recorded at town on three sides, the cliff and river forming the Rhuddlan: a small ditch containing large quantities fourth side – have been recorded by archaeological of animal bones and pottery sherds dating from the investigations15 (Figure 4, 7). 1st to 2nd century AD was exposed during road A fortification was reputedly established at Twthill in widening works at the junction of Castle Street and 1015 AD, by Llewellyn ab Seisyll. However it was Lôn Hylasan in 1983; and pottery sherds dating from destroyed in 1063 AD by Earl Harold, and following the 3rd and 4th century AD, together with unspecified the Norman Conquest, was replaced by a motte- traces of occupation, were discovered at Rhuddlan and-bailey castle in 1073 AD16 (Figure 4, 8; see Nursery Field in 197014 (Figure 3, 6a and 6b). Section 5). This castle lay within the Norman

11 HER PRN refs. 26946, 46819–20, 46827, 104606–07. 14 HER PRN refs. 57768, 101754, 101952 / RCAHMW NPRN ref. 410003.

12 HER PRN refs. 144311 and 26541. 15 HER PRN refs. 13116, 17648, 17760-61.

13 HER PRN refs. 102120, 26946, 70922. 16 HER PRN refs. 102026–28 / RCAHMW NPRN ref. 157156.

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borough, to the south-east of what became the St Asaph medieval town17. The Welsh regained control of The earliest reliable reference to the settlement of Rhuddlan between 1140 and 1240 AD; but in 1277 St Asaph is the Domesday Survey of 1086 AD, where AD it was taken by the English under Edward I. it is named Llanuile; though a monastery and A large stone castle was immediately built to the episcopal see may have been founded in 560 AD22. north of Twthill (Figure 4, 9; see Section 5) and the Work began on building a cathedral in 1239 AD town’s Welsh-Norman defences were renewed18. (Figure 4, 13) but the structure was rebuilt between Remains of a 13th-century church and houses were 1284 and 1381 AD following damage from Edward revealed by the archaeological excavations at I’s troops and again in the 15th century following Rhuddlan Abbey Nurseries in the 1960s19 (Figure 4, attack by Owain Glyndŵr, the last Prince of Wales23. 10) but it is unclear from the HER record whether Intervening / outlying landscape these structures related to the Welsh or English Outlying Rhuddlan and St Asaph would have been an period of governance. The Castle stood c.550m agricultural landscape; each town would have had north-west of an earlier Dominican Friary, founded three or more ‘open fields’ for arable cultivation and by 125820 (Figure 4, 11) and c.350m south-east of commons for grazing. The place-name Gwernigron the Church of St Mary, which was built in around is first recorded in 1387 AD, and is believed to mean c.1300 AD, i.e. after the Castle21 (Figure 4, 12). ‘Alder marsh belonging to Eigron’24. There is no

17 HER PRN refs. 21899, 105808 / RCAHMW ref. 303586. 21 HER PRN ref.

18 HER PRN refs. 102031, 17611 / RCAHMW NPRN ref. 92914. 22 HER PRN ref. 105810.

19 HER PRN refs. 57753–55. 23 HER PRN ref. 102126.

20 HER PRN refs. 102025, 122249, 57753–54 / RCAHMW NPRN ref. 157155. 24 Owen and Gruffydd 2017.

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indication from sources consulted for this east and in the neighbouring field to the south assessment of settlement here during the medieval (Figure 7). Almost all cropmarks correspond to period; the etymology of the place-name indicates former field boundaries that are documented on the that the land was waterlogged and unsuitable for 1845 Tithe Map for Gwernigron (Figure 5A). These cultivation. field boundaries may have medieval origins, but this cannot be established without intrusive Data received from RCAHMW includes a record for investigation. Nothing was observed at the surface cropmarks of an extensive field system, of during the walkover survey of this locations. suggested medieval date, in the north-eastern part of the site25 (Figure 4, 14). The cropmarks were More convincing evidence of medieval activity was identified during aerial reconnaissance on 7th June recorded by geophysical survey and trial trenching 2013. An oblique photograph from this sortie is c.485m west of the site (Figure 4, 15). Three ditched available on Coflein, but the cropmarks cannot be enclosures, one of which contained a post-hole, clearly distinguished. They are clearer on a vertical enclosures were interpreted as forming part of a photograph of the same year, which was taken as medieval settlement, even though the post-hole was part of the ‘Air Defence and Space Survey’ (see the only indication of any structures26. The artefacts below). recovered from the ditches included animal bones, carbonised cereal grains, pottery sherds, a roof The cropmarks indicate two parallel linear ditches slate, and copper tweezers. This land is better- extending on a south-easterly axis through the drained than much of the site, on account of its north-eastern part of the northern field of the site; greater distance from the River Clwyd. and various other linear ditches to their west and

25 RCAHMW PRN ref. 419099. 26 Goode 2013, pp. 18–21.

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Post-medieval (1540 – 1800) and Modern Numerous findspots are recorded in the north- (1801 – present) eastern quadrant of the site; they include four coins of 17th-century date: from the reigns of James I, The farmhouse and dovecote of Gwernigron Farm, Charles I, and William and Mary (PAS IDs 499566, located in the centre of the site are thought to be of 499477, 289260, and 499658). These are presumed late-16th or 17th-century origin27 (Figure 4, 16; see to represent chance losses. Section 5). The stepped gables of the dovecote are characteristic of that period, finding parallels in The earliest available cartographic depiction of the examples such as Willington in Bedfordshire, site is the 1845 tithe map for the township of England. Further discussion of these designated Gwernigron in the parish of St Asaph (Figure 5A). historic assets is provided in Section 5. The tithe apportionment demonstrates that almost the entirety of the site was owned by Lord Mostyn of There are records of an Anne Rutter and a John Pengwern Hall30: a 16th-century house that had been Mostyn William Rutter Pierse of Gwernigron in the rebuilt in 1770, located c.775m north-west of the mid to late-17th century28; and of David, Robert, site (Figure 4, 17; see Section 5). Bromfield, and Thomas Foulkes of Gwernigron, who were High Sheriffs of Flintshire in 1734 and 1777, He occupied those fields shaded blue on Figure 5B, 1796, and 1805 respectively29. Note however that i.e. they were the holdings of Pengwern Hall; while the place-name ‘Gwernigron’ may have referred to he leased Gwernigron Farm and those fields shaded the general area to the north of St Asaph and not green to a Catherine Hughes. Three small fields in necessarily to the Farm. the eastern part of the site were attached to a

27 HER PRN refs. 102054 and 102566. 29 Cathrall 1828

28 Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1894 30 HER PRN ref. 102053 / RCAHMW NPRN ref. 36101.

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property called Plas Coch31, located just outside the of the field boundaries were hedged. Tracks extend eastern boundary of the site (Figure 4, 18), and north, north-west, south-west, and south-east from were leased to a John Sisson. the Farm across the site. Several small ponds are marked across the site; those in the south-western Gwernigron Farm remained part of the Mostyn and western areas survive (Appendix 5). Estate until the death of Sir Edward Price Lloyd Mostyn in 1854. At this time, the land attached to Lead mining apparently provided the key source of Gwernigron Farm totalled 343 acres32. The Mostyn income for the Bodelwyddan Estate until the mid- Estate was seemingly acquired by Sir Hugh Williams 19th century, when the industry, and the fortune of of Bodelwyddan Castle33, located c.2km west-south- the Estate, declined. The Estate was fragmented and west of the site (Figure 4, 19; see Section 5). A new put up for sale in 1915 and 1921. The sales lease dated 1861, made between Sir Hugh Williams particulars of 1921 show the land being offered with and the then-tenant farmer Edward Griffiths, states Gwernigron Farm to comprise only 83 acres: the that the holdings of Gwernigron Farm now central area of the northern half of the site, to the comprised 289 acres, but there is no accompanying north of the built complex. plan34. Aerial photographs from the post-war period Late-19th-century Ordnance Survey maps show the onwards attest to the continued agricultural use of Gwernigron Farm buildings in greater detail and the site throughout the 20th century. On an image documents slight changes in the arrangement of the dated 1946, ridge and furrow earthworks can be fields in the western part of the site (Figure 6). Most discerned in the southern part of the site and

31 HER PRN ref. 32266. 33 HER PRN ref. 102873.

32 Denbighshire Archives ref. DD/F/288. 34 Denbighshire Archives ref. DD/F/290.

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possible rectilinear earthworks or cropmarks imagery also shows ridge and furrow in the southern symptomatic of former field enclosures can be part of the site (Appendix 6); denuded ridges were discerned in the south-eastern part of the site observed in this location during the walkover survey (Figure 7). On an image dated 1948, linear (Appendix 5). cropmarks can be seen in the north-eastern part of Summary of archaeological potential and the site (see Section 4.24). No additional features of significance interest are visible on photographs from the 1960s Despite evidence of later prehistoric and Romano- or 1970s. British activity having been recorded within 500m to The HER records a First World War tented camp the west of the site, there is no indication from (Figure 4, 20) and a 1950s Royal Observer Corps currently-available data of the presence of remains post (Figure 4, 21) in the south-western part of the from these periods within the site. site35. The camp was referred to as ‘Gwernigron Cropmarks of linear ditches recorded in the north- Camp’ in a newspaper article of 1915; there are no eastern part of the site correspond to former field available maps or photographs of it and so its exact boundaries marked on the 1845 Tithe Map of location is unknown. As such, the point plotted by Gwernigron. When the cropmarks were first the HER is derived only from a generic four-figure identified in 2013, they were thought to represent a grid reference. No surface trace of a camp was medieval field system. The boundaries may be of observed during the walkover survey, but the ROC medieval origin, but a 17th-century or later date is post was identified (Appendix 5). perhaps more likely – tying in with the construction Recent 1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR of Pengwern House, Plas Coch, and Gwernigron

35 HER PRN refs. 132162 and 152248.

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Farm. The ditches are unlikely to contain anything of of such significance that could preclude or otherwise particular archaeological interest within their fills constraint development have been detected in those and so would be of very limited significance. fields subject to geophysical survey so far (Figure 10). Earthworks of ridge and furrow in the south-eastern part of the site are likely to be of post-medieval or modern origin, based on their morphology (straight and fairly narrow, as is typical of horse-drawn ploughs in the later historic periods). The ridges are not particularly prominent and their extent is limited; thus, their visible contribution to the historic landscape character is limited. The furrows are unlikely to contain anything of particular archaeological interest within their fills and so would be of very limited significance.

There is no convincing evidence that a First World War tented camp was ever located within the south- eastern part of the site, but the subterranean structure of a 1950s Royal Observer Corps post does survive. It represents a non-designated historic asset of local historic interest.

No anomalies suggestive of archaeological remains

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Setting Assessment

Development proposals may adversely impact and Grade II* Listed Dovecote, surrounded by the site; historic assets where they remove a feature which contributes to the significance of an asset or where  Grade II Listed Plas Coch, located outside the eastern boundary of the they interfere with an element of an asset’s setting site; which contributes to its significance. In line with the  Grade II Listed Pengwern Hall, c.525m advice from CPAT (see Section 1), consideration was north of the site; made as to whether any of the historic assets within  Grade II* Listed Building of a 5km radius of the site include the site as part of Bodelwyddan Castle, c.2km south- their setting, and therefore may be affected by the west of the site, with its non- statutorily designated historic park proposed development. and garden, c.1.1km south-west of the site; and Stage 1  Grade I Listed Rhuddlan Castle, Stage 1 of the methodology recommended by c.1.5km north of the site; Cadw’s guidance Setting of Historic Assets in Wales  Scheduled Monument of Twthill Motte (see Section 2 above) is to identify which historic and Bailey Castle, c.1.4km north of the assets and their settings might be affected by a site. proposed development (Figures 8a and 8b). These assets were progressed to Stages 2 to 3 of Cadw’s guidance. For all of the other designated Assets identified as potentially sensitive to historic assets within a 5km radius, including Listed development within the site include: Buildings at St Asaph and Rhuddlan and the other  Grade II Listed Gwernigron Farmhouse

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two Scheduled Monuments at Rhuddlan (i.e. the of the Conservation Area (see below for a full Saxon defences and the Norman borough), it is clear settings assessment for Rhuddlan Castle); and views that their significance is derived principally from the towards St Asaph Cathedral from the A55 and B5381 intrinsic values of their physical remains, with to the west and the Lower Denbigh Road to the elements of setting making a lesser contribution to south. There is only a glimpsed view of the Cathedral their significance. The reasoning for this is briefly tower from the 40mph section of the A525 that runs outlined below, for completeness. past the eastern boundary of the site; and there are no long-ranging views of the Cathedral from the A55 In terms of the Conservation Areas of Rhuddlan and at the southern boundary of the site. St Asaph, located c.1.1km to the north and c.400m to the south-east of the site respectively, their There are views of the Cathedral tower from the Appraisals (adopted by Denbighshire County Council southern and western parts of the site, but these are in 1997) make clear that their character and incidental (Plate 2 – circled). The site is not a appearance is derived from the historic street location from where the Cathedral is typically or best pattern, built form, and open areas within their experienced. boundaries. The only references to setting are their topographic situation (Rhuddlan on elevated level ground on the east side of the River Clwyd and St Asaph on a hill spur between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy).

Identified important views towards the Conservation Areas from outside their boundaries include views of Rhuddlan Castle from A525 road bridge to the north

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Although the site lies within the historic parish of St Asaph, it makes no contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area through setting. The site makes no contribution to the significance of Rhuddlan Conservation Area through setting.

In terms of Bodelwyddan Conservation Area, which lies c.1.4km west of the site, the Appraisal (adopted by Denbighshire County Council in 1997) makes it clear that its significance is derived from it being a Plate 2: Glimpse of St Asaph Cathedral (circled) from model village built by the Bodelwyddan Estate in the the field on the south side of the track to Gwernigron Farm late-1850s. Its character and appearance derive from the street pattern and development layout: Important outward views from within the namely, the ornate Church of St Margaret, the Conservation Area are identified only for St Asaph, vicarage, and workers’ housing along Rhuddlan Road and are said to comprise glimpses from the and the original A55 that has since been replaced by Cathedral of “prominent buildings in the Vale of the dual carriageway. Mention is also made of the Clwyd” as well as Snowdonia to the west and the open areas of the churchyard, the adjacent field, and Clwyd mountain range to the east. During the visit verges. undertaken for this assessment, the views from the Cathedral churchyard were found to comprise In terms of setting, the model village lies within the farmland on high ground to the west and south – coastal plain – with Bodelwyddan Castle and Park with glimpses of Bodelwyddan Castle (see below) – located on the rising ground to the south. The but no visibility of the site. topography allows for clear intervisibility between

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the model village and the Castle; and for the contribution to the significance of the Conservation historical association between the model village and Area or any of its discrete historic assets through the Estate to be appreciated. The setting of the setting. Castle and Park is discussed in greater detail below. Except for the Listed Buildings and Scheduled Regarding the Church, the Appraisal states that “The Monument listed in 5.4, no historical association church is a famous landmark in North Wales. …it is (such as land ownership) between any other such important that views of the church are retained designated historic asset and the site was identified. particularly from the A55”. It has been established that all of the other Listed The site does not appear to be co-visible in the mid- Buildings and Scheduled Monuments are best ranging views of Bodelwyddan Church from the A55 appreciated at close range, i.e. from their immediate dual carriageway. When travelling west, the Church surrounds, and that the site does not feature in any comes into view from Junction 26; the site lies to the key (designed or otherwise) views to/from any east of Junction 26. When travelling east, the Church Listed Building or Scheduled Monument. comes into view from Junction 25; the site lies There is no known historical association or c.1.5km beyond the Church and is concealed by intervisibility between the site and the Grade II vegetation. There are glimpses of the Church spire Listed Talardy Hotel (with its Grade II Listed walled from within the western part of the site; but these garden and Grade II Listed greenhouse) located are incidental and do not contribute to the outside the south-eastern corner of the site at the significance of the asset. junction of the A55 and the A525. There is Although the site was part of the Bodelwyddan intervisibility only between the south-eastern part of Estate from c.1861 to c.1921, comprising part of its the site and the large, detached, two-storey outlying agricultural landscape, it makes no accommodation block to the west of the Talardy

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Hotel, built sometime between 2016 and 2018. The core, and connects with a large two-storey block that site makes no contribution to the significance of seems to be of 19th-century origin but was much the three assets at Talardy Hotel. altered and converted to cottages in 2003 (Plates 3 – 6). The block will be considered part of the Listing, Stages 2 and 3 as it is physically attached to the rear wing with the Stages 2 and 3 of the methodology recommended hipped roof, but is of lesser significance than the by Cadw’s guidance Setting of Historic Assets in 17th-century core. Wales (see Section 2) is to define and analyse which

elements of an asset’s setting contribute to its Large rear block, Rear wing with heritage significance, and to evaluate the potential now converted hipped roof impact of change or development upon the asset’s setting and significance. What follows is Stages 2 and 3 for the assets listed in Section 5.4 above.

Grade II Listed Gwernigron Farmhouse and Grade II* Listed Dovecote

Gwernigron Farmhouse is of 17th-century origin with 19th-century additions and alterations. Its 17th- Matching wing 17th-century core with hipped roof century core is of two-storeys and is built of limestone but rendered and painted white. The Plate 3: Components of Gwernigron Farmhouse Listing description refers to a rear wing with a hipped roof and two raised level windows (see Appendix 3); this adjoins the north-eastern corner of the historic

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Plate 4: Rear east wing with hipped roof, mentioned in Listing description Plate 6: View of rear block and attached wing with hipped roof

The reason for designation states: “A well-preserved substantial farmhouse of the late C17 with modifications giving it a coherent character in the C19.”

The Dovecote lies c.20m east of the Farmhouse and is probably contemporaneous with its 17th-century core; the Listing cites a late 16th- or early 17th- century origin. It has a square plan, built of

limestone with four stepped gables, with a modern Plate 5: Rear east wing and rear block

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roof (Plate 7). It has around 400 pigeon holes and To the south of the Farmhouse is a parking area, may have had an undercroft though apparently carved from the lawn garden that extends south up there is no visible trace of it. The reason for to the farm track and east towards the Dovecote. To designation states: “A well preserved and restored the west of the Farmhouse is a large courtyard with example of a large sub-medieval dovecote, and a conjoined two-storey brick ranges of much altered fine example of a type characteristic of the north- and converted former outbuildings forming its north, east of Wales”. west and south sides; and a detached open-fronted former cart-/cow-shed mid-way along its east side (Plate 8).

Plate 8: Converted outbuildings to the west of the Farmhouse Plate 7: Gwernigron Dovecote, viewed from east

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There are records of individuals connected with the site. The Farmhouse core is identifiable as the Gwernigron from the 17th century onwards. It only whitewashed building among the stone-built appears that Gwernigron Farm was part of the Dovecote and the large brick-built block to its rear Mostyn Estate between at least 1840 and 1854, and and converted outbuildings to its west. Its facade then the Bodelwyddan Estate until 1921. The 1871 cannot be clearly seen due to its south-westerly OS map shows broadly the same layout of buildings orientation and intervening vegetation. The clearest as exist today, with a garden to the south of the views of the Farmhouse are from the entrance to, Farmhouse and an orchard to the north. Beyond this and along, its drive – looking across its lawned were the enclosed fields of the site; the changing garden (Plate 9). extent of the landholding of Gwernigron Farm has been discussed in Section 4.

The 1921 sales particulars identified the outbuildings as two shippons with lofts above, a calf-house, bullock shed, stable, loose box, saddle room, coach house, cart shed, large barns with granary, implement shed, blacksmith’s shop, slaughter house, boiler house, coal house, fowl house, and four piggeries. These have now been converted to offices.

From the track that provides access from the A525, there are views towards the farm complex and over the fields in the south-eastern and eastern parts of

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to the rear of the Farmhouse and the large converted outbuildings around the courtyard to its west (Plate 12).

Plate 9: Close-ranging key view of Gwernigron Farmhouse, from the farm track to its south

From within the site, there are long to mid-ranging

views of the front and side (east-facing) elevations Plate 10: View towards Gwernigron Farmhouse (and of the Farmhouse only from the outlying fields to its Dovecote), from the public footpath through the south-east, i.e. the fields either side of the farm southern part of the site track (Plate 10). From the south-western part of the The primary elevation of Gwernigron Farmhouse is site, meanwhile, the Farmhouse is largely screened south-facing, overlooking the forecourt, lawned by the topography, the modern barn located c.150m garden, and the field on the south side of the farm to its south-west, and the vegetation in its garden. track – in the southern part of the site (Plate 11). From the central and northern parts of the site, there Any windows on its rear elevation will overlook the are long-ranging views of the large brick-built block large brick-built block. The side elevations of the

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whitewashed 17th-century core are devoid of 13). However, these buildings were not intended as fenestration; there are two windows on the east- dwellings and so these views are considered facing elevation of the brick-built rear wing with the incidental to the significance of the Farmhouse. hipped roof (Plate 4). The Dovecote is only partially visible in views looking east along the farm track, due to intervening vegetation. The clearest views are afforded from the front and rear lawn gardens of the Farmhouse and from the neighbouring field to its east (Plate 7). Views from the Dovecote are considered incidental to its historic function as a nesting place for birds.

Plate 11: View from the Farmhouse’s driveway entrance across the southern part of the site to the A55 embankment

The windows on the side and rear elevations of the two single-storey wings and the large two-storey block to its rear present views across an area of garden and pasture and the outlying fields in the central and northern parts of the site (Plates 12 and

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Converted block to the rear of the farmhouse Converted outbuildings Dovecote around a courtyard

Plate 12: View looking south towards Gwernigron Farm from the site – with the Dovecote partially screened by vegetation

Rhuddlan Castle

Pengwern Hall

Plate 13: Panorama from the boundary of the rear plot of Gwernigron Farmhouse with the site

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The significances of both the Farmhouse and the  Views from its primary south-facing elevation across the lawn garden and Dovecote are principally derived from the the field on the south side of its access architectural and historic interest of their built form track.

and fabric. Setting contributes to their respective The elements of the setting of the Dovecote that significance, but to a lesser degree. contribute to its significance are:

Those elements of the setting of the Farmhouse that  Its historical association with the contribute to its significance are: Farmhouse, which is contemporary with it;  Its historical associations with the 16th to 17th-century dovecote and the 19th-  Views towards the asset from the century outbuildings around the surrounding lawn, the access track, courtyard to the west; and the central-eastern part of the site.  Its access track, lawn garden to the south and east, and former orchard to Given the longstanding historical association of the north (all outlying the site); landholding, and the views afforded to/from the  Its historic agricultural hinterland, Farmhouse and to the Dovecote, it is clear that the which encompasses the site; site contributes to the significance of both assets  Its historical association with the through setting. Of the land within the site, it is the Mostyn and Bodelwyddan Estates, areas immediately to the south and east of the farm centred on Pengwern House to the north and Bodelwyddan Castle to the complex that make the greatest contribution to the west (see following assessments); significance of the assets.  Views towards the asset from its access track and the field on the south Development has been excluded from both the side of the track (i.e. within the site); southern part of the field immediately to the east of the Farmhouse and Dovecote and from the northern

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part of the field on the south side of the access track directly south of the Farmhouse and Dovecote (i.e. those areas considered to contribute most to the significance of these assets). An existing hedgerow and a new hedgerow are anticipated to screen visibility/co-visibility of those solar arrays that are located to the south and to the north. It is anticipated that this will preserve a sense of the immediate open agricultural setting of the complex, in westerly views towards the assets from the farm track and in northerly and southerly views from the Farmhouse.

With this mitigation, it is considered that the development would result in only a small degree of harm, at the lower end of less than substantial, to the significance of the Farmhouse, and no harm to the significance of the Dovecote.

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Plas Coch

Plas Coch is of 17th-century origin (its entrance porch containing a date-stone of 1667), with a late-18th century range to the rear and a 19th-century range to the side. It is of two storeys, built of brick with stone quoins and parapet. It was built as a house but operated as a residential care home from 1948 until very recently. The Listing provides no reason specific for its designation.

The earliest available cartographic depiction of Plas Plate 14: Extract of 1845 tithe map for Gwernigron, Coch is the 1845 tithe map for the township of with Plas Coch circled (image courtesy of Denbighshire Archives) Gwernigron (Plate 14). It shows the house and another detached building perpendicular to its west- The 1878 Ordnance Survey map (Plate 15) shows facing elevation. The tithe apportionment reveals the house with adjoining buildings to its east, a large that its holdings comprised four fields on the west building to its west, and spacious grounds side of the A525 (three of which are within the site) comprising lawns to the south and east and kitchen and two fields on the east side (shaded pink on Plate gardens and orchards to the north. Access was via a 14). private drive from the A525 to the east. The property beside the track (located directly underneath the word ‘coch’ on Plate 15) was in separate occupancy throughout the 19th and early-20th century (and seemingly thereafter).

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access drive has been removed. The wider surroundings of Plas Coch comprise the A525 dual carriageway to the east and the farmland of the site to the west and north.

Plas Coch was owned by the Mostyn family in the first half of the 19th century and presumably earlier (see Section 4). A small area in the eastern part of the site was attached to Plas Coch in 1845 (Plate 14); this land formerly comprised kitchen gardens and outlying fields. However, by 1921, the property was offered for sale with only its immediate grounds and not any of the outlying fields. Plas Coch and the Plate 15: Extract of 1878 Ordnance Survey map of Plas Coch site are now under separate ownership.

The buildings adjoining the house to the east were Key views of Plas Coch are afforded from the expanded in the 20th century and the forecourt to curtilage of the buildings and its grounds. There are the south of the house was enlarged for car parking. only glimpses of the house from the A525 (including The kitchen gardens and orchards within the site at the entrance to its drive) and from the eastern were turned over to farmland. The large building to section of the track to Gwernigron Farm, on account the west now comprises further living of hedges along the road, track, and drive and the accommodation and may be considered curtilage- mature trees within its grounds (Plates 16 and 17).

Listed. The lawns to the south and east survive but The whitewashed west-facing and south-facing there are fewer trees and the southern loop of the

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elevations of the large detached building to its west can be seen from the mid-section of the track to Gwernigron Farm; but this building screens the house itself. There are only transient glimpses of the primary elevation of the house from the south- eastern part of the site; and the north-facing (rear) elevation of the house is only partially-visible from the eastern part of the site (Plate 18).

Plate 17: Primary elevation of Plas Coch, viewed from the track to Gwernigron Farm

Rear elevation of Plas Coch

Plate 16: View of Plas Coch from its access drive from the A525

Plate 18: Glimpse of rear elevation of Plas Coch, from the eastern part of the site

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The primary elevation of Plas Coch is south-east  The fields to its north, and on the opposite side of the A525 – which were facing, and so overlooks a small forecourt and the part of its holdings in the mid-19th paddock beyond it (Plate 17). Given the orientation century, but were separated from it in/by 1921; of the house and the intervening vegetation it is anticipated that there are only glimpses of the  Views towards the asset from its access drive and grounds; ‘tongue’ of land in the south-eastern part of the site that extends to the A525. The rear elevation faces  Views from its primary south-east facing elevation across its forecourt towards the eastern part of the site, which and paddock. historically comprised the kitchen gardens and Although the site and Plas Coch were both owned by outlying fields attached the house; but, as the Mostyn Estate in the 19th century (if not earlier), discussed, are now cultivated fields under separate only the field mid-way along the eastern boundary ownership. of the site was part of the holdings of Plas Coch. The significance of Plas Coch is principally derived There is at most glimpsed intervisibility between the from the architectural and historic interest of its built rear elevation of the rear wing of Plas Coch and this form and fabric. Setting contributes to its area of the site. As such, it is considered that this significance, but to a lesser degree. field makes a small contribution to the significance

Those elements of the setting of Plas Coch that of Plas Coch through setting.

contribute to its significance are: There may be some visibility of a very small portion

 The neighbouring building to the west; of the south-eastern part of the site in views from the primary elevation of Plas Coch, but this visibility  Its access track, forecourt, and grounds; is considered incidental as the land seemingly never comprised part of the holdings of Plas Coch. As such,

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it is considered that this field makes no contribution Lloyd, who had married into the Mostyn family. As to the significance of Plas Coch through setting. noted above, the Mostyn Estate had been incorporated into the Bodelwyddan Estate by 1861. There could be some glimpsed visibility, through the In the early-20th century, the Hall was bought for use hedgerow, of the proposed solar arrays in the field as a girls’ school, which closed in 1948. It then to the north of Plas Coch, but arrays have been remained vacant until 1966 when it was acquired for excluded from the aforementioned portion of the its present use as a school for children with learning south-eastern part of the site. It is considered that disability and complex needs. the proposed development would result in negligible harm to the significance of this asset.

Pengwern Hall

Pengwern Hall was built in c.1778 in the Palladian style (Plate 19), replacing an earlier house on the same site. Part of the Hall was destroyed by fire in 1864, resulting in loss of its symmetry through collapse of the upper storey of the east wing and part of the main range. Elements were re-built, including the addition of a ‘dummy storey’. Despite this, the reason for designation states: “A fine late-Georgian Plate 19: Engraving of Pengwern Hall, dated 1795 (National Library of Wales, catalogue no. mansion, preserved in a manner which enables vtls003373648) much of its original character to be appreciated.” The earliest available cartographic depiction of the The building of the Hall was instigated by Sir Edward Hall is the tithe map for the township of Pengwern,

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dated 1842 (Plate 20). To the west are shown ‘Pleasure Grounds and Woodland’; to the east is parkland (confirmed by later Ordnance Survey maps); to the south are ancillary buildings and a lane (now known as Nant-Y-Faenol Road) providing access. The lane passes through a tree belt, which continues to the west and north of the Hall, in all likelihood representing the boundary of a former park.

The tithe map shows the section of the lane that abuts the western boundary of the site to be devoid of trees. Of the site itself, only four fields in the north-western part are shown (Plate 20 – starred). The tithe apportionment confirms that they were part of the Mostyn Estate. The tithe map and apportionment for the township of Gwernigron covers the remainder of the site and confirms that it was also owned by the Mostyn Estate in the mid-19th Plate 20: Extract of 1840 Tithe Map of Pengwern century. (image courtesy of The Genealogist)

The woodland to the west of Pengwern Hall and fragments of the tree belt along Nant-Y-Faenol Road survive, but the tree belt to the north has

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disappeared and the former parkland has been least the northern and central parts of the site in turned over to arable land with only a handful of these views. Almost the entirety of the site was surviving trees. Modern developments include car owned by the Mostyn family in/by 1854, but most of parks to the north and east of the Hall and a sizeable those fields were attached to the tenant farm of farm complex c.100m to its south. The outlying Gwernigron (see Section 4). landscape comprises farmland.

Key views of Pengwern Hall are afforded from its

curtilage and grounds. There is a glimpsed view Pengwern Hall Rhuddlan Castle along its entrance drive from the road to the north. No long-ranging views were identified from Nant-Y- Faenol Road to its south-west – due to topography, intervening vegetation, and the large buildings within the farm complex. The primary (south-south- east facing) elevation of the Hall is visible from the northern and central parts of the site (Plate 21) – and there are glimpsed in the views from the rear plot of Gwernigron Farmhouse (Plate 13). Plate 21: View looking north from the northern part of the site The primary elevation of Pengwern Hall overlooks a The significance of Pengwern Hall is principally circular lawn fringed by a driveway, with historic derived from the architectural and historic interest outbuildings to either side, and beyond it, an area of of its built form and fabric. Setting contributes to its pasture edged and crossed by tracks leading to the significance, but to a lesser degree. modern farm. It appears that there is visibility of at

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Those elements of the setting of Pengwern Hall that the lower end of less than substantial, to the contribute to its significance are: significance of this asset.

 Its adjoining and neighbouring Grade II* Listed Bodelwyddan Castle, and non- buildings; statutorily designated historic park and garden  Its access track, forecourt, and Bodelwyddan Castle is a large three-storey mansion grounds; that represents a substantial remodelling, in 1805  Views towards the asset from its th access drive and grounds, and, from and 1830–32, of a 15 -century manor house the public footpath across the associated with the Humphreys and then Williams- farmland to its south-east; Wynn families. The first phase of remodelling was in  Views from its primary south-east the Greek-Revival style, the second phase in the facing elevation across the lawn and forecourt and the outlying agricultural castellated style – of which key features include a landscape that comprised part of its corbelled and crenelated parapet concealing the estate in the 19th century. roof, prominent stone towers concealing chimneys, Given the historical association of ownership by the gates of lattice construction resembling portcullises Mostyn family until 1854, and the expected visibility with machicolations above, crenelated and Gothick of the northern and central areas of the site in long- windows, and buttresses. Further alterations to the ranging views from the upper windows on the Castle were made in the 1870s and 1880s. primary elevation, it is considered that these areas In the 1860s, Bodelwyddan became “the seat of a of the site make a small contribution to the model estate under Lady Margaret Willoughby de significance of Pengwern Hall through setting. Broke [a member of the Williams family]: an It is considered that development of these areas of exceptional unity of mansion, north gate lodge, the site would result in a small degree of harm, at

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village, school, church and parsonage”. The village five points of access to the Castle from these roads. was located to the north of the Castle, at the junction of the road to St Asaph and the road to Glencoed. The Castle was used as a military hospital in the First World War, and then a school from 1920 to 1982 following sale of the estate in 1918.

The reason for designation states: “A mansion strikingly redesigned in Gothick castellated style in the early C19, its main (east) elevation retaining the tripartite form of the earlier C16 or C17 house which

is its core. It became the seat also of a remarkable model village and church development of the mid Plate 22: Extract of 1841 Tithe Map for Bodelwyddan (image courtesy of The Genealogist) C19, its relationship with which survives”. By 1872, four of the entrances to the Park were The earliest available cartographic depiction of the marked by lodges (two of which survive and are Castle is the 1841 tithe map for Bodelwyddan (Plate Listed at Grade II). Several former lead mine shafts 22). It shows the Castle with a courtyard of ancillary are marked in the northern part of the parkland; a buildings to its west and parkland (shaded green) to corn mill is marked at the north-eastern edge of the the north, south, and east. Two large pools are parkland; the southern part is labelled ‘Deer Park’. shown at the eastern boundary of the Park. Tree Designed landscape features near the Castle include belts are depicted along the northern, western, and a play house, garden shelter, obelisk, and sundial, southern boundaries of the Park, which were defined which are Listed at Grade II, and an ice-house, which by the roads to St Asaph and Glascoed; there with

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is Listed at Grade II*. 19th-century maps show the model village of Bodelwyddan to the north; the extensive parkland of The courtyard of ancillary buildings to the west of another mansion, Kinmel, to the west; and the Castle is still extant, but some modern buildings agricultural land with satellite farms to the north, have been constructed on the land between the south, and east – including Gwernigron Farm and the courtyard and the road to Glascoed. During the fields of the site. The Estate was fragmented and put period of use of the Castle as a school, the Park was up for sale in 1915 and 1921 and as such its subdivided into parcels – one area being used as a landholdings were much diminished. playing field. However, dispersed specimen trees survive in the northern part as do the principal The outlying landscape has been greatly altered by plantations and pools elsewhere. Only two of the post-war development. During the Second World drives through the former park are still extant: War, the Kinmel Park military camp was established providing access from the south-western and north- to the west of Bodelwyddan Park; by the 1960s it eastern corners. had been redeveloped as an industrial estate and housing was built on the north side of Abergele Bodelwyddan Park is identified by Cadw as a non- Road. In the 1970s, a hospital and housing were designated historic park and garden. Despite built on the edge of the model village; and in the changes, its level of survival is considered good for 1980s, the A55 dual carriageway was built, it is described as a “Well preserved 18th- and 19th- truncating the very northern part of Bodelwyddan century landscape park with 19th-century Park. In recent decades, numerous large warehouse picturesque accretions. Art & Crafts garden by units have been built within former farmland c.600m Thomas Mawson”. east of the Park. In terms of the wider setting of the Castle and Park, Views of Bodelwyddan Castle are afforded from

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within the Park, from the A55 to the north (specifically, from just before Junction 25 exit, when travelling east), and from Rhuddlan Road to the north (specifically, from the section that passes the hospital). There are no views from Glascoed Road (to the south) or Engine Hill (to the west) (except from the hotel entrance) due to the tall stone wall around the perimeter of the Park and intervening mature trees and other dense vegetation within the Park. There are glimpses of the Castle from selected locations in the south-western and western parts of the site, but these are incidental views (Plate 23 – Plate 23: Glimpse of Bodelwyddan Castle (circled) from the central-southern field of the site circled). Partial views of Bodelwyddan Park are afforded from the A55 to the north – comprising a large expanse of pasture with dispersed trees, set behind the perimeter stone wall (not illustrated). There is no visibility of the Park from Glascoed Road (to the south) or Engine Hill (to the west) due to the tall stone wall around the perimeter of the Park and intervening mature trees and other dense vegetation within the Park. There are no clear views of the Park from the site; in the view illustrated by Plate 23, the

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Castle appears nestled within trees.

The primary elevations of Bodelwyddan Castle are south-east and north-east facing, overlooking a lawn that is defined on its outer side by a stone-walled ha-ha, beyond which is the former parkland crossed by the surviving sweeping access drive. It was not possible to access the privately-owned Park for the purposes of this assessment; but Screened Zone of Theoretical Visibility modelling indicates that there is visibility of the site from the curtilage of the Castle.

From within the Park, long-ranging views across the Plate 24: Glimpse of long-ranging northerly view from the lodge at Glascoed across the Park towards wider landscape seem to be directed north and east: the coast across the A55 to Bodelwyddan Church and village, The significance of Bodelwyddan Castle is principally farmland, and the coast; and towards the town of St derived from the architectural and historic interest Asaph. The range of the easterly views is apparent of its built form and fabric. Setting contributes to its from the lodge on Glascoed Road (Plate 24). significance, but to a lesser degree. Screened Zone of Theoretical Visibility modelling Those elements of the setting of Bodelwyddan Castle indicates that there is visibility of the site from the that contribute to its significance are: Park. However the historic character and experience of these views has been altered by the visual and  Its ancillary buildings, principally to its west; audible intrusion of the A55 dual carriageway and the modern hospital complex at Bodelwyddan.  Its outlying designed landscape of

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gardens and parkland, the latter result in no harm to the significance of Bodelwyddan seemingly containing most of its Castle. original plantations and structures; The significance of Bodelwyddan Park is principally  Its historic association with Bodelwyddan Church and model derived from the historic and artistic interest as a village; designed landscape. Setting contributes to its  Views towards the asset from its significance, but to a lesser degree. curtilage, its access drive (from the north-east), and within its Park; Those elements of the setting of Bodelwyddan Park

 Views from its primary south-east and that contribute to its significance are: north-east facing elevations across a lawn, the parkland with plantations,  Areas of farmland that were outlying farmland, and the coast. historically part of the Estate and visible from the Park. The site comprises part of the swathe of farmland The farmland of the site was incorporated to the that features in the midground of long-ranging Bodelwyddan Estate for only 60 years in its recent northerly views from the Castle across its Park and history and has never been contiguous with the Park towards the coast. However the site was only part of on account of the intervening road, which is a now a the Bodelwyddan Estate from the mid-19th century dual carriageway. It is considered that the site until shortly after the First World War and any makes no contribution to the significance of visibility of the site is considered very limited and Bodelwyddan Park through setting. incidental. It is considered that the site makes no contribution to the significance of Bodelwyddan It is considered that development of the site would Castle through setting. result in no harm to the significance of Bodelwyddan Park. It is considered that development of the site would

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Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Building of was a moat that was dry save for a dock from the Rhuddlan Castle river.

Rhuddlan Castle is a large stone-built castle with a The reason for Scheduling states: “This monument dry moat; its construction was instigated by King is of national importance for its potential to enhance Edward I of England, following his capture of our knowledge of medieval social, domestic and Rhuddlan in 1277AD. Alterations were made in the political life and warfare”. early-14th century. While it saw action in c.1400 at During the medieval period, Rhuddlan was situated the beginning of the Welsh rebellion led by Owain at the lowest crossing point and highest point of Glyn Dŵr, it was not damaged. During the English navigation on the River Clwyd. The Castle was sited Civil War of 1642–48, it was garrisoned by the close to an earlier Welsh-Norman motte and bailey Royalists before surrendering to Parliament and castle (see below), presumably both because this being partially-destroyed thereafter. was the best strategic location and it visually The Castle has a concentric plan with a strongly- affirmed the status of the new English overlords. The defended inner ward and a slighter outer ward. The Castle helped to control movement along and across inner ward has single towers to north and south and the northern part of the Vale of the Clwyd. twin-tower gatehouses to west and east; the towers Four of Rhuddlan’s gates (Town Gate, Friary Gate, would have been of four storeys but only the south Dock Gate and River Gate) led into the outer ward tower and west gatehouse survive to nearly their of the Castle – two from the river and two from the original height. The outer ward would have town. By 1300, the Church of St Mary had been built contained ancillary buildings such as the granary, c.300m to the south-east of the Castle; the two stables, forge, and treasury – most of which would buildings comprising foci of secular and religious have been timber-framed. Beyond the outer ward

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power. certain long- and mid-ranging views – for example, looking north-east from Nant-Y-Faenol Road, the The Castle retains its position above the river, near section of the A525 to the south of the roundabout, Twthill, and on the edge of the town; but its Station Road, and Rhuddlan Bridge; and looking immediate surroundings are now characterised by east-south-east from the A525 river bridge – in 18th– to 20th-century houses along Castle Street and which the Church of St Mary is co-visible (Plate 25). Hyall Lane to the north (beyond which is the modern town centre) and off Abbey Road to the south There is no co-visibility of the site in any of these (including a school, new housing estate, and static identified views or from any other location in which caravan park). There is no surviving town ditch or the site could be co-visible (such as the southern town gates. There are three modern bridges over the section of the A525 that extends north from St Clwyd to the north-west of the Castle, including the Asaph; or from roads to the north-east of Rhuddlan) A525 bypass, which continues south as a dual due to intervening vegetation and modern built carriageway through the farmland of the river form. However, there are views towards the Castle floodplain. from the site – directed north from the farm track to Gwernigron Farm, the western, central, and The scale of Rhuddlan Castle, and its elevated northern areas of the site, and the continuation of position on the river cliff, would have ensured its the public footpath beyond the northern boundary of prominence in views from the River Clwyd (to the the site (Plates 13 and 21). north and to the south) and from its floodplain to the west and south-west. Despite the presence of These glimpses of Rhuddlan Castle from the site are modern roads and buildings within and surrounding considered incidental; the site is not a location from Rhuddlan town, which has altered the medieval where the Castle is either best or typically landscape character, the Castle remains dominant in experienced.

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Church of St Mary Rhuddlan Castle

Plate 25: Panoramic view showing the co-visibility of the Church of St Mary and Rhuddlan Castle from the Station Road river bridge

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It is at closer range, i.e. from the neighbouring roads Castle. There is nothing to suggest that visibility of of Castle Street and Hylas Lane, and the Castle the site had any particular importance during the grounds, that the Castle’s defensive plan form, medieval period; i.e. this was not a location surviving features of architectural interest, presenting a particular potential threat to the town, landscape setting (specifically, relative to the river in terms of being used as a means of approach by and the town) and outward views can be discerned an invading force. and appreciated. The significance of Rhuddlan Castle is derived Unfortunately it was not possible to access the principally from the evidential and historic values of Castle for this assessment, as it was closed for the its upstanding and buried structural remains and winter season. Instead, photographs uploaded to other deposits. Setting also contributes to its Google Maps by visitors were used to establish the significance, but to a lesser degree. present character of the views from the publicly- Those elements of the setting of Rhuddlan Castle accessible towers. These photographs confirmed that contribute to its significance are: that the Castle towers command views along the  Its strategic and prominent River Clwyd and across the farmland of its floodplain positioning on the east bank of the to the west, with the mountains of the Snowdonia River Clwyd;

National Park featuring on the horizon.  Its proximity to and historic association with the earlier Welsh- Although the site cannot be distinguished in these Norman borough castle of Twthill, photographs, Screened Zone of Theoretical Visibility which it superseded as an English stronghold of power and defence; modelling (see accompanying Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment) has indicated that there is likely  Its historic association with the medieval Church of St Mary and the to be some visibility of the site from Rhuddlan medieval town;

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 Its dominance in certain long- and the timber-framed buildings of the bailey, or the mid-ranging views from the River timber palisade that would have defended each Clwyd and its floodplain, from the south and south-west; element. As already discussed, Twthill was in use by

 The short-ranging views towards the the Welsh until the conquest of Rhuddlan by English asset from Castle Street, Hylas Lane, King Edward I in 1277 AD. and its curtilage; The reason for Scheduling states: “This monument  The long-ranging views from its towers along the River Clwyd and is of national importance for its potential to enhance across the floodplain to the south and our knowledge of medieval social, domestic and south-west. political life and warfare”. The site is considered to make no contribution to the During the medieval period, Rhuddlan was situated significance of the Scheduled Monument or Grade I at the lowest crossing point and highest point of Listed Building of Rhuddlan Castle through setting. navigation on the River Clwyd. Like Rhuddlan Castle It is considered that development of the site would that superseded it, Twthill motte-and-bailey castle result in no harm to the significance of this asset. helped to control movement along and across the

Scheduled Monument of Twthill northern part of the Vale of the Clwyd. It was defended on its south side by the River Clwyd (the Twthill comprises the earthwork remains of a motte- motte standing 18m above the river) and inland by and-bailey castle built in 1073 AD to replace an a natural valley and an artificial ditch. earlier fortification (see Section 4). Only the motte survives well; the bailey to its north has been Twthill retains its position above the river; but its ploughed down. There is no above-ground trace of immediate surroundings now comprise a pasture the tower that would have surmounted the motte, field and a modern school, housing estate, and static

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caravan park (Plate 26). The much-enlarged modern the modern school, housing, and static caravan town of Rhuddlan lies further to the north. The river park. Looking north, there are only glimpses of floodplain to the south comprises farmland that was Rhuddlan Castle through woodland. To the west, is enclosed in the post-medieval period and modern the floodplain of the River Clwyd. infrastructure that includes the A525 dual From the summit of Twthill, there are long-ranging carriageway. views across the floodplain to the south and west, The height of the motte with its tower, and its with the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park elevated position on the river cliff, would have visible on the horizon to the west. The buildings of ensured its prominence in views from the River Gwernigron Farm and the central and northern fields Clwyd (to the north and to the south) and from its of the site can be glimpsed in the mid-ground, floodplain to the west and south-west. Today, forming part of the expansive agricultural landscape however, there are no north-easterly views of Twthill of the floodplain (Plate 28). The ability to command from the A525 due to the woodland on the slopes such views would have been critical to the below and to the north of the motte; and no north- functioning of Twthill as a fortification. westerly views of Twthill from Abbey Road due to the Screened Zone of Theoretical Visibility modelling has topography of the intervening field. indicated that there is likely to be some visibility of The key views of Twthill are from the field to its north the site from Twthill. Nothing suggests that visibility (Plate 26) and the field to its south-east (Plate 27), of the site had any particular importance during the which are crossed by the same public footpath, from earlier medieval period; i.e. this was not a location where the scale of the motte and its topographic presenting a particular potential threat to the town, position relative to the River Clwyd can be in terms of being used as a means of approach by appreciated. Looking south, there is co-visibility of an invading force.

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The significance of Twthill is derived principally from southerly views from the motte across the floodplain the evidential and historic values of its earthwork of the River Clwyd, the site is considered to make no and buried remains. Setting also contributes to its contribution to the significance of the Scheduled significance, but to a lesser degree. Monument of Twthill through setting.

Those elements of the setting of Twthill that It is considered that development of the site would contribute to its significance are: result in no harm to the significance of this asset.

 Its strategic and prominent positioning on the east bank of the River Clwyd;

 Its historic association with the Norman borough of Rhuddlan;

 Its proximity to and historic association with the 13th-century Rhuddlan Castle, which superseded it as an English stronghold of power and defence;

 The short-ranging views towards the asset from the footpath through the pasture field that surrounds it;

 The long-ranging views from the summit of the motte along the River Clwyd and across the floodplain to the south and south-west.

Despite its glimpsed visibility within the long-ranging

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Maes Y Castell Pleasant View Caravan Park

Plate 26: Looking north towards Twthill from the public footpath from Hylas Lane

Rhuddlan Castle Site

Plate 27: Looking south towards Twthill from the public footpath from Abbey Road

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Site

Plate 28: Panoramic view, looking east to south to west, from the summit of Twthill

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Conclusions

Archaeology remains to occur within the site. It is suggested that much of site may have been too poorly-draining for Three historic assets are recorded within the site by settlement or agricultural use. There is greater the CPAT HER: the cropmarks of a former field potential for evidence of post-medieval and modern system, the site of a First World War tented camp, farming. It is unlikely that buried ditches of former and a Royal Observer Corps post. This assessment field boundaries or buried furrows would contain has established that at least some of the cropmarks material of archaeological interest. The features correspond to field boundaries mapped in 1845, that would typically be of very limited heritage the camp is known only to have been sited significance. somewhere near Gwernigron and not in the exact location plotted by the HER, and that there are Based on currently-available data, no overriding surviving structural remains of the ROC post. Ridge archaeological constraints to the proposed and furrow’ earthworks, deriving from historic development have been identified. ploughing, were identified in the southern part of the Built heritage site through analysis of LiDAR imagery and during a A settings assessment has been undertaken for all walkover survey. designated historic assets within a 5km radius of the Despite evidence for prehistoric and Romano-British site. Only seven assets are potentially sensitive to activity being recorded in the wider landscape, changes to their setting arising from the proposed including within 500m to the west of the site, no development. As such these assets have been specific potential has been identified for similar such subject to Stages 2 and 3 of Cadw’s guidance on

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setting assessment. planting of a new hedgerow to screen the arrays to the north, the proposals will result in no harm to the Of the land within the site, it is the areas significance of Gwernigron Farmhouse. immediately to the south and east that make an especial contribution to the significance of the Grade Of the land of the site, only a small part of the II Listed Gwernigron Farmhouse through setting, eastern area contributes to the significance of Plas due to the historical association of landholding and Coch through setting, due to the historical the key views from the asset across this part of the association of land holding and the glimpsed visibility site and towards the asset from this part of the site. of this part of the site from the first-floor windows of With the exclusion of solar arrays from these areas the rear elevation of the house. While the south- and the planting of a new hedgerow to screen the eastern area of the site may be visible from the arrays to the north, the proposals will result in only primary elevation of the house, this land was a small degree of harm, at the lower end of less than seemingly never part of its holding. The proposals substantial, to the significance of Gwernigron will result in negligible harm to its significance. Farmhouse. Of the land of the site, it is the northern and central It is the area of the site immediately to the east of areas that contribute to the significance of Pengwern the Grade II* Listed Gwernigron Dovecote that Hall through setting, due to the historical association contributes to its significance, due to key views of of land ownership and the apparent visibility of this the asset being afforded from within this field and part of the site in the mid-ground of views from the across this field from the farm track. From the first-floor windows of the primary elevation of the northern areas of the site, the Dovecote is largely Hall. The proposals will result in a small degree of screened by trees within the intervening garden. harm, at the lower end of less than substantial, to With the exclusion of solar arrays to the east and the its significance.

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The site makes no contribution to the significance of the Grade I Listed Bodelwyddan Castle. There is only a modern and short-lived historical association of ownership and any glimpses of the site in long- ranging views from the castle are considered incidental given that the inclusion of the site within its estate post-dates the construction of the castle. Any glimpses of the solar arrays will result in no harm to its significance.

In the case of the non-statutorily designated historic park and garden of Bodelwyddan Castle, the Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Rhuddlan Castle, the Scheduled Monument of Twthill, it has been demonstrated that, despite glimpsed visibility of the site in long-ranging views, the site makes no contribution to their significance through setting. As such, no harm to these assets is anticipated.

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Sources

Archival Sources (consulted online and at 1921 Sales Particulars for Bodelwyddan Denbighshire Archives) Estate

1840 Tithe Map and Apportionment for 1963 Ordnance Survey Plan, 1:2,500 Pengwern 1968 Ordnance Survey Plan, 1:2,500 1841 Tithe Map and Apportionment for Bodelwyddan 1971 Ordnance Survey Plan, 1:2,500

1845 Tithe Map and Apportionment for 1989 Ordnance Survey Plan, 1:2,500 Gwernigron 1992- Ordnance Survey Plan, 1:10,000 1854 Lease for Gwernigron Farm 96

1861 Lease for Gwernigron Farm Aerial Photographs (provided as digital scans by the Welsh Government Aerial Photography 1872 Ordnance Survey County Series, Unit) 1:2,500 16th January RAF/3G/TUD/UK/33 1878 Ordnance Survey County Series, 1946 1:10,560 24th March 1948 RAF/CPE/UK/2525 1900 Ordnance Survey County Series, 1:2,500 5th March 1962 543/RAF/1679

1913 Ordnance Survey County Series, 27th May 1964 543/RAF/2889 1:2,500 November 1969 6921/BKS/635197 1915 Sales Particulars for Bodelwyddan th Estate 6 July 1971 7117/MAL/103/71

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13th June 1974 7401/JAS/3274 Owen, H. W. and Gruffydd, K. L., 2017. Place- Names of Flintshire. University of Wales Press. 2nd June 1985 8534/JAS/2085 Quinnell, H. and Blockley, M. R., 1994. 1995 95164/WDA/036878 Excavations at Rhuddlan, Clwyd 1969-73: Mesolithic to Medieval. Council for British 1999 WDA/F37/5A Archaeology, Research Report 95.

2002 WDA/371/7597/06C

2009 ‘Next Perspectives’

Published Literature (sourced online and from Denbighshire Council)

Cathrall, W., 1828. The History of North Wales: Comprising a Topographical Description of the Several Counties of Anglesey, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, and Montgomery. J Gleave & Sons.

Durrell, P. and Phillips, A., 1997a. Rhuddlan Conservation Area Appraisal.

Durrell, P. and Phillips, A., 1997b. St Asaph Conservation Area Appraisal.

Durrell, P. and Phillips, A., 1997c. Bodelwyddan Conservation Area Appraisal.

Goode, A., 2013. Land East of Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales: An Archaeological Evaluation. Pre-Construct Archaeology.

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Appendix 1: Consultation Responses

P19-2023 │ EP │ July 2020 Elwy Solar Energy Farm, St Asaph From: [email protected] To: Elizabeth Pratt Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph Date: 06 December 2019 11:44:01

Dear Elizabeth

Thank you for your e-mail, please accept my apologies for this late response as I have been off work ill.

The list of designated heritage assets that will require further assessment as part of the settings assessment appears correct to me. However, I suggest that you also confirm this with Chris Evans, Denbighshire CC’s Conservation Officer, [email protected].

Best wishes

Neil

From: Elizabeth Pratt Sent: 29 November 2019 09:33 To: Maylan, Neil (ESNR-Tourism, Heritage & Sport-Cadw) Cc: Simon Chamberlayne Subject: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Dear Neil,

Hope you are the correct person for this! I am writing to you regarding a potential solar farm development at Gwernigron Farm near St Asaph. The attached PDF shows the provisional application site boundary (outlined red) with the possibility of adding some fields to the north (shaded blue).

We have already liaised with CPAT and established the scope of a Heritage Desk-Based Assessment and a Geophysical Survey. These programmes of work are currently underway. The Desk-Based Assessment will address both the archaeological resource and built heritage (settings), for which CPAT has advised a 5km search radius for designated heritage assets. We have already prepared a ZTV for a 5km radius of our site and subsequently undertaken ‘Stage 1’ of the methodology recommended by Cadw’s guidance Setting of Historic Assets in Wales.

From this, we have identified the following assets as requiring full and detailed assessment (i.e. Stages 2 to 4 of Cadw’s guidance):

Grade II Listed Gwernigron Farmhouse and Grade II* Listed Dovecote, surrounded by the site; Grade II Listed Plas Coch, located outside the eastern boundary of the site; Grade II* Listed building and historic park and garden of Bodelwyddan Castle, c.2km and c.1.1km west of the site; Grade II Listed Pengwern Hall, c.750m north of the site; and Grade I Listed Rhuddlan Castle, c.1.8km north of the site.

We will be working alongside our LVIA team to identify key long-ranging views of the Grade I Cathedral Church of St Asaph, and any co-visibility of the site therein; but at this stage, we do not consider it (or the St Asaph Conservation Area) to be susceptible to harm arising from the proposals.

I would be grateful if you could confirm that our proposed approach is satisfactory and share your thoughts on the key sensitivities of solar development in this location. As you can see, we have already undertaken initial analysis, so we do not require a report with maps or tables of the designated heritage assets.

Many thanks,

Elizabeth

www.pegasusgroup.co.uk Pegasus Group is the trading name of Pegasus Planning Group Ltd (07277000) registered in England and Wales. This email and any associated files, is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient you should not use the contents nor disclose them to any other person. If you have received this message in error please notify us immediately. We have updated our Privacy Statement in line with the GDPR; please click here to view it.

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Sganiwyd y neges hon am bob feirws hysbys wrth iddi adael Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd o ddifrif yr angen i ddiogelu eich data. Os cysylltwch â Llywodraeth Cymru, mae ein hysbysiad preifatrwydd yn esbonio sut rydym yn defnyddio eich gwybodaeth a sut rydym yn diogelu eich preifatrwydd. Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn anfon ateb yn Gymraeg i ohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi. On leaving the Welsh Government this email was scanned for all known viruses. The Welsh Government takes the protection of your data seriously. If you contact the Welsh Government then our Privacy Notice explains how we use your information and the ways in which we protect your privacy. We welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding. From: Mark Walters To: Elizabeth Pratt Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph Date: 18 November 2019 08:47:55

Hi Elizabeth

Thank you for the WSI. Having read through this I can confirm that the WSI meets our requirements and is approved.

Kind regards

Mark Walters

------Mark Walters Development Control Archaeologist / Swyddog Rheoli Datblygiad

Ffôn / Tel: 01938 553670 Mobile: 07736 163148

E-bost / E-mail: [email protected]

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys, 41 Stryd Lydan, Y Trallwng, SY21 7RR Swyddfa Gofrestredig fel yr uchod. Rhif Cwmni 1212455, Rhif Elusen 508301, Sefydliad Cofrestredig IfA, Rhif 6.

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, 41 Broad Street, Welshpool, SY21 7RR Registered Office as above. Company No 1212455, Charity No 508301. Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Registered Organisation No 6.

Please note that I do not work Fridays

Privacy Notice

From: Elizabeth Pratt [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 15 November 2019 09:50 To: Mark Walters Cc: Chris Morley ; Simon Chamberlayne Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Dear Mark,

Thank you for such a prompt and informative response.

We have now prepared a WSI for the DBA and I attach it for your review and comment.

We are currently in discussions with various contractors regarding the geophysical survey requirement.

Best wishes,

Elizabeth

www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

Pegasus Group is the trading name of Pegasus Planning Group Ltd (07277000) registered in England and Wales. This email and any associated files, is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient you should not use the contents nor disclose them to any other person. If you have received this message in error please notify us immediately. We have updated our Privacy Statement in line with the GDPR; please click here to view it.

Please consider the environment before printing this email message.

From: Mark Walters Sent: 07 November 2019 15:59 To: Elizabeth Pratt Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Good afternoon Elizabeth

Thanks for the early consultation about this potential solar farm.

In terms of the search area we normally throw this out to 5km for designated sites and 2km for non-designated. A ZTV would be useful to show which designated sites will be within the visibility zone for the solar farm based on the top height of the panels. This will help to narrow down which designated sites may require a setting impact assessment in accordance with the Cadw Best Practice Guidance – all designated sites within 2km will probably require a setting assessment, but this could be refined with a ZTV. There are 6 Grade II and II* listed buildings within the red boundary that would definitely need a setting impact assessment. There is also Bodelwyddan Church, Bodelwyddan Castle and the Bodelwyddan Castle Historic Park and Garden that would certainly need to be included in a setting impact assessment.

In terms of the DBA we would anticipate using the following sources:

HER, Cadw, RCAHMW NMR, National Library of Wales (Maps and Documents), Denbighshire Archives, NRW LiDAR data via the Lle Geoportal.

The DBA should be accompanied by a systematic walkover of the whole red boundary to confirm the location, nature and level of preservation of existing HER recorded sites and any new surface archaeological features that may be revealed. The potential for paleo-environmental deposits should be noted eg. where there are waterlogged or boggy areas or ponds. All sites should be mapped, photographed and described and included in an overall gazetteer.

The fields immediately to the west of the proposed solar farm were included in a former pre-planning residential development proposal and extensive geophysics was complete using caesium-vapor magnetometry techniques. This revealed numerous enclosures that were subsequently evaluated and found to be late Iron Age or Romano-British in date. The development never proceeded and no further work was done. The proximity of these sites and that fact that the geophysics revealed an extensive hidden prehistoric landscape would lead us to require geophysics across the red boundary area using the caesium-vapor technology. We normally use TigerGeo for this magentometry work as they are specialist in caesium-vapor magnetometry.

We would need to see and approve a written scheme of investigation (WSI)/specification when the final scope of the DBA is agreed. Let me know if the above scope sounds reasonable and I look forward to receiving further information as the project progresses.

Kind regards

Mark Walters

------Mark Walters Development Control Archaeologist / Swyddog Rheoli Datblygiad

Ffôn / Tel: 01938 553670 Mobile: 07736 163148

E-bost / E-mail: [email protected]

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys, 41 Stryd Lydan, Y Trallwng, SY21 7RR Swyddfa Gofrestredig fel yr uchod. Rhif Cwmni 1212455, Rhif Elusen 508301, Sefydliad Cofrestredig IfA, Rhif 6. Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, 41 Broad Street, Welshpool, SY21 7RR Registered Office as above. Company No 1212455, Charity No 508301. Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Registered Organisation No 6.

Please note that I do not work Fridays

Privacy Notice

From: Elizabeth Pratt [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 07 November 2019 10:21 To: Mark Walters Cc: Simon Chamberlayne ; Chris Morley Subject: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Dear Mark,

I hope you are well.

I am writing to you regarding a potential solar farm development opportunity at Gwernigron Farm near St Asaph. The attached JPEG shows the tentative application site boundary (outlined red) with the possibility of adding some fields to the north (shaded blue). The proposals at are a very early, i.e. land negotiation and feasibility, stage and so I would be grateful if you could keep these details highly confidential – including from the local planning authority, as we are not yet in a position to engage with them.

We are looking to establish the scope of heritage assessment that would likely be requested by CPAT to support any forthcoming planning application. We are currently making a start on a Heritage Desk-Based Assessment (for which Gary has kindly provided HER data) in order to gather some baseline information and to identify constraints and opportunities at an early stage. I would be grateful if you could let me know what additional archaeological survey work you anticipate would be required, whether pre- or post-determination.

Many thanks,

Elizabeth

www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

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From: Chris Evans To: Elizabeth Pratt Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph Date: 19 December 2019 13:46:37

Hi Elizabeth The Heritage Assets not listed which maybe should be considered are;

Talardy Park Hotel, Green house at The Talardy Park Hotel and Walled garden at Talardy Park Hotel which are all Grade II listed and adjacent to boundary of the proposed site.

Also The Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB is within 5km of the site and overlooking which will have a major visual impact from the AONB as it is high ground forming the Clwydian hill range.

There are also the following grade II listed buildings within a few hundred metres of the proposed site boundary, Tyddyn Isaf, Faenol Broper and Felin Y Gors

As you are aware there are many listed buildings in St Asaph in close proximity which may need consideration but there is less impact on these than the above sites in more or less open countryside

Should you have any queries please get in touch Regards Chris

Chris Evans Prif Syrfewr Adeiledig & Chadwraeth/ Principal Built & Conservation Surveyor Adran Amgylchedd Adeiledig / Built Environment Section Gwasanaethau Cynllunio a Gwarchod y Cyhoedd / Planning & Public Protection Services Ffôn / Phone: 01824 706717 E-bost: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

www.sirddinbych.gov.uk / www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg.Ni fydd unrhyw oedi wrth ymateb I ohebiaetha dderbyniwyd yn Gymraeg. We welcome correspondence in Welsh.There will be no delay in responding to correspondence received in Welsh.

From: Elizabeth Pratt [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 17 December 2019 10:10 To: Chris Evans Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Hi Chris,

I hope you are well. I wonder if you would be able to provide a response on the below before we all break up for Christmas, please?

Best wishes,

Elizabeth

www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

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From: Elizabeth Pratt Sent: 09 December 2019 08:49 To: [email protected] Subject: FW: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Dear Chris,

I hope you are well. Neil Maylan has advised that I contact you regarding the scope of heritage settings assessments we are undertaking for a proposed solar farm at Gwernigron Farm near St Asaph.

I wonder if you could please review the email chain below and let me know if you have any thoughts or comments, please? I will add that we are also conducting a full assessment of Twthill Scheduled Monument – and are commenting on key views of Bodelwyddan Church as well as St Asaph Cathedral.

Best wishes,

Elizabeth

www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

Please consider the environment before printing this email message.

From: [email protected] Sent: 06 December 2019 11:44 To: Elizabeth Pratt Subject: RE: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Dear Elizabeth

Thank you for your e-mail, please accept my apologies for this late response as I have been off work ill.

Best wishes

Neil

From: Elizabeth Pratt Sent: 29 November 2019 09:33 To: Maylan, Neil (ESNR-Tourism, Heritage & Sport-Cadw) Cc: Simon Chamberlayne Subject: Land at Gwernigron Farm, St Asaph

Dear Neil,

From this, we have identified the following assets as requiring full and detailed assessment (i.e. Stages 2 to 4 of Cadw’s guidance):

Many thanks,

Elizabeth

www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

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Dilyn ni ar Twitter: http://twitter.com/cyngorsDd - Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DenbighshireCC Ymwelwch a ni ar-lein ar http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk - Visit us online at http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk Mae'r wybodaeth a gynhwysir yn yr e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag o wedi eu bwriadu yn unig ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Os ydych wedi derbyn yr e-bost hwn drwy gamgymeriad, hysbyswch yr anfonwr ar unwaith os gwelwch yn dda. Mae cynnwys yr e-bost yn cynrychioli barn yr unigolyn(ion) a enwir uchod ac nid yw o angenrheidrwydd yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Sir Ddinbych. Serch hynny, fel Corff Cyhoeddus, efallai y bydd angen i Gyngor Sir Ddinbych ddatgelu'r e-bost hwn [neu unrhyw ymateb iddo] dan ddarpariaethau deddfwriaethol.

The information contained in this e-mail message and any files transmitted with it is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately. The contents of this e-mail represents the views of the individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of Denbighshire County Council. However, as a Public Body, Denbighshire County Council may be required to disclose this e-mail [or any response to it] under legislative provisions.

Appendix 2: Selected Gazetteer of Historic Assets

Our ID HER PRN Ref. Description (abridged from HER / RCAHMW)

(see Figures 2 and RCAHMW NPRN Ref. 3)

1 57752, 57767, 58050, Evidence of Mesolithic and later prehistoric activity recorded by archaeological excavations at Rhuddlan 58052, 58845, Abbey Nurseries and Rhuddlan Castle in the 1960s, 1970s and early 2000s. The Mesolithic and Neolithic 101954–56, 102932, evidence comprised worked flints and flint-working debris, pits, and a hearth; the Bronze Age remains 128197–98, 81666– included post-holes and cremation burials. See [3] for Iron Age evidence. 69

2a – 2d 67058, 101478, Possible former sites of prehistoric standing stones, at Groesffordd Marli and Felin-wynt; and Bronze Age 102055, 102568 cairns at Coed Faenol-broper and Cyrchynen.

3 128198 Iron Age activity recorded at Rhuddlan Abbey Nurseries. An archaeological evaluation carried out in 2005 by Cambrian Archaeological Projects Ltd revealed evidence of Iron Age occupation in one of the evaluation trenches. Two curvilinear features, similar to those encountered in the 1960s excavation were uncovered, which were thought to be Iron Age in date, however, as the Scheduled Ancient Monument consent did not permit excavation of any of the features encountered, it was not possible to ascertain their true nature and date.

4 No ref. Evidence of later prehistoric and/or Romano-British occupation identified by an archaeological evaluation of land east of Bodelwyddan in 2013. Trenches located within the northern portion of the site recorded boundary ditches forming two large enclosures and two probable post-holes likely to represent structural remains associated with a roundhouse.

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5a & 5b 144311 and 26541 Possible section of the Varae-Kanovium Roman road. An archaeological watching brief in 2018 produced evidence for a former, early road surface in the form of a stony deposit sealed beneath the existing modern carriageway of Glascoed Road. The surface was traced for almost the entire length of the modern carriageway where this was cut back for the widening works within the site; a length of at least 180m. The early road had been constructed using waterworn rounded gravel and cobble, laid directly onto the natural clay. No associated ditch was encountered running alongside the road, but any such feature, had it existed, may have been removed during insertion of the modern footpath. No datable material was recovered during excavation.

Remains of the Roman road were also seen in a service trench at Lower Denbigh Road at St Asaph in 1994. A band of cobbles 6.4m wide and 0.2m deep with a ditch 0.7m wide and 0.55m deep were identified. South of this a second surface 4m wide was also seen, composed of smaller cobbles and flanked by a smaller ditch to the south.

6a & 6b 57768, 101754, A small ditch containing much animal bone and Roman pottery dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD 101952 was discovered during road widening work at the junction of Castle Street and Lôn Hylas in November 1983.

Traces of Roman occupation were also recorded by archaeological excavations at Rhuddlan Abbey Nurseries in the 1970s.

7 13116, 17648, The defences of the Saxon burgh of Rhuddlan. The town was protected on 3 sides by a bank and ditch 17760-61 with a timber palisade. On the 4th side, the river and the steep cliff provided natural defence. The defences survive today as a broad ditch with an outer bank on the NE corner of the town. Excavation showed that the defences were only completed on the north side. They consisted of a broad, flat-bottomed ditch between 2 low banks. The ditch may originally have been water-filled.

8 102026–28 Twthill motte-and-bailey castle – see Appendix 3.

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9 102031 and 17611 Rhuddlan Castle – see Appendix 3.

10 57753–55 Remains of 13th-century houses a defensive ditch, a probable church, and associated burials, revealed by excavations at Rhuddlan Abbey Nurseries in the 1970s.

11 102025, 122249, Dominican Friary founded pre-1258 and dissolved in 1538. Now farm buildings and yard. Part of the south 57753–54 cloister range is part of barn now and much re-used material slabs etc are in buildings.

12 Check Grade Church of St Mary at St Asaph.

13 102126 St Asaph Cathedral. Church, cruciform in plan originating from building started 1284. Oldest portions now remaining after much restoration are the aisles of 1284. Later restorations 17th and 18th century.

14 419099 Cropmarks of an extensive early field system, pre-dating the present field pattern. It is likely that this system has its origins in the medieval period. Recorded during RCAHMW aerial reconnaissance on 7th (RCAHMW, not HER) June 2013.

15 No ref. Evidence of medieval settlement identified by an archaeological evaluation of land east of Bodelwyddan in 2013. Trenches located within the southern portion of the site recorded three well defined roughly rectangular ditched enclosures with further potential enclosures potentially extending southwards.

16 102054 and 102566 Gwernigron Farmhouse and Gwernigron Dovecote – see Appendix 3.

17 102053 Pengwern Hall – see Appendix 3.

18 32266 Plas Coch – see Appendix 3.

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19 102873 Generally 3-storey stone mansion remodelled and extended in 1886. Incorporating 16th and 17th century buildings with 18th century alterations. Bodelwyddan castle was used as hospital during the First World War.

20 132162 A large tented army camp at St Asaph is mentioned by Griffiths in his book on Kinmel Park Camp as being in existence at 'this early stage of the war', meaning late 1914 (Griffiths, 2014). Flintshire Archives holds a letter concerning the provision of a YMCA tent in a camp of the Staffordshire Territorials at St Asaph. The camp was apparently a temporary establishment of tents and was sited at Gwernigron just outside St Asaph in the direction of Rhuddlan. A short advertisement in the Denbighshire Free Press seems to confirm its temporary existence, while also suggesting that it may also have comprised timber buildings. Unfortunately, no detail of the plan of the camp has come to light and it is not depicted by the Ordnance Survey. There are no traces of the camp visible on modern aerial coverage and marks visible on the fields around Gwernigron are more likely to be fluvial or geological.

21 152248 Underground monitoring post built for the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) during the mid-1950s to late 1960s.

Appendix 3: Selected Designation Descriptions

Gwernigron Farmhouse

History

A large C17 farmhouse. Windows of the C18 or C19, the sashes below appear late. C19 or early C20 porch with flat roof. Coherent re-dressing of the front with white-painted render, and with quoins, string course and window surrounds picked out in black.

Exterior

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A farmhouse of 2-storeys and 3-windows, in rough white-painted render on stonework, with rusticated quoins, string course and window surrounds picked out in black paint. The roof is of slate with coped gables at each end and massive end chimney stacks, also rendered and white painted. The string course is at the level of the upper sills. Nine-pane hornless unequal-sash windows above, 12-pane horned sash windows below and modern porch. Later rear wing in flemish-bond brickwork: 2 windows at raised level. Hipped slate roof, brick chimney.

Interior

Not inspected but said to retain chamfered, wide fireplaces with timber bressummers, somewhat altered. Lozenge paving in hall. Six-panel doors at ground and first floors. Attic with ledged doors, oak floor and purlins. Some purlins at west, modern. Brick barrel-vaulted cellar, east.

Reason for designation

A well-preserved substantial farmhouse of the late C17 with modifications giving it a coherent character in the C19.

Gwernigron Dovecote

History

This dovecote features the style of stepped gable often found on high status buildings in this region in the late C16 or early C17. When surveyed in c1960 this dovecote was roofless and ruinous. It has since been re-roofed.

Exterior

A dovecote in local hammer-dressed uncoursed limestone with selected larger stones and quoins and window or door dressings. The building is square with 4 similar gables, each with a deeply projecting corbel at the base of the gable and stepped copings. At the centre of each gable is a 2-light opening for access by the pigeons. The door is on the W side, its sill about 2.5m above the ground. The lowest part appears to have been an undercroft, with a door to the S and small windows to the other 3 sides. The window openings to E and W have grooves in the stonework suggesting they were glazed.

Interior

Pigeonholes in stone on all 4 sides, in 13 rows; about 400 holes in total. The dovecote appears to have had an undercroft, but nothing remains of any floor over an undercroft or of any potence.

Reason for designation

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A well preserved and restored example of a large sub-mediaeval dovecote, and a fine example of a type characteristic of the north-east of Wales.

Plas Coch

No History or Reason for designation.

Exterior

Entrance range dated 1667 with mid C19 alterations and heightening; later Georgian range parallel to rear. [Later C19 range to left and modern range set back to right]. 2-storey, 3-window English garden wall bond brick front with advanced central entrance bay, gabled with high brick kneelers, stone gable parapet and pineapple finial. Plinth and stone quoins to left, rising to original eaves level; slate roof, dentil cornice and large chimney breast with brick banding to right hand end with similar gable detail; Victorian sash window inserted into ground floor right, with herringbone voussoirs. Wide Doric doorcase with tripartite half glazed entrance. Advanced at right side is the 2-window gable end parallel range; flemish bond brickwork with similar detail, flatter chimney breast and cast iron window box holders. [Modern brick range adjoins to right]. Various gable ended ranges to left, many alterations and later additions in conversion to residential home use; broad brick chimney stack with stepped flue. Large walled garden to e retaining some brick walls.

Interior

Interior retains 1667 date to inner porch, otherwise mainly late Georgian/early Victorian detail. Acanthus and palmette cornice to Dining Room, Arabesque cornice to 1st floor. Altered brick cellar.

Pengwern Hall

History

Pengwern Hall was rebuilt by Sir Edward Lloyd, bart, who died in 1795. The 2 detached blocks at the front flanking the forecourt are dated by a rainwater head to 1770, but the main Hall is in a quite different style with Palladian echoes and is perhaps a little later, apparently replacing a mansion which was mentioned in Lhwyd's Parochialia in c1699. The date 1778 has been suggested for Sir Edward Lloyd''s rebuilding. Sir Edward married into the Mostyn family, and when the 6th baronet Mostyn died in 1831, Sir Edward Price Lloyd became the first baron Mostyn and lived at Pengwern until his death in 1854. Part of the house was destroyed by fire in 1864, losing its original symmetry by the loss of the upper storey of the E wing and of part of the main range. It lost a prominent main roof. In the restoration the upper storey at the left of the main range was replace by a dummy wall. Urns decorating the parapets and copings at front were also lost. In the interior only the W wing retains original features. The Hall later came into the ownership of Sir William

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Grenville Williams, fourth baronet Bodelwyddan, who lived here until his death in 1904; under his successor, Sir William Willoughby Williams, the Bodelwyddan property was broken up and Pengwern leased to Col Parry. It was later leased by J H Wynne, and finally bought by Miss Long for a girls'' school. After the closing of the school in 1948 the property fell into decay until taken over by the present owners, the Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, in 1966.

Exterior

A stuccoed mansion painted cream with dressings in a darker cream colour; the walls are said to be stone with brick facing; slate roofs of low pitch concealed behind parapets. Numerous brick chimneys. Despite losses much of the original form remains. The main block facing S is of 3-storeys and 1+3+1 windows, with a 3-bay pediment over giant Ionic pilasters and a rusticated ground storey. The left flank of the main block survives to 3-storeys (the top storey a dummy, the second storey with a Palladian window) but the right flank is now only single storey. To the left of the main block is a canted 2-storey 3-window wing, and to the right a similar wing reduced to one storey. Twelve-pane sash-windows generally; restored 6-pane windows in top storey. The rear (N) elevation also consists of a main 3-storey block with a pedimented centre, flanks and wings, irregularly fenestrated but retaining many sash windows. The right wing is of 2-storeys, with Palladian windows above and below. The W elevation is also pedimented at centre, and retains 3 sash windows above and one below. The E side of the building is irregular, terminating in a group of single storey outbuildings fronting the approach drive to the Hall.

Interior

Large entrance hall with a staircase at its rear, rising right to left against the rear wall, with decorative iron balustrade, probably post-dating the fire of 1864. In the front and rear rooms of the W wing are original plaster cornices and at front an Adamesque central ceiling feature.

Reason for designation

A fine late-Georgian mansion, preserved in a manner which enables much of its original character to be appreciated.

Bodelwyddan Castle

History

The Castle originated as the mansion of the Humphreys family and was sold to Sir William Williams, speaker of the House of Commons, in c1690. A drawing of the house in this period shows it to have been a double-pile house of 2 storeys and an attic, with 2 advancing wings on the SE front. It remained

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substantially unaltered through the C18. The Williams family grew rich on the profits of lead mining in North Wales; In 1805 Sir John Williams (first baronet) remodelled the house in the Greek Revival style. The front (SE) elevation was given a 3-bay centre with a Doric loggia. His son, Sir John Hay Williams, who inherited in 1830, employed Hansom and Welch, architects, to carry out a further remodelling to convert the house to the castellated style. The 1841 map shows the house complete with its domestic yard to the W. The 1871 map shows a private gasworks in the NW corner. Although the estate was overstretched financially, further alterations and additions were carried out by Sir William Grenville Williams in 1876; his monogram and that of his wife are featured in the floor tiling of the entrance hall and the Watts Hall, where the date 1886 appears in combination with the family's cross-foxes crest. The architect of this work is not known but may have been John Gibson (the architect of the parish church completed in 1860). Sir William died in 1904 and under his successor, Sir William Willoughby Williams, with further financial losses, the estate was sold in 1918. The house was occupied by the Army during the Great War and ownership was acquired afterwards by the War Office. In 1920 the house was taken on lease by Mrs Florence Lindley and opened as a private school, Lowther College; the freehold was purchased by the school in 1925. The school closed in 1982 and thereafter the house was unoccupied until taken by Clwyd County Council. Part of the property became Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel (occupying part of the main house and also the buildings of the domestic yard). New buildings for the hotel were added to the S and W. The tenants under Denbighshire County Council are Bodelwyddan Castle Trust for the house and art gallery and Warner Holidays for the hotel. The castle gained additional significance c 1860 as the seat of a model estate under Lady Margaret Willoughby de Broke, an exceptional unity of mansion, north gatelodge, village, school, church and parsonage.

Exterior

A large stone mansion, the playful military character of which is mainly due to the alterations and additions made for Sir John Hay Williams by Hansom and Welch, architects, in c1830-1842. The form of the earlier mansion, with its pair of advancing wings, is apparent on the SE side (the main front), but otherwise the composition avoids symmetry. The older part of the house is of 3-storeys but additional parts are of mainly of 2-storeys. The masonry is in the local limestone, axe-dressed and coursed, with ashlar surrounds to the windows and other features and with a corbelled and crenellated parapet concealing the roofs. There are prominent stone towers concealing chimneys, and part of the north-east elevation features twin towers linked by a high level battlemented arch. The towers have similar parapets. Entrances to the domestic yard feature gates of lattice construction resembling portcullisses, with machicolations above. The main front facing the park is the SE elevation. This is the only symmetrical part. It is divided into equal thirds, the outer 2 advancing. The outer parts each have a crenellated bay window, a single 12-pane sash window at first floor, and a single 6-pane sash window at second floor. The centre has a 2-storey triangular crenellated projecting window centrally, flanked by 15-pane sash windows, and with 12- and 6-pane winows above. The windows of this elevation have stone surrounds only lightly bonded to the main masonry, suggesting a reduction of window size. The NE elevation overlooks the village of Bodelwyddan, and is that in which the military character of the architecture is most featured. At left is a possibly C17 figure in an unsophisticated style of carving, standing in a niche, with a Welsh inscription on the base identifying him as Y Gwr Hir; he wears what appears

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to be a cowl but otherwise non-monastic garb and his face may be intened to appear cadaverous. There are bones said to be immured in this location. Beneath him is a blocked window. To the right of this are twin towers with large loops and oeillets; on the crenellated arch which joins them at parapet level are shields, one carring the cross foxes crest, the other damaged. Within the great arch are 3-storeys of 2 Gothick windows and to the right of the arch 3-storeys of one similar window, recessed. To the right again is a 3-window range of 2-storeys, the central octagonal bay having 3 Gothick windows and flanking similar windows; 3 simpler Gothick windows above. To the right again is the single storey entrance hall with a similar window and the pseudo- portcullis and machicolations of the entrance with its two-storey octagonal towers. To the S of the main house there is an irregular sequence of walls and towers (now occupied by the Hotel and called the Williams Village) linking the older part with the domestic yard to the W. Much of this additional part is ivy-grown. It is of 2-storeys, with Gothick windows generally under 4-centred arches. It is linked to the wall of the domestic yard with a gateway containing a pair of ''''portcullis'''' gates incorporating a wicket. This was the original main entrance to the Castle. It leads to the small entrance yard containing castellated and buttressed buildings (occupied by the Hotel as part of The Hensroost) which are oriented with the main house. The main domestic yard extends to the W of the house forming an irregular rectangle of considerable size, adjoining the original entrance and smaller yard. This main domestic yard has buttresses externally regularly spaced along its curtain walls, corner towers of 3-storeys, and a formal entrance at the W side facing one of the gates in the park enclosing wall. The formal entrance has a dummy tower at left and an occupied tower at right, and machicolations over the gates. Within the domestic yard are buildings now in Hotel occupation, probably predating Hansom's work, and now much added to and altered. A range of buildings along the S curtain wall from the W corner retains its low pitch hipped roof. An adjacent range to the E (St. David's Restaurant) retains original stonework at the front (N) including a pedimented Gothick porch. Parallel to these the Elwy Lounge retains 3 large Gothic windows with timber tracery, and to the E of these a range of altered fenestration including 2 small 2-light Tudor style windows which formerly had window bars. This range has a chimney with ribs on 2 faces (similar to cottage chimneys in the village datable to 1856). Another parallel range to the N (now the Hensroost) has 3 similar chimneys, and on its N elevation (facing the car park) signs of 6 former tall round-headed windows, now blocked, the building having been refenestrated.

Interior

The castle has an irregular double-pile plan with a long rear wing to the NW, at the extremity of which, under the covered way to the courtyard, is the main entrance. This room is symmetrical with an axial staircase and Gothick fireplace. The floor of this and the adjacent corridor (Watts'' Hall) are in encaustic tiles bearing the cross-foxes motif and the date 1886, indicating the alterations commissioned by the 4th baronet. The best room of the house is the Drawing room, now a sculpture gallery, in the Gothick style with 3 bays of fan vaulting. The ribs spring from king''s head corbels. Four-centred arches to the entrance door, recess opposite and fireplace, with wide moulding hollows enriched with flowers. The pelmets of the 3 windows were rediscovered in a cellar and restored. Bodelwyddan has its private gas supply and there are early gas light brackets at each side of the fireplace. This room is said to be by Hansom and Welch in the 1830s, although in a Regency manner. The Ladies'' Drawing Room has decor in the Regency manner. The Library

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has bookcases with draw-out shelves. The Dining Room, enlarged with a canted bay to the side, contains a marble fireplace with a scene of stone quarrying on the bressummer. To the rear of the house is a Billiard Room with a strapwork frieze with hunting scenes and a Gothick fireplace. The main staircase has heavily moulded handrails and carved newels with knobs and pendants. There is also a servants'' staircase with iron balusters. The passage to the service quarters is tiled, including a closet adjacent, and the kitchen (Victorian Tea Room) has a smoke jack. A room on the second floor said to have a deep-coved ceiling with C18 enrichment at centre. Brick vaulted cellars.

Reason for designation

A mansion strikingly redesigned in Gothick castellated style in the early C19, its main (east) elevation retaining the tripartite form of the earlier C16 or C17 house which is its core. It became the seat also of a remarkable model village and church development of the mid C19, its relationship with which survives.

Rhuddlan Castle

Summary Description and Reason for Designation

The following provides a description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. This monument comprises the remains of a medieval castle built by King Edward I. Begun in 1277, Rhuddlan Castle was sited to the north of an earlier Norman motte and bailey castle. For many years Rhuddlan was the lowest crossing point and highest point of navigation on the river Clwyd; this became particularly important between the 10th and 13th centuries. It could control traffic running both along and across the northern part of the Vale of Clwyd, and could be supplied by water. The castle is concentric in design, consisting of a very strongly defended inner ward, completely surrounded by a slighter outer ward. On the south-west, this fronts the river, but elsewhere, it overlooks an artificial moat, also walled on the outer side, which was dry apart from a short section south of the castle used as a dock. Four gates (Town Gate, Friary Gate, Dock Gate and River Gate) – led into the outer ward – two from the river and two from the town. All four curtains are almost intact and survive to the height of the wall-walks with only the battlemented parapets lacking. Built to a thickness of 2.7m, the curtain walls widen to 3.3m where they join the towers to accommodate latrines at the ground and intermediate stages. Narrow flights of steps lead to the wall-walk from the top of the wide circular staircase with which each of the towers is provided. The diamond-shaped inner ward has twin-towered gatehouses at the eastern and western angles, with single towers projecting from the northern and southern angles. All the towers, which rise a stage higher than the curtains, were exactly similar in plan, with four rooms in each, though the south tower also has a basement. The rooms in the towers would have accommodated officials and members of the royal households, and no doubt one of the gatehouses contained the residence of the constable. Little trace remains of the structures that originally stood

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in the outer ward. Most were probably timber framed and included the granary, the great and little stables, the forge, the treasury, a workshop for the Queen’s goldsmith and, no doubt ancillary buildings necessary to the life of any great medieval establishment. There are three towers, namely: Gillot’s Tower; South Tower and North Tower. Gillot’s Tower is probably named after Gillot de Chalons, a mason who was working at Conwy in 1286 and had been previously employed at Rhuddlan. Four storeys high and projecting from the southern corner of the outer ward, the original entrance was on the third storey. The two windows in this room are almost the only ones in the building which retain their dressed stonework intact. The arrangement of rooms in the South Tower repeats the pattern seen in the gatehouse towers, with the addition of a basement. In the North Tower the ground-floor room is partly above and partly below courtyard level. It was entered by steps leading directly from the courtyard rather than by a trapdoor. The principal apartments of the castle stood within the enclosure of the inner ward and included the king’s hall and chamber, the queen’s hall and chamber, the kitchens and the chapel. There is a well some 15m deep near the centre of the courtyard. Rhuddlan saw action in 1400 at the beginning of the Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyn Dŵr, but although the town was ravaged by the rebels, the castle was not taken. During the Civil War (1642-48) Rhuddlan was garrisoned for the king and held out until July 1646 when it was forced to surrender to Major-General Thomas Mytton, the parliamentarians’ commander-in-chief in north Wales. Thereafter the House of Commons voted that the castle should be made untenable, and it was subsequently demolished. The castle’s present condition of ruin dates principally from this year. This monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval social, domestic and political life and warfare. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.

History

Building of the castle at Rhuddlan followed the capture of the borough (originally founded c1073) by Edward I in 1277. Both the town and its existing castle were re-sited, and newly planned as an integral development. Work on the castle began in 1277, and continued until the mid 1280's, with alterations carried out in the early C14. The chief master mason was James of Saint George, and some early C14 work was carried out by Richard of Chester. The castle surrendered to Parliament in 1646, and was slighted in 1648.

Exterior

Concentric plan with inner and outer wards. The outer ward is enclosed by a wide dry moat, and is protected to the S by a river wall and tower. The moat was originally crossed at two points - at the Town Gate (the present entrance from Castle Street), and at the SE at the Priory Gate (converted into a turret in 1300). The sides of the moat were revetted in stone, most of which survives. The outer curtain wall is fragmentary, but remains of turrets containing steps leading down to former sallyports in the moat survive. The ward slopes down to the river to the SW, and at its furthest point is the square, 4- storeyed Gillot's Tower, with a postern alongside it. The inner ward is of lozenge plan, and has a single circular tower at the N and S corners, and double-

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towered gatehouses at the E and W angles. Curtain walls survive to the level of the wall walks between the towers, and have embrasured slits at ground level. The parapets have largely disappeared, but a fragment of battlement survives in the NE wall, and the SW and SE walls retain traces of central corbelled turrets. The towers were 4 storeyed, and the S tower, and the W gatehouse towers survive almost to their full height. E gatehouse has portcullis grooves and gate chases. The original system of loopholes survives in its N guardroom, interrupted to the S by the insertion of a fireplace at the beginning of the C14. Inside the ward, the domestic buildings were of timber, and have all been lost.

Twthill

Summary Description and Reason for Designation

The following provides a description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. This monument comprises the remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle. Built in 1073, by Robert ‘of Rhuddlan’, the castle sits on the eastern side of the river Clwyd. For many years Rhuddlan was the lowest crossing point and highest point of navigation on the river Clwyd; this became particularly important between the 10th and 13th centuries. It could control traffic running both along and across the northern part of the Vale of Clwyd, and could be supplied by water. The motte stands 18m high above the river, and was protected inland by a natural valley and an artificial ditch; beyond this to the north, lies the bailey. The bailey bank has been ploughed down. As late as 1241-42 the defences, at least in part, were still made of wood, and timber-framed buildings occupied the bailey. This monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval social, domestic and political life and warfare. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.

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Appendix 4: Figures

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Figure 1: Site Location

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 1 km Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:25,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS

Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Site Watercourses

Derived from OS Open Source Terrain and River Data

Figure 2: Digital Terrain Model

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:15,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS

4 ! 2b

! 2d

Data derived from CPAT HER

!! 2c

! ! 5a 5b Figure 3: Prehistoric and ! ! Roman assets (selected)

2a ! Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 2 km Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:35,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY 12 ! Site ! 9 !10 7 2km ! Saxon 8 ! ! Norman 11 Medieval ! Medieval ! Post-medieval ! 17 ! Modern

15 ! 14 16 21 ! ! ! 18 ! Data derived from CPAT HER ! 19 20

! 13 Figure 4: Medieval and later assets (selected)

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Figure 5A: Extract of 1845 Gwernigron Tithe Map

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:12,500 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Site Land owned and occupied by Lord Mostyn of Pengwern Land owned by Lord Mostyn but attached to Gwernigron Farm Land owned by Lord Mostyn but attached to Plas Coch Land owned by Sir John Hay Williams and leased to Peter Faulks

As documented by the 1840 Pengwern Tithe Map and the 1845 Gwernigron Tithe Map. Unshaded areas of the site were owned and occupied by other individuals.

Figure 5B: Landholdings in 1840 - 1845

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:15,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Site

Figure 6: Extract of 1900 Ordnance Survey Map

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 1 km Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:25,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Site Earthworks visible on image from 1946 Cropmarks visible on image from 2013

Figure 7: Cropmarks and earthworks visible on historic aerial photographs

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:10,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk $$$$ $$$$$ $$ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$%$$$$ $ $$ $ $$# KEY $$$$$$$$$$$ $ $% $ $$ $$ $ $$ $%$% Site $$ $$ $ $ $ 5km $ $$ $ %$%$ $ $ Listed Buildings $$ $$%$$$ Grade %% $% $ $ $ $$ $ # I $ $$ $$$ $%$#$$ $$ $ II $ $%$$$$ $ $ %$$$$$$$$ $$% % II* $ %# % Scheduled Monument $$ $% $$ % %% $ %$ $ $$$$ $$ $% $ $% $ $$ $ $%%% $ $$ $ $ $%$ %$$ $ $ $#$$ $$$$$$ $% $ $$$$$% $ $ $$ NB. Excludes Conservation Areas. $$ % $$ $% $ $$ $$$$ $% $$$#%%$ %$ $ $ $$ %$ $ The three Conservation Areas $ $$$ $$ $$ $ within a 2km radius of the site are $ %$ $$$$ depicted on Figure 7B. $$%$$%$%$$$$%$$$$$$#$$ $%$$ $$ $ $$$ $$$$ $ $$ $$$ $ $ $ % $ $ $$$% $ $ $ $$ $ $ $%%%%%%$ $%$$ Figure 8A: Designated $ Heritage Assets (5km) $ $$ $ $$ %$ $ $%$ $ $ $ $ $% $ $$$$ %$ $ $%% $$ $ $ %% $% $ Elwy Solar Energy Farm $ $ $ $$ $ $# $%$$$ $$ $ Client: Solarcentury $$ $$ $$%$ $ %$ $ $ $ DRWG No: P19-2023 $ $ Contains OS$$ data © Crown Copyright $and database right 2019 $ $ Drawn by: EP 0 5 km %$ Date: 23/07/2020 $$$ $$ > (N Scale: 1:75,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Rhuddlan Site 2km Rhuddlan Castle Conservation Area Twthill Listed Buildings Grade # I $ II % II* Pengwern Scheduled Monument Historic Park and Garden (non- statutory designatation)

Bodelwyddan

Gwernigron Farm Plas Coch

Bodelwyddan Castle

St Asaph Figure 8B: Designated Heritage Assets (2km)

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

NB Numbers refer to photographic plates in main body of DBA. Missing numbers comprise historic 18 maps not photos. Letters refer to photos in Appendix 5 of DBA. 12 Only viewpoints within or near the 13 6 5 site are shown. 3 F D 4 7 8 9 16 11 10 2 17

Figure 9: Photo Locations C 23 E B A G Elwy Solar Energy Farm FIGURE 7B: DESIGNATED Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:10,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS

Due to Storms Ciara and Dennis, crop growth cycles, and COVID-19, it was necessary to postpone completion of the geophysical survey to August 2020.

Figure 10: Progress of geophysical survey

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m > Date: 30/07/2020 N ( Scale: 1:10,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS

Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. FIGURE 7B: DESIGNATED Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk

Appendix 5: Photographs from Walkover Survey

A: Looking east past the pond and gully in the southern part of the site

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B: Looking north across the pond in the south-western part of the site

P19-2023 │ EP │ July 2020 Elwy Solar Energy Farm, St Asaph

C: Looking north across the pond in the far south-western part of the site

P19-2023 │ EP │ July 2020 Elwy Solar Energy Farm, St Asaph

D: Looking north-west across the pond in the western part of the site

P19-2023 │ EP │ July 2020 Elwy Solar Energy Farm, St Asaph

E: Looking north across the plotted (possible) location of the First World War tented camp in the south-western part of the site

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F: Surface remains of the ROC monitoring post in the western part of the site

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G: Looking east across the ridge and furrow earthworks in the south-eastern part of the site

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Appendix 6: Processed LiDAR

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Azimuth: 0 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Azimuth: 45 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/20 > (N Scale: 1:10,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Site

Azimuth: 90 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Azimuth: 135 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Azimuth: 180 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Azimuth: 225 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Client: Solarcentury DRWG No: P19-2023 REV: 4 Drawn by: EP 0 500 m Date: 23/07/2020 > (N Scale: 1:10,000 @ A4 PLANNING | DESIGN | ENVIRONMENT | ECONOMICS | HERITAGE Approved by: GS Copyright Pegasus Planning Group Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Emapsite Licence number 0100031673. Promap License number 100020449. Pegasus accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for its original purpose, or by the original client, or following Pegasus' express agreement to such use. T 01285641717 www.pegasusgroup.co.uk KEY Site

Azimuth: 270 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Azimuth: 315 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

Azimuth: 360 Altitude: 45 Z Factor: 20

1m resolution digital terrain model LiDAR imagery

Elwy Solar Energy Farm

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