Hirfynydd Ridge Fortlet
Fortlet and Signal Station
The Roman Fortlet on Hirfynydd Ridge lies on the ‘Sarn Helen‘ Roman road about 3½ miles (c.5.6 km) south-west of the fort at Coelbren. The fortlet is almost square with sharp corner-angles, measuring 77 feet by 75½ feet (c.23.5 x 23 m) across the rampart crests, thus enclosing an area of only one-tenth of an acre (c.0.05 ha). The defences consisted of a single rampart and ditch, measuring 8 feet (c.2.4 m) and 5 feet (c.1.5 m) wide respectively; there is a single entrance gap, 10 feet (c.3 m) wide, in the centre of the south-eastern side, facing the Roman road.
Where lengths of highway between neighbouring forts followed a ridgeback, outposts or fortlets were typically founded on highpoints. This is the case with Hirfynydd, Pant-teg Uchaf and Pen-y-Crocbren Fortlet.
References for Hirfynydd
- Air Reconnaissance in Britain, 1958-1960 by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. li (1961) p.126;
Map References for Hirfynydd
NGRef: SN8206 OSMap: LR160
Roman Roads near Hirfynydd
Sarn Helen: NE (3.5) to Coelbren (West Glamorgan) Sarn Helen: SW (7.5) to Nidvm (Neath, West Glamorgan)
Sites near Hirfynydd Ridge Fortlet
- Coelbren Camp (5 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Coelbren Roman Fort (5 km)
Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) - Carn Caca (Melin Court Brook) Marching Camp (7 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Craig y Ddinas Hillfort (Ystradfellte) (8 km)
Iron Age Hillfort and Iron Age Promontory Hillfort - Blaen-Cwmbach Marching Camp (9 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Neath (Nidum) Roman Fort (12 km)
Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) and Milestone - Neath (Nido) Vicus (12 km)
Minor Settlement - Ystradfellte Marching Camp (14 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Maendy Camp (17 km)
Iron Age Hillfort - Y Bwlwarcau (18 km)
Iron Age Hillfort