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Petition Number: P-06-1337 Petition title: Sycharth, the home of Owain Glyndŵr, should be bought to safeguard the site for future generations. Text of petition: History is such a key subject for us here in Wales. Stories from our nation show us how we have developed over the centuries to become what we are today. Notable characters have steered this interesting history, with none more prominent than Owain Glyndŵr, who has contributed so much to our identity, and for many, he is a symbol of the nation. It is very disheartening to see that Sycharth, Glyndŵr's home, is almost forgotten deep in the heart of rural Powys, and the place is not very accessible for people to visit. It is time for the Government to ensure that this vital site is safeguarded for the next generation, by purchasing it and ensuring that it is more accessible to enable people to visit and appreciate this wonderful site. It is disappointing to see that all our castles throughout Wales are protected, but that this site is hardly advertised, not to mention celebrated. It’s time to change the way we view the history of Wales, and Sycharth would be a good starting point. |
The main tools the Welsh Government uses for protecting the historic environment are listing buildings and scheduling monuments. Scheduled monuments are protected archaeological sites and unoccupied historic ruins. They are selected to represent all human activities from earliest times to today.
There are around 4,200 scheduled monuments in Wales. Of these, only about 129 are owned and looked after by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment division).
The aim of scheduling is to preserve the archaeological evidence that survives within sites and monuments. This includes the physical fabric of the monument and any associated artefacts and environmental evidence, such as pollen or seeds.
This means that if the landowner wants to carry out work that would physically alter a scheduled monument they will probably need to apply to Cadw for permission known as scheduled monument consent. The scheduled monument consent process is intended to protect the monument, its setting and its features from unsympathetic works that could damage its national importance.
Cadw officers also visit scheduled monuments and their owners periodically to check the condition of the site and to offer advice on managing the monument.
The Welsh Government’s response to this petition notes that Sycarth is scheduled and that:
Cadw regularly monitors the condition of the monument and has worked proactively with the owners of the site, the Llangedwyn Estate, to implement conservation works to protect the integrity of the earthworks by improving drainage and repairing erosion caused by natural weathering.
Cadw also continues to work with the owners and the tenant farmer to ensure that the site is fully accessible to the public. There is a small on-site car park and access via path and stile, which have been recently upgraded with financial grant support from Cadw. The present interpretation panel was installed by Cadw in 2018 and includes an artist’s depiction of the site as it might have looked at the time of Owain Glyndŵr. The interpretation draws on the results of Cadw’s geophysical investigation work carried out to support the conservation of the motte and is our most up-to-date understanding of Sycharth.
Cadw has an Ancient monument grant. The accompanying guidance notes:
We consider applications for grant for works of preservation, maintenance and management of ancient monuments. Schemes which assist in public access and interpretation of ancient monuments will also be considered.
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