Bryn Gwyn stones
Encyclopedia
The Bryn Gwyn stones stand about 280 metres to the south-west of Castell Bryn Gwyn
, on the low ridge some 2 metres above the valley of the Afon Braint on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales
. They are the tallest standing stone
s in Wales, some 4 metres high. In 1723 Henry Rowlands
described them as part of a ruinous circle of eight stones, some 16 metres across. An account of 1797 says that "ignorant country people supposing money was hid under them tore them up" and today only two stones, one slab and one pillar, stand in a modern field bank. Nothing else is visible on the ground, but recent excavation has found three pits of standing stones, two containing stone stumps, consistent with the record by Rowlands. One other standing stone was not part of the circle. A public footpath runs past the stones from Bryngwyn-mawr on the A4080 road
, continuing north-east past Castell Bryn Gwyn
and some 800 metres further to Caer Lêb
.
From the Bryn Gwyn Stones the midsummer sun rises over the centre of Castell Bryn Gwyn.
Further to the north-east at Tre'r Dryw Bach, another large stone circle
was reported by 18th century visitors but has since been cleared away.
Castell Bryn Gwyn
Castell Bryn Gwyn is a prehistoric site on the Isle of Anglesey, west of Brynsiencyn. It is a circular clay and gravel bank covered with grass, still some 1.5m high and revetted externally by stone walls, which surround a level area some 54 metres in diameter. Its name means "White Hill Castle".The...
, on the low ridge some 2 metres above the valley of the Afon Braint on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They are the tallest standing stone
Standing stone
Standing stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
s in Wales, some 4 metres high. In 1723 Henry Rowlands
Henry Rowlands
Henry Rowlands was the author of Mona Antiqua Restaurata: An Archaeological Discourse on the Antiquities, Natural and Historical, of the Isle of Anglesey, the Antient Seat of the British Druids The Bridestones were among the sites described by Rowlands....
described them as part of a ruinous circle of eight stones, some 16 metres across. An account of 1797 says that "ignorant country people supposing money was hid under them tore them up" and today only two stones, one slab and one pillar, stand in a modern field bank. Nothing else is visible on the ground, but recent excavation has found three pits of standing stones, two containing stone stumps, consistent with the record by Rowlands. One other standing stone was not part of the circle. A public footpath runs past the stones from Bryngwyn-mawr on the A4080 road
A4080 road
The A4080 is a British A road which is located on the Island of Anglesey, Wales. The road begins at Menai Bridge and runs via Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Newborough and Rhosneigr to join the A55 about 9 miles from Holyhead. In all the road is about 17 miles long...
, continuing north-east past Castell Bryn Gwyn
Castell Bryn Gwyn
Castell Bryn Gwyn is a prehistoric site on the Isle of Anglesey, west of Brynsiencyn. It is a circular clay and gravel bank covered with grass, still some 1.5m high and revetted externally by stone walls, which surround a level area some 54 metres in diameter. Its name means "White Hill Castle".The...
and some 800 metres further to Caer Lêb
Caer Lêb
Caer Lêb is a prehistoric site on the Welsh island of Anglesey, west of Brynsiencyn. Its name means "Leaven Castle". It is a low-lying site near the Afon Braint with a double row of pentangular banks and marshy ditches. The original entrance was on the east, other gaps are modern and caused by...
.
From the Bryn Gwyn Stones the midsummer sun rises over the centre of Castell Bryn Gwyn.
Further to the north-east at Tre'r Dryw Bach, another large stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
was reported by 18th century visitors but has since been cleared away.