Burfa Castle
Encyclopedia
Burfa Castle was a hillfort defensive fortification near the tiny town of Old Radnor
in Radnorshire
(modern-day Powys
), Wales
. It lies near the Burfa Bog Nature Reserve and an Iron Age
barrow
. Little remains of the hillfort today save a ditch above a steep bank. On the side of the hillfort's likely entrance are three or four banks and ditches, "incorporating a torturous entrance approach," according to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
The Welsh hillfort was likely also the location of some sort of structure dating back to the Iron Age
. The Royal Commission notes that material dating from that period has been found at the site. Further, the Radnor Valley was at the edge of known Roman
settlements; though the valley is not thought to have been home to any permanent Roman settlements, traces of an auxiliary fort and troop camps have been found in the area, including one at Burfa.
Old Radnor
Old Radnor is a tiny town in Radnorshire , Wales.-Notes:...
in Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
(modern-day Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
), 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...
. It lies near the Burfa Bog Nature Reserve and an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
. Little remains of the hillfort today save a ditch above a steep bank. On the side of the hillfort's likely entrance are three or four banks and ditches, "incorporating a torturous entrance approach," according to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
The Welsh hillfort was likely also the location of some sort of structure dating back to the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. The Royal Commission notes that material dating from that period has been found at the site. Further, the Radnor Valley was at the edge of known Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settlements; though the valley is not thought to have been home to any permanent Roman settlements, traces of an auxiliary fort and troop camps have been found in the area, including one at Burfa.