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Landmarks of Langstone
The following is based on material researched in the summer of 1971, by Mr L. N. Parkes of Waltwood Road and forms part of the Monmouthshire Survey of County Treasures.

(A copy of his manuscript records can be found in Newport Reference Library)

THE LONG STONE

(Map ref: ST.377896)

The “long stone” is located in a field approximately ½ mile east of Langstone Court on the Langstone to Llanwern lane and gives its name to the parish of Langstone. It is a roughly square block of conglomerate, measuring approximately 1375mm x 1245mm x 600mm thick. The stone has the appearance of having been broken through, and before a portion was detached it may have been a standing stone or maen hir.

The stone was mentioned in the 10th century when Assier, son of Marchiad” gifted the village of Segan (Langstone), together with 9 modii of land, to the see of Llandaff,

From the conquest the village was held by the Bluett family until it passed to the Morgans in 1349. They owned it until 1670 at which time it was acquired by the Gore family from Somerset who held it until the late 19th century.

LANGSTONE CHURCH

(Map ref: ST.371891)

The church is located on the south side of the M4 motorway on the Langstone to Llanwern lane. It dates from the 14th century. The church was considerably restored in 1907 but has retained several 2-light square-headed 15th or 16th century windows and one trefoiled single lancet. The church consists of a nave with gabled stone bell cote, chancel and south porch.

The west door opening has a heavy chamfered wooden frame with a segmental arched head dated 1622 which may commemorate the lengthening of this end of the building. The stoop to the right of the entrance appears to have been deliberately broken, possibly at the time of the Reformation.

In the north west corner of the churchyard is what is locally known as a “Devil Stone”. This is a block of stone approximately 650mm x 573mm with chamfered corners. Recessed into the top is a square approximately 250mm by 150mm deep. This is possibly the base of a cross and warrants further investigation.

LANGSTONE COURT FARMHOUSE

(Map ref: ST.370895)

This 16th century farmhouse is located on Langstone Court Road, just to the south of the M4 motorway. There is a 17th century wing to the right hand and the oldest part is in the centre. It has a late brick stack on the original exposed chimney-breast with offsets.

The 17th century wing is two storied with a slate roof and a later brick porch. The windows are mostly wood casements with some 19th century sashes. The interior is generally modernised but retains a good 17th century well-type oak staircase (5 landings). This has turned balusters, flat moulded handrails to flat topped newels, ball pendants and solid moulded strings.

In 1969 the owner (Mr Weekes) removed a wall cupboard immediately to the right of the hall which is the oldest part of the house. In doing so he revealed a window confirming that this was the original outside wall of the house.

Langstone Court is now a farm, and occupies the site of a house belonging to the Bluet family which existed in the 13th century. In the Survey of Wentwood 1271, Sir William Bluet is returned as having house-boot and hay-boot at his house at Langstone, from the Conquest.

LANGSTONE CASTLE

(Map ref: ST.370895)

Situated in the ornamental shrubbery garden attached to Langstone Court Farm is located what was originally thought to be a tumulus mound. However, in 1964, construction of the new M4 motorway was undercutting the north side of this mound and a limited rescue dig was carried out.

This dig revealed that there had been a castle on this site with a double bank and ditch, which had been re-cut and cleared out at varying times up to the late 15th century.

It is thought to have been originally a timber castle subsequently overlain by masonry. A bailey can be traced to the west of the present house enclosing the orchard and part of the field to the west of the orchard.

The limited nature of the excavation precluded any examination of the central area or the mound top. Around the perimeter was found a masonry curtain or small wall 5 ft thick which presumably replaced a timber fence. The ditch had been re-cut or cleared out at least three times down to the late 15th century. The material from it was piled up to form a massive counterscarp bank which incorporated masonry debris and window leads as well as domestic refuse.

LANGSTONE VILLA

(Map ref: ST.374898)

From Langstone Court Road take the footpath eastwards along the north side of the motorway embankment for about 150 metres. On your left hand side you will see the remains of a rectangular moated enclosure, with a small stream across its north side. It has an inner and outer bank, both of which have been destroyed in the south east. The outer bank has been partially destroyed in the south west. It is a scheduled ancient monument.

The earthwork is clearly visible from the air. It is grass covered and contains no visible remains of internal habitation. It is situated in low-lying land and is subject to frequent flooding.

An archaeological watching brief on a sewerage improvement scheme carried out in 1991 considered that despite earlier suggestions it is unlikely that the earthwork had been a moated manor house or settlement. It was more likely that the feature was a stock enclosure and would have been topped by a fence

 

CATS ASH FARMHOUSE AND ST CURIG’s CHAPEL

(Map ref: ST.371907)

The farmhouse stands close to the junction of Catsash Road and Old Roman Road. It is dated 1604 with later additions incorporating the medieval remains of St Curig’s Chapel. It has a rendered frontage with a slate roof, end gables and restored brick stacks. It has a plain central door with a square stone tablet incised “John Thom 1604”. The interior is generally modernised but retains some segmental arched stop moulded doorframes. It has plain exposed ceiling beams and a spiral staircase.

The chapel portion is built in rubble with a slate roof and end gables. In the end elevation is the only surviving original feature – a blocked pointed-arch chamfered stone window frame with arched drip mould.

Catche Ashe (Cats Ash) appears in a deed of 1536 when “the old chapel” is let by Sir William Morgan of Pencoed to Morgan Ap Einon for 99 years.

 

PEN-TOPPEN-ASH CAMP

(Map Ref: ST.378915)

In a field beside the Cats Ash to Coed-y-Caerau road can be seen the earthworks of Pen-Toppen-Ash Camp. These are the remains of an early iron-age settlement which was in use for a considerable period. Located at the highest point of the south-west end of the Chepstow Ridge it could well have been later used by the Romans as a signal station.

The north east part is a square earthworks occupying the crest of the ridge. The field has often been arable and great plough ridges cut across the earthworks. Nevertheless, the rampart is upwards of 6m wide, and at best 1.2m high. The rampart is still prominent around the whole circuit with, in places, an accompanying ditch.

The square covers approximately 2.5 acres and is thought to have been a small fort (signal station) linking Usk, Caerleon, and the Severn Estuary, including the north coast of Devon.

TREGARN MILL

(Map ref: ST.387904)

According to Mrs Perry (the owner in 1971) the space immediately to the east of the present building was the area that originally housed the wheel. Also, what is now the modern drive leading to the house on this side was called “the sluice” on old maps and deeds.

She also believed that the stream providing the water had come from a stream further to the east at the end of the paddock. A check at the end of the paddock, where the stream comes in from the east before turning south, revealed some old walling into the bank that could originally have housed a sluice gate diverting the water in the direction of the mill.

ST PETER’S CHURCH, LLANBEDR

(Map ref: ST.388907)

This church was located near Llanbedr Hall, and founded in about 1030 by Caradag ap Rhiwallan who was in disgrace with Joseph, bishop of Llandaff, for taking away the wife of one Sitsyllt "with violence". As a penance Rhiwallan granted the church to the see of Llandaff.

The church was re-built on the same site in the 14th century and Kelly’s Directory of Monmouthshire records that in 1901 the building was then being used as a barn. Sir Joseph Bradney in his History of Monmouthshire written in 1932 records that no traces are now left and a modern house occupies the site although he does not say exactly which house it is.

Transactions of the Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquaries Association refer to an ancient coffin lid built into the wall of the church ornamented with an incised cross of an early date. This coffin lid is now built into the wall of Eastbourne House , which is on the opposite (north) side of the A48 to Llanbedr Hall suggesting that the old masonry might have been re-used or even that this house is a conversion of the old church building.

The ancient sandstone coffin lid appears to have been for a baby, as it measures only about 20” long by 10-12” wide at the top and 8” wide at the bottom.

LITTLE CAER LICYN HOUSE

(Map ref: ST.387919)

Little Caer Licyn House is in the northernmost corner of the community, near Coed-y-Caerau. It is a stone house built between 1550 and 1610 with 17th century additions and modern alterations.

In the older part of the house the fireplace in use is obviously set into the 16th century open fireplace. This is confirmed by the size of the chimney stack passing through the loft which is above this room. This chimney is of natural stone, topped on the outside with modern red bricks. The living room of this 16th century part of the house has a small kitchen on the north side which appears to have been the dairy. The loft above these two rooms is entered from outside by a door up some stone steps on the north end but there are also trapdoors let into both the east and west outside walls.

The walls of the 16th century part of the house are approximately 3 feet thick and on the 17th century addition they are approximately 2 feet thick, all being of natural stone. On the south end of the 17th century part a stone built lean-to cowshed has been added (possibly soon after the addition of this side of the house?). This is still in use.

TRE-GARN HOUSE

(Map ref: ST.384905)

Tregarn signifies “the place on the heap of stones or cairn” and we can speculate that in ancient times a heap of stones stood here as a memorial of some important event.

The house appears to have been built and added to in three periods. The original house has 1500 carved into the brickwork above the east door and it is possible that the north side of the house which was originally a barn and milking shed may have been built at the same time or soon after.

To the north on the outside of the original barn there are visible signs of an arch which would appear to have been an outside stone stair into the upper floor of the barn. The south-west side of the house is added to in typical late-Georgian style.

The barn structure is now renovated and incorporated into the house as a kitchen and dining area with a large bedroom/playroom above and cellars below, but as walls both inside and out are well covered with plaster it is difficult to see any difference. Mrs Bailey [owner/occupier in 1957] was aware that the house once had a stone spiral staircase of which no trace now remains apart from a slight concave recess in the inside face of the south wall.

The will of William John Howell of “Trearegarn“ is dated 7th July 1611. The family continued to live in Tregarn [House] until William Williams died in 1865 when the estate went to his sister, Mrs Hughes.

One of the outbuildings is a barn with an inscription on the north side.

ROUND BARROW

(Map ref: ST.382891)

Found by Mr. L N Parkes in 1968, this is a bronze age burial mound located on the south side of the M4 between Stock Wood and the Underwood football ground. It is about 100 to 110 feet across and the height of the centre is approximately 3’-6” above the surrounding ground. It was probably built between 1700 and 1400 BC.

NEOLITHIC ARROWHEAD

(Map ref: ST.371891)

Found near the Langstone to Llanwern Lane it is a Neolithic arrowhead with a damaged point, 1” x 7/8” dated between 3000 and 1800 BC. It was picked up on the ground of Mr A Palmer of Langstone and is held in Newport Museum.

COLDRA PARK

(Map ref: ST.366895)

Just to the south of the M4 motorway and to the west of Langstone Court Road there are platforms cut into the hillside, left over from ancient quarrying activity.

In the lower part of the field a “sunken roadway” leads from the quarry field in the south to the lime kiln in the wood to the north. This is known to be where a small railway line had run across this field carrying trucks with stone for the kiln. It is thought that the name “Park” given to this area may have been when it was part of Coldra Park.

THATCHED COTTAGE

(Map ref: ST.369889)

On the left hand side of the Langstone to Llanwern Lane stands a picturesque “Tudor-style thatched cottage - the only thatched building in the village. It is however, relatively modern, dating from 1907 and designed by Oswald Milne, chief assistant to Sir Edward Lutyens. It is a Grade 2 listed building.

The four bedroom house is built in local stone with thatched eyebrows to the upper casement windows. It has a tall square brick stack on exposed chimney breast and two stone stacks with moulded caps.

There are around 200 different species of rose and over 20 varieties of climbers covering the house, walls, arches, pillars and trees.