Ty Isaf Long Barrow, Talgarth, Breconshire, Powys, Wales, British Isles [Map]

Long Barrows of the Cotswolds. Ty Isaf Long Barrow [Map]

Brecknockshire, 29 S.W. Parish of Talgarth. 10 *.

Latitude 51° 57' 13". Longitude 3° 11' 26". Height above O.D., 874 feet.

This Long Barrow is not marked on any map and was discovered by me quite accidentally on August 7th, 1921. It is about 95 feet long and lies in a small grass field immediately above and about 100 yards N.W. of Ty-isaf Farm. Two chambers are visible and there are indications of more.

Mr. Evan Morgan, of Brecon, contributes the following account:- "The width of the barrow at chamber A is 48 feet and its height about 3 or 4 feet at the place of measured width. North of A the barrow appears to be in its original state, but south of it considerable disturbance has taken place.

"Chamber A has been uncovered and its capstone is missing. Its length is about 10 feet and its width 4 feet. It is thus considerably larger than Ty Illtyd which is about 6 feet long by 3 feet 4 inches wide. [It is perhaps possible that Ty Illtyd had a double length, as is suggested by a slab-stone on the N.E. boundary of the existing chamber there.] The side stones or uprights at the S.W. corner are missing, but probably one of them is that now lying on the ground close to the chamber (See plan). The heights of the E. and W. end-stones above the present surface are about 3 feet and i foot 6 inches respectively. The floor of the chamber consists of a number of small stones.

"Chamber B has its capstone in position. It rests at the east end on an upright block about 18 inches above the present surface, and is embedded in the mound at its W. end. Its greatest exposed length is about 6 feet and its greatest width 5 feet 6 inches. The chamber is exposed to view from its east end, but it is not possible to take any measurements on the inside. The side-stones appear to have been removed; at any rate they are not now visible.

"The supposed Chamber is suggested by an upright stone in the barrow, the top of which just rises above the surface. The mound here does not appear to have been disturbed, and the chamber, if such it is, is intact.

"The upright stone at D may be a relic of a i;ioo chamber which once existed at the southern end of the barrow. It is about 1 foot 6 inches long, 1 foot high, and between 3 and 4 inches thick. It lies in a rough undergrowth of thorns about 6 to 8 feet from the south end of the mound."