Gray Hill, Monmouthshire facts for kids
Gray Hill (called Welsh: Mynydd Llwyd in Welsh) is a cool hill in South Wales. It's right next to the village of Llanvair Discoed in Monmouthshire. This hill stands about 896 feet (273 meters) above sea level. It's a great place to explore and learn about ancient times!
Where is Gray Hill Located?
Gray Hill is on the eastern side of the Wentwood Reservoir. Across the reservoir, you'll see another hill called Mynydd Alltir Fach. The larger Wentwood hill rises up behind both of these. The closest big village or town to Gray Hill is Caerwent. From the very top of Gray Hill, you can enjoy amazing views! You can look out over the Caldicot Levels and the wide Severn Estuary, where the River Severn meets the sea. You can also see lots of land further inland.
What is Gray Hill Made Of?
Gray Hill is mostly made of a type of rock called sandstone. This sandstone is part of what geologists call the Old Red Sandstone (or 'ORS'). These rocks were formed a very, very long time ago during the Devonian period. That was about 419 to 359 million years ago!
The lower parts of Gray Hill are made of a rock layer called the Brownstones Formation. On top of these, you'll find the Quartz Conglomerates. These rocks are a bit pebbly. Even higher up, there are sandstones from the Tintern Sandstone Group. All these rock layers are tilted slightly towards the south. Gray Hill is actually a small part of a much longer ridge of sandstone that stretches across Monmouthshire.
Ancient Discoveries on Gray Hill
Gray Hill is famous for its amazing prehistoric remains. These are signs of people who lived here thousands of years ago! You can find several interesting things on the hill:
- Standing Stones: These are large stones placed upright by ancient people.
- Stone Circle: There's a special stone circle near the top of the hill. It's about 32 feet (10 meters) across. Experts believe it was built during the Bronze Age, about 4,000 years ago! From the circle, you can see the Severn Estuary.
- Cairns: These are piles of stones, often used as burial mounds or markers.
- Field Boundaries and Enclosures: You can also see old walls or fences that marked off fields or special areas. One of these is a D-shaped enclosure, which might have been used in the Neolithic or Bronze Age.
People have also found evidence from the Middle Ages on Gray Hill. This shows that people have been using this hill for a very long time!
