CoralJackz – That History Couple

Today this cromlech lies in ruin in a field boundary near Little Newcastle in Pembrokeshire. There is a short Coflein entry: “Colston Burial Chamber. A burial chamber consisting of a capstone, 2.0m by 2.0m by 0.6m, resting on two upright stones and set upon probable barrow, 30m in diameter. Up to two other burial chambers have been suggested here, however the only other stones noted in 1966 were thought to be related to field clearance.”

In 1925, it was described as a “small but perfect cromlech”…:
“About half a mile SE of Little Newcastle village, on the farm of Ffynnonau, is a small but perfect cromlech, and on its S side the ruined remains of a second. The first cromlech is separated from the road to Beulah bridge by a fence which is carried over the mound on which the stones are placed. The capstone, measuring 82in by 75in, with a thickness of 37in [2.1 by 1.9 by 0.95m], is supported on three short stone pillars. The structure stands E and VI…” (RCAM 1925,396)

The following information is provided from ‘A reassessment of the Neolithic Chambered Tombs of South-West Wales (Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire)’ by Christopher Thompson Barker:
” The remnants of this monument lie on the N side of a hedge, on a slope which overlooks a stream to the N. The capstone has two large supporters remaining at the front of the chamber, while the tip of a back-stone protrudes through the chamber filling. This is likely to be mostly modern silt, for a local resident recalls playing in the chamber as a child (Stenger in DAT DRF).

Two recumbent slabs continue the line of the chamber entrance towards the NE; from here a broken line of four slabs runs SE. The area is heavily overgrown, and other slabs lie partially concealed beneath thorn bushes. The stone which lies above and behind the ‘facade’ is not in situ; it may well be the stone that previously (pre-1981) projected out at right-angles to the ’facade’.

The road and the associated hedge have greatly disturbed the mound behind the chamber. It is now extremely difficult to assess the shape of this mound, but there is a strong possibility that it was long rather than round (Lynch, pers comm).
While there is no evidence for a second chamber, the true nature of the lines of stones to the E of the chamber will remain unclear until excavation is carried out upon the monument.” – https://theses.gla.ac.uk/78041/1/11007320.pdf

This cromlech is not on a public right of way, so always get permission before entering the field. Nearby is Garn Turne, a massive neolithic cromlech which is definitely worth the visit if you are in this area!

In this video, we explore the Colston cromlech, as well as some other sites within walking distance-