Bwlchgwyn has been inhabited since at least the Bronze Age when a hill fort was built there (now destroyed by quarrying). It is thought that the original Brythonic inhabitants and later the Romans worked the shallow lead veins of the Eisteddfod, with the small fort possibly being a base for these operations. It has been suggested (by Ivan Margary, pioneering historian of Roman roads) that the old road up from Glascoed and along the ridge above Nant-y-Ffrith is of Roman origin: followed, from Bwlchgwyn, by today's main road, it runs to the hamlet near Landegla called Pen-y-stryt (“the end of the road“) and then across the moors. Ancient hedgerows, dating from this period can also be found opposite George Edwards and son bus depot.