Hen Castell, Llangattock

Has been described as a Certain Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameHen Castell, Llangattock
Alternative NamesHen Gastell
Historic CountryBrecknockshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityLlangattock

Overgrown square moated platform all that remains of C14 manor house. A rectangular platform, c.21.5m by 18m, is defined by a partially waterfilled moat, c.41m square overall. On the S part of the platform traces of a possible tower, c.20m by 12.5m have been noted. (Derived from Coflein)

The ancient park of Kille-Lan, or Cîl-le Lan, now called Llangattock Park, was originally of great extent, and formed an appendage to the castle of Crickhowel ... In the upper part of the park are some very small remains of a moated building, at which place a neat and elegant shooting-box has been built for the Duke of Beaufort. (Lewis)

The monument comprises the remains of a well-preserved medieval moated homestead. The possibly once rectangular mound is surrounded by flat bottomed ditch. The top of the mound is about 3m high from the ditch bottom. The mound is a mass of fallen masonry, with fairly large pieces of course rag stone. The edges are generally a little higher than the centre, and a straight wall face can be made out for a length of 3m on the south side, suggesting it was once a rectangular keep measuring around 15m by 10m. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Some of the remains seen within the moat may relate to the early C19 structure reported by Lewis but the site is older than that and may well have been a late medieval hunting lodge or keepers lodge dressed up with martial symbolism to deter poachers and assert lordship rights.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO212165
Latitude51.8421287536621
Longitude-3.14397001266479
Eastings321280
Northings216570
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Davis, Paul, R., 2011, The Forgotten Castles of Wales (Almeley: Logaston Press) p. 93-95
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 232 (listed)
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 28
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 18
  • Remfry, Paul, 1998, Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p. 167-8
  • Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p. 93
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 19
  • Rees, Wm, 1932, Map of South Wales and the Border in the 14th century (Ordnance Survey) (A handbook to the map was published in 1933)
  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy

Journals

  • King, D.J.Cathcart, 1972, 'The Field Archaeology of mottes; Eine kurze übersicht' Château Gaillard Vol. 5 p. 101-112
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1970, 'Castles in Wales and the Marches (Additions and corrections to lists published in 1963 and 1967)' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 119 p. 119-124
  • King, D.J.C., 1968-9, 'Two further castles in Breconshire' Brycheiniog Vol. 13 p. 155 online copy
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124 (reject)