Nefyn

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameNefyn
Alternative NamesTomen Nevin
Historic CountryCaernarfonshire
Modern AuthorityGwynedd
1974 AuthorityGwynedd
CommunityNefyn

Much mutilated motte with C19 fisherman's watch tower on top. (King 1983)

An originally circular mound, c.16.5m in diameter and 3.0m high, having a summit area, c.12m in diameter, encroached upon and cut away on the W, by public conveniences. A watch tower has been raised upon the summit. (Coflein)

Situated on a mound near the centre of Nefyn, some 60m W of the junction of the A497 and the B4417 and approximately 25m N of the latter.

C19 watch tower probably built in connection with the fishing industry. It is shown on the 1889 O.S. map but not marked on the Nefyn Tithe Map of 1838 so is possibly mid C19. It stands on a circular mound which is possibly of an earlier date.

Small square watch tower of rubble stone built on the summit of the remains of a small circular mound some 3m high. Tower is approximately 3m square and some 5m high with a plain parapet 1m high. There are 15 external steps with iron handrail on the landward side turning a right angle after 9 steps to gain the platform.

A rare example of a coastal watch tower, possibly connected with the C19 herring fishing industry of Nefyn. (Listed Building Report)

Motte, on N.W. side of town. Mutilated remains of a circular mound originally perhaps 10 ft. high and 40 ft. in diameter at the top. The N. side has been terraced and revetted with a modern wall, and building encroach on the S. side, which has been partly cut away. The watch tower crowns the summit. Nothing remains to show whether a bailey existed. (RCAHMW 1964)

Gatehouse Comments

Despite being damaged there seems little real doubt this was a motte. Any bailey has been lost to development. The location is typical for a manorial centre, in the middle of settlement and by the church.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic Wales CADW listed database record number
The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSH306405
Latitude52.9349098205566
Longitude-4.52211999893188
Eastings230660
Northings340570
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 252 (listed as possible)
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p. 49 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 35
  • RCAHMW, 1964, A Survey and Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol. 3: West (HMSO) p. 85 no. 1682 online copy

Journals

  • 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
  • Owen, Edward, 1903, 'Ancient British camps, etc., in Lleyn, co. Carnarvon' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 58 p. 258 online copy

Other

  • Davies, J.G., 2013, The Earth and Timber Castles of the Llŷn Peninsula in their Archaeological, Historical and Landscape Context (BA Dissertation University of Durham) p. 48-52 online copy