Castell Abereinon

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameCastell Abereinon
Alternative NamesCilcraig; Cil y Craig
Historic CountryCardiganshire
Modern AuthorityCeredigion
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlandysul

Documentary sources note the existence of an earthwork castle in this general area. This has been identified with the hill above Cil Craig farm but there is no evidence for a motte on the hill though outcrops of hard beds of rock on the hill's summit give the appearance of a costellated hill. CAS 1988. Meyrick mentions a "mouted tumulus" which he likens to Castell Gwynionedd, which is a ring work. Site destroyed. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

At the junction of the Cletwr with the Einon; 'another circular moated tumulus, resembling (Castell Gwynionydd), now called Cil y graig, but formerly Castell Abereinon, which the Welsh Chronicle says was built by Malgwn, in the year 1205' (Merrick, p. 192) (King, 1956)

Gatehouse Comments

Antiquarian reference to motte ("A circular moated tumulus, now called Cil y Craig" Meyrick), but nothing survives. Suggested as a site for the Castell Abereinion recorded in 1169 and 1206, as a castle built by Rhys ap Griffith, which may otherwise be Domen Las. Armitage writes it is marked on the 25-inch O.M. but King writes he has been all over the area and found no motte and that no edition of the Ordnance Map marks a mound. There is a quarry nearby and King suggests that it is possible that this reported mound may have been quarried away. Abereinon and Cilgraig exist as placenames on the modern map both as north of the Afon Einon. On the 1889 OS map Cil-graig is marked just north of the road crossing (but not as an antiquity) and Aber-Einon is south of the river. The Aber-Einon farmstead is close to the parish church. It may be that 'received' wisdom about castles being hilltop structures has lead to people looking on the wrong side of the Einon for this historic castle site.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN454427
Latitude52.0621185302734
Longitude-4.25473022460938
Eastings245400
Northings242700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 44
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 48, 558
  • Owen, Henry (ed), 1936, The Description of Pembrokeshire (London) Vol. 4 p. 488-9
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 301 online copy
  • Meyrick, Samuel Rush, 1907, The History and Antiquities of the County of Cardigan (Brecon) p. 192
  • Meyrick, Sir Samuel Rush, 1810, The History and Antiquities of the County of Cardigan (London) p. 146
  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy

Journals

  • Avent, Richard, 1994, 'Castles of the Welsh Princes' Château Gaillard Vol. 16 p. 11-17
  • Thorburn, J., 1987, ‘Castell Abereinon, Llandysul’ Archaeology in Wales Vol. 27 p. 55
  • King, D.J.C., 1956, 'The Castles of Cardiganshire' Ceredigion Vol. 3 p. 68 no. III (vanished) online copy