Allt y Ferin, Llanegwad

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameAllt y Ferin, Llanegwad
Alternative NamesDin Weilir; Dinweiler
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlanegwad

The earthworks at Allt y Fern are thought to represent a medieval motte and bailey castle superimposed upon an earlier promontory enclosure: the motte is a near-circular steep-sided mound, 27-8m in diameter & rising 6.0m to an 9.0-10m diameter summit, ditched about on all sides; it is inset into the eastern angle of a subrectangular enclosure some 52m north-east to south-west, having a north-east facing rampart & ditch beyond which a further roughly 84m sweep of rampart and ditch covers both motte and bailey from the level ground on this side; the remainder of the enclosure is defined by scarps above steep natural slopes, a 25m section of ditch cutting off the 50m tail of the promontory: OS County series (Carmarthen. XXXII.15 1889) appears to show a 9.0m diameter circular structure set upon the summit of the mound, which is surrounded by a 25m diameter boundary, apparently set at the base of the ditch: these last features may be associated with Plas Alltyferin (Nprn120788). (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period .The motte measures c 28m in diameter at the base and rises c 6m in height to a summit of c 10m diameter. A summer house associated with the nearby mansion Plas Alltyferin formerly stood on the summit. The motte has a surrounding narrow ditch with a 2m counterscarp bank and is set into the eastern angle of a subrectangular bailey that measures c 52m north-east to south-west defined by steep natural scarps except on the north east where a rampart & ditch 3m high on the exterior, 1m high on the interior re-uses the earthworks of an earlier prehistoric promontory enclosure. A second slighter ditch and bank measuring c 25m in length cuts off the tip of the promontory. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Has been identified as 'Dinweiler' taken by the Welsh and recaptured in 1159.

- 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 ReferenceSN522232
Latitude51.8884391784668
Longitude-4.14891004562378
Eastings252210
Northings223280
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 235 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 46
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 26-7, 44 (reconstructon)
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 16
  • Davis, P.R., 1987, Castles of Dyfed (Llandysul: Gomer Press) p. 71
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 57, 60
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 228
  • Richard, A.J., 1935, in Lloyd, J.E. (ed), History of Carmathenshire (Cardiff) Vol. 1 p. 269-70
  • RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p. 116-7 no. 336 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