Turla Mound

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are earthwork remains

NameTurla Mound
Alternative NamesTwrla Mound; Glanyrannell, Glan-yr-annell; Talley
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlansawel

This mound is situated on the western confines of Glanvrannell Park, at a spot commanding the junction of the two small streams, the Marlais and the Cothi. The mound rises to a height of 15 feet, and has a base circumference of 250 feet. The summit, which is about 25 feet in diameter and somewhat irregular in outline, shows traces of a circular depression, as of a structure of some kind. The ground at the base and immediately around the mound is slightly marshy, so that the surrounding ditch, if one ever existed, lias silted up. On the northern side the marsh becomes a shallow pond, created probably by the excavation of the soil to form the earthwork. On the firm ground beyond is a low mound, doubtless the point from which communication was effected with the mound. Local tradition speaks of Twrla as the place “ where the law used to be administered,” a belief which points to the structure as a seat of commote jurisdiction. Some years ago when working at the base of the mound, a labourer on the Glanyrannell estate found some pieces of what he called 4 pewter ’ (? bronze or lead), which he threw back into the morass, and, although diligently sought for, they remain unrecovered. The mound is not shown on the 6-incli Ordnance sheet.

At the base of the mound is a prostrate maenhir of great size, which is locally known as the Twrla Stone. Its length is 88 inches, breadth 27 inches, and depth 22 inches. In places its surface suggests artificial tooling, and it bears scorings which may be tne results of weathering. Though now lying in what was the fosse of the mound it may have played some part in early tribal or manorial ceremonies. (RCAHMW 1917)

Gatehouse Comments

In Hogg and King 1963 list of early castles, based on RCAHMW Inventory, but in the corrections paper of 1970 rejected as a quarry dump or other modern feature. Also rejected by Davis.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN645369
Latitude52.0148811340332
Longitude-3.97500991821289
Eastings264520
Northings236970
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Calculate Print

Books

  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 45 (reject)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 61 (reject)
  • 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)
  • RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p. 262-3 no. 745 online copy

Journals

  • 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 (reject–quarry dump or other modern feature)
  • 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