Bedford Castle

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

There are earthwork remains

NameBedford Castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthorityVale of Glamorgan
1974 AuthoritySouth Glamorgan
CommunityLlantwit Major

An irregular enclosure about 35m in diameter, defined by a bank. Eccentrically placed within is a stony mound, 10m in diameter and 0.7m high. (Coflein)

The mound, of turf covered solid stone, is a collapsed building, probably the dovecote. The surrounding bank was possibly its enclosure no traces of any ditches. (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone. The site consists of a small grass covered mound in the corner of a field south of Llanmaes church. The mound is roughly circular, 10m in diameter and 0.8m high, with a flattish top. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

This site has been considered by some to be a castle but is rejected as such by Hogg and King. Described as a moated site by Salter. Scheduled as Motte, but early scheduling can be suspect. Otherwise this site appears to be recorded as ?medieval ?enclosed Dovecote. Situated just outside village of Llanmaes but in different parish (and probably so in medieval period) Llanmaes has a castle (Malefant Castle) and this is unlikely as predecessor, successor or siege castle. The small mound in the center of the small embanked enclosure (Note not a ditch) is probably a collapsed dovecot, possibly of late C15 date, when Jasper Tudor, Earl of Bedford held Llanmaes by escheat.

- 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 ReferenceSS980693
Latitude51.4135208129883
Longitude-3.46801996231079
Eastings298000
Northings169300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 75 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 174 (reject)
  • Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p. 47
  • RCAHMW, 1982, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol. 3 Part 2: Secular Non-defensive Monuments (London: HMSO) MS14 p. 114-5

Journals

  • Spurgeon, C.J. with Roberts, D.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1999, 'Supposed Castles in Glamorgan; A review' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 39 27-40
  • 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)