Castell Coch, Welsh St Donats
Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House
There are uncertain remains
| Name | Castell Coch, Welsh St Donats |
| Alternative Names | Castell y Marchog; Castell Sion Goodfellow; Knight's Castle |
| Historic Country | Glamorgan |
| Modern Authority | Vale of Glamorgan |
| 1974 Authority | South Glamorgan |
| Community | Welsh St Donats |
A sub-rectangular enclosure, c.86m E-W by 33-48m, which appears to have originally been defined by a bank and ditch, now mostly reduced to a scarp, subdivided by a similar feature. A later, drystone-walled enclosure overlies the NW of the site. (Coflein)
Probable Medieval homestead situated at 83m above O.D. on a low spur of land divided by two valleys. It consists of a rectangular enclosure about 85m by 54m overall. The south, north and east sides are defined by scarps and the west side by a ditch 5.6m wide and 1.5m deep. The interior is subdivided into two compartments by an eroded scarp. The north-east angle of the enclosure has been destroyed by a drystone sheep-pen of recent date. Against the north wall of the pen there is a millstone of conglomerate 1.2m in diameter. The site is mentioned in the Iolo MSS as 'Castell y Marchog' or 'Castell Sion Goodfellow'. The same source also mentions the existance of windmills in the vicinity which may account for the presence of the millstone. (RCAHMW Glam 3 Part 2 'Md Non-defensive Secular Mons' 1982 58-59 plan; OS record card). Castell-Coch is situated towards the western end of a low spur, in an uncommanding position with poor natural defences. it consists of three rectilinear enclosures. The principle one, in the north-east, is bounded by stone walls. These are now tubles, with no traces of mortar, and average 2.5m wide and 0.7m high. Four gaps occur in the walls, but which of these is original can not be determined. The interior is nettle covered, with no visible foundations or building platform. A ditch which separates the site from the end of the spur is not defensive and was, perhaps, constructed to prevent cattle straying. From its position and plan this is possibly the site of a medieval farmstead. (Quinnell, NV 1956; OS Record Card). Castell Coch, consists of three rectilinear enclosures The principal NE one, is bounded by stone walls, these are now tumbles, with no trace of mortar
(Edith Evans, GGAT 73 Early-Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites Project, 2003-04 (Yr4)). (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)
Not scheduled
Not Listed
The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | ST027747 |
| Latitude | 51.4627799987793 |
| Longitude | -3.4008800983429 |
| Eastings | 302710 |
| Northings | 174780 |
