Cwm Clais, Castell Bolan

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NameCwm Clais, Castell Bolan
Alternative NamesBaglan; Cwm Glais
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthorityNeath Port Talbot
1974 AuthorityWest Glamorgan
CommunityCwmavon

A ditched mound, 26-28m in diameter, apparently consisting of a lower banked mound, c.3.0m high with a lesser mound, c.3.0m high placed eccentically upon it. The ditch appears to be counterscarped on the SE. (Coflein)

Castell Bolan is a castle mound at 124m above O.D., occupying the top of a spur, on the N. flank of Mynydd Dinas. A ditch surrounds the mound (AM7) but is not present on the eastern side (OS). It is possible that the castle, with Plas Baglan on the north, and the Iron Age Hillfort of Pen-y-castle to the south, are the three castle recorded in this vicinity by Edwards Lhuyd as "Castel y Wiryones", "y Castell" and "Ben y Castell". Castell Bolan is spread over the full width of the N.W extremity of the spur, with steep natural falls to the W., N.W. and N.E sides. Its base is oval and regular, 26m by 28m, but its upper part is different and rises towards the S.E. to become a D-shaped summit. There it measures 6m by 7m and has a central depression 1m deep. At a lower level on the North side, on the half of the slope, is a curving bank with regular appearance. It contains a confined lunate shelf. This site may certainly be a castle of the 12-century Welsh lords of Afan, or one of their followers. Although, if is a Welsh castle, it clearly imitates the Norman motte. There is no certain historical record of the site, though it has been suggested that it might have been belonged to Morgan Gam and that there Herbert Fitzmatthew was slain by the Welsh in 1245 (RCAHM 1991, 143-145). (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, 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. Cwm-clais occupies a commanding position at the end of a spur above the Nant Cwm-Clais valley

The motte measures approximately 4.5-5m high and 15m in diameter at the top. Surrounding the motte is a shallow ditch which is not very pronounced on the north-east and east sides. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

It is possible that some features may be buried walls. The sites was said to have been adapted for target practice in the C19 and existing features may also represent this.

- 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 ReferenceSS767920
Latitude51.6135711669922
Longitude-3.78083992004395
Eastings276780
Northings192020
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 239 (listed)
  • Davis, Paul R., 2007, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Y Lolfa) p. 104
  • < >RCAHMW, 1991, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol. 3 Part 1a: The Early Castles (London: HMSO) < > UW3 p. 143-5
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 38
  • Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 160
  • Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol. 3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p. 437-8

Journals

  • Spurgeon, Jack, 1987, 'The Castles of Glamorgan' Château Gaillard Vol. 13 p. 208
  • Spurgeon, C.J. and Thomas, H.J.,1980, 'Castell Bolan, Port Talbot', Archaeology in Wales Vol. 20 p. 73
  • 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
  • Richards, A.J., 1933-5, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol. 7 p. 223-4
  • Richards, A.J., 1933-4, Transaction of the Neath Antiquarian Society Vol. 4 p. 101-3
  • Richards, A.J., 1933-4, Aberafan and Margam District History Society Vol. 6 p. 54-6 (same as above)