Gwern y Domen
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Ringwork)
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Gwern y Domen |
| Alternative Names | Domen Bedwas, Van Castle |
| Historic Country | Glamorgan |
| Modern Authority | Caerphilly |
| 1974 Authority | Mid Glamorgan |
| Community | Van |
What appears to be a natural mound has been scarped, ditched and counterscarped, producing a mound, truncated on the S by a disused railway, presently c.40m in diameter and 3.5m high, with a rampart about the summit defining a sub-circular area, c.18-20m in diameter. The mound has been used as a setting for ornamental planting and the summit enclosure has reputedly served as a cockpit. (Coflein)
The mound stands in a marshy field, butting onto a disused railway line on its SW side. It is a large steep sided mound. (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. The motte stands in a marshy field, butting onto a disused railway line on its south-west side. It is a large steep sided mound, 30m in diameter, c. 5m high. The top is flat, 20m in diameter, with a lip up to 2m high on the south side, 1m high on the north side. On the east side at the foot of the mound is a flat berm, c.4m wide, with a drop of c. 0.5m to the marshy field. This continues round to the north, where it is more bank like, until it is cut off by a field ditch. (Scheduling Report)
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 Reference | ST175878 |
| Latitude | 51.5836715698242 |
| Longitude | -3.19158005714417 |
| Eastings | 317500 |
| Northings | 187860 |
