Castle Tump, Caerwent

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are masonry footings remains

NameCastle Tump, Caerwent
Alternative NamesWhitewall Brake
Historic CountryMonmouthshire
Modern AuthorityMonmouthshire
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityCaerwent

King calls possible castle and writes 'walls have been struck’.

The monument, also known as Castle Tump, comprises the remains of a building complex, which dates to the Romano-British period (c. AD 70 - 410). It is located on a natural rise that slopes gently to the S and overlooks the Roman town of Caerwent (MM001) to the SW. The visible remains consist of spread banks of tumbled stone that outline a rectilinear complex of building ranges and courts. The foundations extend across an area that measures 74m E-W by 38m transversely, but there is little overall height to the walls. A Roman mosaic, coins, pottery and building debris were noted during excavations by Colston in the late nineteenth century. The presence of rectilinear walls and tessellated pavements suggests that the site may have been a rural villa built to emphasise the high status, wealth and Romanised cultural values of the landed elite of the local native tribe, the Silures. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Romano-British rural settlement and socio-economic organisation. The feature forms an important element within the wider context of Romano-British society in Wales and retains significant archaeological potential. Excavation has revealed the presence of buried deposits, which may include environmental and structural evidence relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The importance of the site is further enhanced by the group value it shares with the scheduled remains of the Roman town of Caerwent. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Scheduled as a Roman site, which appears more likely.

- 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 ReferenceST475911
Latitude51.6167182922363
Longitude-2.75946998596191
Eastings347540
Northings191140
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Phillips, Neil, 2006, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (British Archaeological Reports) p. 140
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 289

Other

  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (PhD Thesis University of Sheffield) Download